A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, To the reader 3 – Errata
To the Reader.
IT is not long since the Learned Author of the Elaborate Commentarie on the two last Chapters of the second Epistle of Paul to Timothie, presented the World with a Latine Booke, called Sal Terrae, The Salt of the Earth, which to this larger Volume so quickely following, methinkes representeth the setting of Salt on the Table, as the first Service before a Feast.
Of the former he desired me to be his Taster, and to attest how savourly it relished with me when I reade it, which I have done in the same Language. Now he and his Stationer having requested my Perusal and Testimony of the latter, I was the willinger; first to reade it, because the Author hath bestowed much paines, and given his Reader the summe and substance of nigh thirtie yeares Studies,Emanuel Sa was nigh fourtie yeares in composing his Aphorismes. In hoc opus per Annos ferè quadraginta diligentissimè incubui. Em. Sa Praefat. in Aphorism. p. 2. which bespake an expectation in me of so much satisfaction in the Book, as made me think it worthy both to be bought and read. On the contrary, I have ever had a contemptuous conceit of such Extemporary stuffe, as like Ionas his Gourd, groweth up in a night, and thinke it worthy to last no longer then it did, which perished in a night, Iona. 4.10. I deny not but sometimes there may be found a man of such a ready faculty as to be able to doe as much, and it may be more as well upon a sudden, as others upon long deliberation; such a one was *Lucilius saepè Ducentos versus dictabat stans pede in uno. Horat. Serm. Lib. 1. Sat. 4.Lucilius the first Latine Satyrist, who (as Horace saith) would dictate two hundred Verses in an houre, standing upon one foot; but this is very rare, and out of Rule, nor are there any Examples upon Record to match it. *Saepè caput scaberet, & vivos roderet ungues. l. 1. Sat. 10.He liketh that Verse better which is made with often scratching of the Head, and biteing of the nailes to the quicke; and *Carmen reprehendito quod non multa dies & multa litura coercuit, atque perfectum decies non castigavit ad unguem. Horat. de Arte Poet.discommendeth such as have not taken up many dayes, and come under many blots, even to a Tenfold correction, and ordinarily it is with ingenious works, as it is with Mechannicke Fabrickes, those are the fairest which are longest in building,Ducentis & viginti Annis à tota Asia factum fuit. Munsteri Geograph. Lib. 5. Page 983. as the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, one of the seven Wonders of the World, was the worke of all Asia for two hundered and twentie years together.
Secondly, I may be the more willing to deliver my Censure of this Worke, because when I had acted the part of a severe Criticke upon it, the Authour testified his ingenuity, by returning me so much the more Thankes, as I found the more faults in it; which I liked the better, when it gave me occasion to renew the remembrance of a contrary acceptance of the like Office done to the Bishop of Coventrie and Litchfield, a Prelate of as great Reputation for Learning and Religion as any of his rancke in this Nation: who above thirtie yeares agoe, I presenting my service to him at Ecclesell Castle in my return from London, to Great Budworth in Cheshire, he staid me certain dayes to read over (as a Censor) his Book which he entituled, *It was Reprinted, 1628.The Grand-Imposture: I took it for a great Trust and confidence in me, and thought it my Duety to be answerable to it by free Animadversions of any thing which I apprehended for an errour, and accordingly did so; When I shewed him mine exceptions, at the first he seemed somewhat angry and wrangled with me to excuse the Passage, (which I conceived did need Correction) we parted unperswaded, and I returned to my Taske with this Opinion, that he was therefore offended with the fault I found, because on the sudden he knew not how to mend it; after that, to the Errata, I added the correction of the first as well as of the rest, and then bringing my Paper of the whole unto him, he shewed himselfe so well pleased, that he would needs fasten twenty shillings in Gold upon me for my pains, besides other courtesies.
Thirdly, I am content that my judgement of this Book should be Printed, not so much to gratifie the Author or the Stationer, as for other reasons.
1. Because the whole frame of the work doth not onelyonly fully answer the Frontispiece, (though it promise much) and so is not lyable to the *Sandersons History of King Charles, page, 1116.Exception taken up against a great Writer, which is, That there is more matter in the Title Page, then in the Book it self.
