To the elector John Frederick letter 18 - Martin Luther

TO THE ELECTOR JOHN FREDERICK

Luther wishes Dr. Jonas to be left at Halle. November 8, 1544.

Grace and peace and my poor paternoster, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord! My dear friend Dr. Jonas is here and has told me all, so I give him this letter, with my humble opinion of the matter. In the first place, the lectureship must be filled up at once, as was arranged, and no one can presume to interfere with the manner in which your Grace does it. But as Dr. Jonas cannot, without

injury to the church at Halle, be removed, it is advisable to let him remain there, as the wicked worm

in Mayence still lives, who must be kept in constant uneasiness so long as Jonas is there, who deprives him of his adherents and annoys him more than he likes. This is how the matter stands, if your Electoral Grace will only permit him to remain at Halle, giving him for eight or nine years 140 florins yearly. My dear Dr. Bruck has also written about this to your Grace, and Dr. Jonas will give you the letter, so if it be settled that he be set free from his chair, your Grace will graciously grant him the said number of florins for these years. He will always be ready to obey any call hither, as member of the Theological Faculty, not only in the service of your Grace, but of the whole University, for he does not wish to be loosed from the University here, and Halle would gladly fall in with this arrangement. Therefore I humbly request your Grace to accede to this, for he is now one of the oldest members (Dieners) both in church and schools, and is worthy of this, and far more, and who knows how God will requite it. His children are growing up, and there is much to consider. Your Grace will know how to act in a gracious and Christian manner. I commend you to the dear God.

Saturday. Your Electoral Grace’s humble servant, MARTIN LUTHER . (De Wette.)