A06521:513
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 when thou knowest that it is of grace alone, & that they faith also is the gift of God, thou shalt for good cause live in fear & care, lest that any tentation do violently move thee from this faith. Hereunto pertaineth that which is written in the 9. chap. of Ecclesiastes: The righteous & wise, yea and their servants also are in the hand of God, & there is no man that knoweth either love or hate, but all things are before them. It happeneth unto one as unto an other, &c. For the present time every ⟨p. 281⟩one by faith is certain of his salvation, but constantly to stand and persevere, as it is the gift of the Lord, and not in our own strength, so ought we always to have a care and fear thereof.
But whē thou knowest that it is of grace alone, & that they faith also is the gift of God, thou shalt for good cause liue in feare & care, lest that any tētatiō do violētly moue thee frō this faith. Hereunto pertaineth that which is written in the 9. chap. of Ecclesiastes: The righteous & wise, yea and their seruaunts also are in the hād of God, & there is no man that knoweth either loue or hate, but all things are before thē. It happeneth vnto one as vnto an other, &c. For ye present time euery ⟨p. 281⟩one by faith is certaine of his saluation, but constantly to stand and perseuer, as it is the gift of the Lord, and not in our owne strength, so ought we alwayes to haue a care and feare thereof.
When they of Cains brood hear faith to be entreated of after this sort, they can not sufficiently marvel at our madness, as it seems unto them. God turn this away from me, say they, that I should affirm my self holy and godly, far be this arrogance and rashness from me. I am many ways a miserable sinner, I should be mad, if I should arrogate holiness unto my self. And thus they mock at true faith, and count such doctrine as this for execrable error, and go about with might and main to extinguish the Gospel. These are they that deny the faith of Christ,