A06492:217
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.
1Therefore in respect of us, it is a very brittle matter, because we are brittle. Again, we have against us even the one half of our selves: that is to say, reason, & all the powers thereof. Besides all this, the flesh resisteth the spirit,2 which can not believe assuredly that the promises of God are true. It fighteth therefore against the spirit, and (as Paul saith) it ⟨p. 33⟩holdeth the spirit captive: 3so that it can not believe so steadfastly as it would. Wherefore we teach continually that the knowledge of Christ and of Faith, is no work of man, but simply the gift of God,4 who as he createth Faith, so doth he keep it in us. And even as he first giveth Faith unto us through the word, so afterwards he exerciseth, increaseth, strengtheneth & maketh perfect the same in us by the word. Therefore the greatest service that a man can do unto God,5 & the very Sabbath of Sabbaths is to exercise him self in true godliness, diligently to read and to hear the word. Contrariwise there is nothing more daū gerous then to be weary of the word. He therefore that is so cold that he thinketh him self to know enough, and beginneth by little and little to loth the word, that man hath lost Christ and the gospel, and that which he thinketh him self to know, he attaineth only by bare‖ speculation: And he is like unto a man (as S. James saith): Who beholding his face in a glass, goeth his way, and by and by forgetteth what his countenance was.
1Therfore in respect of vs, it is a very brickle matter, because we are brickle. Againe, we haue against vs euē the one halfe of our selues: that is to say, reason, & all ye powers therof. Besides all this, ye flesh resisteth the spirite,2