De feudis theses LVI

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NO ONE, most Illustrious and Reverend Prince, do I believe fails to see that any kind of discipline and science contributes much not only to public utility and the preservation of human society, but also to the height of honor and reputation of those who do not disdain to turn themselves toward them. However, when a comparison of these doctrines is made, with the sole exception of the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, hardly any will be found that should be preferred to the science of law in these two benefits and fruits. For this science demonstrates to us, first of all, the most manifest arguments of the divine will, inasmuch as from it appears a certain elegant harmony and agreement of those precepts which were proposed and prescribed before our eyes in the most holy Decalogue of God and in other places of the Holy Scripture, from which it can be clearly gathered what is good, what is just, and conducive to the salvation of the Republic, and on the contrary, what is pestilential to it. Joined to this advantage is another: the distribution of rewards and the most ample dignities, which perpetually accompany this most sacred study. Since things stand thus,