Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

And thus much for the first part of this sermon, in which Christ teacheth by his own example, how every man ought to keep his conscience free from all disputation of the law, and terror of the wrath of God and of sins. Now consequently I think it good diligently to consider this excellent and goodly parable of Christ,¹ where he beginneth and saith: What man of you having ⟨p. 107⟩an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doeth not leave ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it? Christ is not only of a stout mind, who will not follow the words and mastership of them, but he bringeth probable causes also of his stoutness, with great cunning refelling their objections, and stopping their mouths, so, that they can murmur nothing against him. Moreover he convinceth them by their own example and deed, and concludeth, that they ought for good cause to be utterly ashamed, being bold to speak unto him, & reprehend that in him in so great a matter, which they themselves do in a much less. For by what means could he better and more readily answer them, then if he should say:² Will you, O excellent and most wise masters, command this thing, and teach me to drive away and alienate from me miserable sinners, which long after me, and come to hear me, when as there is nothing that you your selves do not for one lost sheep's sake, who leaving ninety and nine in the wilderness (that is in the field and at the fold) do run to seek that which is lost, neither do ye leave of seeking, until such time, as ye have found it, and brought it home? And you count it to be well and commendably done, for which if any should find fault with you, without doubt ye would reprove him as mad and beside himself. And should not I as a Saviour of souls do likewise with men, as you do with a lost sheep? seeing there is no comparison even of one soul to all the creatures living & breathing in the earth. Why therefore are you not utterly ashamed of your doings, presuming to reprehend me in this work, which you your selves commend, and are forced to commend? Wherefore if ye reprove and find fault with me, you your selves are first to be reproved and found fault with.

And thus much for the first part of this sermō, in which Christ teacheth by his owne example, how euery man ought to keepe his conscience free from all disputation of the lawe, and terrour of the wrath of God and of sinnes. Nowe consequently I thinke it good diligently to consider this excellent and goodly parable of Christ,