A06521:196
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.
Afterward the Prophet saith: That which was diseased, ye ought to have succoured. Who are those diseased ones? They which in their manner of living, and in their outward works have certain diseases, and vices. The first pertaineth to the conscience when as it is weak: the other to the manners or conditions of life, when as any being carried with a wilful mind and wayward brain, doth offend here and there, to wit by wrath & other foolish doings, as even the Apostles fell sometimes grievously. Such as are so vicious in the sight of men, that they are an offence to others, ⟨p. 85⟩and are judged obstinate and wayward, God will not have to be rejected and despaired of. For his kingdom is not ordered after such a manner, that the strong and whole only should live therein (which pertaineth to the life to come) but Christ is therefore set in it, that he may have a care of such & help them. Wherefore albeit we are so weak and sick, notwithstanding we must not so despair, that we should say, that we are not in the kingdom of Christ, but the more we feel our disease,1 so much the more we must come unto him, for he therefore is at hand that he may remedy and heal us. Now if thou be weak and oppressed with faintness, feeling great affliction, hereby thou hast gotten a greater occasion to go unto him, & to say on this manner: Most sweet Christ, I therefore come unto thee because I am a sinner, that thou mayest help and justify me: yea very necessity doth compel thee hereunto. For the greater thy disease is, so much more needful is it for thee to be healed. And Christ him self requireth the same of us, and doth allure us to come unto him boldly and cheerfully. But others which are not such shepherds, do think that they shall make men righteous, if they exact much of them and urge them much, whereby they only make that which is evil worse, as we see it to be done at this day, whereas it is come to that disorder, that all things are most miserably brought out of course, as in this place the Prophet saith.
Afterward the Prophet sayth: That which was diseased, ye ought to haue succoured. Who are those diseased ones? They which in their maner of liuing, and in their outward works haue certain diseases, and vices. The first pertaineth to the conscience when as it is weake: the other to the maners or conditions of life, when as any being caried with a wilfull mind and wayward braine, doth offend here and there, to wit by wrath & other foolish doings, as euen the Apostles fel sometimes grieuously. Such as are so vitious in the sight of men, that they are an offence to others,