A06521:286
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.
We are saved by hope, that is, we are saved, although we yet see it not, for that which one seeth, he hopeth not for, but if we hope for those things which we see not, we do with patience abide for them. Christ confirmeth this Luke 12: Let your loins be gird about, and your lights burning, and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh, and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. In which words he only biddeth them that be his to be ready to look for him the bridegroom, as which are already saved being admitted into the number of his ministers. Hereunto also pertaineth that which the Apostle saith Tit. 2: Let us live soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and appearing of the glory of that mighty God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ. In these and such like places whereof thou mayest read many here and there in the ⟨p. 140⟩holy Scriptures, he witnesseth that we are already saved, and that it doth not behove, that a Christian man should first seek to attain to salvation by his works. This opinion and devilish doctrine blindeth the eyes of Christians, extinguisheth the knowledge of faith, and carieth men from the way of truth and salvation. We must cleave unto that which the Apostle here saith: He hath saved us according to his mercy, and that which he addeth in the end of this text, that we are heirs according to the hope of eternal life. We are now heirs, but that is hidden in faith,1 but we look with a certain hope, that hereafter it shall be revealed. And God will have us so to look for the revelation of this inheritance, and to live a certain time after Baptism, that he may chastise our body by our ministry, and declare the power of his grace in fight against the flesh, the world and the devil, but especially for this cause, that by us he may help our neighbours, and both by doctrine, and also by our life which he liveth in us, may bring them to the communion of faith. And albeit he can do this by Angels, yet it pleaseth him rather that it should be done by us men, that both the manner of faith may be the better known, and that all things may be done sweetly and lovingly.