"My dear Veit," said Luther, "I have said it often and I repeat it
again, whoever would know God aright and speculate concerning Him
without danger, must look into the manger, and learn first of all to
know the Son of the Virgin Mary, born at Bethlehem, lying in His
mother's bosom or hanging upon the cross; then will he understand who
God is. This will not only then be not terrible, but on the contrary
most attractive and comforting. Guard yourself, my dear Veit, from the
proud thought of climbing into heaven without this ladder, apart from
the Lord Jesus Christ in His humanity. As the Word simple describes Him,
stick to this, and do not permit reason to divert you from it; then will
you apprehend God aright! I wish to know of no other God than the God
who hung upon the cross, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and of the Virgin
Mary."
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Luther was remarkable for his contempt of riches, though few men had a
greater opportunity of obtaining them. The Elector of Saxony offered him
the produce of a mine at Sneberg, but he nobly refused it, lest it
should prove an injury to him.
--_Buck._
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