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

But surely in this place the doctrine of both (as is before also said at large) or the voice of Moses and of Christ, must be ⟨p. 113⟩well discerned.¹ For Moses ought to have no entrance to the lost sheep, no nor by any means is to be admitted to it, although he preach best of all other. For if confounding these, we will comfort and erect the troubled conscience by the law after this sort: be of a good cheer, for thou hast not committed homicide, neither hast thou defiled thy self with adultery, neither hast thou perpetrated any other heinous offence, or done it with a good will, &c. This also is a comfort, but which can endure a very small time, neither can it sustain the assaults and violence of the enemy, neither bringeth it or containeth any thing else but confidence of it self, wherewith the miserable sheep is holpen nothing. For it remaineth as much wandering and lost as before, neither can it help it self, or come to his own shepherd. But if we will help & succour it, we must show unto it the true shepherd, who cometh to seek it, that having found it he may bring it home again, and exhibit his voice unto it to be heard. Hereby it may obtain true and effectual consolation, and be bold to answer Moses, and say: Now truly I have not any care either of thy comfort or terror, and if it please thee, amplify my since as much as possibly thou canst, make me a manslayer and parricide, or the worst man of all men. For now I will neither hear thee with an astonied mind, nor follow thee. But this is the sum of my comfort and salvation, whereunto also I do confidently trust, that I have such a shepherd as seeketh me of his own accord, and having laid me on his shoulders carieth me. Let us enter disputation hereof if thou art so disposed, not how righteous or unrighteous I am, but how I have come unto Christ.

But surely in this place the doctrine of both (as is before also sayde at large) or the voice of Moses and of Christ, must be ⟨p. 113⟩well discerned.¹ For Moses ought to haue no entraunce to the lost sheepe, no nor by any meanes is to be admitted to it, although he preach best of all other. For if confounding these, we will comfort and erect the troubled conscience by the lawe after this sort: be of a good cheere, for thou hast not committed homicide, neither hast thou defiled thy selfe with adulterie, neither hast thou perpetrated any other haynous offence, or done it with a good will, &c. This also is a comfort, but which can endure a verie small time, neither can it sustaine the assaults and violence of the enemie, neither bringeth it or containeth any thing els but confidence of it selfe, wherewith the miserable sheepe is holpen nothing. For it remayneth as much wandring and lost as before, neither can it helpe it selfe, or come to his owne shepeheard. But if we will helpe & succour it, we must shew vnto it the true shepeheard, who commeth to seeke it, that hauing found it he may bring it home againe, and exhibit his voice vnto it to be heard. Hereby it may obtaine true and effectuall consolation, and be bold to aunswere Moses, and say: Now truely I haue not any care either of thy comfort or terrour, and if it please thee, amplifie my synnes as much as possibly thou canst, make me a manslayer and parricide, or the worst man of all men. For now I will neither heare thee with an astonied minde, nor follow thee. But this is the summe of my comfort and saluation, whereunto also I do confidently trust, that I haue such a shepeheard as seeketh me of his owne accord, and hauing layd me on his shoulders carieth me. Let vs enter disputation hereof if thou art so disposed, not how righteous or vnrighteous I am, but how I haue come vnto Christ.