A06492:541
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.
Take now therefore the whole law, and imagine that by the merit of congruence or works going before grace, thou hast so much profited, that thou hast received grace and the spirit of God, which is a thing impossible unto nature:1 but yet admit (I say) that in doing what in thee lieth, thou hast obtained grace, art made righteous, and hast received the holy Ghost by the merit of congruence: then hast thou no need of Christ, he is to thee unprofitable and his death of none effect.
Take now therfore the whole law, and imagine that by the merite of cōgruence or works going before grace, thou hast so much profited, that thou hast receaued grace and the spirite of God, which is a thinge impossible vnto nature:1 but yet admitte (I say) that in doing what in thee lieth, thou hast obtained grace, art made righteous, and hast receaued the holy Ghost by the merite of congruence: then hast thou no neede of Christ, he is to thee vnprofitable and his death of none effect.
- 1If the desert of congruence avail ought, then is Christ dead in vain.If the desert of congruence auaile ought, then is Christ dead in vaine.
Moreover take even the law of the ten commandments, wherein is contained the true religion and the highest service of God:1 that is to say, faith, the fear of God, the love of God, and the love of our neighbour, and show me any man that hath been justified thereby: yet is it true notwithstanding that Christ died in vain. For he that is justified by the law, hath power in himself to obtain righteousness. For in that he doth what in him lieth, he deserveth grace, & the holy Ghost is poured into him, whereby he is now able to love God and his neighbour. This being granted, it must needs follow that Christ died in vain. For what need of Christ hath he which both loveth Christ and giveth himself for him, so that he is able by the merit of congruence before grace to obtain grace, and then to do such works as by the merit of