A06492:1311
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.
The comfort is this: that in serious conflicts and terrors, wherein the feeling of sin,1 heaviness of spirit, desperation & such like, is very strong (for they enter deeply into the heart and mightily assail it) thou must not follow thine own feeling. For if thou do, thou wilt say: I feel the horrible terrors of the law and the tyranny of sin, not only rebelling against me, but also subduing and leading me captive, and I feel no comfort or righteousness at all. Therefore I am a sinner and not righteous. If I be a sinner, then am I guilty of everlasting death. But against this feeling thou must wrestle, and say: Although I feel my self utterly overwhelmed and swallowed up with sin, and my heart telleth me that God is offended and angry with me, yet in very deed it is not true, but that mine own sense and feeling so judgeth. The word of God (which in these terrors I ought to follow, and not mine own sense) teacheth a far other thing: namely that God is near unto them that are of a troubled heart, and saveth them that are of an humble spirit. 2Also, he despiseth not an humble and a contrite heart. Moreover, Paul showeth here, that they that are justified in spirit by Faith, do not yet feel the hope of righteousness, but wait still for it.
The comfort is this: that in serious conflicts and terrours, wherin ye feeling of sinne,1 heauines of syirite, desperation & such like, is very stronge (for they enter deepely into the hearte and mightely assaile it) thou must not folow thine owne feeling. For if thou doe, thou wilt say: I feele the horrible terrours of the lawe and the tyrannie of sinne, not onely rebelling against me, but also subduing and leading me captiue, and I feele no comfort or righteousnes at all. Therefore I am a sinner and not righteous. If I be a sinner, then am I giltie of euerlasting death. But against this feeling thou must wrastle, and say: Although I feele my selfe vtterly ouerwhelmed and swalowed vp with sinne, and my heart telleth me that God is offended and angrie with me, yet in very deede it is not true, but that mine owne sense and feeling so iudgeth. The word of God (which in these terrours I ought to folow, and not mine owne sense) teacheth a farre other thing: namely that God is neare vnto them that are of a troubled heart, and saueth them that are of an humble spirite.