A06492:999
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.
1I speak not this to the end that the law should be despised, neither doth Paul so mean, but it ought to be had in great estimation. But because Paul is here in the matter of Justification, it was necessary that he should speak of the law as of a thing very contemptible and odious. For Justification is a far other manner of thing then the law is.2 We can not speak basely and contemptuously enough of the law when we are in this matter. When the conscience therefore is in the conflict, then should she think upon nothing, know nothing at all but Christ only and alone. Then should she remove the law utterly out of her sight, and embrace nothing but the promise concerning ⟨p. 173⟩Christ. To say this, it is an easy matter: but in time of tentation when the conscience wrestleth in the presence of God, to do it in deed, of all things it is the hardest: to wit, that when the law accuseth thee, terrifieth thee, revealeth unto thee thy sin, threateneth to thee the wrath of God & eternal death, that then (I say) thou shouldest have such strength of faith in Christ as if there had never ben any law or any sin, but only Christ, mere grace, and redemption: or that thou shouldest then be able to say: O law, I will not hear thee, for thou hast a stammering & a slow tongue: moreover, the fullness of time is now come,3 and therefore I am free, and will not suffer thy tyranny any longer. Here a man may see how hard a matter it is to separate the law from grace: Again, how divine and heavenly a thing it is to hope here even against hope, and how true this proposition of Paul is, that we are justified by Faith alone.
1I speake not this to the ende that the lawe should be despised, neither doth Paule so meane, but it ought to be had in great estimation. But because Paule is here in the matter of Iustificatiō, it was necessary that he should speake of the law as of a thing very contemptible and odious. For Iustification is a farre other maner of thing then the lawe is.2 We can not speake basely and contemptuously enough of the lawe when we are in this matter. When the conscience therefore is in the conflict, then should she thinke vppon nothing, know nothing at all but Christe onely and alone. Then should she remoue the lawe vtterly out of her sight, and embrace nothing but the promise concerning