A06492:461
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.
What are the Papists (I pray you) yea the best of them all,1 but destroyers of the kingdom of Christ and builders up of the kingdom of the Devil and of sin, of wrath and eternal death? Yea they destroy the church, which is Gods building, not by the law of Moses, as did the false Apostles, but by mens traditions and doctrines of Devils. And even so the fantastical heads which are at this day and shall come after us, do destroy and shall destroy those things which we have built: do build and shall build up again those things which we have destroyed.
What are the Papists (I pray you) yea the best of them all,1 but destroyers of the kingdome of Christ and builders vp of the kingdome of the Deuill and of sinne, of wrath and eternall death? Yea they destroy the church, which is Gods building, not by the law of Moses, as did the false Apostles, but by mens traditions and doctrines of Deuils. And euen so the fantasticall heads which are at this day and shall come after vs, doe destroy and shall destroy those things which we haue built: doe build and shall build vp againe those things which we haue destroyed.
- 1The Papists are destroyers of the kingdom of Christ.The Papistes are destroyers of the kingdome of Christ.
But we by the grace of Christ holding the article of justification, do assuredly know that we are justified and reputed righteous before ⟨image 79⟩God by faith only in Christ.1 Therefore we do not mingle the law and grace, faith and works together: but we separate them far asunder. And this distinction or difference between the law and grace, let every man that feareth God mark diligently, and let him suffer the same to take place, not in letters and syllables, but in practise & inward experience: So that when he heareth, that good works ought to be done, and that the example of Christ is to be followed, he may be able to judge rightly and say: well, all these things will I gladly do. What then followeth? Thou shalt then be saved and obtain everlasting life. Nay, not so. I grant in deed that I ought to do good works, patiently to suffer troubles and afflictions, and to shed my blood also if need be, for Christs cause: but yet am I not justified, neither do I obtain salvation thereby.