A Treatise of Christian Religion, Title page – Table of contents
A TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
OR, THE WHOLE BODIE AND ſubſtance of Diuinitie.
By T. C.
BY WISDOME PEACE
BY PEACE PLENTY
AT LONDON, Imprinted by FELIX KYNGSTON, for THOMAS MAN.
1616.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
MAny hauehave bin ſorrie (good Reader) to ſee ſome writings of this learned and godly Author come forth in publike, ſince his death, with ſo many defects and maimes. To giuegive an inſtance hereof, there is an expoſition of the Epiſtle to the Coloſſians, publiſhed vnderunder his name; wherein hee hath had very much wrong done to him: it being nothing elſe but a bundle of raw and imperfect notes, taken by ſome vnlearned hearer, neuer peruſed (or ſo much as ſeene) by the Author himſelfe. Wherein there is ſcant any good coherence of matter to be found, or any perfect periods and ſentences handſomly knit together, or ſutably depending one vponupon another.
This Treatiſe of Religion, now reprinted, was the firſt; whereof of there was much expectation and deſire; as of that which would be of more generall vſe to all ſorts of people: in which reſpect the Author himſelf was known to make more account of it, and would (if God had prolonged his daies to hauehave perfected the ſame according to his own wiſhes) hauehave giuen fuller ſatisfaction to his iudicious and impartiall Reader. His purpoſe was, to ſet downe in moſt plaine and familiar manner, all the neceſſarie points of poſitiue Diuinity, whereunto God (in a gratious meaſure) hath inabled him; as may appeare euen by the firſt impreſſion, though it were publiſhed with many wants and imperfections.
What paines and faithfulneſſe hath been vſed in this ſecond edition, for the ſupply of defects, and amendment of the faults of the former, will appeare to them that ſhall take time and paines to compare them together.
His helpe was principally vſed herein, who was well acquainted with the Author and his purpoſe; and who hath done no more herein in effect, then what he had helpe in, either from the Authors owne little Catechiſme, or from ſome directions in the beſt and laſt copie that he left behind him, or which the neceſſitie of the method which he propounded did require.
The firſt edition (as appeares) wanted a beginning; by meanes whereof the whole worke was as the trunke of a body without the head; the reaſon whereof was the tranſpoſing of the doctrine of the Scripture, (wherewith he firſt began the Treatiſe) into a more fit place; this as neare as can bee, according to the Authors mind and ſpeciall direction, is ſupplied in the firſt Chapter: the like tranſpoſition of other particulars, not well vnderſtood by his ſeruant that copied forth the booke, afterwards was a cauſe of the multitude of other errours alſo, which wee hope are now ſufficiently amended, all particulars being brought to their proper places. Only there is in the expoſition of the laſt petition of the Lords Prayer, a large diſcourſe of Gods gouernment concerning ſinne; which were to bee wiſhed had been brought backe to the tenth Chapter, which is the firſt and fitteſt place for that argument to bee handled in: and alſo whether by the Printers negligence, or his that writ the copie, there is one whole queſtion and anſwere which belongs to the latter end of the ſeuenteenth Chapter, placed out of order, and ſet in the beginning of the eighteenth Chapter. There are alſo (to my griefe) many other verball faults which the Printer and the tranſcriber muſt diuide betweene them, which though they may bee eaſily diſcerned by the iudicious and aduiſed Reader, yet may make others to ſtumble; and therfore I earneſtly pray thee good Reader (which thou eaſily maieſt doe) that thou wouldeſt amend them in the firſt place, according to the direction following.
Further thou art to be entreated that hereafter thou eſteeme nothing to bee his, but what ſhall bee publiſhed or approued by them, to whom by his laſt will and Teſtament hee committed the peruſall and examination of his writings. Farewell.
W. B.
THE CONTENTS OF THE SEVERALL CHAPTERS.
Ch. 1. Of Chriſtian Religion, and the parts thereof. pag. 1.
2. Of the Eſſence of God. 3.
3. Of the Attributes and properties of God. 6.
4. Of the Trinitie. 15.
5. Of the kingdome of God, eſpecially his Decree. 18.
6. Of the execution of Gods Decree; where of the creation in generall, and ſpeciall. 22.
7. Of the creation of man. 31.
8. Of Gods gouernment in generall. 38.
9. Of his ſpeciall gouernment, and of the fall of man. 42.
10. Of Originall and actuall ſin, and the guilt thereof. 63.
11. Of the puniſhment of ſinne. 70.
12. Of the word of God. 73.
13. Of the parts of Gods word, and of the Couenant of Workes in generall. 80.
14. Of the Couenant of workes in ſpeciall. 85.
15. Of the firſt Commandement. 91.
16. Of the ſecond Commandement. 95.
17. Of the third Commandement. 103.
18. Of the fourth Commandement. 107.
19. Of the ſecond table in generall. 120.
20. Of the fifth Commandement. 122.
21. Of the ſixth Commandement. 133.
22. Of the ſeuenth Commandement. 140.
23. Of the eighth Commandement. 147.
24. Of the ninth Commandement. 153.
25. Of the tenth Commandement. 157.
26. Of the ſumme of the Law. 162.
27. Of the Couenant of grace. 166.
28. Of Chriſts perſon. 169.
29. Of the office of Chriſt. 174.
30. Of his Propheticall office. 179.
31. Of his Prieſtly office. 182.
32. Of his Kingly office. 187.
33. Of the excellency of his Kingly office in ſpeciall. 192.
34. Of the parts of Chriſts Kingdome. 200.
35. Of the ſpeciall working of Gods ſpirit in the Church by the word. 205.
36. Of the Sacraments in generall. 211.
37. Of Baptiſme. 218.
38. Of the Lords Supper. 225.
39. Of Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline. 233.
40. Of Prayer or Inuocation. 241.
41. Of faſting. 247.
42. Of feasting. 251.
43. Of the rule of Prayer, and of the Lords prayer in generall. 255.
44. Of the firſt Petition. 261.
45. Of the ſecond Petition. 263.
46. Of the third Petition. 267.
47. Of the fourth Petition. 270.
48. Of the fifth Petition. 274.
49. Of the laſt Petition. 280.
50. Of thankeſ-giuing, the ſecond part of the ſecond prayer. 289.
51. Of Vowes. 292.
52. Of the Church Militant. 296.
53. Of the day of Iudgement in generall. 308.
54. Of the day of Iudgment in ſpeciall, and of Antichriſt. 311.
55. Of the nearer ſignes before the day of Iudgement. 327.
56. Of the Iudgement it ſelfe. 341.
Of the ſentence of the Iudge. 349.
57. Of the execution of Gods Iudgement. 354.