A06492:1241
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.
Now, here is to be noted that the holy Ghost calleth the people of the law and works, as it were in contempt, the child of the bondwoman. As if he said: Why do ye vaunt of the righteousness of the law and works, and why do ye glory that ye are the people and children of God for the same? If ye know not of whom ye are borne, I will tell you. Ye are borne bondservants of a bondwoman. ⟨p. 220⟩And what servants? The bondservants of the law,1 and consequently of sin of death, and of everlasting damnation. Now, a servant is no inheritor, but is cast out of the house. Wherefore the Pope with all his kingdom, and all other Justiciaries (what outward appearance of holiness so ever they have) which hope to obtain grace and salvation by the law,2 are servants of that bondwoman, and have no inheritance with the children of the freewoman. I speak now, not of the Popes, Cardinals, Bishops & Monks that were manifestly wicked, who have made their bellies their God, and have committed such horrible sins as I will not willingly name: but of the best of them, such I mean as lived holily, and went about through great labour and travail by keeping of their Monkish order, to pacify the wrath of God, and to merit remission of their sins and everlasting life. These hear their sentence here pronounced, that the sons of the bondwoman must be cast out of the house with their mother the bondwoman.
Now, here is to be noted that the holy Ghost calleth the people of the lawe and workes, as it were in contempt, the childe of the bondwoman. As if he sayd: Why doe ye vaunt of the righteousnes of the lawe and workes, and why doe ye glory that ye are the people and children of God for the same? If ye know not of whom ye are borne, I will tell you. Ye are borne bondseruauntes of a bondwoman. ⟨p. 220⟩And what seruauntes? The bondseruauntes of the lawe,1 and consequently of sinne of death, and of euerlasting damnation. Now, a seruaunt is no inheritour, but is cast out of the house. Wherfore the Pope with all his kingdom, and all other Iusticiaries (what outward appearance of holines so euer they haue) which hope to obtaine grace and saluation by the lawe,