A06521:744
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.
This is that that the Lord commandeth this servant together with all his substance to be sold, forasmuch as he is not able to pay. But what doth the servant say? the foolish fellow thinketh yet, that he shall pay the debt, he falleth down and prayeth that he will have patience with him. This is the wound and cross of all consciences, that when sin biteth them so, that they feel in how evil case they are before God, there is no rest in them, but they run hither and thither, seeking about, that they may be delivered from sins, & rashly take upon them as yet to do so great things, as wherewith they shall pay God,1 as we hitherto have been instructed, whereupon came so many pilgrimages, collegiate houses, Monasteries, Masses, & other trifles. We pined our selves with fasting, we scourged our selves with whips, we were made Monks and Nuns, therefore only, for that we went about to lead such a life, and to do such and so many works, as whereunto God might have respect, and thereby be pacified, thinking so to appease and make quiet our consciences, so we committed the same things that this foolish fellow did. Such a hart as is touched with the law, & throughly feeleth it own misery and calamity, is humbled truly and in deed. Whereupon it falleth down before the Lord and craveth mercy, Howbeit it is yet defiled with this vice, that it striveth to help it self, which ⟨p. 424⟩thing can not be taken away from nature. When as the conscience feeleth such misery, it dareth presume to promise more then all the Angels in heaven are able to perform. Then is it an easy matter to persuade it to apply it self to do, whatsoever can be required of it. For it findeth it self always in such a case, that it hopeth that it is able by works to satisfy for sins. Consider those things which have been hitherto of long time done in the world, then shalt thou find these things to be so: For thus was it preached: Give somewhat to the building of a Church: Get to be admitted into an holy Monastery, institute Masses, and thy sins shall be forgiven thee. And when consciences were urged in confession, they would not stick to say: Whatsoever was enjoined us, we have omitted nothing of it, yea we have given more then we were commanded.
This is that that the Lorde commaundeth this seruaunt togither with all his substance to be solde, forasmuch as he is not able to pay. But what doth the seruaunt say? the foolish fellow thinketh yet, that he shall pay the dette, he falleth downe and prayeth that he wil haue patience with him. This is the wound and crosse of all consciences, that when sinne biteth them so, that they feele in how euill case they are before God, there is no rest in them, but they runne hither and thither, seeking about, that they may be deliuered from sinnes, & rashly take vpon them as yet to do so great thinges, as wherewith they shall pay God,