A06521:581
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.
In this deed Christ hath set forth the life of Christians, and the state of such as preach and teach the word of God. The ship signifieth the Church, the sea the world, the wind the devil, the Disciples of Christ are the Preachers and godly Christians: Christ the truth, the Gospel and faith. Now, before that Christ and his Disciples enter into the ship, the sea is calm, & the wind quiet, but when Christ with his Disciples are entered in, by and by ariseth a tempest. This is that which he said:1 I came not to send peace but the sword. For if Christ would suffer the world to live after his own manner, and would not reprove the works thereof, it would be quiet enough. But now seeing that he preacheth that they which are counted wise men, are fools: they that are counted righteous, are sinners: they that are counted rich, are not blessed, but miserable, it rageth & is in great fury. So thou mayest at this day find wise men of this world, which in deed would suffer the Gospel to be preached, if the words of the Scripture should be simply declared, and in the mean season the state of Ecclesiastical persons not reproved: but as soon as thou shalt begin to condemn by the Scriptures all those things which have been hitherto brought in under a false name of religion, and to teach that they are to be rejected as being of no importance, thou preachest seditiously, and troublest the world with unchristian doctrine.
In this deede Christ hath set forth the life of Christians, and the state of such as preach and teache the worde of God. The ship signifieth the Church, the sea the world, the winde the deuill, the Disciples of Christ are the Preachers and godly Christians: Christ the truth, the Gospell and faith. Now, before that Christ and his Disciples enter into the ship, the sea is calme, & the wind quiet, but when Christ with his Disciples are entred in, by and by ariseth a tempest. This is that which he sayd:1 I came not to send peace but the sword. For if Christ would suffer the world to liue after his owne maner, and would not reproue the workes thereof, it would be quiet enough. But now seeing that he preacheth that they which are counted wise men, are fooles: they that are counted righteous, are sinners: they that are counted rich, are not blessed, but miserable, it rageth & is in great furie. So thou maist at this daye finde wise men of this worlde, which in deede would suffer the Gospell to be preached, if the wordes of the Scripture shoulde be simply declared, and in the meane season the state of Ecclesiasticall persons not reproued: but as soone as thou shalt begin to condemne by the Scriptures all those thinges which haue bene hitherto brought in vnder a false name of religion, and to teach that they are to be reiected as being of no importance, thou preachest seditiously, and troublest the world with vnchristian doctrine.