To the most illustrious and excellent man, Mr. George Spalatin, archbishop of the congregations in Meissen,4 my dearest brother
Grace and peace in Christ! Finally I am writing to you, my Spalatin, after my pen has celebrated so many Sabbath days. By God's grace I gradually recuperate, and learn to eat and drink again.5 Yet my thighs, knees, and bones are still shaky, and are thus far not sufficiently strong to carry my body. I am more exhausted than I thought, but I shall take care of myself with rest and other nourishment until through God's help I have regained my strength.
My Katie greets you reverently; she is sorry that she brought along nothing in the line of a present6 for your daughters,7 but she is now having some little books8 bound, which she has decided to send as a memento. In the meantime she asks that you accept her gratefulness and her good intentions. She raves about your thoughtful treatment, and your great kindness [to her].9
Farewell in Christ, and pray for us!
[Wittenberg,] July 9, 1537 In May of 1536 the Wittenberg Concord was signed. This agreement established unity in the interpretation of the Lord's Supper—and thus ecclesiastical fellowship—between the evangelicals of southwestern
Germany, especially Bucer and Capito (the Reformers of Strassburg), and Luther.1 Shortly thereafter the evangelicals of Strassburg approached Luther with a plan to publish a collection of his works in that city.2
In the following letter Luther mentions that he is not at all eager to have his works republished since, except for his On the Bound Will and his Catechism, he would rather see his books disappear. Then
Luther talks about the Wittenberg Concord. He is confident that Bucer and Capito are working hard to make the concord work and that, not withstanding Satan's work at Augsburg, Christ will complete the work he has begun. Luther also sends his wife's thanks for a golden ring which had been sent by Capito.
Even though the ring has somehow disappeared, to Catherine Luther's bitter disappointment, Luther assures Capito that the hope for unity among the evangelicals has not disappeared.
On Wolfgang Capito, see LW 48, 305, n. 2.
Text in Latin: WA, Br 8, 99–100.3
To the most illustrious man, Mr. Wolfgang Capito, Dr. Theol., a most faithful servant in the congregation4 at Strassburg, my dearest brother in Christ
Grace and peace in Christ! Through those Frenchmen whom you had recommended to me,5 my Capito, I want6 to write back to you. Perhaps they themselves will tell you what they have seen and heard.
Regarding [the plan] to collect my writings in volumes,7 I am quite cool and not at all eager8 about it because, roused by a Saturnian hunger,9 I would rather see them all devoured.10 For I acknowledge none of them to be really a book of mine, except perhaps the one On the Bound Will11 and the Catechism.
Nevertheless I have entrusted the matter to Doctor Caspar Cruciger12 to see if anything ought to be done.
I have an idea that in this case13 you people will put forth much effort; yet I do pray that our [Lord] Christ does not let you work in vain. Others, too, have given me a sufficiently clear picture of the satan at Augsburg;14 but let us wait for Him who has begun His work.15 When His time arrives He will come and will not delay;16 therefore let us not despair. On the other hand, concerning you and Bucer17 I am convinced that you act in a sincere and candid way; not only this, but I also rejoice that all who write to me or talk with me have the same opinion about you people when they mention you.18
My Catherine thanks you for the golden ring.19 Hardly ever have I seen her more indignant than when she realized that the ring either had been stolen by a thief, or had been lost because of her own negligence
(this seems to me unlikely, though I always nag her about it), for I had convinced her that this present had been sent to her as a good omen and token of the fact that your church really is one with ours. And so the woman is crushed. I am writing this for you to know that [nevertheless] we have total and sincere hope regarding unity. May Christ complete the matter. Amen. But this I add: send nothing further to my wife, so that you do not double the sadness, for Christ is sufficient for both of us.