Vita clarissimi viri D. Iosiae Simleri Tigurini, S. Theologiae in Schola Tigurina Professoris fidelissimi

to which they were born, or rather to which they were given to us by God himself—devoted all their studies and counsels? And if this honor was once attributed to those who, lacking true religion, were endowed not so much with true virtues as with certain images or shadows of virtues, how much more justly should the same honor be bestowed upon those who, adorned with true religion and true, solid virtues, have enriched both the entire human race and, especially, the Christian commonwealth with many advantages and ornaments?

We would therefore be most ungrateful if, while the pagans were so diligent in describing and celebrating the men of their own people, we Christians did not pursue the memory of our own—that is, the greatest of Christian men who have served the Christian commonwealth so well—with the same kind of honor. Furthermore, the descriptions of such outstanding men also contribute to the honor of the fatherland itself, which we must promote in every way. For the more abundant a city or region is with pious and learned men, the greater and more illustrious its praise should justly be considered. For it is not buildings, whether fortified or shining with gold, silver, and marble, that should be considered the true ornaments and foundations of commonwealths and kingdoms, but rather men who excel in piety and doctrine. Therefore, they cannot be praised without the fatherland, their parent and nurse, also being praised: just as we see that the praises of children often redound to their parents and tutors.

What shall I say of the fact that these very descriptions pertain to the glory of God the Best and Greatest himself, to whom all our affairs should rightly be referred? For since all men, and especially those who are adorned with the extraordinary gifts and virtues of the Holy Spirit, are certain clear and illustrious images of God himself, they must be diligently known and contemplated by us. Since, therefore, all the goods that are praised in them are gratuitous gifts of God, which they drew from him as the most abundant source of all goods, they certainly cannot be praised without God himself, the munificent giver of such goods, whose majesty and virtue shine most brightly in them, being celebrated with due and deserved praises. And this is what the Holy Scriptures command us to do, that we praise God in his saints. Furthermore, for this reason alone the descriptions of famous men should not be neglected, because they have the greatest power to incite others to virtue and to deter them from vices. For if, as Sallust testifies, great power was once attributed to the images and likenesses of bodies to inflame men to virtue, then it must surely be believed that the likenesses of their very souls and virtues expressed in literature have an even greater—