THE PROLOGUE OF GIOVANNI FRANCESCO PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA TO THE BOOKS ON THE DEATH OF CHRIST AND SELF-REFLECTION.

Ancient wise men
the highest good

A decorative woodcut initial 'O' features foliate scrollwork and a small grotesque face in the center.
ALMOST all the men of ancient times who
were commonly considered wise investigated
by whatever reason they could that highest
good for which the whole of nature yearns.
However, they established it for themselves in
different ways according to their own judgment regarding its nature and seat, with some leaving the path of truth and searching for it through steep cliffs and rugged paths, while others rejoiced in their own inventions and immersed themselves in the mire of pleasures. And although among this crowd of philosophers there were some who, having largely abandoned the devious and distorted path, approached the right one by the help of innate light, they all were nevertheless obstructed and, covered by the cloud of ignorance, strayed from the path of perfect virtue. They vanished in their cogitations Therefore, the Apostle Paul rightly judged that all had vanished in their thoughts. When the precepts of the divine law were promulgated through Moses Moses to the posterity of Abraham, who had been a most pure worshipper of God and had entered into an everlasting covenant with Him, the abundant splendor of truth shone upon the world, even if it was surrounded by a certain shadow. Yet, all the nations of the gentiles were able to look upon it, lest they either fall headlong while covered in the thickest darkness under the worship of idols, or become blind to the rays of the sun of justice by being content only with the dull brightness of human intellect. By the help of that law, the image of true happiness began to appear to men, albeit in shadow. Hebrews But not even the people of the Hebrews, to whom that law was given as a peculiar gift, rendered thanks worthy of the divine favor, since they followed foreign and adulterous gods and shook off the yoke of the supreme and true God. And finally, they neglected, mocked, and crucified the leader himself, who was promised in the law and in the prophets by his spirit—the one whose footsteps leading to beatitude they were meant to follow—that is, Christ, the Son of God, true God and true man. For this reason, because of so many perpetrated crimes, they were justly rejected, and Christians we were chosen: we, who worship Christ, and believe he was willingly and most freely crucified for the gate of heaven, which had been closed by the sin of Adam, to be opened to us, whom he embraces with the highest love.