On the Reasons of the Holy Spirit, Book II

(and, as Galen said, bring forward many things but prove nothing), nevertheless originated from the same Spirit, the parent of nature. I shall confirm this with demonstrations sought from inner philosophy, with nature, his daughter, as the guide. Although the holy Church of Jesus Christ does not need these demonstrations, and has enough faith for itself through the authority of God and perpetual tradition, nevertheless, because it is necessary to persuade or dissuade others—who rely on false authority or even attack it—not only with its own authority (though it is divine, most true, and most excellent) but primarily with reasons, I have undertaken this work. In it, the reader should acknowledge nothing as mine, unless it be like me, that is, unstable and poorly founded. For this alone is mine: that which is imperfect. The rest is the gift of Almighty God, distributing His own things as He wills. The concord of the whole pertains to the sacred, profane, and mixed orders of the Christian world; for it is necessary that the world depend on their decrees before it can be happy. The sacred order receives strangers into its embrace and hands them over to the assembly of all. The power of the Holy Spirit, even if the world is alienated from the knowledge of the Son and the Father, never ceases to offer itself. This is the reason for both the works and the inscriptions. Farewell, O chief creature of the end of the universe. 1543.