See that at Court you learn to hunt for souls, so that one day you may find yourself in Paradise — a piece of game which it gave Christ, the best huntsman, much trouble to catch and keep.
I have changed my mind and send the rest of the postils. But let them be printed on good paper, with Lotter’s letters, for it will be a large book, and I’ll spread it over the four quarters of the year, so that it may not be too heavy.
But it must not be as I wish, but as you can arrange there. Let the MS. be returned to me. I know what Satan is after.
I wonder if my “Magnificat” will ever be ready. Farewell, and pray for me. MARTIN LUTHER . (Walch, 5:15. 7 3.)
LXVII
TO THE CHRISTIANS IN WITTENBERG
With this letter Luther sends an exposition of the 37th Psalm.
Possibly in August.
To the poor little company of Christians at Wittenberg, Dr. Martin Luther sends grace and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ.
St. Paul, who preached in many places, and now sat as a prisoner in Rome, never ceased to pray for those who had been converted through his means, and to comfort them by his writings, to which his Epistles bear ample testimony. Following his example, I cannot refrain from anxiety on your behalf (seeing it is partly through me, poor creature, that it has been revealed to you) that wolves may follow me into the sheepfold. And although, by the grace of God, many have taken my place, which might make such anxiety unnecessary, yet I cannot overcome it.
We are not worthy (I especially, alas) to suffer anything for the truth, let alone having hatred, shame, reproach, envy, and all manner of ignominy heaped upon us by the Papists. Had God not withstood them, those bloodthirsty murderers of souls would have swallowed us
