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 is— to 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, immediately after the death of his Christian brother and fellowlabourer in the ministry of Christ. "Let us therefore give thanks unto God, the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who willed, that by the ministry of his servant Matin Luther, the mire and poison should again be cast out of the fountains of evangelical truth, and the pure doctrine restored to the church. Wherefore, it becomes us and all good men throughout the world, to think of this, and to unite in prayers and desires, and to cry unto God with fervent hearts, that he would confirm in us what he has thus wrought, for his holy temple's sake. This, O living and true God, eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the author of all things in thy church, this is thy word and promise-" For mine own sake will I have mercy upon you. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake will I do it, that my name be not blasphemed," Isaiah xlviii.-I cry unto thee with my whole heart, that for thine own glory, and for the glory of thy dear Son, thou wouldst never cease to gather unto thyself from among us, by the preaching of the Gospel, an eternal church. And that, for the sake of thy dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was crucified for us and rose again, our Mediator and Intercessor, thy Holy Spirit may in all things rule our hearts, that we may call upon thee in truth, and serve thee acceptably. -"And since thou hast created mankind to the end that thou mightest be acknowledged and called upon by all men, and hast for that intent, manifested thyself in so many eminent testimonies, who have borne witness of thee; suffer not this army of witnesses to fail, from whom thy word of truth sounds forth. And since thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, just before his final agony, prayed for us, saying, "Father, sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth," to these prayers of our |