A06521:277
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.
For how can any discouragement, any whit of sorrow remain in that hart, which doubteth not that God is gracious and bountiful unto it, and beareth a singular affection of love toward it, that it is a delight and pleasure unto him to do it good, and enjoy it as a friend? Surely the hart is necessarily delighted with this spiritual joy and pleasure, or undoubtedly it wanteth faith. Paul in the Epistle to the Gal. calleth this, to receive the holy Ghost by the Gospel. For the Gospel is so pleasant a preaching of the grace and goodness of God, that while it is preached and heard, it bringeth the holy Ghost with it, no otherwise then the beams of the sun do naturally bring heat with them.
For how can any discouragement, any whit of sorrowe remayne in that hart, which douteth not that God is gracious and bountifull vnto it, and beareth a singular affection of loue toward it, that it is a delight and pleasure vnto him to doe it good, and enioy it as a friende? Surely the hart is necessarily delighted with this spirituall ioy and pleasure, or vndoutedly it wanteth faith. Paule in the Epistle to the Gal. calleth this, to receiue the holy Ghost by the Gospell. For the Gospell is so pleasant a preaching of the grace and goodnes of God, that while it is preached and heard, it bringeth the holy Ghost with it, no otherwise then the beames of the sunne doe naturally bring heat with them.
How could the Apostle use more pleasant and sweet words? I dare say that I have in the whole Scripture read none more ⟨p. 134⟩pleasant, and so sweet words of the grace of God, as these two, Chrestotes, & Philanthropia, that is, bountifulness, and love toward men, 1in which the grace of God is so described, as whereby he doth not only forgive our sins, but doth also desire to be conversant with us, and is ready to do the part of a very friend toward us, voluntarily offering him self to help us in all things, also to bestow more benefits upon us then we can desire or ask, that we may presume of him no otherwise then of a most near & familiar friend, of whom we may obtain all things, in whose eyes we are most dear, and even delightful. Think in thy mind of a most perfect friend, which hath fulfilled all the parts of friendship toward thee, & thou shalt have after a sort a form, although yet far unlike, of the divine goodness and kindness, which is here attributed to our God, by the name of bountifulness and love toward men. But when thou hast a sound faith in this bountifulness and love to manward, and thereby dost live in thy God, so bountiful, gracious, and gentle to thee, rejoicest, and art full of all good things, being certain of his continual grace, what shouldest thou do any longer in earth? what in this life?