A06521:551
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.
1But they that are not under the Law, that is, are not so against their wills in subjection under the dominion thereof, they of their own accord do good works, and abstain from evil, being neither terrified with the threatenings of the Law, nor allured with the promises thereof, but even for that they do of their voluntary will bear a love to honesty, and hate that which is dishonest, and are also from their heart delighted with the Law of God, so that if there were no Law made, notwithstanding they would desire to live no otherwise then the Law commandeth: as, to shun those things that be evil, and apply themselves to honest studies and exercises. They that are such, are ⟨p. 303⟩sons, whom not nature, but that only blessed seed of Abraham, that is, Christ, could make such, renewing by his grace and spirit the hearts of them that believe in him.2 Wherefore not to be under the Law, is not, to be free from the Law, that they may do those things that are contrary thereunto, and omit those things that are good, but it is to do good things and abstain from wicked things, not through compulsion or necessity of the Law, but by free love and with pleasure, even as if no Law commanded them, and their own nature brought them hereunto, as in deed it doth, howbeit the new nature of the spirit,3 not that old nature of the flesh. For as there is need of no Law for the body, which may compel it to eat, to drink, to digest,4 to sleep; to go, to stand, to sit, and to do the other works of nature, for that it is ready to do them of it own nature, when the case so requireth, and when it is meet, without all respect either of reward or punishment: and may not unfitly be said, as concerning these things, not to be under a law, notwithstanding thereupon nothing less followeth, then that it doth therefore abstain from such works, unto which in deed it so much more applieth if self as they are less commanded, and are more natural unto it: After the same sort altogether doth the godly man behave himself concerning the works of godliness, he is carried to the doing of them by that his new nature of the spirit, albeit there were no law at all, and all both hope of reward, and fear of punishment were away. This only is the true liberty of a Christian man, and the deliverance of him from the law, whereof Paul speaketh