Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/267

 who then has it? I pray without ceasing that Christ may be with you. Amen!

After sealing this I find I have not answered your question very fully as to how much should be conceded to the adversary. But you do not say definitely what they expect from us.

I am as ready as ever to grant them everything if they only leave us a free gospel, but I cannot give up the gospel. What else can I say? MARTIN LUTHER.

CCXXVII
TO THE ELECTORAL PRINCE JOHN FREDERICK

Luther inspires him with courage.

June 30, 1530.

To the Serene High-born Prince, Herr Johannes Friedrich, Duke of Saxony. Grace and peace in Christ, most gracious Lord! Your Grace sees with his own eyes what kind of lord the devil is, who leads captive through his wily ways so many great people. Although I know that your Highness is well armed (thank God) against his wicked devices, yet I, in my anxiety for you, write humbly to beg you not to worry over the wicked onslaughts of your nearest blood relations. For when the devil is powerless to do more, he makes the heart heavy through our friends’ persecution.

The 37th Psalm is an excellent medicine against such trials. It exposes the malice of Satan’s emissaries, who unceasingly try to provoke us to an impatient word, act, or gesture, so that thereby he may accuse us of disobedience and rebellion. But it is written, “If God be for us, who can be against us ?” And we must put up with the knavery of wicked people and “overcome evil with good.”

No doubt the Emperor is a pious man and worthy of all honor, but what can one man do against so many devils if God do not give him His powerful help? I am sorry that your Highness’s blood relations behave so disgracefully; but I must have patience, else I would be wishing all manner of evil. How much worse then must it be for your Grace? But for God’s and the dear