A06492:1460
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
Chapter 5 › Verse extract 19 › Idolatry.Chapter 5 › Verse extract 19 › Idolatrie.
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.
All the highest religions, the holiness & most fervent devotions of those which do reject Christ the Mediator & worship God without his word & commandment, are nothing else but plain idolatry. As in Popery it was counted a most holy & spiritual act, when the Monks being shut up in their sells did must & meditate of God or of his works, & when they being inflamed with most earnest devotions, kneeled down, prayed, & were so ravished with the contemplation of heavenly things that they wept for joy. There was no thinking of women or of any other creature, but only of god the creator, & of his wonderful works: and yet this most spiritual work (as reason esteemeth it) is, according to Paul, a work of the flesh & plain idolatry. Wherefore all such religion whereby God is worshipped without his word & commandment, is idolatry.1 And the more holy & spiritual it seemeth to be in outward show, so much the more dangerous & pernicious it is. For it turneth men away from faith in Christ, & causeth them to trust to their own strength, works & righteousness. And such is the religion of the Anabaptists at this day: albeit they daily more & more bewray them selves to be possessed with the Devil, and to be seditious & bloody men.
All ye highest religions, the holines & most feruent deuotions of those which do reiect Christ ye Mediatour & worship God wtout his word & cōmaundement, are nothing else but plaine idolatry. As in Popery it was coūted a most holy & spirituall act, when ye Mōks being shut vp in their selles did must & meditate of God or of his works, & whē they being enflamed wt most earnest deuotions, kneeled downe, praied, & were so rauished wt the cōtemplation of heauēly things yt they wept for ioy. Ther was no thīking of womē or of any other creature, but only of god ye creator, & of his wonderfull works: and yet this most spiritual worke (as reason estemeth it) is, accordīg to Paul, a worke of ye flesh & plaine idolatry. Wherfore all such religiō wherby God is worshipped wtout his word & cōmaundement, is idolatry.1 And ye more holy & spirituall it seemeth to be in outward shew, so much ye more dāgerous & pernicious it is. For it turneth men away frō faith in Christ, & causeth thē to trust to their owne strēgth, works & righteousnes. And such is ye religion of ye Anabaptists at this day: albeit they daily more & more bewray thē selues to be possessed wt the Deuill, and to be seditious & bloudy men.