To Justus Jonas letter 20 - Martin Luther

TO JUSTUS JONAS

Dr. Jonas represented Luther at Brunswick. April 8, 1538.

Grace and peace in Christ! I shall not try to emulate you, dear Jonas, in letter-writing, for you far surpass me in genius and rhetoric, as well as in inherited gifts; and you have more to write about, for you are in the midst of heroes and heroic deeds; for, I verily believe the armies of Troy and Greece would only have been bands of cowards had they not been inflamed to heroic deeds through the glorious poetry of Homer. We, for our part, confess Christ in quietness and in hope, and often far too feebly, for Magister Philip and I, especially, have been overwhelmed with cares and business of every kind, so that I, a worn-out old man, would prefer wandering in the garden (which is the old man’s joy) to behold God’s wondrous works, as manifest in trees, shrubs, flowers, and birds. This is the recreation I most dearly love, but of which I am deprived, through the sins of my youth, by being burdened with so many troublesome and fruitless occupations. Magister Johannes from Saxony, my present messmate, will tell you all you wish to know. In your house all are well. Herr Philip’s daughter, Hanna, with her husband and child, have arrived from the Halloren. Her husband is delighted to be able to partake of the sacrament here. I hope this tragedy may yet end well, so that we may boast it has been a tragic comedy. May Christ grant this. Say to Myconius I shall not answer his two letters, and that I envy him his leisure, and only wish that a healthy, strong, handsome young man such as he were only thought worthy to have a taste of my leisure.

MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)