A06521:211
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.
But before I declare the article or chief point here taught, I think it good, that the beginning of this chapter be diligently considered, which S. Luke setteth in stead of a preface, & showeth ⟨p. 94⟩what gave Christ cause to make this sermon, where he saith: Then resorted unto him all the Publicans and sinners to hear him. In which words he plainly signifieth with what men Christ kept company,1 namely with them, which in the sight of all men lived as it did not become them, and were openly called sinners and evil persons. Whereby it appeareth that the Pharisees seemed to have sufficient cause to find fault with Christ, for that he, which would be counted holy, did familiarly keep company with such men.2 For they were commonly called Publicans at that time, to whom the Romans did let out some city or custom, or some charge or oversight in matters, for a certain sum of money: as the Turk or Venetians do now commit to some one some city or office, for which a certain sum of money is yearly to be payed, and what soever they shall scrape together by unjust exactions above this sum, that is their own. So also the aforesaid Publicans did, which so gathered those tributes and money wherewith they were charged, that they themselves also might have some gain thereby. And seeing that a sum of money to be paid for some city or office was not small, they desirous to gain thereby, did by all means deal unjustly, and used extortion in all things, in all places, and with all persons. For the Lords and masters held them so hardly and straightly, that they could not get much thereby, if they would deal rightly and justly, and oppress no man with unjust exactions. Whereupon they had a very evil report abroad, that they were most unjust exactors, and endued with small honesty and integrity of life. Likewise the rest in general were called sinners, which otherwise lived dishonestly and wretchedly, & were defiled with filthy offences, as with covetousness, with whoredom, with surfeiting and drunkenness, and such like. Such resort here unto Christ, and come to hear him, when as before they had known him by report to be excellent and famous both in words and deeds.
But before I declare the article or chiefe point here taught, I thinke it good, that the beginning of this chapter be diligently considered, which S. Luke setteth in steede of a preface, & sheweth