To George Spalatin letter 14 - Martin Luther

To George Spalatin

Luther announces that he preached publicly in Weimar and Erfurt, and will publish an exposition of Hosea 2.F4 November 3, 1522. I have no notes of what I preached in Weimar and Erfurt, and do not require to write them, for you know all already, because I have taught nothing but faith and love there — except that I was asked in Weimar to make public what I had once preached about the kingdom of God and worldly authorities. It has been printed and dedicated to Prince John.

The passage Hosea 2:19, “I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness,” etc., contains simply this — that we shall one day become the brides of the gracious, merciful, forgiving, and justifying God — not through works, but by the gospel. As to Lengmann and Pomeranus, we shall do what we can.

In the translation of the Old Testament I have reached the third book of Moses (Leviticus). For it is incredible how I have been hindered by letter writing, business matters, company, and many other things. Now I shall shut myself up at home, and hurry, so as to have Moses in the press by January. For we shall publish it separately, and afterwards the historic books, and lastly the prophets. For the size and the price of the books compel us to issue them piecemeal. Pray for me. MARTIN LUTHER . Pope Hadrian died. Reformation progresses. The first martyrs, Heinrich Voes and Johann Esch, burned at Brussels. Birth year of the German hymn.