The loving children do live innocently, they know of no sins, they
are without malice, wrath, covetousness, and unbelief, etc.
Therefore they are merry and possess a good conscience; they fear no
danger, whether wars, pestilence, or death.

They will take an apple rather than a crown; what they hear
concerning Christ, of the life to come, etc., the same do they
believe simply and plainly, and prattle joyfully thereof. From
whence Christ speaketh unto us old ones earnestly to follow their
examples, where he saith, "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom
of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." For the
children believe aright, and Christ loveth them with their childish
sports. On the contrary, he is an enemy to the wisdom of the world
(Matt. xi.).


Of an Example of Faith in the Time of Dearth.

At Eisleben, said Luther, I was well acquainted with a godly matron,
who, in the time of the last dearth, with two children, had suffered
extreme want and need. Now, when she had spent all her provision,
and had nothing more to live upon, she trimmed herself with her
children, and went towards a well or fountain to drink. In her
going she prayed that God would be pleased to preserve and keep her
in that fierce time of dearth. Upon the way a man met her,
questioned and disputed with her whether she thought to get
something to eat at the fountain. She said, "Yea, why not? for all
things are possible to God and easy to be done; he that fed the
great multitude of the people of Israel forty years with manna in
the wilderness, he can also preserve me and mine with drinking of