you, and to my gracious lord, Prince George, Primate of Magdeburg, to atone for my seeming neglect.
I wish you much joy on your restoration to health. May Christ maintain you in good health, so that you may pray for me. My last sermon at Worlitz is printed, and I enclose it.
I fancy you have all my latest books, for I know Magister George’s zeal in such matters. It is said here that Christ has stricken the shrieker in Leipsic in the pulpit amid his blasphemy. A canon in Hamburg who opposed the gospel committed suicide, and a Sacramentarian plunged into a well, and while they tried to rescue him he lay down on his back in the shallow water, and was drowned. His last words resembled those of Judas, “I have led many astray, therefore I have no hope.” Thus, O Lord, must thine enemies perish! Give my respects to your good and upright Prince, to whom, when I have leisure, I shall write a friendly letter. My Kathie greets you respectfully, and hopes you will pray for her. MARTIN LUTHER . (Walch, 5:21. 1402, and Schutze.)
CCXCVI
TO HANS VON LOSER Luther asks him to be sponsor for his son.
January 29, 1533.
Most excellent honored sir and co-sponsor — I entreat you for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ that you would humble yourself for God’s sake and for that of my young son, whom God has bestowed upon me tonight through my dear Kathie, and come to my help, so that he may be translated from the old Adam to the new birth in Christ Jesus, through the holy sacrament of baptism, and thus become a member of the Christian Church, so that perhaps God may in him raise a fresh enemy of the Pope and the Turk. I wish him christened about vesper time, so that he may not remain a heathen any longer, setting my mind at ease. Your Excellence will agree to this, and help to
