"Vice" in Latin?

[MichaelJYoo]

How would the word "vice" affect the meaning of the sentence:

"Non opus esse arbitror ut praefationis vice Theologiam vobis laudem, aut ab istis titulis commendem quos meretur, & suo jure sibi supra alias omnes scientias vendicat."

I have:

"I judge that there is no need that I praise theology with you after the manner of a preface, or from those titles which I commend is earned and by its own right claims for itself above all other sciences."

 

[Pacifica]

praefationis vice = "by way of a preface"

aut ab istis titulis commendem quos meretur = "or that I commend it on account of those titles [of honor] which it deserves"

 

[MichaelJYoo]

praefationis vice = "by way of a preface"

aut ab istis titulis commendem quos meretur = "or that I commend it on account of those titles [of honor] which it deserves"

Gratias tibi ago, Pacifica.