A06492:402
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.
Contrary to these vain trifles and doting dreams (as we have also noted before) we teach faith, and give a true rule of Christianity in this sort: First that a man must be taught by the law to know ⟨image 69⟩him self, that so he may learn to say with the Prophet: All have sinned and have need of the glory of God. 1Also, there is not one righteous, no not one: Not one that understandeth, not one that seeketh after God: All have gone astray. Also, against thee only have I sinned. Thus we by a contrary way, do drive men from the merit of congruence and worthiness. Now, when a man is humbled by the law and brought to the knowledge of himself, then followeth true repentance (for true repentance beginneth at the fear & judgement of God) and he seeth himself to be so great a sinner, that he can find no means how he may be delivered from his sin by his own strength,2 works, or merits. Then he perceiveth well what Paul meaneth when he saith, that man is the servant and bondslave of sin. 3Also, that God hath shut up all under sin: & that the whole world is guilty before god &c. Then he seeth that all the divinity of the Schoolmen touching the merit of congruence and worthiness, is nothing else but mere foolishness, and that by this means the whole Papacy falleth to ruin.
Contrary to these vaine trifles and doting dreames (as we haue also noted before) we teach faith, and geue a true rule of Christianitie in this sorte: First that a man must be taught by the lawe to knowe ⟨image 69⟩him selfe, that so he may learne to say with the Prophet: All haue sinned and haue neede of the glory of God. 1Also, there is not one righteous, no not one: Not one that vnderstandeth, not one that seeketh after God: All haue gone astray. Also, against thee onely haue I sinned. Thus we by a contrary way, do driue men from the merite of congruence and worthines. Now, when a man is humbled by the law and brought to the knowledge of himselfe, then followeth true repentance (for true repentance beginneth at the feare & iudgement of God) and he seeth himselfe to be so great a sinner, that he can finde no meanes how he may be deliuered from his sinne by his owne strength,