A06492:1048
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.
I have used many words to declare that a Christian must assure him self that he is in the favour of God, and that he hath the crying of the holy Ghost in his heart.1 This have I done that we may learn to reject and utterly to abandon that devilish opinion of the whole kingdom of the Pope, which taught that a man ought to be uncertain and to stand in doubt of the grace and favour of God towards him. If this opinion be received, then Christ profiteth nothing. For he that doubteth of Gods favour towards him, must needs doubt also of the promises of God, and so consequently of the will of God,2 and of the benefits of Christ: namely that he was borne, suffered, died, and rose again for us. &c. But there can be no greater blasphemy against God, then to deny his promises, to deny God himself, Christ. &c. Wherefore it was not only an extreme madness, but an horrible impiety that the Monks did so earnestly entice the youth both men and women to their Monasteries, to their religious and holy orders (as they called them) as to a most certain state of salvation, and yet, when they had thus done, they bad them doubt of the grace and favour of God towards them.
I haue vsed many wordes to declare that a Christian must assure him selfe that he is in the fauour of God, and that he hath the crying of the holy Ghost in his heart.1 This haue I done that we may learne to reiect and vtterly to abandon that deuillish opinion of the whole kingdom of the Pope, which taught that a man ought to be vncertaine and to stand in dout of the grace and fauour of God towards him. If this opinion be receaued, then Christ profiteth nothing. For he yt douteth of Gods fauour towardes him, must needes dout also of the promises of God, and so consequently of the will of God,2 and of the benefites of Christe: namely that he was borne, suffered, died, and rose againe for vs. &c. But there can be no greater blasphemie against God, then to deny his promises, to deny God himselfe, Christ. &c. Wherfore it was not onely an extreme madnes, but an horrible impietie that ye Monks did so earnestly entice the youth both men and women to their Monasteries, to their religious and holy orders (as they called them) as to a most certaine state of saluation, and yet, when they had thus done, they bad them doubt of the grace and fauour of God towards them.