The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Title page – Dedication
THE MARROW OF Ecclesiastical History, CONTAINED IN The LIVES of one hundred forty eight FATHERS, SCHOOLMEN, first REFORMERS, and MODERN DIVINES which have flourished in the Church since Christ's time to this present Age: Faithfully collected, and orderly disposed according to the CENTURIES wherein they lived: Together With the Lively Effigies of most of the eminentest of them cut in COPPER.
The second Edition enlarged in most of the Lives, with the addition of nine Lives which were not in the Former.
By SAMUEL CLARK Pastor of Bennet Fink, London.
Vt qui praeceptis non accendimur, saltem exemplis incitemur, at que in appetitu Rectitudinis, nil sibi mens nostra difficile astimet quod perfectè peragi ab aliis videt Greg. Mag. l. 9. c 43. Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race which is set before us, Heb. 12. 1.
London, Printed for T. V. and are to be sold by William Roybould at the Vnicorn in Pauls-Church-yard, 1654.
To the Christian Reader.
CHRISTIAN READER,
THe nature of man is more apt to be guided by Examples then by Precepts; especially by the the examples of men eminently learned, and of great repute for Pietie and Godliness. Such men are as Looking-glasses to the places where they live, by which most people dress themselves, and when they fall into sin, they fall like men in a croud, many falling with them. The bodies of men are not so subject to be infected by the illness of the ayr, as the souls of men by the ill examples of godly learned Ministers. When Peter at Antioch dissembled, many of the Jews dissembled likewise with him, and Barn…ibas was brought into their dissimulation also. It is very remarkable that this example of Peter is said to be a constraining of the Gentiles to Judaize; Why constrainest thou the Gentiles to do as the Jews? Gal. 2 14.
There is a compulsive power in the ill examples of godly men to constrain others to do the evil that they do; and therefore let godly Ministers (especially in these days) take heed least by any wicked compliance they build men up in sin, and bring destruction upon themselves, as the two sons of old Ely did, who by their wicked examples made the people of Israel to transgress, and thereby brought ruine upon their old Father and themselves. 1 Sam. 2. 24.
And so on the contrary, there is a heavenly power and efficacy, in the good examples of men eminent in place and godliness, to draw others to Pietie and Holiness. As long as Joshua lived, and the Elders that had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel, the children of Israel served the Lord. The religious cariage of Theodosius the Emperour in his family, made, not only his family, but his whole Court to be a nourcery of Religion. Pezel. Mel Hist. in vita Theodo. 2.
But this is most especially seen in the godly Lives of godly and learned Ministers. Herod the King reverenced John Baptist, observed him, and when he heard him, did many things, and heard him gladly; not so much for the love of his doctrine, as because he was a just and holy man, and (as Jesus Christ saith of him) a burning and shining light; burning in holy zeal for God, as well as shining in Orthodox Doctrine. He is called by the Prophet, The voyce of him that cryeth in the wilderness. And as Nazianzen saith of him, he cryed louder by the holiness of his life, then the sincerity of his doctrine; He was Tota vox, All voyce; his apparel, his diet, and his conversation, did Preach holiness, as well as his doctrine. Mar. 6▪ 20. John 5. 35. Isay 40. 3.
And therefore is cannot but be a work very profitable to the Church of Christ, for any man to write a History of the Lives of the eminently learned, and godly Ministers of former times, as a fair Copy for Posterity to write after, and a Patten for them to imitate. This Reverend, religious, and learned Author hath undertaken this work in this ensuing Treatise, and effected it so well, as that I thought it not sufficient to give a naked Imprimatur unto it, without this additional commendation both of the Author and of his work. The Apostle having in the eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews given us a little…Book of Martyrs, in the beginning of the twelfth Chapter, he calls them A cloud of witnesses. Such a cloud of witnesses is contained in this Book. And as the childreu of Israel were directed in their journeys by the Pillar of a Cloud, that went before them, as long as they were in the Wilderness, so let us make this cloud of Witnesses (so far as it followeth Christ) a Pillar of Cloud to guide us, while we are in the Wilderness of this World, till we come to enjoy that unexpressible happiness of which they are now made partakers.
So prayeth your servant in Christ Jesus, EDMUND CALAMY.