A06521:620
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.
1Then the Devil took him up into the holy City, &c. This tentation is quite contrary to the former. He assaileth us with such tentation also whereby he goeth about to move us to tempt ⟨p. 345⟩God, even as he willeth Christ to cast him self down from a pinnacle of the temple, and so tempt God, when there were ladders, by which he might descend. And that this tentation provoketh to tempt God, it is manifest even by the answer of Christ, who answereth Satan in this manner: It is written: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Hereby he signifieth that the devil would provoke him to tempt God. Now this tentation doth not amiss follow the former. For when the devil perceiveth the hart, that in poverty and necessity it trusteth in God, he by and by maketh an end of tempting by care of the belly and desire of things, as being weaker then that by it he may overthrow one so strong in faith. He thinketh therefore with him self: If he profess him self to be of so religious and assured a mind, I will on this side also give occasion to sin. And so he setteth upon him on the right side, affirming that that is to be believed, which the Lord hath neither spoken, nor commanded to be believed. As is this: If he should bring thee to such madness, that when thou hast bread at home given thee of God, as he of his goodness giveth unto us every day, thou wouldest not use it, but wouldest procure to thy self necessity and hunger, saying: I must trust in God, I will not feed on this earthly bread, I will tarry till God give me other from heaven. This were to tempt God. For he doth not command thee to believe, that that thing shall come unto thee whereof thou hast need, if it be already come of his liberality. For why shouldest thou believe that he will give that, which thou hast already of his gift? Thou seest therefore that the devil doth here object a certain necessity and need unto Christ, where there is none. For there was a sufficient mean to descend from the pinnacle of the temple, neither was it reason to attempt this new unaccustomed and unnecessary mean whereunto Satan persuaded.
1Then the Deuell tooke him vp into the holie Citie, &c. This tentation is quite contrarie to the former. He assaileth vs with such tentation also whereby he goeth about to moue vs to tempt ⟨p. 345⟩