A06492:1126
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.
1Jerome and certain other of the ancient fathers expound this infirmity of the flesh in Paul, to be some disease of the body, or some tentation of lust. These men lived when the Church was outwardly in a peaceable and prosperous estate without any cross or persecution. For then the Bishops began to increase in riches,2 estimation & glory in the world. And many also exercised tyranny over the people which were committed to their charge, as the Ecclesiastical history witnesseth. Few did their duty, and they that would seem to do it, forsaking the doctrine of the Gospel,3 set forth their own decrees to yt people. Now, when the Pastors and Bishops are not exercised in the word of God, but neglect the pure and sincere preaching thereof: they must needs fall into security: For they are not exercised with tentations, with yt cross and persecutions, which are wont always undoubtedly to follow the pure preaching of the word: Therefore it was impossible that they should understand Paul. But we by the grace of God, have sound and sincere doctrine, which also we preach and teach freely, and therefore are compelled to bear the bitter hatred, afflictions and persecutions of the Devil and the world. And if we were not exercised outwardly by tyrants ⟨p. 198⟩and Sectaries with force and subtlety, and inwardly with terrors and the fiery darts of the Devil, Paul should be as obscure and unknown unto us as he was in times past to the whole world, and is yet to the Papists, the Anabaptists and other our adversaries.4 Therefore the gift of knowledge and interpretation of the Scriptures, and our diligence, with our inward and outward tentations, open unto us the meaning of Paul, and the sense of all the holy Scriptures.
1Ierome and certaine other of the auncient fathers expound this infirmitie of the flesh in Paule, to be some disease of the body, or some tentation of lust. These men liued when the Church was outwardly in a peaceable and prosperous estate without any crosse or persecution. For then the Bishops began to encrease in riches,