Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/255

 But your Grace is at present in a most tiresome spot. Your Highness is certainly enduring all this trouble, expense, danger, and ennui solely for God’s sake, as no one can find any fault with you except on account of the pure Word of God, for all know you to be a blameless, pious, and quiet Prince. And it proves that God loves you dearly, seeing He considers you worthy to suffer so much enmity for conscience’ sake. For God’s friendship is more precious than that of the whole world put together.

Besides, the merciful God is displaying His loving-kindness in making His Word so fruitful in your Grace’s land.

For there is a greater number of excellent pastors and preachers therein than in any other land, who teach the truth, thus helping to preserve peace.

The young people, too, are so well instructed in Scripture and Catechism that I feel quite touched when I see young boys and girls praying and talking more of God and Christ than they ever could do in all the cloisters and schools of bygone days.

Truly your Grace’s land is a beautiful land for such young people, and God has, so to speak, erected this paradise in your Grace’s lap as a special token of His favor, placing them under your protection that you may be their gardener. For God, whose bread all your subjects eat, wishes you to care for them, even as if God Himself were your Electoral Highness’s daily guest.

One sees the injury young people receive at the hands of godless princes, who, out of this paradise of God, make idle, sinful servants of the devil. For with all their wealth God does not think them worthy to spread His work, or even give a cup of cold water — nay, they had nothing better to give the Savior on the cross than vinegar and gall to drink.

In conclusion, your Electoral Grace has ever had the earliest prayers of all Christians in your lands especially, and we know our prayers will be heard, because what we ask is good.

Oh that the young people may join, and with their innocent petitions commend you, as their dear father, to