Commentary upon the Fifteen Psalms of Degrees

THE PREFACE OF D. MARTIN LUTHER UPON the fifteen Psalms, called Psalms of degrees.

THE PREFACE OF D. MARTIN LVTHER VPPON the fifteene Psalmes, called Psalmes of degrees.

YE have heard me before many times declare in the beginning of my Lectures, for what cause I have taken in hand to expound the holy Scriptures: not for any desire I have to teach new and strange things which have not been known or heard before (for our divinity is so well known both in the Latin tongue and also in our own Language, that we may seem now to have more need of exhortation then instruction): but because the diligent teaching and setting forth of the word of God is a kind of Gods service or worship properly belonging to the new Testament, being much more acceptable unto God, more holy & excellent then were all the worshippings and sacrifices of the old Testament, and therefore even when the law was yet in his full strength, the holy Prophets of God, utterly rejecting the burnt offerings and other sacrifices of the law, did commend, above all other, the sacrifice of praise. In like manner also ought we so much the more earnestly & diligently to set forth this kind of worship, because that, after so great blindness wherein vv have lived, the wisdom of God hath (as the Sun in the mid day) appeared and shined unto us again. Therefore, like as it hath been counted a manner of servitude in times past, to hear a godly sermon (which men were wont to do even as they did their servile labours): so must we now otherwise think, that they which teach, read, write or hear ⟨image 5⟩the holy Scriptures, are Gods true Priests, which serve their God with a worthy and thankful kind of worship.

YE haue heard me before many times declare in the beginning of my Lectures, for vvhat cause I haue taken in hand to expound the holy Scriptures: not for any desire I haue to teach nevve and straunge thinges vvhich haue not beene knovvne or heard before (for our diuinitie is so vvel knovvn both in the Latine tongue and also in our ovvne Language, that vve may seeme novv to haue more neede of exhortation then instruction): but because the diligent teaching and setting forth of the vvorde of God is a kinde of Gods seruice or vvorship properly belonging to the nevve Testament, being much more acceptable vnto God, more holy & excellent then vvere all the vvorshippings and sacrifices of the olde Testament, and therefore euen vvhen the lavv vvas yet in his ful strength, the holy Prophets of God, vtterly reiecting the burnt offerings and other sacrifices of the lavv, did commend, aboue all other, the sacrifice of praise. In like maner also ought vve so much the more earnestly & diligently to set forth this kind of vvorship, because that, after so great blindnes vvherein vv haue liued, the vvisedom of God hath (as the Sunne in the mid day) appeared and shined vnto vs againe. Therefore, like as it hath bene counted a maner of seruitude in times past, to heare a godly sermon (vvhich men vvere vvont to doe euen as they did their seruile labors): so must vve novv othervvise thinke, that they vvhich teach, reade, vvrite or heare