A06492:952
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.
Verse. 24. Wherefore the law was our Schoolmaster to bring v• to Christ.
Verse. 24. VVherefore the lavve vvas our Scholemaster to bring v• to Christe.
Here again he joineth the law and the Gospel together, (which are separate so far asunder) as touching the affections and inward man, when he sayeth: The law is a Schoolmaster to Christ. This similitude also of the Schoolmaster is worthy to be noted.1 Although a Schoolmaster be very profitable and necessary to instruct and to bring up children, yet show me one child or scholar which loveth his master. We may easily conjecture what affection the Jews bare to their Moses, and how zealously they performed that which he commanded. In deed such was their love and obedience towards him,2 that every hour (as the Story testifieth) they would with all their hearts have stoned him to death. It is not possible therefore that the scholar should love his master.3 For how can he love him which keepeth him in prison, that is to say, which suffereth him not to do that which gladly he would? And if he do any thing against his commandment, by and by he is rebuked and chastised, yea and is constrained moreover to kiss the rod when he is beaten. Is not this (I pray you) a goodly righteousness and obedience of the scholar, that he obeyeth his master so severely threatening and so sharply correcting him, and kisseth the rod? But doth he this with a good will? As soon as his master hath turned his back, he breaketh the rod or casteth it into the fire. And if he had any power over his master, he would not suffer him self to be beaten of his master: but rather he would beat him. And yet notwithstanding the schoolmaster is very necessary for the child to instruct and to chastise him: otherwise the child without this discipline, instruction, and good education should be utterly lost.