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

¹These things I speak to stir you up, and to admonish you, why ye ought willingly to hear the word of God, because it is not only the commandment of God, whereunto we must obey, ⟨p. 185⟩but we have also most ample promises, that it is a thing acceptable to God, and the greatest worship, whereby we can do honour unto him. And it so far exceedeth other kinds of worship, as the brightness of the sun exceedeth the brightness of the other stars, and the Sabbath day the other days, & in a sum, as much as the heavenly kingdom excelleth the kingdoms of the world. For here all things are holy and specially chosen, the time, place, person, and that because of the word, which sanctifieth all things unto us. Wherefore we must earnestly endeavour, that we take heed unto our selves, that we fall not into sluggishness, & slothfulness, neither that we be carried away with contempt and loathsomeness of hearing the word, as those delicate and cloyed spirits, which seem unto them selves already to be Masters, and exactly to know all things, yea far more perfectly then any can teach them. Or as others also, which are soon cloyed with it, thinking, why I have heard this very often, wherefore should I eftsoons hear the same song? They know not how great & marvellous a thing it is, also how great worship of God, which they do so greatly contemn, & neglect with so great slothfulness. Wherefore they do after unspeakable means provoke God to wrath, having his commandment so in contempt, and suffering his promise to be made void in them, and as much as is in them impairing and hindering by their example so commendable a worship and service of God.

¹These things I speake to stirre you vp, and to admonish you, why ye ought willingly to heare the word of God, because it is not only the commaundement of God, whereunto we must obey, ⟨p. 185⟩but we haue also most ample promises, that it is a thinge acceptable to God, and the greatest worship, whereby we can doe honour vnto him. And it so farre exceedeth other kindes of worship, as the brightnes of the sunne exceedeth the brightnes of the other starres, and the Sabbath day the other dayes, & in a summe, as much as the heauenly kingdom excelleth the kingdoms of the worlde. For here all thinges are holy and specially chosen, the time, place, person, and that because of the worde, which sanctifieth all thinges vnto vs. Wherefore we must earnestly endeuour, that we take heede vnto our selues, that we fall not into sluggishnes, & slothfulnes, neither that we be caried away with contempt and lothsomnes of hearing the word, as those delicate and cloyed spirits, which seeme vnto them selues already to be Maisters, and exactly to know all thinges, yea farre more perfectly then any can teache them. Or as others also, which are soone cloyed with it, thinking, why I haue heard this very often, wherefore should I eftsoones heare the same songe? They knowe not howe great & meruelous a thing it is, also howe great worship of God, which they do so greatly contemne, & neglect with so great slothfulnes. Wherefore they doe after vnspeakeable meanes prouoke God to wrath, hauing his commaundement so in contempt, and suffering his promise to be made voyd in them, and as much as is in them impayring and hindering by their example so commendable a worship and seruice of God.