Knowledge and Practice, To the reader
Dr. Reynolds his EPISTLE TO THE READERS.
AS in humane bodies, ſome parts are vital, others only integrall, ſome neceſſary to the being, others to the well being, integrity, and beauty of them: So it is in Theologicall Doctrines, ſome are more fundamental, and immediatly neceſſary to life and Godlineſs; others ſuch as do greatly accompliſh and adorn Chriſtians that have attained unto them, and are of ſingular uſe for the edification of the Church, though not ſo primarily belonging to the very vitals and eſſentials of Faith and Holineſſe.
Now becauſe multitudes of ordinary Chriſtians, either through the exigence of their particular callings, or through the narrowneſſe of their capacities, want both time and ſtrength to procure ſuch plentiful meaſures of knowledge, as many others, whoſe leiſure is greater, and intellectuals ſtronger, have attained unto: Therefore the Lord hath from time to time ſtirred up zealous and faithful men to commit unto writing thoſe primary and moſt neceſſary Doctrines of Faith and Duty which are common to great and ſmal, and of principal uſe for ordering their converſations aright in every relation wherein they ſtand towards God and men.
Of this ſort were Baſil's Moralia & Regulae, Ambroſe his Book De officiis, Auguſtin's Enchiridion, Bernards Tractats De interiore domo, De Conſcientia, De ordine vitae, De Dilectione Dei, De modo bene vivendi, and other the like writings of the Ancients.
Amongſt our ſelves in this age, ſeveral Books of this nature have been written. Mr. Rogers his ſeven Treatiſes, Mr. Paul Baine his Directions for a godly life, Mr. John Downham his Guide to Godlineſſe and Chriſtian warfare. The Practiſe of Piety, Mr. Scuddars Chriſtians daily walk, Mr. Boltons Directions for comfortable walking with God, with divers others of the ſame kind. Of which ſome poſſibly may be of too great a price for every poor man to procure, and too large for him to read quickly over. However, the ſame materials managed by the different gifts of ſeveral …nſtruments, and preſſed by new Arguments and Motives, do bring to the Conſcience a fuller evidence, and awaken the heart unto a more ſerious conſideration of the importance of them.
Amongſt Books of this Nature, I commend unto the Chriſtian Reader this Manual, which I have read with great ſatisfaction and delight. It hath many things to render it acceptable to ſuch judicious Palats as are beſt pleaſed with ſavoury and ſerious things. 1. The variety and neceſſity of the matters therein handled: Such as are ſelf-knowledge and examination: Repentance and ſelf-judging, living by Faith; watchfulneſſe over our hearts, words, and waies: communion with God in ſpiritual duties; faithfulneſſe in our particular callings and relations, &c. 2. The pertinency of the Scriptures produced for confirmation of the Truths which they refer unto. 3. The graciouſneſſe, ſavourineſſe, and wholſomneſſe of the Language, becoming the weight and holineſſe of the matter. 4. The ſtrength of the Arguments whereby the duties are preſſed.
5. The Brevity of the whole, which rendreth it the fitter for memory, meditation, and practiſe: In all which the Reverend Author hath ſhewed himſelfe a workman, which needeth not to be aſhamed.
Some Learned men have choſen ſome one or other Book, which they have reſolved to read over once every year. I could wiſh that ſerious Chriſtians would ſingle out ſome one or other choice Book, fraught with variety of moſt wholſom and neceſſary Doctrine to read frequently over, for daily quickning and preſerving their hearts in an healthy and ſpirituall frame. Of which ſort I ſhould commend, 1. Summaries and Compendiums of ſound Doctrine, ſuch as Mr. Crooks guide to true bleſſedneſſe, and others of that ſort. 2. Summaries of the moſt weighty and neceſſary duties: A mixture of both which we have in this little Book. By this means, with Gods bleſſing, the hearts of men might be eſtabliſhed in the love and obedience of the Truth, and be preſerved from being toſſed about with every wind of Doctrine, the great ſin and ſhame of theſe daies.
Your Servant in the furtherance of the common ſalvation, ED. REYNOLDS.