A06521:113
Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…
Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and preachings for the necessary instruction and edification of such, as hunger and seek after the perfect knowledge and inestimable glory which is in Christ Jesus, to the comfort and salvation of their souls. Englished by VV.G.Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and preachings for the necessary instruction and edification of such, as hunger and seeke after the perfect knowledge and inestimable glorie which is in Christ Iesu, to the comfort and saluation of their soules. Englished by VV.G.
London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier, 1578
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.
Among the Kings & Princes which Matthew rehearseth, some were exceeding evil, as we may read in the books of the Kings. Yet God suffereth them to be rehearsed in his genealogy, as if ⟨p. 42⟩they were worthy, that he should come of them. But he suffered not so much as one honest woman to be rehearsed therein. Four women are named, which all had an evil report, and were counted lewd.1 As Tamar, of whom Judas the father of her husband, begat Phares and Zara,2 as in the first book of Moses it is mentioned. Rahab is called an harlot in the book of Joshua. Ruth was a heathen woman, of whom although we read no evil written, yet forasmuch as she was a heathen, she was despised of the Jews as a dog, and was detested of them. Bethsabe the wife of Uriah was an adulteress before she was married to David, & of her he begat Solomon. Which women are undoubtedly therefore rehearsed, that we may see how God hath set forth as it were a certain glass unto all sinners, wherein they may see that he would be borne of the posterity of sinners, that the greater sinners we be, so much more certain and greater refuge we might have to so gracious a God, Priest, & King, who is our brother, in whom only and in none other we are able to fulfil the law, & obtain the grace of God: he came down from heaven therefore, neither doth he require any thing of us, but that we assuredly believe that he is our God,3 Priest & King, and then all things shall be well with us. By him alone we become the sons of God, & heirs of the heavenly kingdom, as S. Paul saith to the Galatians: Ye are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Here the hearts of all sinners may leap for joy, that they are counted worthy of such a Saviour. Must not he needs be regenerate, whose hart understandeth and feeleth this? yea he is carried with a most ardent love to lead a new life, for he is inspired with the grace of God, inasmuch as he layeth hold of the promise of remission of all his sins.
Among ye Kings & Princes which Matthew rehearseth, some were exceeding euil, as we may read in the bookes of the Kings. Yet God suffereth them to be rehearsed in his genealogie, as if ⟨p. 42⟩