Newly translated from the Latin.
It is not without reason that this book of St. Augustine should be read publicly in this school, especially at this time of ours, when the papists, more than the Pelagians, are also furiously persecuting the grace of God by which we are made righteous by grace in Christ, so that they may defend and fortify their credentials, masses and merits. For this reason, those who are concerned with theology must familiarize themselves with this book, so that they may resist and refute the angry speeches of the papists, who cry out that we are bringing a new kind of doctrine into the church. For this book of Augustine is not new, but convicts the papists that they are the inventors of new doctrines, who have introduced their impious and blasphemous opinions alongside this old doctrine put forward by the apostles, with which they have scourged, crucified and buried it.
There goes with them an even devilish speech, which, however, is taken by them for a theological rule, namely, that Augustine had gone too far in these things in his words. For in such a way they sought to nullify the teaching and the work of the holy man, so that they would not be able to be recognized by the reputation of
of St. Augustine, and forced to let go of their worthless little bundles. Thereby they bear witness against themselves that they have not taught and defended their abominations out of ignorance, since they knew and read very well that Augustine teaches completely different from them. One of them, Gregory of Rimini (Ariminensis), dared to bring Augustine to Paris and to oppose him to the Sophists in this matter, but he did not succeed, because the theologians of the Sorbonne suppressed him and, according to their Pharisaic arrogance, decided that Augustine had gone too far in his speeches.
Since it is not within everyone's means to acquire all of Augustine's works, it seemed necessary to publish one and the other of St. Augustine's books for the less able, so that everyone might see that we are neither the first nor the only ones, who have dared to challenge the godless theology of the Sophists, that neither we, but rather they themselves, have been the originators of new things in the Church, which have left the limits set by the Fathers and have led the hearts of the simple along their crooked paths and
*The book to which Luther wrote this preface was published in 1518 in Wittenberg in octavo under the title: Augustini liber de spiritu et litera, cum praefatione et praemonitione lectoris. Another edition there in 1545. 8. does not contain Luther's preface, but, as Walch, Vol. XXIII, p. 15 notes, "another preface, which tastes like Melanchthon's writing and method. In Latin, Luther's preface is found in Aurifaber's collection of letters, tom. I, toi. 55 with the remark: ex VutoArapüo üe^ripta, and printed from it in the Erlangen edition, opp. var. ar^., tom. VII, p. 488. German in the Leipzig edition, vol. XXII, appendix p. 75. We have retranslated according to Aurifaber.
1) have fallen into error (as the Scriptures [Ps. 125:5, 95:10] speak), so that, according to the words of the prophet, Christ's people have forgotten him since time immemorial and have been forced to fornicate with innumerable wooers who have left them no rest by day or by night.
In praise of Augustine, however, I will say nothing else here than this one thing, which, taught by experience, I can assert with certainty, that, according to sacred Scripture, there is no teacher in the Church who can be compared with him in Christian learning. To others I concede their praise; they may speak like Chrysostom, be versed in secular sciences like Jerome; but if you gather them all in one heap-
1) Instead of colles at Aurifaber, we assumed calles.
you will not find half as much as in Augustine alone. Therefore, if you can and have time, choose this St. Augustine as your teacher according to the holy scriptures, especially where he argues against the Pelagians, Donatists and Manichaeans. For he is a man of thorough learning in Christ. Admittedly, he also wrote several books at the beginning of his activity, but I think that you should read these, because you have superfluous and idle hours, as I have lost not a few of them with Jerome, Chrysostom and similar people. If you do not believe me, who have experienced it, then you can certainly make the attempt yourself and regret it afterwards, just as I did. May our Lord guide and sustain us by His Holy Spirit, for His glory and for our blessedness. Amen.