Alas, I ask myself if this is not happening in punishment of some of my chief patrons and of me. Of my patrons, because, though they believe that Christ is risen, they still wander about in the Garden [looking] for him along with Magdalene, and he has not yet ascended to the Father for them [John 20:17]. Of me, because, as a concession to good friends, I was so subdued at Worms lest I appear stubborn, and so did not make a more explicit and a bolder confession before the tyrants, although since that time these unbelieving heathen have accused me of replying arrogantly. They judge as heathen (that is what they are), who have never sensed a bit of the spirit of faith. I have often regretted my humility and deference.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.65)

Picture:  Art. III  Das Christu Gott und Mensch anser Erlöser und Heÿland seÿ. 
“That Christ God is our Savior and Redeemer of men.”
Jere. 23, v. 6 ;  “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely : and this is his name whereby he shall be called.  THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
1 Tim. 2, v. 5 ; “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

Recently our faith was put to a still harder test. Satan, who always mingles with the children of God [Job 1:6], has made fine sport of us, mainly of me, in Wittenberg.  He has permitted our adversaries to indulge their hatred against us. He opened his mouth wide to vilify the gospel. All my foes, including all devils, no matter how viciously they (often) attacked me, have never hit me as hard as our own people did now. I must confess that the smoke sorely smarts my eyes and makes me heartsick. Here, the devil thought, “I will depress Luther’s courage and break his strong spirit. He will neither understand nor overcome what is done.”  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.64-65)

Picture:  Revelation 14:6-7, “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’”

[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

I ask you and yours to commend him to the Lord in your prayer (for it is our duty to be kindly and sincerely disposed to our adversaries, even though they resent our being so). Perhaps he may be snatched from the jaws of the dragon and be changed from a Saul into a Paul.  The perishing of such miserable people is not to our advantage. I would exhort you to write him such a letter, but, at the same time, I do not like to see that which is holy cast to the dogs, nor pearls to the swine [Matt. 7:6]. For he will not lend an ear to it nor give it a thought, so that I know of nothing else to do in his behalf than to pray for him. He is destroying many souls and storing up a great treasure for himself for the great day of wrath [Rom. 2:5]. However, I shall leave [the decision as to writing him] to your discretion. We will live even if they kill us and inflict every kind of woe upon us.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.64)

Picture: Revelation 18:4-5, “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”

[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

Our wretched foes do not know such happiness and joy in Christ. And they are angry with us because we want to communicate this joy to them and offer it to them. They would give us death in exchange for life. O God, the almighty resurrection of Christ is surely too strong a bulwark for them to intimidate and frighten Him with the momentary power of their straw and paper tyranny! One of the principal foes is that bladder {Duke George of Saxony).  He challenges heaven with his big paunch. He has renounced the gospel. He also plans to devour Christ just as a wolf eats a gnat. He even imagines that he has already bitten more than just a little wound into His left spur, and he rants more than all the others. Certainly I have prayed for him with all my heart, and I felt very sorry for him because of his dreadful attacks. I hear however that his long-deserved judgment is making itself felt.  (Luther’s Works, v.43, p.63-64)

Picture: Art. II  Das nach Adams Fall alle menschen in Sünden gebohren. 
“That after Adam’s fall all people are born sinners.”
Ps. 51, v. 7 ; “Purge me with Hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Rom. 5, v. 12 ; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin : and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]