PREFACE.

Decorative drop cap 'H' with a floral and foliate woodcut border.How virtuous examples can awaken the soul to goodness is a lesson taught to us not only by sacred and secular history original: "heilige en onheilige geschiedenissen." In this context, "unholy" or "secular" simply refers to world history or non-biblical accounts., but also by daily experience.

And if there is anything that provides further occasion for this, it is the contemplation of paintings and printed illustrations; regarding the latter, as they serve our current purpose, we shall briefly say a few words.

First, one cannot deny that the portraits of great men—whose virtue and wisdom shone like bright, twinkling stars during their lives for the benefit of both State and Church—arouse in noble souls a certain desire for high esteem, and even for imitation. There seems to be an innate impulse within them that moves them, through observing the faces of these heroes, to trace their entire way of life in historical records The original term gedenk schriften refers to memoirs or chronicles used to preserve the memory of notable figures. and to adopt their virtues as their own. The same may rightly be said of depictions of edifying histories, which can leave no less of an impression on the heart, especially when they are wrought by the hand of an outstanding artist.

Secondly, one cannot be ignorant of how much light these images have provided to lovers of antiquity, especially when they are designed according to the thoughts of learned men or explained by a practiced pen, whether in prose or in verse.

Conversely, lewd prints can serve no purpose other than the corruption of all good morals: