Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/268

 Emperor’s sake be patient, and pray for the miserable creatures who have not yet conquered. If I err in saying your Grace has suffered through your friends’ malice, it is a great joy to me, and you will forgive me, as I said it out of the goodness of my heart, for as I sit here I think “so-and -so will feel this,” and make him unhappy, “and another that,” for I attribute all wickedness to the devil. I commit your Princely Highness to God. Amen. Given at Coburg. Your Princely Highness’s devoted servant, MARTIN LUTHER.

CCXXVIII
TO THE ABBOT FRIEDRICH OF NURNBERG

In 1525 Friedrich made over his cloister possessions to the poor.

Learned men often dedicated their books to him, as Luther did his commentary of the 118th Psalm.

July 1, 1530.

To the esteemed Herr Friedrich, Abbot at St. Ilgen, Nurnberg. Grace and peace in Christ our Lord and Savior! Dear sir and patron, I wish to show my gratitude for your love and favor to me, but as the world goes I am only a poor beggar. And although I had much I would scarcely presume to send anything to such as you. So having searched my possessions, which are my riches, I have selected my dear psalm, the lovely Confitemini, and have committed my thoughts on it to paper as I sit idle in my desert, because at times I must rest my head and stop my great work of putting the prophets into German, which I hope to finish shortly. I present and dedicate these thoughts to you, for I have nothing better. Although some may consider it a useless medley, I know there is nothing evil in it, for it is the psalm which I love. Although the Psalter and Holy Scriptures are all dear to me, being my only consolation and life, still I am specially attached to this psalm. For it has helped me out of many a sore trouble when the help of emperor, kings, learned men, saints, etc., was of no avail. And it is dearer than any riches or honor that Pope, Turk, or Emperor, or all