To Wenzel letter 18 - Martin Luther

TO WENZEL

Luther justifies himself. The Venetians complain of sacramental disputes, and Luther blames the

Zwinglians. January 20, 1543.

Grace and peace! You complain, dear one, that I do not answer your letters, and said you had not enclosed your annotations on Moses because we scholars looked down on such crude work. It is not very good taste to fling such an accusation in any man’s face. You must know that I have less leisure than you. I, feeble, worn-out old man, am without such things, overburdened with letter-writing, and am longing for my last hour in order to rest from work. I can see no other end of this everlasting writing and tempestuous life. And how could you fancy I despised your work when I accompanied my remarks with a laborious preface? That I have not thanked you, proceeds merely from weariness of writing, which may be pardoned in an old exhausted man overwhelmed with work. I now send you my lectures on the first forty-one chapters of Genesis, through Mr. George Rorer, who also has his hands full, and is himself the servant of the printer’s servants. He is not to blame if they please you as little

as they do me. They have too many words for my taste, and more stress might have been laid on such an important subject. I have nearly finished the first book of Moses, being at chapter 45th. May the Lord enable me to finish the work, or take me away from this transient, sinful life! Join me in praying for this. I had a glimpse of the Pope’s letter to the Emperor, and of the Bull of the Council of Trent, which opens on Sunday Latare. May the Lord Christ once more defeat those godless scoffers! I am much pleased with Osiander’s pamphlet against the Zwinglian rascals. Spalatin still lives, but is so weak that he often cannot taste food. The Lord keep him. He is an excellent man. My Kathie thanks

you for the quinsy juice, and I for the poetess you sent, and for your kind offer to serve me, which you best can do by praying that I may have a happy exit out of this world. I am worn out and fit for nothing. May you and yours prosper in the Lord. Amen.

MARTIN LUTHER (Schutze.)