A06521:114
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.
If we will count upon our fingers the persons rehearsed in this text, we shall find them to be forty and two, which were in time past figured by the two and forty mansion places, which the children of Israel had, before they came into the promised land, as it is written in the fourth book of Moses. If we also will come into the promised land, which our Lord Jesus Christ hath prepared for us by his nativity, we must also occupy two and forty mansion places, that is, we must cease from our own purpose, & be regenerate man by man, until we come to Mary and Jesus, there at the last we shall find rest unto our souls. But this nativity ⟨p. 43⟩is hard: for our evil & corrupt nature is very loth to leave her own will and purpose. And again the case of nature is such, that no nativity can be without grief, yet one hath more grief, tentation and affliction then an other. The thief on the cross leapt at one leap two and forty degrees, and came suddenly to Christ. So did many Martyrs also, and other holy men. Notwithstanding none can go so great a journey with small grief, unless he be carried with a great wind, that is by the holy Ghost. We must go fair and softly from Abraham to Isaac, from Isaac to Jacob, and so forth. But we must begin at Abraham, that we may be found endued with like faith as he was, and obtain the blessing promised unto him, then we shall more easily and cheerfully go from one Patriarch to an other. That is, we shall pass over one affliction after an other, until we be called out of this travel and journey unto our rest.1 For a man must be so long exercised with afflictions, and so oft renounce his own will, until at the last he be brought under, and his flesh by this means be subdued, that it may obey the spirit, and walk joyfully in the will and obedience of God. Wherefore let no man purpose with him self to come unto heaven by leading a quiet life,2 and following pleasure, thus Christ saith in Luke: It is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye, 3then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And in the Acts of the Apostles Paul teacheth that we must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom of God. Again,4