To the Burghermaster and council of the reformed swiss towns - Martin Luther

TO THE BURGHERMASTER AND COUNCIL OF THE REFORMED SWISS TOWNS Luther expresses his joy at the Swiss joining the Wittenberger Concord. December 1, 1537.

Grace and peace in Christ, our Lord and Savior, honored and dear sirs and friends! I have delayed far too long in answering your letter, which I received at Schmalkalden. But I hope you will excuse the delay, for I know you are well aware how much rests upon my shoulders daily, especially now that I am old and weak; and I have had to tear myself away from friends and business to steal the time to write this. I have again read your letter, and am highly pleased to see that all former sharpness and suspicions have been lulled to rest, and that you are really in earnest as to joining the Wittenberg Concord and doing your best to promote it. The God and Father of all unity and love will doubtless complete the good work which He has graciously begun, as it is written in Proverbs 16:7: “When a

man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” It is evident, and cannot be otherwise, that such great dissension as has existed between us cannot be healed all at once without leaving rents and scars behind it. For with you, as well as with us, there must be some who

are suspicious of such Concord. But if we are in earnest on both sides, and make up our minds to adhere to it, the dear God and Father will grant His grace, so that others may through time give way, and the troubled waters will again be at rest. Therefore, I beseech you, set limits to those among you who are raising a hue and cry against the Concord, and see to it that competent people are appointed to teach the people the significance of this matter, so that it may not be hindered. Even as we here, both in our writings and sermons, avoid doing anything to inflame the people against you in case of doing injury to the Concord, which we are most anxious to see become an accomplished fact, and have vowed to God to make an end of the fighting and disputing, of which we have had more than enough without any good results being achieved. And I would once more humbly plea, as before, that you would believe that I mean what I say, and shall do my uttermost for the furtherance of the bond. God

is my witness that I shall do this. For these dissensions have helped neither me nor anyone else, but have done much harm. Excuse the short answer I must make to your letter, for my head is daily burdened with business, not to speak of thoughts, so I cannot write and discuss matters with everyone as if I had nothing else to do. I herewith commit you, with all belonging to you, to the Father of mercies and all consolation. May He grant to both parties of us His Holy Spirit, so that our hearts may dissolve in Christian love, and all the scum and rust of devilish human wickedness and suspicion may be swept away, to the praise and honor of His holy name, and to the salvation of many souls and the destruction of the devil and the Pope, with their followers. Amen.

MARTIN LUTHER . (De Wette.)