Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/208

 after having up till now zealously preached His gospel and honored His name, although often having grieved Him with my sins. Satan begs that a Job may be delivered into his hands, but Christ bids him spare his life. And to me He says, “I am thy salvation,” which makes me sure that He will not forever be wroth over my sins. I should like to answer the Sacramentarians, but if I do not get stronger I cannot.

My house has been turned into a hospital. Augustine’s Hanna had the plague inwardly, but is now better. Margaret Mochim alarmed us with a sore and other bad symptoms. I am also very anxious about my Kathie at present. My Hans has been three days ill, and eats nothing. Some say it is the teeth, and both seem in danger.

The wife of George, the chaplain, is also ill of the plague, and her condition is perilous. May Jesus be gracious to her. So there are rightings without and fears within.

Truly, the Lord is trying us sorely. Our one consolation is, and with this we can defy Satan, that we have God’s Word, through which believing souls can be saved, although He consumes the bodies. We send greeting to the brethren and yourself, and beg you to pray for us that we may patiently endure God’s chastening hand, and withstand Satan’s power and cunning, both in life and death. Wittenberg, All Saints’ Day. In tenth year of the overthrow of the Indulgence, to whose memory we are drinking a toast, and to both our healths. MARTIN LUTHER.

CLV
TO JUSTUS JONAS A sad letter.

Jonas in Nordhausen during the plague.

November 10, 1527.

Grace and peace in God our Savior! Thanks, dear Jonas, that you pray for us, and sometimes write.

I hope you got yesterday’s letter. I have not read Erasmus’s writings nor those of the Sacramentarians, except