Brochman universae Theol. System Tom. 1. de Sacra Script Bellarm. Tom. 1. Controv. 1. de Verbo Dei G. Amesius contra Bellarminum Vet. Erbormannus Jesuita in sua pro Bellarm. Replica contra Amesium Herbipoli 1661. 5. It will be convenient also to consult what the Ancient Fathers and Canons of Council determine concerning the Canon of Scripture as that I may name some 1. Canon Apostol 85. apud Balsamonem pag. 278. apud Zonaram est Canon 84. pag. 42. Dionysius exiguus antiquissimus Canonum Collector Apostolorum Canones tantum habet spurius ideo est hic Canon 85. vet 84. c. 2. Canon Concil Laodiceni 59. apud Justellum in Cod. can Eccl. Univer can 163. seu ult 3. Canon 47. Concilii Carthag 3. apud Joverium Conc. part 2. p. 19. col 2ª in Conciliis per Labbe Paris 1671. Tom. 2. pag. 1177. But this Canon is Spurious as might evidently be prov'd if need require 4. Athanasius in Synopsi Tom. 2 pag. 55. Gr. Lat. he reckons the Books of Scripture as we do 5. Nicephorus Patriarch of Constantinople his Catalogue of Canonical Books apud Eusebium Chronologic pag. 312. Gr. Editionis Amstel 1658. 6. Hieronymi Prefatio 106. quae est in lib. Regum Tom. 3 pag. 682 689. ubi libros vet Testamenti eodem plane modo quo Ecclesia Anglicana enumerat tum addit Quicquid extra hos est inter Apocrypha reponendum 7. Ruffinus in Symbolum Apostolorum inter Opera Cypriani per Pamelium pag. 552 553. per Goulartium pag. 575. where he has a Catalogue of Canonical Books of both Testaments the very same with Ours of the Church of England 8. Epiphanius de Ponderibus Mensuris § 4 5. Tom. 2 pag. 161. 9. Nazianzenus carm 33. operum Tom. 2. pag. 98. utriusque Testamenti libros nisi quod Apocalypsis desideratur eosdem plane quos Ecclesia Anglicana agnoscit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eusebius out of Origen reckons the Canonical Books as we do only he neither the Protestants nor Papists do reckons an Epistle of Jeremy's with his Prophesie and Lamentations Eccles. History lib. 6. cap. 25. pag. 225. Edit Valesii Vide etiam Cyrillum Cateches Mystog 4. pag. 36 37. Nicephorum Hist. Eccles. lib. 2. cap. 46. pag. 216 217. For the Fathers and Ecclesiastical Writers it will be convenient to know who they were when they lived and what they writ And for this such Books and Tracts as these may be consulted 1. Nomenclator praecipuorum jam inde a Christo nato Ecclesiae Doctorum Scriptorum Professorum Episcoporum Testium Veritatis Scholasticorum Conciliorum Haereticorum Imperatorum Pontificum Rom. c. per Hen. Ozaeum Hanoviae 1619. He in an Alphabetical order only sets down the Age or Year they flourish'd in 2. Hieronymus de Illustribus Eccl. Scriptoribus Extat operam Sancti Hieronymi per M. Victorium Tom. 1. pag. 263. Gr. Lat. ubi Sophronius dicitur Versionis Gr. Author cum tamen inepta est Versio Sophronio indigna Prodiit Hieronymus de Script Illustr una cum Gennadio Massiliensi de Illustr Eccles. Doctoribus Helmest 1611. Prodiit postea cum aliis 1639. quod ex sequente Aub. Miraei opere constet 3. Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica seu Nomenclatores septem Veteres Hieronymus Gennadius Ildefonsus Sigebertus per Aubertum Miraeum cum ejus Scholiis Auctariis Antverp 1639. Fol. Sed hi Authores à Miraeo editi caute sunt legendi Miraeus enim non uno loco Romae potius quam veritati favet 4. Illustrium Eccl. Orientalis Scriptorum qui secundo saeculo sloruerunt vitae monumenta Authore Pet. Halloix Duaci 1636. habet etiam Pontifices Imperatores Persecutiones Concilia istius saeculi c. Fol. 5. Scriptorum Ecclesiast Abacus Chronologicus Vet. Nov. Test. a Mose ad Annum Christi 1589. Authore Phil. Labbe Paris 1658. 6. Tabulae Ecclesiasticae quibus Scriptores Ecclesiastici eorumque Patria Aetas Ordo Obitus exhibentur a Christo nato ad Annum 1517. Lond. 1674. 7. Phil. Labbe de Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis c. in 2. Tom. 80. Paris 1660. in calce Tom. 1. Tractatus Jo. Papissae Coenotaphium eversum 8. Joh. Tritthemius de Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis cum Appendicibus duobus Paris 1546. There are many such as these who have given an account of the Time wherein they liv'd and the Writings of the Fathers and Ecclesiastical Writers and upon occasion may also be consulted But because there are in the Works of the Ancient Fathers and Ecclesiastical Writers many Apocryphal and Spurious Books and Tracts which are indeed none of theirs whose Name they bear it will be necessary for a Divine to know and have some of those Authors who have writ Critica Sacra and Censures of Books discovering the Fraud or Ignorance of those who have publish'd Erroneous and Heretical Books under Catholick Names amongst others such as these may be consulted 1. Photii Bibliotheca by Shottus 1611. Folio 2. Hierom de Scriptoribus Eccles. of the Edition of Paris 1630. or rather of Labbe's Edition with his Additions in 2 Volumes Paris 1660. 3. Censura quorundam Scriptorum quae sub nominibus Sanctorum Veterum Authorum a Pontificiis citari solent c. per Rob. Cocum in Quarto Lond. 1623. 4. A Treatise of the Corruption of the Fathers by Dr. James Quarto Lond. 1612. 5. Andr. Riveti Crit. Sac. libri quatuor in Octavo cum Tractat. de Authoritate Patrum Errorum causis Nothorum Notis Genevae 1626. 6. Abrahami Sculteti Syntagma Medullae Theologiae Patrum in Quarto Francof 1634. he gives an Account of almost forty very ancient Writers of their Genuine Works of their Suppositions of their Errors of their Consent with Protestants and the Particulars wherein and an Analysis of all their Genuine Writings 7. Joh. Dallaeus de Pseudepigraphis Apostolicis Harderb 1653. 8. Davidis Blondelli Pseudo-Isiodorus Turrianus Vapul in Quarto Edit 1628. veterum Roman Pontificum à Clemente X. ad Sirisium i. e. An. 383. Epistolas decretales ab Isiodoro Mercatore suppositas a Ioh. Bosco editas ac tandem a Francisco Turriano defensas spurias esse demonstrat Blondellus 9. Bellarmine de Scriptoribus Ecclesiast Sixtus Senensis in Bibliotheca Possevinus in Apparatu Sacro c. and many other Popish Authors confess and prove many supposititious Books printed and publish'd with the Genuine Works of the Fathers and yet very usually cite those Tracts when they make for them against Protestants In the Edition of Hierom's Works the whole ninth Tome consists of such Tracts as are now confess'd to be all Spurious In the 17th Tome of the Magna Bibliotheca Patrum Paris 1654 There is Index Chronologicus and Index omnium Patrum Alphabeticus in which we have many things well and truly said of the Times and Writings of the Ancient Fathers 10. Vide Gratian. Dist. 15 16. praecipue can
convenient to have either 1. Joachim Mynsingerus 2. Joh. Scheideuinus both have writ well on the Institutions but Scheideuinus later and more fully and in many things more useful for a Divine 3. Theophili Antecessoris Institutiones Gr. Lat. cum Scholiis Faberti Notis Curtii 4o. Par. 1638. 3. Corpus Juris Civilis without the Gloss and Case 2 Vol. in 8o. per Dion Gothofredum 1614. 4. Or which is far better Corpus Juris Civilis with Gloss and Case Paris 1612. 5. Codex Theodosianus cum perpetuis Commentariis Jac. Gothofredi c. in 6 Vol. Fol. Lugd. 1665. In which there are many Titles which concern Ecclesiastical Matters Doctrine or Discipline for Instance De Summâ Trinitate Catholicâ De Sacro-Sanctis Ecclesiis c. De Episcopis Clericis De Episcopali Audientiâ De Haereticis Manichaeis Samaritis ne Sanctum Baptisma Iteretur De Judaeis De Apostatis c. and many such more Now if we consider the Antiquity of those Laws and Gathofred's most Learned Commentary and Explications of them it must be confess'd That the Knowledge of them will be very useful for a Divine 1. Calvini 2. Schardii Lexica Juridica but now mention'd or one of them Calvin is more useful and will be sufficient as to most Latin Words in that Law Vid. Bar. Brissonii de verborum quae ad jus pertinent significatione libros 19. Par. 1596. Fol. An Excellent and Learned Work Alciate and Joh. Goeddaeus have writ well on the same Subject in Octavo both And after them Arnoldus Corvinus very well in Octavo Amstel 1646. one or all of these may be consulted You may consult besides Meursius his Glossary 1. Rigaltii Glossarium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Verborum significatione quae Novellis Imperatorum Orientis post Justinianum regnabant c. 4o. Lut. 1601. 2. Glossae veteres Verborum Juris in Basilicis c. per Card. Labbaeum Paris 1606. In Calce Emendat Observationum in Synopsin Basilic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6. There is one Title in the Law of great use in Divinity as well as Policy and Civil Prudence and that is De Regulis juris Antiqui It contains above 200 Maxims of Law and Reason so many Principles and Axioms of greatest Evidence and Authority being great Truths universally receiv'd in the Roman Empire Pagan and Christian by Divines as well as States-men and Lawyers And because there is hardly any Rule so universal but it may admit of some Exception or Limitations so those Regulae Juris have been cautiously and learnedly explain'd by several Eminent Lawyers For Instance 1. Everard Broncherst 12o. Lugd. Bat. 1641. one of the last and I believe the best 2. Jacob. Cujacius Octavo Bas. 1594. 3. Pet. Faber Lugduni 1590. 4. Philip. Decius cum Additionibus Octavo Lugduni 1601. It is of use to a Divine for to be acquainted with the Roman Inquisitors who corrupt rather than purge Authors in all Faculties and Arts some of the Fathers not excepted for this purpose we have 1. The Popes Bulls about their Expurgatory Indices as 1. The Bulls of Pius IV. 1564. in Bullario Cherubini Romae 1638. Tom. 2. p. 81 82. 2. That of Clement VIII 1595. In the same Bullarii Tome the 3d. pages 37 38. vide ibi citatâ de Congregatione Indicis as they call it that is a Congregation A Committee of Cardinals who consulted about the composing and perfecting the Index Expurgatorius For the Rules and Directions given the Inquisitors for prohibiting what Books they pleas'd we have them as given by the Authority of the Trent Council in the end of some Editions of the Council 3. For the Indices Expurgatorii themselves it will be useful to have one or more of them for there are many and if possible of their own Editions Amongst those we have 1. Index Trid. publish'd at the end of those Editions of the Trent Council quoted in the Margin 2. Index Hispan Madriti 1612. Fol. Madriti 1571 1584. Salmurii 1601. Madriti iterum 1614 1628. Hispali 1632. Madr. iterum 1640. these are the several Editions of it but the most complete and useful is that Madr. ex Typograph Didaci Duaci Fol. an 1667. In which we have 4 or 5000 Authors damn'd absolutely or so corrected with a Purgation as they call it that the best things are left out and corrupted 3. Index Libr. Prohibit Alex. 7mi. jussu editus Romae 1664. iterum 1665. ibid. extat etià m ex MS. 1667. Fol. In this last Edition the Index Tridentinus is joyn'd with it and many Decrees of the Congregatio Indicis wherein they name particularly and censure Books which elsewhere I find not extant 4. The Portugal Index Olysipone 1624. in Folio Continet 1. Indicem Roman 2. Indicem Prohibitorum Lusitaniae 3. Indicem Expurgandorum a. pag. 195. c. vid. Papa Bullas Librorum Expurgandorum Regulas ibidem in Principio ante Indicem 5. Index Expurgatorius juxta Concilii Trident. Decretum Philippi 2i. Regis Catholici jussu Albani Ducis Consilio ac Ministerio in Belgico concinnatus an 1571. à Franc. Junio Edit an 1586. vide Epist. Dedicatoriam Praefat. Junii Diploma Regis Catholici Praefationem B. Ariae Montani dicto Indici praefixam Now 't is to be observ'd That in their Indices Authors and Books are distinguish'd into 3 Classes 1. In the first Class the Books and Authors too are damn'd and all Hereticks amongst which we Protestants are reckon'd and all their Books writ of Religion 2. In the second Class Books damn'd but not their Authors when the Authors are Catholicks and yet their Books absolutely forbid 3. In the third Class such Books writ by Papist or Protestant as be purged may pass By this we may come to know the best Books i. e. Those condemn'd by them Magnum aliquid bonum est quod à Nerone damnatur 2. By considering their Indices we come to know the best Editions of many good Books For they name the Edition of every Book to be purged so that if we have that Edition they name or any before we are sure it has not been in their Purgatory nor by putting in and leaving out corrupted Editions 3. Their Indices Expurgatorii for that use we may make of them are very good Common-place-Books and Repertories by help of which we may presently find what any Author by them censur'd has against them I shall only commend four Authors more of excellent use 1. Historia Conciliorum Generalium in 4 Libros distributa Authore Ed. Richerio Doctore Sorbonico Col. 1680. and again at Colon. 1683. 2. Joh. Launoii Parisiensis Theologi Epistolae in 8 Parts or Volumes both Sorbon Doctors and yet write learnedly against the Corruptions of Rome 3. De Antiquâ Ecclesiae Disciplinâ Dissertationes 7. Par. 1686. Auth. Ludov. Ellis Du Pin Doct. Sorbonico 4. Selectae Historiae Ecclesiasticae
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Studio Theologiae OR DIRECTIONS FOR THE Choice of Books IN THE Study of Divinity Written by the R t Reverend Father in GOD Dr. THOMAS BARLOW Late L d Bishop of Lincoln Provost of Queen's College and MARGARET Professor of DIVINITY in OXFORD Publish'd from the Original Manuscript By WILLIAM OFFLEY M. A. Prebendary of Lincoln and Domestick Chaplain to His Lordship OXFORD Printed by LEON LICHFIELD 1699. TO THE Right Reverend Father in GOD JAMES Lord Bishop of LINCOLN MY LORD WHilst others who are more immediately under Your Episcopal Government do equally approve and commend Your Generous Disposition and indefatigable Industry upon all Accounts to advance the Honour of the most Excellent Church of ENGLAND I cannot at this unhappy distance be silent but think my self obliged to mention that great Esteem which Your Lordship entertains for the Memory of many Learned Prelates who have presided over that Holy See which Your Lordship at present so deservedly fills And I am very sensible what an honourable regard Your Lordship in particular has for Bishop Barlow's Memory which suffer'd extreamly from those two Relick-mongers who printed a Spurious Book under his Lordship's Commanding Name and Character And whereas neither Religion or Gratitude were of any force to restrain their Endeavours from blasting their Great Benefactor 's Reputation after his Death by their publishing of many small Tracts it was thought necessary for Bishop Barlow's Legatees to whose Care his Lordship had committed all his own Original MSS. to undeceive the World and put a stop to mercenary proceedings by exposing the Defects of those Papers which were surreptitiously printed And I hope those Reflections which were drawn up and publish'd in the Year 1694. by my Brother