A06521:486
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.
Moreover [all men] is not so to be taken, that thou shouldest understand thereby all men which are in the world, but rather all ⟨p. 264⟩sorts of men, that we have regard to be of a patient mind as well toward enemies as friends, as well toward servants as Masters, small as great, poor as rich, strangers as them at home, toward them that we know not, as toward them with whom we are familiar. For there are some, which behave them selves very gently and patiently toward strangers, but toward them that are in the house with them, or with whom they always keep company, there are none more obstinate or froward then they. And how many are there,1 which at great and rich mens hands take all things in good part, interpret every thing at the best, and most gently bear, whatsoever they say or do, but toward the poor and abjects they show no gentleness or meekness, neither take any thing of them in good part. So we are all ready to do for our children, parents, friends, & kinsmen, and most favourably interpret and willingly bear whatsoever they have committed. Howe often do we even praise the manifest vices of our friend, or at the least wink at them, and apply our selves most fitly unto them? but to our enemies & adversaries we impart none of this favour, in them we can find nothing that is good, nothing that is to be borne, nothing that can be interpreted in the better part, but we dispraise every thing, & take it at the worst. Against such parted and unperfect patient minds Paul here speaketh saying: Let your patient mind be known unto all men: he will have our patient mind and right Christian meekness to be perfect and entire toward all, whether they be enemies or friends, he will have us suffer and take in good part all things of all men, without all respect either of persons or deserts. And such without doubt will our patient mind be, if it be true and not counterfeit: no otherwise then gold remaineth gold, whether a godly or ungodly man possess it, and the silver, which Judas, who betrayed the Lord, had, was not turned into ashes, but remained that which it was, as truly all the good creatures of God, whosoever have them, do continue toward all things, that which they are: So a patient mind which is sincere coming of the spirit, continueth like it self, whether it light upon enemies or friends, poor men or rich.
Moreouer [all men] is not so to be taken, that thou shouldest vnderstand thereby all men which are in the world, but rather all