A06492:311
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.
This place he allegeth out of Moses, who useth the same,1 not once but many times: Thou shalt not accept in judgement the person of the rich man or of the pore. And this is a principle of divinity: God is no acceptor of persons. With the which saying he stoppeth the mouths of the false apostles. As though he would say: Ye set those against me which seem to be somewhat: but God careth not for such outward things. He regardeth not the office of Apostleship. It is not the dignity or authority of men ye he looketh upon. And in token hereof,2 he suffered Judas one of the chiefest Apostles, & Saul one of the greatest kings, yea & the first of all, to fall away & to be damned. Ismael also & Esau he refused, being both first born. So shall you find throughout all the whole scripture that god oftentimes rejected those which in outward show were very good & holy men. And in these examples God seemeth sometimes to be cruel: but it was most necessary that such fearful examples should be showed & also be written. ⟨image 54⟩For this vice is naturally grafted in us, that we highly esteem yt persons and outward appearance of men and more regard the same then the word of God. Contrariwise God will have us to fix our eyes and to rest wholly upon the word it self:3 he will not have us to reverence and adore the Apostleship in the persons of Peter and Paul, but Christ speaking in them, and the word which they bring and preach unto us.
This place he alledgeth out of Moses, who vseth ye same,1 not once but many times: Thou shalt not accept in iudgemēt the persō of the rich man or of the pore. And this is a principle of diuinitie: God is no acceptor of persons. With the which saying he stoppeth the mouthes of the false apostles. As though he would say: Ye set those against me which seeme to be somewhat: but God careth not for such outward things. He regardeth not ye office of Apostleship. It is not ye dignity or authority of mē ye he loketh vpon. And in tokē hereof,2