A06492:1059
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.
Verse. 7. Now, if thou be a son, thou art also the heir of God thorough Christ.
Verse. 7. Novv, if thou be a sonne, thou art also the heire of God thorough Christe.
For he that is a son, must be also an heir: for by his birth he is worthy to be an heir. There is no work or merit that bringeth to him the inheritance, but his birth only. And so in obtaining the inheritance he is a mere patient and not an agent: that is to say, not to beget, not to labour, not to care: but to be borne is that which maketh him an heir. So we obtain eternal gifts, namely the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, the glory of the resurrection and everlasting life, not as agents but as patients: that is, not by doing but by receiving. Nothing here cometh between: but faith alone apprehendeth the promise offered. Like as therefore a son in the politic & household government is made an heir by his only birth: so here faith only maketh us sons of God, ⟨image 193⟩borne of the word, which is the womb of God, wherein we are conceived, carried, borne, and nourished up. &c. By this birth then we are made new creatures,1 formed by Faith in the word: we are made Christians, children and heirs of God through Jesus Christ. Now, being heirs we are delivered from death, sin and the Devil, and we have righteousness and eternal life.
For he that is a sonne, must be also an heire: for by his birth he is worthy to be an heire. There is no worke or merite that bringeth to him the inheritance, but his birth only. And so in obtaining the inheritance he is a mere patient and not an agent: that is to say, not to beget, not to labour, not to care: but to be borne is that which maketh him an heire. So we obtaine eternall gifts, namely ye forgeuenes of sinnes, righteousnes, the glory of the resurrection and euerlasting life, not as agents but as patiēts: that is, not by doing but by receiuing. Nothing here cometh betwene: but faith alone apprehendeth ye promise offred. Like as therfore a sōne in ye politike & houshold gouernmēt is made an heire by his onely birth: so here faith onely maketh vs sonnes of God,