To Nicolas von Amsdorf letter 18 - Martin Luther

TO NICOLAS AMSDORF

Luther regrets that his health has prevented him visiting his friend. November 7, 1543.

Grace and peace in the Lord! I am quite indignant at myself, my honoured Bishop, that I have so often been prevented visiting you. Yesterday everything was packed for setting off, and then something came between to prevent me. It seems as if God permitted Satan to hinder it. Therefore, if God will, I shall hurry to your arms on the first favourable opportunity without making previous plans. For I am anxious to see you once again before I die. My head has been a good deal better, and although the physicians have made a wound in my foot, that would not have prevented my journey. They did it to try to heal my head, but as yet without result. I fear my disease is old age, along with overwork and many conflicts, and, above all, the assaults of Satan. Medical science is powerless against all these. Meantime I let them do as they will, in case they look upon me as my own enemy, or fancy I think them in error. My head is again beginning to ache with no apparent cause. I believe it is the devil. I write all this to let you know how I long to come to you as soon as God permits. I have no news, and no desire to hear any. The world is the world, has ever been the world, and will remain the world, which knows nothing of Christ, and has no desire to. For the unspeakable neglect of the Word and the inexpressible sighs of the pious are palpable signs that the world is hastening to destruction, and that our redemption is near. Amen. God grant it. Amen. It was thus before the flood with the world, and before the destruction of Sodom, and before the Babylonian captivity, and before Jerusalem’s fall, and the devastation of Rome, and the calamities in Greece and Hungary; and it will be, and now is, before Germany’s downfall. They will not hear, therefore they must be made to feel. I should like to discuss

those matters more fully with you for our mutual comfort. Still we must sing with Jeremiah: “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed.” Farewell in the Lord, who is our salvation, and who will bless us to all eternity.

From the heart of MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)