A06521:280
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.
Not by the works of righteousness which we had done. In these words the Apostle signifieth that which we have now said, and proveth it as it were by rendering a reason.1 For if the bountifulness and love of God to manward hath appeared, & he hath saved us of his mercy, and not because of our own righteousness, yea we being by all means unworthy, and subject to innumerable sins, it is meet that we also do good to them that have not deserved so much of us, & are unworthy thereof. For we which are become the sons of God, must resemble God our father, and bestow benefits according to our ability as well upon our enemies and persecutors, as upon our friends and them that do good unto us. Whereof Christ also hath admonished us Matth. 5: Love your enemies, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven, who maketh his sun to shine upon the good & evil, & sendeth rain on the just & unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward shall ye have? when as even the heathen & Publicans do the same. Now the Apostle doth not only expressly condemn us for evil works, but saith: Not by the works of righteousness, or, which we have done in righteousness. Where he also rejecteth those works, which we counted righteous, and were thought both of us & others to have bin done in righteousness, when as they were so far from being righteous, that they made us more unworthy of the grace of God, and ⟨p. 136⟩more unfit to receive it, for they are deceitful works, whereunto we add this sin, that we think them righteous, and trust in them, whereby God is provoked to anger more then can be said, even as our enemies are wont to move us to anger, when as they will avouch those things to be just,2 wherein they sin and do unjustly. But even as God, when we being unwise, by error moved him to anger, counting our sins works of righteousness, did not therefore reject us, but of his mercy delivered us from this error and sins: so we neglecting the foolishness and dotage of our adversaries, whereby they contend that sins are to be counted for righteousness, ought nevertheless of mere love, having no respect of evil or good deserts, to be beneficial unto them, and endeavour to do them good in all things, looking for fruit of our benefits not of them, but of God alone.