A06521:55
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.
An exposition of the song of the Angels, Glory be to God on high, &c.
An exposition of the song of the Angells, Glory be to God on high, &c.
Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. Forasmuch as this song is very common, and there be few that rightly understand it, when as notwithstanding it ⟨p. 15⟩containeth many things in it, I think good to handle it somewhat at large. The Angels in this hymn apply three things to three: glory to God, peace to the earth, and good will unto men. The first is the honour or glory of God,1 with which we must begin, that in all things praise and glory may be ascribed to God, as to him which doeth, giveth, and hath all things, so that none may challenge any good thing at all unto him self, neither ought to count it his own. Glory is so due to God only, that no part thereof may be derived to any other. Adam being persuaded of Satan, went about to take this glory to him self, whereby all men fell into the displeasure of God, & have that vice so throughly fixed in their mind, that no other thing can be so hardly plucked away from them. Every man pleaseth him self, no man can abide to seem that he is nothing, or is able to do nothing, whereof come almost all evils, so many contentions, wars, and innumerable other discommodities. This glory Christ gave to God his father, teaching that all our things are nothing before God but sins, which deserve his wrath and indignation, and nothing less then glory. Wherefore there is no cause, that we should even never so little please our selves or glory in them, but rather that we should be ashamed and fear, being set in so great peril and confusion, that so all our glory and pleasing of our selves may pass away and come to nothing, and we may rejoice being destitute of our own glory, that we may be found & saved in Christ alone.
Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. Forasmuch as this song is very common, and there be fewe that rightly vnderstande it, when as notwithstanding it