A06492:627
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.
But this must we learn, that forgiveness of sins, Christ, and the holy Ghost are freely given unto us at the only hearing of faith preached, notwithstanding our horrible sins and demerits. And we must not weigh, how great the thing is that is given, and how unworthy we are of it (for so should the greatness of the gift & our unworthiness terrify us): but we must think that it pleaseth God freely to give unto us this unspeakable gift: unto us (I say) which are unworthy, as Christ in Luke sayeth:1 Fear not little flock: for it is your fathers pleasure to give unto you: (Lo, to give unto you, saith he) a kingdom. 2To whom? To you unworthy, which are his little flock. If I then be little and the thing great (nay rather of all things the greatest) which God hath given unto me, I must thus think, that he also is great and only great, which giveth it. If he offer it and will give it, I consider not mine own sin & unworthiness, but his fatherly good will towards me which is the giver, and I receive the greatness of the gift with joy and gladness, & am thankful for so inestimable a gift given freely unto me, to me (I say) unworthy, by the hearing of faith.
But this must we learne, that forgeuenes of sinnes, Christ, and the holy Ghost are freely geuen vnto vs at the onely hearing of faith preached, notwithstanding our horrible sinnes and demerits. And we must not wey, how greate the thing is that is geuen, and how vnworthy we are of it (for so should the greatnes of the gift & our vnworthines terrefie vs): but we must thinke that it pleaseth God freely to geue vnto vs this vnspeakeable gifte: vnto vs (I say) which are vnworthy, as Christ in Luke sayeth:1 Feare not litle flocke: for it is your fathers pleasure to geue vnto you: (Loe, to geue vnto you, saith he) a kingdome. 2To whom? To you vnworthy, which are his litle flocke. If I then be litle and the thing great (nay rather of all things the greatest) which God hath geuen vnto me, I must thus thinke, that he also is great and onely greate, which geueth it. If he offer it and will geue it, I consider not mine owne sinne & vnworthines, but his fatherly good will towardes me which is the geuer, and I receaue the greatnes of the gift with ioy and gladnes, & am thankful for so inestimable a gifte geuen freely vnto me, to me (I say) vnworthy, by the hearing of faith.