To Anton Lauterbach letter 6 - Martin Luther

TO ANTON LAUTERBACH Letter of consolation. March 10, 1542.

Grace and peace! Wait upon the Lord and act like a man, my dear Anton. Were there no such thing as temptation to try Christian faith, what would become of so many over-confident, lazy, and self- indulgent Christians? Most certainly just what has befallen the Papacy. Now, as temptation serves as myrrh, aloes, rhubarb, and a counter-irritant to the fleshly sins of the Christian’s body of death, therefore it ought not to be lightly esteemed, and we must be on our guard against willfully choosing our afflictions, but must accept those which God sees fit to visit us with, and which will be most salutary for us, no matter how heavy they may be. Therefore be steadfast, and consider that when we have to endure temptation, as is only right, we ought gladly to endure those that are meted out to us

rather than risk being visited with severer trials, such as fire and sword, which the Papists would gladly inflict upon us. And do not worry about your mother because she prefers living in Stolpe, under Papal rule, rather than at Pirna. Pray always for her, and you have done enough. The Bishop of Cologne is beginning to reform abuses in his diocese. We have heard nothing new of the Turk, nor of our preparations. The Emperor has issued an Edict in the Netherlands forbidding the persecution of the Lutherans. After a two years’ pause the Bible gradually slipped into France among other books. When Parliament, the monks, and sophists heard this, they were so furious that they burned fifty of them;

but the populace were so enraged, that the King, fearing an insurrection, gave way. In much haste, and pray I may have a happy release.

MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)