In like manner Christ also comforteth his disciples in the .5. of Math.1 Blessed are ye (sayeth he) when men revile you and persecute you, and shall falsely say all manner of evil against you for my names sake. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven: For so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you. The church can not suffer this rejoicing to be wrested from her. Wherefore I would not wish to be at concord with the Pope, the bishops,2 the princes and the Sectaries, unless they would consent unto our doctrine. For such concord were a certain token that we had lost the true doctrine. To be short, as long as the church teacheth the Gospel, it must suffer persecution. ⟨image 244⟩For the Gospel setteth forth the mercy and glory of God:3 It discloseth the malice and sleights of the Devil, painting him out in his right colours, and plucking from him the counterfeit visor of Gods Majesty, whereby he deceiveth the whole world: that is to say, it showeth that all worshippings, religious Orders invented by men, and traditions concerning single life, meats, and such other things, whereby men think to deserve forgiveness of sins & everlasting life, are wicked things and devilish doctrine. There is nothing then that more stirreth up the Devil, than the preaching of the Gospel. For that plucketh from him the dissembled visor of God, and bewrayeth him to be as he is in deed, that is to say, the Devil & not God. Wherefore it can not be, but that as long as the Gospel flourisheth, the cross and the offence thereof must needs follow it, or else truly the Devil is not rightly touched, but slenderly tickled. But if he be rightly hit in deed, he resteth not, but beginneth horribly to rage, and to raise up troubles every where.
In like maner Christe also comforteth his disciples in the .5. of Math.1 Blessed are ye (sayeth he) vvhen men reuile you and persecute you, and shall falsely say all maner of euill against you for my names sake. Reioyce and be glad, for great is your revvard in heauen: For so persecuted they the Prophets vvhich vvere before you. The church cā not suffer this reioysing to be wrested frō her. Wherfore I would not wish to be at concord with the Pope, the bishops,2 the princes and the Sectaries, vnlesse they would consent vnto our doctrine. For such concorde were a certaine token that we had lost the true doctrine. To be short, as long as the church teacheth the Gospell, it must suffer persecution. ⟨image 244⟩For the Gospell setteth forth the mercy and glory of God:3 It discloseth the malice and sleightes of the Deuill, painting him out in his right coulours, and plucking from him the counterfet visour of Gods Maiestie, wherby he deceaueth the whole world: that is to say, it sheweth that all worshippings, religious Orders inuented by men, and traditions concerning single life, meates, and such other things, wherby men thinke to deserue forgeuenes of sinnes & euerlasting life, are wicked things and deuelish doctrine. There is nothing then that more stirreth vppe the Deuill, than the preaching of the Gospell. For that plucketh from him the dissembled vizour of God, and bewrayeth him to be as he is in deede, that is to say, the Deuil & not God. Wherfore it can not be, but that as long as the Gospell flourisheth, the crosse and the offence thereof must needes folow it, or else truely the Deuill is not rightly touched, but slenderly tickled. But if he be rightly hitte in deede, he resteth not, but beginneth horribly to rage, and to raise vp troubles euery where.
- 1Math. 5.10. Mark. 9.10. Luke 14.34. Acts. 5.41. 1 Pet. 3.14. 1. Pet. 4.14.Math. 5.10. Marke. 9.10. Luke 14.34. Actes. 5.41. 1 Pet. 3.14. 1. Pet. 4.14.
- 2Luther vvil be at no unity with the enemies of the Gospel.Luther vvil be at no vnitie vvith the enemies of the Gospell.
- 3The Gospel setteth forth the glory of God, and discloseth the crafts of the Devil.The Gospell setteth forth the glory of God, and discloseth the craftes of the Deuill.
