A06521:273
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.
This word, appeared, we have elsewhere declared to signify the revelation of the Gospel, whereby Christ appeared in the world: Albeit the unskilfulness of Ministers hath wrested it to the carnal nativity of Christ. He useth not here the word grace, which he used before,1 but hath set in steed thereof two other words of marvellous comfort, [bountifulness, and love toward men] which he attributeth to our God. The first is called of the Grecians Chrestotes, 2and is that kindness, gentleness and sweetness of conditions, wherewith they that be endued, with them all of us are with pleasure conversant, & marvellously delighted with their company, so that they do with this their gentleness and kindness allure & greatly provoke all men to love them. For such can suffer all without grief: they contemn no man: they repel or put none from them with bitter, hard, and disordered conditions: access unto them is not hard, but they are so open, and ready for all, that every one dare resort unto them, and desire their help. And to conclude: they are such men as the Gospels describe Christ unto us, whom they declare to be gentle to all, a despiser of none, which denieth no benefit to any, pliant, prepared and ready to do good to all. So God also by the Gospel is preached and offered unto us wholly good, bountiful and sweet, open to all, rejecting none, bearing all our sins and offences, repelling no man from him with excessive severity. For we read and hear nothing to be declared in the Gospel but mere grace, and mere goodness, ⟨p. 131⟩whereby he doth most mercifully bear us, & most gently handle us, and not any man according to his deserts. This is the time of grace, wherein it is granted to all to go with great boldness unto the throne of grace, as it is written Heb. 4. and Psal. 34: Come unto him, and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed, that is, he will not suffer you to pray and come in vain, neither to return with confusion being frustrate.
This word, appeared, we haue elsewhere declared to signifie the reuelation of the Gospell, whereby Christ appeared in the world: Albeit the vnskilfulnes of Ministers hath wrested it to the carnall natiuitie of Christ. He vseth not here the word grace, which he vsed before,