A06521:726
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.
Now Satan when he marketh how great a treasure faith is, kept in a frail pot (that I may so speak) he is in a great rage & fury, and saith thus unto us: I will touch thee, I will break thy pot, thou hast a great treasure, which I will spill.1 So God setteth the silly pot in the middest of enemies, which should utterly perish even in a moment, if he did not defend it, for it may quickly be shaken and broken in pieces, yea if it be but bitten of a viper, it perisheth. And it is not hard from Satan even in one moment ⟨p. 412⟩to waste and destroy a whole country. Wherefore that vexeth him, that God dealeth with him so simply, setting a silly pot against him, when as he notwithstanding is so great a Prince and the most mighty ruler of this world. Now it would grieve me, if I being strong and valiant, any man should set upon me with a reed, surely I being moved with anger would break the reed in pieces: for I had lever that he would set upon me with a spear, sword, and armed on all parts. It grieved stout Goliath, that David durst come unto him unarmed only with a staff. So it greatly grieveth the devil, that God will suppress him by flesh & blood, if some stout spirit should resist him, it would not grieve him so much, for that troubleth him above measure, that a silly worm, a frail pot should come to despise him, an earthen vessel against a most mighty Prince. God hath laid up this treasure, saith Paul, in a miserable and weak vessel: for man is a weak creature, by and by moved to wrath, to covetousness, to pride, &c. so that Satan may easily shake and break the vessel: for if God would permit him, he would forthwith break it all to pieces. Now all this is done, saith Paul, that we may know, that not by our own power, but by the power of God we are preserved from all evils, and especially from the force and fury of Satan, who goeth about like a roaring lion, desiring to bruise and break the weak vessels and frail pots: and that we may hereby also be stirred up to be watchful and to lift up our eyes toward heaven, and pray unto God that he will vouchsafe to increase and defend our faith, and preserve the vessel by his strength. Thus have we an entrance unto our text, it remaineth that we do now consider the same in order: The Evangelist saith thus:
Now Satan when he marketh how great a treasure faith is, kept in a fraile pot (that I may so speake) he is in a great rage & furie, and sayth thus vnto vs: I will touch thee, I will breake thy potte, thou hast a great treasure, which I will spill.