A06521:633
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.
So also it behoveth us to give and lend, not only to our friends, but also to our enemies, neither to count this sufficient, but to be ready also even to dye both for friends and foes, thinking nothing else, but that we may serve and profit our neighbours both in body and goods, as long as we shall be in the pilgrimage of this life, seeing that we possess all things being given unto us by Christ.
So also it behoueth vs to giue and lend, not onely to our friendes, but also to our enemies, neither to count this sufficient, but to be ready also euen to dye both for friendes and foes, thinking nothing else, but that we may serue and profit our neighbours both in body and goods, as long as we shall be in the pilgrimage of this life, seeing that we possesse all thinges being giuen vnto vs by Christ.
To be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God. This manner of speech Paul borrowed out of the old Testament, wherein those corporal sacrifices are written eftsoons to have yielded to the Lord a sweet savour, that is, to have been acceptable unto him.1 Notwithstanding that was not because of the work and sacrifice in it self, as the Jews falsely thought, & therefore were very often reproved of the Prophets, but for Christs sake who was to come, the one and only sacrifice of a good savour, whom all those sacrifices of the law did shadow forth, and represent. Wherefore that which Paul here saith, is as much as if he had said: All the sacrifices of the old Testament have an end, they can now be of no price: Christ him self is the only sacrifice, which yieldeth unto God a sweet smelling savour, that is, is pleasing and acceptable unto him, whereby we are assured that we are acceptable unto God, and do please him. Wherefore there is no other sacrifice in the Church which may be offered for us, beside this only sacrifice, which being once offered hath at once satisfied for the sins of all the elect. And although we after the example of this sacrifice, do offer our bodies to God, as Paul teacheth Rom. 12, yet we offer them not either for our selves or for other, forasmuch as that is proper to Christ, the only sacrifice, whereby the salvation of all is obtained. Wherefore those things smell most stinkingly before God, whatsoever men offer with this mind, as though they would satisfy for their own sins, or for the sins of other, whereof we both have and will elsewhere speak more.