A06492:1366
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.
Moreover, even we which teach the word, do not now our duty with so great zeal and diligence in the light of the Gospel, as we did afore in the darkness of ignorance. For the more certain we be of the freedom purchased unto us by Christ, so much the more cold and negligent we be in handling the word, in prayer, in well doing, and in suffering adversities.1 And if Satan did not vex us inwardly with spiritual tentations, and outwardly with the persecutions of our adversaries, and moreover with the contempt and ingratitude of our own fellows, we should become utterly careless, negligent, and untoward to all good works: and so in time we should lose the knowledge and Faith of Christ forsake the ministry of the word, and seek an easier kind of life for the flesh. Which thing many of our men begin to do, for that they travailing in the ministry of the word, can not only not live of their labour, but also are most miserably entreated even of those by whom they were delivered from the servile bondage of the Pope by the preaching of the Gospel. These men forsaking poor and ⟨p. 241⟩offensive Christ, entangle them selves with the affairs of this present life, serving their own bellies and not Christ: but with what fruit, that shall they find by experience in time to come.
Moreouer, euen we which teach the word, doe not now our duetie with so great zeale and diligence in the light of the Gospell, as we did afore in the darknes of ignoraunce. For the more certaine we be of the freedome purchased vnto vs by Christ, so much the more cold and negligent we be in handling the word, in prayer, in well doing, and in suffering aduersites.1 And if Sathan did not vexe vs inwardly with spirituall tentations, and outwardly with the persecutions of our aduersaries, and moreouer with the contempt and ingratitude of our owne fellowes, we should become vtterly careles, negligent, and vntoward to all good workes: and so in time we should lose the knowledge and Faith of Christ forsake the ministerie of the word, and seeke an easier kinde of life for the flesh. Which thing many of our men begin to doe, for that they trauailing in the ministerie of the word, can not onely not liue of their labour, but also are most miserably entreated euen of those by whom they were deliuered from the seruile bondage of the Pope by the preaching of the Gospell. These men forsaking poore and