Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/408

 the doctor arose and was going to take supper with us. He complained of a loud and troublesome roaring in the left ear, which the physicians said was a precursor of a fainting spell, and when he suddenly perceived that roaring the doctor said he could not sit because of it, and, going to his bed-chamber, lay down on the bed. I alone followed him to the door, his wife stopping on the lower step to ask the maids for some- thing, and before she reached the door of his room, though she hurried, he was seized with a faint. Suddenly he said, ''O Doctor Jonas, I am not well; give me some water or any- thing you have or I shall dief^ Then, terrified and trembling, I poured cold water now on his face, now on his bare back. While I was doing this he began to pray — "O Lord, if it be Thy will, if this is the hour Thou hast set for me. Thy will be done." With great ardor and with his eyes raised to heaven he prayed the Lord's Prayer and the whole psalm, "O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger," etc. Meanwhile his wife came in, and, seeing him lying there almost lifeless, she, too, was in consternation, and called loudly for the servants. Soon afterwards the doctor asked to have his hose removed, and they were at once taken oflF. Then lying stretched out quietly on his couch he suddenly felt all his strength leaving him, and betook himself again to prayer, saying: "Lord, my dearest God, Thou knowest how willingly I would have shed my blood for Thy Word, but, perhaps, I am not worthy ; Thy will be done, if it be Thy will that I die, only so Thy name be glorified by life or death. If it had been possible I would have wished to live longer for the sake of the godly. Lord, for the sake of Thine elect; but if the hour is come. Thou art Lord of life and death. My dearest God, Thou has led me into this business. Thou knowest it is Thy truth and Thy Word, Glorify not our enemies, lest the heathen say. Where is their God? but glorify Thy holy name against the enemies of Thy most holy Word. Lord Jesus, Thou hast given me the knowledge of Thy name; Thou knowest I belieye that Thou art true God and our true Mediator and Saviour, who hast shed Thy blood for us; do Thou now be present with Thy Spirit in this hour." He repeated : "Thou knowest there

^ Gennan words are in italics.

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