A06521:278
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.
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?
How could the Apostle vse more pleasaunt and sweete words? I dare say that I haue in the whole Scripture redde none more ⟨p. 134⟩pleasaunt, and so sweete words of the grace of God, as these two, Chrestotes, & Philanthropia, that is, bountifulnes, and loue toward men, 1in which ye grace of God is so described, as wherby he doth not onely forgiue our sinnes, but doth also desire to be conuersaunt with vs, and is ready to doe the part of a very friend toward vs, voluntarily offering him selfe to helpe vs in al thinges, also to bestowe more benefits vpon vs then we can desire or aske, that we may presume of him no otherwise then of a most neare & familiar friend, of whom we may obtayne all thinges, in whose eyes we are most deare, and euen delightfull. Thinke in thy minde of a most perfect friend, which hath fulfilled all the partes of friendship toward thee, & thou shalt haue after a sort a forme, although yet farre vnlike, of the diuine goodnes and kindenes, which is here attributed to our God, by the name of bountifulnes and loue toward men. But when thou hast a sounde faith in this bountifulnes and loue to manward, and thereby doost liue in thy God, so bountifull, gracious, and gentle to thee, reioycest, and art full of all good thinges, being certayne of his continuall grace, what shouldest thou doe any longer in earth? what in this life?