Secondly, Because though I were well satisfied with the matter of it while I read it in his Manuscript Original, yet I desire better satisfaction by a review of it when in a fairer Character from the Presse, I may reade it with less difficulty and more delight.
Thirdly, Because it is not onelyonly the *I mean the better half not in Quantitie onelyonly as bigger, but in Qualitie as better done then the former part by Mr. B. who though he were a good man, a good …, and a good Preacher, was yet in Scholastical faculties and furniture; abilitie of body, and studiousness of mind to make use of both, inferior to his follower. I say thus much not by conjecture, but by my certain knowledge, and good acquaintance with them both, for I was M. B. successour for Preaching the Friday Lecture in the City of Chester, as Mr. H. my near neighbour is his Successour in writing this Commentarie now Printed.better halfe of the best Expository Treatise that I have seen upon the Second Epistle to Timothy, but I believe (for Congruity with the Truth of the Holy Text; pertinency and fulnesse of profitable matter deduced from it or consonant to it) is the best that hitherto hath been extant in the Church of Christ. The Lord give the Pious and Painfull Pen-man of it the Returne of his Holy labours herein, in the Prayers and Proficiency of his People, for whose edification chiefly it was undertaken, continued, and by Gods gracious assistance is now thus compleated.
Iohn Ley.
Bookes formerly published by the AUTHOR.
1. THe Pulpit Guarded in quarto.
2. The Font Guarded in quarto.
3. The Schools guarded or a defence of Humane Learning.
4. The Beauty of Holiness; Octavo.
5. A Treatise against long Hair, Painting, Powdering, and Periwigs, spots, Octavo.
6. Wisedomes Conquest, A Translation of the thirteenth Book of Ovids Metamorphosis, Octavo.
7. Phaetons folly, A Translation of the second Book of Ovids Metamorphosis, Octavo.
8. Homesius Enervatus, or a Treatise against the Millenaries, Octavo.
9. Sal Terrae, or a Guard to the Ministers and their maintenance, Octavo.
Errata.
In such a Volume as this we cannot but expect some Errata, those of greatest consequence▪ are here corrected; such as are obious I leave to thy own correction.] Page 9. line 1. read Laylanders. p. 21. l. 37. r. stay. p. 33. in Marg. r. Glutinant. p. 37. l. 40. r. Cap. p. 48. l. 20. r. All. p. 49. Marg. r. Ignavissimus. p. 49. Marg. r. Stor. p. 52. l. 7. r. Iohn p. 52. marg. r. Infamia p. 53. marg. non aliis. p. 53. l. 18. r. Shew. p. 56. l. 1. Prudence. p. 28. l. 40. Observe. p. 29. l. 25. Vniversal. p. 60. l. 10. r. irresistible. p. 71. l. 25. r. promises. p. 76. l. 20. r. Apostasie. p. 86. l. 5. r. foreign. p. 87. marg. r. quum. p. 88. l. 14. r. Psal. 10. l. 16. r. theres. p. 91. l. 46. r. Amos. p. 98. l. 22. forget. p. 105. marg. Aegyptus. p. 106. marg. r. Proxineta. p. 10.103. l. 22. r. 13. p. 147. Gravatas. marg. p. 168. l. 37. r. Dorchester. p. 171. l. 21. r. Apostles & 15. p. 174. l. 27. r. Practical. l. 28. r. Oeconomical. p. 197. marg. r. foreign. p. 217. l. 35. r. mirror. p. 219. r. delectatione. p. 222 l. 14. r. Pillar. p. 231. r. Polyptoton. p. 234. l. 5 dele All. p. 259. l. 17. r. Question. p. 267. l. 12. r. foreign. p. 28.4. r. ultro. in. marg. p. 311. l. 40. declaration. p. 133. l. 20 acrei. p. 339. l. 6. Beophman. p. 366. l. 26. add David had 3 enemies, Saul, Goliah, and Absalom. p. 375. l. 38. r. reproaching. p. 380. in marg. liberam for liberalitatem ex parte dantis.