A06521:197
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.
The broken have ye not bound together. To be broken is, as when ones leg is broken, or a wound some where else given him. That is, when as a Christian is not only weak and diseased, that he stumbleth sometime, but also runneth into so great tentations, that he breaketh some part,1 and so is brought to that pass, that he falleth and denieth the Gospel, after the manner of Peter, who did forswear Christ. Now if any should so stumble, that he should be compelled to go back, & be utterly cast down in mind, nevertheless we must not as yet cast him of, as though he did never any more pertain to the kingdom of Christ: for we must leave Christs property to him self, that his kingdom may remain unto him self mere grace and mercy, whose desire is to help them only, which are grieved with their calamity and misery, and do greatly desire to be delivered from it. That his kingdom may altogether abound with comfort, and he him self be the comfortable and gentle shepherd, which provoketh and ⟨p. 86⟩allureth every one to come unto him. And all this is done by the Gospel, whereby the weak are to be strengthened, the sick to be healed. For it is such a word as is fit for all distress of consciences, giving abundant comfort to all, that none despair although he be a great sinner. Christ therefore alone is yt good shepherd, which healeth all sorts of diseases, and helpeth them that are fallen: which he that doth not, is not a shepherd.
The broken haue ye not bound togither. To be broken is, as when ones legge is broken, or a wound some where else giuen him. That is, when as a Christian is not onely weake and diseased, that he stumbleth sometime, but also runneth into so great tentations, that he breaketh some part,1 and so is brought to that passe, that he falleth and denieth the Gospell, after the maner of Peter, who did forsweare Christ. Now if any should so stumble, that he should be compelled to goe backe, & be vtterly cast downe in minde, neuertheles we must not as yet cast him of, as though he did neuer any more pertaine to the kingdom of Christ: for we must leaue Christes propertie to him self, that his kingdom may remayne vnto him selfe meere grace and mercy, whose desire is to helpe them onely, which are grieued with their calamitie and miserie, and doe greatly desire to be deliuered from it. That his kingdom may altogither abound with comfort, and he him selfe be the comfortable and gentle shepeheard, which prouoketh and