Page:The letters of Martin Luther.djvu/373

1536 LETTERS OF MARTIN LUTHER 233 another time being fixed ? The world is full of knavery. Farewell in Christ, and pray for me, my brother ; I need it greatly. Greet your noble Prince from me. Martin Luther. (Walch, 2 1. 1536.) CCCXLVII To George Spalatin Luther complains of want of benevolence. September 24, 1536. To the highly esteemed George Spalatin, shepherd and Bishop of the Church at Altenburg, my beloved in the Lord. Grace and peace in Christ ! I beg of you, dearest Spalatin, that as soon as Brisger returns, you will arrange with him to help this poor person, Elsie von Reinsberg, and see that no one treats her harshly or speaks unkindly to her. For who knows in what insignificant person we may have the opportunity of honouring the Lord Jesus. I fear greatly that at length we shall be deprived of the Word of God, because of our horrible ingratitude and our neglect of it. Almost all the churches think, " We shall steer clear of the poor and send them to Wittenberg," and this we are daily experiencing. No one is willing to do good and help the poor. Farewell, and pray for me. Martin Luther. (Walch, 21. 1275.) CCCXLVIIl To THE King of Denmark Luther approves of Bishops being driven away. December 2, 1536. Grace and peace in Christ our Lord, and my poor paternoster, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious King ! I have received your Majesty's letter, and am much pleased that you have extirpated the Bishops (who are always persecuting God's Word and intriguing in worldly matters), and I shall reply to your Majesty's epistle to the best of my ability. But I most humbly