To Philip Melanchthon letter 21 - Martin Luther

TO PHILIP MELANCHTHON

Melanchthon at the Conference at Frankfort with the Elector and Myconius, met the delegates of the Emperor and Ferdinand. On April 19 an agreement was signed. Luther thanked God in the church in Wittenberg on Sabbath for again granting peace.

March 26, 1539.

Grace and peace in Christ! I am afraid this letter will not find you in Frankfort; for, from your last

letter, I gathered you were longing to get away, and besides, I have almost given up hope of a general peace ensuing. Still, let the issue be what it will, I do not yet despair of our prayers being answered, and that Christ will, although contrary to a certain rumor, cause the aspect of matters at Schmalkalden and your own dream to be realized, in spite of our having grieved God in many ways, and very

specially through ingratitude and contempt of His Word. And further, our farmers without cause seem determined to starve us to death. The malignity of our corn-dealers in concealing the grain has already driven most of our students away. Is there no police to preserve order in the land? You know the prevailing anarchy, which opens the door for the most unbridled lawlessness, which through time it may be impossible to stem. But my greatest sorrow is to see the beautiful university being gradually

dispersed. May Christ crush Satan! Your family is well. Dr. Jonas is again prostrate with his old malady. I commend you to Christ.

MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)