Oration on the necessity of joining together the schools and the ministry of the Gospel, recited by Doctor Bernhard Ziegler.

At this point custom imposes on me the need to speak of an ecclesiastical topic, and the choice is difficult for many reasons amidst such a multitude of things of the greatest importance; but in the end I have chosen a most ordinary subject-matter, the consideration of which should nevertheless lead to stimulating the study of literature, and confirm us in loving this kind of life more, and in bearing with greater strength the toil of this task. For I wish to speak of the schools of Scriptures, and to show that the schools have always, by God's counsel, been joined to the churches, and that they need to be joined.

Indeed, it is of great delight to me, when I recall to mind all the ages of the Church and the entire chain of history, to see, as if before my eyes, so many luminaries of humankind – Adam, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Joseph, Elias, Elijah and the Apostles. I believe that for you, too, the recalling to mind both of such great men and of the excellent things that they have accomplished is highly enjoyable. And even if, consequently, in the choice of argument I was swayed by the pleasantness of these things, nevertheless the following was the more important reason.

I know that we scholars are not only despised, but also hated.