A06524:94
A Treatise Touching the Liberty of a Christian
A treatise, touching the liberty of a Christian. Written in Latin by Doctor Martin Luther. And translated into English by James BellA treatise, touching the libertie of a Christian. Written in Latin by Doctor Martine Luther. And translated into English by Iames Bell
London: printed by Ralph Newbery and H. Bynneman, 1579
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.
Behold, by this rule it behooveth us to pour out each upon other, and to make common each unto other the goods which we have received of God, and that every man clothe himself with his neighbours estate, and so apply himself to his neighbours necessities, even as if we were in the like necessity our selves:1 out of Christs storehouse they overflowed, and from him slow daily unto us, who hath so taken our necessities upon himself, and so performed all things for our sakes, as if himself had been the same that we be. They flow likewise from us, unto them who stand in need of them, in so much, that I am bound to pour out before God my faith, and my righteousness, to cover and entreat for the sins of my neighbour, the burden of whose sins I must in mine own person sustain, and so travel and be afflicted in them, as if ⟨p. 75⟩they were mine own sins, for on this wise was Christ afflicted for our sakes, for this is the very true love, this is the rule of a pure Christian love, which is in them very natural and pure indeed, in whom dwelleth a pure and sincere Faith indeed, whereupon, the Apostle in the first to the Corinthians, the thirteenth Chapter, doth give this singular prerogative to love, That it seeketh not the things that are her own.
Behold, by this rule it behooueth vs to poure out each vpon other, and to make common each vnto other the goods which we haue receiued of God, and that every man cloath himselfe with his neighbours estate, and so apply himselfe to his neighbours necessities, euen as if wee were in ye like necessity our selues:1 out of Christs storehouse they ouerflowed, and from him slow daily vnto vs, who hath so tak•n our necessities vpon himselfe, and so performed all things for our sakes, as if himselfe had béene the same that wee be. They flow likewise from vs, vnto them who stand in need of them, in so much, that I am bound to poure out before God my faith, and my righteousnesse, to couer and entreat for the sinnes of my neighbour, the burthen of whose sinnes I must in mine owne person sustaine, and so trauell and bee afflicted in them, as if ⟨p. 75⟩