A06521:388
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.
This therefore being known, we must exactly understand the difference between the Law and the Gospel, whereof we often teach.1 The law draweth us to the judgement seat, requiring of us integrity of life, love out of a pure heart & a good conscience, it maketh us also to exercise our selves therein, and must go no further. But when it shall come and accuse thee, and will reason with thee, and have those things to be performed which it requireth, then shalt thou be greatly troubled. For albeit thou hast ⟨p. 203⟩done them, yet art thou not able to stand before God, before whose judgement seat, many things are yet found wanting in thee, which should have bin done of thee, and thou hast left them undone, neither are they known unto thy self.2 Whither then wilt thou turn thee? Here the Law urgeth thee by all means, and thine own conscience being witness, accuseth thee, requiring the sentence of the judge against thee. Then must thou despair, there is no counsel or help to be had, except thou knowest to fly from the judgement seat to the mercy seat, as for example: Admit some Bishop die in his own holiness, who while he lived was as it seemed, of a good life, and acknowledged Christ no otherwise then a cruel judge (as it hath bin hitherto preached of him, neither hath he bin otherwise set forth, as he is also wont to be unto such, not of his own nature, for in deed he is most gracious and comfortable, but because they esteem him for no other in their heart) behold this man is a hinderance unto himself, that he can not obtain any grace. For he knoweth no difference of the judgement seat and the mercy seat, yea he is altogether ignorant, whether there be a mercy seat, from which he so erreth, and must be bound to the judgement seat.
This therefore being knowne, we must exactly vnderstād the difference betweene the Lawe and the Gospel, whereof we often teach.1 The lawe draweth vs to the iudgement seat, requiring of vs integritie of life, loue out of a pure heart & a good conscience, it maketh vs also to exercise our selues therein, and must goe no further. But when it shall come and accuse thee, and will reason with thee, and haue those things to be performed which it requireth, then shalt thou be greatly troubled. For albeit thou hast