To Justus Jonas letter 27 - Martin Luther

TO JUSTUS JONAS

Luther tries to convince Jonas of the Elector Albrecht’s insincerity. September 23, 1542.

Grace and peace in the Lord! I abide by my opinion, my Jonas, that the Mayence Satan will never alienate the Burgraviate of Halle, especially at such a price, and with the stipulation that the gospel should have free course there. Whatever this son of perdition says and does is pure deceit and lies. You remember that I often said that the sun had never looked down upon anything so crafty upon God’s earth as this man. He turns our Prince into ridicule, even as he makes fun of everyone. Therefore, I consider that you Halle people are being needlessly alarmed through false rumors; and

this monster delights in beholding the misery of the wretched, whether the torment be real or fanciful. At your request I have earnestly admonished your son to obey his father, and such a father, reminding him how grateful he should feel to God for letting him enjoy such a blessing till he is nearing the years of maturity, one who can counsel and help him in the slippery paths of youth, in a world so full of the machinations of the devil. He promised to follow your advice and that of his teachers. I fancy that you have heard that my beloved Magdalene has been reborn into Christ’s everlasting Kingdom. Although my wife and I ought to rejoice on account of her happy end, still the tenderness of the father’s heart is so great that we cannot think of it without sobs and sighs, which tear asunder the heart. For the image of this most obedient and tenderly loving daughter ever hovers before our eyes, with everything she

said and did in life as well as in death, that even the death of Christ (and what are all deaths compared to that?) is almost powerless to obliterate the memory. Therefore thank God for us. For has He not honored us greatly in glorifying our child? You know how affectionate and sensible she was, nay, how charming. Christ be praised for choosing her, and calling her away, and glorifying her. I pray God that

I and all of us may have such a death, nay, such a life. This is my one petition to the Father of all consolation and mercy. In Him may you and yours prosper. Amen.

MARTIN LUTHER . (Schutze.)

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