Chaplain the late Ingenious Mr. Henry Brougham and My-self have been so far serviceable as to do justice to our Pious Patron 's Memory and to vindicate Our selves from all Suspicion of being any way concern'd in so base an Action as that of Selling to be Printed many private Papers with the specious Title of the Genuine Remains of that Learned Prelate Dr. Thomas Barlow c. My late Lord commanded that particular care should be taken of all his Original MSS. And that I may with greater ease discharge my Trust I have lately reposited all Bishop Barlow's Original Writings in the Archives of Queens College Library in Oxon two MSS. only excepted one treating of Grosthead's Life and Works which I left in Your Lordship's Library at Buckden in its way hereafter to the Library at Lincoln where the Ashes of that Memorable Prelate are Intomb'd The other MS. relating to the Choice of Books in the Study of Divinity I here humbly present to Your Lordship's Patronage which Your Lordship has already been pleas'd in a great measure to grant by approving of my Design and giving me good Hopes of Your Lordship's recommending These Directions to the Clergy of Your Extensive Diocese that they may be acquainted with the smallest part of that Learned Bishop's Study whose Communicative Presence they were not so happy to enjoy by his Visiting of them in such a Regular and Episcopal manner as Your Lordship has lately done in Your Primary Visitation of Your Diocese That part of his Sacred Office in our Church Bishop Barlow often complain'd he was not able to discharge as he ought And when he once attempted to visit his Diocese in Person which he often did by Legal Deputies by Confirming great numbers of People at Four several Towns in Hunting tonshire he was necessitated to tell some that then waited on him That his great Age and Infirmities wou'd not permit him to go through The several Counties of his Diocese But to express his Willingness and Readiness to Confirm such as wanted Confirmation his Lordship publish'd an Advertisement at the end of his Articles of Inquiry upon which many Persons of good Quality came to Buckden and receiv'd Confirmation from him in the Chapel of his Palace How diligent he was constantly to perform all other Duties of his Episcopal Function none are ignorant who at any convenient time waited on his Lordship about Matters Ecclesiastical And as his Lordship 's repeated wishes were that the Diocese of Lincoln might be bless'd hereafter more duly with the Solemn Rite of Confirmation so it was my Duty to attend whilst Your Lordship perform'd the Sacred Office for many Days together in Your Cathedral Church at Lincoln and elsewhere within some Peculiars belonging to that Magnificent Church particularly at Banbury where near a thousand Persons receiv'd Confirmation the 25th and 26th of September last some 80 Years of Age and scarce any under 12 for which Blessing that Ancient Corporation owns it self for ever oblig'd to Your Lordship May Your Lordship's Exemplary Life and Doctrine adorn the Faith and Practice of that Numerous and Learned Body of Men committed to Your Pastoral Care is the earnest of his Prayer who is MY LORD Your LORDSHIP 's most Obedient Servant WILLIAM OFFLEY Middleton Stony in the Diocese of Oxon Nov. 24. 1697. THE PREFACE I Shall not trouble the Reader with any long Apology for the Publication of the following Directions only I think it necessary to inform Him That had not this Method for the Study of Divinity been first printed and prefix'd to many other Papers which swell'd the Book to such a Price that few cared to buy it might the sooner have pass'd without Censure considering the Usefulness of such a Treatise wheresoever it shou'd be kindly receiv'd But being sensible withal that several Copies of this Method were dispers'd abroad and that many things already falsly printed did prejudice the Church of England and lessen the Author's Reputation I thought it my Duty to publish These Directions from the Original Manuscript which the late Mercenary Editors never saw without the long Train of Letters which are of no use but to expose the Secrets of a Private and Hasty Correspondence And since some angry Men are known to pass many unkind Reflections upon Bishop Barlow's Memory I leave the Bishop's own Words in a Letter which I have publish'd at the end of these Directions to vindicate himself from those unchristian Censures some at this day make use of that they may wound the Memory of A Great Father of the Church who has written many Learned Books in Defence of the Church of England against all that oppose it As for the first Letter which follows these Directions I found it written with Bishop Barlow's own Hand and as an Instance of its being proper to be included in his Directions to a Young Divine his Lordship left it fix'd to his Original MS. on that Subject The Second Letter sell into my Hands as I was making a Collection of some scatter'd Papers in my late Lord's Study and having communicated it to many Judicious Men they advis'd me not to conceal such Modest and Excellent Advice but to do the
Unknown Author the Justice of Printing of it And I question not but such as are studious to know how to make Choice of the most proper Books for the Study of Divinity will soon experience the great Usefulness of these following Directions which I have publish'd to prevent them for the future from being impos'd on by false Copies of this or any other of Bishop Barlow's Learned Works ADVERTISEMENT THere is lately Printed at the Theatre in Oxon a Catalogue of all Bishop Barlow's Original Manuscripts which are now in Queens College Library in Oxon and if any Person shall hereafter presume to Print or Publish any Part or Parcel of them he shall be prosecuted according to Law by Bishop Barlow's Trustees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Studio Theologiae OR DIRECTIONS For the CHOICE of BOOKS IN THE STUDY of DIVINITY THeology or Divinity is a Science or Prudence containing our Knowledge of God and our Duty and that Divine Worship which is due to Him And there are but two Principles to know both 1. Lumen Naturae or the Principles of Natural Reason common to all Mankind and on these Theologia Naturalis is built 2. Lumen Scripturae or Divine Revelation on this Theologia Revelata seu Evangelica is sounded containing such further Knowledge of God and our Duty as we have beyond all that Natural Reason can tell us by Divine Revelation in Scripture 1. Theologia Naturalis we may call Morality and the Religion common to all Men as Men and Rational Creatures 2. Theologia Revelata we call Christianity and it is the Religion peculiar to Christians Now to be a Christian pre-supposes him to be a Man and Christianity does not exclude but pre-suppose Morality and is an addition to and perfection of it yet these two Morality and Christianity are as distinct as Natural Reason and Revelation which are their respective Measures and Principles 1. Theologia Naturalis being grounded on the Law of Nature or the Moral Law it will be convenient to know the Nature Extent and Obligation of that Law as also of all Laws in general to which end we may consult Grot. de Ju. Belli lib. 1. cap. 1. § 9. c. Pet. à Sancto Joseph Idaea Theol. Moralis lib. 1. de Legibus Aquinas 1. 2. Quaest. 