A06521:698
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.
When the Lord spake these things, a certain Lawyer start up, showing himself as though he had bin some thing, who tempting the Lord saith: Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? This lawyer was endued with wisdom, and not unskilful of the Scriptures, which even his answer doth declare, yet in this place he is proved a fool, yea he is brought unto shame and ignominy. For Christ taketh away all his glorying even in one word. He was of this mind, that he had observed the whole ⟨p. 394⟩Law, and that he was a certain chief one in respect of other, as undoubtedly he was, and thought himself sufficient worthy by reason of his godliness and learning to be conversant with the Lord. But what doth the Lord in this case? the text following declareth.
When the Lord spake these thinges, a certaine Lawyer start vp, shewing himselfe as though he had bin some thing, who tempting the Lord sayth: Maister, what shall I do to inherit eternall life? This lawer was endued with wisedome, and not vnskilfull of the Scriptures, which euen his aunswere doth declare, yet in this place he is proued a foole, yea he is brought vnto shame and ignominie. For Christ taketh awaye all his glorying euen in one worde. He was of this mynde, that he had obserued the whole ⟨p. 394⟩Lawe, and that he was a certaine chiefe one in respect of other, as vndoutedly he was, and thought himselfe sufficient worthy by reason of his godlines and learning to be conuersaunt with the Lord. But what doth the Lord in this case? the text folowing declareth.
And he said unto him, what is written in the Law? how readest thou? And he answered and said: Thou shalt love thy Lord God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbour as thy self. Then he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: do this, & thou shalt live. Me thinks that the Lord gave this good man a hard lesson: he dealeth very straitly with him, it may seem to some that he should have spared him a little, he putteth him to shame openly before all: he proveth that he had done nothing, who notwithstanding thought that he had done all things. He asked what he should do: but I think he had enough and overmuch to do, if he had bin able to do more then he was. If I had time, many things might be spoken of these two commandments. For they are the chief and greatest commandments in Moses, on which the whole Law, and all the Prophets do hang, as Christ himself saith in Matthew: