A06521:276
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.
All both doctrine and life worthy of Christ, (that all things may be declared most briefly, manifestly and sufficiently) consist of these two,1 faith and love. Whereby man is made as it were a mean between God and his neighbours, that he may receive of God from above, and may give to his neighbours beneath, & be as it were a conduit pipe, through which the fountain of the divine goodness doth continually flow to his neighbours. And such men are like unto God, which in Christ receive of God whatsoever he hath, and do again by their good deeds declare them selves as it were the gods of other, and fulfil the prophecy of the Prophet Psalm 82: I have said, ye are gods, and ⟨p. 133⟩ye all are children of the most high. We are children of the most high by faith, whereby of nothing we are made the heirs of God. And we are gods by love, which maketh us beneficial to our neighbour: forasmuch as the nature of God is nothing but bountifulness, and Paul here saith: the bountifulness and love of God toward men,2 which he doth with incomparable plenty daily pour forth upon every one, as we see. We must only endeavour, that every one do nothing doubt that these things are spoken to him, that the bountifulness and love of God to manward is revealed and offered to every one, that by these words he may establish, exercise, and strengthen his faith, being certain that they are most true, and that God both undoubtedly is, and always will be bountiful and loving toward him. If thou canst believe this, it will assuredly so come unto thee: thou mayest then with a full confidence pray and desire of him whatsoever thou wilt, and complain unto him of whatsoever doth grieve thee or other. But if thou want this faith, it had been better for thee never to have heard any thing hereof, for that by thy infidelity thou reprovest of falsehood these words so precious and full of consolation and grace, making so light account of them, as not believing that they be true. Which surely is a great contempt and dishonour of God, that scarce a more grievous sin can be committed of thee. Contrariwise if thou be endued with this faith, it can not be, but that thy hart being thereby cheered, should even as it were laugh and leap for holy joy in God, being void of all care and trouble, and be made above measure confident.