eSay not, I am perfect, I cannot fall, but be humble and fear, thou▪ that stands to day, mayst fall to morrow.
fLuther So is the life of a Christian, that he who hath begun, may seem to have nothing; therefore Paul saith, I believe not that I have apprehended, Phil. 3. because nothing is more pernicious to a faithful man, then that presumption as if he had apprehended it, and there were no need to seek; so many make defection, and whether through security and negligence. So Bernard, to stand in the way of God is to go back, then to him that is be-back, ⟨p. 144⟩then to him that is begun to be a Christian, this remaineth, to esteem himself, not a Christian, but to seek to be a Christian. A Christian is not at his end, but in his way, that he may glory with Paul, I am not, but I desire to be, and as many of us as are perfect, let us remain in this rule, — then he that is a Christian, is no Christian, that is, he that believeth he is made a Christian▪ when he is to be made a Christian — we endeavour toward heaven, we are not in heaven: so he is already in heaven who endeavours toward heaven, because God counts him to be in heaven. — woe to him that is wholly renewed that is, who believeth he is renewed. Then woe to Town, Saltm•rsh, for these, that are as free from sin as Christ, must be perfect.
gLuther, The mind of man, when it is in temptation and danger, with difficulty rests on this consolation, for thus it doth perpetually complain: What shall be done? when shall it be done? where shall it be done? I answer then, wait on, wait on, if it be longer deferred, and the mind ask again, when shall it be? say thou, I have no other advice, but that thou endure and wait on longer, one, two, three years, he that cometh will come, and will not •arry.
eLuther. Ne dicas ego perfectus sum, non possum labi, sed humiliare, et time: ne hodie stans, cras cadas.
fLuther. Sic est vita Christiana, ut qui caeperit, sibi videatur nihil habere, sed tendit & pergit ut apprehendat: unde Paulus: non arbitror me apprehendisse Phil. 3. quia re vera nihil pernitiosius est homini fideli quā ista praesumptio, quasi apprehenderit, & opus quaerendi non sit, hinc etiam multi relabuntur & marcessunt securitate & ⟨p. 144⟩ignavia. Sic Bernardus:
eSay not, I am perfect, I cannot fall, but be humble and fear, thou▪ that stands to day, mayst fall to morrow.
fLuther So is the life of a Christian, that he who hath begun, may seem to have nothing; therefore Paul saith, I beleeve not that I have apprehended, Phil. 3. because nothing is more pernitious to a faithfull man, then that presumption as if he had apprehended it, and there were no need to seeke; so many make defection, and whether through security and negligence. So Bernard, to stand in the way of God is to goe backe, then to him that is be-back, ⟨p. 144⟩then to him that is begun to be a Christian, this remaineth, to esteem himself, not a Christian, but to seek to be a Christian. A Christian is not at his end, but in his way, that he may glory with Paul, I am not, but I desire to be, and as many of us as are perfect, let us remaine in this rule, — then he that is a Christian, is no Christian, that is, he that beleeveth he is made a Christian▪ when he is to be made a Christian — we endevour toward heaven, we are not in heaven: so he is already in heaven who indevours toward heaven, because God counts him to be in heaven. — woe to him that is wholly renewed that is, who beleeveth he is renewed. Then woe to Towne, Saltm•rsh, for these, that are as free from sin as Christ, must be perfect.
gLuther, The minde of man, when it is in temptation and danger, with difficulty rests on this consolation, for thus it doth perpetually complaine: What shall be done? when shall it be done? where shall it be done? I answer then, wait on, wait on, if it be longer deferred, and the mind ask againe, when shall it be? say thou, I have no other advice, but that thou indure and wait on longer, one, two, three years, he that commeth will come, and will not •arry.
eLuther. Ne dicas ego perfectus sum, non possum labi, sed humiliare, et time: ne hodie stans, cras cadas.
fLuther. Sic est vita Christiana, ut qui caeperit, sibi videatur nihil habere, sed tendit & pergit ut apprehendat: unde Paulus: non arbitror me apprehendisse
- eLuth. tom. 1. f. 65.
- fLuth tom 4. f. 343.
- gLuther to. 3. in Gen. f. 2. in c. 25. Patience required that sin dwell in us.
- eLuth. tom. 1. f. 65.
- fLuth tom 4. f. 343.
