To Nicolas von Amsdorf letter 10 - Martin Luther

TO NICOLAS AMSDORF

Luther was now in Wittenberg. He preached before the Elector in Torgau on the first Sunday after his return.

October 31, 1530.

Your accusing me of not writing, most excellent Amsdorf, justifies me in retaliating upon you for your continuous silence. For although knowing how solitary I was, you did not send me a line of consolation, but heaped injury upon injury by persisting in the said silence. And now you accuse me of a neglect which is not mine, but yours. I wonder if you have, perhaps, meanwhile become Archbishop of Magdeburg and Primate of Germany, that you have so easily forgotten poor me, and administer

rebukes in such a high-handed fashion. For I do not think you should blame me for calling him of Mainz Reverend, unless you thought you were thereby being deprived of your lawful title. For I only used the word in Court fashion, even as one says “Gracious Sirs” when perhaps speaking to raging devils. But you have given me one pleasure in expressing yourself pleased with my last publication. I could issue nothing more because of my health, and can scarcely revise it, it being written by stealth, and much against the wish of my disease, and its progress at the printer’s is as slow. More of this when you come to visit us, which I hope you will do, so that we may have delightful converse before departing this life. For I feel symptoms of approaching age. May the Lord be graciously with you in truth. Amen.

MARTIN LUTHER . WITTENBERG. (Schutze.)