This one argument, I say, would be abundantly enough, even if it were the only one, to demonstrate this. If there is neither wisdom nor knowledge nor reason in death, whither we are hastening (Eccl. 9:10), then the world is that way by which we hasten to such great wretchedness. And so, the faster it hastens, the more it shares in its own end (like every motion). This is surely what Hezekiah says (Is. 38:18): “Neither shall death praise Thee, nor shall they who go down into the pit look for Thy truth.” If they who go down do not look for it, how much more is this true of those who are already in the pit and have gone down! For those who are going down are the ones in the world of whom he said that they are hastening to death.

Therefore, O thick darkness of Egypt, which ignores such great benefits of the Word of God! But, O blessed light of the church, which still sees, so that it also rejoices at these: In the midst of persecuting and threatening princes she still has more joy within than grief without; the words of God do more to strengthen the spirit than the scourges of men to weaken the flesh. The latter is afflicted with the pains of tormentors, the former is consoled by the strength of words. Wonderful exchange, that words prevail over things, things that are contrary and exceedingly strong! As Isaiah promises (Is. 50:4): “The Lord has given me a learned tongue, that I should know how to uphold by the Word him who is weary.” “By the Word,” he says, namely, by the naked Word without the reality set forth, but not without the reality to be set forth. (Luther’s Works, v. 11, p.519-520)

The words of God are foolish to men and of no weight. For if they esteemed them as precious, wise, and good, they would undoubtedly not have thus disdained them. They can indeed say that they love and esteem the Word of God, but they deny it by their deeds. They can also say that they hate the world and regard it as nothing, but they approve of it by their deeds. For when they reach out all day and night for those things that are of the world, yes, week after week, but do not reach out for the Word of God on a festival day, it is plainly evident that “they do not rejoice but sicken at Your words,” like the Jews in the wilderness, who found many things lacking and no spoils. And this is a clear demonstration that the world is the image of hell and a model and forerunner of the damned, yes, like the lodging of the devil and ungodliness, which consistently ignores the Word of God and its immeasurable benefits and does not see them and most basely despises them. (Luther’s Works, v. 11, p.519)

Therefore he says in opposition to both: “I am neither afraid of you, nor will I rejoice with you, for there are other things that I fear and other things in which I will rejoice; I fear Him who can destroy into hell, and not the princes who kill the body (Matt. 10:28). And I will rejoice at the words of God, and not at the presence of your pleasure.” He compares himself to one finding many spoils. And how does he rejoice, I ask? I think that he rejoices in the manner which the Lord describes in Matt. 13:44, that a man who found a treasure hidden in a field hid it and went for joy, etc. He rejoices, but not openly. He alone knows his joy, because he alone knows his good. If he had published it, then the field would certainly not have been sold to him, and he would not have gained possession of the treasure. Or if he had possessed it, he would have possessed it with danger. Such is the joy of the Spirit, because it is in secret, because he alone knows, because also he alone knows his spiritual good. (Luther’s Works, v. 11, p.519)

162. I will rejoice at Thy words like one who has found great spoil. Our every rejoicing is in the hope of things to come, and not in the reality of things present. For this reason we rejoice, because we believe the divine promises, and we hope for and love the things which He promises. For he does not say “I will rejoice at the riches of the world” but “at Thy words.” And it is the voice of the church living among persecutors. For all persecutors did this to lure the faithful to the vanities of the world and passing joys, so that they would either rejoice with them in the worst things, or at least fear them, if they were unwilling to rejoice. And so they attempted to force to joys through grief, to delights through afflictions, to pleasures through torments. (Luther’s Works, v. 11, p.518-519)

“But the princes, who are nevertheless powerful, threatening, terrible, and more to be feared than others, not only resorted to threats to scare me, but they persecuted in deed and showed all their terror. And behold, I still did not fear them, but rather stood in awe of Your words, so that I might conquer fear of them.” Therefore this is not the word of teenage girls, but of the bride herself. But when do we so despise ourselves (not to speak of princes) or the lowest men, that we do not stand in awe of them? Yes, we even quake before those who are not yet persecuting but only threatening a little bit, and we tremble at their word, but we are insensitive to the Word of God! But the church is not afraid of all the persecuting princes of the world, because she stands in awe of the words of God. This she would not do, unless, despising all things by faith, she savored eternal things alone. We would surely do the same, unless we were afraid that temporal things would be taken away, threatened, or not given. (Luther’s Works, v. 11, p.518)

161. Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart has stood in awe of Thy words. This is great grace, that the words (verba) of God are feared more than the scourges (verbera) of men, that the punishments threatened for the future have more effect than those inflicted in the present, that the invisible things mean more than the visible. Who does this but the most perfect faith in the future? A weak faith surely does not do this. For their flesh is more vigorous to fear and love visible things than the spirit is to fear and love invisible things. If this should be called vigor at all, and not rather the most wretched weakness, by which it comes about that future punishments that are so inestimable are given little or no thought over against punishments that are so paltry and short, and that future benefits so desirable are despised for the sake of present benefits that are so unstable and uncertain. But oh, if we could only ponder with due feeling what it means to say, “God speaks,” “God promises,” “God threatens!” Who, I beg you, would not quake from the foundation? It is a great word, a great and fearful sound to say, “Behold the Word of God!” Blessed are they who hear the Word of God, the Word of such great majesty, which holds, does, and ends all things by a nod. Here only a full faith is wanting. If it were there, it would cause full fear and trembling at the words of God, so that this happy boasting would belong to faith alone and to the most vigorous faith. (Luther’s Works, v. 11, p.517-518)

