A06492:390
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.
The Divinity of the School men.
The Diuinitie of the Schole men.
When a man doth any good work, God accepteth it, and for that good work he poureth into him charity. This infused charity (say they) is a quality grafted in the heart,1 and this they call formal righteousness (which manner of speaking it is expedient for you to know:) and they can abide nothing less then to hear that this quality furnishing the soul as whiteness doth the wall, should not be counted righteousness.2 They can clime no higher then to this cogitation of mans reason: that man is righteous hy his own formal righteousness, which is grace making him acceptable unto God, that is to say, love or charity. So to this quality cleaving unto the soul, that is to wit, charity (which is a work after the law, for the law saith: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God. &c.) they attribute formal righteousness, and they say that this righteousness is worthy of everlasting life, and he that hath it, is formally righteous: and moreover he is effectually or actually righteous, because he now doth good works, whereunto everlasting life is due. This is the opinion of the Schoolmen, yea even of the best among them.
When a man doth any good worke, God accepteth it, and for that good worke he poureth into him charitie. This infused charitie (say they) is a qualitie grafted in the heart,1 and this they call formall righteousnes (which maner of speaking it is expedient for you to know:) and they cā abide nothing lesse then to heare yt this qualitie furnishing the soule as whitenes doth the wal, should not be coūted righteousnes.