A06492:626
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.
It is not without cause that I do so largely entreat of these matters. For it seemeth to mans reason but a light and a small matter to purchase the holy ghost by the only hearing of faith, and that nothing else is required of us but that we, setting a part all our works, should give our selves only to the hearing of the Gospel.1 Mans heart doth not understand nor believe that so great a price, namely the holy Ghost, is given by the only hearing of faith: but reasoneth after this sort: Forgiveness of sins, deliverance from death, the giving of the holy Ghost, of righteousness and everlasting life, are great things: therefore if thou wilt obtain these inestimable benefits, thou must perform some other great and weighty matter.2 This opinion the devil doth well like and approve, & also increaseth the same in the heart. Therefore when reason heareth this: Thou canst do nothing for the obtaining of sins, but must only hear the word of God, by and by it crieth out & saith: Fie, thou makest too small a count of the remission of sins &c. So the inestimable greatness of the gift is the cause that we can not believe it: and because this incomparable treasure is freely offered, therefore it is despised.
It is not without cause that I doe so largely intreate of these matters. For it seemeth to mans reason but a light and a small matter to purchase the holy ghost by the onely hearing of faith, and that nothing els is required of vs but that we, setting a parte all our works, should geue our selues onely to the hearing of the Gospell.1 Mans hearte doth not vnderstand nor beleue that so greate a price, namely the holy Ghost, is geuen by the onely hearing of faith: but reasoneth after this sorte: Forgeuenes of sinnes, deliueraunce from death, the geuing of the holy Ghost, of righteousnes and euerlasting life, are greate things: therfore if thou wilt obtaine these inestimable benefites, thou must performe some other greate and weighty matter.2 This opinion the deuill doth wel like and approue, & also encreaseth the same in the heart. Therfore when reason heareth this: Thou cāst doe nothing for the obtaining of sinnes, but must onely heare the word of God, by and by it crieth out & saith: Fie, thou makest too small a count of ye remission of sinnes &c. So the inestimable greatnes of the gift is the cause that we can not beleue it: and because this incomparable treasure is freely offered, therfore it is despised.