Note 1548 — Chapter XXVIII · (continued 2)

“Comm. in Ep. ad. Gal.,” 1535, vol. i., p. 255. Denifle-Weiss, 1², p. 514. Cp. Luther’s Sermon of 1523 on the Feast of the Circumcision, “Werke,” Weim. ed., 10, 1, 1, p. 508; Erl. ed., 15², p. 199: It had been shown long before by the institution of circumcision “that no one could reach God and be saved by works, but only by faith. This is insisted upon throughout the whole of Scripture by teaching and example. Sin in us is not merely a work or deed, but our real nature and essence; for this reason does God circumcise that member which pertains to birth and by which human nature is perpetuated.” On the same page we find the following: “Nature is depraved through and through so that no will is left for what is good”; “our nature is all poisoned and crammed with sin,” etc.—The sermon in which the singularly outspoken statement concerning circumcision occurs is also found in the postils. Some unbecoming language is also met at the commencement of the passage in question where Luther says: “It is quite true that God’s works and commandments are folly to nature and reason; God’s way of acting is mad enough”; Luther, however, hastens to add, “but if we keep our heads and look into it attentively, we shall soon see that all is done in the wisest manner.”