A06492:395
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 scripture compelleth us to confess (say they) that God, besides that natural love and charity which is engrafted in us,1 (wherewith alone he is not contented) requireth also charity which he him self giveth. And hereby they accuse God as a tyrant and a cruel exactor, who is not content that we keep and fulfil his law, but above the law, which we are of our selves able to fulfil, requireth also that we should accomplish it with other circumstance and furniture, as apparel to the same. As if a Mistress should not be contented that ⟨image 68⟩her Cooke had dressed her meat excellently well, but should chide her for that she did not prepare the same, being decked with precious apparel & having a crown of gold upon her head. What a mistress were this, who besides that which her Cooke was only bound to do and also exactly performed, would require moreover precious apparel or a crown of gold which she could not have? Even so, what a one should God be if he should require his law to be fulfilled of us (which otherwise by our own natural strength we observe and fulfil) with such furniture as we can not have?
The scripture compelleth vs to cōfesse (say they) that God, besides that naturall loue and charitie which is engrafted in vs,1 (wherwith alone he is not contented) requireth also charitie which he him selfe geueth. And heereby they accuse God as a tyranne and a cruell exactor, who is not content that we kepe and fulfil his law, but aboue the law, which we are of our selues able to fulfill, requireth also that we should accomplishe it with other circumstaunce and furniture, as apparell to the same. As if a Mistres should not be contented that ⟨image 68⟩her Cooke had dressed her meate excellently well, but should chide her for that she did not prepare the same, being decked wt precious apparel & hauing a croune of gold vpon her head. What a mistres were this, who besides that which her Cooke was onely bound to doe and also exactly performed, would require moreouer precious apparell or a croune of gold which she could not haue? Euen so, what a one should God be if he should require his lawe to be fulfilled of vs (which otherwise by our owne naturall strength we obserue and fulfill) with such furniture as we can not haue?