A06521:549
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 fourth thing whereof the present place of the Apostle doth admonish us, is, that Christ hath satisfied the Law for us. Which he also witnesseth of himself Matth. 5: I am not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfil it. 1This also the reason of the covenant requireth: for if by this seed of Abraham all men must be delivered from the curse, it is necessary that by it the Law be fulfilled. For as men are by nature the children of wrath, and subject to the curse, so it must needs be accursed, whatsoever they do, for it is before proved at large, that he which is evil himself, can work nothing that is good: likewise that we can do nothing that God will approve, unless we our selves be approved of him before: and seeing that the Law requireth the heart, which can not be performed of them, which are not as yet regenerate by the spirit, it must needs be, that all the sons of Adam are guilty of transgressing the Law, and unless, whereas they themselves are not able, an other, to wit Christ, should perform that which the Law requireth, and so satisfy the Law for them, they should altogether perish by the curse of the Law. But when as Christ, going about to show, that the heart is required of the Law, did condemn the works which proceeded not from a heart that is godly and consenting unto the Law, he was accused of the Pharisees that he was come to destroy the Law. Because therefore he would take away this false opinion of himself, he said: Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, for I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil the Law: yea and I will give a spirit unto them that be mine, which shall justify their heart by faith, and incline it unto true good works. The same is usual with Paul also, who, Rom. 3, when he had rejected the works of the Law, and extolled faith, answering such an objection, saith: Do we then make the Law of none effect? God forbid: yea we establish the Law. For we teach that the true fulfilling of the Law is by Christ. The like also is wont to be objected to us, as though we did forbid good works, when we disallow monasteries with their works, & teach that they must first by faith become good and approved of God, whereby they ⟨p. 302⟩may afterward do true good works, by which both their flesh may be chastised, and their neighbours edified.