A06492:1257
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.
Of this liberty there followeth an other, whereby through Christ we are made free from the law, sin, death, the power of the Devil, hell, &c. For as the wrath of God can not terrify us for that Christ hath delivered us from the same: so the law, sin and death, can not accuse and condemn us. And although the law accuse us and sin terrify us, yet they can not drive us to desperation. For Faith, which overcometh the world, by and by sayeth: These things belong not unto me: for Christ hath made me free, and delivered me from them all. Likewise death which is the most mighty and most dreadful thing in all the world, is utterly vanquished in the conscience by this liberty of the spirit. Wherefore the majesty of this Christian liberty is highly to be esteemed, and diligently considered. It is an easy matter for a man to speak these words [freedom from the wrath of God,1 sin, and death] but in the time of tentation, experience and practise to apply them to him self, and to feel the excellency of this liberty and the fruit thereof, it is a harder matter then can be expressed.
Of this libertie there foloweth an other, whereby through Christe we are made free from the lawe, sinne, death, the power of the Deuill, hell, &c. For as the wrath of God can not terrifie vs for that Christe hath deliuered vs from the same: so the lawe, sinne and death, can not accuse and condemne vs. And although the law accuse vs and sinne terrifie vs, yet they can not driue vs to desperation. For Faith, which ouercometh the world, by and by sayeth: These things belong not vnto me: for Christe hath made me free, and deliuered me from them all. Likewise death which is the most mighty and most dreadful thing in all the world, is vtterly vanquished in the conscience by this libertie of the spirite. Wherfore the maiestie of this Christian libertie is highly to be estemed, and diligently considered. It is an easie matter for a mā to speake these words [freedome from the wrath of God,1 sinne, and death] but in the time of tentation, experiēce and practise to applie them to him selfe, and to feele the excellencie of this libertie and the frute thereof, it is a harder matter then can be expressed.
- 1The fruits of Christian liberty are not easily felt and laid hold of in tentations.