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

No otherwise doth our Lord Jesus Christ deal with us, whiles he delivereth us, which he hath once done corporally by his passion and death, but now doth eftsoons the same by his power, and spiritually by the preaching of his word. Wherefore he layeth us upon his shoulders, carieth, and defendeth us, so that we are safe from all perils of death and the devil, which albeit they terrify us, and show themselves so, as though they would devour us, yet prevail they nothing. For whereas we are carried, it is a safeguard unto us, and the same exempteth us from all dangers, and putteth away all fear. As the sheep lying upon the shepherds shoulders is little careful, though the dogs bark much, and the wolf craftily goeth up and down, but rather hanging down the head is quiet and sleepeth soundly.¹ So we also, if we stand and abide unmoveably in this article, I believe in Jesus Christ our Lord, who suffered, died, rose again for us, &c. there is no cause why we should be careful lest we perish, or be devoured of the devil, though he open his jaws never so wide. For we are not then in our own way, neither walk we upon our own feet, but we hang upon the neck of ⟨p. 119⟩our shepherd, and lye upon his shoulders, where we are safe enough. For sin, death, and hell, although in deed they be terrible, yet dare they not set upon him, otherwise if it were not for this, we should be miserable sheep, which should forthwith be brought into a lamentable and wretched case. For even as a sheep can not take heed and foresee to it self, that it stray not out of the way, unless it be led of the shepherd, & when it hath strayed and is lost, can not by it self come again to the shepherd, but must be sought and enquired for of him, until he hath found it, and so must be laid upon his shoulders and brought home again, lest that it be again frayed and chased from him, or catched of the wolf and rent in pieces: So we also our selves can profit our selves neither by help, nor counsel, that we might obtain peace and quietness of conscience, and escape out of the hands of the devil, death, and hell, except Christ himself repeat his word unto us, and call us again unto him.

No otherwise doth our Lord Iesus Christ deale with vs, whiles he deliuereth vs, which he hath once done corporally by his passion and death, but now doth eftsoones the same by his power, and spiritually by the preaching of his word. Wherefore he layeth vs vpon his shoulders, carieth, and defendeth vs, so that we are safe from all perils of death and the deuell, which albeit they terrifie vs, and shew themselues so, as though they would denour vs, yet preuaile they nothing. For whereas we are caried, it is a safegard vnto vs, and the same exempteth vs from all daungers, and putteth awaye all feare. As the shepe lying vpon the shepeheards shoulders is litle careful, though the dogs barke much, and the woulfe craftily goeth vp and downe, but rather hanging downe the head is quiet and sleepeth soundly.