A06521:244
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.
If we were certainly thus persuaded of his affection toward us, and did grave in our mind that it so greatly desireth after us, and is so sweetly poured forth upon us, it can not be, that we should abhor and fear him, but we would with a cheerful mind run unto him, and tarry only with him, abiding to hear the doctrine or voice of no other. For the doctrine of an other coming between, either of Moses or of any one what soever, doth nothing else but trouble and disquiet the conscience,1 so that it can never find any peace or quietness. Therefore Christ saith Matth. 11. Come unto me all ye that are weary and laden, and I will ease you. Take my yoke on you, and ye shall find rest unto your souls, &c. As though he said: run and seek in what places soever ye will, hear and learn what soever can be preached unto you, yet shall ye find no quietness of heart, ye shall find no peace but in me alone. We will easily permit good works to be preached, a righteous life to be taught, the ten commandments to be delivered by instruction, and all things else which serve to the amendment of life, but so far only, as they are taught to the unruly and untractable common sort, also to force and bridle the wantonness of our old Adam. But they which preach to the conscience wrapped in anguishes and terrors because of sin, ought to preach no other word then of Christ. For this is that lost and miserable sheep, of whom no other master is to be borne or had, but that only shepherd Christ, who neither urgeth it with the law, nor is eager upon it, but most sweetly and gently handleth it, and layeth the miserable and sinful sheep upon his shoulders, doing that of his own accord, which was to be done of the sheep, as we shall hear by and by more at large.
If we were certainly thus perswaded of his affection towarde vs, and did graue in our minde that it so greatly desireth after vs, and is so sweetely poured forth vpon vs, it can not be, that we should abhorre and feare him, but we would with a cheerefull minde runne vnto him, and tary only with him, abyding to heare the doctrine or voice of no other. For the doctrine of an other cō ming betweene, either of Moses or of any one what soeuer, doth nothing els but trouble and disquiet the conscience,1 so that it can neuer fynde any peace or quietnes. Therefore Christ sayth