A06492:890
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.
But what (think ye) should have come to pass if that the law had been given without Moses, either else before or after Moses, and that there had ben no Mediator,1 and in the mean season the people should not have ben suffered either to fly away, or else to have had any Mediator? Here either the people being beaten down with intolerable fear, should have perished forthwith, or if they should have escaped, there must needs have come some other Mediator, which should have set him self between the law and the people to this end, that both the people might be preserved, and the law remain in his force and strength, and also an atonement might be made between the law and the people. In deed Moses cometh in the mean season, and is made a Mediator: he putteth on a veil and covereth his face: but he can not deliver mens consciences from the anguish and terror which the ⟨p. 153⟩law bringeth. Therefore, when a man, in the hour of death or in the conflict of conscience feeleth the wrath and judgement of God for sin which the law revealeth and increaseth, here to keep him from desperation, secluding Moses with his veil, he must have a Mediator which may say unto him: Although thou be a sinner, yet shalt thou remain, that is to say: thou shalt not die, although the law with his wrath and malediction do still remain.
But what (thinke ye) should haue come to passe if that the lawe had bene geuen without Moises, either else before or after Moises, and that there had ben no Mediatour,1 and in the meane season the people should not haue ben suffered either to flie away, or else to haue had any Mediatour? Here either the people being beaten downe with intolerable feare, should haue perished forthwith, or if they should haue escaped, there must nedes haue come some other Mediatour, which should haue set him selfe betwene the law and the people to this end, that both the people might be preserued, and the lawe remaine in his force and strength, and also an attonement might be made betwene the lawe and the people. In deede Moises cometh in the meane season, and is made a Mediatour: he putteth on a veile and couereth his face: but he can not deliuer mens consciences from the anguish and terrour which the ⟨p. 153⟩