A06521:281
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.
Let these things suffice to have been spoken for a compendious and general exposition of this text.
Let these things suffize to haue bene spoken for a compendious and generall exposition of this text.
Now let us also briefly weigh the words, wherein he setteth forth and commendeth the grace of God. First he so greatly extolleth it,1 that in respect of it he condemneth all our good works and righteousness: neither doth he condemn a small thing, when he condemneth our righteousness or righteous works, the most excellent thing that man can have in earth. For if all men with all their might should labour and endeavour to attain to most exact prudence, wisdom, and liberty of mind and will, which we read that some Philosophers and Princes have done, as Socrates, Traianus, and many other, whose same the whole world hath long since spread abroad both by words and writings: nevertheless all such wisdom, and all such virtues are nothing but sins before God, forasmuch as they be not done in and by the grace of God. Doers of such virtues are ignorant of God, and therefore they can not honour him by their studies and endeavours, they think they have all thinks of them selves, when as no man can have any good thing at all, but of this grace alone, which the Gospel preacheth. So Paul glorieth, that he, before he knew Christ, lived a blameless life, and was more zealous toward the law then those of his age, that he also thought, that he did a thing acceptable to God by persecuting the Christians, which condemned that blameless life which he led, but afterward when he had learned Christ, he saith, ⟨p. 137⟩that he counteth that righteousness to be but dung, that he might be found not in such righteousness, but in Christ by faith. Philip. 3. The same thing he witnesseth and entreateth of at large in the Epistles to the Galatians and Colossians. Here therefore is condemned all boasting of free will, mans strength, righteousness, and good works, and it is concluded, that they are all nothing but sins, and certain destruction, although they have a fair show: that we are saved by the only grace of God, as many of us as believe, and call for it, with acknowledging of our own vanity and perdition.