Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/316

 now that the Emperor — the authority of God’s appointing — commands that peace should be concluded, this should be regarded as if God were holding out His gracious hand to us, and we must not let Him do so in vain. It is easy for an ordinary person to look forward to war, for he has little to lose and can crawl easier out of the mire than the Prince he has perhaps drawn into it. But I am becoming too worldly wise and garrulous, but it is my anxiety for my dear sovereign Prince which prompts me. However, I believe your Grace will manage better than I fear, and I shall cry earnestly to God for you, for it is He who must begin, carry on, and perfect anything good. Man’s thoughts are only foolishness. Your Electoral Grace’s obedient MARTIN LUTHER. (De Wette.)

CCLXXXIII
TO HIS WIFE

From Torgau, where Luther is detained by the Elector’s illness.

February 27, 1532.

To my beloved wife Katherine. God greets you in Christ. I hope if Dr.

Bruck gets leave for me that I shall accompany him home tomorrow or the day after. Pray God to bring us back fresh and well. I sleep six or seven hours running, and afterwards two or three. I am sure it is owing to the beer. But in the morning before I have eaten anything, I am fit for nothing, as in Wittenberg. Dr. Caspar says that our gracious lord’s foot is not mortifying further. But no prisoner on the ladder in the tower suffers as much from Hans Stockmeister as does his Grace from the surgeons. His whole body is as sound as a fish, but the devil has his foot in his grip. Pray, go on praying! For God has begun to hear us.

As Johannes is leaving, honor demands that I shall give him an honorable discharge. For you know how faithfully he has served us, and how humbly he has