To Katherine, Luther’s wife letter 9 - Martin Luther

TO KATHERINE, LUTHER’ S WIFE

Luther arrived in Halle on the 25th with his three sons, their tutor, and a servant. He preached there next day on St. Paul’s conversion.

January 25, 1546.

To my kind and dear Kathie Luther at Wittenberg. Grace and peace in the Lord, dear Kathie! We reached Halle today at eight o’clock, but could not go on to Eisleben; for, we encountered a great Anabaptist, with huge water-billows and great blocks of ice, covering the land, and threatening us with a re-baptism. Neither could we return on account of the Mulda; therefore we have to remain quietly at Halle between the two rivers. Not that we have any desire to drink the water, for we regale ourselves with good Torgau beer and Rhine wine, and let the Saale rage at its will. We did not risk embarking on the river, as we and our servants and the ferryman were much afraid, and we did not wish to tempt God. For the devil is enraged against us, and he dwells in the water floods; and it is better to evade him than afterwards to complain of him; besides, it is needless to delight the Pope and his emissaries through our death. I could not have believed the Saale could have made such a boiling noise, bursting over the paved stones, etc. No more at present. Pray for us and be pious.

I believe, had you been here, you would have advised us to do exactly what we have done, and so for once we should have followed your counsel. I commend you to God. Amen. MARTIN LUTHER . (De Wette.)