Several years ago, among the dusty piles of old pamphlets stored awayupon the upper shelves of the Union Theological Seminary library, Imet with several works of Luther, in the original editions, as theywere issued during his lifetime from his press at Wittemberg. Amongthem were his Commentaries, or rather Lectures, on the Epistles ofPeter and Jude.* The forbidding aspect of the page, with theobsolete spelling of its words, and its somewhat coarse typography,was rather an incitement to master it; for here was Luther,presenting himself to the eye of the reader just as, more than threehundred years ago, he presented himself to the eyes of thousands ofhis countrymen. Upon a partial perusal of the Commentary, I becamesatisfied that it would repay a more attentive study; and finding,upon investigation, that it had never been translated into English, Iset myself to the task which had been so long neglected. The pleasinglabor was accomplished, and the manuscript laid aside for severalyears. The conviction, confirmed by a re-perusal of it, that othersbesides myself would be interested in the work, has led me todetermine on its publication.
* Another copy of this same edition of Luther on Peter,belonging to a clergyman's library which was sold at auction in thiscity, four or five years since, brought an almost fabulous price.
Luther's Commentary on the Galatians, excellent as it is, is toovoluminous and expensive to be very extensively circulated, while thephraseology of the early translation, which has not been modified,prevents its proper appreciation by modern readers. And yet any onethat would truly know the man, and the secret of his power, muststudy these in his writings. The Commentary on the Epistles of Peterand Jude, presented in a literal but more modern style to the Englishreader, is not liable to these objections; and yet, in the variety ofits themes, the clearness of its exposition, the stinging force ofits rebukes, the simplicity and directness of its language, it isscarcely surpassed by any of Luther's other writings. On the greatsubject of justification by faith alone, he is here, as in hisCommentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, full and emphatic. Therelation of faith to works is clearly and carefully defined, whilethe subjects presented in the text afford full opportunity fordiscussing the great questions that concern the relative duties of