A06521:331
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.
But they all with one mind began to make excuse. This is that whereof the Lord speaketh Matth. 10: He that loveth father or mother more then me, is not worthy of me. And he that loveth son or daughter more then me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, & followeth after me, 1is not worthy of me. For he that will be partaker of this supper, must put all things into danger for the Gospels sake, body, goods, wife, children, friends, &c. Moreover he must leave all things whatsoever they be, that separate him from the Gospel, albeit they seem good, just, right, & holy. Neither think ye that these men which here excuse them selves, were guilty of grievous sins, or occupied about unjust matters and works. For it is not unjust to buy, to use trade of merchandise, to maintain him self honestly, to marry a wife, to be joined in matrimony. But therefore can they not come to this supper, for that they will not forsake these things, but will rather cleave to them in their hart. Now they must be utterly forsaken and left, when the Gospel so requireth. Thou wilt perhaps say: I would in deed willingly follow the Gospel, I would cleave unto it, & do all other things whatsoever, but to forsake goods, houses, family, wife, children, &c: surely this is a hard matter. God hath commanded me to labour, to maintain my wife and children, &c. Behold therefore this is the scope and sum, that the Gospel is the word of faith and offence, because of which every faithful man doth bear offence willingly. In deed God hath willed thee to do these things, howbeit he hath also commanded, that thou prefer him before all creatures, and love him above all things, and think him higher then all things which thou canst know, even as the chief and greatest commandment giveth us to understand: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy hart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, Deut. 6. Wherefore thou must forsake all things before thou suffer thy self to be plucked away from the love of him, or his word: although in deed he loseth nothing, which forsaketh any thing for the Gospels sake. If for the Gospels ⟨p. 168⟩sake thou lose this temporal life, God will give thee an other far better, to wit, eternal life, as Christ saith