A06492:1223
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.
This place containeth a singular consolation. Whosoever are borne and live in Christ, and rejoice in this birth and inheritance of God, have Ismael for their enemy and their persecutor. This we learn at this day by experience: For we see that all the world is full of tumults, persecutions, sects and offences. Wherefore, if we did not arm our selves with this consolation of Paul and such like, and well understand this article of Justification, we should never be able to withstand the violence & subtle sleights of Satan. For who should not be troubled with these cruel persecutions of our adversaries, and with these sects and infinite offences, which a sort of busy and fantastical spirits stir up at this day? Verily it is no small grief unto us, when we are constrained to hear that all things were in peace & tranquility before the Gospel came abroad:1 but since the preaching & publishing thereof, all things are unquiet & the whole world is in an uproar, so that every one armeth himself against an other. When a man that is not endued with the spirit of God heareth this, by and by he is offended, and judgeth that the disobedience of subjects against their magistrates, that seditions, wars, plagues & famine, that the overthrowing of common weals, kingdoms and countries, that sects, offences and such other infinite evils do proceed altogether of the doctrine of the Gospel.
This place containeth a singuler consolation. Whosoeuer are borne and liue in Christe, and reioyce in this birth and inheritance of God, haue Ismael for their enemie and their persecutour. This we learne at this day by experience: For we see that all the world is full of tumultes, persecutions, sectes and offences. Wherefore, if we did not arme our selues with this consolation of Paule and such like, and well vnderstand this article of Iustification, we should neuer be able to withstand the violence & subtill sleightes of Satan. For who should not be troubled with these cruell persecutions of our aduersaries, and with these sectes and infinite offences, which a sort of busie and fantasticall spirits stirre vp at this day? Verely it is no smal greefe vnto vs, when we are constrained to heare that all things were in peace & tranquilitie before the Gospel came abrode:1 but since the preaching & publishing therof, al things are vnquiet & the whole world is in an vprore, so that euery one armeth himselfe against an other. When a man that is not endued with the spirit of God heareth this, by and by he is offended, and iudgeth that the disobedience of subiectes against their magistrates, that seditions, warres, plages & famine, that the ouerthrowing of common weales, kingdoms and countreis, that sectes, offences and such other infinite euils doe procede altogether of the doctrine of the Gospell.