Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

The sum of this text.

The summe of this text.

1 Matthew beginneth his book with a title or inscription, by which the believer is provoked with greater pleasure to hear and read it. For he saith thus much in effect: Whom the Law and Prophets have hitherto promised & preached, Jesus, that is, a Saviour, and Christ, that is an eternal king, that he according to the promise of God, should spring and come of the seed of Abraham and David, even him do I describe in this book, to ⟨p. 37⟩wit, that he is now borne, and made man, and already come into the world. This I handle through this whole book.

1 MAtthew beginneth his booke with a title or inscription, by which the beleuer is prouoked with greater pleasure to heare and reade it. For he sayth thus much in effect: Whom the Law and Prophets haue hetherto promised & preached, Iesus, that is, a Sauiour, and Christ, that is an eternall king, that he according to the promise of God, should springe and come of the seede of Abraham and Dauid, euen him doe I describe in this booke, to ⟨p. 37⟩wit, that he is now borne, and made man, and already come into the world. This I handle through this whole booke.

2 Three lines or degrees are here rehearsed. In the first is contained the stock of the fathers, in the second of the kings, in the third is contained the decaying stock of David: after the decay whereof it behoved that Christ should come. For so the goodness of God is wont to do, when all things seem even past hope and recovery, then at the last he cometh.