To such knowledge (I say) God has graciously called you. You possess God’s seal and letter of this [calling], namely, the gospel you hear preached, baptism, and the sacrament of the altar, so that you should have no trouble or danger. Only be of good cheer and thank [God] joyfully for such great grace! For he who has begun [his work] in you will also graciously complete it, since we are unable to help ourselves in such matters. We are unable to accomplish anything against sin, death, and the devil by our own works. Therefore, another appears for us and in our stead who definitely can do better; he gives us his victory, and commands us to accept it and not to doubt it. He says: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”; and again: “I live, and you will live also, and no one will take your joy from you.”

The Father and God of all consolation grant you, through his holy Word and Spirit, a steadfast, joyful, and grateful faith blessedly to overcome this and all other trouble, and finally to taste and experience that what he himself says is true: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” And with this I commend your body and soul to his mercy. Amen.

All your children and my Katie pray for you; some weep, others say at dinner: “Grandmother is very sick.” God’s grace be with us all. Amen. Your loving son, Martin Luther  May 20, 1531  (Luther’s Works, v. 50, p.21)

By such words and thoughts, and by none other, let your heart be moved, dear Mother. Above all be thankful that God has brought you to such knowledge and not allowed you to remain caught in papistic error, by which we were taught to rely on our own works and the holiness of the monks, and to consider this only comfort of ours, our Savior, not as a comforter but as a severe judge and tyrant, so that we had to flee from him to Mary and the saints, and not expect of him any grace or comfort. But now we know it differently, [we know] about the unfathomable goodness and mercy of our heavenly Father: that Jesus Christ is our mediator, our throne of grace, and our bishop before God in heaven, who daily intercedes for us and reconciles all who believe in him alone, and who call upon him; that he is not a judge, nor cruel, except for those who do not believe in him, or who reject his comfort and grace; [and] that he is not the man who accuses and threatens us, but rather the man who reconciles us [with God], and intercedes for us with his own death and blood shed for us so that we should not fear him, but approach him with all assurance and call him dear Savior, sweet Comforter, faithful bishop of our souls, etc. (Luther’s Works, v. 50, p.20-21)

Let us therefore now rejoice with all assurance and gladness, and should any thought of sin or death frighten us, let us in opposition to this lift up our hearts and say: “Behold, dear soul, what are you doing? Dear death, dear sin, how is it that you are alive and terrify me? Do you not know that you have been overcome? Do you, death, not know that you are quite dead? Do you not know the One who says of you: ‘I have overcome the world?’ It does not behoove me either to listen to your terrifying suggestions, or heed them. Rather [I should listen] to the comforting words of my Savior: ‘Be of good cheer, be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ He is the victor, the true hero, who gives and appropriates to me his victory with this word: ‘Be of good cheer!’ I shall cling to him, and to his words and comfort I shall hold fast; regardless whether I remain here or go yonder, I shall live by [this word, for] he does not lie to me. You would like to deceive me with your terrors, and with your lying thoughts you would like to tear me away from such a victor and savior. But they are lies, as surely as it is true that he has overcome you and commanded us to be comforted.

“Saint Paul also boasts likewise and defies the terrors of death: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O hell, where is thy sting?’ Like a wooden image of death, you can terrify and challenge, but you have no power to strangle. For your victory, sting, and power have been swallowed up in Christ’s victory. You can show your teeth, but you cannot devour, for God has given us the victory over you through Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be praise and thanks. Amen.” (Luther’s Works, v. 50, p.19-20)

Second, dear Mother, you also know the true center and foundation of your salvation from whom you are to seek comfort in this and all troubles, namely, Jesus Christ, the cornerstone. He will not waver or fail us, nor allow us to sink or perish, for he is the Savior and is called the Savior of all poor sinners, and of all who are caught in tribulation and death, and rely on him, and call on his name.

[Christ] says: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” If he has overcome the world, surely he has also overcome the sovereign of this world with all his power. But what else is [the devil’s] power but death, by which he has made us subject to himself, [and] held us captives on account of our sin? But now that death and sin are overcome, we may joyfully and cheerfully listen to the sweet words: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We certainly are not to doubt that these words are indeed true. More than that, we are commanded to accept this comfort with joy and thanksgiving. Whoever would be unwilling to be comforted by these words would do the greatest injustice and dishonor to the dear Comforter, as if it were not true that he bids us to be of good cheer, or as if it were not true that he has overcome the world. [If we acted thus,] we would only restore within ourselves the tyranny of the vanquished devil, sin, and death, and oppose the dear Savior. From this may God preserve us. (Luther’s Works, v. 50, p.19)