A06492:727
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.
Wherefore, when Paul proveth this place: Whosoever are ⟨image 127⟩are of the works of the law are under the curse,1 by this sentence of Moses: Cursed is every one that abideth not in all that is written in this book: he proveth not one contrary by an other, as at the first sight it may appear, but he proveth it rightly and in true order. For Moses meaneth and teacheth the self same thing that Paul doth, when he sayeth: Cursed is every one which shall not do all &c. But no man doeth them: therefore whosoever are of the works of the law keep not the law. If they keep it not, they are under the curse. But seeing there be two sorts of men that are doers of the law (as before I have said,) true doers and hypocrites, the true doers must be separated from the hypocrites. The true doers of the law are they which through Faith are the good tree before the fruit, doers and workers before the works. Of these speaketh Moses also: and except they be such, they are under the Curse. But the hypocrites are not of this sort: for they have this opinion, that they will obtain righteousness through their works, and thereby make the person just and acceptable. For thus they think: We that are sinners and unrighteous, will be made righteous. Howe shall that be? By good works. Therefore they do even like as a foolish builder which goeth about of the roof to make the foundation: of the fruits to make the tree. For when they seek to be justified by works, of the works they would make the worker, which is directly against Moses, which maketh such a worker subject to the curse as well as Paul doth. Therefore whiles they go about to do the law, they not only do it not, but also deny (as I have said) the first commandment,2 the promises of God, the promised Blessing of Abraham: they renounce Faith, and they go about to make them selves blessed by their own works: that is to say, to make them selves righteous, to deliver them selves from sin and death, to overcome the Devil, and by violence to lay hold upon the kingdom of heaven. And this is plainly to renounce God, and to set them selves in the place of God. For all these are the works of the divine Majesty alone, and not of any creature either in heaven or in earth.
Wherefore, when Paule proueth this place: VVhosoeuer are ⟨image 127⟩