D. Martin Luther.*)
1. the Psalter has the virtue above other books of holy scripture that it not only teaches all kinds of good things and presents examples, but also shows and instructs in the most refined way with chosen words how one should keep and fulfill God's commandments, i.e., how a heart should be prepared that has right faith.
and how a good conscience is to be held against God in all contingencies, how it is to be comforted and uplifted. In sum, the Psalter is a proper school in which one learns, practices and strengthens faith and a good conscience toward God.
(2) Therefore you see that there is no psalm that praises God's faithfulness, truthfulness, and truthfulness.
*This is (Weim. Ausg., Vol. V, p. 11) the closing word added to the Psalter in "das dritte teyl des allten Testaments" in 1525, which Roth refers to as "Ein ander Vorrede".
salvation, word, righteousness, and thus exercises the conscience in faith in God, so that one must grasp to fulfill God's commandment in sincere faith, in comforting confidence in His grace, and in joyful conscience in His mercy. Such a heart, which is of good courage in God, is the one that does and suffers all of God's will freely and with pleasure.
(3) But you also see the cross in all the Psalms; there is lamentation and crying out against the persecutors, punishment and rebuke against the wicked. For he who is to live in faith must suffer much for the sake of God.
The two pieces are abundant and powerful in the entire Psalter. So that both pieces are abundantly and powerfully practiced in the whole Psalter. One, how the spirit lives, fights, does and increases in faith through God's word and truth; the other, how the flesh dies, suffers, succumbs and decreases; and thus faith goes in death, and yet lives.
Whoever wants to read and understand the Psalter properly must pay attention to these two pieces inside, and he will find what a sweet and fine little book it is, and will learn all kinds of teaching, comfort, strength, joy and all the happiness his heart desires.