Revelation of Divine Majesty

Most Serene, High-born Elector: Most Serene, High-born Princes: Also High and Well-born Counts, Most Gracious and Kind Electors, Counts, and Lords.

Holy Scripture teaches us everywhere how many unnecessary cares, wasted efforts, and various strokes of terrible fortune men take upon themselves in this transitory world. Solomon especially gives us enough to understand in his little book on Wisdom Sapientia, in Chapter 8, with these words: Wisdom is of a noble heart, for her essence is with God, and the Lord of all things loves her. She is the secret counsel in the knowledge of God and a teacher of His works. If wealth is a precious thing in life, what is richer than wisdom, which creates all things? If it is a matter of prudence, who among all is a more skillful master than she? If someone loves justice, her labor is pure virtue, for she teaches discipline, prudence, justice, and strength, which are the most useful things in human life. If one desires to know many things, she can guess both what is past and what is to come. She understands hidden words and knows how to solve riddles. She knows signs and wonders beforehand, and how things will happen in various times and hours. Therefore, the aforementioned King also prays in Chapter 9 of the same book: Send her down from heaven and from the throne of your glory. Send her so that she may be with me and work with me, that I may recognize what pleases you. For she knows and understands all things. Let her lead me in my works and protect me by her glory, so that my works will be pleasing to you. Then I will judge your people rightly and be worthy of my father's throne.

If one wishes to weigh these sayings correctly, it will be found that this single wisdom is for kings, princes, lords, and rulers...