A06492:947
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.
We may not lightly pass over such notable sentences as these which are in Paul, as the Papists and Sectaries are wont to do. For they contain words of life, which do wonderfully comfort and confirm afflicted consciences: And they which know and understand them well, can judge of Faith: they can discern a true fear from a false fear:1 they can judge of all inward affections of the heart, and discern all spirits. The fear of God is an holy and a precious thing, but it must not always continue. In deed it ought to be always in a Christian, because sin is always in him: but it must not be alone: for then is it the fear of Cain, Saul and Judas, that is to say, a servile and a desperate fear. A Christian therefore must vanquish fear by Faith in the word of grace: he must turn away his eyes from the time of the law, and look unto Christ and unto Faith which is to be revealed. Here beginneth fear to be sweet unto us, and maketh us to delight in God. For if a man do only behold the law and sin, setting Faith aside, he shall never be able to put away fear, but shall at length fall to desperation.
We may not lightly passe ouer such notable sentences as these which are in Paule, as the Papistes and Sectaries are wont to doe. For they containe woordes of life, which doe wonderfully comfort and confirme afflicted consciences: And they which know and vnderstand them well, can iudge of Faith: they can discerne a true feare from a false feare:1 they can iudge of all inward affections of the heart, and discerne all spirites. The feare of God is an holy and a precious thing, but it must not alwayes continue. In deede it ought to be alwayes in a Christian, because sinne is alwayes in him: but it must not be alone: for then is it the feare of Caine, Saule and Iudas, that is to say, a seruile and a desperate feare. A Christian therefore must vanquish feare by Faith in the word of grace: he must turne away his eyes from the time of the lawe, and looke vnto Christe and vnto Faith which is to be reuealed. Here beginneth feare to be sweete vnto vs, and maketh vs to delite in God. For if a man doe onely beholde the lawe and sinne, setting Faith aside, he shall neuer be able to put away feare, but shall at length fall to desperation.
- 1Fear may no always continue, but fear joined with Faith must be always in a Christian. Howe fear must be vanquished.