To Conrad Cordatus letter 2 - Martin Luther

TO CONRAD CORDATUS

Luther invites his friend to Wittenberg, as he thinks he cannot be happy in King Ferdinand’s land. March 6, 1528.

Grace and peace in the Lord! Dearest Cordatus — I have known for long that you had left Austria, and were living on the estate of Gluck in Silesia, waiting to be recalled by that noble lady in the Riesengebirge, who promised to send for you, but I fancy will not do so. If you are not comfortable there, do not hesitate to hasten to me, or wherever you would like to go. If it should ever occur to the lady to recall you, she can find you as easily with us as anywhere else, and I thought you could have more congenial society here than among people so unlike yourself. For my part, I have no hesitation

in begging you to set aside the lady’s promises and begin work in the Lord’s vineyard. So come with your wife and sister till Christ arranges something else. The Papists, triumphant through Ferdinand’s mandate, are waxing bold, and probably will not grant the gospel’s servants any authority in these lands; and why should you buoy yourself with vain hopes? It is now three months since the plague left Wittenberg, God be praised! I hope you have read my treatise against the Anabaptists. I flatter myself that I have rescued some from their errors. The rest you will hear from our Rorar, Christ’s faithful servant.

The grace of God be with you! MARTIN LUTHER .