Revelation of Jesus Christ

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An ornamental woodcut headpiece featuring symmetrical, elaborate scrollwork and floral patterns, with two bird-like mythical creatures or griffins at the outer edges.

Preface to the Reader.

According to Jeremiah 9, the wise man should not boast of his wisdom, nor the strong man of his strength, nor the rich man of his riches; rather, he who wishes to boast should boast of this: that he understands and knows the Lord.

Although everyone twists and bends these heart-felt sayings, as well as others, according to their own whim literally: "according to their own brain", in such a way that one cannot sufficiently exalt himself over another in boasting of such wholesome knowledge: therefore these voices ring out everywhere: "Here is the temple of the Lord!" "We have Moses and the Prophets!" "We are from our father Abraham!" "We stand in the line of succession from Peter original: "Linea successione Petri"; the theological claim that a church's authority is derived through a direct chain of bishops stretching back to the Apostle Peter."

Even though—I say—such and similar shouts of acclaim original: "acclamationes" and protests original: "reclamationes"—arranged like a three-part musical choir original: "Musici chori"—resound and are driven throughout the whole world beneath the spherical clouds of heaven to the point of hoarseness for many original: "usque ad raucedinem multorum", yet to the sensible man, when he with his eyes