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

The premisses well weighed, I think (right Worshipful) there may a sufficient reason be gathered, why I did purpose the publishing of these Sermons of D. Martin Luther in our vulgar tongue, and why at the last I have by some labour and pains brought the said purposed publishing to pass. I was in deed at the first procured thereunto by a learned Father of this land, whose words and judgement I make no small account of, but afterward entering into deeper consideration of the matter, and weighing on the one side the great ignorance of many even in matters of salvation, together with the daily dishonouring of God by ungodly life: and on the other side the divine doctrine and most wholesome exhortations which these Sermons contain, I was more forcibly stirred up thereunto, and thought that the painful perusing of them, and fruitful following of that whereof they entreat, would be a sovereign salve to help to cure such dangerous diseases. For by them may they learn to know one only true God, and whom he hath sent Jesus Christ, and the infinite riches which are comprised in him, and offered unto us through him of God his Father: that he humbled him self to exalt us, that he became a servant to set us at liberty, that he was impoverished to make us rich, that he dyed for our sins, & rose again for our justification, that through his means mercy hath swallowed up misery, and bounty hath overcome all evil, finally that without him there is no joy nor consolation, no peace nor quietness, no felicity nor salvation, but that he is the only means by which all good things are attained: so that they which enjoy him receive not one gift alone, as with Solomon wisdom, with Samson strength, with Job patience, with Paul zeal, &c: but for poverty they receive riches, for weakness strength, for folly wisdom, for servitude freedom, for grief joy, for sin righteousness, for death life, yea all good things whatsoever.

The premisses vvell vveyed, I thinke (right VVorshipfull) there may a sufficient reason be gathered, vvhy I did purpose the publishing of these Sermons of D. Martin Luther in our vulgar tongue, and vvhy at the last I haue by some labour and paynes brought the sayd purposed publishing to passe. I vvas in deede at the first procured thereunto by a learned Father of this lande, vvhose vvordes and iudgement I make no small account of, but aftervvard entring into deeper consideration of the matter, and vveying on the one side the great ignorance of many euen in matters of saluation, togither vvith the dayly dishonouring of God by vngodly life: and on the other side the diuine doctrine and most vvholsom exhortations vvhich these Sermons conteine, I vvas more forcibly stirred vp thereunto, and thought that the painefull perusing of them, and frutefull follovving of that vvhereof they entreat, vvould be a souereigne salue to help to cure such daungerous diseases. For by them may they learne to knovv one onely true God, and vvhom he hath sent Iesus Christ, and the infinit riches vvhich are comprised in him, and offered vnto vs through him of God his Father: that he humbled him selfe to exalt vs, that he became a seruaunt to set vs at libertie, that he vvas empouerished to make vs rich, that he dyed for our sinnes, & rose again for our iustification, that through his meanes mercie hath svvallovved vp miserie, and bounty hath ouercome all euill, finally that vvithout him there is no ioy nor consolation, no peace nor quietnes, no felicitie nor saluation, but that he is the onely meanes by vvhich all good thinges are attained: so that they vvhich enioy him receiue not one gift alone, as vvith Salomon vvisedom, vvith Samson strength, vvith Iob patience, vvith Paule zeale, &c: but for pouertie they receiue riches, for vveakenes strength, for folly vvisedom, for seruitude freedom, for griefe ioy, for sinne righteousnes, for death life, yea all good thinges vvhatsoeuer.