A06521:179
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.
A SERMON OF D. MARTIN LUTHER OF THE FRUIT AND VIRTUE OF CHRIST HIS RESURRECTION.
A SERMON OF D. MARTIN LVTHER OF THE FRVTE AND VERTVE OF CHRIST HIS RESVRRECTION.
WE have heard in the treatise of the Lords passion,1 that it is not sufficient to know only the bare history thereof. After the same manner it is not enough here to know, how and when Christ rose again, but both the use and the profit as well of his passion as of his resurrection must be preached and known, to wit, what Christ obtained for us by them. For where the only deed of the history is preached, it is a frivolous preaching and without all fruit, which both Satan and the wicked do as well know, read, and understand, as we do. But when as the use of ⟨p. 75⟩them is preached, and whereunto they profit, that in deed is a fruitful and wholesome Sermon, and full of sweet consolation. Wherefore Christ him self hath declared the use and profit of his passion and resurrection, when he thus talked with the women Matth. 28: Be not afraid: Go and tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. And this is the first word, which they hear of Christ after his resurrection from the dead, whereby he confirmeth all his sayings, also all his benefits showed unto them before, to wit that they should come unto us also that should believe in him, and pertain only to the believers, for that here he calleth not only the Apostles his brethren, but also all them which believe in him, although they do not see him visibly as the Apostles did. He doth not differ until we pray unto him and call upon him, that we may be made his brethren. Let any of us now come forth, and boast of his merit, or of the strength, whereby he is able to merit any thing.2 What had the Apostles merited? Peter denied Christ thrice. All the rest of the Disciples did fly away from him, they did persevere and stand by him, even as the hare tarrieth with her young ones, he might have called them runaways, and forsakers of their standing in the middest of their conflict, yea traitors and wicked men, rather then brethren. Wherefore of mere grace and mercy this word was brought unto them of the Matrons, which the Apostles themselves did then well perceive, and we also do throughly feel, when we are set in the midst of sins, and are overcome of damnation.