A06492:1158
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. 19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you.
Verse. 19. My litle children, of vvhom I trauaile in birth againe, vntill Christ be formed in you.
All his words are weighty and fitly framed to the purpose, that ⟨image 210⟩they may move the hearts of the Galatians, and win their favour and good will again. And these are sweet and loving words, when he calleth them his children. When he sayeth: of whom I travail in birth, it is an allegory. For the Apostles are in the stead of parents: as Schoolmasters also are in their place and calling.1 For as the parents beget the bodily form, even so the other beget the form of the mind.2 Now, the form of a Christian mind is Faith, or the confidence of the heart which layeth hold upon Christ and cleaveth to him alone and to nothing else. The heart being furnished with this confidence or assurance, to wit, that for Christs sake we are righteous, hath the true form of Christ. Now, this form is given by the ministry of the word,3 as it is said. 1. Corinthians. 4: I have begotten you through the Gospel, that is to say, in spirit, that ye might know Christ and believe in him.4 Also. 2. Corinthians. 3. Ye are the Epistle of Christ, ministered by us and written, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God. For the word cometh from the mouth of the Apostle or of the minister, and entereth into the heart of him that heareth it: There the holy Ghost is present, and imprinteth the word in the heart, so that it consenteth unto it. Thus every godly teacher is a father, which engendereth and formeth the true shape of a Christian heart, and that by the ministry of the word.