A Short Treatise Containing the Principal Grounds of Christian Religion, Title page 1 – Title page 2
A SHORT TREATISE: Containing all the principall grounds of Chriſtian Religion.
By way of Queſtions and Anſwers: very profitable for all men, but eſpecially for houſholders.
The ſecond Impreſſion.
LONDON, Printed for WILLIAM WELBY. 1617.
TO THE CHRIſtian Reader.
WEE offer here vntounto thy view (good Chriſtian Reader) the principles of Religion, with a ſhort expoſition vponupon the ſame; for the explanation of what may ſeeme difficult, the confirmation of the truth profeſſed againſt poperie, and the inforcing of ſundrie duties of weighty and great importance. The method we hauehave followed is plaine and naturall, the matter wholſome, but not adorned with flowers of eloquence. We begin with the maine end, that al men ought to aime at: becauſe there can be no motion but for ſome end, as there can bee no effect but from ſome efficient. Thence we proceed to the meanes whereby the ende may bee attained: for it is in vaine to propoūd an end vntounto our ſelues, if either the way bee impoſſible, or imperfect; if either it cannot bee knowne, or do not leade to the fruition thereof. In the meanes we conſider, whence direction is to be taken, and what is to be learned: and there we ſhew what, and who God is, how wee muſt conceiue of him, why hee ought to be worſhipped, what couenant he made with Adam in the time of innocencie, and how Adam by tranſgreſſion fell, and plunged himſelfe, and his poſterity into woe and miſerie vnſpeakable, intolerable, and eternall. In the next place we lay down the meanes that God hath ordained for mans recouerie: And there is handled, what Chriſt is, what hee hath done for vsus, how we are made partakers of his benefits, how faith is wrought, and increaſed in vsus, and what obedience wee owe to God in Chriſt, who is the obiect of Chriſtian religion. And becauſe the godly in this courſe of Chriſtianitie are compaſſed about with infirmities, ſubiect to many falles, and aſſaulted with many tentations, which might diſcourage and turne them out of the way: Therfore we hauehave added, what courſe a Chriſtian ſhould take to grow in grace, how he may be preſerued from falling, how he ſhould recouer after his fall, and of what priuiledges the godly are, or may be partakers in this life. And in the laſt place, the bleſſedneſſe of the Saints after this life is ended, is touched in few words; whereby the ſufficiencie of the meanes is manifeſted. For as it is a way preſcribed of God; ſo it leadeth vsus vntounto God, the firſt, chiefe, and al-ſufficient Good. Our deſire herein is to teach the ſimple Chriſtian, how he may grow from grace to grace, and from faith to faith: and to further ſuch godly houſeholders, as deſire to inſtruct and traine vp their children and ſeruants in the information and feare of the Lord; but want leiſure or abilitie to furniſh themſelues, out of larger and more learned Treatiſes. For their ſakes wee hauehave aduentured to compile this poore treatiſe, and to make it common; that they might hauehave ſome helpe at hand, whereby they might be confirmed in the truth againſt the vaine cauils of the Papiſts, and the better inabled to informe them that be committed to their charge. If any ſuch ſhal vouchſafe to make vſe of this booke, wee would deſire him to marke and obſerue theſe few things. Firſt that the letters, a, and b, and c, &c. ſet ouer the Anſwere, doe direct, what part of the anſwere the Teſtimonies of Scripture alleaged do ſerue to confirme. And the figures 1. 2. 3. &c. doe intimate what words, or which parts of the anſwere, are explaned in the expoſition. Secondly, in teaching the Queſtions and Anſwers, take the paines to ſearch into the proofes which are alleaged for confirmation of the matter; and if the ſame thing word for word bee not found in the verſes of Scripture cited, then be pleaſed further to enquire what reaſons or arguments may bee drawne from the place, to proue what is intended. This wee commend, becauſe it is a courſe behouefull for the obtaining of well grounded knowledge, the getting of ſtedfaſt and aſſured faith and comfort, and growing to bee familiarly acquainted with the word. Thirdly, in reading the expoſition of eueryevery anſwere, take notice what is deliuered by way of explication or confirmation, and what reaſons, & how many are brought to proue any point. Thereby a man ſhall be inabled to referre that which hee heareth in the publike aſſemblie, or readeth in other learned bookes, to ſome head, apply it to right purpoſe, treaſure it vp ſafely in memorie, for vſe in the time of neede, and hauehave in readineſſe to anſwere the gainſaiers. Laſtly, becauſe in ſuch a multitude of quotations it cannot bee, but ſome will be miſtaken; if in the places quoted thou finde not that which makes to the purpoſe, looke into the Errata, and ſee whether it bee not there amended, and before thou begin to reade, take notice of, and amend eſpecially theſe more groſſe ouerſights in the printing. Page 102, line 21, for reſiſting; reade reſting. Page 109, line 24, for voide; reade, good. Page 147, line 3, for, is ſealed; reade, is not ſealed. Page 174, line 11, inſert, We may not vow. Pag. 177, lin. 5, for, can more; reade, can no more.
