A06492:1394
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.
Although Paul speaketh here expressly and plainly enough, yet hath he little prevailed. For the Schoolmen not understanding this place of Paul: Love is the fulfilling of the law, have gathered out of it after this manner: If love be the fulfilling of the law, it followeth then that love is righteousness: therefore if we love, we be righteous. These profound clerks do argue from the word to the work,1 from doctrine or precepts, to life, after this sort: The law hath commanded love: therefore the work of love followeth out of hand. But this is a foolish consequence, to draw an argument from precepts, and to ground the conclusion upon works.
Although Paule speaketh here expresly and plainly enough, yet hath he litle preuailed. For the Schoolemen not vnderstanding this place of Paule: Loue is the fulfilling of the lavv, haue gathered out of it after this maner: If loue be the fulfilling of the law, it foloweth then that loue is righteousnes: therfore if we loue, we be righteous. These profound clarkes doe argue from the word to the worke,1 from doctrine or preceptes, to life, after this sort: The lawe hath commaunded loue: therefore the worke of loue foloweth out of hand. But this is a foolish consequence, to draw an argumēt from precepts, and to ground the conclusion vppon workes.
- 1Arguments from precept to work.Arguments from precept to vvorke.
True it is that we ought to fulfil the law, and to be justified through the fulfilling thereof: but sin hindereth us. In deed the law prescribeth and commandeth that we should love God with all our heart,1 &c. and that we should love our neighbour as our selves, but it followeth not: this is written, therefore it is done: the law commandeth love, therefore we love. There is not one man to be found upon the whole earth, which so loveth God and his neighbour, as the law requireth. But in the life to come, where we shall be throughly cleansed from all vices and sins, and shall be made as pure & as clear as the Sun: we shall love perfectly and shall be righteous through perfect love. But in this life that purity is hindered by the flesh: for as long as