A Complete Christian Dictionary, To the reader 2
To the Christian Reader, studious of the Scriptures.
THou art much bound to blesse God for the great plenty and abundance of excellent Books, which by the hands of his painful and godly Servants he hath afforded thee, as helps and furtherances to bring thee to the sound knowledge, and right understanding of his sacred Word. But among them all (in my judgement) there is no one in our Native tongue, that doth more oblige thee to true thankfulness, then the Book thou now beholdest, in regard of the great necessity, and manifold use of the same, as also the exceeding rich profit and benefit, which by Gods blessing (if thou make the right use of it) thou mayst reap thereby. For beside the multiplicity and great variety of wholesome matter, which thou shalt finde scattered through the whole Work, here thou hast most of the dark words & phrases contained in the Scripture, in Alphabetical order, plainly, briefly (yet fully) and soundly unfolded; and in most places, the corrupt glosses of the Papists upon them, compendiously discovered and confuted. Here thou mayst at one view see the divers Acceptations and Significations of Words, with the Figures and Tropes denoted, in which the Scripture useth them. By this book thou shalt be made able to distinguish of Words, which in Scripture are ambiguous, to explain Words and Phrases obscure, and easily to understand such as be hard and unknown. By this Book, if thou be a Minister, thou shalt become Bonus Textuarius (for what is that but to be able to give the true meaning and genuine sense of the Scripture?) and Bonus Textuarius est Bonus Theologus. This Book will make thee a more profitable Teacher. for qui bene distinguit, bene docet. By this Book (whosoever thou be) thou shalt be fortified to shield thy self, and haply others too, from error; as also to see when others do err, and to draw them out of error: for error springs from ignorance, that is, from misunderstanding the Scripture, Mat. 22. 29. By this thou shalt be made skilful to discern the voice of thy Shepheard Christ Jesus, from the voice of a stranger, Joh. 10. 3, 5. In a word, by this Book in short space, and with no great labour, thou mayst plentifully abound in all heavenly wisdom and knowledge. So that, as one sayes of Cicero, Sciat se multum profecisse, cui Cicero unice placet: In like manner it may more truly be affirmed of this Book, whosoever he be that delighteth much in it, shall thereby gain infinite benefit. The Author hath been pleased to entitle this Book, A Christian Dictionary; and so it is, for it interprets words. But it may also be worthily called, The Key of the Treasures hid in holy Scriptures, The enemy of Ignorance, The high and ready path to Knowledge, The Discloser of Gods holy Secrets, A Light for Ministers, whereat they may borrow light; A Lanthorn sor the people to direct them in the light: And to be short, the way to make all the Lords people to prophesie, as Moses wished. Then Gentle Reader be not without it, let it be continually by thee; yet buy it not for novelty, because it is the first of this kind that ever saw the light, but for the unvaluable worth of it. Sit tibi charus, non quia rarus, sed amatus, quod amabilis; i. amari dignus. Seneca saith, Nova, quamvis non magna, miramur: That we make much of new things, though they be not great. Lo, in this Book they both meet together, here is newness, and here is goodness. This work is new, and it is precious, how then should it not much inamour thee?
Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci. J. B.