A Christian Dictionary, Notice – Encomium 6
A short Aduertisement, touching the commodities of this Booke, and the things performed in it.
CVrteous Reader, albeit in my generall Preface and particuler Rules, I hauehave some-what discouered both my purpose, and the profit of this new vnwonted worke; yet for thy better encouragement to bestow the cost in buying, and paines in Reading, I hauehave heere distinctly and seuerally gathered the maine and manifold vses, whereunto this Booke may serue, if it bee rightly vsed and not abused, as eueryevery Booke (euen the best) may be, and are.
1 The most wordes of Holy Scripture, both maine and meane, both proper and borrowed; are heere plainely, and with few words expounded and opened, to help the Minister to interpret, and the hearers to vnderstand the Scriptures.
2 The sundry and diuers acceptions and scattered sences of one and the same word, are noted and gathered vnderunder one view, with fit places of Scripture, agreeing to the diuersities of the sence.
3 Where any word is by the Holy-Ghost drawne from his proper sence, to an improper and figuratiue signification, there ye hauehave the name of that Trope or Figure, set down vnderunder that Word, whether it be Metaphor or Metonimie, Irony, Sinecdoche, or some other; by which meanes, the reason of pulling many words from the Primitiue signification, to a secondary, may appeare.
4 Besides single words, this Booke interpreteth very many double words, compounded of a Nowne & an Adiectiue, or Epithite. Also sundry Scripture-Phrases be expounded.
5 In setting down the meaning of the words, this Dictionary doth very often point at some wholesome Doctrine, and sometime expresseth it.
6 All the wordes of foundation (as I verily trust) which contain the sure grounds of our Faith and Religion, are heere comprehended.
7 Heere bee giuen the definitions of the Capitall and chiefe matters, with due proofes of Scripture, to confirme eueryevery part of the definition, the better to expresse the nature of things.
8 You shall find not a few Theologicall distinctions and diuisions, the better to distinguish one thing from another.
9 Not onelyonly wordes, which beare difference betweene Protestants and Papists, are written downe and cleared in this Booke, but also there is a taste giuen, of the oddes and difference it selfe, in most points of Controuersie, between vsus and them, for the information of such as hauehave lesse profited, in discerning the differences.
10 There bee two thousand Texts of Scripture (at the least) declared and made plaine, to the vnderstanding of the simplest.
11 VntoUnto such words as be hard or waighty, I hauehave sometimes added, for fuller edifycation, short and easie obseruations, vnderunder this word [Note] being set in the Margent.
12 Lastly, this is not the least fruite that may come of this Dictionary, to the studious and well minded Christian, that it may cause him more narrowly to search and examine what signifycation eueryevery word of Scripture may beare: for out of mine owne experience, I may truly speake it, that since I took this Booke in hand, it hath caused me a great deale more thoroughly to marke the Scriptures, the sweete proportion and large compasse whereof, I know much better then euer I did.
Differences betweene this Booke, and M. WILLIAM KNIGHTS.
1 HIs Booke is a Concordance, mine is a Dictionary.
2 His is Axiamaticall, of simple propositions; mine is partly Verbaticall and Rematicall, as I may so speake, of Wordes with their signifycations: partly, Pragmaticall of things, with their Defynitions, Diuisions, and Obseruations Theologicall.
3 His serues for Doctrines, Reasons, & Vses; mine serues most for interpretations.
4 His helps Ministers to direct them to teach well; mine may helpe all, but cheefely hearers, to direct them to learne well. To be short, they do agree in nothing but the Generall truth, and in following the order of the Alphabet.
The Iudgement which a Godly Reuerend man (a Doctor of Diuinity) gaue of this Booke, in a Letter of his to the Author, after he had seene some part of it.
MY leasure would not suffer me to read so much of your Dictionary, as I wish I had: but that I hauehave perused, giueth me that good liking of it, that I assure you, I do take it to bee a very profitable worke, both in regard of the easie Method and order of finding out such matters as are therein contained; as also, for the sound exposition of such Wordes and phrases as you set downe: besides, the manifolde variety of thinges, which a man shall see in a Synopsis laide before his eyes. Of all which, the faithfull Reader (especially the Preacher of the word) shall make singular vse. I must therefore giuegive my best approbation to this worke of yours, as to other your godly labours in this kinde: and when it shall be finished, I shall bee glad to vse the benefit of it, and will aduise such as I am acquainted with, to do the like. Fare ye well.
