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

Verse 74. That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, Verse 75. All the days of our life, in holiness and righteousness before him.

Verse 74. That we being deliuered out of the hands of our enemies, might serue him without feare, Verse 75. All the dayes of our life, in holines and righteousnes before him.

He hath defined the nature and property of this kingdom: that is, the covenant made with Abraham, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed, &c. Which words of blessing, thus saith he, I will interpret unto you, that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we may serve him without fear all our life long in holiness and righteousness before him. Which to the world and our flesh savoureth not well. For the world thus murmureth here: I had thought that he would have given us some precious thing, as a purse well stuffed with money, a rich wife, fair and beautiful children, goodly houses, and whatsoever the world is delighted in. But now I perceive it to be otherwise, I hear that we must without fear serve him in holiness & righteousness, and so please him. Wherefore it shall be meet that we apply hereunto spiritual eyes and ears, that we may more rightly consider and understand the words. Whereas he saith, that he will deliver us from all our enemies, it is again thus to be understood, that this kingdom is placed in the midst of enemies, and notwithstanding that it is not therefore destroyed, but that always all the enemies and adversaries thereof are overcome. We must understand also that the deliverance from our enemies tendeth hereunto, that we should always obey him that delivereth us, without any fear. And this is a Christian thing, & an amiable kingdom, that a Christian shall lead his life without fear. Howbeit God hath bestowed this upon us, that we should hereafter serve him alone.

He hath defined the nature and propertie of this kingdom: that is, the couenant made with Abraham, that in his seede all the nations of the earth should be blessed, &c. Which words of blessing, thus sayth he, I will interpret vnto you, that being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, we may serue him without feare all our life long in holines and righteousnes before him. Which to the world and our flesh sauoureth not well. For the world thus murmureth here: I had thought that he woulde haue giuen vs some pretious thing, as a purse well stuffed with money, a rich wife, fayre and bewtifull children, goodly houses, and whatsoeuer the world is delighted in. But now I perceiue it to be otherwise, I heare that we must without feare serue him in holines & righteousnes, and so please him. Wherefore it shall be meete that we apply hereunto spirituall eyes and eares, that we may more rightly consider and vnderstand the wordes. Whereas he sayth, that he will deliuer vs from all our enemies, it is againe thus to be vnderstood, that this kingdom is placed in the middes of enemies, and notwithstanding that it is not therefore destroyed, but that alwayes all the enemies and aduersaries thereof are ouercome. We must vnderstand also that the deliuerance from our enemies tendeth hereunto, that we should alwayes obey him that deliuereth vs, without any feare. And this is a Christian thing, & an amiable kingdom, that a Christian shall leade his life without feare. Howbeit God hath bestowed this vpon vs, that we should hereafter serue him alone.