A06492:1451
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.
This doctrine bringeth great consolation to godly minds, that when they feel these darts of the flesh, wherewith Satan assaileth the spirit, they should not despair: As it happeneth to many in the Papacy, which thought that they ought to feel no concupiscence of the flesh, where as notwithstanding Hierome, Gregory, Benedict, Barnard and others (whom the Monks set before them as a perfect example of chastity and of all Christian virtues) could never come so far as to feel no concupiscence or lust of the flesh. Yea they felt it and that very strongly. Which thing they acknowledge and plainly confess in divers places of their books.
This doctrine bringeth great consolation to godly mindes, that when they feele these dartes of the flesh, wherewith Sathan assaileth the spirite, they should not despaire: As it hapneth to many in the Papacie, which thought that they ought to feele no concupiscence of the flesh, where as notwithstanding Hierome, Gregorie, Benedict, Barnard and others (whom the Monks set before them as a perfect example of chastitie and of all Christian vertues) could neuer come so farre as to feele no concupiscence or lust of the flesh. Yea they felt it and that very strongly. Which thing they acknowledge and plainly confesse in diuers places of their bookes.
Therefore we rightly confess in the articles of our belief, that we believe there is a holy Church.1 For it is invisible, dwelling in spirit in a place that none can attain unto, and therefore her holiness can not be seen: For God doth so hide and cover her with infirmities, with sins, with errors, with divers forms of the cross and offences, that according to the judgement of reason it is no where to be seen. They that are ignorant of this, when they see the infirmities and sins of those which are baptised, which have the word and believe it: are by and by offended, and judge them not to pertain to the Church. And in the mean while they dream that the Hermits, the Monks and such other shavelings are the church: which honour God with their lips, and worship him in vain, because they follow not the word of God, but the doctrines and commandments of men, & teach others to do the same. And because they do certain superstitious and monstrous works, which carnal reason magnifieth and highly esteemeth: therefore they judge them only to be Saints and to be the church: And in so doing they change and turn this article of the Faith clean contrary: I believe that there is a holy church.