A06521:246
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.
Wherefore we must always preach according to the capacity and quality of the hearers. For I have said that this doctrine is not fit for a blockish and untractable man. As it is not meet that a laborious thresher should be fed with delicates, wherewith the sick are to be strengthened and refreshed, but the hireling is to be fed with brown bread and cheese, & with water. The other dainty meats and easy of digestion thou must reserve for the sick or children, which are able to digest no gross meat:1 So in this thing also thou must observe the same difference, that thou do rightly distribute these things, and give unto every one his portion as a prudent householder. For thou must keep the doctrine ⟨p. 114⟩of Moses and of the Law, until thou light upon unruly, hardened, and untractable men, which lead their life securely and without fear, set before these only strong and common meats of threshers to be eaten, that is, offer angry Moses unto them to be heard, who lighteneth and thundereth from the mount Sinai, who terrifieth the people of Israel, bringeth them into the desert, and drowneth king Pharaoh in the red sea.2 But when thou shalt light upon troubled hearts, and weak and afflicted consciences, which are now become lost sheep, then speak not a word concerning Moses and all the works of God done in the law, but let thy talk be only of the works done by Christ in the time of grace, & well and diligently repeat to the miserable conscience, how he showeth himself toward the lost sheep, to wit, that he is the gentle & good shepherd, which is exceeding careful for the lost sheep, so that leaving all the rest, he traveleth to find that one, and to bring it again into the way, neither doth he leave of till he hath brought it home. For it is a very great grief unto him, that any man should be in sin, and therefore be troubled and fear, neither would he that any should remain therein, and so perish. Wherefore he doth most lovingly allure & provoke thee by his sweet Gospel to come unto him, & suffer thy self to be laid upon his shoulders and carried, and to be called his well-beloved sheep.
Wherefore we must alwayes preach according to the capacitie and qualitie of the hearers. For I haue sayd that this doctrine is not fit for a blockish and vntractable man. As it is not meete yt a laborious thresher should be fed with delicates, wherewith the sicke are to be strengthened and refreshed, but the hyreling is to be fed with broune bread and chese, & with water. The other dainty meates and easy of digestion thou must reserue for the sicke or children, which are able to digest no grosse meat: