Treatise Concerning the Trinity of Persons in Unity of the Deity, Title page – Dedication
A TREATISE concerning the Trinitie of Perſons in Vnitie of the Deitie.
Written to Thomas Mannering an Anabaptiſt, who denyed that Ieſus is very God of very God: but man onelyonly, yet endued with the infinite power of God. (⸪)
Imprinted at London by Simon Stafford, dwelling on Adling hill neere Carter-lane. 160….
TO MY VERY LOuing and deare friend Maſter Thomas White, a Citizen of Briſtow.
WHile I was at Norwich, in the yeere 1597. I writ this Treatiſe vponupon ſuch occaſiō as appears therein, and deliuered it vntounto that Heretike, that by himſelfe, if God would, he might conſider and be perſwaded Since which time I hauehave kept it by me: and though ſome of my priuate friends deſired copies; yet allowing that wiſdome of Solon, who would make no law againſt Patricide, leaſt the mention of the fact might giuegive occaſion to commit it: and withall conſidering that it is too ſ…mple and poore for the publike view; I hauehave hitherto refuſed to make it common. Yet now perceiuing a preſent neceſsitie, becauſe that ſ …me of late hauehave wandered in this labyrinth: & withall remembring, that of any weakling ſhall hereafter entertaine this opinion, he may, before he be wholy poſſeſſed therewith, find the abſurditie of it and be reformed▪ that many a nouice in Chriſtianitie, who therefore doubts of the trueneſſe of his Religion, becauſe he findes no familiar reaſon to perſwade, but onelyonly the racke of authorities to … him to acknowledge it; may perhaps be hereby ſatisfied and find comfort: and that they who are already ſtrong, may by this ouerplus, triumph in the goodneſſe of God, who requires them to beleeue no more, then they may by that vnderſtanding, which he hath giuen them, be perſwaded of: I hauehave for their ſakes, who may reape benefite thereby, ſet at nought all other Cenſurers, not guilty vntounto my ſelfe of any offence which I can commit in making it publike. Such as it is, accept (good maſter White) as a parcell of that aſſertion, which may hereafter follow, of eueryevery article of our Chriſtian faith; if God ſhall vouchſafe me vnderſtanding, leaſure, and maintenance thereto. I therefore offer it vntounto you, both becauſe I know you are diligent in reading bookes of good argument; and becauſe I hauehave none other meanes, whereby to ſhew my ſelfe thankefull for your manifold kindneſſes and your louelove. At London, this 20. of April. 1601.
Your louing and aſſured friend, A. G.