Master Christian * and others. They now laugh about it and say that they would, perhaps, be still in bed if we had not aroused them. Not that I think the disease is to be made light of, but we must distinguish between the times when we actually get the contagion and the times when we seem to get it from imagination and fear; imagination brings on the at- tack and the state of the mind affects the body. But pray for me, a sinner, and if your guest is still there, greet him in my name. Christ the Lord be with you. Amen.
Your Martin Luther.
848. LUTHER TO JOHN BRENZ IN SWABIAN HALL.
Enders, vii, 154., (WrrTENBERc), August 29, 1529.
The original of this letter is in the Castle Library at Ansbach. See Th. Preger in S4 Jahresbericht des historischen Vereins fur Mittsl- franken, 125.
Grace and peace in Christ. Your prophet Amos, venerable and renowned Master Brenz, has been given me, and I have read it through. Far be it from me either to change or add an3rthing in that work. I do not wish to be a Master of Sacred Scripture ; would that I were in some measure its pupil. The man to whom you entrusted it is purposely putting off the publication of it, fearing some trick of the printers; but he will publish it unless he pays no attention to my urging.' May Christ go on, and perfect His work in you.
You write, besides, about the meeting in Hesse to which you have been asked. You rightly judge that no good usually comes to the Church of God from these deceitful meetings. Therefore I beg you, if possible, not to be present, and if you have not already promised, do not do so.* At the banning we firmly refused, but that young Macedonian * of Hesse wor-
^Who is meant? Endcrt (Lc, n. 3) shows that it could not have been either Beyer or Doering. It is quite possible that Luther was thinking of Christian Neumayer, who matriculated on March x8, 1529, and took his M.A. September 4, 1 53 1. Luther might have called him "Master" proleptically. as older students are frequently called "Herr Doktor" in German universities now. Luther speaks of the girl he married, Enders, vii, 77, Neumayer was later professor at Wit- tenberg, ordained pastor of Dobeln in 1540, died 1543. Enders, xv, 160.
- It was a full year, however, before Brenz's Commentary on Amos appeared.
- Brenz had already promised in a letter of July 19. (Enders.)
- A nickname derived from the famous Philip of Macedon.
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