A06521:411
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 is written for our comfort,1 that we which are Christians may know that we have such wisdom, as exceedeth all wisdom, such strength and righteousness, as whereunto no strength & righteousness of man is like. For against the holy Ghost there is no counsel: this power and strength we obtain through Christ, that we may tread sin under foot, and triumph over death. When Christ dwelleth in us by faith, we have him which bringeth to pass such things, howbeit they are not throughly felt but in time of tentation. Wherefore when I stand in need, he is present, and giveth unto me strength, that I may courageously pass through. We must not therefore be afraid that our doctrine shall perish and be put to ignominy and shame. For let all the wise men of the world rise against the word of God, yea and be never so circumspect, and set them selves against it, yet shall they have the foil and be overcome. It may be that they bark and bite, so that it seemeth unto men, as though they would destroy the Gospel, but when they have set them selves against it to extinguish it, they shall no whit prevail, but in the snare that they have laid for others, they themselves shall at length be taken. As we see here in this text, and commonly in Paul, but specially in the history of S. Steven, where we read how vainly his adversaries used the Scriptures, yea those that they used were against them selves. For the Jews did accuse Steven, that he had spoken both against the temple, and against God which commanded the temple to be builded, bringing & alleging Scriptures, whereby they thought to convince and condemn him. But Steven being full of the holy Ghost, showed them in order out of the Scripture, how that God dwelleth not in temples made with hands: David would have built him an house, but God refused it. What was the cause hereof? A long time before David was ⟨p. 218⟩borne, God dwelt among his people. He surely should be a miserable God which should need a house. And so he confirmeth by many histories that God doth not dwell in houses or temples made with hands. What should the Jews do here? they did manifestly acknowledge their own Scripture, which they had brought against Steven. So all they shall be put to shame and overthrown, which set them selves against the wisdom & word of God.
This is written for our comfort,1