Thesium de vita aeterna et eius haeredibus decades X

TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS THEOLOGIAN, D.
ABRAHAM MUSCULUS, most vigilant Minister of the
Bernese Church, JOHANN JAKOB GRYNAEUS, sends greetings.

A large, ornate drop-cap 'Q' features intricate floral and scrollwork patterns.

That Periander of Corinth, when he had undertaken to dig through the Isthmus, was accustomed to say, as Laertius is the author: "Practice can do everything" original: "μελέτη πάντα δύναται". That comes to my mind, both in the occupations of human life and in the Theological Disputations, which also ought to stir up the gift of God in us, or as our Paul most significantly said, to "fan into flame" original: "ἀναζωπυρεῖν". For I have now experienced for several years in reality that for the pious and ingenious youth, if they have a faithful and practiced teacher original: "διδάσκαλον", as a common interpreter and guide original: "κοινὸν ἑρμηνέα & χειραγωγὸν", who may sharpen and nourish their talents, and ignite and foster their eagerness and love of learning original: "καὶ φιλομάθειαν", and who may provide the opportunity for discussing useful things in dialectical and calm Disputations, it is not difficult to prepare for themselves, with moderate study, an excellent knowledge of those things "which the city needs" original: "ὧν δεῖται πόλις", as he says, but as we say, "which the church needs" original: "ὧν δεῖται ἐκκλησία". And although, led by the consciousness of my own mediocrity, I ought by no means to profess myself the primary overseer original: "ἐργοδιώκτην" of Theological study, I am glad, however, that I have certain pious witnesses to that faith and diligence which God requires in the one who distributes and stores his oracles. It seemed good to me, O most ornate man, to send these Decades of Theses on the blessed life to you, so that you might see a sample of the Theological Disputations in which your son Wolfgang and other learned young men are occupied at this time in our Academy.
Farewell happily. Basel, the Kalends of May, 1580.

I. M. I.

Let the love of truth reign, look to the truth, you who teach,
Pure peace of Christ befits servants, anger befits sophists.