Page:Luther's correspondence and other contemporary letters 1521-1530.djvu/99

 I commend your Grace to the grace of God. We shall speak further of the matter very soon if it is necessary. I have written this letter in haste, so that your Grace may not be disturbed at hearing of my arrival, for I must be every man's comforter and no man's hurt, if I would be a true Christian. He with whom I have to do is another man than Duke George. He knows me well, and I know Him fairly well. If your Grace believed, you would see the glory of God ; but because yt)u do not yet believe you have not yet seen it. God be praised forever. Your Grace's humble servant,

Martin Luther.

530. THE ELECTOR FREDERIC OF SAXONY TO JEROME

SCHURFF. Enders, iii, 297. German. Lochau, March 7, 1522.

Greeting. We wish you to know that we have recently re- ceived a letter sent us by Dr. Martin, in which he says, among other things, that he intends to return to Wittenberg. We enclose this letter that you may acquaint yourself with its con- tents.

For many reasons we had thought it best that^Dr. Martin should stay away for a while longer, especially since things are just now in a serious and critical condition and the feeling is very bitter, and many difficulties might arise both for him and for others, especially if he were known to be at Wittenberg. There are many people, too, who would be glad for some occasion to put us in difficulties, and he himself needs to be careful. But inasmuch as the doctor is now in Witten- berg without our previous knowledge, it is our desire that on the authority of this letter you give him our gracious greeting and this oral message. He is to send us a letter in which he sets forth the reasons for his return to Wittenberg and the fact that it was without our permission; he is also to exercise some self-restraint and say that he does not wish to give anyone any trouble, and the letter is to be so formulated that we can show it to some of our friends, the princes, in order to maintain our honor.

We wish you to know that we are seeking nothing in this matter except the prevention of ttunult and other evils. You

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