A06521:202
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.
Now he compareth the good shepherd with the evil, or hireling, and saith: A good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep: but an hireling, & he which is not the shepherd, neither the sheep are his own, seeth the wolf coming, & leaveth the sheep, & the wolf catcheth & scattereth the sheep. So the hireling fleeth because he is an hireling, & careth not for ⟨p. 89⟩the sheep. It is true in deed that Christ is properly the only shepherd, even as the name of Christ doth belong to him alone. yet he communicateth the same unto us, that we also may be called Christians. So although he be the only shepherd, yet he imparteth the same name to them that be of the ministry. After the same manner Matth. 23. he forbiddeth, that we call no man father upon the earth, forasmuch as there is one only our father, which is in heaven, notwithstanding Paul calleth him self the father of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 4. when he saith: In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel. So therefore it seemeth as though God alone would have the name of a father, and in the mean season notwithstanding he granteth the same name to men, that they also may be fathers, howbeit that they have not of them selves but by Christ. Even as we are called Christians, because we have nothing of our selves, but for that all things are given unto us through Christ.
Nowe he compareth the good shepeheard with the euill, or hireling, and sayth: A good shepeheard giueth his life for the sheepe: but an hireling, & he which is not the shepeheard, neither the sheepe are his owne, seeth the wolfe comming, & leaueth the sheepe, & the wolfe catcheth & scattereth the sheepe. So the hireling fleeth because he is an hireling, & careth not for ⟨p. 89⟩the sheepe. It is true in deede that Christ is properly the onely shepeheard, euen as ye name of Christ doth belong to him alone. yet he communicateth the same vnto vs, that we also may be called Christians. So although he be the onely shepeheard, yet he imparteth the same name to them that be of the ministerie. After the same maner Matth. 23. he forbiddeth, that we call no man father vpon the earth, forasmuch as there is one onely our father, which is in heauen, notwithstanding Paule calleth him selfe the father of the Corinthians