Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

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.

Nowe let vs also briefly wey the wordes, 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 workes and righteousnes: neither doth he condemne a small thing, when he condemneth our righteousnes or righteous workes, the most excellent thinge that man can haue in earth. For if all men with all their might should labour and endeuour to attayne to most exact prudence, wisedom, and libertie of minde and will, which we reade that some Philosophers and Princes haue done, as Socrates, Traianus, and many other, whose same the whole world hath long since spred abroade both by wordes and writinges: neuertheles all such wisedome, and all suche vertues are nothinge but sinnes before God, forasmuch as they be not done in and by the grace of God. Doers of such vertues are ignoraunt of God, and therefore they can not honour him by their studies and endeuours, they thinke they haue all thinkes of them selues, when as no man can haue any good thinge at all, but of this grace alone, which the Gospell preacheth. So Paule glorieth, that he, before he knewe Christ, liued a blamelesse life, and was more zealous towarde the lawe then those of his age, that he also thought, that he did a thing acceptable to God by persecuting the Christians, which condemned that blameles life which he ledde, but afterwarde when he had learned Christ, he sayth,