A06521:279
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.
1Thou canst not in this case be idle, as surely that love of God and pleasure which thou enjoyest in him will not suffer thee to be idle. Thou shalt be inflamed with a marvellous study and desire to do what things soever thou canst know will be an honour unto thy God, so loving and bountiful unto thee, and will turn to praise, glory, and thanks giving unto him. Thou shalt have no choice of works, thou shalt pass for no precept, thou shalt feel no compulsion of the law, having a most ready will and pleasure to do, whatsoever things thou shalt know to be acceptable unto God, whether they be contemptible or noble, small or great, thou shalt count them alike. But first of all it shall be thy desire, that this blessed knowledge of God may be common also to the rest, whereupon by and by thy love will here show it self, and will assay all means, to make this truth of salvation manifest unto all, it will publish and repeat it, wheresoever it shall be able, rejecting and condemning whatsoever other either teach or say, that agreeth not with this truth.2 Whereby it will come to pass, that Satan & the world, which hear nothing so unwillingly as this truth, & can not abide that their things should be condemned, will ⟨p. 135⟩rise against thee with all their might, will by & by trouble thee, all the great, learned, rich & mighty of the world will condemn thee of heresy and madness, and will leave no mean unattempted until if they be able they have dispatched thee of thy life. Thus with Christ thy Lord thou shalt be persecuted, & suffer extreme ignominy, thy body, life, goods, name, friends, and all things being brought into peril, until they have thrust thee from them out of this life into the eternal & blessed life: In the mean season thou must suffer all these things with a patient mind, and take them in good part, losing none of the spiritual joy, which thou hast of Christ in thy God, & for thy part showing to thy persecutors all kindness and love, being always mindful, that thou a little before wast not much unlike them before God. All which things thou shalt do through faith & love, albeit they exceed the strength of nature. And this in deed is a true Christian life, wherein thou dost endeavour to do so to other, as God hath done to thee.