90. c. Suarez de Legibus Azortus Instit. Moral part 3. lib. 1. cap. 1. And when there is necessity to see more all the Commentators on Aquinas and all Casuists where they speak of the Ten Commandments or Moral Law amongst others Filliucius Quaest. Mor. Tract 21. Besides those many Divines and Christians who have expresly written upon the Ten Commandments and all things enjoin'd or forbid in them there are many Authors of excellent Use and Authority to understand the Nature of Moral Habits and Actions good and bad as to omit others Arist. Eth. ad Nicom Andro. Rhodius paraphr ex Edit Heinsii Lugd. Batav 1617. in an Octavo The Greek Scholia in Arist. Eth. Hierocles in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pythag. so call'd because they contain Pythagoras's Doctrine for Philo Crotoniates was the Author of those Verses Johan Stobaei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aurel. Allobrog 1609. highly commended by Suidas Many of this kind there are even amongst Pagan Writers who have described well the Nature and Kinds of Moral Virtues and Vices 2. Theologia Revelata of which the Sacred Scriptures are the sole Rule is to be understood by considering the Text it self and the true meaning of it For the Text of the Old Testament it will be convenient to have 1. Biblia Interlinearia Hebr. Lat. Antverp 1584. 2. Biblia Graeca Septu Interpr Paris 1628. 3. Biblia Latina Junii Tremel in Fol. or Quarto 4. Biblia Lat. Sixti Quinti Romae 1590. Bablia Lat. Clementis Octavi Romae 1592. Both Popes pretend to Infallibility and yet their Bibles contradict one another expresly and in terminis above an hundred times The Bibles of Clement the Eighth are many times Printed with a false Title-page and miscall'd Biblia Sixti Quinti as in an Edition at Antverp 1628. in Octavo and in an Edition at Antverp 1603. in Fol. and in another Edition Colon. Agrip. 1666. in 8 little Vol. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis Sixti Quinti Pont Max. recognita and yet by comparing it appears to be the Bible of Clement the Eighth For the Text of the New Testament there are many Editions but I conceive two only to be most useful 1. Novum Testamentum Gr. per Rob. Steph. Paris 1550. in Folio 't is the best for Character and Exactness and it furnishes us with an Account of all the ancient Sections and Divisions of the Testament call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Nov. Test. Gr. a Steph. Curcel Edit Amstelod 1658. in Octavo it has the Various Lections and Parallel Places more exactly than any other I have yet seen and yet Robert Steph. Edition has the Various Lections of 15 MSS. When occasion is to consult the Bible in more Languages and more Editions we have 1. Biblia Complutensia Complut 1515. in 3 Folio's 2. Biblia Regia Reg. Hisp. per Ar. Montanum Antverp 1569. 3. Biblia per Mich. Le Jai 7 Linguis and 10 Volumes printed at Paris 1645. 4. Biblia Polyglot Lond. 1657. by collating these we may see the difference and variety of Reading For the better understanding of these Languages and the Bible by them it will be convenient to have some Concordances and Lexicons We have many Concordances and some of great use 1. For the Hebrew and Chaldee words as many as are in the Bible Concordantiae Bibl. Hebr. per Joh. Buxtorf Basil. 1632. There are other but worse Editions 2. For the Hebrew and Greek of the Old Testam Conrad Kercheri Concord Vet. Test. Gr. Hebr. Vocibus respondentes Francof 1607. And it will be convenient to have his Book explaining the use of his Concordance De Concordantiarum Bibl. usu in 4º Whitberg 1622. 3. For the Greek of the New Testam Concordantiae Gr. Lat. N. Test. ab Hen. Steph. Edit Genevae 1624 there are former and worse Editions 4. For the Latin which are of some but much less use in the Study of Divinity Concordances we may consult Concord Bibl. Lat. ad Correctionem Rom. Edit Vulgat c. Francofurti 1620. there are former Editions but imperfect 5. We may consult Corn. Jansenii Commentar in suam Concordiam Evang. Mogunt 1612. an 8o. Concordiam Evangel per Theologum Parisiensem an 8º Printed at Paris 1660. Osiandri Elench Harmoniae Basil. 1561. Comment Ja. Fabri Stapul in Quatuor Evang ihi post Praefat. Canones seu Concord Evang. 6. Nov. Test. Gr. per Steph. Lutetiae 1550. Caenones Evang. ab Ammonio conditos ab Eusebio absolutos 7. We may consult eosdem Canones apud Hieronymum per M. Victorium Tom. 6. in initio Dan
learned Commentaries on both the two first Books of Moses In short you have Catalogues of the Commentators on every part of the Bible already printed out of which you may chuse the Commentaries of Brentius Calvin Pet. Martyr Joh. Wolsius Bucer Melanchton Luther Musculus c. Cajetan Masius Ar. Montanus Gaspar Sanctius Simeon de Muis the best Popish Writer on the Psalms A Lapide Corn. Jansen Vitalpandus in Ezek. Fran. Ribera in 12. Prophetas Minores Arias Montanus in 12 Prophetas In Hexameron you may consult 1. Eusta Antiochenum Lugduni per Alatium 1629. in 4o. 2. Ambrosium in Hexameron Tom. 4. Operum Edit Erasmi Basil 1527. For the New Testament very many Ancient and Modern have writ Explications of it some or all may be consulted 1. Chrysost. hath Homilies on most parts of the N. Test. 2. Hierom on the Gospels Acts and all St. Paul's Epistles but they are none of his as is certain and confess'd 3. Ven. Bede in 5 or 6 Tomes 4. Theophylact. on the Gospels Acts and all St. Paul's Epistles his Commentary on the Acts is by it self very hard to be met with Gr. Lat. per Laur. Sifanum Col. Agrip. 1567. Theophylact. hath nothing on the Canonical Epistles or Revelations 2. Beza's Notes on the whole New Test. the best Edition for there are many is that at Cambridge 1642. Camerarius's Notes on the whole N. Test. are joyn'd with it Calvin on all the N. Test. except the Apocalyps these two paucis exceptis quae Disciplinam Presbyterianam Genevetismam sapiunt are inferior to none for the Literal Sence of the Scriptures Aug. Marloratus his Comment on all the N. Test. containing the Expositions of many Protestant Writers Zach. Muthesius in 4o. Edit 1611. Dr. Wm. Foulke in Nov. Test. contra Annotationes Anglo-Rhemensium Erasmi Annot. in N. Test. Aquinas in Nov. Test. Chemnitius Gochardus Brentius Bucer Novae Glossae in Mat. Mar. Luc. per Rob. Steph. They are damn'd by the Spanish Inquisitors and therefore more valuable Lucas Brugensis in 4. Evang. Antv. 1606. Maldonatus Lutetiae 1629. There are former and worse Editions he is Vir Dotatus but as Causabon calls him maledicentissimus Hugo Cardinalis alias Hugo de Sancto Claro he writ about the Year 1244. in which he was created Cardinal by Pope Innoc. the IV. in a time of great Ignorance when Popery was not form'd whence it is that He and others of that Age have many things which they at Rome like not Jacobus Faber Stapulensis in 4 Evangel He was an Honest and Sober Papist and has an Excellent Preface before his Commentaries concerning the Excellency Perfection and universal Use of Scripture c. And therefore that Preface totally and many other things in his Commentaries are damn'd by the Inquisitors and all his Works prohibited by Clement VIII till they be purg'd that is corrupted and spoil'd by the Inquisitors and their Indices 1. Theodoret in omnes Pauli Epistolas num 14. he has nothing on the 7. Canonical Epistles James Peter John Jude nor the Revelation he is amongst the Ancients one of the best and usually comes nearest the Literal Sence Ambrose in omnes Pauli Epist. except ad Hebr. Peradventure because that Epistle was not in his time receiv'd in the Roman Church which may be the reason too why St. Hierom has no Commentary on that Epistle nor any Preface to it as he has to