Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/287

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once to George Rhau.[1] If the pamphlet on the Keys pleases Herr Pommer and Cruciger, let it be printed. I cannot understand who told you I was ill, when you see the books that I write. I have translated all the prophets except Ezekiel, which occupies me at present, also a treatise on the Sacrament, not to speak of letter-writing, etc. I have no time to write more. Greet all and everything. I have a lovely large sugar book for Hanschen Luther; Cyriac[2] brought it from Nurnberg out of the beautiful garden. I commit you to God and pray. Regarding Polner,[3] act as Pommer and Weller advise. From the wilderness. MARTIN LUTHER . (De Wette.)

CCXLVIII

TO PHILIP MELANCHTHON

On September 14, Prince John Frederick visited Luther in Coburg Castle.

September 14, 1530.

Grace and peace! Yesterday the Electoral Prince and Graf Albrecht appeared unexpectedly on their way home. I was glad they had escaped from the turmoil, and hope that you, too, may soon be free. You have done enough. It is now time for the Lord to work, and He will do it. Only be of good cheer and trust Him. I am angry, and yet glad, that Eck and our opponents make this wicked accusation against us that in declaring the necessity of enjoying the sacrament in both kinds we are condemning the whole Church and the Emperor himself. These miserable creatures have no resource left them but to flee to the Emperor in their distress and flatter him to his face. Well, let them misuse the Emperor’s name as they will, so that they may draw down upon themselves the wrath of Him who in heaven is preparing His bows and arrows against them. This is how the Turks talk, and yet we must not fancy that such a mighty people shall all be damned. Were this so, what article of our faith could

  1. Another Printer.
  2. His Nephew.
  3. Another Nephew.