THE WORKS OF THE BLESSED THEODORET, BISHOP OF CYRRHUS, ALL THAT COULD BE FOUND. AFTER THE EDITION OF JACQUES SIRMOND, RE-EDITED BY JOHANN LUDWIG SCHULZE
TO THE MOST SERENE PRINCE AND LORD, LORD FREDERICK, ROYAL PRINCE, OF THE MOST GLORIOUS BRITISH LINEAGE, MOST HIGH DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, LÜNEBURG, ETC., AND TO THE MOST REVEREND BISHOP OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF OSNABRÜCK, MY PIOUS AND FORTUNATE AND MOST INDULGENT LORD, AS WELL AS TO THE MOST REVEREND, ILLUSTRIOUS, AND NOBLE LORDS OF THE SAME CATHEDRAL CHURCH, AND TO THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE MOST REVEREND CHAPTER, MY MOST GRACIOUS LORDS.
Most Serene Prince, most reverend Bishop, most reverend, illustrious, and noble gentlemen:
The reasons which have had such weight with me that I would dare to win for this work, which contains the writings of a most grave bishop, a perennial distinction and an altogether singular ornament through your most high name, most Reverend Bishop and most serene Prince, and at the same time offer this book to you, most reverend and illustrious gentlemen, as a testimony and pledge of my most devoted mind, are not to be sought from afar. These are the writings of the blessed Theodoret, once bishop of Cyrrhus, who earned merit in many respects for the Church and for all sacred matters, a most strenuous champion of the purer doctrine and most holy faith, and a most bitter adversary of paganism and heretical fables; a man, in short, in whom all those virtues which befit a bishop were joined in a friendly bond. Hence the very certain hope has arisen that the works of a bishop who so well deserved of the Church will not be lacking your most indulgent notice, most Reverend Bishop and most serene Prince, nor be altogether displeasing to you, most reverend and illustrious gentlemen. Indeed, one may augur this from your assiduous practice in the pursuit of piety, and it is also suggested by that tireless care with which you watch over the benefit of your Churches, and your favorable inclination toward writings that pertain to the most holy heads of doctrine.
An image worthy of the episcopal office, most Reverend Bishop and most serene Prince, you see delineated in these writings of the blessed Theodoret; and who is there who would doubt that it will one day be expressed in you even more brightly? Regarding the most splendid gifts granted to you by the Almighty, all who are subject to the scepter of the most invincible and powerful King of Great Britain, and who see you growing up into the hope of the age, rejoice with good reason: foreigners also admire you and turn their eyes toward you as an example of virtue placed in a high position. May God, the All-Highest and Greatest, grant that you may defend the most sacred person of the bishop for as long as possible; that with the increase of your years the salvation of your Church may also be stabilized and remain unshaken under your presidency; and that, with the safety and health of the whole most high royal house of Britain, your own [fame] may be more perennial than any bronze.
And you, most reverend and illustrious gentlemen, in whom the Church lives and acquires new strength daily, resting under your guidance, grant, I pray, some tribute to my piety toward you, which ought to be greatest, so that I may desire that these efforts of mine in restoring Theodoret be approved by you as much as possible. If it is permitted not, I shall say, to hope, but to be entirely persuaded of this, it will be something for which I shall rejoice