Ioannis Vvolphii Tigurini De officio praeconis evangelici oratio, qua D. Pauli 2. Timoth. 2. locus explicatur, Stude teipsum probatum exhibere Deo, operarium non erubescendum, recte secantem sermonem veritatis

To Master Johannes Frisio and Master Christophorus Froschauer the Younger, most distinguished men, Johannes Wolf of Zurich sends greetings original: "S. P. D." (Salutem Plurimam Dicit).

A decorative drop cap 'P' introduces the text.
On the day before the Ides of January, when I was attending the reading of Master Martyr Peter Martyr Vermigli, Master Bullinger Heinrich Bullinger, a leader of the Swiss Reformation had also come there. When Martyr had finished his reading, Master Bullinger requested of me that which he was able to command, namely, that on the fifth day before the Kalends of February, I should speak about our office in the crowded assembly of brothers who were to come here into the city from the neighboring parts of the Zurich countryside. Therefore, when that day arrived for us, I delivered an oration, such as I was able to prepare in the small amount of leisure time available from my duties. In it, truly conscious of my own immaturity and inexperience, I followed the footsteps of the words of the Divine Paul and demonstrated, according to his very opinion, with the greatest faith and diligence that I could, with what spirit one should be endowed, to what matters and duties one should be dedicated, and finally, what way and method one should hold for administering divine things, if one has undertaken the task of preaching the Gospel. Indeed, I have named him who performs that duty an "Evangelical Herald" original: "Præconem Euangelicum" because Christ the Lord, whose studies and duties we preach among us, as he was about to ascend from these lands to the heavens...