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

Now this peace passeth all understanding, reason, and knowledge of man: which is not so to be understood, as though man can not at all perceive or know it, for if we have peace with God, truly it must be felt in our heart and conscience, otherwise our hearts and minds could not be preserved by it, but it is thus to be understood▪ When tribulation cometh upon them, which know not to fly unto God with prayer and supplication, but trust to their own wisdom and care, whereby they seek peace, but that which reason is able to know, which is that, whereby tribulation taketh an end, and is changed with outward tranquillity: this peace doth not pass reason, but is agreeable unto it, inasmuch as it is sought and found out of it. Wherefore they that are void of faith are exceedingly disquieted, and troubled until according to the reason of the flesh they obtain this peace by hardly delivering or ridding themselves of adversity, not regarding whether they bring that to pass by force or by craft, as he that hath received a wound seeketh to have it healed,¹ &c. But they that rejoice sincerely in the Lord, it is sufficient for them, that they know that they have God favourable unto them, and have assured peace with him, they abide willingly in tribulation, being nothing careful for that peace of reason by the removing of outward troubles, but they endure them valiantly, looking to be strengthened inwardly by faith, taking no care whether the adversities which they suffer, shall remain a ⟨p. 273⟩short or a long time, whether they shall be temporal or continuing, neither are disquieted with caring what end they shall have. They commit all things to God, seeking not to know, when, how, where, or by whom he will give them quietness. Wherefore God again showeth them this favour, that he maketh the end of their trial to be such, and with so great commodity, as no man could either suspect or wish for. Lo, this is that peace of the cross, the peace of God, the peace of conscience, true Christian peace, which maketh that a man outwardly also, as much as is in him, liveth quietly and peaceably with all men, & troubleth no man. This peace reason is not able by any means to know or comprehend, that a man under the cross may have quietness of mind and joy of heart, and peace even in the very invasion of his enemies:

Now this peace passeth all vnderstanding, reason, and knowledge of man: which is not so to be vnderstood, as though man can not at all perceiue or know it, for if we haue peace with God, truly it must be felt in our heart and conscience, otherwise our heartes and myndes could not be preserued by it, but it is thus to be vnderstood When tribulation commeth vpon them, which know not to flie vnto God with prayer and supplication, but trust to their owne wisedome and care, whereby they seeke peace, but that which reason is able to know, which is that, whereby tribulation taketh an end, and is chaunged with outward tranquillicie: this peace doth not passe reason, but is agreable vnto it, inasmuch as it is sought and found out of it. Wherefore they that are voyd of fayth are exceedingly disquieted, and troubled vntill according to the reason of the flesh they obtaine this peace by heardly deliuering or ridding themselues of aduersitie, not regarding whether they bring that to passe by force or by crafte, as he that hath receiued a wound seeketh to haue it healed,