A06521:471
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.
This text in deed is but short, nevertheless it doth most plentifully abound with right Christian doctrine, instructing first, how we ought to behave our selves toward God, secondly, how toward our neighbours, saying first: Rejoice in the Lord alway. 1This joy is a fruit of faith, most certainly following it, as Paul witnesseth Gal. 5 where he saith: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, &c. Neither can it be that that hart should rejoice in the Lord, which hath not yet believed in him. Whereupon it cometh to pass, that where no faith is, there can be nothing but fear, trembling, horror, and sadness, as often as such either remember God, or hear him named: yea hatred and ⟨p. 255⟩enmity of God remaineth in such harts, the cause whereof is, for that the hart void of faith, findeth it self defiled with sins, whereby it doubteth not but that it hath deserved the vengeance of God, that sins can not but be hated of God which is just, & so, when it doth not believe that God will be merciful and favourable unto it, how can it not but detest all memory of him? so far is it of that it can rejoice in the Lord, the revenger of sins. These two things, the knowledge of sin, and of the vengeance of God prepared for sins are in the hart of the unbeliever, which hart as it is unbelieving, so hath it no hope of pardon, and therefore what other thing can these things work in it, but cause it to be troubled, cast down and always fearful, and greatly terrified, and to think that the vengeance of God doth every moment hang over it, that so that may be verified which Solomon saith:2 The ungodly fleeth when no man pursueth him. And that which is said Deut. 28: The Lord shall give thee a fearful hart, and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee. If a man will much persuade such a hart, to have joy in the Lord, he shall do even as if he persuaded the water that it should burn like unto the fire, for it can cast none of this joy, it always feeleth in conscience, that the revenging hand of God is heavy upon it. Whereupon the Prophet saith