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

This text toucheth as it were, the very pith and marrow of the Gospel. Other places of Scripture wherein the miracles and doings of Christ are rehearsed, have not so much comfort as those, in which those sermons of Christ to the people are contained, wherein he doth so lovingly teach us, and allure us to himself. I am not so certain of the favour, which I see showed to others in working miracles, as if I have the plain words before mine eyes. It is a far greater comfort also unto me, to hear such loving admonitions and allurements, then the preaching of miracles: Albeit they also confirm my faith, and are examples, that, as he hath holpen them, so also he will help me. Moreover this Gospel entreateth of the knowledge of God the father, and of Christ his son, showing also whereof such knowledge doth consist. Now that the meaning thereof may be well known, it is requisite to understand aright these two words, wise men, and children or babes. But lest when we hear it, we say: this pertaineth nothing to us, it is spoken to others, as the Jews said to the Prophets, which referred all things to the Gentiles, the words going before do sufficiently show, unto whom, or of whom these words of Christ are spoken. For before he speaketh of them that contemn the Gospel, not vouchsafing to embrace it, whose duty notwithstanding especially was to embrace it, inasmuch as they would seem alone to be them, that were occupied ⟨p. 458⟩in the word of God, and were to be counted for the people of God. Of such he sayeth thus: Whereunto shall I liken this generation? it is like unto little children which sit in the markets, and call unto their fellows, and say: we have piped unto you, and ye have not danced: we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. Which the Lord applieth to himself, and unto John the Baptist: as if he would say: we have preached unto you the Gospel: John with a certain severity and austerity, but I with very great clemency and gentleness. But ye contemn our preaching and will not receive it, ye shall at the last feel without doubt to your great evil, what it is to despise the word of God. This is very true, howsoever thou preachest to the people, whether thou be fair spoken or severe, gentle or ungentle, they will always seem to have some cause or other to complain of thee.

THis text toucheth as it were, the verie pith and marrow of the Gospel. Other places of Scripture wherein the miracles and doinges of Christ are rehearsed, haue not so much cōfort as those, in which those sermons of Christ to the people are conteined, wherein he doth so louingly teach vs, and allure vs to himselfe. I am not so certaine of the fauour, which I see shewed to others in working miracles, as if I haue the plaine wordes before myne eyes. It is a farre greater comfort also vnto me, to heare such louing admonitions and allurements, then the preaching of miracles: Albeit they also confirme my fayth, and are examples, that, as he hath holpen them, so also he will helpe me. Moreouer this Gospell entreateth of the knowledge of God the father, and of Christ his sonne, shewing also whereof such knowledge doth consist. Now that the meaning thereof may be well knowne, it is requisite to vnderstād aright these two words, wisemen, and children or babes. But lest when we heare it, we say: this pertaineth nothing to vs, it is spokē to others, as the Iewes said to the Prophets, which referred all thinges to the Gentiles, the wordes going before do sufficiently shew, vnto whom, or of whom these wordes of Christ are spoken. For before he speaketh of them that contemne the Gospell, not vouchsafeing to embrace it, whose dutie notwithstanding especially was to embrace it, inasmuch as they would seeme alone to be them, that were occupied