A06521:69
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.
Here therefore let us learn, how the wise men did nothing abhor the poor & on every side miserable appearance of this infant and his parents, that we also may be so affected toward the miserable and pitiful estate of our neighbours, & may be persuaded that we do find Christ in them, & that whatsoever is bestowed upon them, Christ doth acknowledge it as bestowed upon him self.1 His kingdom consisteth in the poor, despised & abjects, yea in the holy cross, in contempt, in persecution, in affliction & misery, as Paul saith out of the Psalm: for thy sake we are killed all the day long, and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain. In an other place also he saith: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things. Wherefore Christ said to his disciples, when he sent them forth to preach in Judea: Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of the wolves. 2They now that seek Christ any other where then in such a contemptible form, in the cross, & in persecution, do not find him. The wise men did find the king Christ being newly borne, not in Herod's court, not among the Princes & priests, not at Jerusalem, in so noble and famous a city, but at Bethlehem in a stable, with poor and despised creatures, namely Joseph and Mary. In a sum, Christ will there be found, where a man would least seek for him.
Here therefore let vs learne, how the wise men did nothing abhorre the poore & on euery side miserable appearance of this infant and his parents, that we also may be so affected toward the miserable and pitifull estate of our neighbours, & may be perswaded that we doe find Christ in them, & that whatsoeuer is bestowed vpon them, Christ doth acknowledge it as bestowed vpon him selfe.1 His kingdom consisteth in the poore, despised & abiects, yea in the holy crosse, in contempt, in persecution, in affliction & miserie, as Paule sayth out of the Psalme: for thy sake we are killed all the day long, and are counted as sheepe appointed to be slaine. In an other place also he sayth: we are made as the filth of the world, the ofskowring of all thinges. Wherefore Christ sayd to his disciples, when he sent them forth to preach in Iudea: Behold I send you forth as sheepe in the middes of the vvolues. 2