A06492:878
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.
This is a little digression from his purpose, which he neither declareth, nor finisheth: but only toucheth it by the way, and so proceedeth. For he returneth incontinent to his purpose, when he sayeth: what? is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Now, this was the occasion of his digression. He fell into this difference between the law and the Gospel: to wit, that the law added to the promises, did differ from the gospel, not only in respect of time, but also of the author and the principal cause thereof. For the law was delivered by the Angels.1 Heb. 1: but the Gospel by the Lord him self. Wherefore the Gospel is far more excellent then the law. For the law is the voice of the servants,2 but the Gospel is the voice of the Lord him self. Therefore to abase and to diminish the authority of the law, and to exalt and magnify the Gospel, he saith that the law was a doctrine given to continue but for a small time (for it endured but only until the fullness of the promise,3 that is to say, until the blessed Seed came which fulfilled the promise): but that the Gospel was for ever. For all the faithful have had alway one and the self same Gospel from the beginning of the world, and by that they were saved. The law therefore is far inferior to the Gospel, because it was ordained by the Angels which are but servants, and endured but for a short time, whereas the Gospel was ordained by the Lord him self, to continue for ever. Hebrews. 1. For it was promised before all worlds. Tit. 1.
This is a litle digression from his purpose, which he neither declareth, nor finisheth: but onely toucheth it by the way, and so proceedeth. For he retourneth incontinent to his purpose, when he sayeth: what? is the lawe then contrary to the promises of God? Nowe, this was the occasion of his digression. He fell into this difference betwene the lawe and the Gospell: to witte, that the lawe added to the promises, did differ from the gospell, not onely in respect of time, but also of the author and the principal cause therof. For the lawe was deliuered by the Angels.