A06492:1012
Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians
A commentary of M. Doctor Martin Luther upon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galatians first collected and gathered word by word out of his preaching, and now out of Latin faithfully translated into English for the unlearned. Wherein is set forth most excellently the glorious riches of Gods grace ...A commentarie of M. Doctor Martin Luther vpon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galathians first collected and gathered vvord by vvord out of his preaching, and novv out of Latine faithfully translated into English for the vnlearned. Wherein is set forth most excellently the glorious riches of Gods grace ...
London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier dwelling wihtin sic, 1575London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier dvvelling vvihtin sic, 1575
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1This was in deed a wonderful combat, where the law being a creature, giveth such an assault to his creator, and against all right & equity practiseth his whole tyranny upon the Son of God which it exercised upon us the children of wrath. Now therefore, because the law did so horribly and so cursedly sin against his God, it is accused & arraigned.2 There Christ saith: O law, thou mighty Queen and cruel Regent of all mankind, what have I done, that thou hast accused me, terrified me, and condemned me which am innocent? Here the law, which had before condemned and killed all men, when it hath nothing wherewith to defend or purge it self, is again so condemned & vanquished, that it loseth his whole right, not only over Christ (whom it so cruelly handled and killed) but also over all them that believe in him. For to those Christ saith:3 Come unto me all ye that labour under the yoke of the law.4 I could have overcome the law by my absolute power, with out mine own smart: for I am Lord of the law, and therefore it hath no right over me. But I have made my self subject unto the law for your cause which were under the law, taking your flesh upon me: that is to say, of mine inestimable love I humbled and yielded my self to the same prison, tyranny and bondage of the law, under the which ye served as captives and bondslaves, I suffered the law to have dominion over me which was his Lord, to terrify me, to make me thrall & captive unto sin, death & the wrath of God: which it ought not to have done. Therefore I have vanquished the law by double right & authority:5 First as the son of God & Lord of the law: Secondly in your person: which is as much as if ye had overcome the law your selves: for my victory is yours.
1This was in deede a wonderful combate, where the law being a creature, geueth such an assault to his creatour, and against all right & equitie practiseth his whole tyrannie vpon ye Sonne of God which it exercised vpon vs the children of wrath. Now therfore, because ye lawe did so horribly and so cursedly sinne against his God, it is accused & arraigned.