Oration given by Jakob Milich, Doctor of Medicine, in announcing the degree of Doctor of Medicine for Paulus Vadianus, for the study of anatomy. Wittenberg, 6 November 1550

Human gatherings have been established for mankind by God's wonderful wisdom for the purpose that one teach the other about God and about the nature of things, and God wants the voice of doctrine to ring out in public among men, good things to be praised and evil ones to be disparaged. He wants mankind to be ruled by those agreeing on correct judgements, and He does not want dispersed and straggling individuals to invent their own beliefs, whose variety overwhelm truth. God is afflicted by insult, and endlessly grieved by mankind. Therefore the assemblies of students and teachers and public meetings are established not only for shaping judgements, but also for curbing and subduing the wantonness and vanity of people's characters. Thus, in order that the young see and hear what kinds of subjects and which arts and masters are approved of by the judgement of the elders, it is the custom to declare our testimony in public. At the same time, orations are also given in these meetings – not out of empty display, but in order to advise the young about what knowledge of arts should be sought and which beliefs are to be avoided, so that God be worshipped in the right way, and also human nature be preserved as joined to the laws and true arts.