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THE

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

In addition to the prefatory observations which have been affixed to the Translation of LUTHER'S BONDAGE OF THE WILL, and to the SELECTION from his Works in NUMBERS, it may be proper to make a few remarks more, as an introduction to this Translation of his CoMENTARY on the FIRST TWENTY-TWO PSALMS as being a work of much importance, and involving many particulars necessary to be mentioned by a Translator.

The Hebrew words commented on in the course of the Work, are given in the original of Luther in Roman characters and therefore it was deemed proper to retain the Roman character in the Translation also. But. as the Greek words are in the Greek character in the original, they are given the same in the Translation.

2. Luther's version of the Psalms, or the version which he had before him, is necessarily given as it is in his Commentary: because the matter of the whole Commentary depends upon it.

3. The example of the great Translators of his Commentary on the Galatians, and on his Psalms of degrees, who, “having a respect unto the simple, purposely sponged out and and omitted such stumbling

places (being but few) which might offend,"* has been followed in the Translation of the present work.

It is somewhat remarkable that the present production of Luther, together with the BONDAGE OF THE WILL, and most of his other works which have been lately published in the series of NUMBERS, have never appeared before in the English language; though they contain matter so important and valuable. The present work, in particular, from having remained so long buried in the German and Latin, has certainly been a loss to many of the favourers of divine and experimental truth and therefore it is hoped, that it will meet with a cordial reception from them, and be made useful unto their best interests. With these few observations, the Reader is left to converse with Luther himself, in his Commentary.

*The Translators' Preface to the Commentary on the Galatians.

Martin Luther

CONCERNING

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.

THE

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

It is usual to preface a work, submitted to the notice of the world, with reasons for its publication. The Translator however desires to say, he has no other reason to assign for making the present "offering," than that which he has already given in his Proposals for publication"that from many particularly directing circumstances, he was led to believe it would, under the divine blessing, be useful to the church of God in the present day."

The character which the work professes to bear isto deliver FAITHFULLY the MIND of Luther; retaining, LITERALLY, as much of his own WORDING, PHRASEOLOGY, and EXPRESSION, as could well be admitted into the English version-the principles to which the Translator proposed and endeavoured to adhere, in his English version of Luther's profound and invaluable Treatise on the BONDAGE OF THE WILL, which has lately been presented to the British Church.

To these introductory observations, the Translator adds nothing more than the following appropriate extract from the Preface written by Melancthon, and prefixed by him to that edition of his beloved Luther's works, which he published at Wirtemberg, from the Press of Seitz in the year 1551, shortly after the death of his Christian brother and fellow-labourer in the ministry of Christ.

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