A06521:291
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.
1And the renewing. That this washing and new birth may be more fully understood, he hath added, the renewing, that thou mayest understand, that he that is truly baptized, is become a new man, and a new creature, endued with a new disposition, which now is far otherwise affected, loveth, liveth, speaketh and doth far otherwise, than he was wont or could before. So the Apostle saith, Gal. 6: In Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, that is, no works of the Law are of any value or importance, but a new creature. As if he should say: Salvation can not be perfected by joining together certain good ⟨p. 143⟩works, but the whole man must be at once renewed, and his nature changed, whereupon true good works will follow of themselves, not by piecemeal, but together with great plenty. Of this new birth, whereby the whole man is renewed, Christ speaketh Joh. 3: He that is not borne again, can not see the kingdom of God. Here again it manifestly appeareth, that nothing is here done by our works, but that it behoveth, that man, how great soever he be, must die, and be changed into an other, which is done in Baptism, if we believe.2 The condemned also shall be borne again in the last day, but they shall not be renewed, they shall remain unclean, as they were here, and as they were borne of Adam. Therefore that he might speak rightly of Baptism, he calleth it the washing of the new birth, whereby they that are borne again are also renewed. Of this new birth many things are to be found here and there in the Scripture, because of which also God calleth his word and Gospel a womb and matrix, as Isaiah 46: Hearken all ye that remain of the house of Israel, whom I have borne in my womb, as mothers are wont to speak of their children. He therefore that believeth the Gospel, is as it were conceived in the womb of God, & from thence borne a new man, and like unto God: Whereof we will in an other place speak more. Now it shall be sufficient, to have learned by these words, how our works are nothing in fulfilling the commandments of God, and that it is a mad thing to attribute here never so little to our own strength, seeing that it is faith alone, whereby man is at once borne again, & renewed.