A06521:667
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.
There are many which say, that they commit their belly to God, but that sticketh only in the tongue and lips, when as rather it ought to pierce to the heart.
There are many which say, that they commit their bellie to God, but that sticketh onely in the tounge and lippes, when as rather it ought to perce to the heart.
Let us now consider an example teaching us the quality and nature of faith.1 The Apostle Heb. 11. hath written thus: Faith is the ground of things, which are hoped for, and the evidence of things which are not seen, which is thus much in effect: faith is the foundation, whereby I look for that good thing, which is neither seen with the eyes, nor heard with the ears, but which I must only hope for. Even as in our present text it plainly appeareth, wherein we read that there were about four thousand men, who together with their wives and children had now suffered hunger three days (was not this a notable kind of fasting?) yet were not famished with hunger, being far from their houses, and destitute of those necessaries, whereby the body is sustained. Now Paul saith that faith is a thing whereby a man hopeth for those things which appear not to the eyes. Such a faith had this multitude, which although they see no meat, nevertheless they trust in God, that he will feed them. What doeth Christ here? he is moved with compassion, he demandeth of the disciples with what victuals, or with what thing their hunger may be taken away. To whom his disciples answer: whence can a man satisfy such a multitude here in the wilderness? Here ye see how mans reason and faith agree together, that the wiser reason is, so much less can ⟨p. 375⟩it submit it self to the works of God. For this cause therefore did he ask his disciples, that every one of them might try their own reason, and learn how much the capacity of man and faith do differ one from an other.