A06492:574
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.
1Such a like thing of late happened to that miserable man Doctor Kraus of Hal, which said: I have denied Christ, and therefore he standeth: now before his father and accuseth me. He being blinded with the illusion of the devil, had so strongly conceived in his mind this imagination, that by no exhortation, no consolation, no promises of God he could be brought from it, whereupon he despaired and so miserably destroyed himself.2 This was a mere lie, a bewitching of the devil, and a fantastical definition of a wrong Christ whom, the scripture knoweth not. For the scripture setteth forth Christ not as a Judge, a tempter or accuser: but a reconciler, a mediator, a comforter and a throne of grace.
1Such a like thing of late happened to that miserable man Doctor Kraus of Hal, which said: I haue denied Christ, and therfore he standeth: now before his father and accuseth me. He being blinded with the illusion of the deuil, had so strongly conceaued in his minde this imagination, that by no exhortation, no consolation, no promises of God he could be brought from it, wherupon he despaired and so miserably destroied himselfe.2 This was a meere lie, a bewitching of the deuil, and a fantasticall definition of a wrong Christ whom, the scripture knoweth not. For the scripture setteth forth Christ not as a Iudge, a temptour or accuser: but a reconciler, a mediator, a comforter and a throne of grace.
- 1The example of Doctor Kraus.
- 2The devils definition of a false Christ.The deuils definition of a false Christ.
But the poor man deluded by the devil, could not then see this, and therefore against all scripture he thinketh this to be an undoubted truth: Christ accuseth thee before his father: he standeth not for thee, but against thee: therefore thou art damned. And this tentation is not of man, but of the devil, which that enchanter most strongly imprinteth in the heart of the tempted. But unto us which are lead and taught by an other spirit, it is a manifest and a cursed lie, and a plain bewitching of the devil. But unto those that are thus bewitched, it is so certain a truth, that none can be more certain.