A06492:480
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 then the proper and true definition of a Christian, that he is the child of grace and remission of sins,1 because he is under no law, but is above the law, sin, death, and hell. And even as Christ is free from the grave, and Peter from the prison, so is a Christian free from the law. And such a respect there is between the justified conscience and the law, as is between Christ raised up from the grave, and the grave: and as is between Peter delivered from the prison, and the prison. And like as Christ by his death and resurrection is dead to the grave, so that it hath now no power over him, nor is able any longer to hold him, but the stone being rolled away, the seals broken, and the keepers astonished, he riseth again and goeth away without any let: and as Peter by his deliverance is freed from the prison, & goeth whether he will: even so the conscience by grace is delivered from the law. So is every one that is borne of the spirit. But the flesh knoweth not from whence this cometh, nor whether it goeth, for it can not judge but after the law. But on the contrary, the spirit sayeth: let the law accuse me, let sin and death terrify me never so much, yet I do not therefore despair: for I have the law against the law, sin against sin, and death against death.
This is then the proper and true definition of a Christian, that he is the childe of grace and remission of sinnes,1 because he is vnder no lawe, but is aboue the lawe, sinne, death, and hell. And euen as Christ is free from the graue, and Peter from the prison, so is a Christian free from the lawe. And such a respect there is betwene the iustified conscience and the lawe, as is betwene Christ raised vp from the graue, and the graue: and as is betwene Peter deliuered from the prison, and the prison. And like as Christ by his death and resurrection is dead to the graue, so that it hath now no power ouer him, nor is able any lōger to holde him, but the stone being rolled away, the seales broken, and the kepers astonished, he riseth againe and goeth away without any let: and as Peter by his deliueraunce is freed from the prison, & goeth whether he will: euen so the conscience by grace is deliuered from the law. So is euery one that is borne of the spirite. But the flesh knoweth not from whence this cometh, nor whether it goeth, for it can not iudge but after the lawe. But on the contrary, the spirite sayeth: let the law accuse me, let sinne and death terrifie me neuer so much, yet I doe not therfore despaire: for I haue the lawe against the lawe, sinne against sinne, and death against death.