A06492:833
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.
And God did excellently well in that he gave the promise so long before the law. Which he did of purpose and to this end,1 that it should not be said, that righteousness was given through the law, and not through the promise. For if he would that we should have ben justified by the law, then would he have given the law. 430. years before the promise, or else together with the promise. But now at the first he speaketh not a word as concerning the law, but at the length after 430. years he giveth the law. In the mean while, all that time he speaketh only of his promises. Therefore the Blessing and free gift of righteousness came before the law through the promise: The promise therefore is far more excellent then the law. And so the law doth not abolish the promise, but Faith in the promise (whereby the believers even before Christs time were saved) which is now published by the Gospel throughout the whole world, destroyeth the law, so that it can not increase sin any more, terrify sinners, or bring them into desperation, laying hold upon the promise through Faith.
And God did excellently well in that he gaue the promise so long before the law. Which he did of purpose and to this ende,1 that it should not be sayd, that righteousnes was geuen through the lawe, and not through the promise. For if he would that we should haue ben iustified by the lawe, then would he haue geuen the law. 430. yeares before the promise, or else together with the promise. But nowe at the first he speaketh not a worde as concerning the lawe, but at the length after 430. yeares he geueth the lawe. In the meane while, all that time he speaketh onely of his promises. Therfore the Blessing and free gift of righteousnes came before the lawe through the promise: The promise therfore is farre more excellent then the lawe. And so the law doth not abolish the promise, but Faith in the promise (whereby the beleuers euen before Christes time were saued) which is now published by the Gospell throughout the whole world, destroyeth the law, so that it can not encrease sinne any more, terrifie sinners, or bring them into desperation, laying hold vpon the promise through Faith.
- 1The law doth not abrogate the promise, but Faith laying hold upon the promise, doth abrogate the law.