A06492:463
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.
We must not therefore draw good works in to the article of justification as the Monks have done, which say, that not only good works, but also the punishments and torments which malefactors suffer for their wicked deeds,1 do deserve everlasting life. For thus they comfort them when they are brought to the gallows or place of execution. Suffer willingly and patiently this shameful death: which if thou do, thou shalt deserve remission of thy sins and everlasting life. What an horrible thing is this, that a wretched thief, a murderer, a robber should be so miserably seduced in that extreme anguish and distress, that even at the very point of death, when he is now ready to be hanged or to have his head cut of, he should refuse the Gospel and sweet promises in Christ, which are only able to bring comfort and salvation, and should be commanded to hope for pardon of his sins, if he willingly and patiently endure that opprobrious death which he suffereth for his mischievous deeds? What is this else but to heap upon him that is already most miserably afflicted, extreme perdition and destruction, and through a false confidence in his own death, to show him the ready way to hell?
We must not therfore draw good workes in to the article of iustification as the Monkes haue done, which say, that not only good works, but also the punishments and torments which malefactors suffer for their wicked deedes,1 doe deserue euerlasting life. For thus they comfort them when they are brought to the gallowes or place of execution. Suffer willingly and patiently this shamefull death: which if thou do, thou shalt deserue remission of thy sinnes and euerlasting life. What an horrible thing is this, that a wretched theefe, a murtherer, a robber should be so miserably seduced in that extreame anguish and distresse, that euen at the very point of death, when he is now ready to be hanged or to haue his head cut of, he should refuse the Gospell and sweete promises in Christ, which are onely able to bring comforte and saluation, and should be commaunded to hope for pardon of his sinnes, if he willingly and patiently endure that opprobrious death which he suffereth for his mischeuous deedes? What is this els but to heape vpon him that is already most miserably afflicted, extreme perdition and destruction, and through a false confidence in his owne death, to shew him the ready way to hell?