A06521:224
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.
This, I say, is the doctrine and art of Christians, the scope and end whereof is this, even to reign with Christ. But blockish men do not understand it, taking hereupon occasion to live more freely, as they list, saying: what need is there that I should do good works, forasmuch as Christ hath abrogated the law, &c.1 There foolish babbling is in no wise to be borne, for Christ is on the other part also to be considered of thee, and thou must mark what he doth more. For here he him self saith: that he is that man which seeketh the miserable and lost sheep, which also he witnesseth by his present deed, by receiving sinners and Publicans, and by preaching unto them. Whereby thou seest that he doth fulfil much more then the law commandeth to be done, and teacheth thee to do the same by his example. He is of such an heroical stomach, that he will not be under the law, yet doth he of his own accord moe things then the law requireth. Do thou so also, neither look when thou shalt be forced and driven on by the law, but without the law and of thine own accord do that which is needful to be done, as Peter 1. Pet. 2 ⟨p. 102⟩admonisheth saying: as free, and not as having the liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. And Paul Rom. 6: Being made free from sin, ye are made the servants of righteousness. These are they, which do all things with a free conscience without the law, and unconstrained.
This, I say, is the doctrine and arte of Christians, the scope and ende whereof is this, euen to reigne with Christ. But blockish men doe not vnderstand it, taking hereupon occasion to liue more freely, as they list, saying: what neede is there that I should do good works, forasmuch as Christ hath abrogated the law, &c.1 There foolish babbling is in no wise to be borne, for Christ is on the other part also to be considered of thee, and thou must marke what he doth more. For here he him selfe sayth: that he is that man which seeketh the miserable and lost sheepe, which also he witnesseth by his present deede, by receiuing sinners and Publicanes, and by preaching vnto them. Whereby thou seest that he doth fulfill much more then the law commaundeth to be done, and teacheth thee to doe the same by his example. He is of such an heroicall stomacke, that he will not be vnder the lawe, yet doth he of his owne accorde moe thinges then the law requireth. Doe thou so also, neither looke when thou shalt be forced and driuen on by the lawe, but without the lawe and of thine owne accorde doe that which is needefull to be done, as Peter