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

Forasmuch then as the covenant of God promised to Abraham, did require these two things, both that Christ should be the true son of Abraham, that is, his seed, his true flesh and blood, & that also he should be borne pure from sin: this mean was invented, that he should of Mary being very woman and the daughter of Abraham, be borne very man, and the right offspring of Abraham: and also that he should be borne without the commixtion of man, a virgin being conceived with child by the only means of the holy Ghost, that being full of blessing, he might derive the same unto all believers. So was the covenant of God fulfilled on either side: and it came to pass, that Christ became both the true seed of Abraham, and yet free from all contagion of Adam, and is also the author of eternal blessing to them that believe. Wherefore although Mary be holily to be reverenced by the name of virgin, yet by no comparison greater reverence is due unto her then by the name of woman, for that her most holy members, inasmuch as she was a woman, were advanced unto this dignity, that they were as means toward the fulfilling of the holy covenant of God, and by them he was brought forth, which was to put away all curse from them that believe ⟨p. 301⟩in him, that so he might be both the blessed seed of Abraham, and the blessed fruit of the womb of Mary. Unto which benefit the only virginity had not bin sufficient, yea it had bin even unprofitable.

Forasmuch then as the couenant of God promised to Abraham, did require these two thinges, both that Christ should be the true sonne of Abraham, that is, his seede, his true flesh and blood, & that also he should be borne pure from synne: this meane was inuented, that he should of Marie being verie woman and the daughter of Abraham, be borne verie man, and the right ofspring of Abraham: and also that he should be borne without the commixtion of man, a virgine being conceiued with child by the onely meanes of the holy Ghost, that being full of blessing, he might deriue the same vnto all beleeuers. So was the couenant of God fulfilled on either side: and it came to passe, that Christ became both the true seede of Abraham, and yet free from all contagion of Adam, and is also the author of eternall blessing to thē that beleeue. Wherefore although Marie be holily to be reuerenced by the name of virgine, yet by no comparison greater reuerence is due vnto her then by the name of woman, for that her most holy members, inasmuch as she was a woman, were aduaū ced vnto this dignitie, that they were as meanes toward the fulfilling of the holy couenant of God, and by them he was brought forth, which was to put awaye all curse from them that beleeue