Luther's afterthought on fleeing the plague

Martin Luther's advice is wonderfully practical as well as theological and spiritual. After the details on what to do during the time of a plague, he adds this afterthought on how one should care and provide for the soul in time of death. It seems appropriate to review: The best thing is to be leading a good life--attend church and listen to the sermon and know God's word

. . .those who are so uncouth and wicked as to despise God's word while they are in good health should be left unattended when they are sick unless they demonstrate their remorse and repentance with great earnestness, tears, and lamentation. A person who wants to live like a heathen or a dog and does not publicly repent should not expect us to administer the sacrament to him or have us count him a Christian. . . Sad to say, there are many churlish, hardened ruffians who do not care for their souls when they live or when they die.

Second, everyone should prepare in time and get ready for death by going to confession and taking the sacrament once every week or fortnight. He should become reconciled with his neighbor and make his will so that if the Lord knocks and he departs before a pastor or chaplain can arrive, he has provided for his soul, has left nothing undone, and has committed himself to God. . .

Third, if someone wants the chaplain or pastor to come, let the sick person send word in time to call him and let him do so early enough while he is still in his right mind before the illness overwhelms the patient. . .

Then he continues with more practical advice--where to locate the cemeteries. He says he's not a doctor of medicine and doesn't know if cemeteries pollute the air, but he thinks the ancient custom of both the Jews and pagans of locating cemeteries outside the city was prudent.

A cemetery rightfully ought to be a fine quiet place, removed from all other localities, to which one can go and reverently meditate upon death, the Last Judgment, the resurrection, and say one's prayers. Such a place should properly be a decent, hallowed place, to be entered with trepidation and reverence because doubtlessly some saints rest there.

He goes on to complain about the condition of Wittenberg's cemetery where there is no respect for the graves. And closes with the reminder to battle the real and spiritual pestilence of Satan who now poisons and defiles the world.

From Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings, (Fortress, 1989) ed by Timothy F. Lull. The 2005 edition has been scanned.