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

The night is passed and the day is at hand: ¹His meaning in effect is, that salvation is at hand. For by the day Paul understandeth the Gospel, namely, that it is that day, whereby our hearts and minds are enlightened, therefore such a day being sprung, our salvation is certainly at hand, that is, Christ and his grace promised in time past to Abraham, hath shined forth by preaching in the whole world, giveth light unto all men, raiseth all out of sleep, showeth true and eternal good things, wherein we may be hereafter occupied,² and may walk honestly in this day. Contrariwise, by the night all doctrine is to be understood, which is not the Gospel, beside which none can bring salvation. But if thou do a little more exactly weigh the words, thou shalt see that Paul describeth that part of the day, which is most delectable of all, and most full of all pleasantness, namely the joyful and amiable morning, and the rising of the sun. For it is the morning when the night is gone and ended, and the day is now come, whereupon all things are marvellously cheered and recreated, the birds sing, other living creatures do stir up with alacrity and joyfulness: men being as it were made alive again, do go forth to their labours: all things, the day springing, and the morning shining, are so affected, as though the world were renewed, and all things restored to life again.

The night is passed and the day is at hand: ¹His meaning in effect is, that saluation is at hand. For by the day Paule vnderstandeth the Gospell, namely, that it is that daye, whereby our hearts and mindes are enlightned, therefore such a day being sprong, our saluation is certainly at hand, that is, Christ and his grace promised in time past to Abraham, hath shined forth by preaching in the whole world, giueth light vnto all men, raiseth all out of sleepe, sheweth true and eternall good things, wherein we may be hereafter occupied,² and may walke honestly in this day. Contrariwise, by the night all doctrine is to be vnderstood, which is not the Gospell, beside which none can bring saluation. But if thou do a litle more exactly wey the wordes, thou shalt see that Paule describeth that part of the daye, which is most delectable of all, and most full of all pleasauntnes, namely the ioyfull and amiable morning, and the rising of the sunne. For it is the morning when the night is gone and ended, and the daye is nowe come, whereupon all thinges are meruelously cheered and recreated, the birdes sing, other lyuing creatures doe stirre vp with alacritie and ioyfulnes: men being as it were made aliue againe, doe goe forth to their labours: all thinges, the daye springing, and the morning shining, are so affected, as though the world were renued, and all thinges restored to life againe.