not
believe this, he hears the tale with deaf ears,[78] and does not
know Christ, and understands neither what blessings He hath nor
how they may be enjoyed.

Therefore, if we considered it aright and with attentive hearts,
this image alone would suffice to fill us with so great comfort
that we should not only not grieve over our evils, [Rom. 5:3] but
even glory in our tribulations, nay, scarcely feel them, for the
joy that we have in Christ. In which glorying may Christ Himself
instruct us, our Lord and God, blessed for evermore. Amen. [Rom.
9:5]

EPILOGUE

With these prattlings of mine, Most Illustrious Prince, in token
of my willingness to serve your Lordship to the best of my poor
ability, I commend myself to your Illustrious Lordship, being
ready to bring a worthier offering, if ever my mental powers
shall equal my desires. For I shall always remain a debtor to
every neighbor of mine, but most of all to your Lordship, whom
may our Lord Jesus Christ, in His merciful kindness, long
preserve to us, and at last by a blessed death take home to
Himself. Amen.

Your Most Illustrious Lordship's
Intercessor,
Brother Martin Luther,
_Augustinian at Wittenberg._

FOOTNOTES

[1] Written by Luther for the last edition of 1535.

[2] Compare to the Preface to the Complete Works (1545), page 11
of this volume.

[3] _Antilogistae_; the hunters of contradictions and
inconsistencies in Luther's writings, such as John Faber, who
published, in 1530, his _Antilogiarum Mart. Lutheri Babylonia._
Compare also reference in preceding note.

[4] As over against Christ and the saints in His train, the devil
and his followers are represented here, as frequently in Luther,
under the figure of a dragon with a scaly tail.

[5] Omitted, through on oversight, from the Latin _editio
princeps_. See Introduction, p. 105.

[6] On the political influence of Frederick, as a factor in the
German Reformation, see Hermelink, _Reformation und
Gegenreformation_ (Kruger's _Handbuch der Kirchengeschicte_, 3.
Teil), p. 67.

[7] _Tessaradecas_.

[8] See Introduction, pp. 106 f.

[9] In the body of the work Luther places (6) between (3) and
(4).

[10] A reminiscence of Luther's childhood?

[11] Luther has particular reference to the Elector's high rank.

[12] Luther follows the Vulgate numbering of the Psalms, which
differs from the Hebrew (and the English and German). As far as
Ps. 8 both agree; but the Vulgate