A06521:622
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 this tentation doth not easily happen in these outward things, as are bread, apparel, houses, &c. Thou mayst find in deed some rash heads, which for no cause do put their life, goods, good name in great danger, as they do which go on warfare of their own accord, which leap rashly into most deep waters, or go voluntarily into other no small dangers. Of whom Jesus the son of Sirach saith:1 He that loveth peril, shall perish in it. Whereof the Germans have a proverb: Self do, self have: what every one followeth, that he cometh unto. So is it almost usual, that none are oftener drowned then they that are most exercised in swimming, and none fall more perilously, then they which use to attempt hie matters.2 But he shall be hardly found, which having a false and overmuch confidence in God, attempteth any such thing, or useth not the things present, as bread, apparel, house, and such like, looking with peril, while God provide otherwise for him by miracle. We read of a certain Hermit, who because he had vowed to take bread of no men, brought him self into peril by hunger, and so perished, and undoubtedly went strait unto hell, because of that false faith and tempting of God, which ⟨p. 347⟩he learned no other where but of yt devil, so that his madness was altogether like that, whereunto Satan here persuadeth Christ, to wit, that he should cast him self down from a pinnacle of the temple. Howbeit thou shalt find very few which do follow this Hermit, and do differ to enjoy corporal things present for that they hope that God will give them other from heaven.
But this tentation doth not easily happen in these outward thinges, as are bread, apparell, houses, &c. Thou mayst finde in deed some rash heads, which for no cause do put their life, goods, good name in great daunger, as they doe which goe on warfare of their owne accord, which leape rashly into most deepe waters, or goe voluntarily into other no small daungers. Of whom Iesus the sonne of Syrach sayth:1 He that loueth perill, shall perish in it. Whereof the Germanes haue a prouerbe: Selfe do, self haue: what euery one followeth, that he commeth vnto. So is it almost vsuall, that none are oftner drowned then they that are most exercised in swimming, and none fal more perilously, then they which vse to attempt hie matters.