A06492:1487
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.
Faith.
When Paul here reckoneth faith amongst the fruits of the spirit, it is manifest that he speaketh not of Faith which is in Christ, but of the fidelity & humanity of one man towards an other. Hereupon he sayeth in the .13. Chap. of the first to the Cor. that charity believeth all things. Therefore he that hath this faith is not suspicious but mild, & taketh all things to the best. And although he be deceived and findeth himself to be mocked, yet such is his patience and softness, that he letteth it pass: Briefly he is ready to believe all men, but he trusteth not all. On the contrary, where this virtue is lacking, there men are suspicious, froward, wayward, dogged, & so neither will believe any thing, nor give place to any body. They can suffer nothing. Whatsoever a man saith or doth never so well, they cavil & slander it, so that who so serveth not their humour, can never please them. Therefore it is impossible for them to keep charity, friendship, concord & peace with men. But if these virtues be taken away, what is this life else, but biting and devouring one of an other? Faith therefore in this place is, when one man giveth credit to an other in things pertaining to this present life. For what manner of life should we lead in this world, if one man should not credit an other?
When Paule here reckeneth faith amongs the fruites of the spirit, it is manifest that he speaketh not of Faith which is in Christe, but of the fidelitie & humanitie of one man towards an other. Herevpon he sayeth in the .13. Chap. of the first to the Cor. that charitie beleueth all things. Therfore he that hath this faith is not suspicious but milde, & taketh all things to the best. And although he be deceaued and findeth himselfe to be mocked, yet such is his patiencie and softnes, that he letteth it passe: Briefly he is ready to beleue al mē, but he trusteth not all. On ye cōtrary, where this vertue is lacking, there men are suspicious, froward, waiward, dogged, & so neither wil beleue any thing, nor geue place to any body. They can suffer nothing. Whatsoeuer a mā saith or doth neuer so wel, they cauill & sclander it, so yt who so serueth not their humor, cā neuer please them. Therefore it is impossible for thē to kepe charity, frendship, concord & peace wt men. But if these vertues be takē away, what is this life else, but biting and deuouring one of an other? Faith therfore in this place is, whē one mā geueth credite to an other in things pertaining to this present life. For what maner of life should we lead in this world, if one man should not credite an other?