Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/158

 regarded as a cloak for evil. But there is One who will speedily judge them. Farewell, and pray for me. MARTIN LUTHER.

1524
First German Hymn-Book appeared. Peasants’ War. Luther more distressed by this, and the disturbances caused in Wittenberg by the fanatics, than by Charles V. declaring that the Edict of Worms should be enforced.

XCVIII
TO LAMBERT THORN

The Augustinian monk, Thorn, suffered a martyr’s death in the Netherlands.

January 19, 1524.

Grace and peace! Christ, who is with you, my dear brother, bears witness within me that you need no comfort from me. For He suffers, and is glorified; He is captive and reigns; He suffers violence, and yet triumphs both in and with you, having made you just and holy, through the knowledge of Himself, which is hidden from the world, but which He has so richly bestowed upon you.

Thereby you are not only strengthened inwardly by His Spirit in your affliction, but by the example of the two brothers, Heinrich and Johann.

Both you and they have been a great comfort to me, and a sweet savor to all Christendom, and a glorious ornament to the gospel of Christ. Who knows why the Lord did not permit you to perish with them? Perhaps He spared you that He might do some mighty work through you. This encourages me much, that the faithful Savior has not only permitted me to come to the knowledge of His truth, but has allowed me to see His grace flourishing so gloriously in you three.

I might deem this a misfortune, for it was I who first brought this teaching — for confessing which these two were burned, and you now sit in captivity — to the light of day. I fear I shall not be counted worthy to suffer such tribulation as you three for Christ’s sake. Nevertheless, I shall comfort myself thus — that your bonds are my bonds,