A06521:210
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.
IN this text, dearly beloved,1 even that doctrine is contained, which we are persuaded, and glory to be our chief doctrine, and which by best right deserveth to be called christian doctrine, to wit of grace and forgiveness of sins, set down against the doctrine of the law, and of works. But it is a very shameful thing, that a sermon so excellent, and replenished with so great comfort and joy, should be heard of a man that is wicked & a contemner of the word of God. This is much more miserable, that all think they have so soon throughly learned it, to the knowledge whereof every one will seem to have attained, thinking that there is nothing in it, which he doth not perfectly understand, and that there is no need to spend any more study in learning it. Although it be not grievous to God him self, neither doth it irk or weary him, every year repeating it, or rather every day exercising it, as though he knew to preach nothing else, being unskilful and ignorant of all other kind of doctrine. And we miserable and wretched men do so soon as we think attain to the knowledge of the chiefest doctrine, that forthwith it is wearisome and tedious unto us to repeat it, whereby all pleasure and love of the word of God dieth and is extinguished in us.
IN this text, dearely beloued,1 euen that doctrine is contayned, which we are perswaded, and glory to be our chiefe doctrine, and which by best right deserueth to be called christian doctrine, to wit of grace and forgiuenes of sinnes, set downe against the doctrine of the law, and of workes. But it is a very shamefull thinge, that a sermon so excellent, and replenished with so great comfort and ioy, should be heard of a man that is wicked & a contemner of the word of God. This is much more miserable, that all thinke they haue so soone throughly learned it, to the knowledge whereof euery one will seeme to haue attained, thinking that there is nothing in it, which he doth not perfectly vnderstād, and that there is no neede to spend any more studie in learning it. Although it be not grieuous to God him selfe, neither doth it yrke or wearie him, euery yeare repeating it, or rather euery day exercising it, as though he knewe to preach nothing else, being vnskilfull and ignorant of all other kind of doctrine. And we miserable and wretched men doe so soone as we thinke attaine to the knowledge of the chiefest doctrine, that forthwith it is wearisom and tedious vnto vs to repeat it, whereby all pleasure and loue of the worde of God dieth and is extinguished in vs.