A06492:1071
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.
Here again we see (as before I have said) that to fall in Faith is an easy matter,1 as the example of the Galatians witnesseth. The example of the Anabaptists, Libertines, and such other heretics witnesseth the same also at this day. We for our part do set forth the doctrine of Faith with continual travel, by preaching, by reading and by writing: we purely and plainly distinguish the Gospel from the law,2 and yet do we little prevail. This cometh of the Devil, who goeth about by all subtle means to seduce men and to hold them in error: he can abide nothing less then the true knowledge of grace and Faith in Christ. Therefore, to the end he may take Christ clean out of sight, he setteth before them other shows, wherewith he so deceiveth them that by little and little he leadeth them from Faith and the knowledge of grace, to the disputation of the law. When he hath brought this about, then is Christ taken away. It is not without cause therefore that Paul speaketh so much and so often of Christ, and that he goeth about so purely to set forth the doctrine of Faith: whereunto he attributeth righteousness only and alone, & taketh it from the law, declaring that the law hath a clean contrary effect: that is, to engender wrath, to increase sin &c. For he would gladly persuade us, that we should not suffer Christ to be plucked out of our heart: that the spouse should not suffer her husband to depart out of her arms, but ⟨p. 188⟩should always embrace him and cleave fast unto him, who being present there is no danger: yea there is the Faithful groaning, fatherly good will, adoption and inheritance.
Here againe we see (as before I haue sayd) that to fall in Faith is an easie matter,1 as the example of the Galathians witnesseth. The example of the Anabaptists, Libertines, and such other heretikes witnesseth the same also at this day. We for our part doe set forth the doctrine of Faith with continuall trauell, by preaching, by reading and by wryting: we purely and plainly distinguish the Gospell from the law,2