beingbroken, we shall not believe it to be an evil omen either for you or me.
Our cause cannot be the sport of chance,but is under the guidanceof God, and not under our control.
Word flees and prayer becomes more earnest, v^hile hope endures and faith at lengthconquers, so that if we were not flesh we could sleepin peace, ponderingMoses' words
Lord shall fightfor you, and ye shall hold your peace." For althoughwe might act with all vigilance, stillall would be in vain if God did not fightfor us.
All is well in your home, so do not worry, for Bishops,nay, even the Turks and the devil incarnate,do what theywill,we are the children of the Kingdom
; and althoughscorned by the said Henry, we look for the appearingof the slain Saviour, whom we highlyhonour.
Farewell,and pray for us, as we do for you.
Luther warns his friend againstpoison.
, I received your letters,dearest " with the joyful tidingsof the Emperor's friendly sentiments.
I have alwaysforgotten to remind you to be on your guard at banquets. Dreadful stories are going about regardingpoisoners. It was discovered that the medicine in Erfurt and also the seasonings were poisoned. In Altenburg twelve persons at one table swallowed poison contained in the diff^erent dishes, and died therefrom.
The devil also sends his poisonmixers to I wonder that the great are not more on their guardagainstSatan.
God all goes well here.
Halle during Easter, much to the annoyance of the Castle,but with the approbationof the I am stillbusy with the books of Moses, and at the same time a martyr to a discharge in the ears, at the one moment contemplating life, and at the next death.
April 28 the so-called RegensburgInterim was at length placedbefore the Evangelicals, but not accepted. The Elector urged no half-measures in religious matters, and said even if Dr.
" which,God forbid, we shall not.'* I see from the fifteenarticleswhich you have justsent me what Satan is attempting.But he may turn and twist as he will,his slippery nature has led him into captivity.Only continue to act as To-day we heard good news of the Emperor, which, I fancy,reached me through a letter from the Anhalt to our people.The Emperor summoned both sets of theologians into his chamber, and exhorted them to put aside all thought of their princesand all party spirit, and, lookingto
God alone,seek for the truth only and the welfare of the God strengthen this sacred work.
My hearingisgradually returning, but the head is stilluseless and inflated with all sorts of stormy winds, like the spiritsincarcerated in Aeolus's hell.
Christ lives,even as we live,amid death.
I can sleepas usual and take nourishment.
Satan is in his bath for a time.
Dr. Jonashas been preaching Halle for over three weeks with great blessing, and with the approbationof the peopleand the Mayor, althoughto the dissatisfactionof some.
Mayor continues steadfast in spiteof the furyof the monks and priests.What I write to you is meant for All are well at home.
May you prosper in the Lord.