A06521:443
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.
1Now let us see what likeness there is between natural and spiritual sleep. He that sleepeth naturally, neither seeth, nor feeleth any of those good things that are in the world, but lieth among those things which are even next adjoining unto him, as it were dead, serving to no use, neither regarding any thing at all. For albeit he live in himself, yet is he as dead to all other. Again, in stead of true things, he is in dreams wholly occupied with vain images and forms of things, which appear true, and is so foolish that he embraceth those vain forms, and thinketh them to be true things. But when he waketh, those images do together vanish away, and the man beginneth to be occupied with true things. After the same manner almost it is, when one is as it were swallowed up of ungodliness, for he sleepeth, and is like a dead man before God, neither seeth he, neither feeleth any of the good things, which are good things in deed, namely, those spiritual good things, which are promised & offered him by the Gospel, albeit they be just by him. For those things are seen and felt by faith alone, otherwise they are removed from ⟨p. 237⟩all sight and feeling. Wherefore as long as by reason of the sleep of his unbelief, he can have neither any regard or sense of true good things, which are very near him through the Gospel, he busieth himself with the false good things of this world, as riches, promotions, and pleasures, which being compared unto eternal life, unto heavenly joy, and that perfect salvation which cometh to the godly, are altogether as dreams, and as those vain visions compared to natural things, whereof they are only representations. But when man awaketh, and hath received faith, all regard and desire of those false good things of this present life vanisheth away, and he acknowledgeth that they are nothing else but mere vanity and falsehood, even as those visions do quite fade away as soon as a man awaketh out of natural sleep. Hereof the 76. Psalm speaketh? They have slept their sleep, and they whose hands were mighty, have found nothing. And Psal. 73: Like as a dream when one awaketh, so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city. And Isaiah 29: As when a hungry man dreameth that he is eating, & yet when he awaketh his soul is empty: