A06521:262
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.
But see how Christ urgeth and inflameth faith in them that be his, whereby they may become stronger and more confirmed. For first, whereas this woman being encouraged with that alluring fame of his, goeth after him, and crieth for help, doubting ⟨p. 124⟩nothing but she should try him to be such a one, as she had heard him reported to be, and that she should forthwith entreat him for the recovery of her daughter: Christ in all respects showeth him self unto her so, as though he would deceive all her trust, and make his report false so that she might think with her self: Is this that man which is so bountiful and ready to help all? Doth he so fulfil the most commendable report which goeth of him? Where doth there appear so much as any thing like unto those things, which men have told me of him? They were deceived them selves and deceived me also. He showeth him self an enemy rather then a friend. Why doth he not so much as speak a word, and friendly deny me help, if I be unworthy thereof? He holdeth his peace like unto a block, & vouchsafeth not to speak a word, neither offereth his help. Here surely Christ gave a grievous blow to the mind of the silly woman. So it is an incomparable torment to them that believe, being in distress, when God showeth him self such a one at their prayers, like unto one that is angry, and whom they pray unto in vain, hiding so deeply his grace, that they now perceive nothing else, but that he will not perform those things which he hath promised, and that so he will show his own words to be false. That truly happened to the Israelites at the red sea, and to many other excellent holy men.1 But what doth this woman to these things? She removeth out of her sight & mind, that Christ showed him self so ungentle and hard to be entreated, she being constant and nothing moved hereat, persevereth in the trust of his goodness, whereof she had heard, and which she had conceived in her mind, suffering her self in no wise to be turned from it.2 So also must we do, we must trust unto the word alone, although God him self and all creatures pretend otherwise then the word preacheth. But this is thrice most hard to nature & reason, to be so utterly destitute, and to depend on the word of God without any feeling of comfort, even when a man feeleth and trieth all things to be contrary.