A06492:167
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.
Verse. 6, Unto an other Gospel.
Verse. 6, Vnto an other Gospell.
Here we may learn to espy the crafty sleights and subtleties of the Devil. No heretic cometh under the title of errors and of the Devil,1 neither doth the Devil himself come as a Devil in his own likeness, especially that white Devil which we spake of before. Yea even the black devil, which forceth men to manifest wickedness, maketh a cloak for them to cover that sin which they commit or purpose to commit. The murderer in his rage seeth not that murder is so great and horrible a sin as it is in deed, for that he hath a cloak to cover the same. Whoremasters, thieves, covetous persons, drunkards and such others, have wherewith to flatter them selves and cover their sins.2 So the black devil also cometh out disguised and counterfeit in all his works and devises. But in spiritual matters, where Satan cometh forth, not black, but white in the likeness of an Angel or of God him self,3 there he passeth himself with most crafty dissimulation and wonderful sleights, and is wont to set forth to sale his most deadly poison for the doctrine of grace, for the word of God, for the Gospel of Christ. For this cause Paul calleth the doctrine of the false Apostles Satan's ministers, a gospel also, saying: unto an other Gospel: but in derision. As though he would say: ye Galatians have now other Evangelists and an other Gospel. My Gospel is now despised of you: it is now no more in estimation among you.
Here we may learne to espie the craftie sleights and subtilties of the Deuill. No heretike commeth vnder the title of errours and of the Deuill,1 neither doth the Deuill himselfe come as a Deuill in his owne likenes, especially that white Deuill which we spake of before. Yea euen the blacke deuill, which forceth men to manifest wickednes, maketh a cloke for them to couer that sinne which they committe or purpose to committe. The murtherer in his rage seeth not that murther is so greate and horrible a sinne as it is in deede, for that he hath a cloke to couer the same. Whoremasters, theeues, couetous persons, drunkards and such others, haue wherwith to flatter them selues and couer their sinnes.