Abstract of Commentary on Galatians, Title page – To the reader
AN ABSTRACT OF A COMMENTARIE By Dr. MARTYN LVTHER, upon the GALATHIANS.
Wherein the difference betweene the LAW, the GOSPELL, and the ſtrength of Faith is declared.
Whereunto is added Divine and Morall Latine Sentences, taken out of the Fathers, and other Authors, which are cited in Margent of the Practiſe of Piety, but not Engliſhed there; Which for their excellency, and benefit of thoſe who underſtand not Latine, are here tranſlated.
2 COR. 12.9.
My power is made perfect through Fides ſola, non eſt ſola.
LONDON. Printed for Henry Atkinſon, and are to be ſold at his Shop at Staple-Inne Gate in Holborne, 1642.
To my honored Vncle, MICHAEL MALET of Poyntington in the County of Sommerſet, Eſquire.
SIR,
YOur pious life, in fearing God, eſchewing evill, and doing good; hath ever beene a lively Character to regulate my life by, and hath imboldened me to preſent and dedicate to your grave Patronage, and curteous acceptance, this Abſtract taken out of a Commentary of Doctor MARTYN LVTHER upon the Galathians, a Coppy whereof I ſent you a yeer ſince in writing, and now have publiſhed the ſame in Print, for the benefit of my friends and acquaintance, and all zealous, religious ſervants of the Lord; It containing in a few leaves, moſt excellent matter of ſaving Faith, which is, the Summe of Mans Salvation; …ely revealed, and ſet forth unto us, … the Old, and New Teſtament; which …oſoever duely conſiders, (unleſſe ſtu…ied with ſupine careleſneſſe, and be…itched with the vaine pleaſures & va…ties of this world) will utterly deſpiſe, …d contemne all earthly and tranſitory …ings, and continually (being overcome …ith a divine rapture) meditate and con…mplate upon eternall bleſſedneſſe; The …yes whereof, are more then ever eye …ath ſeen, the eare heard, or the heart of …an can conceive; Witneſſe St. Paul, 2. Cor. 12.2. who was caught up into the …ird Heaven; whither God Almighty I …oſt humbly pray and beſeech to bring …ou my deere loving Ʋncle, and all good …hriſtians, together with
Your obedient Nephew, and humble Servant.
To the Reader.
THis Epitome, (Chriſtian Reader) is totally that famous and reverend Piller of our Church, Doctor MARTYN LVTHERS, being an Abſtract of his Commentarie upon Saint Pauls Epiſtle to the Galathians; And as all our new Corne, comes out of our old Fields; and all our new Learning out of old Bookes, for Nihil dictum, quod non dictum priùs; I thought I could not preſent to good Chriſtians a better worke; it being the bread that comes downe from Heaven, and the direct and true path that leades to eternall happineſſe, being well and throughly digeſted and ingrafted in the heart, and dayly practiſed in our Lives, and Converſations. The Commentary it ſelfe, is a rich Cabinet of moſt pretious rare Jewels, and theſe the choiſeſt and rareſt (as I conceive) in that Cabinet, or Treaſurie; which though it be very ſhort, and eaſily read over in an houres time; Yet it being rightly underſtood and ſtedfaſtly beleeved, brings everlaſting life and Glory; which is heartily prayed for, and wiſhed to the godly Reader by the Publiſher hereof, who is thy ſervant in the Lord.
Edmund Ferrers.