The Sum of Sacred Divinity, Title page – To the reader 2
THE SUMME of Sacred Diuinitie Briefly & Methodically Propounded: More Largly & cleerely handled and explaned.
PUBLISHED by John Downhame Batchelor in Diuinitie.
LONDON Printed by William Stanſby.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
AS in materiall buildings, the skil of thoſe Workemen is commendable, who can cunningly frame the ſingular parts, and ſo beautifie & ſet them forth, as that they may bee pleaſant to the eye, and conuenient for vſe; as they that can make faire Walls and Windowes, a gracefull Frontiſpice and comely Roofe; but they are moſt praiſe-worthy, who can well contriue the whole plot, lay a good and ſure Foundation, and in due proportion can frame out and ſet vp the principalls and chiefe parts which ſuſtayne and beare all the reſt: ſo in the ſpirituall Edifice, they are worthily to be commended, who skilfully handle particular points of Diuinitie in their Learned and Religious Tractates, whereby the iudgement of the Reader is thorowly informed in thoſe diuine Myſteries, and the heart and will inclined to draw them into holy vſe; but, yet none deſerue better of the Church of God, nor ought rather to hauehave their names regiſtred with red Letters in the Kalender of the worthieſt Saints, then they who in their Writings or Sermons, doe skilfully contriue the whole building or body of Diuinitie in a wel-framed plot, lay a ſound and ſure foundation, and thereupon erect the chiefe Principles and moſt ſubſtantial parts which are the ſtrength and ſtay of all the reſt. For if the iudgement bee once thorowly informed in theſe mayne points; then is it able to deduce from them innumerable particular Concluſions for ſpeciall information and direction in the well-ordering of our liues in all ſingular actions; then may wee with profit and without perill of falling into pernicious errours, reade the holy Scriptures, when we are able to interpret them according to theſe infallible Canons and Rules; then may we heare the Word preached with vnderſtanding, and trie the ſpirits of thoſe who preach vntounto vsus whether they bee of God or no, when wee hauehave skill to examine their Doctrines according to this Analogie of Faith, and can trie them by this neuer-deceiuing Touchſtone, whether they bee pure metall, or but reprobate ſiluer, and counterfait coyne. Then ſhall we be more ſtrongly armed againſt all aſſaults of enemies and aduerſaries to the Truth, falſe Seducers and ſubtill Heretikes, and be better able to defend that Veritie which we profeſſe, and conuince them of their errours and lyes; then (wanting this helpe) if we ſhould ſpend our whole time in reading of Controuerſies, and euen dimme our eyes, and tyre our braynes in the peruſing and ſtudying of Polemicall diſcourſes. For, theſe many grounds of Truth doe yeeld from them ſuch a cleere light, that they do not only appeare in their owne brightneſſe, but alſo diſcouer the blackneſſe of errour, and from one Principle well vnderſtood, wee inferre the falſhood of innumerable contrarie Concluſions: whereof it is, that we ſhall very rarely obſerue any well-grounded in the fundamentall points of Religion, to fall into the ſnares of ſubtill Seducers: whereas contrariwiſe wee may commonly ſee, that thoſe who are ignorant of them, though neuer ſo ſharpe-ſighted in curious ſpeculations, doe become an eaſie prey, and are quickly catched in the nets of their Sophiſtrie. In which reſpects it were much to bee wiſhed, that both Miniſters would bee more frequent and diligent in laying theſe grounds in their Teaching and Writing; and alſo that the people would receyue this more ſolid and ſubſtantiall foode with a better appetite. The which of both is too much neglected, becauſe how ſoeuer theſe grounds are moſt neceſſarie, yet they doe not make ſo glorious a ſhew as other points leſſe ſubſtantiall, becauſe like a ſure foundation they are plaine and vnpoliſhed; whereas the other being beautifully garniſhed with wit and eloquence, doe delight the ſenſe, and more pleaſingly worke vponupon the heart and affections. And yet we muſt acknowledge to Gods glorie, who hath giuen theſe gifts to men, and grace to vſe them, that there hauehave not beene wanting in theſe latter times many famous Worthies, who hauehave happily laboured in this kind, and with great ſoundneſſe and perſpicuitie hauehave deliuered and cleered theſe mayne points by their ſpeaking and writing. Among which (Chriſtian Reader) I commend vntounto thee the Author of this Booke, as deſeruing iuſtly to be ranked among the beſt, both for Method and Matter, ſound handling of the chiefe points of Chriſtian Religion, and for cleering by the way diuers hard places of holy Scripture. All which hee performeth in this worke with ſuch learning, iudgement, and pietie, that had he herein reſpected the prayſes of men, hee might well hauehave graced his Name with his Worke, euen as his Worke would hauehave beene graced by his Name, and not as one aſhamed of ſo beautifull an off-ſpring hauehave ſuffered it to come abroad into the World as an Orphan, the Father ſtill liuing, onelyonly vnderunder the name of an vnworthy God-father. The which I write not to commend the Author, who as he is farre aboue my prayſes in the high pitch of his owne worth; ſo doth he not deſire, but rather ſhunneth them; and, as to the willing, an iniurie is no iniurie; ſo, an officious dutie is no benefit, but a kind of wrong, where (the partie nilling) it is forced and obtruded. Nor yet doe I prayſe the worke for the Workers ſake, which, though it commeth abroad without the Fathers name, yet will, I doubt not, in ſhort time bee famous in it owne name and excellencie; but that I may with the weake thread of my cenſure draw thee to peruſe it; and ſo will it ſufficiently commend it ſelfe, and giuegive there iuſt cauſe of prayſing God for ſtirring vp ſuch Inſtruments of his Glorie and thy good. The Lord make this and all other the godly labours of his faithfull Seruants, effectuall for magnifying of his great Name, and the further Eph. 4. 12, 13.building vp of the body of his Sonne, till we all come in the Vnitie of the Faith and the knowledge of the Sonne of God vntounto a perfect Man, and vntounto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſſe of Christ, that wee henceforth bee no more children toſſed to and fro, and carryed about with eueryevery wind of doctrine, by the ſleight of men, and cunning craftineſſe, whereby they lye in wait to deceiue: but ſpeaking the truth in louelove, may grow vp into him in all things which is the Head, euen Christ.
AMEN.
Thine in the Lord Ieſus, IOHN DOWNAME.
An Aduertiſement to the READER.
THis Booke, tending to explane another, intituled, The ſacred Doctrine of Diuinitie, wherein the whole body of Religion is ſet forth according to rules of Arte: it was thought neceſſarie to place the Arte in the Margent on the one hand, and ſome principall Hereſies and Errors, contrarie to the Doctrines here handled, as they ariſe, on the other. Alſo for thy better helpe, we hauehave herewithall printed the Arte by it ſelfe, before the beginning of the Booke; If it differ in any thing from this at the Margent, follow that which is by it ſelfe at the beginning. Difference in ſubſtance there is not any, but the Copie: for that at the Margent was not altogether ſo perfect.