A06492:129
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.
Who so knoweth this one point of cunning well, shall easily avoid all the engines and snares of the Devil, who by putting man in mind of his sins, driveth him to despair and destroyeth him, unless he with stand him with this cunning, and with this heavenly wisdom: whereby only sin, death and the Devil are overcome. But the man that putteth not away the remembrance of his sin, but keepeth it still and tormenteth him self with his own cogitations, thinking either to help him self by his own strength and policy, or to tarry the time till his conscience may be quieted, falleth into Satan's snares and miserably afflicteth him self, and at length is overcome with the continuance of the tentation: For the Devil will never cease to accuse his conscience.
Who so knoweth this one point of cunning well, shall easely auoide all the engins and snares of the Deuill, who by putting man in minde of his sinnes, driueth him to despaire and destroieth him, vnlesse he wt stand him with this cunning, and with this heauenly wisedome: wherby onely sinne, death and the Deuill are ouercome. But the man that putteth not away the remembraunce of his sinne, but keepeth it stil and tormenteth him self with his owne cogitations, thinking either to help him selfe by his owne strength and policie, or to tarry the time till his conscience may be quieted, falleth into Sathans snares and miserably afflicteth him selfe, and at length is ouercome with the continuance of the tentation: For the Deuill will neuer cease to accuse his conscience.
Against this tentation we must use the words of Paul, 1in the which he giveth a very good and a true definition of Christ in this manner: Christ is the son of God and of the virgin, delivered and put to death for our sins. Here if the Devil allege any other definition of Christ, say thou: The definition and the thing defined are false: therefore I will not receive this definition. I speak not this without cause: For I know what moveth me to be so earnest that we should learn to define Christ out of the words of Paul. For in deed Christ is no cruel exactor, but a forgiver of the sins of the whole world. Wherefore if thou be a sinner (as in deed we are all) set not Christ down upon the reign bow as a judge (for so shalt thou be terrified and despair of his mercy): but take hold of his true definition, namely that Christ the son of God and of the virgin, is a person, not that terrifieth, not that afflicteth, not that condemneth us of sin, not that demandeth an account of us for our life evil passed: but gave him self for our sins,