A06492:1256
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 is that liberty whereby Christ hath made us free: not from an earthly bondage, or from the Babylonicall captivity, or from the tyranny of the Turks, but from Gods everlasting wrath. And where is this done? In the conscience. There resteth our liberty, and goeth no farther. For Christ hath made us free, not civilly nor carnally, but divinely,1 that is to say, we are made free in such sort, that our conscience is now free and quiet, not fearing the wrath of God to come. This is that true and inestimable liberty, to the excellency & majesty whereof if we compare the other, they are but as one drop of water in respect of the whole sea.2 For who is able to express what a thing it is when a man is assured in his heart, that God neither is nor will be angry with him, but will be for ever a merciful and a loving father unto him for Christs sake? This is in deed a marvellous and an incomprehensible liberty, to have the most high and sovereign Majesty so favourable unto us, that he doth not only defend, maintain and succour us in this life,3 but also as touching our bodies w•ll so deliver us, that our bodies which are sown in corruption, in dishonour and infirmity, shall rise again in incorruption,4 in glory and power. Wherefore this is an inestimable liberty, that we are made free from the wrath of God for ever: and is greater then heaven and earth and all other creatures.
This is that libertie whereby Christe hath made vs free: not from an earthly bondage, or from the Babylonicall captiuitie, or from the tyrannie of ye Turkes, but frō Gods euerlasting wrath. And where is this done? In the conscience. There resteth our libertie, and goeth no farther. For Christe hath made vs free, not ciuily nor carnally, but diuinely,1 that is to say, we are made free in such sort, that our cōscience is now free and quiet, not fearing the wrath of God to come. This is that true and inestimable libertie, to the excellēcie & maiestie wherof if we compare ye other, they are but as one droppe of water in respect of ye whole sea.