The Bondage of the WillThis edition of the Bondage of the Will was translated by Henry Cole in 1823. "Free will was no academic question to Luther; the whole Gospel of the grace of God, he held, was bound up with it, and stood or fell according to the way one decided it . . . . It is not the part of a true theologian, Luther holds, to be unconcerned, or to pretend to be unconcerned, when the Gospel is in danger . . . . The doctrine of the Bondage of the Will in particular was the corner-stone of the Gospel and the foundation of faith'' (40-41, emphasis added). ''In particular, the denial of free will was to Luther the foundation of the Biblical doctrine of grace, and a hearty endorsement of that denial was the first step for anyone who would understand the Gospel and come to faith in God. The man who has not yet practically and experimentally learned the bondage of his will in sin has not yet comprehended any part of the Gospel" "Justification by faith only is a truth that needs interpretation. The principle of sola fide [by faith alone] is not rightly understood till it is seen as anchored in the broader principle of sola gratia [by grace alone]; . . . for to rely on one's self for faith is not different in principle from relying on one's self for works" The Bible teaches that faith itself is and has to be, a gift of God, by grace, and not of self (Ephesians 2:8). It is safe to deduce that for Luther, any evangelist who advocates free will has not only ''not yet comprehended any part of the Gospel, '' but also that he has not yet preached the Gospel at all; his is a counterfeit gospel.Luther was ordered to recant his teachings on threat of excommunication. Luther thundered, ''Unless I am convinced by Scriptures and plain reason [for Luther, this meant logic], my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything. Here I stand, I can do no other!" [From a review in The Trinity Review] Martin Luther (1483-1546) shattered the structure of the Medieval Church by demanding that the authority for doctrine and practice be the Scriptures rather than popes or councils, and ignited the famous Protestant Reformation. The Roman Catholic hierarchy could not refute his logic, so they attempted to have him killed. But he was protected by Frederic. It has been said that more books have been written about Luther than about any other person except Jesus Christ. 164 pages, hard cover |
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Page 7
... wish , the Translator fully concurred : and having received and accepted the application , he sat down to the work immediately : which was , on Monday , December 23rd , 1822 . As it respects the character of the version itself - the ...
... wish , the Translator fully concurred : and having received and accepted the application , he sat down to the work immediately : which was , on Monday , December 23rd , 1822 . As it respects the character of the version itself - the ...
Page 10
... wish to appear to assert nothing , and yet , at the same time , to assert something , more cautious than Ulysses , you seem to be steering your course between Scylla and Charybdis . To meet men of such a sort , what , I would ask , can ...
... wish to appear to assert nothing , and yet , at the same time , to assert something , more cautious than Ulysses , you seem to be steering your course between Scylla and Charybdis . To meet men of such a sort , what , I would ask , can ...
Page 11
... wish to take up one subject , and go on with another , as the Roman Emperor did with his Turbot ; or , with the madness of a wicked writer , you wish to contend , that the article concerning " Free - will " is doubtful , or not ...
... wish to take up one subject , and go on with another , as the Roman Emperor did with his Turbot ; or , with the madness of a wicked writer , you wish to contend , that the article concerning " Free - will " is doubtful , or not ...
Page 12
... wish you had the liberty of being a Sceptic ! What Christian would talk in this way ? But if you say this in reference to useless and doubtful doctrines , what news is there in what you say ? Who , in such things , would not wish for ...
... wish you had the liberty of being a Sceptic ! What Christian would talk in this way ? But if you say this in reference to useless and doubtful doctrines , what news is there in what you say ? Who , in such things , would not wish for ...
Page 16
... wish to know , whether our own will does any thing in those things which pertain unto eternal savlation , or whether it is wholly passive under the work of grace . " — But here , you say the contrary : that it is Christian piety to ...
... wish to know , whether our own will does any thing in those things which pertain unto eternal savlation , or whether it is wholly passive under the work of grace . " — But here , you say the contrary : that it is Christian piety to ...
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Common terms and phrases
according adduced ambiguous apostle arguments Arians assert assertors attain unto believe called Christ Christian commanded compelled concerning conclusion condemned confess contrary damned death declared deny desire dispute divine doctrine Ecclesiasticus endeavour Epicurus Esau eternal evil exalted faith flesh friend Erasmus glory Gospel grace grace of God hardened hath heart heaven Holy Spirit human ignorance impious interpretation Isaiah Jews John judgment kingdom liberty long-suffering Lord Luther manifest Matt means mercy merit Moreover Moses necessity numbered obscure Omnipotence opinion passage Paul saith Pelagians pertain unto Pharaoh plainly power of Free-will pray preached prescience promise prove Psalm reason receive ridiculous righteousness saints salvation Satan Scriptures Sect sentiments shew shewn signify similitude sinner Sophists speak spoken stand teach term testimony thee things thou shalt thou wilt trope truth turn understand ungodly unrighteous Whereas Wherefore whole world wicked wisdom wish words wrath wrath of God
Popular passages
Page 87 - The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Page 157 - Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
Page 129 - God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. 3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Page 129 - What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise : for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, " There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Page 51 - Eye hath not seen, nor Ear heard, neither hath it entered into the Heart of Man, to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Page 142 - Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
Page 134 - God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ; whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood...
Page 143 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name : which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God
Page 45 - I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay.