Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans

This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It
is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to
memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as
though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or
to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals
with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.
Therefore I want to carry out my service and, with this preface,
provide an introduction to the letter, insofar as God gives me the
ability, so that every one can gain the fullest possible understanding
of it. Up to now it has been darkened by glosses [explanatory notes and
comments which accompany a text] and by many a useless comment, but it
is in itself a bright light, almost bright enough to illumine the
entire Scripture.