He has done all for the best, more than we can conceive. May our dear Lord and Saviour be with you, so that, God willing, we may see each other, either here or yonder. For our faith is certain, and we doubt not that we shall shortly see one another in the sight of Christ and God ; our departure from this life is a smaller thing than the journey from here to Mansf eld. It is only an hour's sleep, after which all will be diflferent.
I hope that your pastor and preacher* will point out such things to you in faithful service, so that you will not need what I say at all, but yet I write to ask forgiveness for my bodily absence, which, God knows, causes me heartfelt sorrow. My Katie, little Hans, Magdalene, Aunt Lena,* and all my household send you greetings and pray for you faithfully. Greet my dear mother and all my friends. God's grace and strength be and abide with you forever. Amen.
Your loving son, Martin Luther.
869. LUTHER TO JOHN FREDERIC, DUKE OF SAXONY.
De Wette, iii, 555. German. (WtftenberCv February or March, 155a) This is the dedication of the German translation of Daniel, just completed.
Grace and peace in Christ our Lord. The world runs and hastens so diligently to its end that it often occurs to me forci- bly that the last day will break before we can completely turn the Holy Scripture into German. For it is certain from the Holy Scriptures that we have no more temporal things to expect. All is done and fulfilled : the Roman Empire is at an end ; the Turk has reached his highest point ; the pomp of the papacy is falling away and the world is cracking on all sides almost as if it would break and fall apart entirely. It is true that this same Roman Empire now under our Emperor Charles is coming up a bit and is becoming mightier than it has been for a long time, but I think that that shows it is the last phase, and that before God it is just as when a light or wisp
^ Michael Coelius. Luther was fond of telling how when the pastor read his letter to old Hans and asked him if he believed its doctrine, the dying man replied: "Ay; he would be a knave who did not." Smith, p. 190.
'Magdalene von Bora, an aunt of Catharine's, who had also been at Nimbsckea -with her, and who lived with the Luthers for many years. She died 1537.
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