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

Wherefore if the faithful man be pressed with poverty, he may here learn that by Christ he is adopted to be the Son of God, and so may be comforted, saying to him self: How can he be poor which hath God to his Father? who both is able to give all things necessary, for his is the earth and all that therein is, and also vvill give the same, because he is most loving and gracious to his children. Again, if he feel in him self weakness, he may learn here that he is not able of him self to attain unto strength, but that it is the gift of Christ, who strengtheneth such as believe in him, & so may be stirred up by hearty prayer to ask the same of him, that he vvill vouchsafe by his holy spirit to strengthen and confirm him, that he may be able to perform that by grace, which by nature and of him self he shall never be able to do: as mightily to subdue the rebellious flesh, strongly to resist, and at the last valiantly to overcome the tentations of Satan, patiently to bear the troubles of the world, and constantly to contemn the allurements of the same. Moreover, if he thirst after divine and heavenly wisdom, (which is to know God aright, and those things that are necessary to be known to the attaining of salvation) he may find here largely and lively set forth, that Christ came his Fathers Ambassador and Messenger to men, that by him they might be brought to the right knowledge of God, and into all truth, so that by him we are enlightened with the knowledge of God, by him we are instructed in all truth, and consequently by him we obtain divine and heavenly wisdom. Here also shall he learn that Christ was made under the law, that he might redeem them which were in bondage under the law, & of servile bondmen make them free sons, even the children of God.

VVherefore if the faithfull man be pressed vvith pouertie, he may here learne that by Christ he is adopted to be the Sonne of God, and so may be comforted, saying to him selfe: Hovv can he be poore vvhich hath God to his Father? vvho both is able to giue all thinges necessary, for his is the earth and all that therein is, and also vvill giue the same, because he is most louing and gracious to his children. Againe, if he feele in him selfe vveaknes, he may learne here that he is not able of him selfe to attaine vnto strength, but that it is the gift of Christ, vvho strengtheneth such as beleeue in him, & so may be stirred vp by harty prayer to aske the same of him, that he vvill vouchsafe by his holy spirit to strengthen and confirme him, that he may be able to performe that by grace, vvhich by nature and of him selfe he shall neuer be able to doe: as mightely to subdue the rebellious flesh, strongly to resist, and at the last valiauntly to ouercome the tentations of Satan, patiently to beare the troubles of the vvorld, and constantly to contemne the allurements of the same. Moreouer, if he thirst after diuine and heauenly vvisedom, (vvhich is to knovv God aright, and those thinges that are necessary to be knovvne to the attaining of saluation) he may finde here largely and liuely set forth, that Christ came his Fathers Embassadour and Messenger to men, that by him they might be brought to the right knovvledge of God, and into all truth, so that by him vve are enlightened vvith the knovvledge of God, by him vve are instructed in all truth, and consequently by him vve obtaine diuine and heauenly vvisedom. Here also shall he learne that Christ vvas made vnder the lavve, that he might redeeme them vvhich vvere in bondage vnder the lavve, & of seruile bondmen make them free sonnes, euen the children of God.