A06492:136
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.
Here again you see that no man is able by his own works or his own strength to put away sin, because this present world is evil, and as S. John saith,1 is set upon mischief. As many therefore, as are in the world, are the bond slaves of the devil, constrained to serve him, and to do all things at his pleasure. What availed it then to set up so many orders of religions for the putting away of sins: to devise so many great and exceeding painful works, to wear hairy coats, to beat the body with whips till the blood followed, to go on pilgrimage to S. James in harness and such other like? Be it so that thou doest all these things, yet nevertheless doth this determinate sentence remain still, That thou art in this present evil world, & not in the kingdom of Christ. And if thou be not in the kingdom of Christ, it is certain that thou doest belong unto the kingdom of Satan which is this evil world. Therefore all gifts either of the body or of the mind which thou possessest,2 as wisdom, righteousness, holiness, eloquence, power, beauty, riches, are but the slavish instruments of the hellish tyranny, and with all these thou art compelled to serve the devil, and to promote and enlarge his kingdom.
Here againe you see that no man is able by his owne workes or his owne strēgth to put away sinne, because this present world is euill, and as S. Iohn sayth,1 is set vpon mischeefe. As many therfore, as are in the world, are the bond slaues of the deuill, constrained to serue him, and to doe all things at his pleasure. What auailed it then to set vp so many orders of religions for the putting away of sinnes: to deuise so many great and exceeding painfull workes, to weare heary coates, to beat the body with whips till the bloud followed, to goe on pilgrimage to S. Iames in harnes and such other like? Be it so that thou doest all these things, yet neuertheles doth this determinate sentence remaine stil, That thou art in this present euel vvorld, & not in the kingdom of Christ. And if thou be not in the kingdom of Christ, it is certaine that thou doest belong vnto the kingdom of Satan which is this euil world. Therfore all giftes either of the body or of the minde which thou possessest,2