A Christian Dictionary, Encomium 7 – Distichs
CVrteous Reader, thou art much bound to blesse God, for the great plenty and aboundance of excellent Bookes, which by the handes of his painefull and godly Seruants he hath afforded thee, as helps and furtherances to bring thee to the sound knowledge, and right vnderstanding of his sacred word: But among them all, in my iudgement, there is no one in our Natiue tongue, that dooth more oblige thee to true thankfulnesse, then the Booke thou now beholdest, in regard of the great necessity and manifolde vse of the same; as also the exceeding rich profit and benefite, which (by Gods blessing, if thou make the right vse of it) thou mayst reap thereby. For beside the multiplicity and great variety of wholesome matter, which thou shalt finde scattered through the whole worke, heere thou hast most of the dark words and phrases contained in the Scripture, in Alphabeticall order; plainely, breefely, (yet fully) and soundly vnfolded; and in most places, the corrupt glosses of the Papists vponupon them, compendiously discouered and confuted. Heere thou maist at one view, see the diuers acceptations and significations of words, with the figures and Tropes denoted, in which the Scripture vseth them. By this Book, thou shalt be made able to distinguish of words, which in Scripture are ambiguous, to explaine wordes and phrases obscure, and easily to vnderstand such as bee hard and vnknowne. By this Booke, if thou be a Minister, thou shalt become Bonus Textuarius (for what is that but to bee able to giuegive the true meaning and gemine sense of the Scripture?) and bonus Textuarius est bonus Theologus. This Booke will make thee a more profitable teacher; for qui bene distinguit, bene decet. By this Booke (whosoeuer thou be) thou shalt be fortified to shield thy selfe (and haply others too) from errour, as also to see when others do erre, and to draw them out of errour; for errour springes from ignorance; that is, from misvnderstanding the Scripture. Math. 22, 29. By this thou shalt bee made skilfull, to discerne the voyce of thy Shepheard Christ Iesus, from the voyce of a stranger. Iohn 10, 3, 5. In a word, by this book in short space, and with no great labour, thou mayst plentifully abound in all heauenly wisedome and knowledge. So that, as one saith of Cicero; Sciat se multum profecisse, cui Cicero vnice placet; In like manner, it may more truelie be affirmed of this Booke; whosoeuer he bee that delighteth much in it, shall thereby gaine infinite benefit. The Authour hath beene pleased to entitle this Booke A Christian Dictionary, and so it is; for it interprets wordes. But it may also be worthily called; The Key of the Treasures hid in holy Scripture; the enemy of Ignorance; The high and ready path to Knowledge; The Discloser of Gods holy secrets; A light for Ministers, whereat they may borrow light; A Lanthorne for the people, to direct them in the Light: And to bee short, the way to make all the Lords people to prophesie, as Moses wished. Then Gentle Reader, be not without it, let it be continnally by thee, yet buy it not for Nouelty, because it is the first of this kinde that euer saw the light; but for the vnualuable worth of it. Sit tibi charus, non quia rarus, sed amatus quod amabilis; 1. amari dignus. Seneca saith; Noua, quamuis non magna, miramur. That we make much of new things, though they bee not great. Loe, in this Booke, they both meete together, heere is newnesse, and heere is goodnesse. This worke is new, and it is precious, how then, should it not much Inamour thee?
Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci. I. B.
The Epitome and Anatomy of this Booke, abridged and vnbowelled.
AS Starres from Heauen much light afford,
So do the words we find in Word.
But Starres shine not till they appeare,
Nor Words do teach, till sence we heare.
Then read this Booke, that thou mayst spie
Gods mind; thy minde to rectifie.
The signes of things it maketh bare,1. Significations. 2. Definitions. 3. Distinctions.
The things themselues it doth declare;
Yea thing from thing it seuereth plaine,
That better knowledge thou mayst gaine.
What oddes twixt truth and error is,4. Controuersall words. 5. Fundamentall.
It sheweth eke, attend to this:
The words which Fundamentall be,
Are all in Table placst for thee.
Eke words, whose matter Scriptures cleare,6. Ecclesiasticall.
Yet Words themselues do not appeare.
Praise God, apply thy minde to knowRequired vntounto right vse of all▪ 1. Thankefulnesse. 2. Humility. 3. Prayer.
All Words of his, both hie and low:
With humble heart this Booke admit,
And pray for grace to thriue by it.
The Dictionary to the Readers.
VNkend, vnkist, (saith Prouerbe olde)
LoueLove springs from knowledge, thus we hold:
To Christian world vnknowne am I;
Once knowne▪ you will not passe me by:
Though Booke of words my Title be,
Yet naught but matter found in me.
The Authors Reply.
FEare not; who loues the word of Grace,
Thee louingly he will embrace.
Ad Beneuolum, pium, & literatum Lectorem.
SAcra cupis (Dilecte Deo) mysteria Christi
citius & melius nosere? sume Librum,
Hunc tibi sume librum, Coeli namque abdita pandit,
& res, & voces ordine quasque locat.
Hîc facitè inuenias multo siue, multa, labore,
quaete, quaeque pios posse leuare scio.
Sed caue, non segnem reddat, reddat magepromptum
ad disquirendum quae liber iste tacet.
Sis si fortè gregis ductor, bene consule, nostris
vtere, si nescis tu meliora, pr…cor
Sui meliora feras, nostris atque addere caeptis
si inuat; & multis, & mihi grataferes.
T. W.
Distichon.
SIbona, quae noua, dulciaquae succincta futura:
hîc nouitas, bonitas, est simul hîc breuitas.
Aliud.
ANte simplicitas moueat, vel lu…idus or do?
aut charus liber hîc, vel tibi nullus erit.
W. M.