To King Frederick of Denmark - Martin Luther
TO KING FREDERICK OF DENMARK
Luther pleads for the captive King Christian of Denmark. September 28, 1532.
Grace and peace in Christ our Lord, who died for our sins, and rose again for our life! Your Majesty must perceive how God is the true and gracious Judge, seeing you always wished to be at peace with your cousin, King Christian, and God has ever given you the victory over him, for which you warmly thanked God, as well as used the victory in a God-fearing way; still, I am moved by the misery and the complaints of my gracious Lord, King Christian, and the fear of your proceeding against the captive, thereby damaging his faith in God, humbly to plead that your Majesty may follow Christ’s example and have mercy on your captive cousin. For Christ died for His enemies, while we are only expected to
show them mercy. For had he been taken prisoner in battle, instead of after he had thrown himself upon your mercy, you would doubtless have treated him in a cousinly manner. How much more now, seeing he has resigned all and yielded himself up, like the prodigal son, to you as his father? We must all plead for mercy from God, therefore your Majesty will do a glorious service in God’s sight by treating the poor prisoner graciously; and such an act will be a source of consolation to you on your
deathbed and a wellspring of joy in heaven, besides bringing you honor and glory on earth. For it is a noble work when great persons act nobly in high affairs, and is an example to all the world as well as a joy to the saints in heaven, and wellpleasing to the Divine Majesty. So act thus, as a fruit of your faith and a thank-offering to God, and for the prisoner’s consolation, and a delight to us all. And at last your Majesty will confess with gratitude how grieved you would have been had you done otherwise. May Christ endue your Majesty with His Spirit to act according to His good pleasure in everything. And pray take this presumptuous letter in good part, for thus does God command us to be solicitous for others. Your Majesty’s obedient MARTIN LUTHER . WITTENBERG. (De Wette.)