A06521:148
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.
All the days of our life. All our life long, that is continually, without ceasing.
All the dayes of our life. All our life long, that is continually, without ceasing.
In holiness and righteousness before him. Here S. Luke divideth righteousness and holiness into two sorts: of which one is acceptable before God: the other before him is of no value: whereby we have to understand, that both the righteousness & holiness of God are in no estimation before the world, even as the world is wont nothing to esteem God, and again God little to esteem the world. For that which God calleth just, the world calleth unjust: and that which it calleth right, God calleth crooked: and so these two Champions are continually at variance between them selves. That which God calleth holy, seemeth to the world devilish and unrighteous. Wherefore he comforteth us here, declaring that there be two sorts of righteousness and holiness: One, which we ought to observe diligently: An other which we ought to avoid.1 Hitherto it hath been the chief holiness and righteousness of all, which could be invented, to run into Monasteries, to put on monkish apparel, to be shaven, to wear a hempen girdle, to give him self to fasting and prayer, to be clothed with hear cloth, to lye in woollen garments, to observe an austere manner of living: and in a sum, to take upon him monkish holiness and religion. And thus sticking in a colourable show of good works, ⟨p. 61⟩we knew none other but that we were holy from top to toe: having regard only to works and the body, and not to the hart, where we were full of hatred, fear, & incredulity, troubled with an evil conscience, knowing almost nothing rightly of God. Then the world cried openly: O that holy man: O holy and chaste woman, which have included them selves within the walls of Monasteries, which day & night kneeling upon their knees say many rosaries, as they call them. O, what holiness is there, where even God him self dwelleth, where the holy Ghost the comforter abideth present? These things the world boasteth of, and greatly esteemeth. But beside these they do not mark, how they pray with no earnestness of hart, how they teach and instruct no man, how they give nothing to any, but catch unto them selves both the blood and sweat of the poor, and leave true sincere works undone. This righteousness & holiness the world extolleth, which notwithstanding stinketh and is wholly unclean before God, which he will have even to be unknown unto us, yet the world refuseth to admit any other.