A06521:172
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.
Ninthly, he that feeleth him self so hardened and dull, that the passion of Christ doth not terrify him, neither bring him unto the knowledge of him self, is in an ill and lamentable case: for Christs passion is not effectual in him. But now it is a hard thing for thee to be occupied in these things,1 and earnestly bent to the meditation of them: wherefore thou shalt pray God that he will mollify thy hart, and give thee grace profitably to meditate upon the passion of Christ, because it can not in any wise be, that the passion of Christ should be inwardly and rightly thought upon and considered of us, unless God inspire it into our hearts. Yea, neither this meditation nor any other doctrine is therefore set forth unto thee, that thou shouldest boldly rush upon it of thy self to fulfil it, but that thou shouldest first ask and desire the ⟨p. 71⟩grace of God, that thou mayst fulfil it, not by thine own strength, but by Gods grace. For hereof it cometh, that they of whom it is before spoken, do not meditate on the passion of Christ aright, because they desire not help of God thereunto, but rather trusting unto their own strength, and following their own invention, meditate upon it altogether after the fashion of men, and after a slender and unfruitful manner.
Ninethly, he that feeleth him selfe so hardned and dull, that the passion of Christ doth not terrifie him, neither bring him vnto the knowledge of him selfe, is in an ill and lamentable case: for Christes passion is not effectuall in him. But nowe it is a harde thing for thee to be occupied in these thinges,1 and earnestly bent to the meditation of them: wherefore thou shalt pray God that he will mollifie thy hart, and giue thee grace profitably to meditate vpon the passion of Christ, because it can not in any wise be, that the passion of Christ should be inwardly and rightly thought vpon and considered of vs, vnles God inspire it into our hartes. Yea, neither this meditation nor any other doctrine is therefore set forth vnto thee, that thou shouldest boldly rushe vpon it of thy selfe to fulfill it, but that thou shouldest first aske and desire the ⟨p. 71⟩grace of God, that thou mayst fulfil it, not by thine own strength, but by Gods grace. For hereof it commeth, that they of whom it is before spoken, do not meditate on the passion of Christ aright, because they desire not helpe of God thereunto, but rather trusting vnto their owne strength, and following their owne inuention, meditate vpon it altogether after the fashion of men, and after a sclender and vnfrutefull maner.