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

But we teach thus,¹ that Christ is so to be learned and considered, that we be most certainly persuaded that he sitteth before miserable and trembling consciences, that believe in him, not as an angry judge, which commandeth forthwith to carry violently them that be guilty unto punishment, but as a gentle, loving, and comfortable Mediator, between my fearful conscience and God, which saith unto me: If thou be a sinner, and astonied, and the devil laboureth to draw thee to the judgement seat, then see that thou fly unto me, and fear no wrath or anger. Wherefore? Even because I sit here, that, if thou believe in me, I may make intercession for thee to my father, that no anger and severity may hurt thee: for all anger and punishment shall be sooner laid upon me, then be borne of thee. Howbeit that can not be: for he is the only beloved son, in whom all grace and favour dwelleth, whom as often as the father doth behold, he can not but replenish both heaven and earth with grace and favour, and forget all wrath and displeasure. And what soever he shall ask of his father, that he shall forthwith obtain with out all repulse or denial. So by faith we are made wholly blessed and ⟨p. 204⟩safe, subject no more to any damnation, yet not for our own holiness and pureness, but for Christs sake, to whom we cleave by faith as to our mercy seat, being assuredly persuaded, that with him there remaineth no anger, but mere love, and pardon and forgiveness of since. Thus the heart is purified before God, and the conscience made good and quiet, not in respect had of mine own pureness of life led before the world, but by trust and confidence of that excellent treasure, which my heart apprehendeth, which is unto me in stead of a pledge and fullness, when as before God I am not able to pay.

But we teach thus,¹ that Christ is so to be learned and considered, that we be most certainly perswaded that he sitteth before miserable and trembling consciences, that beleeue in him, not as an angrie iudge, which commaundeth forthwith to carie violently them that be giltie vnto punishment, but as a gentle, louing, and comfortable Mediatour, betweene my fearefull conscience and God, which sayth vnto me: If thou be a sinner, and astonied, and the deuell laboureth to drawe thee to the iudgement seat, then see that thou flie vnto me, and feare no wrath or anger. Wherefore? Euen because I sit here, that, if thou beleeue in me, I may make intercession for thee to my father, that no anger and seueritie may hurt thee: for all anger and punishment shalbe sooner layde vpon me, then be borne of thee. Howbeit that can not be: for he is the onely beloued sonne, in whom all grace and fauour dwelleth, whom as often as the father doth behold, he can not but replenish both heauen and earth with grace and fauour, and forget all wrath and displeasure. And what soeuer he shall aske of his father, that he shall forthwith obtaine with out all repulse or deniall. So by faith we are made wholy blessed and