Would that it might repeatedly befall me to be increased by the fertility of your address and strengthened by your erudition. For the fruit of a twofold glory succeeds by such an outcome, when both faith, grown languid with tepidity, warms at the address of a fervent exhortation, and the intellect, starved by its natural poverty, grows rich by the aid of a clear cultivator. Whence, if you deign it, with the office of a salutation accompanying, I presume to render the greatest thanks — that my response, given before the prince and, as you have indicated, carried to you by report, earned a competent verdict, not from my own mouth, but from your love. Although the most excellent prince, since he is fiery in discovering, ready in speaking, so scrutinizes human thoughts that he ever complies with assemblies by a most gentle hearing;
yet I set forth the course of my labor, the surface of prolixity being cut away. I say labor, because an unskilled sailor scarcely sustains storms rushing in with unexpected blasts. So then, when, by God's benefit, the weariness at last ceasing, public tranquillity had returned, I found the appointed contest as though the camp had long been changed. For a more insolent conflict ever attacks cowardly and unwarlike persons. First indeed, from the opposing side, the discourse of the proper struggle played its prelude. Then, as though from sudden ambushes, a transmarine vomit was poured out.
At length I came upon a blank sheet, effaced with age, which so mocked itself with its winding errors that, the respondent's freedom being kept intact, the perversity of its proposition found no way out, and out of its own instruments supplied weapons aimed at its own throat to the one who resisted. Why say more? The page which had begun to be read chose rather to consign itself to silence, so that it might become plausibly evident to all how divided, how flimsy, how contemptible is that persuasion which, though it had contrived manifold arguments, was unable to trouble one destitute of divine instruction. These things therefore I set forth again, so that whatever there is which pleases in the cause of God, I hold without doubt should be ascribed to you.
Indeed it is held in plain view that the file of your discourse has long since so shaped me, and that all the cultivation of your preaching so enriches the common good, that the see to which the heavenly judgment appointed you seems both to have bestowed much upon the one administering its office, and no less to have earned merit in the person of him who administers it. Lean therefore upon prayer, lord of my heart, and, as you are wont, a devout and unyielding guardian, implore God's help as much for yourself as for all, that the wall of faith may be shaken by no assault. And it must be seen to that you protect your sons and foster-children with unceasing customary correction, and, with the mightiest arms of doctrine, as we read, compel them to conquer together with you.