A06492:1446
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.
When I was a Monk I did oftentimes most heartily wish, that I might once be so happy, as to see the conversation and life of some Saint or holy man. But in the mean time I imagined such a Saint as lived in the wilderness abstaining from meat and drink, and living only with roots of herbs and cold water: and this opinion of those monstrous saints, I had learned not only out of the books of the Sophisters and Schoolmen, but also out of the books of the fathers. For thus writeth Hierome in a certain place. As touching meats and drinks I say nothing, for as much as it is excess, that even such as are weak and feeble should use cold water, or eat any sodden thing, &c. But now in the light of the Gospel we plainly see who they are whom Christ and his Apostles call Saints:1 Not they which live a sole & a single life, or straitly observe days, meats, apparel & such other things, or in outward appearance do other great & monstrous works, (as we read of many in the lives of the fathers): ⟨image 261⟩but they which being called by the sound of the Gospel and baptised, do believe that they be justified and cleansed by the death of Christ. So Paul every where, writing to Christians, calleth them holy, the children and heirs of God, &c. Who so ever then do believe in Christ, whether they be men or women,2 bond or free, are all Saints: not by their own works, but by the works of God, which they receive by Faith: as his word, his Sacraments, the passion of Christ, his death, resurrection, victory, and the sending of the holy Ghost. To conclude, they are Saints through such a holiness as they freely receive, not through such a holiness as they them selves have gotten by their own industry, good works and merits.
When I was a Monke I did oftentimes most hartely wish, that I might once be so happy, as to see the conuersation and life of some Sainct or holy man. But in the meane time I imagined such a Sainct as liued in the wildernes abstaining from meat and drinke, and liuing onely with rootes of herbes and colde water: and this opinion of those monstrous sainctes, I had learned not onely out of the bookes of the Sophisters and Scholemen, but also out of the bookes of the fathers. For thus wryteth Hierome in a certaine place. As touching meates and drinkes I say nothing, for as much as it is excesse, that euē such as are weake and feeble should vse cold water, or eate any sodden thing, &c. But now in the light of the Gospel we plainly see who they are whom Christ and his Apostles call Saincts: