A06521:721
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.
1Wherefore it is most certain, that when a Christian hath begun to believe, by and by tentation and persecution will assail him. Which if it come not to pass, it is a sign that his faith is not yet sound, and that he hath not as yet truly received the Gospel. For wicked Satan hath a very sharp sight, he by and by spieth out where is a true Christian, wherefore he applieth himself wholly unto this, that he may enforce him to fall, and may besiege him, and assail him on every side: for he can not suffer that any should revolt from his kingdom. It is perilous therefore for a man to believe, for the Devil is ready that he may set upon him, and overthrow him, which sometime chanceth even to very holy men, which understand the word of God well,2 when they stand upright, and think themselves safe, that privy wicked fend cometh upon them by little and little, and wrestleth with them so long, till he overthrow them, and cast them to the earth. Set before thine eyes Moses and Aaron, who were guides of the Jews, they had an excellent faith, when they brought the people out of Egypt, and all the people in faith passed through the read sea, death, the wide wilderness, and many other marvellous things, whereby they showed their faith, but at the last they fall grievously, they fear that ⟨p. 409⟩they shall perish with hunger. Is it not a thing most miserable, that by so great signs they show their faith, they go into death and through death, wrestle with it, and overcome it, and yet while they think them selves surest, they fall, and suffer themselves to be overcome of the belly, murmur against God, and are so grievously tempted, that they fall all together. Wherefore it is not certain and sure, if one begin to believe, and doth not always more and more increase in faith. Yea that godly man Moses, who had so great and so strong a faith, did fall also, when as he should bring water out of the rock with a staff, he doubted, and talked thus to the people: Come let us see whether we can bring water out of the rock. That good Moses, which had showed so many and so great signs, falleth into reason and carnal understanding, fearing lest the incredulity of the people would hinder so great a miracle & sign. But it had behoved him to cleave fast to the word of God, and to think it higher, greater, stronger, and mightier, then the unbelief of the people: