Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/209

 something by Zwingli. They only do right in trampling a miserable creature like me under foot, thereby following Judas’s example, and making me utter my complaints to my Lord Jesus of being persecuted on all sides, and having to bear God’s indignation for having sinned against Him. The Pope, Emperor, Bishops, and the whole world attack me; and as if this were not enough, my very brethren plague me, nay, even my sins, death, and the devil with his angels, rage without measure.

So then what would become of me were Christ to forsake me because of whom all these are my enemies? But He will not desert me, poor miserable sinner, for I esteem myself the least of all men.

Would that Erasmus and the Sacramentarians experienced for one quarter of an hour the sorrows of my heart, then I would declare they were truly converted. But now my enemies are mighty, and heap anguish on him whom the Lord chastens.

But enough of this, so that I may not seem impatient under God’s rod, who chastens and heals, kills and makes alive again.

Let His holy and perfect will be praised now and forever! Were we of the world it would love its own. I am also very anxious about my wife.

The Lord has done great things for me, so I must suffer great things. May Christ be my rock and my strength. Amen.

My Hans can send no greeting in his sickness, but begs for your prayers.

For twelve days he has lived only on fluids. He now begins to eat a little.

The child would gladly play as he used to do, but is not able.

Margaret Mochim’s abscess was opened yesterday, and she is now a little better. I do not wish Rome to be burned; that would be a marvellous sign.

Would to God that we could meet again in our homes, and work at Ecclesiastes, so that it may be issued before we die. I commend myself to your prayers. We Wittenberg people are hated of all, and they are terrified on account of the pest. As the Psalm says, “We are a byword among the