A Compend of the Controversies of Religion, To the reader
TO THE READER.
COurteous Reader, for ſhortneſſe ſake, and thine eaſe, I hauehave of manie places of Scripture, adduced theſe onlie, that are most plaine, pithie, and pertinent; and ſuccinctlie ſo touched the ſame, that I hauehave left to thy judicious attention, the further pondering of the ſame; and that out of them thou may ſee, that Fayth (as Sainct Iude ſayth) which was once delivered to the Saincts, and which we ſhould earneſtlie contend for: as alſo (as Tertullian ſayth, preſcrip. adv. haeret. c. 32.) That the doctrine of the Adverſaries beeing compared with the Apoſtolicke, by the diverſitie and contrarietie of it there-vntounto, doeth pronounce, that it hath for its Author, neither an Apoſtle, nor anie apoſtolicall man. VVhichWhich for a ſhort inſtance, their doctrine, concerning the Word, prohibiting people the vſe, or knowledge of Scripture (contrarie to Col. 3.16.) and concerning the Sacrament, their depriving them of the Cup (contrarie to 1. Cor. 11.28.) and concerning publicke Service and Prayers, …heir having the ſame in an vnknowne tongue, (contrarie to 1. Cor. 14.) against all ſubterfuges, doth moſt clearlie evince.
As for the Teſtimonies of Fathers, (keeping the nature of a Compend) I hauehave …yke-wyſe alleadged, of a number, a few of the fitteſt; where-as, (as Auguſtine ſayde to the Pelagians, lib. 2. de nupt. & concupiſc. c. 29. If I would hauehave collected all, it would hauehave beene too long a worke, and I would ſeeme, perhaps, to …aue had leſſe confidence in the Cano…icke Authorities: o… to hauehave equallie mat…hed, that which is ad pugnam, or victorie, …nd that which is fitteſt ad pompam, or …iumph together.
And laſt of all, I hauehave brought our Adver…ries owne Confeſſions: and ſo, (as is ſaid, …ai. 19.2.) I hauehave ſet the Egyptian, a…inſt the Egyptian; that by their owne grand …hampion, Bellarmine, the true verdict …ay paſſe on their Religion, who ſayth, That … is a moſt ſure note of falſe doctrine, …at hereticall Authors agree not amōgſt …em-ſelues. (Bell. lib. 4. de Eccleſ. c. …0. §. adde.)
In all which I hauehave had that care of agree…ent of each Text & Teſtimonie, with their Originall, that I dare appeale the knowledge and conſcience of the moſt malicious Gaineſayer of the Trueth there-of: and for facilitating thy paines, I hauehave by a diverſe Letter from the reſt, pointed at thoſe words, where-in (as Sampſon's ſtrength lay in his hayre) the force of each teſtimonie conſiſteth: Ayming ſinglie (the Lord knoweth) that (as Ierome ſayd to the Pelagians) the Trueth may onlie triumph, and Veritie may hauehave victorie. And beſeeching God ſo to bleſſe thy peruſall heereof, to His glorie, & thy good, that His grace may bee found effectuall to thy converſion, if thou bee contrarie mynded; or to thy further eſtabliſhing and confirmation, if thou be alreadie a Chylde of the Trueth.
Thine in CHRIST IESUS, W. Guild.