most Books of the Bible but those Commentaries are deny'd to be Ambrose's by many and suspected by more Primasius Utiensis circa Annum 545. Sedulius circa Annum 430. Oecumenius quisque demum fuerit in omnes Pauli Canonicas Epist. cum quo conjungitur Arethas Caesariensis in Apocalyp Who he was and when he liv'd is uncertain Bellarmine places him after the Year 1000. and some sooner his Commentary is indeed a Catena taken out of about 121. Ancient Authors for so many he cites and amongst them he often cites Photius whence 't is evident he liv'd after Photius's time who flourish'd after the middle of the Ninth Century 1. Conrad Vorstius on all the Epistles excepting that to the Hebrews who has first the Analysis 2. the Paraphrasis 3. Scholia in Paraphrasin 4. The Loci Communes of every Chapter Dr. Hammond's Annotations on the New Testament Cameronis Mirothecium Evang. Lud. Capelli Spicilegium both bound together printed in 4 to 1632. they have both many short and considerable Notes on many particular places in the Epistles and Apocalyps c. Estius in Epistolas one of the best Popish Writers on that Subject Joh. Gagnaeius in omnes Epistolas Apocalypsin Brevissima facillima Scholia in 8 0 Antv. 1564. Petrus Lombardus in omnes Pauli Epistolas He writ before Transubstantiation Opinionis portentum prodigium was Decreed in the Lateran Council Anno 1215. and in many things Honest Peter is no Papist Dionysius Carthusianus in omnes Pauli Epistolas and many others c. Arias Montanus in omnes Epistolas Apocalyp For the better Understanding of the Scriptures it will be convenient to know and to consult such Books as have given General Directions for Studying Scriptures and particular Explications of the Jewish Antiquities and Customs c. such as these 1. Antiquitatum Judaicarum lib. 9. per Ar. Montanum Lug. Bat. 1593. in Quarto 2. Buxtorfii Tiberias seu Commentarius Historicus Didacticus Criticus ad illustrationem operis Biblici c. Bas. 1620. Folio 3. And. Riveti Isagoge seu Introductio ad Scripturam Sacram Vet. Nov. Test. Lug. Bat. 1627. 4. Ant. Possevini Apparatus ad Studia Scripturae Theologiae Scholasticae practicae c. Ferrariae 1609. Quarto 5. Ejusdem Bibliotheca Selecta dictae Bibliothecae lib. 2. 3. Colon. Agrip. 1607. Fol. there are many such more Bibliotheca Studiosi Theol. per Gilb. Voetium Ultrajecti 1651. lib. 2. sect 2a. pag. 481. De Apparatu Theologico Hen. Hottingeri Clavis Scripturae seu Thesaurus Philologicus Tiguri 1649. in Quarto Seeing there are many Controversies concerning the Canon of Scripture some Books being Canonical to some which to others are Apocryphal it will be convenient to consult some who have writ ex professo of that Subject Amongst others these that follow 1. Joh. Rainolds de lib. Apocryphis Tom. 1 2. sunt quatuor Oppenheim 1611. there are many Controversies learnedly discuss'd obiter in those two Volumes besides those about the Canon 2. The Scholastical History of the Canon of Scripture by Dr. Cosins late Bishop of Durham London 1657. 3. Hen. Lemmichii Vindicatio Lib. Apocryph 1638. Octavo 4. Consulendi sunt cum opus fuerit Scriptores Eristici Pontificii Reformati qui Controversiam de Canone Bib. tractant quales sunt Chemnitius in exam Concilii Trident. Dan. Chamier Panstrat Cath. Tom. 10. Andr. Rivetus Catholici Orthodoxi Tom. 1. Tract 1. Eras.
accepi atque audivi coeno Quaestionum rivulis opinionum conturbavit id quod usus rerum magis nisi coeci sumus satis super que docet verba haec lineis inclusa ex jussu Inquisitorum ex Indicibus Expurgatoriis Hispan Madriti 1667. Lusitan Olysipone 1624. sunt delenda Vide dictos Indices in Joh. Aventino qui floruit circa an 1500. One thing more may be observ'd of the Schoolmen and of Popish Casuists and Commentators too especially those before Luther that when they speak of Moral Duties and those things which are within the compass of Natural Reason to know and judge of we shall find many things well and some very acutely said But when they speak of those things the Knowledge of which depends solely on Scripture and Revelation as of Faith Repentance Sacraments Justification c. their Ignorance of Tongues and Antiquity and consequently of the meaning of Scripture being so great besides their being inslav'd to maintain all the Errors and Superstitions of Rome which at that time were very many In their Discourses of such subjects 't is no wonder if their Mistakes ex inscitiâ aut partium studio be many and great It is next necessary for a Divine to have some Casuists and to know more that upon occasion he may consult them Amongst the Popish Authors there are very many so that all Persons of their Faction may find most Cases at least in the general stated and determin'd according to the Principles and Interest of their Church and their Prudence in this is great was their Cause good For Protestants there no part of Divinity which has been I know not the reason more neglected very few having writ a just and comprehensive Tract of Cases of Conscience However it may be useful to consult both Protestants and Papists 1. Protestants Casuists and amongst them 1. Dr. Sanderson Bishop of Lincoln his two Tracts or Prelections De obligatione Conscientiae and De Juramento are of great use and excellence for in those Prelections he has so plainly explain'd and prov'd many Propositions concerning Oaths and Conscience in Thesi and in general that he who seriously reads them and remembers what he reads may determine and resolve many other Cases which are not mention'd by Dr. Sanderson 2. Consult the five Cases of Conscience determin'd by a late Learned Hand that 's the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 London 1666. in Octavo no Name to them but Parentem referunt they look so like that good Bishop that any wou'd suspect and it is certainly known those Resolutions are his and worthy our perusal 3. Amesius de Conscientia c. A Non-conformist and therefore cautè legendus as to that particular but otherwise he writes very rationally and what he resolves is short and the Texts he urges very pertinent So that when is out which is not usual you lose not much and when he is right you have it in a little time 4. Fr. Balduinus a Lutheran and therefore must be warily read as to that Point De Casibus Conscien Witterbergae 1628. 5. Casp. Eras. Brochmanni Systema Universae Theologiae in quo singuli Religionis Christianoe Articuli Controversiae priscae recentes polemicae expediuntur praecipui Conscientiae Casus è verbo Dei practicè deciduntur in 3. Vol. 4º Lipsiae 1638. there be former but worse Editions Popish Casuists are many and Voluminous for Ant. Dieina consists of 12 Parts and 6 or 7 Vol. in Folio but these that I shall here mention are of greatest Note and Authority 1. Manuale Confessariorum c. per Mart. Azpilivetam Navar. Par. 1620. 8o. 2. Franc. Toleti Cardinal de Instructione Sacerdotis c. lib. 8. Rothomagi 1630. in Octavo 3. Vincent Filliucii Quaestiones Morales c. Colon. Agrip. 1629. Fol. He writes as fully and learnedly as any among the Jesuites of which sort of Casuists amongst those who do not as some do with ambiguous Words and soft Expressions disguise and mollifie their harsh and horrid Opinions I shall name a few who write plain Popery and openly endeavour to prove their most desperate Opinions 1. Ant. de Escobar Theologia Moralis c. Lugd. 1646. 8o. This is a good Edition but there are two something better after it one at Lions and another at Brussels 1651. 