Thus heartily deſiring and hoping (good Reader) that thou wilt make vſe of theſe directions giuen, profitably to guide thee through this ſmall worke; we commit thee to God, and the word of his grace, who is able to direct, and ſafelie leade thee vntounto eternal happineſſe; crauing that, if thou receiue benefit from God vponupon the peruſall of this ſimple treatiſe, thou be carefull to poure out thy ſoule vntounto God for vsus, that he would enrich vsus with his grace more and more, for the glory of God, the good of his Church, and the comfort of our owne ſoules.
The Printer to the Reader.
GEntle Reader, beare with ſome falſe pointings, though they bee many, occaſioned by the multitude of quotations, and ſome ouer-ſight: And vouchſafe to correct with thy penne, theſe Errata following, hoping that the next impreſſion they will be amended in the body of the Treatiſe.
Errata in the quotations.
Pag. 5. lin. 8. for Luc. 13. 38. reade, Luc. 13. 28. In the ſame page, lin. 18. for Eſa. 8. 2. reade, Eſa. 8. 20. Alſo lin. 26. for Luc. 2. 30. r. Luc. 1. 2. 3. p. 21. lin. 24. for Rom. 35. 19. r. Rom. 15. 19. p. 35. l. 27. for Ier. 7. 3. r. Ier. 7. 31. p. 36. l. 21. reade 1. Cor. 13. 12. for 1. Cor. 33. 12. p. 37. l. 3. for Iob. 28. 32. reade Iob. 28. 23. p. 38. l. 8. for Pſal. 119. 28. r. Pſal. 119. 24. p. 42. l. 16. for Act. 7. r. Act. 17. p. 50. l. 6. and 7. for Luc. 24. 29. r. Exod. 3. 14. p. 53. lin. 20. for Mar. 14. 16. r. Mar. 14. 6. p. 58. lin. 3. for Eph. 1. 2. r. Eph. 1. 6. p. 60. l. 5. for Joh. r. Job. p. 63. l. 8. for Mat. 24. 39. r. Mat. 24. 36. p. 64. l. 3. for Col. 3. 9. r. Col. 3 10. p. ead. l. 16. for 1. Cor. 20. r. 1. Cor. 2. p. 69. l. 14. for Gen. 11. 12. r. Gen. 1. 11. 12. p. 71. l. 2. for 1. Theſ. 5. 53. r. 1. Theſ. 5. 23. p. 71. l. 21. for Mat. 5. r. Mat. 15. p. 73. l▪ 14. for Zeph. 2. 13. r. Zeph. 1. 12. p. 83. lin. 14. for Rom. 5. 12. r. Rom. 5. 10. p. 79. l. 6. for Heb. 1. 14. 15. reade Heb. 1. 4. 5. p. 98. l. 15. for Luc. 2. r. Luc. 1. p. 99. 1. for 1. Sam. r. 2. Sam. p. 102. l. 18. for Mar. 16. 19. r. Mar. 16. 16. l. ead. Ioh. 9. 30. r. Ioh. 20. 31. p. 103. lin. 22. for. Eccl. 9. 12. r. Eccl. 9. 1. 2▪ pag. 104. lin. 10, for Heb. 6. 12, r. Heb. 6. 1. 