A06492:1396
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.
It is a great error therefore to attribute justification or righteousness to love, which is nothing: or if it be any thing,1 yet is it not so great that it can pacify God: for love even in the faithful (as I have said) is imperfect and impure:2 But no unclean thing shall enter into the kingdom of God. Notwithstanding in the mean while this trust and confidence sustaineth us, that Christ,3 who a lonely committed no sin, and in whose mouth was never found any guile, doth overshadow us with his righteousness. We being covered with this* cloud, and shrouded under this shadow, this heaven of remission of sins & throne of grace: do begin to love and to fulfil the law. Yet for this fulfilling we are not justified nor accepted of God whilst we live here. But when Christ hath delivered up the kingdom to God his father & abolished all principality, and God shall be all in all: then shall Faith and hope cease, and love shall be perfect and everlasting. 1. Cor. 13. 5This thing the popish Schoolmen understand not, and therefore when they hear that love is the sum of the whole law, by and by they infer: Ergo the law justifieth. Or contrariwise, when they read in Paul that Faith maketh a man righteous: yea, say they, Faith formed and furnished with charity. But that is not the meaning of Paul, 6as I have largely declared before.
It is a great errour therfore to attribute iustification or righteousnes to loue, whiche is nothinge: or if it be any thinge,1 yet is it not so great that it can pacifie God: for loue euen in the faithfull (as I haue sayd) is imperfect and impure:2