A06521:731
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.
Afterward when the fruit beginneth to spring forth, some great wind blowing, much of it being newly come forth falleth down, and when it waxeth ripe, the caterpillar cometh, which with other worms gnaweth & spoileth it so much, that scarce the twentieth part, yea scarce the hundred part many times remaineth. The same cometh to pass with the hearers of the Gospel, in the beginning thereof every one coveteth to be a true Christian, every one liketh of it very well, and the first fruits thereof are very pleasant. But when wind, a shower, or tentation cometh, all fall away from it by companies: afterwards sects and seditions arise, which like unto worms and cankers gnaw and infect the fruits of the Gospel, and so many false opinions spring up, that very few do persevere in the true profession of the Gospel.
Afterward when the frute beginneth to spring forth, some great winde blowing, much of it being newly come forth falleth downe, and when it waxeth ripe, the caterpiller commeth, which with other wormes gnaweth & spoyleth it so much, that scarce the twentieth part, yea scarce the hundreth part many times remaineth. The same commeth to passe with the hearers of the Gospell, in the beginning thereof euery one coueteth to be a true Christian, euery one liketh of it very well, and the first frutes thereof are very pleasant. But when winde, a shower, or tentation commeth, all fall away from it by companies: afterwards sects and seditions arise, which like vnto wormes and kankers gnaw and infect the frutes of the Gospell, and so many false opinions spring vp, that very few doe perseuer in the true profession of the Gospell.
We have here, thanks be given to Almighty God, the word of God plentifully taught, we are delivered out of deep & great darkness, but we forgetting the word are made weak, we live having no care of the word, for it is not savoury unto us. But when as hereafter false prophets shall break in with their corrupt opinions, and Satan also shall violently assail us, finding us idle, and the house swept and garnished, he will bring with him seven other spirits worse then him self, and the end shall be worse then the beginning. Which things if they so fall out, let us not therefore ⟨p. 416⟩