A06492:397
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.
These things I do the more diligently repeat, that you may see how far they have wandered from the true sense of the scripture, which have said that we by our own natural strength may love God above all things, or at least, by the work wrought we may deserve everlasting life. And because God is not content that we fulfil the law according to the substance of the deed, but will have us also to fulfil the same according to the meaning of the Commander: therefore the scripture further compelleth us to have a quality above nature poured into us from above, and that is charity which they call formal righteousness adorning and beautifying faith, being also the cause that faith justifieth us. So faith is the body, and the shell: charity the life, the kernel, the form and furniture. These are the dreams of the Schoolmen.
These things I doe the more diligently repete, that you may see how farre they haue wādred from the true sense of the scripture, which haue sayd that we by our owne naturall strength may loue God aboue all things, or at least, by ye worke wrought we may deserue euerlasting life. And because God is not contente that we fulfill the law according to the substance of the deede, but will haue vs also to fulfill the same according to the meaning of the Commaunder: therefore the scripture further compelleth vs to haue a qualitie aboue nature poured into vs from aboue, and that is charitie which they call formall righteousnes adorning and bewtifying faith, being also the cause that faith iustifieth vs. So faith is the body, and the shell: charitie the life, the kernell, the forme and furniture. These are the dreames of the Scholemen.
1But we in the stead of this charity do place faith, and we say that faith apprehendeth Jesus Christ, who is the form which adorneth & furnisheth faith, as the colour adorneth and beautifieth the wall. Christian ⟨p. 61⟩faith then is not an idle quality or empty husk in the heart, which may be in deadly sin (as they say) until charity come and quicken it: but if it be true faith, it is a sure trust and confidence of the heart, and a firm consent whereby Christ is apprehended: So that Christ is the object of faith, yea rather even in faith Christ himself is present.