A06521:635
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 fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you. 1By the name of uncleanness beside fornication he understandeth all lust & lecherous filthiness, which is committed out of matrimony, which for the filthiness of them he doth not vouchsafe to rehearse by name, as Rom. 1. he speaketh very grossly of them. Although in matrimony also a mean may be exceeded, & it is the duty of Christians so to moderate the use of marriage, that they require & perform due love & benevolence only for avoiding fornication, but we are fallen so far, that they are most rare, which come together only for procreation of children and to avoid fornication, which surely were best, and should very well become us. Now the Apostle saith, let it not be once named among you, that is, be so far from these evils, that they may not so much as be spoken of of you.2 Albeit it will never come to pass in this exile, that none among Christians be weak, & do not oftentimes fall, yet true Christians will never wink at those things: they will reprove, amend, put away, cover, & cure whatsoever such thing shall burst forth amongst them, that the heathen may not be offended and say: See what vices the Christians suffer among them selves, how unclean and lewd a life do they lead? thinking that all their whole life is defiled with like vices as is their own. We must needs confess that among Christians some do eftsoons fall, which we must needs bear, it is well if only the better part liveth well, & winketh not at their sins, neither teacheth them, but rather reproveth and amendeth them. So Paul exhorteth Gal. 6. that they which are spiritual will restore them that offend, with the spirit of meekness. And he sharply reproveth the Corinthians, for that they did lightly pass over many sins of certain persons. For sin being reprehended & punished, is now counted as no sin, neither can the Church be blamed because of it.
But fornication, and all vncleannes, or couetousnes, let it not be once named among you. 1By ye name of vncleannes beside fornication he vnderstandeth all lust & lecherous filthines, which is committed out of matrimonie, which for the filthines of them he doth not vouchsafe to rehearse by name, as