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 1535 LETTERS OF MARTIN LUTHER 311 He is the best of Princes ; but excepting him, there is no one who would not suspect me. From this you may see what a zeal there is for God's Word in the world. Meantime sing this psalm, " Wait upon the Lord." Ah, it cannot be otherwise ! We must elbow our way through glory and shame, through reproach and error, through evil and good, through — and ever through — devils and angels, to that only One who alone is good. Therefore I beseech you, dear brother, listen to no one, but com- mune solely with liim alone. All others, although they may be the best of men, have more sense of justice than endurance. For we are all human, and the flesh combats the spirit on the battle-ground. But if it gets the length of defying you to your face, and openly showing their hatred to you, then it will be time to think of other remedies. God help us 1 How strong God permits the devil to be, and us so weak ! Do not be offended with me, and consider that God is perhaps proving us, and that it is not perhaps a blessed thing to trust in man, even if he be a prince, while it is shameful for a Christian to fear men. May Christ, our life, salvation, and glory, be with you and all belonging to us. God grant it. Sunday cantate. Martin Luther. (Schutze.) CCCXXVI To THE Elector John Frederick Fear of the plague drove the University staff to Jena. 7«^ 9. 1535- Grace and peace in Christ, with my poor paternoster, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord ! Dr. Brack has shown me your Electoral Highness's gracious request, occasioned by the flight of so many here, who are in mortal dread of death, and I humbly thank you for your solicitude and offer, of which I shall gladly avail myself when necessary. But my weather-cock, on whom I implicitly rely, is the overseer {^Landvogt) Hans Metsch, who has a marvellous hawk's nose for the pestilence, and would smell it even were it hidden five ells below ground.