A06521:819
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.
Hitherto we have heard how the Lord dealeth with the wise and prudent, namely that he blindeth them, and hideth the Gospel from them. Likewise how he is delighted in children and simple ones, to wit, that he endueth them with right knowledge of himself, and openeth the Gospel unto them. But some man may here say and complain: If the matter be so, surely my conscience shall be in great danger, before I hear and know that the Gospel doth pertain unto me. I am a wretched sinner, and perhaps the Gospel pertaineth not unto me, what if I be unworthy? Christ, that he may comfort these weak, dismayed, and troubled consciences, saith: Come unto me all ye that are weary and laden, and I will refresh you. 1Here are we called unto comfort. Here forget all thy merit and worthiness, for that he plainly saith: ye that are weary and laden, to wit, with the burden of the law, the anguish and affliction of sin, and wherewithal soever the conscience may be troubled. Therefore he doth not express it by name: for he saith not, ye that are troubled with this or that calamity, but simply, ye that are weary and laden. Neither will he have any here excluded, forasmuch as he saith, All, which is a singular and special comfort, if any thing trouble us, what kind of tentation soever it be.
Hitherto we haue heard how the Lord dealeth with the wise and prudent, namely that he blyndeth them, and hideth the Gospell from them. Likewise how he is delighted in children and simple ones, to wit, that he endueth them with right knowledge of himselfe, and openeth the Gospell vnto them. But some man may here say and complaine: If the matter be so, surely my conscience shalbe in great daunger, before I heare and know that the Gospell dothe pertaine vnto me. I am a wretched synner, and perhaps the Gospell pertaineth not vnto me, what if I be vnworthie? Christ, that he may comfort these weake, dismayed, and troubled consciences, sayth: Come vnto me all ye that are wearie and laden, and I will refresh you. 1Here are we called vnto comfort. Here forget all thy merit and worthines, for that he plainly sayth: ye that are wearie and laden, to wit, with the burden of the lawe, the anguishe and affliction of synne, and wherewithall soeuer the conscience maye be troubled. Therefore he dothe not expresse it by name: for he saythe not, ye that are troubled with this or that calamitie, but simplie, ye that are wearie and laden. Neither will he haue any here excluded, forasmuch as he saythe, All, which is a singular and speciall comfort, if any thinge trouble vs, what kynde of tentation soeuer it be.