A06521:729
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.
Go thy way, thy son liveth. If the ruler had not had faith, he would not have requested Christ to come to his son. What therefore doth he want? even this: he believed if Christ came to his house, he could then help his son, if he did not come, he could not help him. Neither did his faith extend so far, as to believe that Christ even being absent could heal the sick: but it behoved that he should have a higher faith. Wherefore Christ lifteth him up, and setteth him in a higher state, and saith unto him: Go thy way, thy son liveth. Here he first ascendeth from his ⟨p. 414⟩former faith, whereby he believed that Christ could heal being present, and cometh to a higher faith, so that now he believeth the word. For if he had not believed the word, he would not have left Christ, neither would have departed from him, until he had come with him to his house. But having laid hold on the word, he cleaveth unto it by faith, for his son is at home, and Christ is with his father. Wherefore the Father receiveth this word in his hart, and thinketh with him self after this sort: My son is sick, but I shall find him whole: which faith was contrary both to reason & experience. Reason would have thought thus: When I came from my son he was sick,1 as I did leave him, so shall I find him. But faith saith otherwise, it resteth only in the word & trusteth wholly unto it, neither doubteth it, that any thing will fall out otherwise then the word speaketh: Go thy way, thy son liveth. This is a right and a strong faith, when as man leaveth sense, wisdom, reason, and trusteth wholly to the word of God. Christ saith, thy son liveth: And he saith with him self, without doubt it is true, I shall so find it. So faith remaineth not idle, nor resteth, but increaseth and goeth forward.
Goe thy way, thy sonne liueth. If the ruler had not had faith, he woulde not haue requested Christ to come to his sonne. What therefore doth he want? euen this: he beleeued if Christ came to his house, he coulde then helpe his sonne, if he did not come, he could not helpe him. Neither did his faith extende so farre, as to beleeue that Christ euen being absent could heale the sicke: but it behoued that he should haue a higher faith. Wherfore Christ lifteth him vp, and setteth him in a higher state, and sayth vnto him: Goe thy way, thy sonne liueth. Here he first ascendeth from his ⟨p. 414⟩