A06521:275
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.
Now let no man restrain these two words [bountifulness, & love toward men] to the persons,1 for God is plainly without respect of persons bountiful to all, and a lover of all, otherwise if we should here make a difference between men, we should acknowledge that some thing is received through our merits, and not all things through his mercy. Where it must be well marked, that God is said to be a lover of men, not of this or that nature ⟨p. 132⟩only, not held with love of the person, and therefore these two, bountifulness, and love toward men, must be taken after a general sort, that in all things the chief praise may be attributed to his mercy, that no man trust in his own merits, neither be terrified with sins, but that all together do trust to his grace, which he voluntarily offereth unto us with so great kindness and love toward us. For if any respect of person might be had here, it should surely be had of them, which are rich in the works of righteousness, but Paul expressly rejecteth these, saying: Not by the works of righteousness, which we had done. Howe much less then shall this bountifulness and love of our God toward men appear, because of any mans wisdom, power, nobility, riches or any such thing, when as no respect is had of works of righteousness? Great is the grace of God toward us, which appeareth in the Gospel, yea and nothing but grace, which admitteth no merit at all of ours, utterly taketh away all boasting and glorying, and setteth forth the glory of God alone, who freely giveth it unto us being unworthy. So in this text these two, faith and love, are taught to receive benefits of God, and bestow them on our neighbours, which the Scripture doth very often repeat, so that even the doctrine of salvation consisteth wholly in them,2 neither can one be separated from the other. For he that doth not firmly trust in the divine grace, can not but be remiss and slow to do well to his neighbour, and so witness the faintness and weakness of faith, which is the fountain of all duties and benefits: As contrariwise the stronger faith that one is endued with, so much more dutifully and with readier mind he endeavoureth to deserve well of his neighbours.
Now let no man restraine these two wordes [bountifulnes, & loue toward men] to the persons,