PREFACE.

THE following Sermons are taken from a recent publication, entitled ‘German Pulpit-Eloquence,’ and purporting to be a Collection of Discourses delivered by the most celebrated Lutheran Preachers.

At a time when the theoretical divinity of German authors has excited so much observation in England, the Translator conceived it might not be unacceptable to the British Public, to furnish them with some specimens of their more practical theology. In submitting this selection of Sermons to their notice, whether their peculiarities be considered beauties or defects, he claims no merit, and hopes to incur no blame: as his only object has been, whilst he occupied his leisure hours, to make his readers acquainted with the style of German vipreaching, and to give as faithful a translation as possible.

He thinks it right to observe, that he has abbreviated some of the texts, which in the original are often the whole Gospel for the day, and that he has rendered these, and the quotations from Scripture, not according to the Lutheran, but according to the English authorized version of the Bible.

He will only add, that such Sermons require no small exertions and powers on the part of the preachers, as they are delivered memoriter, and with much animation, and are nearly double the usual length of English discourses from the Pulpit.