2. Thomae Tamburini è Societate Jesu Explicatio Decalogi c. Lugd. 1659. Fol. 3. And that we may know what his Erroneous Opinions are and where to be found we have a Catalogue of no less than 103 pernicious Errors found in his Works and the place where signify'd in a Book with this Title Extraict de plusieurs Erreurs Maximes pernicieuses contenues dans un Volume du Pere Tambourin Jesuite c. Imprimé à Lion en la presente Annee 1659. in Quarto 4. If you desire to see more of the Jesuites Casuistical Divinity you may consult Pauli Lymanni Jesuitae Theologiam Moralem Lugduni 1654. and Fr Bordoni propugnaculum opinionis probabilis in concursu probationis operum Bordoni Tom. 6. Lugd. 1668. in Folio 5. And Lastly vid. Amadaei Guimenii Opusculum singularia universae ferè Theologiae Moral complectens adversus quorundam Expostulationes contra nonnullas Jesuit arum Opiniones Morales Lugd. 1664. in Quarto He endeavours to justifie all the Jesuites wild and extravagant Opinions which the Jansenists charge them withal in their Provincial Letters and the Jesuites Morals and the Mystery of Jesuitism and to do this he shews that many Eminent Authors and Writers of the Roman Church before and besides the Jesuites maintain'd with Approbation the very same Opinions which are charg'd upon the Jesuites So that this Work of Guimenius is a common-place-Common-place-Book wherein we may find all the Impious Opinions of the Roman Church particularly cited by Guimenius and eight or ten more Eminent and approv'd Writers of that Church who publickly held and defended them Besides Popish Casuists they have many Writers whom they call Summistae who have put all the Heads of Divinity in an Alphabetical Order and then explain each by way of Position Case or Question There are many such Writings the more Ancient before Luther when they writ more secure speak plain Popery the later are more cunning and cautious yet sufficiently erroneous I shall name two only 1. Summa Universae Theologiae Rainerii de Pisis Venet. 1585. in two Tomes Quarto 2. Summa Ecclesiasticae Disciplinae totius Juris Canonici aucta recognita c. Lugd. 1598. Authore P. Crespetio the most useful amongst them if I mistake not under every Head he cites passages out of the Fathers Councils Historians Schoolmen c. And any thing which he thinks makes for the Catholick Cause Of this sort of Writers or Casuists are Antonius Archiepisc. Florentinus Card. Cajetan Turre-Cremata in his Summa de Ecclesia a Book by reason of the Cardinal's Authority considerable as also which occurs in the end of
Satisfactione Christi Octavo 23. Vid. Ludov. Lucium De Satisfactione Christi contra Michaelem Gettichium Edit Bas. 1612. 8o. 24. Lambert Danaeus in P. Lomb. Sentent lib. 1. multa pro Trinitate disputat Edit an 1580. 8o. 25. Christianus Beemannus Bornensis edidit Exercitationes Theolog. pro Deitate Christi c. contra Socinum Smalcium Ostorodum Crellium Mennonem Simonis Paracelsum Wiegelium c. Amst. an 1643. Fol. 26. Joh. Paulus Felwingern scripsit Examen Disquisitionis brevis edit Norembergae 1637. Octavo 27. Sam. Maresii Xenia Academica seu de Divinitate Personalitate Sp. Sancti contra Socinianos cum aliis Quarto 28. Disputatio Theologica Orthodoxa De Sanctissima Trinitate Auth. Josepho Voisin Par. 1647. 8o. 29. Socinianismi confutati Tom. 1. Auth. Johanne Hoornebecke Professore Ultrajectano Ultrajecti 1650. Quarto 30. Hydra Socinianismi expugnata contra Joh. Volkelium Joh. Crellium per Sam. Maresium Groningae 1651. Quarto 31. Bernardus Paxillus scripsit Monomachian pro defensione Fidei Trinitatis Cracov 1616. in Biblioth Bodl. 32. Joh. Cloppenburg scripsit Vindicias pro Deitate Sp. Sancti adversus Joh. Bidellum Anglum Franck. 1652. 33. Josuae Stegmanni Photiniasmus seu succincta refutatio errorum Photinianorum c. Rhinthelii 1623. 8o. Alli pene infiniti Pontificii pariter Reformati sese Socino opposuere ut passim videre est Vide sis Aegidium Hunnium in Articulo de Trinitate Polanum in Syntagm Theol. l. 3. c. 2. ad 11. Barthol Terres in 1. part Aquinatis Benedict Szentkiral Transylvanum contra Georgium Enjedinum Hieron Zanchium de tribus Elohim c. Hannib Rosseli Comment in Paemandrum Hermetis Calvinum in defensione Orthodoxae Fidei Sacrae Trinitatis contra M. Servetum Georg. Blandr Erasmum Brochmannum qui utraque Controvers parte quaestiones Socinianas proponit discutit Dionys. Petavium qui fusè pariter doctè in Dogmatis Theologicis tractandis contra Socinum disputat testimoniis ex intimâ Antiquitate petitis Tandem longum Scriptorum Catalogum eorum nempè qui contra Socinum sui sequaces militant tibi exhibet Christianus Becmannus Bornensis in Exercitationibus Theologicis Amstelod editis an 1643 pag. 12. Ubi Authores 56 plus minus enumerat qui justo Bello Marte internecino contra Socinum ipsumque etiam Socinianismum animosè militant Qui vellet videat Scholastici quod ad Articulum Trinitatis attinet in 1. Sent. P. Lombardi distinct 2. in 1. parte Aquinatis multa disputant curiosa mag is fateor quam viro cordato profutura Quorum omnium Catalogum laboriosè contextum tibi exhibet Iohan. Martinez de Ripaldâ in Lib. Sent. 1. Disp. 2. Amongst other things 't is exceeding useful for a Divine to have some knowledge of the Canon Law there are many Books written of this Faculty and amongst others to omit those which concern the Forum and Jurisdictionem contentiosam these following may be useful 1. For the Original Parts and Use of the Canon Law it will be very useful first of all to read Dr. Duck De Usu Authoritate Juris Civilis Roman Lib. 1. c. 7. de Jure Canonico pag. 39. Edit Lond. 1653. 2. Institutiones Juris Canonici per Paulum Lancelottum cum Casibus Joh. Bapt. Bartoloni in Octavo Col. 1609. 3. Arnoldi Corvini Jus Canonicum per Aphorismos strict explicat Amstel 1651. in Octavo And this for Brevity Method and Perspicuity may at the first be more useful to a Divine than the aforesaid Institutions 4. Corpus Juris Canonici cum Accessione novarum Constitutionum summorum Pontificum Annotationibus Ant. Naldi c. Lugd. 1661. in Quarto and 2 Volumes This is the last and best Edition Corporis Juris Canonici without the Gloss and contains many useful things which are not in any former Edition 5. If the aforesaid Edition cannot be had then consult Corpus Juris Canonici at Paris 1618. Folio the next in Time and Goodness 6. Corpus Juris Canonici cum Glossis Par. 1612. cum Indice Steph. Davys in 4 Volumes Fol. 7. The old Edition of the Canon Law with the Gloss at Par. 1519. in 3 Vol. in 4º or any other Edition before the Year 1572. for since that Time many things are left out of the Gloss which were in before 8. Censurae in Glossas Juris Canonici Colon. 1672. where what is to be left out of the Gloss is distinctly set down After a General Knowledge of this Law a few Books more will be of Advantage to perfect that Knowledge so far as a Divine may be concern'd in it for Instance such as these 1. Joh. Cardinal de Turre-Cremata in Decretum Gratiani 2. Abbas Panormitanus in Decretales c. 3. Conclusionum Practicarum in Jur. Utr. Foro c. 8. Tom. Fol. per Card. Tuschum Lugd. 1634. The whole Work is in an Alphabetical Order like a Law Dictionary and things easy to be found in it 4. Epit. Juris Pontificii veteris per Ant. Augustinum Fol. Rom. 1614. aut Par. 1641. It is divided into 3 parts 1. De Personis 2. De Judiciis 3. De Rebus c. He has a Catalogue of the Popes Councils Collectors of the Canons and his Censure of them A Book of great use for a Divine For Explanation of the Terms and Ecclesiastical Words which occur in the ancient Canons Histories Councils and Ecclesiastical Writers Greek and Latin some Law Lexicons will be necessary there are many but I shall name only what I think most useful 1. Glossarium Graeco-Barbarum Jo. Meursii 4o. Lugd. Bat. 1614. 