A06492:437
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.
But the proper office of Christ is, after the law hath pronounced a man to be guilty, to raise him up again, and to loose him from his sins, if he believe the Gospel. For to all that do believe,1 Christ is the end and full finishing of the law unto righteousness: He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. But the Papists and Anabaptists, because they understand not this doctrine, do pervert altogether, making of Christ Moses, and of Moses Christ. And this is in deed (although they will say otherwise) their principal proposition: That Christ is Moses.2 Moreover they deride and mock us, because we do so diligently teach, and so earnestly require Faith. Ha ha (say they) faith faith: wait thou the time until thou come to heaven by faith. Nay, thou must strive to do greater & weightier matters. Thou must fulfil the law, according to that saying:3 Do this and thou shalt line. Faith which ye so highly extol, doth nothing else but make men careless, idle, and negligent. Thus are they become nothing else but ministers of the law, and law-workers, calling back the people from baptism, faith, the promises of Christ, to the law and works, turning grace into the law, and the law into grace.
But the proper office of Christ is, after the lawe hath pronounced a man to be giltie, to raise him vp againe, and to loose him from his sinnes, if he beleue the Gospell. For to all that doe beleue,1 Christ is the ende and full finishing of the lavve vnto righteousnes: He is the Lambe of God that taketh avvay the sinnes of the vvorld. But the Papistes and Anabaptistes, because they vnderstand not this doctrine, doe peruert altogether, making of Christ Moses, and of Moses Christ. And this is in deede (although they will say otherwise) their principall proposition: That Christ is Moses.2 Moreouer they deride and mocke vs, because we doe so diligently teach, and so earnestly require Faith. Ha ha (say they) faith faith: wait thou the time vntil thou come to heauen by faith. Nay, thou must striue to doe greater & waightier matters. Thou must fulfill the law, according to that saying: