truly desirous to edifie the publique that ye would not suffer so precious a Talent to be hid and concealed any longer from the hands and eyes of Forreiners but that ye would according to the pious zeal and affection of fervent Charity which ye have toward your Brother-Churches and the bountifull care which ye have for the Glory of God in the propagation of the Gospel take some convenient course by which the Marrow of these Authors which in that kind are exstant amongst you and are of chief Note may be gathered out of all into one Volume either of Common places or of a body of Practicall Divinity which may be published and made use of by all in a tongue known and common to the learned We have heard that some few things have been translated into the low Dutch language which are of great use unto those Churches and their Schollars of Divinity Of late also there is a little Book of the Practise of Piety translated out of English into our Germane tongue which hath taken so much with many godly souls that we find thereby wrought in them a very great growth of that Religious disposition which doth consist in a pure and modest Profession of heavenly truth for which cause we do hope that if our wishes may obtain by your means the favour which is desired that some of your Men to whom God seemeth mercifully to have given in the midst of these troubles both quietnesse and means to conferre these and such like benefits unto his Church will easily be found who without difficulty will at your perswasion bestow their pains and their Talents to Collect to Translate to Digest and to publish the chief practical Writings and Meditations of your Authors Whence we are confident this will come to passe that the Kingdom of God will receive a notable inlargement if a compleat Body of such Doctrine out of your Writers were put forth wherein as well the young Schollars of Divinity for their Studies as many Pastors of the Churches for their Sermons might find matter far more usefull unto edification then that is which now adaies is met withall in Controversal Writings So that by this means the minds of many men may be drawn back from the endeavours of strife unto the affections of unfained Charity whence afterward this will follow that unto God in the first place Glory and thanksgiving will redound and then unto the Professors of the Gospel with the care of holinesse and piety peace and concord to the Churches publique Edification to the simple sort pious learning to the godly and afflicted sound spirituall comfort to the erring and such as go astray saving Conversion to such as are secure and carnall a lively wakening of their Conscience to the Hypocrites and stubborn sinners a clear discovery of their perversness and to all the Generations to come a greater light of truth will be advanced and lastly unto those that shall bestow their Talent towards this endeavour for the advancement of Gods Kingdom when he shall call us to an account of the Talent which we have received from him that glorious and blessed voyce shall then come from the Lord unto them Well done thou good and faithfull servant thou hast been faithfull in a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter into the joy of thy Lord which joy we wish from our heart together with all temporal happiness to all those to whom our request shall be made known and with whom it shall find acceptance Farewell in the Lord excellent Gentlemen whom with all respect we are bound to worship Given at Hanaw 24. Febr. Anno 1633. By John Daniel Wildius Minister of Gods Word and Inspector of the Churches of Hanaw Theodorus Leurelius Preacher of the Church of Hanaw Conradus Ammonius Preacher to the Court of the same place Paulus Tossanus Doctor in Divinity an Assessor of the Ecclesiastical Senate in the lower Electoral Palatinat Clemens Boesius Pastor of the French Church in New Hanaw Isaacus Boots Pastor of the Flanders Church which is gathered unto Christ in Hanaw Matthew Rowyer Pastor of the French Church at New Hanaw M. Philippus Pareus Son to David Rector and Professor of the famous Colledge of Hanaw At Herborne in March and elsewhere in April in the same year 1633. the same sute was renewed by these Petrus Streithagen Preacher to the Court of the most Illustrious King of Bohemia of blessed Memory John Moriaen formerly Preacher of Gods Word amongst those of Collen I did underwrite this at Francofurt 23 April Anno 1633. Philip Suabelius of Hoing in the County of Solms Preacher to his Native Church John Conradus Hopisius Minister of the Word of God in the County of Hanaw in Mercabel an exiled Palatin I Henry Mecrobottius for the present time Pastor of Schesheim Ladenburg in the Electoral Palatinat am willing to confirm also with my Subscription this most profitable intention and common wish of our Brethren of Germany John Irlin Doctor of Divinity Rector and Professor of the School of Herbon Pastor of the Church of the same place and Inspector of the neighbouring Churches of Nassaw Mr Casparus Stippius Arch-Deacon of the Church of Siegen who subscribed in his own name and in the name of the rest of his Brethren in the County of Siegen in Nassaw John Arcularius Pastor of the Church of Beilstein who subscribed in his own name and in the name of the rest of his Brethren in the Counties of Beilstein Ozen in Nassaw Thomas Dern Pastor of Altenkirch in the name of the Churches of the County of Sainen THis Letter doth sufficiently speak for it self and the persons who did offer it were in those parts none of the least considerable Protestants nor is their number small if you take notice of the Churches in whose name some have subscribed and although the time since it was offered may seem somewhat long yet because that which hitherto could be done to obtain their desire hath not been neglected though by several invincible impediments obstructed because the expectation of obtaining it is not vanished but at this time raised and because such a suit as this can never be out of date till it be fulfilled nay although the first Petitioners should all be dead it ought not the lesse conscienably to be regarded by those to whom it is made because it doth not at all concern any temporal or so much the particular convenience of those that make it as the spiritual edification and general benefit of all the Churches of God and of the ages to come in the Gospel I say because of all these considerations and more that might be added therefore I am willing to second their request as I am many waies bound to do and to that effect I shall first shew my sense of the Body of Divinity which I conceive will satisfie their demand and then the Reasons why it ought to be and manner how it may be made
undertaken that if all which is to be perfected hath not found a peculiar Workman some body may be sought out and engaged to become the Undertaker for that which shall be wanting and in case two should take the same Work in hand unknown to one another the Directors may give them notice thereof and move them to divide their Work between them that it may be done with more expedition or incline one of them to take some other Task in hand which perhaps hath no Undertaker An Agent also might be thought upon the residing in London to whom from all Parts and by whom to all Parts the Letters should be addressed which must be written to or from the Undertakers or to and from the Directors and his charges should be born and by him the Tasks when they are compleated should be first sent and then conveyed unto the Directors carefully that they may not miscarry The Work being effected the way to impart it unto Forrain Churches is no more but to get it Translated into Latine and Printed after that it is Printed in English which the Company of Stationers will greedily take in hand as a Book which will yield great and ready profit and if there should be any difficulty in the printing of the Latine Copy in these Parts because our Stationers perhaps will not readily venture upon a Book which will have no great vent here as it it not likely the Latine Copy will have when the English is already extant then meanes may be used towards some Forraine Stationer at Geneva or elsewhere who will not only Print it but be induced to contract with the Translators to buy the Copy from them because the Book will sell no lesse abroad in Latine then it will do at home in English that is exceedingly The Copy of a Letter which was written by several Godly Ministers Undertakers in this Work of compiling a Body of Practical Divinity to Doctor usher the Primat of Armach in Ireland MOst Reverend Father in God Grace and Peace with all due and dutiful Respects promised If we shall seem bold in apprehending this opportunity of writing by this worthy Knight yet we are confident that the important Cause moving us will excuse us and procure not only our pardon but also its approbation of your incomparable benignity and love to the Churches of Christ And although it were too great inconsiderateness in us to imagine that either your vigilant intelligence sitting in that high watch Tower should need our information or your great faculty and no lesse facility both of Grace and Nature of Place and Parts to do good and chiefly to promote the Cause of the Gospel should require Arguments for incitation yet we thought it our duty at least to signifie our hearty desire for the wel-fare of Gods Church and to promâ—se that your care and zeal for it in the course that we here commend shall no sooner appear but it shall find us ready prest to attend it with our best service It is not unknown unto your Grace that the Churches of Germany are no lesse distressed and distracted within theâ— without the want of inward peace molesting them more then of outward Yet as the Ancient Civil Roman State when often rent by intestine Wars no sooner was invaded by a Forrame Power but still the breach was soadred up again So the wiser taking occasion by these Wars in Germany to strike while the Iron is hot and to make a vertue of necessity have hoped and so endeavoured to reduce the two grand dissenting parts of these Churches to a wished Peace and Unity while in the fire of furious War the two spiritual Swords of Luthers and Calvins Party too keenly bent one against the other being mollified might with the more easie hammering be wrought into one and so become the more strong to fight against the Common Adversary And what do we know whether the all-disposing wisdom of our God hath not for this very purpose sent the Sword into those Parts to launce and asswage the swellings of such Aposthumes Now what hath been already done hercia and by whose auspicious setting on foot and with what successe and greater hopes it still proceedeth the perfection whereof we dayly pray for we need not now to relate That which we here presume to propound is a Work which either may conduce to the begetting of the Child of peace or being brought forth to the nourishing of it up unto a perfect man in Christ This work is the framing of a Body of Practical Divinity for the furnishing of those Churches in special as being most destitute of it and very poor in the life and power of Religion Now for the furtherance of so good and great a work We who are Ministers of London whose names are under-written apprehending the excellent use of such a Work but withall the great difficulty of effecting in any good degree unlesse some such Noble Able and active Instruments as your Grace is give a good speed unto it are bold in the bowels of Christ and in a Brotherly compassion of the same mystical Body to implore your Piety and wisdom not only in giving Counsel and Direction but assistance also by your worthy Example joyning Head Heart and Hand together for the advancement and accomplishment of so Religious and desireable a Work And the rather are we emboldned to desire the engagement of your Grace herein sith we are Credibly informed that your Grace formerly hath much desired such a Work to be undertaken and effected And who can better describe a Methode manner matter and meanes for this then your self whom the Lord hath so richly furnished with so excellent gifts of Wisdom Learning Charity and Zeal for the perfecting of the Saints for the Ministry for the Edifying of the Body of Christ Thus recommending all this to your Christian Care and Piety with our humblest services and dayly prayers for the increase of Gods Grace and blessing upon your vigilancy in keeping the stock of God from Ravenous wolves and advancing the Gospel in the power and purity of it as well abroad as at home we humbly take our leave attending what service your Grace will Command us when once your piety and Prudence hath set us down an Ample and full Platform of the whole Body of Divinity so as we may be able to discern all the limbs and lineaments of it and so taking a full view of the entire Model each may make Choice of that piece in special which he findes himself fittest to frame and polish untill by this means the whole Building shall be happily and the more easily finished many hands making light work Your Graces most humble Servants in the Lord William Gouge John Stoughton John Downam Henry Burton Geo. Walker Nicolas Morton Sidr Simpson Adoniram Byfield Rich Culverwell Obadiah Sedgwick Geo. Hughes Joseph Symonds For his loving Friend M. John Dury These MR. Dury I am glad that you are still willing to take
worshipping and glorifying God These truths ought to be cleared upon the ground of common Reason which all men are supposed to be made capable of and to this effect I suppose it will be necessary to handle these following or such like Positions Of the First That there is a God TO Demonstrate unto a Rational man that there is a God he must be made to acknowledge these following truths 1. That in this World besides the things which are visible there be other things invisible which though concealed from sense have a being and may be understood to be 2. That the Heavens the Earth and the things visible therein have not their being from themselves but from something else which is not seen but may be understood to be over all as the Governour and supream power thereof which is called God 3. That this supream power is before all things without beginning and ending infinite in all perfections most wise good and bountiful in giving all things unto all 4. That amongst all visible things as Man is the most perfect so he can least of all have his Being from inferiour Creatures or from himself but having it from the supream cause more remarkably then other Creatures he is more enabled then they to know God and respect him Of the Second VVHen upon these grounds a man is Convicted that there is a God then to demonstrate unto him rationally that this God ought to be feared worshipped and glorified by Man-kind these following or such like Positions are to be made out unto him 1. That Man hath a soul endowed with a Reasoning facultie whereby he is able to judge of his own actions and know his own aims though secret and hidden from others 2. That in this judging facultie there is something which universally in all ages Men have called Conscience which secretly accuseth or else excuseth Men concerning their actions and aims chiefly when others judge of them otherwise then they meant them 3. That this Conscience doth bear witnesse unto all men in whom it is awake from their own reason that they are under the power of God and that they ought to be thankful to God 4. That the reason which convicteth mens Conscience that they are under God will also convict them that they ought to shew their thankfulness unto God suitably unto the nature and properties of Gods being and not otherwise 5. That the nature and propertie of Gods being seeing in all things it is the first and supream is in it self infinitely perfect and to all other things the alone Author of all good and that therefore it ought to have the glory of this supremacie perfection and goodnesse given unto it by man in his use of all things 6. That in case he doth not shew himselfe thankful by respecting the glorie due to God in all things he doth then deserve to be cast off by God and deprived of the fruit of his goodnesse in all things 7. That it a man doth give unto God the glory which is due to his Name by being thankfull unto him he may assure himselfe that God as he is wise and all-knowing will take notice of him and as he is just and good will be mercifull and beneficiall unto him Of the Third WHen a Man hath acknowledged these truths that there is a God and that he is to be glorified by Man answerably to the properties of his nature then we must rationally induce him to believe that the Scriptures written to Jews and Gentiles by the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles are the Word of God And this may be done by the demonstration of these or the like Positions 1. That no Books in the World have greater evidences and arguments of truth in respect of their History then these have two things must be made out 1. That they were written by those Men by whom they are said to be written 2. That the Matters of fact recorded in them are as rationally credible as any other humane Records whatsoever 2. That the Writers of those Books whatsoever they were were undoubtedly the true servants of God inspired by him in writing the same 3. That all the Doctrines and Precepts of divine fear and worship contained therein are most sutable to the nature and property of Gods Supremacy Perfection and goodnesse and that they are more answerable unto the true Notions of duty written in the heart of Mankind towards God then the Doctrines and Precepts of any other Book and Religion whatsoever extant any where in all the World Of the Fourth VVHen a Man is rationally Convicted or at least induced to believe that there is no cause to contradict this truth that the Scriptures are the Word of God it will be no difficult matter to let him see by the substance of the matters contained therein and the ends for which they were written and given both to the Jews and Gentiles that they were written and given to no other end but to teach all Men the true way of fearing worshipping and glorifying God And to this effect these or such like Positions may be made out 1. That the whole summe and substance of the History of the Bible doth directly tend to this scope 2. That the Authors of the Holy Scriptures do expresly declare this to be the purpose of their writing 3. That the naturall Properties and effects of the things taught by them and their manner of teaching the same are wholly fitted to work upon the spirits of men those impressions and affections which lead them to feare worship and glorifie God To all which this Position at last should be added That there shall be a time wherein God will judge men according to the works wherein they have or have not feared worshipped and glorified God which is to be made out upon three Grounds which may be rationally evinced 1. Because God having made all things under a Law and Ruling all Men by a Law of Reason must needs also be acknowledged as a Judge over the observers and transgressors of his Laws and consequently have a time to exercise his judgement 2. That the rational Souls of Men are immortal and live when they are separated from the bodie and consequently can undergo a judgement after this life 3. That the Consciences of Men bearing witnesse to them of their wicked deeds even against their wills though they live in outward prosperitie put them in fear and bearing witnesse also of the vertuous deeds of good Men though they are in outward adversity yet comfort and support them which inward testimonies of the Consciences of Men are not vain notions but undeniable Evidences of a Judgement to come which the Soul within it self is sensible of When these things are thoroughly handled and all Scruples which may be raised concerning the same are taken away so that a Rational man who is without prejudice shall have no cause for want of the discovery of truths of this nature to make any further doubt
to us in that Instrument 3. The Motives for which we should embrace and entertaine the same for if any of these three points be wanting we cannot be sound in the observation thereof Concerning the true Instrument of the Covenant we believe the same to be the Canonical Scriptures whereof two things must be known First What the proper Character of Canonical Scripture is Secondly How the truth of God for the knowledge of the Covenant is therein offered unto us Concerning the first this is to be believed That no Books are to be accounted Canonical Scripture that is the Word of God revealing his Covenant to Mankind but such as are written in the Hebrew Tongue and were given to the Jewish Church to be a Rule of their profession in order to the Covenant or were written in the Greek tongue and were given to the first Churches of Christianitie as well Jews as Gentiles for the same end Concerning the second this is to be believed That these Books offer the Covenant unto our Consideration and all divine Truths belonging to the knowledge thereof with infallible and uncontrolable authority most perfectly and very clearly to such as have an upright desire to know it And concerning these three Matters of Infallibility Perfection and Evidence which we believe to be in the Scripture this is further more distinctly to be believed 1. Concerning the infallibility of the Scripture we believe that the truth of God revealed in the Canonical Scriptures is so highly and incontrolably credible that no man no not an Apostle himself nor an Angel from Heaven is to be believed who should contradict the same but all Men Churches Councels Fathers Schools and their Writings Sayings Actions and Thoughts concerning divine Matters are to be examined thereby as by the onely rule of truth and righteousnesse and if they agree not therewith they are to be rejected 2. Concerning the perfection of the Canon we believe That the Word of God revealed therein is so compleat both for the matter and manner of expression that neither any thing unprofitable is therein delivered nor any thing profitable or needful to be known therein omitted but all things of Doctrine and Reproof of Correction and Instruction in Righteousness and for Comfort whether to be believed or hoped for or to be done or left undone unto salvation are more then sufficiently laid open and prescribed in a form of sound words which ought not to be altered so that all heathenish Philosophie in Divine matters and all humane Traditions and will-worship in the service of God are to be utterly rejected nor is it lawful for any to conceive that they can speak of matters of Faith more exactly and properly in respect of the things themselves or more conveniently and fitly in respect of the Capacities of men then the Holy Ghost hath done in those Writings 3. Concerning their clearness this is to be believed That the word of God revealed therein is so evident and easie to be understood that the meanest Capacitie of those that are come to the years of discretion if they be godly and desirous to do Gods will searching the Scriptures diligently may without difficulty comprehend all things necessary to be known unto salvation so that none ought by reason of any supposed darkness to be therein to abstain from reading the Scriptures which is a duty most sutable and necessary to all Of the things belonging to the Tenour of the Covenant COncerning the Tenour of the Covenant as it is revealed in the Canonical Scriptures three things must be opened First Who the Parties are which are concerned therein and what their Relation is to one another Secondly What the form of the contract is according to which the Covenant is made with those that are concerned therein Thirdly What the way is by which it is established amongst men that they may embrace it and have the benefit thereof Of the parties THe Parties concerned in the Covenant are God and Man at a distance by reason of sin and Jesus Christ the Mediator of God and man who reconcileth them by his satisfaction and righteousness Of God GOd is to be taken notice of as he hath revealed himself in his Word to be the Saviour and our God by a Covenant so that nothing is either necessary or profitable to be known of him further then what serves for this end and to this effect he hath revealed himself in his Being in his Will and in his Works His Being is revealed in the Properties of his nature and the subsistence thereof which we call Personalitie The Properties of his Nature are revealed to shew what he is and who he is The Properties shewing what he is That he is a Spirit living of himself Joh. 4. 24. and 5. 26. The Properties shewing who he is are these That he is the onely true God alone in Being infinite eternal incomprehensible every where present simple unchangeable all-knowing all wise all-free all-just all-holy all-mighty all-happy all-good all-true all-faithfull and full of all mercy and compassion His subsistence is in three who bear witness in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one and the same God 1 Joh. 5. 7. The Father unbegotten the Son onely begotten and the Holy-Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son His Will is revealed in the properties of his Counsels which are wise good free and established for ever His Works are revealed in the Creation Preservation and Government of the World and especially of Mankinde therein over whom he delighteth to exercise Loving kindness Judgement and Righteousness in the Earth for his own Jer. 9. 24. Glory and according to the tenour of the Covenant Of Man MAn is to be taken notice of as he is spoken of in the Word to be of God to belong unto God and obliged to depend upon God by a Covenant in his Three-fold state 1. In the state of Innocencie 2. In the state of Guilt and Misery 3. In the state of Grace and Reconciliation unto God Of the Mediator Jesus Christ JEsus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant between God and Man is revealed in the Word to relate unto both 1. In respect of his two-fold Nature in one person 2. In respect of his threefold Office of Prophet Priest and King whereunto he was anointed 3. In respect of the performance of all Duties belonging to those Offices in his two-fold state the one of Humiliation by his life and death on earth the other of exaltation by his power and glory in heaven In all which as the fitness which is in Christs Person Natures and offices to work out redemption for us and to settle the Covenant of Grace between God and us is to be taken notice of so the Work First of Reconciliation between God and us as this was effected according to the purpose of God in the Covenant Secondly Of the Restitution of our nature to a state of Union and Communion