A06521:65
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.
After therefore that these wise men had found the child Christ, the king of the Jews at Bethlehem, together with Joseph and Mary, by the showing of the Scripture & guiding of the star,1 they were nothing offended at the poor estate of the child, but being taught by the word, acknowledged that Child for the Messiah and king of the Jews, whom the Jews had looked for so many years, & opened their treasures before him, offering unto him gold, frankincense and myrrh. Wherein again we ought to mark the nature of faith, that it is offended at nothing, but cleaveth to the word only, and nothing esteemeth those things that shine outwardly. These wise men do not therefore disdain neither turn back, because the child together with his parents were without all pomp in poverty and misery, and nothing less then a kingly child appeareth unto them, but they go on, and undoubtedly acknowledge him for a king, as they had learned concerning him out of the Scriptures. Moreover they give unto him the honour meet for a king, they offer most precious gifts, which they had brought, being even of the best sort, out of their ⟨p. 22⟩own country. Now the world would have done no such thing, but according to the manner thereof, would have looked for garments of purple, and resort of servants, and handmaidens. In such places it is wont to bestow his gifts, to wit, where there is great plenty and abundance of things before: yea it is of that quality,2 that it depriveth the poor and afflicted of those things that they have, it taketh bread out of the mouth of the hungry & needy, which have nothing, but as they get it hardly, by labouring sore all that they are able.
After therfore that these wise men had found the child Christ, the king of the Iewes at Bethlehem, together with Ioseph and Marie, by the shewing of the Scripture & guiding of the starre,1 they were nothing offended at the poore estate of the childe, but being taught by the word, acknowledged that Child for the Messias and king of the Iewes, whom the Iewes had looked for so many yeares, & opened their treasures before him, offering vnto him golde, frankincense and myrrhe. Wherein againe we ought to marke the nature of faith, that it is offended at nothing, but cleaueth to the word onely, and nothing esteemeth those thinges that shine outwardly. These wise men doe not therefore disdayne neither turne backe, because the child together with his parents were without all pompe in pouertie and miserie, and nothing lesse then a kingly child appeareth vnto them, but they goe on, and vndoutedly acknowledge him for a king, as they had learned concerning him out of the Scriptures. Moreouer they giue vnto him the honour meete for a king, they offer most precious gifts, which they had brought, being euen of the best sort, out of their