To Prince George of Anhalt - Martin Luther

TO PRINCE GEORGE OF ANHALT Letter of consolation.

August 9, 1545.

Grace and peace in Christ, who is our sole consolation and Savior! Most Serene High-born Prince — I have been informed of the serious accident which has befallen your Grace’s consort, for which I am deeply grieved. May Christ cause it to conduce to our release from such troubles. But her ladyship must remember that she is still here below with all the saints, in this valley of tribulation, and has not yet attained to our eternal Fatherland, which we hope to reach. Therefore we cannot expect to be better off than our brethren in the world, who sail in the same ship with us, who suffer at the hands of the devil from the winds and the storms. We have no cause of offence against him if he be the means of making us cleave closer to Christ. Your Grace must not be too timid to do this. We have a God who can arrange everything better than we can conceive, and give far more than we could ever dream of. Let us commit ourselves to Him, putting our affairs into the hands of Him who careth for us, as St. Peter admonishes. And David, too, tells us to commit our way unto the Lord; and if we do not do this

then our cares are in vain, for our fruitless worrying only prevents God from caring for us. May my dear Lord Jesus comfort and strengthen your Grace through His Holy Spirit to do and to suffer His holy will. Amen. I offer my poor paternoster on your behalf, and wish you and my gracious lord, Prince Joachim, all that is good, and thank both of you for the game.

MARTIN LUTHER . (De Wette.)