A06492:105
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.
But true Christian divinity (as I give you often warning) setteth not God forth unto us in his majesty, as Moses and other doctrines do. It commandeth us not to search out the nature of God: but to know his will set out to us in Christ,1 whom he would have to take our flesh upon him, to be borne and to die for our sins, and that this should be preached among all nations. For seeing the world by wisdom knew not God in the wisdom of God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.2 1. Cor. 1. Wherefore, when thy conscience standeth in the conflict, wrestling against the law, sin, and death in the presence of God, there is nothing more dangerous then to wander with curious speculations in heaven, and there to search out God in his incomprehensible power, wisdom and majesty, how he created the world and how he governeth it. If thou seek thus to comprehend God, and wouldest pacify him without Christ the Mediator, making thy works a mean between him and thy self, it can not be but that thou must fall as Lucifer did,3 and in horrible despair lose God and altogether. For as God is in his own nature unmeasurable, incomprehensible, and infinite, so is he to mans nature intolerable.
But true Christian diuinitie (as I geue you often warning) setteth not God forth vnto vs in his maiestie, as Moises and other doctrines do. It commaundeth vs not to search out the nature of God: but to know his will set out to vs in Christ,1 whom he would haue to take our flesh vpon him, to be borne and to die for our sinnes, and that this should be preached among all nations. For seeing the world by wisedom knew not God in the wisedom of God, it pleased God by the foolishnes of preaching to saue thē that beleue.2 1. Cor. 1. Wherfore, when thy conscience standeth in the conflict, wrastling against the law, sinne, and death in the presence of God, there is nothing more daungerous then to wander with curious speculatiōs in heauen, and there to search out God in his incomprehensible power, wisedom and maiestie, how he created the world and how he gouerneth it. If thou seeke thus to comprehend God, and wouldest pacifie him without Christ the Mediator, making thy workes a meane betweene him and thy selfe, it can not be but that thou must fall as Lucifer did,