A06492:1205
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.
1The Prophet therefore confesseth, that the church is in heaviness, for else he would not exhort her to rejoice. He granteth that she is barren before the world: For else he would not call her barren ⟨p. 213⟩and forsaken, having no children: but before God he saith she is fruitful, and therefore he biddeth her rejoice. As though he would say:2 Thou art in deed forsaken and barren, and hast not the law for thy husband, and therefore thou hast no children. But rejoice: for although thou hast not the law for thy husband, but art forsaken as a virgin that is ready to marry (for he will not call her widow) which should have an husband if she were not forsaken of him, or if he were not slain: thou (I say) which art solitary & forsaken of thy husband the law, and not subject to the marriage of the law, shalt be a mother of innumerable children.3 Wherefore the people or the Church of the new Testament is altogether without the law as touching the conscience, and therefore she seemeth to be forsaken in the sight of the world. But although she seem to be never so barren without the law and without works, yet notwithstanding she is most fruitful before God, & bringeth forth an infinite number of children, not in bondage but in freedom. By what means? Not by the law, but by the word and spirit of Jesus Christ which is given by the Gospel, through which she conceiveth, bringeth forth and nourisheth her children.
1The Prophet therefore confesseth, that the church is in heauines, for else he would not exhort her to reioyce. He graunteth that she is barren before the world: For else he would not call her barren ⟨p. 213⟩and forsaken, hauing no children: but before God he sayth she is fruteful, and therfore he biddeth her reioyce. As though he would say:2 Thou art in deede forsaken and barren, and hast not the law for thy husband, and therefore thou hast no children. But reioyce: for although thou hast not the lawe for thy husband, but art forsaken as a virgine that is ready to marry (for he will not call her widowe) which should haue an husband if she were not forsakē of him, or if he were not slaine: thou (I say) which art solitarie & forsaken of thy husband the law, and not subiect to the mariage of the lawe, shalt be a mother of innumerable children.