To Philip Melanchthon letter 7- Martin Luther

TO PHILIP MELANCHTHON

Luther complains of headache, probably from overwork. May 12, 1530.

Grace and peace! Dear Herr Philip — On May 8 I began to answer your letter from Nurnberg, but was prevented finishing it.

I have sent my admonition to the clergy to Wittenberg. Besides, I have translated the two chapters in Ezekiel, concerning Gog, with a preface. I then began translating the Prophets, intending to have them finished by Ascension, along with AEsop, and would have managed it, so smoothly did the work proceed, when, alas suddenly the outward man collapsed, unable to sustain the fervor of the inner renewed man. I felt a loud buzzing and roaring, like thunder, in my head, and had I not stopped at once I would have fainted, and was useless for two days. The machine will do no more, my head having dwindled into a short chapter, which by degrees will shrink into a tiny paragraph, and then into

a single sentence. This is why I sit in idleness, but the noise in my head is subsiding through medicine. This accounts for the delay. The day your Nurnberg letter came I had a Satanic embassy with me, and, to make matters worse, I was quite alone, neither Veit nor Cyriac being here, so Satan remained so far master of the Held, compelling me to seek society. I impatiently await the time when I shall behold the almost sublime majesty of this spirit. So much for our own little concerns, while weighty events are taking place. You say that Eck along with — are beginning a conflict. What are they about in the Reichstag? The coarse asses palaver about important affairs in our churches. We hope their downfall shall be hastened thereby. Magister Joachim has sent me dried figs and raisins, and writes me in

Greek! When better I shall reply in Turkish, to let him have something to read which he cannot understand. Why should he write to me in Greek? Shall write more again in case of tasking my head now. Let us pray for each other. I must write to the Electoral Prince about the Landgrave, as you advise, and also to the Elector. The Lord be with you. Take care of your health, and do not injure your head, as I have done. I shall request our friends to try to prevent you overstepping the limitations which your health demands; spare yourself, so that you may not commit suicide and then declare that God willed it so. One can serve God in repose, and there is no better way of serving Him. This is why He insists on the Sabbath being strictly kept. Now do not throw this counsel to the winds. It is God’s Word I write you.

MARTIN LUTHER .