A06521:285
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.
1Wherefore all the life of a Christian after Baptism is nothing else, but an expectation of salvation and felicity to be revealed, which they that believe in Christ do now possess, although hidden. They have all things now certainly, but they are yet hid in faith, which when as it is changed, knowledge being revealed, all things as they now have them, shall appear, which shall come to pass, when pleasant and wished death cometh,2 according to that saying of John: Dearly beloved, now are we the sons of God, and yet it doth not appear what we shall be: But we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him. And every man that hath this hope in him, purgeth himself, even as he is pure. Wherefore suffer not thy self to be deceived, and to be seduced from this truth by ⟨p. 139⟩those hypocrites, which contemning faith, do falsely affirm that salvation is far from thee, and teach thee to endeavour in vain to attain unto it by thy works. It is in thy self, if thou believe that all things are performed by Christ, even as he himself witnesseth: The kingdom of God is within you, Luke 17. So that all our life after Baptism ought to be nothing else but an expectation, that that should be revealed which is already in us, and that we may comprehend, as we are comprehended, as Paul saith Philip. 3. I follow, if that I may comprehend that, for whose sake also I am comprehended of Christ, that is, that I may at length see those things which are given me, being as yet in the shut closet of faith. He coveteth, and burneth with desire to see the treasure which by faith he received both given and sealed in Baptism. Whereupon he addeth in the same place: Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. Herewith also agreeth that which he saith Gal. 4: Ye know God, and by and by he doth as it were correct that which he had said, Yea, saith he, rather are ye known, both which are true, although not after the like sort: We are now known of God, so that he comprehendeth us, and we in deed know God, but we do not yet comprehend, for that our knowledge is as yet hidden and closed up in faith. He saith moreover