ask to have given a more liberal and
polished rendering of Luther's language. But I think most readers
would prefer to have me give them Luther, rather than--the
translator. There are occasional roughnesses of expression, and some
sentences which were evidently not very lucidly reported, but they
are features of the book which presents Luther to us, and even the
wart on the face must appear in the faithful portrait.

For assistance in the labor of revising some of the more difficult
passages, I am indebted to Prof. ROBINSON, of the Union Theological
Seminary, and to Rev. M. BUSHE, pastor of a German church in this
city. By their aid, which I take this occasion gratefully to
acknowledge, I feel confident that nearly every passage, in which the
text of the original is not in fault, has been correctly rendered.

I had hoped, in this connection, to present an estimate of Luther's
writings, from the pen of one of the most eminent German scholars
which our country can boast. The permission to do so was kindly
granted, but the limited space allowed for prefatory remark forbids
it. I will only add the expression of my own conviction, that from
the exceedingly voluminous works of Luther, other selections of high
merit might be made, the translation and publication of which would
be welcomed with grateful acknowledgment by a large class of American
and English readers. I should be highly gratified if the
encouragement afforded by my words or example should induce any one
more competent than myself, or who can command more leisure for it,
to prosecute the work which I have only just begun.

E. H. GILLETT.
HARLEM, March 8th, 1859.

THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF ST. PETER

INTRODUCTION.

Before we enter upon this Epistle of St. Peter, it is necessary to
present a brief Introduction,[1] that it may be understood how this
Epistle is to be ranked, and in order that a right apprehension of it
may be attained.

[Footnote 1: Literally, _instruction_.]

In the first place, it must be understood that all the Apostles
present one and the same doctrine; and it is not correct to speak
of[2] four Evangelists and four Gospels for all which the Apostles
wrote is one Gospel. But _Gospel_ means nothing but a proclamation
and heralding of the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ,
merited and procured through his death. And it is not properly that
which is contained in books, and is comprehended in the letter, but
rath