A06492:1255
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.
Every word hath here a certain vehemency. Stand, saith he. As if he should say: Here have ye need of great diligence & vigilancie. In that liberty. In what liberty? Not in that wherewith the Emperor hath made us free, but in that wherewith Christ hath made us free. The Emperor hath given, or rather was compelled to give to the Bishop of Rome a free city and other lands: also immunities,1 privileges and prerogatives. &c. This is also a liberty, but it is a civill liberty, whereby the Pope with all his clergy is exempt from all public charges.2 Moreover there is a fleshly or rather a devilish liberty, whereby the Devil chiefly reigneth through out the whole world. For they that enjoy this liberty obey neither God nor laws, but do what they list. This liberty the people seek and embrace at this day:3 and so do the Sectaries which will be at liberty in their opinions and in all their doings, to the end they may teach and do whatsoever they dream to be good and sound, without reprehension. These stand in that liberty wherein the Devil hath made them free. But we speak not here of this liberty: albeit the whole world seeketh no other liberty. Neither do we speak of the civill liberty: but of a far other manner of liberty which the Devil hateth and resisteth ⟨image 227⟩with all his power.
Euery word hath here a certaine vehemencie. Stand, sayth he. As if he should say: Here haue ye neede of great diligence & vigilancie. In that libertie. In what libertie? Not in that wherwith the Emperour hath made vs free, but in that wherwith Christ hath made vs free. The Emperour hath geuen, or rather was compelled to geue to the Bishop of Rome a free citie and other landes: also immunities,1 priuileges and prerogatiues. &c. This is also a libertie, but it is a ciuill libertie, whereby the Pope with all his cleargie is exempt from all publicke charges.2 Moreouer there is a fleshly or rather a deuilish libertie, wherby the Deuill chiefly raigneth thorow out ye whole world. For they that inioy this libertie obey neither God nor lawes, but doe what they list. This libertie the people seeke and embrace at this day: