A06492:486
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.
1This sentence of Paul: Through the law I am dead to the law, is full of consolation. Which, if it may enter into a man in due season, & take sure hold in his heart with good understanding, it may so work that it will make him able to stand against all dangers of death, and all terrors of conscience and sin, although they assail him, accuse him, and would drive him to desperation never so much. True it is that every man is tempted: if not in his life, yet at his death. There, when the law accuseth him and showeth unto him his sins, his conscience by and by saith:2 Thou hast sinned. If then thou take good hold of that which Paul here teacheth, thou wilt answer: I grant I have sinned. Then will God punish thee. Nay, he will not so do. Why, doth not the law of God so say? I have nothing to do with that law. Why so? Because I have an other law which striketh this law dumb,3 that is to say, liberty.4 What liberty is that? The liberty of Christ, for by Christ I am utterly freed from the law. Therefore that law which is & remaineth a law to the wicked, is to me liberty, and bindeth that law which would condemn me: And by this means that law which would bind me and hold me captive, is now fast bound it self, and holden captive by grace and liberty, which is now my law: which saith to that accusing law:5 Thou shalt not hold this man bound & captive, for he is mine: but I will hold thee in captivity, and bind thy hands that thou shalt not hurt him, for he liveth now unto Christ, and is dead unto thee.
1This sentence of Paule: Through the lavv I am dead to the lavv, is full of consolation. Which, if it may enter into a man in due season, & take sure hold in his heart with good vnderstanding, it may so worke that it will make him able to stand against all daungers of death, and all terrours of conscience and sinne, although they assaile him, accuse him, and would driue him to desperation neuer so much. True it is that euery man is tempted: if not in his life, yet at his death. There, when the law accuseth him and sheweth vnto him his sinnes, his cōscience by and by saith: