A06521:247
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.
As for them that live securely and pleasantly, & have no regard whether God be angry or pleased, they are not to be called lost sheep,1 but rather wild goats, which suffer not themselves either to be fed or ruled. But he, to whom his since are a burden, & who fighteth in the fight of faith, where he is not in danger to lose Moses, but Christ himself, and the principal article, that is, where the conscience is in anguish, and fear, whether it hath God gentle and favourable, this is that very man, who with groaning and sighs seeketh out and crieth for his shepherd, & desireth to be holpen, as David doth Psal. 119. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: oh seek thy servant, &c. In the mouth of these this sugar & these pleasant delicates have a good taste, with which the heart is refreshed, that it fall not into desperation, but being again recreated with such a consolation, is lifted up, not by Moses but by Christ. Not that it hath Moses a friend or is able to pacify him, but because it hath God favourable through Christ, wheresoever Moses remaineth with his comfort. Although ⟨p. 115⟩it be very well, as also it is meet, that we do not contrary to the law practise thievery, that we steal not, that we commit not homicide, or otherwise do injury and hurt to our neighbour. Howbeit that is not the right comfort of the heart,2 but only a momentane tickling of the utmost skin, not during & piercing. For the devil coming & setting upon the heart, all comfort is utterly taken away. And although in some point thou hast done well and rightly, he nevertheless again bringeth ten fold more, wherein thou hast done amiss, yea even in the most pure works he can find much impurity, and turn all into sin.
As for them that liue securely and pleasauntly, & haue no regard whether God be angrie or pleased, they are not to be called lost sheepe,1 but rather wilde goats, which suffer not themselues either to be fed or ruled. But he, to whom his synnes are a burden, & who fighteth in the fight of faith, where he is not in daūger to lose Moses, but Christ himselfe, and the principall article, that is, where the conscience is in anguish, and feare, whether it hath God gentle and fauourable, this is that verie man, who with groning and sighes seeketh out and crieth for his shepeheard, & desireth to be holpē, as Dauid doth