and with regard to those who live at this day, it is of no benefit to mention them all by name: Of
those who have spent most labour in this work, I will express my opinion.
Philip Melancthon, who, by his singular learning and industry, and by that readiness in all kinds
of knowledge, in which he excels, has introduced more light than those who had preceded him.
But as it seems to have been his object to examine only those things which are mainly worthy of
attention, he dwelt at large on these, and designedly passed by many things which common minds
find to be difficult. Then follows Bullinger, who has justly attained no small praise; for with learning
he has connected plainness, for which he has been highly commended. In the last place comes
Bucer, who, by publishing his works, has given as it were the finishing stroke. For in addition to
his recondite learning and enlarged knowledge of things, and to the clearness of his mind, and much
reading and many other excellencies, in which he is hardly surpassed by any at this day, equaled
by few and excelled by still fewer — he possesses, as you know, this praise as his own — that no
one in our age has been with so much labour engaged in the work of expounding Scripture.^10
As then it would have been, I know, a proof of the most presumptuous rivalry, to wish to contend
with such men, such a thing never entered my mind; nor have I a desire to take from them the least
portion of their praise. Let that favor and authority, which according to the confession of all good
men they have deserved, be continued to them. This, however, I trust, will be allowed — that
nothing has been done by men so absolutely perfect, that there is no room left for the industry of
those who succeed them, either to polish, or to adorn, or to illustrate. Of myself I venture not to
say any thing, except that I thought that my labour would not be useless, and that I have undertaken
it for no other reason than to promote the public good of the Church.
I farther hoped, that by adopting a different plan, I should not expose myself to the invidious
charge of rivalry, of which I was afraid in the first instance. Philipp attained his object by illustrating
the principal points: being occupied with these primary things, he passed by many things which
deserve attention; and it was not his purpose to prevent others to examine them. Bucer is too diffuse
for men in business to read, and too profound to be understood by such as are simple and not capable
of much application: for whatever be the subject which he handles, so many things are suggested
to him through the incredible fecundity of his mind, in which he excels, that he knows not when
to stop. Since then the first has not explained every passage, and the other has handled every point
more at large than it can be read in a short time, my design has not even the appearance of being
an act of rivalship. I, however, hesitated for some time, whether it would be better to gather some
gleanings after these and others, by which I might assist humbler minds — or to compose a regular
comment, in which I should necessarily have to repeat many things which have been previously
said by them all, or at least by some of them. But as they often vary from one another, and thus
present a difficulty to simple readers, who hesitate as to what opinion they ought to receive, I
thought that it would be no vain labour, if by pointing out the best explanation, I relieved them
from the trouble of forming a judgment, who are not able to form a judgment for themselves; and
especially as I determined to treat things so briefly, that without much loss of time, readers may
(^10) There were at least two other Reformers who had written on the Epistle to the Romans: but whether they were published
at this time the writer is not able to say. There is by Luther an Introduction to it, which has been much praised, and has attained
the name of the golden preface. Peter Martyr wrote a large comment on this Epistle, which was translated into English early in
Queen Elizabeth’s reign, in the year 1568. It is rather remarkable that there was no commenter among our English Reformers,
while on the Continent there were a great many commentators. — Ed.