The proper Titles of the seuerall Bookes .

THat I make so bold , as in this sort to offer these my labours vnto your graue and learned censure , it is not for any worthinesse of the thing it selfe , as in any sense it may be mine , or for any thing it hath yet had by me : but for the hope that I haue conceiued , that in time it may haue by some of you ; as a Lazarus now assaying againe , though once he was but little regarded , whether yet he can speede any better at the rich mans gate .

None other foundation , we all doe know , can any man lay , but that which is long since already laide , euen Iesus Christ : but the building which others may reare therupon , may well be diuers ; either commendably answering the foundation laide , or ( yet not without reproach and losse to the workeman ) swearuing from it . It may answere the foundation laide , as also it may swearue from the same , either in substance : or else but in forme or manner onely . As for the substance ( God be thanked for it ) there may hardly bee found any such variance at all among vs ( I know not of any ) as may not in good , or some tollerable sense haue place in the building . The maner is diuers : one kind , that which is commonly vsed by all , the other , that which this present intention of mine doth point vnto . That which is commonly vsed by all , is but to deale by particulars : as either by whole Bookes a-part by themselues ; or else by seuerall parcels or portions thereof . And this if we marke , we may see to be the course of all generally : not onely in the deliuery of the Word of God by word of mouth , as we terme it , as by Sermons and Lectures : but also euen of all our writers too , in a maner both olde and new ; whether they haue taken but certaine Bookes or some parcels of them in hand , or whether they haue dealt with them all .

The course that this intention of mine doth point vnto , is altogether another thing & diuers from it : not in any dislike of the other but to make vse of this also . For that other is not onely blamelesse in it selfe : but of singular moment withall . And this that I speake of as so far from crossing the other : that it discloseth , both a readier , and an easier way vnto it . Neither is it any more but onely to deale first with the whole , and to contriue it into one entire Body : as if hauing the portrature or Image of the body of man , in metall , wood , or stone , but all the members seuered from the body , and from their owne proper places , and in many seueral parcels themselues , a man should in such sort dispose thereof , and lay euery one to his fellow , that so he should giue forth the true shape thereof againe . Making no doubt , but the best way to come to the knowledge of all particulars , is first to bee acquainted well with the whole .

In my measure , at such a thing herein haue I aimed : but graunting withall , that it is farre beyond any furniture that is in me , in such sort to handle it , as the worthinesse thereof doth require . Therefore haue I made this offer thereof vnto you : yet not onely on mine owne desire , that so it may come to better handling ; but also , on a good hope that I haue conceiued , that God will in his good time , set some of you on worke about it . And beginners being first directed vnto the whole , and being orderly holpen therin , after that so , for some reasonable time , they haue beene made acquainted with it , may then at their pleasure descend to particulars : and , as by a more orderly course ; so to their much better aduantage . In so much that the thing it selfe is not so much to be commended to any , as that wee all may iustly maruaile , that of so many rare and excellent men , that former ages , and especially this of ours , both for learning and godly care , haue raised vnto vs : yet is there none , that I do know of , not any one , that hath taken the course that now we speake of ; though otherwise , in their kinde , they haue done maruailous well , and many of them in very great measure .

In that my abridgement in Latin , of Master Caluines Institutions , wherein also I shewed , what method I conceiued him to obserue ( which to the yonger Students , members of the one bodie of you , many yeares since , 1579. I then did dedicate ) I both mooued such a thing , and promised withall , that if others should not doe it before , my selfe would make proofe , what I might bee able to doe therein . Since which time I haue now and then , lesse or more , beene dealing with it : and this is the thing that it hath pleased God to vouchsafe me therein to doe .

Those that haue gone on all the whole Bible , or ( which is the same ) on all the Scriptures , haue gone nearest vnto it : but so farre as they haue gone indifferently on all ( on one booke after another in like sort of those that are of Doctrine , as of those that deliuer the Storie intermingling the one with the other ; and haue not bin carefull to make their choice of such as did appertaine to the body of the whole , and so to dispose them ) so farre haue they also missed the course that now we speake of . But these matters are more plaine in themselues , then that we need any farther businesse to lay them open .

Neither is it lightly to be regarded , that such as are to acquaint others with those things that doe appertaine to the Kingdome of God , should by obseruing this course , euer deliuer vnto the people ( and that in some better order then hath beene vsed ) the vndoubted word of God : it being of most assured testimonie , both that it is mighty in operation ; and that when it is not carefully deliuered , in some measure as it ought to be , ( as also , in these dayes of the Gospell , oftimes it is not , euen by men of notable gifts so farre as they seeke themselues withall ) thence is it , that so little conuersion is wrought thereby among the people . The people againe , hauing those things gathered in some plaine and easie manner may haue good encouragement thereby , to acquaint themselues better therewith .

In both which ( that more comfortable dicharge of your owne duties therein , I meane , and the raising vp of the hearts of the people to a sound desire of those other matters ) the better heede that you take , neuer to let downe those good orders that already you haue , & the more careful that you are euer to repaire the ruines thereof as occasion is offered , the more sauorie Salt shall you bee your selues , and so bee more able to season others : as on the other side , the lesse that smaller matters are in such case regarded ; the harder doth it afterward prooue to withstand disorder in those that are greater .

God euer vouchsafe you the mercy , both that you may grow rich in all good graces : and that euer you be carefull withall , readily to bestow them , to the glory of him that gaue them ; and to the helpe of those that neede them .

AS touching these Books , that now ( gentle Reader ) I offer vnto thee , I haue thoght it needful to acquaint thee with some fewe things first , concerning the same : most of them concerning the substance or matter of them ; but some few likewise , of the maner wherin it now proceedeth . As touching the substance or matter of them , I was at the first in such a course or kind of life , as the yonger sort ( vnder the gouernment of their Parents ) of like condition , are wont to be sorted vnto , and spent a few yeares therein : not meaning , nor knowing then , but in it to haue proceeded , as in that function or kind of life , wherunto it had pleased God to ordaine me . But those few yeares being so spent , it pleased God then to call me to the labour of the Ministery : & soone to set me on worke therin . In it I was occupied , after the vsual or common maner , a few years more . Than , hauing a dore of farther imployment opened vnto me , & accordingly ( in some measure ) both aduising my selfe , and seeking farther , as in such a case it behoueth , what course I were best to take therin , it pleased God to lay me forth such a course as was not so vsuall : both for those among whom I was to bestow my labour ; & for the forme or manner of that , which I was to deliuer vnto them . Of the parties it is not needfull to speake , in the case that now we are in : but for the forme or manner of that which I was to deliuer , it was the very same that here I do now offer vnto thee . I haue bin therin occupied long ; euen for the most part of my time , since I began it : & both my selfe haue found that benefit by it , and many others too ( as of their owne accord themselues haue deliuered ) that I could not , but in dutie , both set it downe , and impart it to others . No new thing at all , in the substance of it ; but such as soundeth ( and that in great measure too , God be thanked in these blessed daies of the Gospell ) all Christendome ouer , especially in these Churches of ours : but for the forme or manner of it , though handled by me , but after my plaine and simple endeauour ; yet such in it selfe notwithstanding , as to my knowledge ( and as before I haue said , is neither yet vsed by any , nor by our Writers ( Old , or New ) deliuered vnto vs.

In which kinde of labour as I was occupied , occasion was offered , to giue forth some part of it before : by which occasion long since I gathered , and soone after published , a forme or manner of the Lawes of God , such as he gaue to the children of Israel : terming it the Scepter of Iudah ; and publishing it , 1584. In it I acknowledged , that then already I had a greater worke in hand , which but in much longer time , I could not get ready : and in truth it prooued much longer , than I conceiued . Yet now at the length , God hath vouchsafed that mercy vnto me , that in some sort , or according to my measure , I haue gotten it ready , and now at this present salute thee with it .

The effect of it is , the whole body of those Scriptures that are Canonicall , generally : but for orders sake , I haue thought best to distribute the same into a couple of Tomes ; and each of them into a couple of Bookes . The former of these two Tomes likewis●●s of the Olde Testament : the latter , of the New , and somewhat farther . In that which is of the Olde Testament , the former of those two Bookes , is of Historie : the later , of Doctrine . In that which is of History my endeauour hath been , to compact or knit all the seuerall parts together , so to make one body of it : and withall , to draw it forth in equall proportion , as a thred that is euen spun ; not lesse not bigger in one place then another , but alike , so neare as I could . But to the ende , that of the History better vse may be made , there is euer now and then Doctrine deliuered , as the History it selfe doth occasion , and as it pleased God to vouchsafe me to espie . In that which is of Doctrine , my endeauour hath not beene to gather all into one Body ( which notwithstanding I had in election , and my selfe was much inclined vnto it ) but haue resolued on the better course , as I do take it : namely , to take all those whole Bookes that are of that sort , as they lie ; and but onely to lay forth a Method of them . But whereas in those Bookes that are most of History , we haue diuers parcels that doe rather appertaine vnto Doctrine , especially in those that are accounted the Books of the Law , those parcels haue I gathered to that Booke which is of Doctrine : and those Lawes of God , not onely in parcels as they lie , but haue gathered them all besides , as it were into one entire Bodie . In that which is of the New Testament , the former of those two Bookes is of the estate of the Church or people of God , during the time of Christ , and of his Apostles : the latter of them , a compendious , or briefe recitall of the Story of the Church among vs Gentiles , from the time of the Apostles vnto this present Age wherein we liue .

The vse of these as I doe conceiue , and as I hope that God will blesse them , will be of good and speciall moment : and to his blessing I do commend it . But one thing there is , that my selfe might in some sort commend vnto such , as shall be disposed so to take it . The Saboathes we all doe graunt , the most of vs the Holy-daies also in a second degree ) were best to be spent in some godly exercise or other . The Scriptures we haue and other good Bookes , in great plenty , which to such end we may vse to the glory of God , and to the edyfying of our selues and others : and euery one is at his liberty to vse any such at his owne discretion , in all lawful and orderly manner .

