The Sum of the Four Evangelists, Title page – Dedication
THE Summe of the foure Euangeliſtes comprehending both the courſe of the hiſtorie, and alſo the ſeuerall points of doctrine ſet foorth in the ſame, pointing foorth as it were with the hand, that IESVS is CHRIST, the only, perfect, and ſufficient Sauiour of all the faithfull.
Written in Latine by the reuerend, learned, and godly father, Maſter Henrie Bullinger Miniſter of the Church of Zurich.
Tranſlated into Engliſh for the profite of the vnlearned by Iohn Tomkys.
Matthewe 17.5.
This is my beloued Sonne, in whom I am well pleaſed, heare yee him.
Seene and allowed according to her Maieſties Iniunctions.
Imprinted at London for William Ponſonby at the ſigne of the Biſhops head. 1582.
❧To the reuerend Father in God, William Biſhop of Couentrie and Liechfielde.
THE materiall temple at Ieruſalem, Reuerende Father, although it were very ſtately and ſumptuous, yet was it ſo artificially framed, that whē the building came to the ſetting vp,*1. Kin. 6.7. there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any toole of yron heard in the houſe while it was in building, becauſe the ſtone was hewen perfectly alreadie, before it was brought thither.
Wherein, although wee hauehave in great admiration the wiſedome of Solomon, by whoſe direction the building was taken in hand, the circumſpection of the Lordes, which ouer ſawe the worke, the cunning of the maſōs, which ſquared the ſtones, and the plentie of ſtones, which ſufficed ſo huge a building, yet muſt it needes bee graunted, that the office of thoſe, which caried the ſtone, and tranſported the ſame, from the place, where it was framed, to the place, wher the tēple was erected, was greatly neceſſarie, and to very good purpoſe in this gorgious work. The like proportion is obſerued in the building of the ſpirituall temple of God,*1. Cor. 3.16 & 1. Cor. 6.19. 1. Pet. 2.5. which is eueryevery faithfull Chriſtian,*Mat. 16.16. & 1. Pet. 2.7. builded by faith vppon Ieſus Chriſte,*1. Cor. 3.11 beeing the only foundati-of the ſame. For Chriſt, being the wiſe Solomon in deed, directeth the worke by his holy ſpirit, good chriſtian Princes by wholeſome lawes, like good ouerſeers, take order that the work may go forward, lerned & godly preachers, as cunning maſons, continually ſquare plenty of ſtones, that is, make many godly Sermons, & write ſūdrie learned bokes perfectly agreeing with the ſquare of gods worde,*Gala. 6.16. the only rule of ſpirituall builders, which beeing tranſlated from tongue into tongue by the diligence of interpreters, the porters or cariers in this ſpirituall worke, it commeth to paſſe, that God his elect are builded vp by little and little into a ſpirituall temple for GOD him ſelfe to dwell in, with great quietneſſe of conſcience, whiche although it bee ſenſibly felte inwardelye by the faithfull beleeuer ſo builded, yet is it not perceiued outwardly by the wicked raging worlde, which is no part of this building. Howe greatly the auncient Iſraelites ioyed at the erection of the materiall temple,*Gala. 6.16. the many oblations,*1. Kin. 8.61 &c. which Solomon offered to the Lorde, and the ſolemne feaſt, which hee and all the people helde, moſt manifeſtly doe declare. How muche more then ought wee to offer vp vntounto God*Rom. 12.1. the oblations of a godly life, and to ioy continually in our heartes, conſidering that it hath pleaſed him in Ieſus Chriſte to builde vsus vp by his holy ſpirite for an holy temple vntounto him ſelfe? Nowe forſomuch as it is the dutie of eueryevery chriſtian man in his calling, and according to his habilitie receiued of the Lorde, to further this ioyful worke, I, (acknowledging otherwiſe mine imbecillitie,) hauehave tranſported by painefull trauell into mine owne Countrie three ſeuerall ſtones, wel ſquared in a foraine land by that godly and learned builder maſter Henry Bullinger Miniſter of the Churche of Zurich; by tranſlating into Engliſh: firſt foorth of Frenche a godly Sermon of the Lordes Supper, then foorth of Latine, a learned treatiſe touching the worthineſſe of holy Scripture, and laſtly forth of the ſame tongue, this preſent worke inſuyng. What mooued mee to tranſlate the two firſte treatiſes, I hauehave ſufficiently ſhewed in mine Epiſtles dedicatorie prefixed before the ſame. It reſteth therefore that I declare my purpoſe in this my preſente interprice. I reſt in hope, that thoſe my cuntreymen, which hauehave diligently reade ouer my ſeconde trauayle, (that I ſay nothing of the profect, which they may gather of the firſt,) I meane the diſcourſe of the authoritie of the Scripture &c. hauehave learned thereby to hauehave due regarde of Gods holy worde, as of a moſte excellent treaſure, wherby God ſitting in heauen vouchſafeth to talke with vsus dwelling vponupon earth: and that they are thereby effectually mooued with a feruent deſire to reade the Scripture. Wherefore following my purpoſe, whiche is according to my duetie to profite my countrey, and to forder the Lordes building. I hauehave tranſlated preſently for the helpe of the vnlearned in reading the Sriptures, The ſumme of the foure Euangeliſtes, wherebie we may learne not onelyonly the generall ende of the Goſpelles, which is, that Ieſus is Chriſt, the onelyonly, and ſufficient Sauiour of mankinde, but alſo the perticular purpoſe of euerie Chapter, yea almoſt of euerie verſe. By this direction the vnlearned are not ledde, as are ſuperſtitious papiſtes, into the labyrinth of obſcure ſchoolemen, to be deuoured by that monſtrous Minotaurus the Romane Antichriſt, but guided in the pathway, that leadeth to life euerlaſting, to the knowledge of Ieſus Chriſt, by whom wee are deliuered from the tyrannie of the Diuell, and reſtored to the fauour of God. And that the diligent reader might receiue by the reading hereof no ſmall profecte, I hauehave noted in the margent, by the direction of the Alphabeticall letters, thoſe verſes of the text of the Euangeliſtes, from chapter to chapter, wherevnto euerie part of this Summe is anſwerable, beſides other notes, (profitable I truſt) whiche there alſo I hauehave put downe. Much about the tyme, that I finiſhed this my ſimple trauell, reuerende Father, your Lordſhip was elected by God his prouidence Biſhoppe of this Dioceſſe. Whereupon, not hauing determined to whome I might dedicate this worke, I reſolued with my ſelfe to offer it to your Lordeſhippe, as a preſent, wherewith God hath abled mee beeyng one of your dioceſſe, to bidde you welcome into our cuntrey. I doubt not, but as it hath pleaſed GOD to make you among vsus the chiefe patrone of his cauſe, ſo will you vouchſafe fauourably to accept theſe my labours tending onelyonly to the aduauncement of the ſame. GOD long preſerue your Lordeſhippe in good health, increaſe his gracious giftes in you, and of his infinite merciemercy ſo aſſiſte you with his holy ſpirite, that you may carefully looke vntounto vsus your flocke, and proſperouſlie proceede in all your good doynges, to our comforte, and to his glorie. From mine houſe in Bilſton the fourth of Iune. 1581.
Your Lordſhippes at commaundement Iohn Tomkys.