dimmed by Luther himself, who with the
carelessness of genius refused to revise his outworn views in it;
and yet, despite its relics of mediaevalism, particularly by
reason of its firm evangelical foundation, its scriptural warp
and woof, its fervent piety, and its fresh and original
treatment, it is not less entitled to a high place in the
devotional and ascetic literature of the Church than the much
better known _Imitatio Christi_. In this sense it is herewith
offered anew to the English reader, with the hope that "the
diligent reading and contemplation of these 'images' may minister
some slight comfort."

6. Literature.--(1) The literary and historical introductions to
the Tessaradecas in the Weimar, Erlangen, and Berlin editions.
(2) Kostlin-Kawerau, _Martin Luther, sein Leben und seine
Schriften_. 5th ed., 1903, vol. I, pp. 280, 281. (3) H. Beck,
_Die Erbauungslit. der evang. Kirche Deutschlands_, 1883. (4) On
the fourteen Defenders see articles in Wetzer und Welte and the
Catholic Encyclopaedia, and especially the article _Nothelfer_,
by Zockler, in PRE3, where also see further literature.

A. T. W. Steinhaeuser
Allentown, PA.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Cf. the first sentence of the Prefatory Note, p. 109 of this
volume; also the dedicatory epistle of the _Treatise on Good
Works_, p. 184.

[2] We have noted a few of the more glaring relics of mediaevalism
in the footnotes; the attentive reader will discover and dispose
of others for himself.

[3] The title furnishes peculiar difficulties to the translator.
Cole has simply transliterated it, "The Consolatory Terradecad."
Spalatin paraphrased it "Ein trostlichs Buchlein," etc. The
Berlin Edition renders it, "Vierzehn Trostmittel," etc.

[4] See p. 113.

[5] Did the comment of Bernard of Clairvaux, on Romans 8:18,
perhaps contribute its quota to the general conception? "The
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the past guilt, which is forgiven (_remittitur_); with the
present grace of consolation, which is given (_immittitur_); with
the future glory, which is promised (_promittitur_)."

[6] An English translation, with some omissions that Luther
himself did not care to make is found in Henry Cole's _Select
Works of Martin Luther_, vol. II, London, 1824.

THE FOURTEEN OF CONSOLATION

(TESSARADECAS CONSOLATORIA)

1520

PREFATORY NOTE[1]

This book was written, early in my career, for that most
excellent prince, Frederick