To the Elector John of Saxony letter 5 - Martin Luther
TO THE ELECTOR JOHN OF SAXONY
The Elector would not permit the preaching to be stopped. May 20, 1530.
Grace and peace! Most Serene Prince! I have delayed answering your most gracious letter from Augsburg, with all its news and admonitions not to let the time hang on my hands. It is most kind of you troubling about me, and here we are most anxious about your Serene Highness, and pray constantly for you. I do not find the days long. We live like lords, and this last week seems hardly three days. But your Grace is at present in a most tiresome spot. Your Highness is certainly enduring
all this trouble, expense, danger, and ennui solely for God’s sake, as no one can find any fault with you except on account of the pure Word of God, for all know you to be a blameless, pious, and quiet Prince. And it proves that God loves you dearly, seeing He considers you worthy to suffer so much enmity for conscience’ sake. For God’s friendship is more precious than that of the whole world put together. Besides, the merciful God is displaying His loving-kindness in making His Word so fruitful in your Grace’s land. For there is a greater number of excellent pastors and preachers therein than in any
other land, who teach the truth, thus helping to preserve peace. The young people, too, are so well instructed in Scripture and Catechism that I feel quite touched when I see young boys and girls praying and talking more of God and Christ than they ever could do in all the cloisters and schools of bygone days. Truly your Grace’s land is a beautiful land for such young people, and God has, so to speak, erected this paradise in your Grace’s lap as a special token of His favor, placing them under your protection that you may be their gardener. For God, whose bread all your subjects eat, wishes you to care for them, even as if God Himself were your Electoral Highness’s daily guest. One sees the injury young people receive at the hands of godless princes, who, out of this paradise of God, make
idle, sinful servants of the devil. For with all their wealth God does not think them worthy to spread His work, or even give a cup of cold water — nay, they had nothing better to give the Saviour on the cross than vinegar and gall to drink. In conclusion, your Electoral Grace has ever had the earliest prayers of all Christians in your lands especially, and we know our prayers will be heard, because what we ask is good. Oh that the young people may join, and with their innocent petitions commend you, as their
dear father, to the merciful God! Your Grace will graciously accept this letter, for God knows I speak the truth and do not dissemble. I am sorry that Satan is grieving your heart. He is a doleful, disagreeable spirit, who cannot bear to see any one happy, especially in God, so how much less will he suffer your Electoral Highness to be of good courage, for he knows how many depend on you for edification through the living Word in your domains! So we must stand by you with our prayers and love, for when you are joyous, then we live; but when you sorrow, then we are sick.
But our dear Savior will send the Holy Ghost, the true Comforter, who will protect your Grace against the poisoned darts of this sour, bitter spirit. Amen.
Your Electoral Grace’s obedient MARTIN LUTHER .