Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/275

 triumph at Augsburg, and despise and laugh at us. “But be of good cheer,” says Christ, “I have overcome the world.” He who dwells in heaven will laugh at them. I am sure this will be the case. We cannot look for help unless we have been forsaken. We have assumed the office and duties of those of whom it is written, “Ye will be hated of all men for My sake,” and yet we are surprised when we are subjected to such hatred.

If we are unwilling to have this promise verified in ourselves, we ought not to have taken this office upon us, or should have seen that such a prophecy never was uttered. But now it is too late to reap favor and thanks. . . . I am quite pleased that Herzog George should behave thus. God will reward him according to his actions. May the Lord comfort and strengthen you all.

From the wilderness of Coburg. MARTIN LUTHER. (Walch, 5:16. 2134.)

CCXXXV
TO JOHN AGRICOLA, EISLEBEN

The Emperor was indignant at the Elector’s steadfastness, and refused to confirm him in his Electorate and ratify his son’s engagement to Sybylla of Cleves.

July 27, 1530.

Grace and peace! That our opponents load us with terms of reproach and are trying to get the Emperor to buckle on his armor against us is a sure sign that they feel they will be defeated. For it is an old device of Satan that when he is beaten by the truth he diverts people’s attention to secondary matters, so preventing them attending to the main thing. He did this with his emissary, Eck, at Leipsic, in regard to Carlstadt, and in many other cases.

Let us therefore cleave to our cause and not yield.

Now these gaping fools, as I call them, must admit, but will not, that I exalted the authority of the Emperor and the worldly powers at the time they were vilifying them, and hurling bans at them, oppressing kingdoms and monarchs with their curse, as St. Peter prophesied.