A06492:548
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.
The law is given besides and above reason to be a light & a help to man, and to show him what he ought to do, & what to leave undone. Notwithstanding man with all his strength and reason,1 yea with this great light also and heavenly benefit (the law I mean) can not be justified. Now, if that which is the most excellent thing in the world (the law I say) which as a bright shining sun is joined to the dim and obscure light of mans reason, to lighten and to direct it, is not able to justify, what can reason do (I pray you) without the law? What? Doubtless nothing else but that which the Pope with his dreaming Sophisters and his whole Synagogue hath done, who with their own traditions have darkened the light even of the first commandment. Wherefore there is not one of them that is able rightly to understand any one syllable of the law, but every man walketh in mere darkness of mans reason. And this error is much more pernicious and deadly then that which proceedeth of the doctrine of works and the law.
The lawe is geuen besides and aboue reason to be a light & a helpe to man, and to shew him what he ought to doe, & what to leaue vndone. Notwithstanding man with all his strength and reason,1 yea with this great light also and heauenly benefite (the law I meane) can not be iustified. Now, if that which is the most excellent thing in the world (the law I say) which as a bright shining sunne is ioyned to the dimme and obscure light of mans reason, to lighten and to direct it, is not able to iustifie, what can reason doe (I pray you) without the lawe? What? Doutles nothing else but that which ye Pope with his dreaming Sophisters and his whole Sinagoge hath done, who with their owne traditions haue darkned the light euen of the first cōmaundement. Wherfore there is not one of them that is able rightly to vnderstand any one syllable of the lawe, but euery man walketh in mere darknes of mans reason. And this errour is much more pernicious and deadly then that which procedeth of the doctrine of workes and the lawe.
- 1Reason although it be lightened with the law, yea and the law of God, yet it can not justify.Reason although it be lightned vvith the lavve, yea and the lavve of God, yet it can not iustifie.