A06521:562
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.
God hath sent forth that spirit of his Son, that is of Christ. For he is the spirit of God, & cometh from God to us, and is not ours; unless one will say after this sort: my holy spirit, as we say my God, my Lord. Wherefore whereas he is here said to be holy spirit of Christ, it proveth him to be God, as of whom that spirit is sent, & is peculiarly counted his spirit.
God hath sent forth yt spirit of his Sonne, that is of Christ. For he is the spirit of God, & cometh from God to vs, and is not ours; vnles one will say after this sort: my holy spirit, as we say my God, my Lord. Wherefore whereas he is here said to be holy spirit of Christ, it proueth him to be God, as of whom that spirit is sent, & is peculiarly counted his spirit.
Furthermore, Christians may perceive by this place, whether they have in themselves the holy Ghost,1 to wit, this spirit of the son, whether they hear his voice in themselves. For Paul saith, that he crieth in the heares which he possesseth, Abba, Father a according as he saith also Rom. 8: We have received ⟨p. 311⟩the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. Now thou hearest this voice, when thou findest so much faith in thy self, that thou doest assuredly without any doubting presume, not only that thy since be forgiven thee, but also that thou art the beloved son of God, which being certain of eternal salvation, darest both call him father, and be delighted in him with a joyful and most confident heart. Thou must be so certain hereof, that thou canst not be more certain of thy life, & must sooner suffer death, and hellish torments, then suffer this trust and confidence to be taken from thee. For to doubt any thing herein were no small reproach and contumely to the death of Christ, as though that had not obtained all things for us, and ought not far more effectually to provoke and encourage us to have a good trust in God, then all our since and tentations are able to put us out of hope and fray us from it. It may be in deed that thou shalt be so tempted, that thou shalt fear and doubt of thine adoption, and think plainly that God is not a favourable father, but a wrathful revē ger of sinners, as it fell out with Job and many other saints, but in such a conflict this trust & confidence that thou art a son ought to prevail and overcome, or else thou shalt come into a miserable and desperate case.