A06521:445
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.
For now is our salvation nearer, then when we believed. What mean these words? did we believe before,1 and do we not believe now? Here we must call to mind that which Paul writeth Rom. 1: that God promised the Gospel by his Prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, that all should by him be saved, according to that which was said unto Abraham Gen. 22: In thy seed shall all the nations of the ⟨p. 238⟩earth be blessed. This blessing promised to Abraham in his seed, is nothing else, but grace and salvation in Christ offered to the whole world by the Gospel, which Paul so interpreteth Rom. 4. and Gal. 3. For Christ is that seed of Abraham, that is, as he is man, his flesh and blood, by whom and in whom shall be blessed, as many as believe in him, and call upon him. This promise was afterward by the Prophets continually more and more declared and preached, for they did all write of the coming of Christ, of the grace which he should bring, and of the Gospel, which Peter also witnesseth Act. 4. This promise of God all the faithful believed which died before Christ was borne, who by this faith were saved, and obtained salvation in Christ and through Christ. Hereunto Paul now had respect when he said: Our salvation is now nearer, then when we believed. For that which he saith is thus much in effect: We believed in time past that the promise made unto Abraham, should be fulfilled, now is it fulfilled, and those things that we believed should come to pass, are now present: Christ is come, the Gospel is revealed and published, and the blessing which we looked for, is spread over the world, all things which we tarried for, and believed being promised, are come. And hereby the Apostle signified the spiritual day, whereof he speaketh afterward, which is properly the beginning and manifestation of the Gospel, whereof we will hereafter speak.
For now is our saluation neerer, then whē we beleued. What meane these wordes? did we beleeue before,