A06492:1422
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 very profitable for the godly to know this, and to bear it well in mind: for it wonderfully comforteth them when they are tempted. When I was a Monk I thought by and by that I was utterly cast away, if at any time I felt the lust of the flesh: that is to say, if I felt any evil motion, fleshly lust, wrath, hatred or envy against any brother. I assayed many ways to help and to quiet my conscience, but it would not be: For the concupiscence and lust of my flesh did always return, so that I could not rest, but was continually vexed with these thoughts: ⟨image 256⟩This or that sin thou hast committed: thou art infected with envy, with impatience, & such other sins: therefore thou art entered into this holy Order in vain, and all thy good works are unprofitable. If then I had rightly understand these sentences of Paul: The flesh lusteth contrary to the spirit, & the spirit contrary to the flesh: And, These two are one against an other, so that ye can not do the things that ye would do, I should not have so miserably tormented my self, but should have thought and said to my self as now commonly I do:1 Martin, thou shalt not utterly be without sin, for thou hast flesh: thou shalt therefore feel the battle thereof: according to that saying of Paul: The flesh resisteth the spirit. Despair not therefore, but resist it strongly, and fulfil not the lust thereof. Thus doing thou art not under the law.
It is very profitable for the godly to know this, and to beare it wel in minde: for it wonderfully comforteth them when they are tempted. When I was a Monke I thought by and by that I was vtterly cast away, if at any time I felt the lust of the flesh: that is to say, if I felt any euill motion, fleshly lust, wrath, hatred or enuie against any brother. I assayed many wayes to helpe and to quiet my conscience, but it would not be: For the cōcupiscence and lust of my flesh did alwayes returne, so that I could not rest, but was cōtinually vexed with these thoughts: ⟨image 256⟩This or that sinne thou hast cōmitted: thou art infected with enuie, wt impatiencie, & such other sinnes: therfore thou art entred into this holy Order in vaine, and all thy good works are vnprofitable. If then I had rightly vnderstand these sentences of Paule: The flesh lusteth cōtrary to the spirit, & the spirit contrary to the flesh: And, These tvvo are one against an other, so that ye can not do the things that ye vvould doe, I should not haue so miserably tormented my selfe, but should haue thought and sayd to my selfe as now commonly I doe: