A06492:533
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.
Verse. 21. I do not abrogate or reject the grace of God
Verse. 21. I doe not abrogate or reiect the grace of God
Now he prepareth a way to the second argument of this epistle. And here ye must diligently consider,1 that to seek to be justified by the works of the law is to reject the grace of God. But, I pray you, what sin can be more execrable or horrible then to reject the grace of God and to refuse that righteousness which cometh by Christ? It is enough and to much already that we are wicked sinners and transgressors of all the commandments of God: and yet we commit moreover the most execrable sin of all sins, in that we do so contemptuously refuse the grace of God and remission of sins offered unto us by Christ. This blasphemy is more horrible then can be expressed. There is no sin which Paul and the other Apostles did so much detest as the contempt of grace and denial of Christ, and yet there is no sin more common. Hereof it cometh that Paul above the rest doth so sharply inveigh against Antichrist for that he despiseth the grace of God and refuseth the benefit of Christ our high Priest,2 who offered up himself a sacrifice for our sins. Now thus to deny Christ, what is it else but to spit in his face, to tread him under foot, to set himself in his place, and to say: I will justify thee and will save thee. By what means? By masses, pilgrimages, pardons, merits and such like. We see then how proudly Antichrist hath lift up himself against and above God, and set himself in the place of Christ, rejected the grace of God and denied the faith. For this is his doctrine: Faith availeth nothing (saith he) unless it be joined with works: and by this false and detestable doctrine he hath defaced, darkened, and utterly buried the benefit of Christ, & in the stead of the grace of Christ and his kingdom, he hath established the doctrine of works and the kingdom of ceremonies, and hath confirmed the same with mere trifles and doting dreams, and by this means he hath wrested the whole world out of Christs hands (who alone ought to reign in the conscience) & hath thrown it down headlong into hell.