A Christian Survey for the Conscience, Title page – Dedication
SPECVLVM CHRISTIANVM OR A CHRISTIAN SVRVEY for the Conſcience.
CONTAINING, THREE TRACTATES OF THAT EMINENT, GRAVE, and learned Diuine, Maiſter HIEROM ZANCHIVS.
1 Of the end of the World.
2 Of the perſ…uerance of the Saints.
3 A ſummarie Abridgement of his Praelections.
Engliſhed for the good of Gods Church, and for a warning to wicked and impenitent men.
By H. N.
Lege, intellige, dilige.
LONDON, Printed by GEORGE ELD. 1614.
TO HIS VERY REVEREND, GRAVE, AND learned Tutors, his good and louing friends, M. Doctor S…nton, Doctor in Diuinity, Deane of the Cathedral Church of …: And M. Iohn Knewſtub Bacheler in Diuinity, a vigilant Paſtor, and R… tor of the parochiall Church of C…ck-field in Suffol…e, H. N. p…a…th grace and peace, health and happines in Chriſt for euer. (⸪)
GRateful teſtimonies of thankefulnes and louelove are both Chriſtian and commendable; and exemplified by aIoh. 11. 3. 5. 35. 36.Chriſt himſelfe, by S. Paul, bRo 16. 4. 2. Tim 1. 16. 17. 18.and other moſt excellent inſtrumentsIngratum fi dixeris, ſceleſtum dixeri…. in the Church of Chriſt. This conſideration did (as it were) kindle the cole, and excite mine affections, to combine you both in this one ſignification of my thankful remembrance: you are ancient and kinde friends in fayth and louelove, and in the fellowſhip of that famous Society of S. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge; and trained vp (ab originibus) in one Nurcery of good literature in the Northern-parts, happily founden by Maiſter doctor Lupton, in the Towne of Sedberge, his owne natiue ſoile; from whence hauehave beene tranſplanted, and in due time, many hauehave ſprung vp, and ſo become goodly fruitfull plants, and ſome Cedar-trees, in the Church of England: my ſelfe likewiſe was brought vp ſucceſsiuely in the ſame Schoole, and, after, vnderunder your wings and comfortable Tuitions in the ſame worthy cVetus verbum; Illa …, totiu… …è Ora…um ….Colledge, whereof I was an vnworthy member, and doe bleſſe GOD that euer I knew the walles thereof: And withall, in retaliation of dutie, ſo long as I liue, I will inſtantly and ioyntly pray, as Moſes wiſhed to Ioſeph (and his ſeed) That dDeu. 33. 16.the good will of him that dwelt in the buſh, may come both vppon it and you. My mediocritie in any ſeruice for Gods Church (if there bee any in mee) is totallie your owne: and therefore I will verie ioyfully and cheerefully by alluſion, or rather by a little inuerſion, borrow leaue, and tender this my gratefull teſtimonie, with that forme of words, wherewith P. Oroſius did dedicate his Storie to Saint Auguſtine, his Maiſter and Tutor; Totum (quod in me) veſtrum ſit, quod a vobis ad vos redit; or as Carneades Cyrenaeus thankefullie proteſted of Chryſippus (one of Zeno his diſciples) a moſt eSi apud Di…os Dialectica …a… retur, n…n temerè alia eſſet, quàm quae a Chryſippo inuenta …uit.acute Philoſopher, after the diligent reading of his bookes, which were in number 75. as ſome report, Si Chryſippus nòn eſſet, ego nòn eſſem, I was yours when I was but a Neophyte; and now by the grace of GOD I am that I am; and am ſtill yours, and doe wiſh heartily, that I might become (being now hoare-headed) as the Germaine Sonne of ſuch ſhining and burning lights in the Church of GOD, whoſe giftes and labours are condignelie of note, and price in the harts of many.
I hauehave engliſhed theſe Treatiſes of that graue and learned Diuine, Maiſter Hierome Zanchius; and in this regard I tooke them in hand, for that in fNot vnlike to that foreign (whereof Athaneus lib. 11.) for varietie and vſe.Argument and matter they are exceeding effectuall, befitting this ſinfull and ſottiſh Age, or rather this degenerating downefall of all ſorts of men. They are fruitfull in many conſiderations; to preuent curioſitie; to abandon ſecuritie; to rowze vp the drowſie Chriſtian; to detect the Temporizer; to kindle zeale; to worke vigilancie; to enforce repentance; to miniſter conſolation; to teach the wiſe; to hearten the weake; to confirme faith and hope of Heauen and Happineſſe; to dant vngodlineſſe; in ſuch ſort as hee that runneth may read in capitall letters, and hee that readeth with iudgement and conſcience, may finde ſingular edification.
When I had made an end, I reſolued in this kinde to ſalute you both; which, as it commeth with an honeſt heart, ſo I perſwaded my ſelfe it would bee accepted with the right hand. I pray you cenſure; and, if there bee no let, yeeld your approbation. Of you twaine I hauehave iuſt cauſe to vouch, as Maiſter I. Caluin ſometimePrae… ▪ in Epiſt. ad Rom. writ vppon the like occaſion to Simon Grynaeus, (two eminent Diuines in the care of Gods Church) Quorum iudicio ſi omnes plurimum iure deferant, ego nihil non deferre debeo. And ſo remaining yours et animo & vſu; I doe recommend you both, and your godly endeuours for the furtheranc… of the Goſpell of Christ, to his moſt gracious and aboundant bleſsing, for his great Name ſake.
Amen. Hougham cum Maſton. Maij 20. 1611. Your Worſhips vnworthy Pupill and louing friend, H. NELSON.