A06492:1452
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.
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.2 &c. and in the stead of this word [I believe] they put in [I see]. These kinds of righteousness & holiness of mans own devising,3 are nothing else but spiritual sorceries wherewith the eyes & minds of men are blinded & led from the knowledge of true holiness.
Therfore we rightly confesse in the articles of our beleefe, that we beleue there is a holy Church.1 For it is inuisible, dwelling in spirit in a place that none can attaine vnto, and therefore her holines can not be seene: For God doth so hide and couer her with infirmities, with sinnes, with errours, with diuers formes of ye crosse and offences, that according to the iudgement of reason it is no where to be seene. They that are ignorant of this, when they see the infirmities and sinnes of those which are baptised, which haue the word and beleue it: are by and by offended, and iudge them not to pertaine to the Church. And in the meane while they dreame that the Heremites, the Monks and such other shauelings are the church: which honour God with their lippes, and worship him in vaine, because they folow not the word of God, but the doctrines and commaundements of men, & teach others to doe the same. And because they doe certaine superstitious and monstrous works, which carnal reason magnifieth and highly estemeth: therfore they iudge them only to be Saincts and to be the church: And in so doing they chaunge and turne this article of the Faith cleane contrary: I beleue that there is a holy church.