A06521:146
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.
The words without fear, include in them, that we shall quietly enjoy the good things of this present world,1 & of the world to come. For a Christian is sure and certain of the forgiveness of his sins, although he as yet feeleth them, as we have said a little ⟨p. 59⟩before. He is certain that death hath no power in him: that Satan doth not overcome him: that the world can not prevail against him. Such a hart is without all peril and fear, & plainly free from them. Which do not thou so understand, as though we do not feel sin at all, but that we are greatly grieved when sins trouble us, when the image or sight of death terrifieth us, when as being reproached and slandered of the world, we stand as destitute, and have none in this earth, to whom we may turn us or resort for succour, but God alone. These things in deed are felt, but they do not prevail nor overcome us: for the hart notwithstanding remaineth safe and quiet in God. So poverty also is felt, when thou art pinched with hunger, & hast not wherewithal to fill thy belly, to maintain thy wife and bring up thy children, nor any certain place where to dwell and abide, but all these things shall not hurt thee: thou must ask of God whatsoever thou needest, & serve him without fear, as our present text declareth. But herein we do for the most part behave our selves not as Christians, we judge after our own affection and sense, according as the world doth blame us, or report evil of us. Also when our fields have no corn, no money is in our purse, we think our selves utterly destitute and forsaken. But a true Christian with shut eyes and ears saith with Paul speaking to the Galatians: O flesh, sin, death, ye are dead unto me:2 and I again am dead unto you, that Christ may live in me. The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. That is, the world hath no care or regard of me, and my preaching and life is mocked and scorned of it. But with the same measure that thou measurest unto me, I will measure to thee again: if thou despisest me, I also will despise thee: if thou makest no account of me, I again will make small account of thee.
The words without feare, include in them, that we shall quietly enioy the good thinges of this present world,1