A06521:345
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.
Howbeit this is here to be known and marked of us,1 that we must first receive, before we give: before we show mercy, we must receive mercy of God: we do not lay the first stone, neither doth the sheep seek the shepherd, but the shepherd the sheep. Wherefore so bestow thy works in every respect, that thou look for nothing at Gods hand because of them:2 for we obtain even every thing of God without merit or desert: so God saith Isaiah 65: I am found of them that seek not for me, I have appeared to them that ask not for me. And in the end of the same chapter: The time shall come (saith God) that or ever they call I will answer them, and while they are yet but thinking how to speak, I will hear them. For in deed before we seek him, he findeth us, before we ask him, he heareth us. Likewise S. Paul saith Rom. 3: There is no difference: for all have sinned, and are deprived of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness, in that he forgiveth the since that are past, through the patience of God, to show at this time his righteousness, that he might be just, and a justifier of him which is of the faith of Jesus. And in the chapter following he sayeth: Now to him that worketh the wages is not counted by favour but by debt: but to him that worketh not, ⟨p. 176⟩but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. For if it be of Grace, it is no more of works, or else were grace no more grace, as he saith afterward in the eleventh chapter.
Howbeit this is here to be knowen and marked of vs,1 that we must first receiue, before we giue: before we shew mercy, we must receiue mercy of God: we do not lay the first stone, neither doth the shepe seeke the shepeheard, but the shepeheard the shepe. Wherefore so bestow thy workes in euerie respect, that thou looke for nothing at Gods hand because of them:2