To Philip Melanchthon letter 18 - Martin Luther

TO PHILIP MELANCHTHON September 20, 1530.

To the learned Philip Melanchthon, servant of the Lord.

Grace and peace in Christ! You could not credit, my Philip, what a swarm of verbal and written complaints I received after I got your letter, and very specially concerning yourself. I tell you this most unwillingly, for I am tenderly solicitous not to grieve you in the slightest, for you should receive only consolation from me, who ought to help you to bear your burden. And hitherto I have always tried to

do so. But now I have our people’s letters and the other party to contend with. I defend myself thus. At first our Augsburg friends sent me very different accounts. But I am determined rather to believe you than others, and hope you will conceal nothing pertaining to the cause from me. For I am convinced that you will concede nothing which could injure the confession and the gospel. But to begin with, it is not necessary to explain explicitly what the gospel and our confession really are! But we must abide by our old agreement — to concede everything in the interests of peace which is not at variance with the gospel and our recent confession. I have no fear for the good cause, but dreaded force and cunning on your account. Pray write, via Nurnberg, all that has happened since I got your last letter. For the tragic letters of our people would make us fancy that our affairs have assumed a serious aspect. The night before last some one mumbled something like this before the Prince at supper, but I said, with as- sumed indifference, that no one had written me about it. So I long for letters. Give me a true account

to stop their mouths. They pay no attention to me. May the Lord guide and maintain you. Amen. From the desert. MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)