A06492:780
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 Christ was not only crucified and died, but sin also (through the divine love) was laid upon him. When sin was laid upon him, then cometh the law and saith: every sinner must dye. Therefore, O Christ, if thou wilt answer, become guilty, and suffer punishment for sinners, thou must also bear sin and malediction. Paul therefore doth very well allege this general sentence out of Moses as concerning Christ: Every one that hangeth upon the tree is the accursed of God: but Christ hath hanged upon the tree, therefore Christ is the accursed of God.
Wherefore Christ was not onely crucified and died, but sinne also (through the diuine loue) was laide vpon him. When sinne was layed vpon him, then cometh the lawe and saith: euery sinner must dye. Therefore, O Christ, if thou wilt aunswere, become giltie, and suffer punishment for sinners, thou must also beare sinne and malediction. Paule therefore doth very well alleadge this generall sentence out of Moses as concerning Christ: Euery one that hangeth vpon the tree is the accursed of God: but Christ hath hanged vpon the tree, therefore Christ is the accursed of God.
1And this is a singular consolation for all Christians, so to cloth Christ with our sins, and to wrap him in my sins, thy sins, and in the sins of the whole world, and so to* behold him bearing all our iniquities. For the beholding of him after this manner, shall easily vanquish all the fantastical opinions of the Papists concerning the justification of works. For they do imagine (as I have said) a certain faith formed and adorned with charity. By this (say they) sins are taken away and men are justified before God.3 And what is this else (I pray you) but to unwrap Christ, and to strip him quite out of our sins, to make him innocent and to charge and overwhelm our selves with our own sins, and to look upon them, not in Christ, but in our selves. Yea, what is this else but to take Christ clean away, and to make him utterly unprofitable unto us?