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

Which he shed on us abundantly. See how notably the Apostle setteth forth grace. He saith not that the holy Ghost was given, but shed, and not that only, but shed abundantly. For he can not sufficiently extol and magnify grace, and the work thereof, and we, alas, count it so vile in respect of our works.¹ It were a dishonour to God and to his holy Spirit, if when he hath plentifully shed it upon us, there should as yet be some thing wanting, necessary to righteousness and salvation, which we are able to perform, as though the works of so incomparable grace could not be sufficient. And Paul surely might be reproved of lying, which had not spoken all things whereby we must be justified and saved, when he affirmeth that he doth it. But as he writeth, so it is: no man can attribute so great things to this washing and regeneration, no man can so much presume of them, but greater things may be attributed unto them, and thou oughtest to promise to thy self moe things of them: no man shall believe so great things, but he shall receive greater. Forasmuch as those good things which God hath given, are so great and so unspeakable, he would have them here come unto us being included and hid in his words and faith. For the nature of our present life can not bear them being manifest, and therefore it must perish, when they begin to be revealed, that man may by these inestimable riches, which he now possesseth by faith, be as it were swallowed up, and vanish away. We are already abundantly justified by faith without all our own merit, therefore Christ saith, Joh. 3: God so loved the world, that he hath given his only begotten Son, that who soever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Behold, they that believe, have already everlasting life, and therefore undoubtedly are justified and holy without all their own labour or means: that thou mayest see, that nothing but grace and mercy is plentifully poured upon us, and that our works could avail nothing hereunto.

VVhich he shed on vs aboundantly. See how notably the Apostle setteth forth grace. He sayth not that the holy Ghost was giuen, but shed, and not that onely, but shed aboundantly. For he can not sufficiently extoll and magnifie grace, and the worke thereof, and we, alas, count it so vile in respect of our workes.¹ It were a dishonour to God and to his holy Spirit, if when he hath plentifully shed it vpon vs, there should as yet be some thing wanting, necessarie to righteousnes and saluation, which we are able to perfourme, as though the workes of so incomparable grace could not be sufficient. And Paul surely might be reproued of lying, which had not spoken all thinges whereby we must be iustified and saued, when he affirmeth that he doth it. But as he writeth, so it is: no man can attribute so great thinges to this washing and regeneration, no man can so much presume of them, but greater thinges may be attributed vnto them, and thou oughtest to promise to thy selfe moe thinges of them: no man shall beleeue so great thinges, but he shall receiue greater. Forasmuch as those good thinges which God hath giuen, are so great and so vnspeakeable, he would haue them here come vnto vs being included and hyd in his words and fayth. For the nature of our present life can not beare them being manifest, and therefore it must perish, when they beginne to be reuealed, that man maye by these inestimable riches, which he nowe possesseth by fayth, be as it were swallowed vp, and vanish awaye. We are already aboundantly iustified by fayth without all our owne merit, therefore Christ sayth,