A Christian Dictionary, Title page – Dedication 2
A Christian Dictionarie, Opening the signification of the chiefe wordes dispersed generally through Holie Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, tending to increase Christian knowledge.
Whereunto is annexed: A perticular Dictionary
For the Reuelation of S. Iohn.
For the Canticles, or Song of Salomon.
For the Epistle to the Hebrues.
By Tho: Wilson Minister of the Word, at Saint Georges in Canterbury.
EueryEvery word of God is pure.Prou. 30, 5.
Ye erre, because ye know not the Scripture.Mat. 22, 19.
Wordes, are notes and markes of things.Aristotle. Galen lib. 1. de Method. cap. 5.
Whosoeuer is ignorant of words, shall neuer iudge well of things.
I Ubi plura, aut diuersa eiusdem vocis significata afferuntur, prima sunt propria & genuina, caetera metaphorica.Mercerus in Pagn.
Dictinctio vocis ambiguoe, primúm sit in omni rerum consideratione.Keckerman System. Log.
LONDON, Printed by W. Iaggard. 1612.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, THE Lord WOTTON, Baron of Marleigh, one of his Maiesties Priuy Counsell, Comptroller of his house, and Lieutenant of Kent, his very good Lord: T. W. wisheth all happinesse in Christ, now, and heereafter for euer.
AMong all Sacred and Diuine Bookes, which teach that great Mystery of godlinesse (Right Honourable) there are none more Mysticall, then the Canticles of Salamon: The Epistle to the Hebrewes: and the Apocalipse or Reuelation of S. Iohn. In the first of these three, we are by a continuall Allegorie of Mariage, instructed in the most sweet and straight coniunction betweene Christ and his Church. In the second, vnderunder comparison, with Tipes and Figures of the Law, we do learne the perfection of Christs Priest-hood and Sacrifice, for full reconciliation of all elect sinners with God. In the third (which hath as many Mysteries, as words) by dark Propheticall Phrases, wee hauehave fully deciphered the condition of the Christian Church, till the returne of Christ her Husband; together, with the certaine ruine, both of Turkish and Popish Regiments, as most infest enemies to the spouse and truth of God. The explication of these portions of Sacred writ, by an easie and familiar way of a Dictionary, I hauehave thought it my dutie (humbly crauing your Lordship so to interpret it) to dedicate vntounto you (my Right Hon: good Lord, to whō for manie respects, especially for your gracious fauour to my meane selfe, and your great affection to the Diuine truth, I holde my selfe much indebted) as I hauehave put foorth a generall Register of Sacred wordes, with their significations, scattered throughout the whole Bible, vnderunder the Names of three Right Reuerend persons, mine especiall Benefactours. If by my Diuine Candle, there shall arise any light, for the better vnderstanding of heauenly and Holie-Scriptures; let all glorie be giuen to him, who is the Father of Lights, from whose Light, we all receiue Light; and vntounto whose blessed guiding & protection, I commit your Honor, with your right Honorable and vertuous Lady, & hopeful Children. From mine house in Cant. Decem. 1611.
Your Honors bounden Seruant, and dutifull Chaplen, Tho: Wilson.
TO THE RIGHT Reuerend Fathers in Christ, my Lord Bishop of Carlile, and of Worcester. Also, to the Right Worshipfull, Mr. Doctor NEVILE, Deane of CHRIST-CHVRCH, in Canterbury; THOMAS WILSON, wisheth all health and Happinesse, from Christ our Lord.
RIght Reuerend, that which King Asuerus saide of Mordechaie, when he found by reading in the Chronicles the great pleasure he had done him, by discouery of a dangerous treason against him, What Honor and dignity (saith he) hath bin done to him for this? The like (though not the same) may I say, concerning your Lordships and Worship, vponupon recording with my selfe, the many and great fauours which you hauehave done me from my youth, to this day: what duty and seruice (for I may not say, what Dignity and Honour) hath bin returned to you for all this? My Conscience doth aunswere me with some checke, as his Seruants answered their King: There hath beene nothing done. If vponupon this aunswere, that Heathen man entered into some deliberation with himselfe, how to recompence Mordoche, my checke would proue a sting in the end, if I should alwayes suffer my selfe to forget your very great and most constant Good-will and benificence. For one of you; to wit, my Lord of Carlile, was vnderunder God, the foundation of all the learning and preferment which I enioy, hauing cherrished me in his Colledge (whereof he was a most worthy Prouest and Gouernor, neglecting himselfe and his, for the good of his house;) and afterward, sending mee to the place where yet I abide, by Gods goodnesse; and there hauehave beene, and still am much comforted through the great louelove & care of that Reuerend and most courteous Deane of that Church, whereof I am a Member. The third, vouchsafing me his louing respect, both long before and since hee was aduanced to his first Sea. Entering into some deliberation, what I might do, not for dignifying you (albeit that were my part to do, were it in my power) but for deliuering my selfe from suspition and imputation of an ingratefull minde, I resolued to presume vponupon your great and well approued benignity and patience to dedicate to you, and vnderunder your three names (being for your place and painfulnesse, cheefe setters foorth, and teachers of Christianity) to publish a great part of this my Christian Dictionarie, which with much and long labour, and not without some fruite (I hope) to the Godly Professors (for whose sake and good, cheefely, I meant it) I am sure, vvith much gaine of knowledge, and encrease of iudgement to my selfe, I hauehave at length (as I could) finished it. VntoUnto which, if your Honourable Lordships will affoord Patronage, Countenance, and gracious Aspect, I shall in such wise, acquite some part of bounden dutie towards you, as yet I will acknowledge my debt encreased▪ by the addition of dignity vntounto me▪ so to grace this poore but painfull Work▪ as it may hauehave shelter vnderunder your wings, against the carping Tongues of the enuious, who neither will put forth their strength to do good, nor yet will beare with others, which desire to employ their Talents. Thus crauing pardon of my boldnesse, and submitting my selfe and endeuours to your fauourable acceptance, I commend you all three, to him who is one in Essence, and three in persons; the Blessed Trinitie, in vndeuideable Vnitie. Whose wisedome and power, euer guide and defend you in earth▪ till his infinite goodnesse and mercy, hauehave glorified you in heauen.
From my house in Canterbury. An. Dom. 1611.