A06521:618
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.
Howbeit whereas God feedeth the world with bread, and not with his word alone without bread, he therefore doth it,1 that he may so hide his work, and exercise our faith. So he commanded the Israelites, that they should prepare themselves to battle, and yet he would not have the victory to be gotten by their sword and labour: but he himself would by means of their sword and labour overcome and vanquish the enemies. Here also it might be said, that the soldier doth slay and overcome the enemy, not by his sword alone, but by the word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Whereupon David saith Psal. 44: I will not trust in my bow, it is not my sword that can save me. And again, He is not delighted in any mans legs: 2a man of great might is not delivered by much strength: a horse is but a ⟨p. 344⟩vain thing to save a man, &c. Nevertheless God useth men, swords, horses, and bows, howbeit not by the power and strength of them, but by them as by certain means or instruments, he himself fighteth & overcometh. This he hath sufficiently declared oftentimes, when he hath overthrown the enemies, and delivered his people, which surely he daily doth, when the case so requireth. After the same sort God useth bread also, by it, forasmuch as it is made for that use, he feedeth us, howbeit when it is wanting, he nevertheless feedeth them that be his, even by his word, without bread, as he doth at other times by bread, so that bread doth as it were work under God, as the Apostles and preachers of the word in spiritual and evangelical meat serve under him, as it is mentioned 1. Cor. 3. For as God useth their ministry to teach men,3 he himself by his spirit speaking in their hearts through it, and doing all things alone, which he both is able to do, and often times wont to do without the ministry of the preachers of his word, although he will not in the mean season have the ministry of his to be despised, and so himself tempted: so to the nourishing of our outward man, he outwardly useth bread, although he doth make by his word inwardly, that we be nourished and strengthened, which he can as well do, and is wont to do when bread is away, that all our nourishment may be attributed to the word, and not to bread, which he useth as an instrument, but yet of no necessity.