A06492:937
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.
He which in time of tentation can join these two things together so repugnant and contrary: that is to say, which when he is throughly terrified and cast down by the law,1 doth know that the end of the law, and the beginning of grace or of Faith which is to be revealed, is now come, useth the law rightly. All the wicked are utterly ignorant of this knowledge and this cunning. Cain knew it not when he was shut up in the prison of the law: that is, he felt no terror,2 although he had now killed his brother: but dissembled the matter craftily, and thought that God was ignorant thereof. Am I my brothers keeper, saith he? But when he heard this word: What hast thou done? Behold the voice of the blood of thy brother crieth unto me from the earth, he began to feel this prison in deed. What did he then? He remained still shut up in prison. He joined not the Gospel with the law,3 but said: My punishment is greater then I can bear. He only respected the prison, not considering that his sin was revealed unto him to this end, that he should fly unto God ⟨p. 160⟩for mercy and pardon. Therefore he despaired and denied God. He believed not that he was shut up to this end, that grace and Faith might be revealed unto him: but only that he should still remain in the prison of the law.
He which in time of tentation can ioyne these two things together so repugnant and contrary: that is to say, which when he is throughly terrified and cast downe by the lawe,1 doth knowe that the ende of the lawe, and the beginning of grace or of Faith which is to be reuealed, is nowe come, vseth the lawe rightly. All the wicked are vtterly ignoraunt of this knowledge and this cunning. Caine knewe it not when he was shutte vppe in the prison of the lawe: that is, he felt no terrour,2 although he had nowe killed his brother: but dissembled the matter craftely, and thought that God was ignoraunt thereof. Am I my brothers keeper, sayth he? But when he heard this word: VVhat hast thou done? Behold the voice of the bloud of thy brother crieth vnto me from the earth, he began to feele this prison in deede. What did he then? He remained still shutte vppe in prison. He ioyned not the Gospell with the lawe,