The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

her age, the day of her death, and a text of Scripture. Some time after,
when Luther could apply himself to labor, he composed a Latin
inscription, which was carved upon a monumental slab: and which
breathes a spirit of subdued melancholy, and resignation to God's will:
"Dormio cum Sanctis hic Magdalena, Lutheri
Filia, et hoc strato tecta quiesco meo;
Filia mortis eram, peccati semine nata,
Sanguine sed vivo Christe redempta tuo."
"I, Luther's daughter Madeleine, with the Saints here sleep,
And covered, calmly rest on this my couch of earth;
Daughter of death I was, born of the seed of sin,
But by thy precious blood redeemed, O Christ! I live."
“We looked," says Audin, the Romish historian, who, animated by a
strange enthusiasm for the great opposer of the corruptions of his Church,
followed his footsteps as a pilgrim--"we looked for this tomb in the
cemetery at Wittenberg, but could not find it." The mild, regular features,
the gentle eyes, the broad forehead, the flowing hair, and womanly repose,
which the picture 15 of this child presents, are all in keeping with the image
which her father's grief has impressed upon the heart; and though the
searcher looks in vain for the stone which marks her lowly resting-place,
her memory shall dwell sweetly in the heart of the world, with that of her
more than illustrious father, to the end of time.
Luther’s last days. Death.
The next two pictures illustrate Luther's strength of character while
in personal jeopardy. The first represents Luther and Kohlhase--the
second, Luther among the dying and the dead, during the plague. The last
three pictures present the closing scenes of his life--his journey to
Mansfeld on a mission of peace and conciliation, his death and burial.
During his last hours he repeated frequently the words: "Father, into thy
hands I commend my spirit. Thou hast redeemed me, 0 God of truth."
When Jonas and Coelius asked him, "Reverend father, do you die faithful
15 This portrait is given in Juncker’s interesting work on the medals of the Reformation.