To Justus Jonas letter 4 - Martin Luther

TO JUSTUS JONAS Grace and peace in Christ ! Dear Jonas — Last Sabbath God the Lord took away from our Philip one of his children, called George; so you can imagine how much we have to do in trying to comfort this tenderhearted and emotional man. He is grieving too much over the loss, not being used to such trials. Pray that the Lord may comfort him, and then, in your best rhetoric, write him a letter of consolation. You know how important it is for us that he should be spared in health. We are all sick and sad in his sickness and sadness. I can think of nothing but him, except the most intimate concerns of my daily life. But the God of the humble and afflicted will not allow him to be vanquished, although he is still very weak. I shall write of other things when the grief is a little assuaged.

Farewell in the Lord, and greet your fellow-bishops respectfully in the Lord. MARTIN LUTHER.