2. Lexicon Juridicum Juris Caesarei Canonici per Jo. Calvinum Joh. Christum Genevae 1640. which Edition has escaped the Inquisitors Fury Notand Many things in this Lexicon are damn'd and to be expung'd by the Command of the Inquisitors in the Spanish and Portugal Indices sed salva res est this Edition has escap'd Purgatory Vid. Indicem Expurg Hisp. Madriti 1667. pag. 570 Indicem Olysipone 1624. p. 742. There are more Lexicons which may on many occasions be consulted 1. Lexicon Juris per Sim. Schardium Fol. Colon. Agrip. 1600. 2. Vocabulum Utriusque Juris per Alexandr Scot. 8o. Lugd. 1622. 3. Notitia de Vocabulis Eccles. c. Rauolta de Domenico Magri c. Romae 1650. part Latin and part Italian 4. Glossae P. Pithaei Capitulis Caroli Magni proefixae Paris 1640 c. It is exceeding useful for a Divine to know the Civil Law also setting aside the Litigious part of it such Books as these may be useful And first For a General Knowledge of the Civil Law consult 1. Ridley's View of the Civil Law c. 4o. 2. Dr. Duck's first Book De Usu Authoritate Juris Civilis Lond. 1653. Elementa Juris Civilis per Joh. Arnold Corvinum Amstel 1645. in 12o. Justinian's Institutions shou'd be read with it And for a fuller Explication of Justinian's Institutions it will be
capita in loca ejusdem insignia Dissertationes c. Paris 1676. Authore Natali Alexandro Ord. Praedicatorum Doctore Sorbonico in Octavo and 23 or 24 Volumes You may consult French Men's Writings both before and since Luther such as Gerson Chancellor of Paris and Espensaeas c. for they write more freely and learnedly against the Corruptions and Errors of Rome than any another Popish Writers Having writ this at several times and scarce perus'd any part of it as I would I hope the Reader will pardon my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not wilful Mistakes If He desire to see any of the aforemention'd Authors they are all some few excepted in my own Library here at Buckden THOMAS Lincoln LETTER I. Bishop BARLOW 's Letter to Dr. Howell Chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln concerning his Primary Visitation Mr. CHANCELLOR WHEN I appointed this present Visitation of my Diocese it was both my Duty and Desire to have done it in Person as for several other Ends so more particularly that I might have the Happiness to know and be acquainted with my Brethren of the Clergy But my Age being now actually past 71. and Infirmities necessitate me to lay upon you that Burthen which my weak Indisposition at this time has disabled me to bear The Reason why I have not Visited before this Time was this My Predecessor visited the Year he died and tho' de Jure I might have visited the next Year yet I was unwilling to bring a burthen upon the Clergy so suddenly and therefore resolv'd not to visit until such time as my Predecessor if he had liv'd might have visited which was Anno 1677. When being call'd to the Parliament I was detain'd there and till now had no Opportunity to undertake what I had really design'd a Visitation This premised I shall intreat You to commend to my Brethren two or three things in what Words and with what Enforcement You in Prudence shall think fit 1. That they wou'd be conscientiously careful to live a pious Life and be Exemplary in walking Themselves in that way they commend to their Hearers from the Pulpit for if they Preach never so well and do not Live accordingly they will dishonour GOD and do Mischief to the People who are more apt to follow Examples than Precepts 2. That they wou'd be diligent in Catechizing the Younger People I fear too many of the Older sort may need it that they may know the Principles and Grounds of our Religion otherwise to preach to Uncatechiz'd People is to build without a Foundation 3. That they wou'd studiously endeavour to understand the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England which they have subscrib'd to and are bound to vindicate And in order to this let them read such Books as authentically contain both the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church viz. Our Liturgy Homilies XXXIX Articles and our Book of Ordination These Books are establish'd by Convocation and Parliament and ought both before and after Ordination seriously to be read and consider'd Jewel Whitaker Reynolds Hooker are excellent Authors who vindicated the Church of England against all her Adversaries with great Learning and Victorious Success and if young Students in Divinity will apply themselves to read them diligently they will find that these Books are of excellent use for the Explication and Confirmation of Our Churches Doctrine and Approved Discipline 4. And as Divines we are bound to inable our selves to know and defend our own Doctrine and Discipline than which no Church in Christendom has better or more consonant to Scripture and Primitive Antiquity so we shou'd endeavour according to our Ability to confute our Adversaries Papists and Non-conformists who as Herod and Pontius Pilate against our Blessed Saviour are Confederates against Truth and the Church of England What I have here mention'd is to re-mind my Brethren of what they know already and of the pressing necessity We now have if We love Truth and our Holy Mother the Church of England to know and confute the Impious and Blasphemous Practices of all those Recusants which at this Day disturb the Peace of the Church and State I desire You to advise the Clergy to pay their Tenths to the King duly for the Reasons in a Paper which the Reverend Mr. Skelton my Domestick Chaplain will give You And I have taken effectual order to prevent the Clergy's being impos'd on by undue Exactions from any Officer or Collector of their respective Dues within my Diocese resolving to lessen rather than augment the Fees c. which the Clergy pay With my Respects to Your self and my Brethren I rest theirs and Your Affectionate tho' Infirm Friend THOMAS Lincoln Sept. 1. 1688. LETTER II. A Short Method for the Study of Divinity in a Letter to a Friend by an Unknown Author and found in Bishop BARLOW 's Study SIR YOU ask of me one of the Hardest things I know To direct A Young Student in the the Methodical Study of Divinity If I have any Knowledge in it I must profess to You I know not how I came by it I read as it happen'd and thought of what I read and this is all I know of it It is I confess a great Defect in our Church and the occasion of many Mischiefs to it but it requires a much better Hand than mine and more Leisure than I have to prescribe a Remedy for it But if You will be contented with some free and hasty Thoughts You shall have them The constant Reading of S. Scripture with great application of Mind is a General Rule and ought to be a constant Practice whether we rightly apprehend the true Sence of it at present or not For when the very Phrase or Expression of S. Scripture and the History of it is imprinted on our Minds when we come strictly to examine any particular Doctrine of Religion various Expressions will occur to our Minds and will suggest such Thoughts to us as are to be had no other way And tho' it is not suppos'd that any Man acquainted with other parts of Learning and beginning to apply himself to the Study of Divinity can be in such a State yet the Scripture is to be read and learnt as the Grammar is by Children who know not how to apply the Rules much less understand the Reason of them And therefore part of them is to be read every Day tho' only in English which I think very adviseable for one who intends the Ministry without stopping at every Difficulty he meets with but charging his Memory with the Phrase and the Series and order of Events But to make the Reading of the S. Scripture useful he must furnish himself with all variety of Questions about Religion that he may know what to observe and enquire after And you will think it hard that I cannot direct him better than to send him to the Master of the Sentences or Aquinas's Summs or Estius upon the Sentences
