Excerpt from A Commentary Upon the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians: Wherein Is Set Forth Most Excellently, the Glorious Riches of God's Grace, and the Power of the Gospel, With the Difference Between the Law and the Gospel, and the Strength of Faith Declared

After this, Luther had little elfe to do than to fit down and contemplate the mighty work he had finifhed; for that a fingle monk fhould be able to give the church fo rude a fhock, that there needed but fuch another entirely to overthrow it, may very well feem a mighty work. He did indeed little elfe; for the remainder of his life was fpent in exhorting princes, Rates, and univerflties, to confirm the reformation which had been brought about through him; and publiihing from time to time fuch writings as might en courage, direét, and aid them in doing it. The emperor threatened temporal punifhment with armies, and the pope eternal with bulls and anathemas; but Luther cared for none of their threats. His friend and coadjutor Me Ianéthon was not fo indifferent; for Melanéthon had a great deal of foftnefs, moderation, and diffidence in his make, which made him very uneafy, and even forrowful, in the prefent diforders. Hence we find many of Luther's letters written on purpofe to fupport and comfort him under thefe feveral diitrell'es'and anxieties. In the year 1333, Luther wrote a confolatory epiftle to the citizens of Ofchatz, 'who had fufferedfome hardfhips for adhering to the Augfburg con feflion of faith; in which, among other things, he fays: The devil is the hoft, and the world is his inn fo that wherever you come, you'ihall be fure to find this ugly hull. He had alfo about this time a terrible controverfy with George. Duke of Saxony, who had fuch an averfton to Luther's doétrine, that be obliged his fubjeéts to take an oath that they'would never embrace it. However, 60 or 70 citizens of Leipfie were found to have deviated a little from the Catholic way in fome point or other, and they were known to have confulted Luther about it Upon which George complained to the eleétor john, that Luther had not only abufed his perfon, but alfo preached up rebellion among his fubjeéts. The elector ordered Luther to be acquaint ed with this; and to be told at the fame time, that if he did not clear him felf of the charge, he could not poflibly efcape puniihment. But Luther eafily refuted the accufation, by proving, that he had been fo far from flir ring up his fubjeéts againit him, on the from of religion, that, on the con trary, he had exhorted them rather to undergo the greatcfl: hardlhips, and even fulfer themfelves to be baniihed.

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