Your Friend R. C.
WHosoeuer dooth but cast his eye ouer any part of this Worke, must confesse it to bee both painefull and ingenious: And (which addeth much to the commendation of it) this addeth not to any that went before. It is farre more easie to adde, then to inuent: and for ought that I know, the Author doth not build vponupon any other Mans foundation in this kinde. But that which Crowneth this, and all such Christian endeuours, is, the subiect whereabout it doth conuerse. For though it bee a Dictionary interpreting Words and Phrases; yet is it a Diuine Dictionary, teaching the Language of the Holy-Ghost in our owne Natiue toong, which if a man could once attaine to speake Naturally and kindly, he would be more powerfully eloquent, then if he spake with the tongues of men and Angels.
Roger; Fenton.
To the Christian Reader, studious of the Scriptures.
IT is the Custome of worldly men, so sure to lay vp their earthly Treasure, as there is no comming to it without a Key, because it is kept vnderunder locke, or lockes rather. Thus it fareth with the Heauenly neuer-withering Treasure, which being (as it were) lockt vp from all men (as they be the Sonnes of Adam) cannot be enioyed of them, without the helpe of a double Key. One, is meerely Spirituall and Principally held and kept in his hand, which hath the Keyes of the house of Dauid, to open the wits and vnderstanding of such as bee blinde by Nature. Luke 24, 45. and still more and more to illuminate such as bee alreadie taught of God. Psal. 119, 18. The other, is so Spirituall, as it is also Ministeriall; to wit, the Interpretation of Scriptures, eyther by vocall preaching, or by sounde Writing of such Scribes as be skilfull to open the worde of the kingdome. The former Key, thy humble faithfull Prayers must prouide, beseeching God thy Father most instantly, in the name of his sonne, to open thine eyes to make thee able to see the wonders of his Law. The latter (as from many other Diuine Lock-smiths) so from this Authour is ministred to thee in this present Booke; full of labour, and very lightsome. What remayneth, but that as a naturall man would be glad of a Key, to open the Lock where much Gold and Siluer is stored vp: so thou shouldst ioyfully embrace this worke, which leadeth thee to a Treasure more to be desired then Gold; yea, then much fine Gold. Farewell.
Charles Euars.
A Friendly Counsell to the Christian Reader, touching the vse and benefit of this Booke.
WOuldst thou, as all Gods children would, conceiue & vnderstand
What thou doost read in holy writ, as God doth thee command?Ioh 5. 39. Mat 22, 29. …. Cor 4. 7. Eph 3▪ 8
Wouldst thou attaine true sence of words, and matter in them hid,
What meaning each word doth containe, from error to be rid?
Doost thou delight to hauehave in-sight into the Sacred Treasure
Of Christs riches, and with thy …ill therein to take thy pleasure?
Then read this worke, which painfull hand hath wrought to ease thy paine,
That in reading Gods holy word, thou mayst reape greater gaine.
Our English tongue, from many tongues, a snatch and smacke hath taken:
As English-men, from forraigne men, their Coats and Sutes hauehave shapen.
Some words from French, and some from Greeks, mo from the Latines flow.
Some new, some olde; some darke, some plaine, some hard & strange to know.
Some, to some place do giuegive great light; some darken much …o…e Text;
Some generall in the first place, some speciall in the next.
Some properly sound in this clause, improperly in that:
What some words sound thou knowest right well; some sound thou knowst not what
So, oft-times thou leau'st off to read and search the holy Scriptures,
Because thou vnderstand'st not words, which hide their heauenly Treasures.
But lay this Booke on thy left hand, and Bible on thy right;
When doubt ariseth from a word, on Booke straight cast thy sight.
It will soone helpe to cleare thy doubts, and make plaine Text to thee▪Col. 1, 10. Ioh 13. 17▪ and 17. 3. …a. 1, 22.
That thou shalt know what God doth meane, and well his counsell see.
So shalt thou read, and in reading, encrease thy knowledge da…l…,
And knowledge of our God and Christ, with practise, makes men happy.
By R. Rauen.
To the Friendly Reader.
IT is a speciall duty of a good Teacher, to know and deliuer the sound and fit sence of the places and Texts of Scriptures; and of eueryevery good hearer to looke after the same, how to vnderstand rightly what he heareth and readeth. In this behalfe, how much the Church of God is beholding to that learned iudicious Writer, M. Caluin, all that are learned, do wel know, and willingly confesse: For when hee meetes with a place, wherein he seeth men hauehave made scruple, he doth in the end (after some sifting of the matter) strike the Nayle full on the head, with his resolute Census est, This is the sence or meaning of the place. And surely, we ought thankfully to receiue what heere this Author (though in many other respects, and in this also, farre inferiour to Caluin, out of whom he will acknowledge to hauehave suckt his best knowledge) painfully and freely offereth vntounto vsus, who heerein imitateth M: Caluin; For, as the one beates out the meaning of a sentence, so this present Writer, labours to presse and draw out the Kernel, which lyes hidde and wrapt in some obscure and doubtfull words. Finally, in humblenesse of heart, apply thy selfe to profit by this & other such profitable Books, as are framed to the edification of the godly Christians, in their most holy faith. Farewell.
Thine in Christ. I. S:
To the Christian Reader
ALthough words be the significations of things, yet as Aug. de doct. Christ. lib. 4. and cap. 11. saith verie well: It is a note of the best & wisest men, In verbis, verum amare, non verba, quid enim prodest clauis aurea si aperire quod volumus non potest? Aut quid obestlignea, si hoc potest, &c. In words, to louelove the truth more then the wordes; For what anayleth a Key of Gold, if it cannot open the Treasure that we would faine enioy? Or what hindereth a Key of Wood, if it can open it, &c. Lewes Viues hath fitly obserued out of Augustin de ciu: dei lib. 13. cap. 24. Quanti sit momenti ad omnes artes disciplinas que intelligendas vera & Germana vocabularum cognitio. The true and proper signification and knowledge of words, is a matter of great moment and consequence to the vnderstanding of all Artes. It is verie fit therefore (good Reader) thou shouldst imitate the wise Traueller, he will be carefull to attaine to as much skill as may bee in the Languages of all those parts and Countries through which he is to passe, that he may with the fewer inconueniences, be interrupted in the way, and with greater expedition may runne his intended race and iourney: So thou, in thine intended iourney to Canaan, if thou be ignorant of the Language, Customes, Wordes, Phrases, Meanings, and Orders of the place and Countrey, wilt meete with a World of inconueniences, to interrupt thine intention, and discourage thee in thy course, so as thou wilt either leaue off, or verie faintly and vncomfortably go forward. For as the same Augustine saith again verie truly, Nam aut ignotum verbū, facit haerere lectorē, antignota locutio; Either an vnknown word causeth the Reader to sticke, or an vnknowne Phrase and manner of speaking. Vse therefore this Booke, which God hath affoorded for thy good, and for thy guide, reade it diligently, and be much conuersant therein, it will be a faithfull guide and Interpreter vntounto thee; It will bring thee acquainted with the Language, Phrase, and Customes of Canaan; It will open vntounto thee the hidden Treasures of heauenly Wisedome, and it will tell thee in plaine English and easie tearmes, the minde and meaning of thy good God towards thee. Entertaine it kindly, and take it vp vntounto thee, as that Noble Eunuch did his guide Phillip. Acts 8, 31, 39. and it will make thee (as he did) go thy iourney with ioy and chearefulnesse. As the Sea-men and Marriners in their Uoyages, bee carefull to bring foreign so be thou in thine, as carefull to bring foreign, an vpright and sincere minde; and I doubt not, but thou shalt find it foreign, euen according to thy hearts desire, and answereable to thine expectation. Farewell.
B. S.