Commentary on Psalm 124 125 and 129, Title page – To the reader
A word in Seaſon: BEING THE COMMENTARY OF Dr. Martin Luther, ON Three SELECT PSALMS: VIZ. The CXXIVth, CXXVth, and CXXIXth.
WITH His Commentary on ſome part of the Fourth and Fifth Chapters of the Firſt Epiſtle of St. Peter.
Being of ſpecial Vſe for the preſent Times.
ECCLES. XII. 11.
The Words of the wiſe are goads, and as nails fastened by the Masters of Aſſemblies, which are given from one Shepherd.
LONDON: Printed by George Larkin at the lower End of Broad-street, next to London-Wall. 1685.
TO THE READER.
Reader,
IT would be an unaccountable Preſumption for me to commend to thy good Opinion the Author of the Commentary on the Pſalms, and that part of St. Peters Firſt Epiſtle, preſented to thee in the following Sheets. If thou art a Proteſtant Chriſtian, and indifferently acquainted with Authors, thou muſt acknowledge Dr. Martin Luther, a Worthy of the Firſt Rank next the Apoſtles, if not the Firſt alſo in that Rank; or ſtand by thy ſelf, as ſome odd ſingle Exception, from the ſtream of thy Profeſſion. But if thou art a Roman Catholick, and ſo of a Denomination as contradictory to it ſelf, as thy Papal Principles are to Truth, Reaſon, Sence, and Humane Society, I muſt not hope the Authors Name (than which, to thoſe of thy Profeſſion, none is more abhorred) will commend his Work to thy Peruſal, much leſs thy Embraces.
That mighty Oppoſition which this Worthy met with in his Succeſsful Attempts of pulling down the Papal Power, was an Exerciſe for ſuch a Faith and Courage as the God of all Grace had filled him withal: And the Commentaries following expreſs as much of both, as any of his Numerous Tracts. And this conſidered, with the ſad Parallel of our Preſent Confuſions, and their Cauſes, with thoſe of his Days; Thoſe very Remedies (animated with the ſame Spirit) are with much reaſon propoſed for thy Support, under our preſent Calamities; if not alſo, as of ſome Tendency towards a Cure.
I doubt not but ſuch who have not proſtituted their Souls to their Senſuality, and their Religion to thoſe who bid moſt, and the Church of Chriſt to the Luſts of Antichriſt, will Accept and Approve of theſe Flowers out of Luther's Garden, as Eminently Seaſonable, and to a Spiritual Palate, no leſs Savoury.
I have no further to acquaint thee with, but that this Commentary is according to the Engliſh Tranſlation out of the Latin, Printed in the year 1615.