A06521:397
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.
Let who will begin and prove this thing, he shall at length see and try,1 how grievous and heard it is, for a man that hath bin occupied all his life time in the works of his own holiness, to escape out, and with all his heart by faith to cleave to this one Mediator. I my self have now preached the Gospel almost twenty years, and have bin exercised in the same daily by reading & writing, so that I may well seem to be rid of this wicked opinion. Notwithstanding I yet now and then feel the same old filth to cleave to my heart, whereby it cometh to pass that I would willingly so have to do with God, that I might bring ⟨p. 209⟩some thing with my self, because of which he should for my holiness sake give me his grace. And I can scarce be brought to commit my self with all confidence to mere grace, which I should do: for we ought to fly only to the mercy seat, forasmuch as God hath set it before us for a sanctuary, which must be the refuge of all them that shall be saved. Wherefore it is not to be marvelled at, if it be grievous unto others, so purely to apprehend and lay hold of faith: but especially to such as be yet hindered and entangled of devilish preachers, of whom Paul speaketh, which cry out against the doctrine of faith, and in these words urge the works of the Law, Do this and thou shalt live: Also, if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments, &c. Which in deed are true and right, if thou didst also rightly understand them. Declare unto me the true meaning of these words, otherwise I know sufficiently already, that I ought to be righteous and keep the commandments. But how must I attain hereunto? or what is it to be righteous? If thou sayest that it is, to have a good conscience and a pure heart, and to do all things, that God hath commanded: Well, be it so, but hear ye then, go to, perform me that, or at least show one, that dareth say that he hath performed it. For thou shalt not yet so purify my heart and conscience with thy doctrine, that God can not accuse and condemn me. But now the Law (as it hath bin sufficiently declared) requireth such a heart, as hath a good conscience before God. How therefore do we obtain such a conscience? This is the question and the cause, whereof the controversy is.
Let who will begin and proue this thing, he shall at length see and trie,1