A06521:456
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.
1For the same cause Paul also useth here chosen words: the works of darkness he calleth not armour, but the works of light he calleth armour, not works: undoubtedly that he might show, that there is a fight, that labour and travel is required, and that it can not be obtained without peril, to watch and live well, forasmuch as so mighty enemies, the devil, the flesh, and the world do without ceasing fight against us, wherefore Job saith chapter 7: The life of man upon earth is a fight and tentation. Now it is not a small matter to stand all our life long in the battle, wherefore there is need of very shrill trumpets and warlike drums, that is of earnest admonitions and exhortations, whereby we may be stirred up and encouraged to persevere valiantly in the fight. Hereupon now it appeareth, why he calleth good works armour or weapons, and calleth not the works of darkness so, which notwithstanding, ⟨p. 245⟩if we consent unto them are also weapons, Rom. 6: Give not your members as weapons of unrighteousness. Again, it is before said, that by light is here signified faith, which from the day of the Gospel by the sun Christ,2 shineth into our hearts, and enlighteneth them, therefore the armour or weapons of light are nothing else but the works of this faith. Contrariwise, darkness is infidelity or unbelief, which is by reason of the absence of the Gospel as of the day, and of Christ as of the sun. This darkness the devil doth rule, which cometh from the doctrine of men, and the judgement of mans own reason: wherefore the works of darkness,3 are the works of infidelity. For as Christ is the Lord and governor of the light, which we said to be faith: so Paul Ephes. 6. calleth Satan the prince of darkness, that is, of them which are without faith, and refuse to be obedient to God, as the same Apostle witnesseth 2. Corinth. 4: If our Gospel be then hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world (namely the devil) hath blinded the minds, that is, of the infidels, that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should not shine unto them. But what both this armour or weapons of light, and works of darkness are, it is now taught of the Apostle.