A06521:191
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.
Ye have heard that our Lord Jesus Christ after his passion and death was raised from the dead, is entered into, and placed in immortality, not that he might sit idle in heaven, and rejoice with him self, but that he might receive a kingdom, might execute the function of a governor and king, of whom all the Prophets, yea & the whole Scripture do speak very much. Wherefore he is to be acknowledged to be unto us continually a present governor and ruler, neither must we think that he is idle in heaven, but that he doth from above both fill and govern all things as Paul saith Ephes. 4. who hath an especial care of his kingdom, which is the Christian faith, hereupon it must needs be, that his kingdom do flourish among us here in earth. Of this kingdom we have elsewhere said, that it is so ordained,1 that we all increase every day and become purer, and that it is not governed at all by any force or power, but by outward preaching alone, that is, by the Gospel. And this Gospel cometh not from man, but Jesus Christ him self brought it, and afterward put it into the hearts of the Apostles, and their successors, that they might comprehend it, and into their mouths that they might speak and publish it. Hereby is his kingdom governed, wherein he so reigneth, that all the power thereof consisteth in the word of God. Now whosoever shall hear & believe this,2 do pertain to this kingdom. Moreover this word is afterward made so effectual, that it giveth all things which are necessary to man, & bringeth a certain abundance of all good things which may be had. For it is the power of God which is able to save every ⟨p. 82⟩one that believeth, as Paul witnesseth Rom. 1: When thou believest that Christ died for thee, to deliver thee from all evil, & so cleavest unto the word, it is sure and certain that no creature is able to overthrow thee. For as none is able to overthrow the word, so none is able to hurt thee, when thou stickest unto it. By the word therefore thou dost overcome sin, death, Satan, hell, and thither thou must resort and fly, where the word is, that is, to eternal peace, joy, and life, and briefly, thou shalt be made partaker of all such good things as are promised in the word. Wherefore the government of this kingdom is marvellous: