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

But in all things, let us approve our selves as the Ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in labours: by watchings, by fastings, by purity, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the holy Ghost, by love unfeigned: By the word of truth, by ⟨p. 250⟩the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour, and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers, and yet true: as unknown, and yet known: as dying, and behold we live: as chastened, and yet not killed: as sorrowing, and yet alway rejoicing: as poor, and yet making many rich: as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. See what a plentiful and very golden stream floweth out of the mouth of Paul. Hereof I think we most plainly perceive, what is the armour of light, wherewith we must be fenced and fortified both on the right hand, and on the left.

But in all thinges, let vs approue our selues as the Ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in labours: by watchings, by fastings, by puritie, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindnes, by the holy Ghost, by loue vnfeyned: By the word of truth, by ⟨p. 250⟩the power of God, by the armour of righteousnes on the right hand and on the left, By honour, and dishonour, by euill report and good report, as deceiuers, and yet true: as vnknowne, and yet knowne: as dying, and behold we liue: as chastened, and yet not killed: as sorrowing, and yet alway reioycing: as poore, and yet making many rich: as hauing nothing, and yet possessing all thinges. See what a plentifull and very golden streame floweth out of ye mouth of Paule. Hereof I think we most plainely perceiue, what is the armour of light, wherewith we must be fenced and fortified both on the right hand, and on the left.

¹Now this most fitly agreeth with the matter, whereas he setteth before us a most excellent and perfect example, namely the Lord him self, saying: Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. For he is a sluggish beast and not a man, who when he seeth his Lord fast, suffer hunger, labour, watch and to be weary, yet giveth him self to gluttony, sleep, and pleasures. What Lord could take these things at his servants hand, nay what servant durst presume to do these things? So it can not be that a Christian man should not be ashamed, when he beholdeth Christ, and seeth him self so unlike unto him, yea occupied in quite contrary things. For whom the example of Christ him self doth not stir up, exhort, and move, who can bring or stir him up unto goodness? What would the leaves of words do with their small noise, if these thunderings of the example of Christ do not move? And surely for this cause Paul of purpose adjoined this word, Lord, saying: Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, as if he said: count it no great nor burdenous thing, to stand and fight in this armour of light, ye that are servants, behold your Lord, who when he had no need, did notwithstanding so well & valiantly use this armour, and fought in it for you.