A06521:547
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.
The third thing which is here set forth unto us to believe, is, that Mary the mother of Jesus is a virgin.1 This Paul affirmeth when he saith, that he was made of a woman, not of a man, as other are wont. This is that one man, which was borne only of a woman. He would not say, of a virgin,2 for that a virgin is not a name of nature, but a woman signifieth a sex and certain condition, whereunto it belongeth to be with child, and to bring forth, that is, to do the parts of a mother. Seeing therefore that Mary was a mother in deed, she is rightly called a woman. For she brought forth fruit unto us, which belongeth to a mother, and not to a virgin, although she brought it forth alone, ⟨p. 300⟩without the means of man, wherein she was declared both a singular virgin and woman. But because it is of greater importance to the Apostle, and unto all us, that Mary is a woman, and thereby the mother of Christ, then that she is a virgin, for that this is only an ornament unto her, but in that she was a woman she brought forth him which is salvation unto all, for this cause I say, the Apostle calleth her rather a woman then a virgin. Neither was it considered in choosing her, that she was a virgin, but that she was a woman: for that she being a virgin became a mother,3 the cause was, for that it behoved that Christ should be borne without sin, and therefore without the commixtion of man. For of the seed of a sinful man, nothing could be borne, but that which is defiled with sin: but it behoved that Christ should be that blessed seed, whose blessing should be poured forth upon all, as the manner of the divine covenant required. Whereupon it is gathered, that Christ could not be borne of the seed of man, for that all men are by nature under the curse. For how should blessing be promised to come unto all by Christ, if all were not subject to the curse?
The third thing which is here set forth vnto vs to beleeue, is, that Marie the mother of Iesus is a virgine.1 This Paule affirmeth when he sayth, that he was made of a woman, not of a man, as other are wont. This is that one man, which was borne onely of a woman. He would not say, of a virgine,