A06492:702
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.
Hereby then we see that to bless signifieth nothing else, but (as I said before) to preach and teach the word of the Gospel, to confess Christ, and to spread abroad the knowledge of him among all the Gentiles. And this is the office of the Priesthood and continual sacrifice of the Church in the new testament,1 which distributeth this Blessing by preaching and by ministering of the sacraments, by comforting the broken hearted, by distributing the word of grace, which Abraham had and which was also his Blessing: which when he believed, he received the Blessing.2 So we also believing the same, are blessed. And this blessing is a great glory, not before the world, but before God. For we have heard that our sins are forgiven us, and that we are accepted of God, that God is our father, and that we are his children, with whom he will not be angry, but will deliver us from sin, from death and all evils, and will give unto us righteousness, life and eternal salvation. Of this Blessing (as I have said) do the Prophets preach in every place, who did not so coldly consider those promises made unto the fathers as the wicked Jews did, and as the popish Schoolmen ⟨p. 114⟩and Sectaries do at this day,3 but did read them and way them with great diligence, and also drew out of those promises whatsoever they prophesied of Christ or his kingdom. So the prophecy of Hoseas. 13. chapter: I vvill redeem them from the power of the grave: I vvill deliver them from death: O death I vvill be thy death: O grave I vvill be thy destruction, and such like places of the other Prophets did all spring out of these promises, in which God promised to the fathers the bruising of the serpents head and the blessing of all nations.4
Hereby then we see that to blesse signifieth nothing els, but (as I saide before) to preach and teach the worde of the Gospell, to confesse Christ, and to spread abroad the knowledge of him among all the Gentiles. And this is the office of the Priesthod and continuall sacrifice of the Church in the new testament,1