A06492:834
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 in this also lieth a certain vehemency specially to be noted, that he expressly setteth down the number of .430. years. As if he would say: Consider with your selves how long it was between the promise given, and the law. It is plain that Abraham received the promise a long time before the law. For the law was given to the people of Israel .430. years after. And this is an invincible argument gathered and grounded upon a certain time. And he speaketh not here of the law in general, but only of the written law.1 As if he would say: God could not then have regard to the Ceremonies and works of the law, and give righteousness to the observers thereof. For as yet the law was not given, which commandeth ceremonies, requireth works, and promiseth life to those that observe them, saying: The man that shall do these things, shall live in them. And although it promise such things, yet it followeth not therefore that we obtain these promises: For it sayeth plainly: The man that shall do these things, &c. Now, it is certain that no man can do them. Moreover, Paul saith that the law can not abolish the promise: therefore that promise made ⟨image 148⟩unto Abraham .430. years before the law, remaineth firm and constant. And that the matter may be better understand, I will declare the same by a similitude.2 If a rich man, not constrained, but of his own good will, should adopt one to be his son, whom he knoweth not, and to whom he oweth nothing, and should appoint him to be the heir of all his lands and goods, & certain years after that he hath bestowed this benefit upon him, he should lay upon him a law to do this or that: he can not now say that he hath deserved this benefit by his own works, seeing that many years before, he asking nothing, had received the same freely and of mere favour: So, God could not respect our works and deserts going before righteousness: for the promise and the gift of the holy Ghost was .430. years before the law.
And in this also lieth a certaine vehemencie specially to be noted, that he expressely setteth downe the number of .430. yeares. As if he would say: Cōsider with your selues how long it was betwene the promise geuen, and the lawe. It is plaine that Abraham receaued the promise a long time before the lawe. For the lawe was geuen to the people of Israel .430. yeares after. And this is an inuincible argument gathered and grounded vpon a certaine time. And he speaketh not here of the lawe in generall, but onely of the written lawe.