A06492:1045
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.
The Papists dreamed that holy men had the holy Ghost in such sort that they never had nor felt any tentation. They spake of the holy Ghost only by speculation and naked knowledge. But Paul sayeth that the strength of Christ is made perfect through our weakness: Also, that the spirit helpeth our infirmities, and maketh intercession for us with unspeakable groanings. 1Therefore we have then most need of the help and comfort of the holy Ghost, yea and then is he most ready to help us when we are most weak and nearest to desperation. If any man suffer affliction with a constant and a joyful heart, then hath the holy Ghost done his office in him. And in deed he exerciseth his work specially and properly in those which have suffered great terrors and afflictions, and have, as the Psalm sayeth, approached nigh to the gates of hell: As I said of Moses, 2which saw present death in the waters, and on every side whether so ever he turned his face. He was therefore in extreme anguish and desperation, and, no doubt, he felt in his heart a mighty cry of the Devil against him, saying: All this people shall this day perish, for they can escape no way. And of this great calamity thou only shalt be found to be the author because thou hast led them out of Egypt. Besides all this, the people cried out against him, saying: Were there no graves in Egypt? Thou hast brought us out that we should die here in the wilderness.3 ⟨image 189⟩Had it not been better for us to have served the Egyptians, then here wretchedly to die in the wilderness? The holy Ghost was not here in Moses by bare speculation and knowledge only, but truly and effectually, who made intercession for him with an unspeakable groaning, so that he sighed unto the Lord and said: O Lord at thy commandment have I led forth this people: help us therefore. This groaning or sighing unto God, the scripture calleth a crying.
The Papistes dreamed that holy men had the holy Ghost in such sort that they neuer had nor felt any tentation. They spake of the holy Ghost onely by speculation and naked knowledge. But Paule sayeth that the strength of Christe is made perfecte through our vveaknes: Also, that the spirite helpeth our infirmities, and maketh intercession for vs vvith vnspeakeable gronings.