A06492:819
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.
After this principal & invincible argument Paul addeth an other grounded upon the similitude of a mans Testament: which seemeth to be very weak, and such as the Apostle ought not to use for the confirmation of a matter of so great importance. For in high and weighty matters,1 we ought to confirm earthly things by divine things, & not divine and heavenly things by earthly and worldly things. And in deed it is true ye these arguments of all other are most weak, when we go about to prove and confirm heavenly matters with earthly and corruptible things as Scotus is wont to do. A man (saith he) is able to love God above all things, for he loveth him self above all things: therefore much more is he able to love God above all things. For a good thing the greater it is, the more it is to be loved. And hereof he inferreth that a man is able, ex puris naturalibus: that is to say, even of his own pure natural strength, easily to fulfil that high commandment: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. &c. For (saith he) a man is able to love the least good thing above all things: yea he setteth at naught his life (of all other things most dear unto him) for a little vile money: Therefore he can much more do it for Gods cause.
After this principall & inuincible argument Paule addeth an other grounded vpon ye similitude of a mans Testament: which semeth to be very weake, and such as the Apostle ought not to vse for the confirmation of a matter of so great importance. For in high and waightie matters,1 we ought to confirme earthly things by diuine things, & not diuine and heauenly things by earthly and worldly things. And in deede it is true ye these arguments of all other are most weake, when we goe about to proue and confirme heauenly matters wt earthly and corruptible things as Scotus is wont to doe. A man (sayth he) is able to loue God aboue all things, for he loueth him self aboue all things: therfore much more is he able to loue God aboue all things. For a good thing the greater it is, the more it is to be loued. And hereof he inferreth that a man is able, ex puris naturalibus: that is to say, euen of his owne pure natural strength, easily to fulfil that high commaundement: Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God vvith all thy heart. &c. For (sayth he) a man is able to loue ye least good thing aboue all thīgs: yea he setteth at naught his life (of all other things most deare vnto him) for a litle vile money: Therfore he can much more doe it for Gods cause.