To Nicolas von Amsdorf letter 17 - Martin Luther

TO NICOLAS AMSDORF

Reply to letter of consolation on Magdalene’s death. October 29, 1542.

Grace and peace! Many thanks, most excellent friend, for trying to console me on my dearest daughter’s death. I loved her not only because she was my flesh, but for her placid and gentle spirit

and her dutifulness to me. But now I rejoice that she is sleeping sweetly in her Heavenly Father’s home till that day. Alas, for the days in which we live! And they are daily becoming worse. I pray that we and all dear to us may be granted such a blessed hour of departure as was her lot. I would call this really sleeping in the Lord, not experiencing one pang of fear. This is the time of which Isaiah speaks, “The righteous is taken away from the evil to come; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness,” just as when one gathers the wheat into the barn, and commits the chaff to the flames, a punishment the world has deserved for her ingratitude. Truly it is a Sodom. I should like to write you oftener, but you write so seldom. I agree with you as to the reports about Heinz’s judgments and threats. Your Meissen people are become a byword through this man at Merseburg, where they portray themselves as so courageous and us so timid. The war prospects give good reason for fear. I never thought we could achieve anything against the Turks except squander our money and reap ridicule. What could God accomplish with such tools? So we must pray without ceasing that He would overcome this monstrosity, even as He did with the Papacy, with all its abominations. Did you get my letter

asking for a post for Dr. Hieronymus Weller, who complains of the indifference of the Freiberg people

to the Divine Word? But as things are not yet settled with you, this request may come at an inopportune time. Comfort yourself in the Lord and be steadfast, for you are Christ’s servant, who called you to this post, even if you merely remain quietly in your place, preventing the devil occupying it, although you should do nothing more all your life. And thus how much more are you His servants when you are not only not idle, but maintain a constant conflict, and purify the people from sin

through the Word of God. I commit you to God. My Kathie greets you, although she often breathes a sigh over the memory of her beloved and obedient daughter.

MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)