Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

So is it at this day in our time: at the first when the Gospel began to shine, the preaching thereof was acceptable and pleasant, then many seemed willing to embrace it, but when Monks. sacrificing Priests, Nuns, &c. began to be spoken against, and the Mass to be confuted, all (a marvellous thing to be spoken) fell away as leaves of trees. Again, when Princes also were touched, the Gospel suffered greater persecution, and did by little and little daily decrease. Moreover Satan is not idle, whereupon he stirreth up heresies and schisms, for how many sects have we hitherto suffered? he sleepeth not, he will stir up greater mischiefs also, he never resteth, but looketh about, and trieth every way, that he may bring the matter to that pass, and prevail so far, that no sound doctrine may remain in the church, but that if all Germany be diligently viewed, a sermon may no where be found, wherein the word of God is truly preached, as it was before. He goeth about to extinguish and abolish all the doctrine of Christ now increasing, for he can not abide it. It is not an easy thing to avoid so great an enemy, he lieth in wait, and vieweth all places, and so diligently bestirreth him self, that even the learned fall, and the elect stumble, as Moses, S. Peter, with the rest of the Apostles. We think our selves safe, and live securely, no man considereth, no man hath a care of the word, we should pray & beseech God, that he would vouchsafe to preserve the Gospel, and make his holy name to be spread and published more abroad. But no man is touched with care hereof, no man prayeth that it may have good success. Wherefore it is to be feared that at the last it will come to pass, that God will suffer Satan and us to run together into one, then shall we be in a desperate case, for he will easily throw us to the ground, when we are come into so great misery by our own slothfulness and default.

So is it at this day in our time: at the first when the Gospell began to shine, the preaching thereof was acceptable and pleasant, then many seemed willing to embrace it, but when Munkes. sacrificing Priests, Nunnes, &c. began to be spoken against, and the Masse to be confuted, all (a meruelous thinge to be spoken) fell away as leaues of trees. Againe, when Princes also were touched, the Gospel suffered greater persecution, and did by litle and litle daily decrease. Moreouer Satan is not idle, whereupon he stirreth vp heresies and schismes, for how many sects haue we hitherto suffered? he sleepeth not, he will stirre vp greater mischiefes also, he neuer resteth, but looketh about, and trieth euery way, that he may bringe the matter to that passe, and preuaile so farre, that no sound doctrine may remaine in the church, but that if all Germanie be diligently viewed, a sermon may no where be found, wherein the word of God is truely preached, as it was before. He goeth about to extinguish and abolish all the doctrine of Christ now increasing, for he can not abide it. It is not an easie thing to auoid so great an enemie, he lyeth in wait, and vieweth all places, and so diligently bestirreth him selfe, that euen the learned fall, and the elect stumble, as Moses, S. Peter, with the rest of the Apostles. We thinke our selues safe, and liue securely, no man considereth, no man hath a care of the worde, we should pray & beseech God, that he would vouchsafe to preserue the Gospell, and make his holy name to be spred and published more abroad. But no man is touched with care hereof, no man prayeth that it may haue good successe. Wherefore it is to be feared that at the last it will come to passe, that God will suffer Satan and vs to runne togither into one, then shal we be in a desperate case, for he will easily throw vs to the ground, when we are come into so great miserie by our owne slothfulnes and default.