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

Thou seest now how far they be from the name of Christ, which be under the kingdom of the Pope. They that will preach the Gospel must preach nothing else, beside the only person, which is Christ, not Mary, so far must they be from preaching the Pope or any work albeit precious, they must preach & offer Christ only unto us, & none beside him. When now he is preached unto thee as a judge (as he shall come in the last day) and how that good works are to be done of thee, for which thou mayst be rewarded of him, & thou shalt so receive it, surely without all doubt he shall be unto thee a judge and not a saviour. And if he be so set forth unto thee, as he was wont to be painted, that his mother showeth him her paps, that is properly to preach Satan and not Christ, who giveth only, and receiveth not. This is ⟨p. 438⟩certain, when thou shalt have received of him, then good works do flow forth of their own accord, being not compelled, as is set forth in this days Gospel: wherein moreover is declared that Christ preacheth the Gospel to the people: now it is not a common work to preach. For it is a great benefit unto us, that he is become our master and instructor, that he teacheth us by what means we may come to the knowledge of him, this is a part of his great goodness and grace. For as long as he was here in the earth, he ceased not to teach, that we might altogether receive him for the Messiah and Saviour: and by his works also did help and relieve every one, when the case so required.

Thou seest nowe how farre they be from the name of Christ, which be vnder the kingdom of the Pope. They that will preach the Gospell must preach nothing els, besyde the onely person, which is Christ, not Marie, so farre must they be from preaching the Pope or any worke albeit precious, they must preach & offer Christ onely vnto vs, & none besyde him. When now he is preached vnto thee as a iudge (as he shall come in the last day) and how that good workes are to be done of thee, for which thou mayst be rewarded of him, & thou shalt so receiue it, surely without all dout he shalbe vnto thee a iudge and not a sauiour. And if he be so set forth vnto thee, as he was wont to be painted, that his mother sheweth him her pappes, that is properly to preach Satan and not Christ, who giueth onely, and receiueth not. This is ⟨p. 438⟩certaine, when thou shalt haue receiued of him, thē good workes do flow forth of their owne accord, being not compelled, as is set forth in this dayes Gospell: wherein moreouer is declared that Christ preacheth the Gospell to the people: now it is not a common worke to preach. For it is a great benefit vnto vs, that he is become our maister and instructer, that he teacheth vs by what meanes we may come to the knowledge of him, this is a parte of his great goodnes and grace. For as long as he was here in the earth, he cessed not to teach, that we might altogether receiue him for the Messias and Sauiour: and by his workes also did helpe and relieue euerie one, when the case so required.