A06492:1381
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.
Paul is a very good expounder of Gods commandments: For he draweth all Moses into a brief sum,1 showing that nothing else is contained in all his laws (which are in a manner infinite) but this short sentence: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self. Natural reason is offended with this baseness and shortness of words: for it is soon said:2 Believe in Christ. And again: Love thy neighbour as thy self. Therefore it despiseth both the doctrine of Faith and true good works. Notwithstanding this base & vile word of faith (as reason taketh it): Believe in Christ, is the power of God to the faithful, whereby they overcome sin, death, the Devil, &c. whereby also they attain salvation & eternal life.3 Thus to serve one an other through love, that is, to instruct him that goeth astray, to comfort him that is afflicted, to raise up him that is weak, to help thy neighbour by all means possible, to bear with his infirmities, to endure troubles, labours, ingratitude & contempt in the Church, & in civil life & conversation to obey the Magistrate, to give due honour to thy parents, to be patient at home with a froward wife and an unruly family. &c: these (I say) are works which reason judgeth to be of no value. But, believe me, they are such works, that the whole world is not able to comprehend the excellency and worthiness thereof (for it doth not measure works or any other thing by the word of God, but by the judgement of wicked, blind and foolish reason): Yea it knoweth not the value of any one of the least good works that can be, which are true good works in deed.
Paule is a very good expounder of Gods commaundementes: For he draweth all Moises into a briefe summe,1 shewing that nothing else is cōtained in all his lawes (which are in a maner infinite) but this short sentence: Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe. Naturall reason is offended with this basenes and shortnes of wordes: for it is soone sayd:2 Beleue in Christ. And againe: Loue thy neighbour as thy selfe. Therefore it despiseth both the doctrine of Faith and true good works. Notwtstanding this base & vile word of faith (as reason taketh it): Beleue in Christ, is ye power of God to the faithfull, whereby they ouercome sinne, death, ye Deuill, &c. wherby also they attaine saluation & eternall life.