A06521:21
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.
AN ADMONITION TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
FOR the commendation of this work, and the Author thereof, there shall not need I trust at this present any great discourse to be made, forasmuch as so many good books of the same writer be already set abroad, whereby may sufficiently be conjectured what is to be thought of this also. Again because the work it self is such, containing such matter of heavenly consolation, that without any further commendation of other, it yieldeth cause sufficient to commend it self. Only this then remaineth, to entreat and exhort the reader, but to peruse & read the same, who in so doing shall find I doubt not, neither to lack great cause in us to set forth these Sermons, nor less necessity in the readers to bestow pains in perusing and reading them, for the dignity of the matter, and singular fruit therein to be found. For what more worthy matter can be, than to set forth Christ in his right glory, in his full riches and royal estate to the hearts and souls of men, especially such as are heavy laden and distressed in spirit? what more comfortable hearing, or doctrine more true, then of forgiveness and remission of since, so graciously purchased, so freely offered by our Saviour, so clearly preached by his ministers? or what riches more excellent, then faith fixed in Christ, and hope stablished in the promises of life? or what study more fruitful, then to seek the kingdom of God? For ⟨image 8⟩where the fruit of all other studies decayeth and hath his end, the fruit of this study abideth for ever. And therefore not without cause we be so willed by our Saviour him self, first to seek for this kingdom and righteousness thereof, promising withal in an other place, that he which seeketh shall find. In the seeking of which kingdom two special notes we have to learn and search, first the glory & grace of the King, secondly the wealth and felicity of the subjects. In which two parts as the whole sum of all our spiritual comfort most principally consisteth, grounded in the holy Scriptures: so of all expositors of the same Scriptures, I know none or few, in these our days, more lively to open these comforts unto us out of Gods word, then this Doctor and Preacher of these Sermons here following: which as he hath done most effectually first in his own tongue to his country people, then in Latin to the learned: