A06521:350
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.
1But Christ speaketh here of an other judgement, namely of that whereby one reputeth and counteth an other good or evil, when as notwithstanding he seeth no good or evil to be done of him. Which judgement belongeth only unto God. For it may be that thou see thy brother offend to day, whom notwithstanding to morrow God doth receive, then may he both be, and also seem unto thee to be good, neither must thou remember his since, for ⟨p. 179⟩that Christ hath forbidden. For there can not be either any love, or concord, where this judgement and condemnation is usual amongst men. To judge & condemn an other is nothing else, then to have a beam in his own eye, which all hypocrites do without doubt bear in their eyes. For they that judge themselves good, are offended at their brother, what soever others do, it displeaseth them, forasmuch as they will not acknowledge their own sin. But it cometh to pass, that when thou seest many sins in others, thou seest not the beam that is in thine own eye, and so fallest into the judgement of God. Hereof it cometh, that thou which judgest an other, are made worse than that most wicked baud, or the most unchaste harlot, before God, who alone knoweth who is to be saved, and who to be condemned.2 Such hypocrites are of that nature, that it is a pleasure unto them, and they take no small delight thereof, if they reason and talk either of the adultery or fault of an other man, yea they increase a small thing or trifle in their neighbour, and what soever others do, they interpret it at the worst, so that no man is able to do that which pleaseth or liketh them. And although they themselves do not such things, yet they willingly here that other men do them, whereas a godly man helpeth as much as he is able, that these things may be covered and amended. But it many times falleth out that they are most filthy adulterers even according to the flesh, which do so judge and condemn others, howbeit they do not judge man only, but even God himself. Wherefore if thy brother be a sinner, conceal his sin, and pray for him to the Lord: if thou reveal his sin and rejoice thereat, surely thou art not the child of the merciful father, for if thou were, thou wouldest be merciful according as he is. This is a thing most certain, that we are not able to show so great mercy to our neighbour, as God both hath & doth show to us.