A06492:656
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.
1So, if we will follow the judgement of reason, God setteth forth absurd and impossible things when he setteth out unto us the Articles of the Christian faith. In deed it seemeth to reason an absurd and a foolish thing, that in the Lords supper is offered unto us the body and blood of Christ, that baptism is the Laver of the new birth and of the renewing of the holy Ghost, that the dead shall rise in the last day, that Christ the son of God was conceived and carried in the womb of the ⟨p. 105⟩virgin Mary, that he was borne, that he suffered the most reproachful death of the cross, that he was raised up again, that he now sitteth at the right hand of God the father, and that he hath power both in heaven and in earth.2 For this cause Paul calleth the Gospel of Christ crucified, the word of the cross and foolish preaching, which to the Jews was offensive, and to the Gentiles foolish doctrine &c. Reason therefore doth not understand, that to hear the word of God and to believe it,3 is the chiefest service that God requireth of us: but it thinketh that those things which it chooseth and doth of a good intent (as they call it) and of her own devotion, please God. Therefore when God speaketh, reason judgeth his word to be heresy, and the word of the Devil, for it seemeth absurd and foolish.
1So, if we will follow the iudgement of reason, God setteth forth absurde and impossible things when he setteth out vnto vs the Articles of the Christian faith. In deede it seemeth to reason an absurde and a foolish thing, that in the Lordes supper is offred vnto vs the body and bloud of Christ, that baptisme is the Lauer of the new birth and of the renewing of the holy Ghost, that the dead shall rise in the last day, that Christ the sonne of God was conceiued and caried in the wombe of the ⟨p. 105⟩virgin Marie, that he was borne, that he suffered the most reprochefull death of the crosse, that he was raised vp againe, that he nowe sitteth at the right hand of God the father, and that he hath power both in heauen and in earth.