De peste themata sacra tria

ANTIQUE VIR=
TUE AND NOBILITY,
to Lord Benedict von Erlach, my Lord & Patron.

A large ornamental drop cap 'S' featuring floral and scrollwork motifs.GREETING AND PEACE
from Christ Jesus. The matter itself, truly noble Lord, has long demanded that all men be instructed regarding the duty of a Christian, not only by word of mouth but also through writings, in this our age in which the trumpet call of the coming of Jesus Christ is heard. For how else should I name the pestilence, which is counted by Christ himself among the signs of his coming, and which grows rampant almost every year, and indeed in almost every place? Our age in turn (as you know it was also predicted) grows cold in all charity toward our neighbor, in which time, while such afflictions surround us, it was necessary to hold nothing more useful and precious. And in this great and voluntary evil of ours, and at such a time, when we are chastised by the secret rod of the Lord, many other peoples have long since surpassed us, just as we have surpassed them in other matters, so that while the state of affairs is miserable everywhere, it must not be overlooked. Some fear the contagion of the plague, where it would have been more worthwhile to fear that because they do not seem terrified enough, the people might be corrupted by the disgrace of a charity that is soon to perish. Indeed, this