A06492:861
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.
The law of God therefore hath properly and peculiarly that office which it had then in Mount Sinai, when it was first given, and was first heard of them that were washed, righteous, purified and chaste: and yet ⟨p. 146⟩notwithstanding it brought that holy people into such a knowledge of their own misery, that they were thrown down even to death and desperation. No purity nor holiness could then help them: but there was in them such a feeling of their own uncleanness, unworthiness & sin, and of the judgement and wrath of God, that they fled from the sight of the Lord, and could not abide to hear his voice. What flesh was there ever (said they) that heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, and yet lived? 1This day have we seen that God talketh with man, and yet he liveth. They speak now far otherwise then they did a little before when they said: We are the holy people of God, whom the Lord hath chosen for his own peculiar people before all the nations upon yt earth. We will do all things which the Lord hath spoken.2 So it happeneth at length to all Justiciaries, who being drunken with the opinion of their own righteousness, do think when they are out of tentation, that they are beloved of God, and that God regardeth their vows, their fastings, their prayers, & their will-works, and that for the same he must give unto them a singular crown in heaven. But when that thundering, lightning, fire, and that hammer which breaketh in pieces the rocks, that is to say, the law of God, cometh suddenly upon them, revealing unto them their sin, the wrath & judgement of God: then the self same thing happeneth unto them which happened to the Jews standing at the foot of Mount Sinai.
The law of God therfore hath properly and peculiarly that office which it had then in Mount Sina, when it was first geuen, and was first heard of them that were washed, righteous, purified and chast: and yet ⟨p. 146⟩notwithstanding it brought that holy people into such a knowledge of their owne misery, that they were throwne downe euen to death and desperation. No puritie nor holines could then helpe them: but there was in them such a feeling of their owne vncleanes, vnworthines & sin, and of the iudgement and wrath of God, that they fled from the sight of the Lord, and could not abide to heare his voice. VVhat flesh vvas there euer (sayd they) that heard the voice of the liuing God speaking out of the middes of the fier, and yet liued?