A06521:294
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.
Of the holy Ghost. Lastly, that he may the more express the greatness and virtue of grace, he attributeth this washing of the new birth, and renewing, to the holy Ghost. For this washing is so great, and of so weighty importance, that no creature but the holy Ghost alone is able to perform it. But how much, most excellent Paul, dost thou condemn free will, the great good works of the proud holy ones, that is, the merits of hypocrites? In how hie a place doest thou set our salvation, and again, how doest thou bring it down to us, and place• it near us, yea even within us?1 how purely & sincerely doest thou set forth grace in these words? Wherefore work what soever and how much soever thou wilt, it is unpossible for a man to be renewed, and the person changed (without which no works acceptable to God ⟨p. 145⟩can be done) but by the washing of the new birth, and the renewing of the holy Ghost. That we may plainly see in those hypocritical counterfeiters of works. For thou shalt find none harder, none prouder, none so rash and hasty spirits. For they are broken, and not renewed, indurate, obstinate, confirmed by continuance, covering in deed and some what adorning that old Adam by those their counterfeit good works, but in the mean season there doth not any whit appear any change of nature in them, they continue still in the oldness of their corrupt flesh. O, what a pestilent people is this, and in how great indignation of God are they, when as in the mean time they think that they sit in Gods lap?2 Now whereas the Apostle attributeth this washing of the new birth, and renewing to the holy Ghost, he saith the same which Christ doth John 3, where he saith: Except a man be borne again of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God. For that which Christ signified by water, the Apostle calleth the washing, so both made mention of new birth and of the holy Ghost. And we must mark that that which is spoken here of the holy Ghost both by Christ, and the Apostle, must not be referred to that Papistical confirmation, as they call it, for both of them referred to Baptism that which is here mentioned concerning the holy Ghost, who when the body is washed with water, doth himself work the new birth, and renewing by faith, which Christ called, to be borne again of the spirit.