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

And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished, that she should be delivered: and she brought forth her first begotten son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, & laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn.

And so it was, that while they were there, the dayes were accomplished, that she should be deliuered: and she brought forth her first begotten sonne, and wrapped him in swadling clothes, & layd him in a manger, because there was no roome for them in the Inne.

Let it nothing move us, or be any offence unto us, that the Lord cometh into the world in so great poverty and misery. For it ought to be a great joy and comfort unto us, rather then in any wise to discomfort & discourage us. It may seem a strange thing, and hard and strait dealing, that a Virgin which was new married, and that year joined to her husband, might not be permitted to bring forth her child at Nazareth in her own house, but was enforced in poor estate to go almost three days journey being great with child? And when she came at her journeys end, she had not so much place in the Inn, as that she might be delivered in some parlour or chamber. The Inn being full, there was none that would vouchsafe to give place to this woman being great with child, that she might have the use of their chamber, but she was enforced to go into a stable, that there she might bring forth the Creator of all creatures. Here may be plainly perceived what is the knowledge and wisdom of the world concerning divine matters, namely, that it is blind, and vain in understanding, that it seeth not the works of God, and if it be so that it seeth them, that it knoweth not what they mean.

Let it nothing moue vs, or be any offence vnto vs, that the Lorde commeth into the world in so great pouertie and miserie. For it ought to be a great ioy and comfort vnto vs, rather then in any wise to discomfort & discourage vs. It may seeme a straunge thing, and hard and strait dealing, that a Virgin which was new maried, and that yeare ioyned to her husband, might not be permitted to bring forth her childe at Nazareth in her owne house, but was enforced in poore estate to goe almost three daies iorney being great with child? And when she came at her iorneyes end, she had not so much place in the Inne, as that she might be deliuered in some parlour or chamber. The Inne being full, there was none that would vouchsafe to giue place to this woman being great with childe, that she might haue the vse of their chamber, but she was enforced to go into a stable, that there she might bring forth the Creator of all creatures. Here may be plainly perceiued what is the knowledge and wisedom of the world concerning diuine matters, namely, that it is blinde, and vaine in vnderstanding, that it seeth not the works of God, and if it be so that it seeth them, that it knoweth not what they meane.