And yet so it is Not that I think that either their Questions or Resolutions are always wise but they will surnish a wise Man with many Material Questions and with some very Material Answers and deliver him from the Danger of ever being impos'd on with School-Falacies And a Man who reads them with this Design and this Caution will find great Benefit by it For tho' I am no Admirer of School-Divinity I doubt the great Ignorance of some Persons may be ascrib'd to a Contempt of it without knowing it But then he ought also to read other Systems of Divinity as Calvin's Institutions and Zanchius whom I take to be one of the best and subtilest Writers of Calvinists and Arminius Episcopius or the late Remonstrant Philip à Limborch For a Man who will throughly enquire ought to have the different Schemes of Religion in his Head But especially to read and consider well the Articles Homilies and Canons of our Church which every one who intends to be a Minister of the Church of England ought to do Having thus far advanced you may think I bring him back again when I come to more particular Enquiries But if you think well of it you will find he is not sufficiently prepar'd for them before And now I begin from the very Foundations of Religion To enquire strictly and severely into the Reasons of Our Faith And 1. Why He believes there is a GOD. And here he must review all the several Hypotheses of Philosophy and examine the Powers of Nature and the Arguments of Atheists Tully and Dr. Cudworth will sufficiently furnish him if his Curiosity does not draw him further The next Enquiry is Whether GOD has made any Revelation of his Will to the Word And here he must consider the Authority of Revelation and the Canon of Scripture And Dr. Stillingfleet's Origines Sacrae Huetius or Dr. Cosin's Canon of Scripture will furnish him with all that is needful to be known or direct him where he may enquire further And this is the most proper time to read the Apologists for Christianity Justin Martyr Tertullian Minutius Felix Arnobius Lactantius St. Austin de Civitate Dei Theodoret contra Gentes and such like as Eusebius's Praeparatio and Demonstratio c. And now especially it is time to read the Scriptures with greater Care both to understand the Grammatical and Critical Sence of them by comparing the various Versions especially the Septuagint with the Original of the Old Testament and by our Volumes of Criticks which have more than all that is useful and to understand the true Sence of them As for particular Commentators I know not how to direct because there is so great variety of them But Ainsworth upon the Pentateuch is allow'd by all Josephus and Philo-Judaeus tho'a Platonick Jew are very useful for the Old Testament and Maimonides Nevochim and such Tracts of Jewish Writers as he may meet with Dr. Lightfoot I think has prescrib'd the best Method of Reading the Scriptures by digesting the Historical and Prophetical Books into the order of Time And the Prophesies are certainly understood by considering the times to which they relate Tho' I must needs say That the shortest and most compendious way to useful Knowledge is to study the New Testament and those parts of the Old Testament which he there finds apply'd to the state of the Gospel which will enable him the better to understand the Old Testament when he has more leisure for the thorough Study of it And for Modern Authors let him read Mr. Poole's Synopsis Criticorum allowing for the different Hypotheses of the Authors and reading with Caution Tho' if I may advise when he intends thoroughly to understand any Book of Scripture let him read it several times over and make himself Master of it Then let him read it Verse by Verse and observe what the Difficulties are and try by the Construction and Signification of the Words and the Series of the Discourse what he can make of it and after that consult Expositors This is the most laborious and slow but the most useful and will be found at last the shortest way to true and substantial Knowledge I have found such advantage by it my self that I dare recommend it From hence he may proceed to the Enquiry into particular Controversies which he is now well furnish'd for with a great compass of Knowledge And here he may begin and end if ever he can find an end where he pleases And he will easily inform himself of the best Writers on both sides As for the Fathers and Councils and Ecclesiastical Historians I think the best way at first is to examine as he has opportunity such Citations as he meets with and see to what purpose their Authority is urg'd on all sides or to read any particular Tract in them as he has occasion for it And then when he finds leisure to read them he will know how to use them This is sufficient Employment for some Years and as imperfect as the Rules are if observ'd will certainly make him a very good Divine and furnish him with useful Knowledge and before he has done half this he will need no Director I have taken no notice of Reading the Ancient Moralists and observing the Differences of their several Sects and how they differ from or agree with the Precepts of Christianity nor of the Nature of Laws c. These being suppos'd necessary Prolegomena FINIS a Sir P. P. S. W. b Genuine Remains c. a St. Ives Huntington Buckden and St. Neots a 68 when Consecrated and 85 at his Death * Five Counties and in half * Above 1300 Clergy in Lincoln Diocese * Six Shillings and Six Pence a Theologia Revelata in its full Latitude may be 1. Patriarchalis containing the Positive Revelation of God's Will and Worship made to the Patriarchs before Moses for to them the Messias was promised and Salvation by him they had the Covenant of Grace and Sacrificia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which were Sacraments and Seals of it 2. Mosaica which contain'd many further positive Revelations of God's Will and Worship 3. Evangelica of which only at present 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suid. in Joh. Stob. vid. Photii Biblioth Cod. 167. pag. 366. Theologia 〈◊〉 Bibles prâ—peâ— for the Teâ—t of the Old Testament For the New Testament * Vid. Suidam verb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bibles Concordances a Extant Concordantiae Hebr. per Mazi Calasium in 4 Tomes printed at Rome 1621. in Bodley's Library much larger than Buxtorf's but whether better Docti judicent a Heb. 1. 3. b 2 Cor. 9. 4. and 11. 17. c Heb. 3. 14. d Tindal renders it so Faith is a sure Confidence of e Gloss. vet in calce Cyrilli 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arguo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Probatio oecumen Theophylac 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in loc a Concil Trident. Sess. 6. de Justificat cap. 8. Vid. Vasq. in