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 in opposition to what they believe, thus betraying the faith of those who do not know of the compact, or be guilty of open sacrilege towards them who are aware of it, and whether this would be to edification or Christ-like you know yourself. So let us be satisfied with this empty union, rather than a closer one, which would end in a more tragic separation, and produce all kinds of disturbance.

Would that I could convince you of what I told you in Coburg, that I desire greatly to heal this rupture, even should it cost three lives, for unanimity is necessary for us, and our dissensions have injured the gospel, so that I believe all the gates of hell, the papacy, and the Turk, along with the world and the flesh, could not do us so much harm if we were only of one mind. Were it possible, how gladly would I give my hand towards this end!

I expected great things from the Coburg discussions, but my hopes have not yet been fulfilled. May the Lord Jesus enlighten and draw us together through a real union! I pray for this. I commit you to God. MARTIN LUTHER.

WITTENBERG. (Schutze.)

CCLXII
TO KATHERINE ZELL, MATTHEW ZELL’S WIFE

This letter shows Luther’s relation to the Strassburg people.

January 24, 1531.

To the virtuous lady, the wife of Matthew Zell, in Strassburg. I have not yet answered your letter, my good friend, which I received some time ago, thinking it premature to discuss matters, but seeing (God be praised) that the situation is slightly altered, I now write to beg you to do everything, with your husband and others, for the maintenance of peace and unanimity (if God will). For you know that love must go before everything, except God, who is over all, even above love itself. Wherever God and His Word dwell, there love will have the upper hand next to God. Such a high concern is too much for