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

The text affirmeth that the woman was diseased with an issue of blood twelve whole years,¹ and had spent all her substance upon physicians, and that the more medicines she took, the worse always she was. Luke and Mark do not a little exaggerate and amplify it, whereby they both signify, that the more works be preached, so much the worse is it with us, and that there cometh nothing unto us thereby, but a continual multiplying of our evil. Our conscience can not be quieted with works, for albeit some sin be driven out of the conscience, forthwith there is an other, yea the remedy and work oftentimes do make sin in us, where there is no sin, until such time as we come to Christ, even as it was with this woman, which had bin sick so long, neither had she bin ever helped, if she had not come to Christ, of whom she obtaineth health without any works, giving him nothing, but receiveth only of him,² and suffereth to be given unto her. Now here is also declared, how the word of God is daily to be handled, and without ceasing to be urged, for there are as yet always found such men, as have very troubled and afflicted consciences. For this woman is a type or figure of all men, which are diseased with an issue, that is, which feel there since, the issue whereof doeth always run, neither can it be stayed, for flesh and blood doeth no otherwise, then it is carried with it own lust and desire. Now if that feeling of sin be ⟨p. 440⟩great, those wretches come forth and endeavour to help themselves, then one taketh this work in hand, an other that, and yet prevail they nothing from hence so many orders, so many monasteries have sprung, hereupon so many and so great works have bin invented, that they are almost without number. What was the cause of all these? surely even the sinful conscience. For we have thought to save our souls by these, and to be delivered wholly from all since. But Christ was not there present, for we would give and not receive. Wherefore our case became always worse, as it fell out also with this woman, who if she had tried the help of all Physicians, neither yet so could she find, whereby she might be holpen. So we also believed all Physicians, for whatsoever every one brought, that we by and by received. And was it any marvel? for we desired to be healed and to have a glad conscience.