A06521:564
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.
When one of Cains brood heareth these things, he is as it were beside himself by reason of admiration and astonishment. Fie, saith he, away with this arrogance, and this most pernicious error. God turn this mind from me, that I do not presume to think that I am the son of God: I am a sinner, most miserable and wretched, and I will never esteem more of my self. But thou which desirest to belong unto Christ, fly this kind of men, no otherwise then most hurtful enemies of Christian faith, and of thy salvation.1 We also know that we are sinners, and very miserable and wretched: but here we must not weigh or consider, what we either do, or are, but what Christ is, and what he hath done for our sake. It is not spoken here of our nature, but of the grace of God, which so far exceedeth our since, as heaven is higher then the earth, and the east is distant from the west, as the 103. Psalm saith: Now if it seem unto thee a great honour that thou art the son of God, as in deed it is very great, consider that it is no less marvellous, that the son of God for this cause did come, was borne of a woman, and made ⟨p. 312⟩under the Law, that thou mightest become the son of God. These are great benefits of God, & do cause in the elect a great trust and confidence in the goodness of God, and a spirit which is afraid of nothing, but is bold and able to do all things. Contrariwise the religion of those of Cains brood, as it is a thing marvellous strait and careful, so doth it make hearts exceeding fearful, which serve to no use, but are unapt to all things, fit neither to suffer or do any thing, which tremble and are afraid even at the shaking of the lease of a tree, as it was before spoken of them Levit. 26.
When one of Cains broode heareth these thinges, he is as it were beside himselfe by reason of admiration and astonishment. Fye, sayth he, awaye with this arrogancie, and this most pernitious errour. God turne this mynde from me, that I do not presume to thinke that I am the sonne of God: I am a synner, most miserable and wretched, and I will neuer esteeme more of my selfe. But thou which desirest to belong vnto Christ, flie this kynde of men, no otherwise then most hurtfull enemies of Christian faith, and of thy saluation.1