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

Here it appeareth that they which teach and observe laws, works, and merits, do strive against both the mercy of God & knowledge of salvation.¹ For he saith not that forgiveness of sins hath come by the prayers or works of the fathers, or of any of the Saints, but through the bottomless mercy of God, which Luke calleth the tender mercy, and such mercy as cometh from the most inward affection and bowels. Notwithstanding this forgiveness of sin, which cometh unto us by mercy, is not without merit, although it cometh to pass without our merit: but a Mediator cometh between, who hath in our stead deserved it for us, which is Christ our Lord. For God would that satisfaction should be made unto him for our sins, and that his honour and law should be performed, here we were able to do nothing. But Christ alone both was able, and satisfied for us who of the infinite mercy of the father, was sent for the same cause, and that to us, that he might dispatch it. Therefore he saith, Through which infinite & bottomless mercy the day spring from an high hath visited us. Without all doubt it was no merit, but only unmeasurable mercy, that Christ came to us, and merited and obtained for us such remission of sins unto eternal salvation. Now he calleth him, the day spring from an hie, which signifieth unto us his divinity. And this is his meaning: on hie, that is, above all creatures, where nothing is higher, but height alone, there is Christ in his divinity, as the morning or day spring. For he proceedeth from the father, as the beams do from the sun, whereof we have elsewhere spoken at large.