Augmented and Generally Improved Heavenly Love-Kiss

The powerful shall accept Christ, provide for His fellow citizens in everything, watch over their well-being, and allow themselves to be rebuked in deep humility by the Holy Spirit through the office of preaching, just as if they lay on the earth and licked its dust. On that same path, David foretells in Psalm 72:11: "All kings shall worship him." This is to be understood of those who are enlightened by the word of the Gospel. These shall recognize and honor the majesty of Jesus Christ.

Among these (still living) Godly Potentates, Your Illustrious Princely Highness is by no means the least. You not only concern yourself here and there with High Princely courage and zeal for the propagation of the pure Evangelical Religion grounded in God's word, but also lead your subjects both with highly praiseworthy writings, known to the whole world, and by example. Your Illustrious Princely Highness has also at all times loved and chosen such men, and appointed them as Shepherds to your subjects, who have been able to build them up with wholesome teaching and a holy walk of life. Among these, the precious man now resting in God, D. Joachim Lütkeman Doctor Joachim Lütkeman, 1608 to 1655, a Lutheran theologian and author, our much-beloved Father and Soul-caregiver in Christ, was rightly eminent. During his lifetime, he not only frequently praised the high favors of Your Illustrious Princely Highness, but after his death gave others reason to praise them as well.

These and other reasons (which cannot be contained in these narrow

limits) have encouraged me to dedicate and offer this present Heavenly Love-Book, which was prepared in haste at the request of some of my listeners, to Your Illustrious Princely Highness next to God in submissive humility. Submissively requesting Your Illustrious Princely Highness to graciously look upon this minor work with merciful eyes, and also to deign to favor my humble person. I shall never fail to fervently beseech and call upon my God that He may fill Your Illustrious Princely Highness, together with your Illustrious Consort and the associated Princely young Gentlemen, with His wealth of grace, protect you under His wings, and graciously preserve you in constant health and all princely prosperity until a great age.

Your Illustrious Princely Highness’s

Submissive and obedient Servant,

M. Henricus Muller.

Rostock, March 1,
Year 1659.