A06521:75
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 we will speak somewhat of the second, that is of the baptism of Christ.1 In the baptism of Christ three things are to be considered: The first, that the heavens were opened, when he was baptized. The second, that the holy Ghost was seen in the likeness of a dove. The third, that the voice of the father was heard, which said: This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Whereas Christ vouchsafed to be baptised with water, he hath hallowed baptism, & made the water thereof holy, that he which is baptized in his name, might become likewise holy and clean from sin, and might have the heavens open. Now Christ was not baptized for him self, for he was not infected with the spot of any sin, as S. Peter saith 1. Pet. 2. He behaved him self like unto a good Physician, which before the sick doth first drink some bitter potion, that the sick may more gladly and boldly do the same afterward. For we in baptism drink a bitter potion, namely, the mortification of the old Adam, which with the bitterness thereof doth greatly trouble us. For that dipping into the water or sprinkling with it doth signify nothing else, but that that old Adam should perish & die. This is greatly furthered by the cross, which God according to his divine will layeth upon us, which we ought not to cast from us, but bear it willingly & with a patient mind. But that this might be easier for us to do, even Christ hath taken it upon him self, he suffered him self to be baptized, and took his cross and carried it nothing resisting or gainsaying, and so was obedient to his father unto the death, even the death of the cross, as Paul saith Philip. 2. that he might deliver us from sins, and might again appease his heavenly father, which surely he did of his mere grace without any desert of ours: whereof we have baptism a sign & pledge, as Paul saith unto Titus: But when that bountifulness and that love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by the works of righteousness, which we had done, but according ⟨p. 29⟩to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of the new birth, and the renewing of the holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that we being justified by his grace, should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.