t, thy God and Saviour, in
thy brethren." [Matt. 25:41]

Since, then, most noble Prince, I perceive that your Lordship has
been smitten with a dangerous malady, and that Christ has thus
fallen sick in you, I have counted it my duty to visit your
Lordship with a little writing of mine. For I cannot pretend to
be deaf to the voice of Christ crying to me out of your
Lordship's flesh and blood, "Behold, here am I sick." For such
ills as sickness and the like are endured, not by us Christians,
but by Christ Himself, our Lord and Saviour, in Whom we live.
Even as He plainly testifies in the Gospel, "Whatsoever ye have
done unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it
unto Me." [Matt. 25:40] And while we should visit and console all
who are afflicted with sickness, yet we owe this duty specially
to those who are of the household of faith. For Paul clearly
distinguishes between strangers and those of the household, or
those who are bound to us by intimate ties, Galatians vi. [Gal.
6:10]

But I have yet other reasons for performing this my duty. For I
consider that, as one of your Lordship's subjects, I must needs
share in your Lordship's illness, together with the remainder of
your many subjects, and suffer with you as a member with the
Head, on which all our fortunes, our safety, and our happiness
depend. For we recognize in your Lordship another Naaman [2
Kings, 5:1], by whom God is now giving deliverance to Germany, as
in times past He gave deliverance to Syria. Wherefore the whole
Roman Empire turns its eyes to your Lordship alone, and venerates
and receives you as the Father of the Fatherland, and the bright
ornament and protector of the whole Empire, but of the German
nation in particular.[6]

Nor are we bound only to console your Lordship as much as in us
lies, and to make your present sorrow our own, but much more to
pray God for your health and safety; which I trust your
Lordship's subjects are doing with all diligence and devotion.
But as for me, whom your Lordship's many and signal benefactions
have made your debtor above all others, I count it my duty to
express my gratitude by rendering you some special service. But
now, by reason of my poverty both of mind and fortune, it is not
possible for me to offer anything of value; therefore I gladly
welcomed the suggestion of Doctor George Spalatin, one of your
Lordship's court chaplains, that I should prepare a kind of
spiritual consolation and prese