2. p. 105. l. 25, for 39, r. 36. p. 106. l. 12, for 37. read 27. p. 112. lin. 25. for Pſal. 15. r. Pſal. 50▪ 15. lin. 26. for Mat. r. Mal. p. 127. lin. 6. for 49. r. 47. lin. 11. for 1. Tim. 2. 12. read 1. Tim. 2. 1, 2. p. 128. lin. 27. for 45. reade 25. p. 131. lin. 3. for Exod. 3. reade Exod. 7. 3. pag. 132. lin. 16. for 13. reade 1. 2. p. 136. l. 2. for 2. Sam. 1. reade 2. Sam. 7. pag. 137. lin. 4. for 28. reade 26. p. 138. lin. 2. for 28. reade 26. p. 139. lin. 3. for 23. reade 13. p 145. lin. 1. for 19. and 18. reade 20. & 19. p. 160. l. 6. for 2. Cor. read 1. Cor. p. 169▪ l. 20. for 10. 2. read 10. 33. p. 171. l. 3. for Eſr. 6. r. Eſr. 9. p. 178. lin. 1. for 37. read 27. and lin. 20. for Gal. 1. read Gal. 6. p. 196. lin. 25. for 17. read 13. p. …99. lin. 2 for 13. reade 23. and lin. 27. for 7. reade 5. p. 209. lin. 18. for Prou. 3. 28. reade Exod. 22▪ 7. 8. p. 227▪ lin. 3. for 2 Cor. 4. reade 2. Cor. 5. pag. 230. lin. 17. for 51. read 51. 1, 2. lin. 27. for Mat. 8. read Mat. 9. p. 232. lin. 11. for Pſal. 119. r. Pſal. 116.
Errata in the reading.
P…ge 24 lin. 3▪ for ſaue, reade ſawe. p. …5▪ l. 25. for incomp. r. the incompre. p. 28. lin. 1… for pertakers, reade partaker. p 31. lin. 3. for thereof, reade therewith. p. eadem, lin. …8. for …yll…bes, r. ſyllables. p. ead. lin. 19. r. carie. for carry. p. 34. lin. 1. for neceſcary, reade neceſſ…rie p. 39▪ lin. 3. for inctruct, reade inſt…uct. p. 68. lin. 15. for taangreſſing, r. tranſgreſſing. p 71. lin. 17. for remember euill, reade, to remember. p▪ 75. lin. 17. for vnderſtanding, reade vnderſtand. p. 92▪ lin. 3. for oncly, reade oncly. p. …. 9. lin. 18. for hauehave, reade hath. p. 134. lin. 28. for fr, reade for. p. 138. lin. 27. for deparing of, reade departing from. p. 146. lin. 27. for to Church, r. to the Church. p. 149. lin. 11. for need, reade ought. p. 186. lin. 5. and 6. for, properly a worke or the glory, reade, property, worke, or glory. pag. 227. lin. 10. for mith, reade with. pag. 334. lin. 18. for przing, reade prizing. p. 235. lin. 2. for fearefull, reade faithfull. p. 236. lin. 10. for rreepe, r. creepe.
A SHORT CATECHISME, with an Expoſition vponupon the ſame.
CONTAINING the principles of Religion, very profitable for all ſorts of people.
The ſecond Impreſſion.
Printed by C. L. 1617.
And are to bee ſold by WILLIAM WELBIE, in Pauls churchyard at the ſigne of the Swan.