A06492:404
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 is the beginning of health and salvation. By this means we are delivered from sin, justified, & made inheritors of everlasting life: not for our own works and deserts, but for our faith, whereby we lay hold upon Christ. Wherefore we also do acknowledge a quality and a formal righteousness in the heart: not charity (as the Schoolmen do) but faith, and yet so notwithstanding that the heart do behold nothing, apprehend nothing but Christ the Saviour. And here it is necessary that you know the true definition of Christ. The Schoolmen being utterly ignorant hereof, have made Christ a judge and a tormentor, devising this fond fantasy concerning the merit of congruence & worthiness.
This is the beginning of health and saluation. By this meanes we are deliuered frō sinne, iustified, & made inheritours of euerlasting life: not for our owne works and deserts, but for our faith, wherby we lay hold vpon Christ. Wherfore we also doe acknowledge a qualitie and a formall righteousnes in the heart: not charitie (as the Scholemen doe) but faith, and yet so notwithstanding that the heart do behold nothing, apprehend nothing but Christ the Sauiour. And here it is necessary that you know the true definition of Christ. The Scholemen being vtterly ignorant hereof, haue made Christ a iudge and a tormentor, deuising this fond fantasie concerning ye merite of congruence & worthines.
1But Christ, according to his true definition, is no lawgiver, but he is a forgiver of sins and a Saviour. This doth faith apprehend and undoubtedly believe, that he hath wrought works and merits of congruence ⟨p. 62⟩and worthiness before and after grace abundantly. For he might have satisfied for all the sins of the world by one only drop of his blood.2 But now he hath shed it plentifully and hath satisfied abundantly. Ebr. 9. By his own blood hath he entered into the holy place once for all, and obtained eternal redemption for us. Also