A06492:1090
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.
Paul seemeth to speak very spitefully of the law,1 when he calleth it rudiments (as he did also before in the beginning of this chapt.) and not only rudiments, but weak and beggarly rudiments and ceremonies. Is it not blasphemy to give such odious names to the law of God? The law being in his true use ought to serve the promises and ⟨image 198⟩to stand with the promises & grace. But if it fight against them, it is no more the holy law of God, but a false and a devilish doctrine, and doth nothing else but drive men to desperation, & therefore must be rejected.
Paule seemeth to speake very spitefully of the lawe,1 when he calleth it rudiments (as he did also before in the beginning of this chapt.) and not only rudiments, but weake and beggetly rudiments and ceremonies. Is it not blasphemie to geue such odious names to the law of God? The lawe being in his true vse ought to serue the promises and ⟨image 198⟩to stand with the promises & grace. But if it fight against them, it is no more the holy law of God, but a false and a deuilish doctrine, and doth nothing else but driue men to desperation, & therfore must be reiected.
- 1Rudiments or elements are called the prim ciples and first beginning of any thing, and so the law is but as an A.B.C in respect of the GospelRudiments or elements are called the prī ciples and first beginning of any thing, and so the lavve is but as an A.B.C in respect of the Gospel
Wherefore, when he calleth the law weak and beggarly rudiments, he speaketh of the law in respect of proud and presumptuous hypocrites which would be justified by it,