The 12th part of the edition of Luther's works, edited by Dr. J. G. Walch, which is herewith presented to the public in a revised form, contains the second half of the church postilion, the interpretation of the epistles, and mixed sermons on evangelical and epistolary texts.
About the origin and editing of the Epistel Postils, the necessary has been noted in the preface to the 11th part. In the winter part, we gave the earlier editions preference over Creuziger's Postille of 1540, resp. 1543. The deviating readings are added with the same numbering as in the 11th part, a also designates here the edition of 1525, b that of 1528, c that of 1532, d that of 1535, f g that of 1540, resp. 1543.
The sermons and sermon collections printed in the second part of this volume are reproduced in the same order in which Walch first published them. In itself, of course, the principle followed in the Erlangen edition of Luther's "Vermischten Predigten", namely the arrangement according to the chronological order, is more worthy of imitation than the rubrication according to the church year chosen by Walch. However, the editors of the Erlangen edition were also unable to implement their principle.
and newly found sermons in the second edition with a break in the chronological order. And since we are able to publish a great many of Luther's sermons, which are missing in Walch's edition, in a supplementary volume, it is quite indifferent in which order we present the sermons contained in this volume, which form only a fraction of Luther's sermon literature, to the readers. Under such circumstances, it seemed the most obvious and advisable to retain Walch's order. What is particularly objectionable about this, namely that Luther's earlier and later sermons are thrown together in a colorful jumble, can be easily compensated for by adding a table that indicates the chronological order.
The text of these mixed sermons has been revised, mostly following the Erlangen edition, according to the oldest prints, and especially the often deficient translation of the Latin sermons has been improved according to the Latin original. The latter was available to us in the Erlangen edition, Opera varii argumenti, and in the Jena edition (II, 321-350). The pagination of the old Walch and Erlangen editions is also noted here and is also indicated for most of the sermons.
The sermons are given in the place where they are found in the more important and better known earlier editions of Luther's works. What was to be noted about the origin of these sermons, time, place and other closer circumstances, we have included in notes to the individual sermons and supplemented and completed the material given in Walch's preface from the notes of the Erlangen edition. In some of the sermons, which belong to Luther's first works, there are still some perceptible echoes of the papal religion and theology. Especially with regard to intercession for the deceased, intercession of the saints, and appreciation of Mary, Luther occasionally gave in too much to the traditional opinion. We have drawn attention to such statements in short notes. It is known,
As Luther himself later judged about his first writings, he himself admitted that he had conceded too much to the pope. But these are minor, vanishing unevennesses, which Luther himself has sufficiently compensated for. Also in these mixed sermons, the pure, evangelical doctrine is presented to the reader in strong, lively, original language and form. And so may this new volume of Luther's works also serve many Lutheran Christians for the edification of their faith!
The index attached to this volume, which refers to the 11th and 12th parts, was prepared by Mr. Christian Körner, who is involved in the editorial work, according to the same principle as the one attached to the two first published volumes.
St. Louis, on the Feast of the Epiphany, 1883.