“Wherefore, Dr. Severus, you ought to write that man [in Linz] that he shouldn’t torment himself but should have confidence. In his good time the devil will of his own accord stop forcing such blasphemies upon him. As far as perfect righteousness is concerned, I can readily believe that he desires to be perfectly righteous and that he tries to be holy and blameless. But such a life would be a life of angels and it will not be ours except in the future life. I often get angry with myself because I find much impurity in myself. But what should I do? I can’t divest myself of my nature. Meanwhile Christ deems us righteous on account of his blood and counts for righteousness the fact that we desire to be righteous, abhor this uncleanness, and love his Word and trust in him. (Luther’s Works, v. 54, p.374)

“This ceasing {of struggles at the end} happened to me in Gotha. Being certain that I was about to die I said farewell to everybody, called Pomeranus, commended to him the church, the school, my wife, and the rest, and asked him to absolve me of my sins. I requested my dear Frederick to keep me in his cemetery in Gotha, but he said, ‘Doctor, I don’t want to have you here; you ought to go back home.’ Thus with a peaceful mind and without any struggle at all I would have fallen asleep in Christ. But Christ wished me to live on. So also my Katy, when we had all given up hope for her life, would have died willingly, happily, and with complete peace, and she said nothing at all but, ‘In thee, O Lord, do I seek refuge; let me never be put to shame’ [Ps. 31:1]. She repeated this more than a thousand times.” She was now seated at the table and confirmed this. Then the doctor added, “If we hadn’t had children I wouldn’t have said one more prayer for her but would have committed her soul to Christ’s keeping.  (Luther’s Works, v. 54, p.374)

Severus said, “Doctor, there is a certain doctor in Linz who is sorely tried because he cannot find perfect righteousness in himself and because, when he prays, blasphemies against Christ always come to his mind.

“This is a good sign,” Luther replied. “There are two kinds of blasphemy. First, there is active blasphemy when we consciously and intentionally look for reasons to blaspheme, as Faber, the duke of Braunschweig, and the rest do. God keep us from this! But, second, blasphemy is passive when the devil introduces such perverse thoughts into our heads against our will and in spite of our struggle against them. By means of these thoughts God wishes to occupy us so that we don’t get lazy and snore but fight against them and pray. But when the end of life approaches, these temptations cease, for then the Holy Spirit is near to his Christians, keeps the devil at a distance, and gives us a tranquil and quiet mind.  (Luther’s Works, v. 54, p.373)