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

¹But true love ought to be such as floweth out of a continual fountain, and proceedeth from the bottom of the hart, as a fresh and continual water always springing forth, which can not be stopped, and is never dried up. This love saith after this sort: I love thee, not for thy honesty or dishonesty, for I do not derive my love from thy honesty, as from a strange fountain, but out of mine own fountain, that is, out of the word of God which is planted in my hart, which commandeth me to love my neighbour. From hence love plentifully floweth, open to all, which have need thereof, watering all both friends and foes: yea chiefly prepared and ready for foes, inasmuch as they have more need, ⟨p. 193⟩that they may by my means be brought to amendment, I praying for them, and doing according to my ability that which I am able, that they also leaving their evil ways, may be delivered from sins, and the snares of the Devil. And this is said to be love flowing from the hart, and not derived from without: for he that is endued with such love, findeth no such thing in him whom he loveth, from whence he should derive it: But because he is a Christian, because he layeth hold on the word, which is altogether pure by it self, by the power of it his hart also is made pure, and replenished with true love. Whereupon he poureth forth the treasures of his love toward every man, neither is he moved or turned away with the person of any, whether he be good or evil. Behold, thus should they preach, which will rightly teach love required of the law, whereof our babblers know nothing, neither have any regard thereof, albeit they talk many things of the law, and dispute much of love. They do not see, no they do not so much as once think, that love must be such, that it flow out of the hart, & that the fountain must be first pure and clear. This never descendeth into their hart, although they hear, read, and teach many things of it. They are occupied with very uncertain, and unprofitable cogitations, yea rather with dead dreams.

¹But true loue ought to be such as floweth out of a continuall fountaine, and proceedeth from the bottom of the hart, as a fresh and continuall water alwayes springing forth, which can not be stopped, and is neuer dryed vp. This loue sayth after this sort: I loue thee, not for thy honestie or dishonestie, for I doe not deriue my loue from thy honestie, as from a strange fountaine, but out of myne owne fountaine, that is, out of the word of God which is planted in my hart, which commaundeth me to loue my neighbour. From hence loue plentifully floweth, open to al, which haue neede thereof, watering all both friendes and foes: yea chiefly prepared and ready for foes, inasmuch as they haue more neede,