A06521:182
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.
This word therefore is full of all consolation and comfort, that Christ careth for such wretched men as we are, yea and that he doth call us his brethren. If so be that Christ be our brother, surely I would fain know what good thing we shall want. As therefore the case standeth among carnal brethren, so doth it stand here. They that are germane brethren by consanguinity, do use goods common among them selves, having the same father, the same inheritance, otherwise they were not brethren. So we also possess common good things with Christ, enjoying the same father, the same inheritance, which inheritance is not diminished by parting it, as worldly inheritances are, but is always made more abundant: for it is a spiritual inheritance. A corporal inheritance, when it is distributed into divers parts, is made smaller, ⟨p. 76⟩but in this portion of the spirit, the case is such, that he that hath gotten part thereof hath obtained the whole.1 What is therefore the inheritance of Christ? In his power are life and death, sin and grace, and whatsoever is contained in heaven and in earth, his are eternal verity, strength, wisdom, righteousness. All power is given unto him, he hath rule over all things, over hunger and thirst, prosperity and adversity, &c. he reigneth over all things that can be thought, whether they be in heaven or in earth, spiritual or corporal, and that I may speak at once: all things are in his power, as well eternal things as temporal. Now if I shall cleave unto him by faith,2 I shall be made partaker of all his good things, and shall not obtain a part of the inheritance only, but I shall possess even with him everlasting wisdom, eternal strength. My belly shall not be grieved with hunger, sins shall not oppress me, neither shall I be afraid of the face of death, neither shall I dread the sight of Satan, neither shall I want the plenty of any thing that is good, even as he wanteth it not. Hereby now we may easily understand the sayings uttered commonly in the Prophets, & especially in the Psalms, as where David saith Psal. 34: The Lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that fear the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good: and where he saith in an other place: The Lord knoweth the ways of the righteous, and their inheritance shall endure for ever.