A06521:64
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.
The wise men of Arabia, which were industrious men, and without all doubt governors of that country (as it was at that time the manner in those parts) when they had seen the star in the East, breaking of all delay, made haste to Jerusalem, diligently seeking for the king of the Jews being new borne. Where we ought to mark, that they could neither •eeke nor ⟨p. 21⟩find out this king, the Lord Christ, but by the star going before them, which at the last led them so far, that by the word of God they were certified, where this king was to be found.1 So also is it with us: we can not find Christ without the Gospel, without the word of God. That must show him unto us, & bring us thither, where we may find him: which then only is done, when we receive the same Gospel by faith, otherwise, although we have it, hear it, and know it, it profiteth us nothing at all, we shall not therefore find him, no more surely then the Scribes found him, who notwithstanding had the Scriptures readily, and showed the way to other, not coming into it them selves, for the thing did not touch their harts. They did drowsily neglect that king, whom with great sighs they had looked for many ages. Wherefore it is not enough that we have the Gospel, or that we hear it, but we must believe it, and lay it up in the secrets of our hart, otherwise we shall never find Christ. Here also you see, that it doth not skill, whether one be learned or unlearned, instructed in many places of Scripture, or in few, unto whom God giveth the grace, he enjoyeth Christ. He respecteth not the person, but whom he draweth he is drawn, although in the mean season he provideth that the Gospel be always preached.
The wise men of Arabia, which were industrious men, and without all dout gouernours of that countrie (as it was at that time the maner in those partes) when they had seene the starre in the East, breaking of all delaye, made haste to Ierusalem, diligently seeking for the kinge of the Iewes being newe borne. Where we ought to marke, that they could neither •eeke nor ⟨p. 21⟩finde out this king, the Lorde Christ, but by the starre going before them, which at the last ledde them so farre, that by the word of God they were certified, where this king was to be found.