A06521:381
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.
And of faith unfeigned.
And of faith vnfeyned.
For as I have said, albeit I have a good conscience before men,1 and do exercise love out of a pure hart, yet the old Adam, that is, flesh and blood remain in me subject to sins, whereby it cometh to pass that I am not altogether holy and pure. And as Paul saith Gal. 5: The flesh lusteth against the spirit, &c. And Rom. 7. he affirmeth that he must fight a daily fight against him self, because he can not do that which is good, & yet he would willingly do it. The spirit in deed would very willingly live purely & perfectly according to the word of God, but the rebellious flesh resisteth the desire thereof, assailing us with many and great tentations, that we should seek honour, wealth, riches, pleasure, & should become slothful & negligent in our state & duty. So there remaineth a continual fight in us, because of the unpurenes of our person,2 wherein there is not yet sincere pureness, nor a good conscience & perfect love, unless there be perhaps somewhat before men. But before God many things are found lacking in us, many things are worthy of blame, although all things be perfect before men. For examples sake: although David can obtain that confidence before men, that he can be reprehended of no man, and the holy Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, &c: do glory & are sure, whatsoever they have done according to their duty, is right and well done, seeing it is the word and commandment of God, wherein they have exercised them selves with a pure hart & a good conscience, yet can they not stand by this confidence before the judgement ⟨p. 199⟩of God, but are compelled to say: if we should strive with thee in judgement, then no man shall have so good a conscience or so pure a hart, which doth not dread thy judgement, and acknowledge him self to be worthy of reprehension and blame. For God hath reserved that prerogative unto him self, that he may contend in judgement with every one, albeit he be holy, and accuse him of deadly sin: neither is there any so holy, whom he may not judge and condemn as worthy of destruction. Wherefore although both the hart be pure & the conscience good before men, yet must thou endeavour to attain unto this also, that the same may be likewise good before God, that he may not find fault with them, but that they may be safe and quiet from his judgement, as they are before men.