PREFACE

Junillus greets the holy and most blessed bishop Primasius:

[1] You yourself know, venerable Father Primasius, that, aware of my life and subject, just as I do not deny that I have an enthusiasm for divine law, so I do not presume to say that I am a teacher of it, fearing that prophetic verse: "But God said to the sinner, 'Why are you recounting my acts of justice, and why do you take for yourself my covenant through your mouth?'" (Ps 49[50]:16). But when the interest of <your>see had forced you to travel abroad among your other most reverend fellow bishops all the way to Constantinople, out of a feeling of civility we came to acquaintance and conversation. But you, in that famous manner of yours, asked nothing sooner than if there was anyone who among the Greeks was burning with enthusiasm for and understanding of the divine books. To this I replied that I had seen a certain man, Paul by name, a Persian by birth, who was thoroughly taught by a school of the Syrians in the city of Nisibis, where divine law is taught by public teachers in an orderly and regular fashion, just as among us in worldly studies grammar and rhetoric are taught. [2] Then long asked if I had knowledge of any of his sayings, I said that I had read certain principles with which that man was accustomed to imbue the minds of his students, who were instructed in the superficial aspect of divine Scriptures, before he revealed the depths of exposition, in order that in time they might get to know the intention and order of the very causes which are found in divine law, that each detail might be taught not sporadically and chaotically, but in a regular fashion. You, Father, judged that these things in some way are necessary for all Christians wishing to be educated, and you forced me, long excusing myself, to the impudence of publishing. For this reason I collected these basic principles into two very short books, adding the useful form of speaking itself (as much as I could), in order that, as if with a teacher asking questions and his students answering, each detail might be said briefly and quite clearly; and lest any confusion might come forth through the negligence of scribes (as is usual), I placed the Greek letter delta [=didaskalos] before the teacher, but mu [=mathetai] before the students, in order that because of foreign characters, i.e., those which Latin writing does not use, every mistake may be completely prevented.

your>[3] There are other remarkable records of that man. For I have heard him rather subtly (as I think) explaining even blessed Paul's Letter to the Romans, which explanation I snatched up from his mouth, lest its memory slip away; but the thorns of cares and troubles keep us from bearing fruit in the Lord's field (Mk 4:7, 18,19). This one rashness is enough, that for the divine treasury from a manifest poverty I dare to cast these two mites (Lk 21:2; Mk 12:41-44). There are those who shower it with talents, whence they may be given to the poor; who can offer the divine sanctuaries the jewels of virtues, the gold of life, the silver of knowledge. I have in hand nothing more than these two mites, and themselves furnished by another. But surely I am guaranteeing much for myself from the Evangelical Weigher, because although others are able to bestow valuable things from among very valuable things, and many things from among very many things, I nevertheless have offered more because I gave my all.