LORD WILHELM,

Duke of Saxony, Jülich, Cleves, and Berg,

Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen, Princely

Count of Henneberg, Count of Mark

and Ravensberg, Lord of Ravenstein, etc.

The list of titles reflects the complex territorial holdings of the Ernestine line of the House of Wettin. Duke Wilhelm IV (1598–1662) was a significant patron of the arts and sciences in Weimar.

My by far most merciful Prince and Lord,

TO THE SONS, EMULATORS

OF THEIR ANCESTRAL VIRTUES,

original: "Patritarum Virtutum Æmulis." The author is praising the sons for striving to match the moral and leadership qualities of their father.

TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND MOST HIGH PRINCES

AND LORDS,

LORD JOHANN ERNST,

LORD ADOLF WILHELM,

LORD JOHANN GEORG,

LORD BERNHARD,

Dukes of Saxony, Jülich, Cleves, and Berg,

Landgraves of Thuringia, Margraves of Meissen,

Princely Counts of Henneberg, Counts

in Mark and Ravensberg, Lords

in Ravenstein, etc.

These four sons would later divide their father's lands into various duchies, including Saxony-Weimar and Saxony-Eisenach.

To my most merciful Princes and Lords

THIS BOOK

as a testimony of most humble obedience

With a devout prayer for every kind of divine grace

D. D. C.

original: "D. D. C." is an abbreviation for "Dedicat, Donat, Consecrat," a formal Latin formula meaning "He dedicates, grants, and consecrates [this work]."
JOHANN ERNST GERHARD, Doctor and Public Professor of Sacred Theology
original: "SS. Th. D. & P. P." standing for "Sacrosanctae Theologiae Doctor et Professor Publicus." This confirms the author's status as a high-ranking academic at the University of Jena.