To three banished young ladies - Martin Luther

TO THREE BANISHED YOUNG LADIES

Luther comforts the three Freiberg young ladies who had been banished from Court for reading his books.

June 18, 1523.

To the honored and virtuous Hanna von Draschwitz, Milia von Olsnitz, and Ursula von Feilitzin, my special friends in Christ. Grace and peace! Honored ladies. Herr Nicolas vou Amsdorf has told me of your disgrace because of my books, and begged me to write you a letter of consolation. But although I do not like writing to people I do not know, and you do not need comfort from me, still I could not refuse his request. First, I beg you, as a friend, to let your hearts rest in peace, and not wish evil to those who have brought this upon you, but “being reviled bless,” as St. Paul says. And Christ says, “Bless them that curse you,” etc., so do the same, seeing you are illumined by the grace of God, and they are blinded and are injuring their own souls by running against God, not seeing how they are destroying themselves, when they fancy they are injuring you. Only wait and let Christ manage matters. He will abundantly requite your reproach, and raise you even higher than you desire, if you commit your cause entirely to Him. And even if your conscience tell you that you are in fault, you

must not despair on that account. For it is a precious sign that God has so soon led you to repentance. And reflect that if even you wished to injure them, you could accomplish nothing. For it is a sacred matter for which you suffer, which God will permit no one but Himself to revenge. “He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye,” He says. I fancy that miserable blinded creature, Dr. Wolf Stehlin, is master there, but he will become entangled in a way he does not dream of in other matters. So act thus, my dear sisters, and the peace of God shall be with you. Amen! And take my letter in good part. MARTIN LUTHER .