sends greeting,and wishes you a greater and more joyousspirit.Please greetDr. Ludwig the physician, who has written very learnedly to me.
I had not time to write him, for I have to superintendthree printing-presses, all alone.
Farewell in the Lord, and pray for me.
Frederick, afterwards High-born Prince,John Frederick of Highness'sgraciousletter, with its comfortingcontents, with great pleasure.
I have been so long hindered through my opponents'attacks in expounding the " Magnificat,"I now take the opportunityof sendingthese few lines with the littlebook.
I need not enlargeupon the causes of the delay,which I acknowledgewith shame, for it might wound the tender susceptibilities of your
Highness,whose heart is inclined to all that is good, for the furtherance of which may How importantit is that so great a prince,upon whom the welfare of so many depends, should be graciously directed of God, for how much mischief may one left to himself do
For althoughthe hearts of all men are in God's hands, it is not without cause, we are told,that the king'sheart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water,
He turneth it whithersoever The actions of other men mostly affect only themselves, at most bringingjoy or sorrow to a limited number, but lords are set over us who are intended to be useful or prejudicial to a largeror smaller number of peopleaccordingto the size of their land.
God-fearingprincesare called xxix. 9) in the Bible " nay, even On the other hand, wicked princesare called ^*roaring lions" (Zeph.iii.3),"dragons"(Jer.li.34),which Himself numbers among : pestilence, famine,war, noisome beasts (Ezek. xiv. 13-19).
Therefore it is most necessary that all rulers should fear God, seeingthey do not requireto fear men, and should recognise
His works, and walk circumspectly, as Bible so well adaptedfor the instruction of the kingsand rulers of the earth,as well as for all,than this sacred song of the holy
It singsso sweetlyof the fear of the Lord, and of His greatpower, and of His mode of dealing with high and low.
Let others delightin worldlysongs, but let princesand lords listen to this pure maiden singing her spiritual, pure, and salutarysong.
It is not inappropriate that this grandhymn should be dailysung in all the churches at vespers, and should frequently at other times be substituted for other hymns.
God have impartedto me of her spirit, so that I may be able to expound in a practical manner her song, from which your princely
Grace,and all of us, may derive assistance to lead a praiseworthy life, and afterwards to all eternitypraiseand sing this everlasting
" Magnificat."So help us I herewith humbly commend myself to your princely Highnesswill graciously accept my poor effort.
Grace's humble chaplain, Luther promisesto visit him at Thursday I shall visit you, most honoured father, on my way to Worms, with my spiritual escort
" if nothingprevents my coming to Be sure to meet me on my way from Thanks for the ducats you sent.