A06521:43
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.
And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field and watching their flock by night. And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone about them, and they were sore afraid.
And there were in the same contrey shepeheards, abiding in the field and watching their flocke by night. And loe, the Angel of the Lorde came vpon them, and the glory of the Lorde shone about them, and they were sore afraide.
Here is declared,1 how God in heaven setteth forth this nativity, which the world contemneth, yea knoweth not, neither seeth. This joy is so great in heaven, that it can not be contained therein, but bursteth forth, that it may be declared and communicated to the world. For the Angel here bringeth tidings of great joy to the shepherds, which to them is great comfort, which the world notwithstanding contemneth and rejecteth, but is of the Angels had in great admiration, yea and if they might, they would with greater praises, and more goodly pomp have set forth so wonderful a thing. But it was not meet it should be so. For God would set forth an example in this his Son, that the ostentation & glorying of the world might at the last be neglected, and that it might be known what the world is. Mans reason seemeth always very wise unto it self, it always looketh unto things that are aloft, it considereth only high matters, it humbleth not it self to those things that are below. This now is an excellent comfort, that the Angels and all the heavenly soldiers do esteem him so much, whom the world contemneth, whereby we may learn that albeit we be outcasts in the world, there be notwithstanding that have regard and care of us. Howbeit we do hardly believe this, we do not fasten our eyes thereupon, but look unto great, precious, and high things, according to the example of the world, and are dismayed, as soon as a little misfortune cometh, neither thinking nor knowing, if any adversity assaileth us, that it is done by the will of God. Believe thou this undoubtedly, if it had not so pleased God, he would not have suffered this his beloved son to be laid in a manger, he would not have permitted him to be borne in so great poverty, misery, and contempt. But the poorer and more despised that he is before the