Manichaeism before the Manichaeans, and its Revival in Christianity

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Regarding the first point, then—to speak briefly and concisely—no one will easily doubt that the excellent abundance of natural talent and learning which our age venerates in YOU, MAGNIFICENT SIR, and which a mindful and grateful posterity will preserve—namely, your incredible skill, unfeigned sincerity, and tireless zeal for that heavenly truth restored by the blessed The Greek phrase τῷ μακαρίτῃ (tō makaritē) is a respectful formula meaning "of blessed memory," here applied to Martin Luther. LUTHER under divine auspices, a truth to be defended with no less erudition than prudence against the impure deceptions original: "strophis," referring to clever tricks or sophistry used in arguments of more recent writers—have added a spur to me (who was already eager to run) to somehow acknowledge and, to the best of my ability, proclaim through this modest token of a grateful mind the benefit and delight I have drawn from these finest examples of a perfect theologian Theologi absoluti: an "absolute" or "complete" theologian was one who possessed both deep academic knowledge and practical piety.

Added to this is the fact that not long ago, you embraced me—though I was barely known to you by name—in familiar conversation with such great...