A06521:376
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.
Lo, thus the word is the cause, foundation, ground, fountain and spring of love coming out of the hart, & of all good works that please God, which he can by no means away with,1 if the hart be not pure before: for neither are works acceptable to men, which are done without the hart by dissimulation. Now it Cesar and men require the hart, although they can not see it, of how much greater estimation is that hart before God, which doeth all things for the words sake? Therefore he also suffereth his word to be preached, that we may order all our life according to the prescription thereof. And let not us suffer our selves to be hindered, frayed from it, or discouraged with the let or hinderance of any thing, although for it we shall suffer all kind of losses, unthankfulness, contempt, &c: but let us break and go through all brunts with a bold and manly courage, and say thus: we began nothing for any mans sake, neither will we leave of any thing because of any man, but that we may do that which is acceptable to God, we will go on still, howsoever things fall out with us. They which do thus, become men excellent and most highly to be esteemed, who are ready to do all duties, and serve God with all readiness of mind and love not feigned. For the fountain and spring is good, not derived and brought in from without.
Lo, thus the word is the cause, foundation, ground, fountayne and springe of loue comming out of the hart, & of all good works that please God, which he can by no meanes away with,1 if the hart be not pure before: for neither are workes acceptable to men, which are done without the hart by dissimulation. Nowe it Cesar and men require the hart, although they can not see it, of howe muche greater estimation is that hart before God, which doeth all thinges for the wordes sake? Therefore he also suffereth his word to be preached, that we may order all our life according to the prescription thereof. And let not vs suffer our selues to be hindered, frayed from it, or discouraged with the let or hinderance of any thinge, although for it we shall suffer all kinde of losses, vnthankefulnes, contempt, &c: but let vs breake and goe through all brunts with a boulde and manly courage, and say thus: we beganne nothinge for any mans sake, neither will we leaue of any thinge because of any man, but that we may doe that which is acceptable to God, we will goe on stil, howsoeuer thinges fall out with vs. They which doe thus, become men excellent and most highly to be esteemed, who are ready to doe all duties, and serue God with all readines of minde and loue not feyned. For the fountaine and springe is good, not deriued and brought in from without.