A06521:509
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.
But here perhaps thou wilt say: what is needful to be done? by what means shall I first of all become righteous, and acceptable to God? How shall I attain to this perfect justification? The Gospel answereth, preaching that it is necessary that thou hear Christ, and repose thy self wholly in him, denying thy self, & distrusting all thine own strength. By this means thou shalt be changed from Cain to Abel, & being thy self acceptable, shalt offer acceptable gifts to the Lord. This faith, as ⟨p. 278⟩it is preached unto thee for no merit of thine own, so is it given unto thee for no deserving of thine, but of mere grace. And this faith justifieth thee, thou being endued herewith the Lord remitteth all thy since, and that by the contemplation of Christ his son, in whom this faith believeth and trusteth. Moreover he giveth unto such a faith his spirit, which doth throughly change a man and make him new, so that now he hath other reason, and an other will, then before, namely that which is ready unto good. Such a one worketh nothing but good works, neither can it be but good, which he being good before, shall do, whereof I have spoken somewhat before. Wherefore nothing else is required unto justification,1 then to hear Jesus Christ our Saviour, and to believe in him, howbeit neither of these is the work of nature, but both of only grace. He therefore that goeth about to attain hereunto by works, shutteth the way to the Gospel, to faith, grace, Christ, God, and all things that help unto salvation. Again, unto good works there is need only of justification, which he that hath attained, doth work only good works, and beside such a one none. Hereof it sufficiently appeareth, that the beginning, the things following, and the order of mans salvation are after this sort. First of all is required, that thou hear the word of God, next that thou believe, then that thou do work, & so at the last become saved and happy. He which changeth this order, without doubt is not of God. Paul also describeth this order Rom. 10, saying: Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved. But how shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent?