A06521:216
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.
And in a sum, he is most impatient of all laws wherewith they deal with him, he will be most free from all commandments, and acknowledged to be the Lord of them. He alway giveth such answers, as with which he represseth the exactors, neither will he keep any law as though he were compelled to do ⟨p. 97⟩it. Contrariwise, when he doth any thing of his own accord, then no law is so little or so light, whereunto he doth not willingly obey, and doth much more then it requireth. Wherefore there can none be found more gentle and serviceable then he, if he be urged with the controlment or exaction of none. Moreover he doth so far humble him self,1 that he washeth the feet of Judas which betrayed him, according as he him self speaketh of him self: I came not to be served, but to serve others, &c. which is manifest to them that consider his life, how he walked abroad in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and in the night stepped on the ground, fasted forty days, and took no rest at all, but patiently sustained so much labour, that they feared lest he should be ravished in mind, or finally bring some hurt to his body. He doth all things that he can, but that he refuseth to be compelled, and suffereth no laws to be prescribed unto him, which if any set before him, he most stoutly resisteth and striveth against them. So he is both of a most stout and of a most mild spirit,2 neither is there any more stout, nor more serviceable then he, who can abide to do none of those things that are exacted of him, and nevertheless doth all things even most abundantly, and as it were overfloweth with a flood of good works, and watereth all things, no man commanding him, or by way of controlment exacting and requiring any thing of him, but he being permitted to do voluntarily and of his own accord.
And in a summe, he is most impatient of all lawes wherewith they deale with him, he will be most free from all commaundements, and acknowledged to be the Lord of them. He alway giueth such aunswers, as with which he represseth the exactors, neither wil he keepe any law as though he were compelled to do ⟨p. 97⟩it. Contrariwise, when he doth any thinge of his owne accorde, then no law is so litle or so light, whereunto he doth not willingly obey, and doth much more then it requireth. Wherefore there can none be founde more gentle and seruiceable then he, if he be vrged with the controlement or exaction of none. Moreouer he doth so farre humble him selfe,