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

No man cometh unto the Father but by me. As if he should say: No man can come to the Father by his own strength or merits: The law terrifieth the conscience that it can not go to the Father: the word of Christ, which justifieth us by the righteousness of Christ, bringeth us to the Father. Whereupon followeth that which he afterward saith:

No man commeth vnto the Father but by me. As if he should say: No man can come to the Father by his owne strength or merits: The lawe terrifieth the conscience that it can not goe to the Father: the word of Christ, which iustifieth vs by the righteousnes of Christ, bringeth vs to the Father. Whereupon followeth that which he afterward sayth:

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. For as no man cometh to the Father, but by the Son, so no man knoweth the Father but by Christ the Sonne. First the Fathers will is not known, to wit, that he will save us, unless we see it in Christ. He which is in the bosom of the Father, hath revealed it unto us. Secondly the Father is not believed. For reason by it self doth not understand, that it receiveth any thing of God. Wherefore it is needful that Christ declare that bountifulness and goodness unto us. A troubled conscience flieth the Father, neither can it abide to commit it self unto him. But they that ⟨p. 477⟩are justified by the word of Christ, do not any more contemn the Father, neither fly him, as the Israelites did, but stand before him as Moses, and are enlightened with divine light, that they may know the power of God and mercy of the Father. Hereupon cometh trust and confidence in him: hereby we know that we receive all things at his hands, and look for all as well spiritual as corporal things of him. All these we must acknowledge to be received by faith, reason can not attain unto them. For it endeavoureth to obtain God by her own strength and merits, but that endeavour is in vain. Wherefore when it is not able to come to the knowledge of God by her own strength, it utterly denieth God, and saith that there is no God. After when it seeth uncleanness in her works, it despaireth, and is in most great distress. But when we are justified by foolish preaching, we come to the knowledge of God the Father, as soon as we believe the word of Christ, and so we try the power of the Father in afflictions and adversities, although they be even great. This was shadowed forth in that, that the people of Israel could not abide to hear the voice of God, but desired that Moses might speak unto them. Where Christ also was figured, that he should make intercession for us to the Father, and be our mercy seat. For nature is more weak & frail, then that it can abide to talk with God. Wherefore he hath given unto us this his Son a Mediator, in whom and by whom we must have to do with him.