A06521:474
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.
1When such a faith possesseth the hart, and the Gospel is so received in deed, then God appeareth sweet & altogether loving, neither feeleth the hart any thing but the favour & grace of God, it standeth with a strong and bold confidence, it feareth not lest any evil come unto it, it being quiet from all fear of vengeance and displeasure, is merry, and glad of so incomparable grace and goodness of God given unto it freely and most abundantly in Christ. Wherefore there must needs forthwith proceed from such a faith, love, joy, peace, gladness, giving of thanks, praise, & a certain marvellous delight in God, as in a most dear and favourable father, which dealeth so fatherly with us, and poureth forth his gifts so plentifully and in so great a measure, upon them that do not deserve them. Behold of such joy Paul speaketh here, which truly where it is, there can be no place for sin, or fear of death or hell, yea nothing is there but a joyful, quiet and omnipotent trust in God and in his favour. Wherefore it is called joy in the Lord, not in gold or silver, gluttony or drunkenness, in delicates or singing, health, knowledge, wisdom, power, glory, friendship, favour, no nor in good works, holiness, or whatsoever is without God. Of these thou shalt take but a deceitful and vain joy,2 which can not pierce the hart, or enter unto the bottom thereof, whereof thou mayst rightly say that which is wont to be spoken as a proverb among the Germans: This man rejoiceth, but he feeleth not any joy in his hart. There is one full & perfect joy, which the believers take of and in the Lord, which is nothing else, then to commit them selves unto him, and of him alone to rejoice, trust and presume, as of a most favourable and loving father. Whatsoever joy is not after this sort, the Lord doth contemn and reject it, whereof Jeremiah speaketh chap. 9: Let not the wise man rejoice in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, neither the rich man in his riches: but whoso will rejoice, let him rejoice in this, that he understandeth and knoweth ⟨p. 257⟩me. And Paul 2. Cor. 10. saith: Let him that rejoiceth rejoice in the Lord.