A06521:430
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
Sermon salvation through Christ › The exposition of the text.
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.
No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Now he whom the Father draweth not, shall surely perish. It is also concluded that he which cometh not to this son, shall be damned for ever. He is the only Son given unto us, which may save us, without him there is no salvation: if he help not,1 our case is most miserable: Of him Peter also speaketh to the same effect in the Acts of the Apostles chap. 4: This is the stone cast aside of you builders, which is become the head of the corner, neither is there salvation in any other: for among men there is given none other name under heaven, whereby we must be saved. Whither would our Divines and Schoolmen turn them selves here, which have taught us that by many works we must attain unto righteousness? Here is that high Master Aristotle confounded, who hath taught us, that reason endeavoureth to do the best things, & is always ready to the better. But this Christ ⟨p. 228⟩doth here deny: for unless the Father possess and draw us, we shall perish for ever. Here all men must confess their imbecility and slowness to good things. If so be that any persuade him self that he is able to do any good thing by his own strength, truly he hath reproved Christ of falsehood, and with great arrogance presumeth to come to heaven, albeit he is not drawn of the Father. Wherefore where the word of God is in his course, & soundly preached, whatsoever things are high and great, it casteth them down, it maketh all mountains even with the valleys, and overthroweth all hills, as the Prophet Isaiah saith, that all harts hearing the word may despair of them selves, otherwise they can not come unto Christ. The works of God are such, that while they kill, they make alive, while they condemn, they save: as Hanna the mother of Samuel singeth of the Lord:2 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive, bringeth down to the grave, & fetcheth up again. The Lord maketh poor, & maketh rich, bringeth low, 3and heaveth up on hie.
No man can come vnto me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him: and I will rayse him vp at the last day. Now he whom the Father draweth not, shall surely perish. It is also concluded that he which commeth not to this sonne, shall be damned for euer. He is the onely Sonne giuen vnto vs, which may saue vs, without him there is no saluation: if he helpe not,