A06521:297
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.
Thou wilt perhaps say: Thou canst not preach sufficiently, that the grace and mercy of God doth work all things in us,1 and that no respect is to be had of our works, to the attaining of salvation, but how cometh it to pass then, that the Scripture so often witnesseth that they shall be saved which have wrought ⟨p. 147⟩good works? As John. 5: They shall come forth, that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, but they that have done evil unto the resurrection of condemnation. And Rom. 2: Honour and glory to them that do well, wrath and indignation to them that do ill. We read many sentences here and there in the Scripture like unto these. I answer:2 As the words sound, so take them without all gloss, for it is even so, they that do well shall be saved, they which do otherwise, shall be condemned. But herein many err from the truth of the Scripture, in that they judge works according the outward appearance,3 contrary to the Scripture, which teacheth that no man can do good, who is not himself good before, and by works no man can become good, but works take their goodness of the worker, and he becometh good by the washing of the new birth, and by nothing else. This Christ meant Matth. 7. saying: A corrupt tree can not bring forth good fruit, neither a good tree evil fruit. Wherefore make the tree either good or evil, and it will bring forth like fruits. Hypocrites oftentimes do works like to the works of the Godly, yea sometime having a goodlier show, for they diligently pray, fast, give alms, and pretend a marvellous holiness, but Christ calleth these sheep's clothing, wherewith most hurtful wolves are clothed and hidden. For none of them is of a true humble, meek, and bountiful heart, which they chiefly declare when they are rebuked, when their holiness is reproved: for then bring they forth their natural fruits, whereby they are known. Those are, rash judgements, impatience, stubbornness, obstinacy, slandering, and such like. It is true therefore, he that doth well, shall be saved, that is, his salvation shall be manifest, but he can do no good at all, if he be not before regenerate by the washing of the new birth. For what good works can one work in the oldness of the flesh, and by the strength proceeded from Adam, they are the good works which Paul here condemneth, saying: Not by the works of righteousness which we had done.