A06492:449
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.
Now, a minister of sin is nothing else,1 but a lawgiver or a Schoolmaster of the law, which teacheth good works and charity, and that a man must suffer the cross and afflictions, and follow the example of Christ and of the Saints. He that teacheth and requireth this, is a minister of the law, of sin, of wrath, & of death: For by this doctrine he doth nothing else but terrify & afflict mens consciences and shutteth them under sin.2 For it is impossible for the nature of man to accomplish the law: yea in those that are justified and have the holy Ghost, the law of the members fighteth against the law of the mind. What will it not then do in the wicked which have not the holy Ghost? Wherefore he that teacheth that righteousness cometh by the law, doth not understand what he sayeth, or what he affirmeth, and much less doth he keep the law: but rather he deceiveth himself and others, and layeth upon them such a burden as they are not able to bear, requiring and teaching impossible things, and at the last he bringeth himself and his disciples unto desperation.
Now, a minister of sinne is nothing els,1 but a lawgiuer or a Scholemaster of the law, which teacheth good works and charitie, and that a man must suffer the crosse and afflictions, and follow the example of Christ and of the Sainctes. He that teacheth and requireth this, is a minister of the lawe, of sinne, of wrath, & of death: For by this doctrine he doth nothing els but terrifie & afflict mens consciences and shutteth them vnder sinne.2 For it is impossible for the nature of man to accomplish the law: yea in those that are iustified and haue the holy Ghost, the lavv of the members fighteth against the lavv of the mind. What will it not then do in the wicked which haue not the holy Ghost? Wherfore he that teacheth that righteousnes cometh by the lawe, doth not vnderstand what he sayeth, or what he affirmeth, and much lesse doth he keepe the law: but rather he deceaueth himselfe and others, and laieth vpon them such a burthen as they are not able to beare, requiring and teaching impossible things, and at the last he bringeth himselfe and his disciples vnto desperation.