Theater of the World

Good-hearted reader.

kingdom of death, sin, and hell—the devil strikes him back in the heel; he has tormented and killed him, but only bodily, and he plagues, crucifies, torments, and kills men also, but especially Christians, to whom such things happen only bodily according to the example of their Lord.

But about all this, as well as the question of why the Christian Church and pious people are primarily subjected to so much misfortune, the cross, and adversity, will be taught and reminded more extensively from the Holy Divine Scripture, here and there, in the writings of our blessed preceptor, the venerable and highly learned Master Philippi Melanthonis (whose soul is without doubt in God's hand, but whose name is thought of among all honor-loving people in all good things). So too will it be taught how all God-fearing people should comfort themselves in such thoughts and cases from God's Word and, with it, resist all misfortune, death, and the devil. Therefore, I leave it at this.

Whoever wishes to read something more about the misery, tribulation, and sorrow of men, and also their vices and sins (which are not only very common at the present time, as some who have not read the histories of the Christian Church and the world diligently might want to believe, but have been in swing at all times), let him take this little book into his hand, in which many things are treated extensively. For in it, man is first compared with all animals, and it is concluded from that that