A06521:582
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.
But how doth the present text pertain unto us? A great tempest did arise, where that ship went, wherein Christ and his Disciples were. Other ships did pass the sea quietly, nothing tossed of the winds, this ship only must be tossed and covered with waves, because Christ was carried in it. For the world can suffer any kind of preaching beside the preaching of Christ: the cause is, for that he condemneth all things of the world,1 and challengeth ⟨p. 322⟩all righteousness to him self, according to that which he saith: He that is not with me, is against me: and again: The Spirit will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. He saith not: will preach, but, will reprove, and not this or that man, but, the world, and whatsoever is in the world. Against this ship of Christ all this tempest is raised, and it is brought into danger. For the world doth not suffer his own things to be condemned, but Christ can not allow them, & if he should allow them, he had come in vain. For if the world were wise by it self, and did know and follow the truth, what need had there been that Christ & his Disciples should preach? Wherefore it is not a small comfort to Christians,2 especially to Preachers, that they are certain before, that as soon as they shall begin to preach Christ to the world, they must suffer persecution, & that it can not be otherwise. So that it is a sure sign, and therefore to be wished, that it is true Christian preaching, if it be tried with persecution, especially of the holy, learned and wise men of the world. As it is an undoubted sign also, that it is unchristian preaching, if it be praised commonly and honoured of the world, according to that saying Luke 6: Blessed are ye when men hate you, and put out your name as evil, for the Son of mans sake: for so did their fathers to the Prophets. Now mark how our spiritual men do behave them selves, and of what sort their doctrine is: They have got into their subjection the riches, glory, and power of the world, and they that praise them, enjoy the honour and pleasures thereof, their case in all things agreeth with the case of the false Prophets, and yet they dare boast them selves to be Preachers and Teachers of Christ, and worshippers of God.