214 LUTHER'S CORRESPONDENCE AND Let 6io
Lord Jesus Christ, Who has given me not only to know His Word and His Spirit, but also to see in you the rich and splen- did increase of His grace. Alas ! though I am held up as the first to teach these things, I am the last to share your chains and fires, and perhaps I shall never be found worthy to share them. Nevertheless I shall avenge myself for my un worthiness and console myself with the thought that your chains and prisons and fires are all my own, as, indeed, they are so long as I confess and preach these doctrines and sympathize with you and rejoice with you. But may the Lord Jesus, Who hath begun His glory in you, perfect it unto His own day.* And so, my brother, do you pray for me as I for you, mindful that you are not suffering alone, but that He is with you Who says,' "I am with him in tribulation ; be- cause he has hoped in Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he hath known My name." But we, too, are with you, as the Lord is, and neither He nor we will desert you. Be a man, let your heart be strong, wait for the Lord.* He has said,* In the world you shall have tribulation, but in Me peace ; be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Do not argue with Satan, but fix your eyes upon the Lord, relying in simple faith upon Jesus Christ, and know that by His blood we shall be saved. Our works and the laws of men cannot be the blood of Christ, and, therefore, they can neither take away our sins nor justify us, neither can they condemn us or accuse us.
Here in the duchy of our Elector there is peace, but the Duke of Bavaria and the Bishop of Treves are killing and driving out and persecuting many. Other bishops and princes are abstaining, indeed, from blood, but not from violence and threats, and everywhere Christ has become again "a reproach of men and despised of the people."* You have become a member of Him by the holy calling of our Father. May He perfect His calling in you, to the glory of His name and of His Word. Amen.
Farewell in Christ, my brother. All our friends and our
- Psalm xxU, 7.
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