A06521:274
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.
The other word is Philanthropia, love of men,1 as covetousness may be called love of money, as David 2. Sam. 1. calleth the desire of women, the love of women. And the Philosophers call certain living creatures Philanthropa, that is loving toward men, as are horses, dogs, dolphins. For these creatures are by nature delighted with man, they desire his company, & do willingly serve him, as though they were moved with some reason & sense of humanity. This name, & such love the Apostle here attributeth to our God, which Moses also did before him, Deut. 33: where he speaketh thus of God: The Lord appeared having in his right hand a law of fire, and he loved the people. The meaning therefore of the Apostle is this: Our God hath in the Gospel showed him self unto us not only bountiful, kind, gentle, and sweet, which can bear, and will receive all, but also he so loveth us, that of his own accord he adjoineth him self unto us, seeketh to have to do with us, voluntarily showeth and offereth his grace and bountifulness unto us, and most gently embraceth as many as only do not refuse his grace and love, and desire to draw nigh unto him. What should he do more? Who can not see hereby, why we count the Gospel a preaching, joyful and full of all consolation of God in Christ? For what can be spoken more lovingly and sweetly to a sinful and afflicted conscience, then these words? O lamentable case, how miserably hath Satan by the laws of his Pope oppressed and obscured this sovereign sincerity of the word of God.
The other word is Philanthropia, loue of men,1 as couetousnes may be called loue of money, as Dauid 2. Sam. 1. calleth the desire of women, the loue of women. And the Philosophers cal certaine liuing creatures Philanthropa, that is louing toward men, as are horses, dogges, dolphins. For these creatures are by nature delighted with man, they desire his company, & do willingly serue him, as though they were moued with some reason & sense of humanity. This name, & such loue the Apostle here attributeth to our God, which Moses also did before him,