A06521:702
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.
Like unto this Lawyer are all they which do most grievously offend against the first commandment, and think that God is to be loved no more then the words sound for, and that thereby it is fulfilled: the commandment therefore remaineth in their mouth, and doth as it were float above the heart, and pierceth it not:1 but I must go much farther then so, I must love God so, that I can be content to forsake all creatures for his sake, and if it shall seem good unto him, my body and life, I must love him above all things, for he is jealous, and can not suffer that any thing be loved above him, but under him he permitteth us to love any thing. Even as the husband can suffer, that his wife love her maids, the house, household things, cattle, and such like, howbeit he suffereth her not to love any with that love wherewith she is bound unto him, but himself, yea he will have her leave all such things for his sake. Again the wife requireth the same of her husband. After the same sort God can suffer that we love his creatures, yea therefore they are created, & are good. The sun is a goodly creature, gold and silver, and whatsoever by nature is fair, procureth us to love it, which maketh it dear unto us, neither is God offended thereat. But that I should cleave unto the creature, and love it equally with him, that neither will he, neither can he suffer: yea he will have me both to deny and forsake all these things, when he requireth it of me, and will have me content, although I never see the sun, money, riches, &c: The love of creatures must be far inferior to the love which we must bear toward him. As he is the sovereign good, so ⟨p. 397⟩will he also be chiefly loved before all other good things, If he will not suffer that I shall love any thing equally with him, much less will he suffer that I shall love any thing above him.
Like vnto this Lawyer are all they which do most grieuously offend against the first commaundement, and thinke that God is to be loued no more then the wordes sound for, and that thereby it is fulfilled: the commaundement therefore remaineth in their mouth, and doth as it were flote aboue the heart, and pearseth it not:1 but I must go much farther then so, I must loue God so, that I can be content to forsake all creatures for his sake, and if it shall seeme good vnto him, my body and life, I must loue him aboue all things, for he is ielous, and can not suffer that any thing be loued aboue him, but vnder him he permitteth vs to loue any thinge. Euen as the husband can suffer, that his wife loue her maydes, the house, houshold thinges, cattel, and such like, howbeit he suffereth her not to loue any with that loue wherewith she is bound vnto him, but himselfe, yea he will haue her leaue all such thinges for his sake. Againe the wife requireth the same of her husband. After the same sort God can suffer that we loue his creatures, yea therefore they are created, & are good. The sunne is a goodly creature, gold and siluer, and whatsoeuer by nature is faire, procureth vs to loue it, which maketh it deare vnto vs, neither is God offended thereat. But that I should cleaue vnto the creature, and loue it equally with him, that neither will he, neither can he suffer: yea he will haue me both to deny and forsake all these thinges, when he requireth it of me, and will haue me content, although I neuer see the sunne, money, riches, &c: The loue of creatures must be farre inferiour to the loue which we must beare toward him. As he is the soueraigne good, so