A Complete Christian Dictionary, Preface
THE GENERAL PREFACE TO THE Christian Reader.
THE end of teaching is to cause others to learn, and to learn, is to know things to be, what they are. Now, of things to be known, words are notes or marks, leading the mind to the comprehension of the things. It cannot be then but a great hinderance to the understanding of things, when words which betoken and signifie things are not understood, and a great furtherance when they be understood. Wherefore as it is necessary in Grammar Schools, that children which learn French, Latine, or Greek, have their Dictionaries & Lexicons allowed them, to interpret such hard and strange words, by knowledge whereof things to be learned become more easie; and their labours which have composed such Books, are much to be commended: So I have wondred, that of so many worthy, learned, and godly Divines, which are as willing for the love to the good of the Church, as able for their sufficiency of gifts, not one, no not one (that I know) have attempted to provide our Christian Scholar such a Christian Dictionary of words, as contain the secrets of our heavenly profession and Art. Many have framed and set forth Primers and A. B. Cs. for beginners; I mean Catechismes, to enter them into the knowledge of God; but not any (as yet) have set to their hands, to interpret in our Mothertongue (in Alphabet order) the chief words of our Science, which being very hard and darksome, sound in the ears of our weak Scholars as Latine or Greek words, as indeed many of them are derived from these Languages: and this I have esteemed as no small let to hinder the profiting in knowledge of holy Scriptures amongst the vulgar; because when in their reading or hearing Scriptures, they meet with such principal words as carry with them the marrow and pith of our holy Religion, they stick at them, as at an unknown language. Matthias Flaccius Illyricus (whom I did not look upon, nor upon Erchiridion Marlorati, until I had welnigh done this work) hath worthily performed this in Latin, by whose help it is easie for a Divine to do some such work in English: I, the unmeetest and unworthiest of all my Brethren, not one of a thousand, but the meanest of ten thousand, have attempted this enterprise, and performed a poor something, sufficient only, to give the more learned some occasion to do some more exact thing in this kinde. Therefore for their better encouragement thus to do (besides the breach of the Ice unto them) I have briefly set down before them the great and manifold profits that would arise out of such a work, being substantially done First of all, thy self being a Minister of the Word, it will bring thee this fruit, that thou shalt teach with more facility, having ready and at hand, the true and right definition of things. Secondly, the distinguishing of words of divers acceptions, lying alwayes by thee, will ease thee of some labour in searching, when thou art enforced by occasion of the Text, to interpret such words. Thirdly, the people committed to thy charge, being by means of such a Book well acquainted with the chief words which contain any Doctrine, thou shalt not need in the course of thy Teaching, to be alwayes troubled with the opening of such words; but presuming upon their knowledge, mayst the more … and dwell in the pressing and urging the doctrine and practise of the things so well understood before. Now as touching the hearers, their growth and proceeding in Christianity will be greater and more speedy, by the help of such a Dictionary; which having given light unto them, to know the principal words of their Art, the matter of Doctrine contained in these words, and raised out of them, will be sooner perceived, and take better impression. Again, the right distinguishing of things, the one from the other, when the nature and due bounds of every word is declared, would prove some preservative against errors and heresie, which commonly arise upon the ignorance of things, while they are … confusedly together, one thing being taken for another; or something being taken to be that it is not. I could shew this in sundry …, one instead of all: [ … ] this word not rightly understood, what errors hath it bred? whilest some take it to be the making of our selves just, by infusion of grace in the hearts of the elect. Others, to be nothing else but a making of our actions to become just and holy; whereas it is an absolution of a sinner from his guiltiness, and pronouncing him righteous before God, when he believes in his Son Christ Jesus. Lastly, it will provoke Christians more willingly to read Scriptures, when they have at hand a Dictionary, to declare and expound such words as they understand not. For, as men adventure to crack that Nut, whose kernel by cracking is to be obtained; so the Christian is much moved to read, when he hath as it were a Cracker to get him the kernel; that is, a Dictionary to give him the sense of the words which he reads. To conclude, it may prevent scruples, which may arise in some consciences, through ignorance of words, and their true and fit meanings.
Now a few advertisements will be requisite to be added unto this my simple endevour. First, my care was to put in no words but such as were material, and of some moment and use. Secondly, if either I have left out some material words, or not given all the significations of those whereof I have made choyce, or given more then they have, or not set down the significations for order, so precisely as should be; let these faults (if any such be) be pardoned by thee, till they be supplyed by some more sufficient: for whom (as I have said) I do herein but break the Ice. Yet hereof I would have them take knowledge, that such significations as I give, I find them in the Word, but if any word have other or more, it is more then I finde. Thirdly, I would have none to think that my meaning were to give an exact definition of every thing (let him be thought very wise and happy that can do this) but some true and familiar explanation or description of words, to make things that be obscure to become somewhat plainer to the ignorant. Fourthly, these explanations which I do give, may differ in terms from such explanations, as ye shall finde in other mens writings of the same words. But I verily trust, that you shall find for the most part, an agreement in substance of truth. Moreover, in citing Scriptures, I have sometimes noted such places wherein the word which I do interpret is only named; sometime the place where the interpretation is found with the word, and some places which only have the interpretation, and not the word. I cite few places, because a light given to a word in one place, will clear other places, where that word is used in the same sense; which the advised Reader shall discern by the circumstance of the place. Besides, I have put some Ecclesiastical words, which be not found in Scripture, in so many syllables, yet are there for the matter, as [Trinity] and [Sacrament] &c. Again, sometime ye shall find the word, and sometime the thing, and sometime both opened. Finally, my request is, that no Minister do by this Book hinder his own searching, it being intended to be a mean rather to whet his diligence to search more narrowly: nor any hearer use it to contention, but to edification; not for matter of idle dispute, but for needful direction. And if I be longer in the explanation of some words, then the nature of a Dictionary will bear, or do open some words, which (to some) may seem needless: impute it either unto the weightiness of the things, which being dark and important, need opening; or unto the dulness of common capacities, which see little in Divine matters; or if ye will, to want of dexterity in my self, who have been but of late acquainted with this Trade. Thus intreating thee (Courteous Reader) to have consideration of my weakness, and of the newness and strangeness of the work, favourably to pardon wants, which in such a Forest of words and things, cannot but be many, I commend thee unto the merciful goodness and protection of the Almighty.
Thine to do thee good, Tho. Wilson.