Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1507-1521.djvu/504

 gation in 1531. After spending ten months at Wittenberg, he accepted a call to the court chaplaincy of the Princes of Anhalt at Dessau. In 1538 he went to Freiberg. See E. Kroker: Katharina von Bora, 217, and my Luther, index.

Greeting. I received your letter, dearest Nicholas, telling me that you had been called to preach at Zwickau, and ask- ing consolation from poor little me. You know how perilous are these times, and that it is simply that time for flight which Christ predicted. For it is a time when sound doctrine is not maintained, when wolves are made shepherds, and there is no consolation for us, save to pray the Lord, by whose aid we may either escape or stand fast in these evil days. I have more experience daily how widely and deeply Satan reigns, so that it is a horror to me to envisage the Church. Daily I am be- coming more persuaded that no one can be saved unless he fight against the laws and commands of the Pope and of the bishops with all his might through life and death. Is this surprising or novel to you? But it is so, dearest Nicholas. If you do not grasp it, you are not capable of receiving any consolation from me. We have found that the Pope and his men are simple enemies of Christ, so that no one can preach save he who takes care to subject his sheep to him, and, as it were, to lead them to the wolf. You know how loudly they shout against the crimes of schism and heresy to-day; but what can we do? There is no other way of safety in this time of perdition.

Now, Nicholas, if my advice is evil it is worst of all for him who gives it, and I will let you act on your judgment and at your own risk about following it. If you take the pastorate make yourself the enemy of the Pope and the bish- ops and fight their decrees; if you do not do this you will be an enemy of Christ. Christ's faith does not stand freely with their snares and fallacies. In all this I judge nothing for you, but as you asked my advice I give it. You should either not ask advice or you should take it kindly when given. I call God to witness that I can give no other. Farewell.

Yours,

Martin Luther, Augustinian.

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