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

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 ⟨p. 8⟩world, so much greater care and regard God and all the heavenly soldiers have of him, so that we may conceive comfort hereby, and believe assuredly, that the more we are rejected of the world, the more we are esteemed before God.

Here is declared,¹ how God in heauen setteth forth this natiuitie, which the world contemneth, yea knoweth not, neither seeth. This ioy is so great in heauen, that it can not be contained therein, but bursteth forth, that it may be declared and communicated to the world. For the Angell here bringeth tydings of great ioy to the shepeheardes, which to them is great comfort, which the worlde notwithstanding contemneth and reiecteth, but is of the Angells had in greate admiration, yea and if they might, they would with greater prayses, and more goodly pompe haue sette forth so wonderful a thinge. But it was not meete it should be so. For God would set forth an example in this his Sonne, that the ostētatiō & glorying of the world might at the last be neglected, and that it might be knowne what the world is. Mans reason semeth alwayes very wise vnto it selfe, it alwayes looketh vnto thinges that are aloft, it considereth onely high matters, it humbleth not it selfe to those thinges that are below. This now is an excellent comfort, that the Angels and all the heauenly souldiers doe esteeme him so much, whom the world contemneth, whereby we may learne that albeit we be outcasts in the worlde, there be notwithstanding that haue regard and care of vs. Howbeit we do hardly beleeue this, we doe not fasten our eyes thereupon, but looke vnto great, precious, and high thinges, according to the example of the world, and are dismayed, as soone as a litle misfortune commeth, neither thinking nor knowing, if any aduersity assaileth vs, that it is done by the will of God. Beleue thou this vndoutedly, if it had not so pleased God, he would not haue suffered this his beloued sonne to be layd in a manger, he would not haue permitted him to be borne in so great pouertie, miserie, and contempt. But the poorer and more despised that he is before the