To Johann Bugenhagen,Visitor in Lubeck - Martin Luther

TO JOHANN BUGENHAGEN, VISITOR IN LUBECK November 24, 1531.

Grace and peace! We expect your return as soon as your wife’s health will permit. We have served the Lubeck people sufficiently, especially through you, whose absence is now becoming unbearable to us. For I am oppressed with work and often sick, and the Church’s money matters suffer, as I cannot attend to them. Do you know that the devil has just sent a wolf, a Zwinglian, to your people in Brunswick? And now that Campanus is entering the fold of this wolf, I know not whether God is punishing our town’s ingratitude or trying our patience to the utmost. You can write them on the subject, or speak of it to the magistrate on your way home. I fear this spark will light a fire with many. But One has said to Christ, “Sit thou at my right hand!” and “Thou art my Son!” If He lies, then we can worship Campanus and his God. Amen. The Lord has bestowed a Martin upon me through my Kathie. Things go well with us, except that the farmers, who are very well off this year, are causing very bad times through their greed, as a token of gratitude for the gospel, it is said, which has freed them from so much evil. Greet your Eve and Sarah in the name of me and mine.

MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)