Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

Dearly beloved, ye know that the Gospel is nothing else, but a treatise of the only person, whose name is Christ. And albeit there be extant many books & sundry treatises concerning divers men, as well of the Gentiles as Christians, yea and of the mother of God, S. Peter, the Angels, and of many other Saints beside: yet be they not Gospels, but that only is the sincere Gospel, which setteth forth Christ unto us, and what good we must hope for from him. Sometime in the Gospel there is mention made of John the Baptist, Mary, and the Apostles, howbeit this is not properly the Gospel, but therefore is it written of them, that it might be more perfectly declared, from whence Christ should come, and what is his office. So Luke describeth the history of John the Baptist even from the beginning, what was done both in his conception and in his nativity, he writeth also of the virgin Mary. All which things were committed to writing not because of their person, but because of Christs person only. In the Epistles of S. Paul there is nothing committed to memory of the Saints, but all things sound plainly of Christ. For God hath so ordained, that all men must depend ⟨p. 433⟩on that one man Christ, must hope in him,¹ must repose their trust in him, if they desire to be saved, for he alone is set forth of God to be a reconciliation for us, as Paul saith Rom. 3. Hitherto one hath cleaved to this saint, an other to that, one chose to himself S. Mary, an other S. Barbary, and divers sects and sorts of religion did flourish. But Christ was in no price, for his name only remained. We had many intercessors, all which being neglected we ought to have cleaved only to Christ. Hereupon S. Paul saith, that the Gospel was promised of God by the Prophets concerning his son. He reduceth and bringeth it into such a strait, that in the Gospel nothing is of any importance which concerneth not Jesus Christ. He that knoweth this, let him give thanks to God, that he knoweth where he may seek for consolation and help, and in whom he may repose his trust.

DEarely beloued, ye know that the Gospell is nothing els, but a treatise of the onely person, whose name is Christ. And albeit there be extant many bookes & sundrie treatises cōcerning diuers men, as well of the Gentiles as Christians, yea and of the mother of God, S. Peter, the Angels, and of many other Saincts besyde: yet be they not Gospels, but that onely is the syncere Gospell, which setteth forth Christ vnto vs, and what good we must hope for frō him. Sometime in the Gospell there is mention made of Iohn the Baptist, Marie, and the Apostles, howbeit this is not properly the Gospell, but therefore is it written of them, that it might be more perfectly declared, frō whēce Christ should come, and what is his office. So Luke describeth the historie of Iohn the Baptist euen from the beginning, what was done both in his conception and in his natiuitie, he writeth also of the virgine Marie. All which thinges were committed to writing not because of their person, but because of Christes person onely. In the Epistles of S. Paule there is nothing committed to memorie of the Saincts, but all thinges sound plainly of Christ. For God hath so ordained, that all men must depend