In this worke of mine , there be two chiefe and principall matters : one of History ; the other of Doctrine . The knowledge of the History that herein is deliuered ( euen from the beginning vnto this present Age of ours ) I am very sure , is to speciall good vse , to such as would profit themselues by the word of God , whether by reading or hearing the same . Some reasonable measure of this knowledge doe I conceiue might soone be had , by all such as can be content to take some reasonable paines about it . On this perswasion of mine , and on the hope I haue thereof , I haue thought good to put such in mind as shall in themselues be so disposed ( otherwise leauing it free to euery one to exercise themselues in those times , with whatsoeuer other good exercise themselues thinke best ) of a way that I haue thought , to such a purpose might well be vsed . In those Bookes that are most of Historie , there are ( as I take it ) three hundred and nine Sections : in the former Booke of the former Tome , two hundred and thirteene ; of the Story of Christ in the first foure Chapters of the former Booke of the latter Tome , thirtie and one ; and in the latter Booke of the latter Tome ( a briefe History of the Church ) threescore and fiue ; and so consequently , three hundred and nine in all . And these , in such odde times of our Sabaothes and Holy-daies , as betwixt , before , or after Diuine-Seruice , or publique-Prayer , we haue to spare , might wee easily in such sort bestow , as that in the yeare we should goe through the whole . Our Sabaothes , we know , are euery yeare fiftie and two : our seuerall Hollidaies , ( the Circumcision , twelfe day , Purification , Matthy , the Annunciation , Marke , Philip and Iacob , Ascension day , Iohn Baptist , Peter , Iames , Bartholomew , Matthew , Michael , Luke , Simon and Iude , All-Saints , Andrew , Thomas , and the Natiuitie of Christ ) twenty likewise . But whereas we haue three principal Feasts , which haue mo Holy-dayes to them appertaining , thogh it may be wel conceiued , that to this purpose it wil not be n●●df●● to take in all such times in them ( that so the people , such as are so disposed , may haue some part thereof to any honest recreation ) : yet , because those Feasts are all of speciall note , if therefore we shall thinke good , to take out to this purpose , that which is the next , or second day of euery of them ; so we shal haue three and twenty in al. Againe , in euery of these we lightly haue three seuerall portions of time , besides those that both morning and euening are appointed for publique Prayer : the first in the morning , before the time of morning-Prayer ; the next , after dinner , before euening-Prayer ; the third after . The Sabaoth likewise we all doe graunt , would bee on all hands more carefully obserued : and so it shall not be amisse , if any of it allot two of those three portions of time that before we noted , to this exercise that now we speake of . The Holi-daies also would not be so much neglected as ( vnder pretence of zeale sometimes , and then for that cause so much the worse ) now by many of vs they are : and so might we obserue them so much the better , to take one of those three portions of time that before we noted , out of them to this purpose also . So will it fal out , that if we take order with our selues , to read fiue of those Sections euery Sabaoth ( three in the former of those times that we take , and two in the later ) that in the yeare we shall so haue read , two hundred and threescore of them . On those our other Holi-daies likewise if we shall read , on euery one a couple of those Sections , those Holi-daies being twenty and three , so shal we dispatch sixe and forty moe of those Sections . Then wil there remaine but onely three : and those may we well allot to three of those other Holi-daies that we have in those our three principall Feastes , to euery of those three , but one . And all these are none other but of the history : and these may serue for the first yeare that any shall betake himselfe to the exercise that now we speake of .

In those parts of the whole worke that are for the most part of Doctrine ( which are , all the latter Booke of the former Tome , and the sixeteene last Chapters of the former Booke of the latter Tome ; the former of the Olde Testament , these latter Chapters of the New ) first I note no more but this , that both those whole Books of Scripture , and those other seuerall portions besides , whereof they consist , are laide , I trust , a great deale more open vnto the Reader , then otherwise they would haue been ; and yet the same very briefly too : and that , whosoeuer would haue some Method , either for any whole Booke of the Canonicall Scripture , or for any Chapter or lesse portion thereof , there may he haue it , some or other , such as it is .

But then as touching such vse of these parts also , as before wee haue spoken of in the other , if any be disposed to set in hand with a second year also , they may soone ( I trust ) find , that the Sections of these parts are , of the second Booke of the former Tome , two hundred thirty and sixe , and the residue of the first Booke of the later Tome , one hundred & twelue in all , three hundred forty eight , & so thirty mine more then the others . For the Sabaothes therefore and for those Holi-daies of the second yeare , we may take of these , as before of the others : and so haue but those thirty and nine remaining ; which may fitly bee bestowed on a second portion of time on those Holidaies which first we named , two a peece on euery one . For those ( excepting Saint Thomas his day before the Natiuitie ) are but nineteene , and so take vp but thirty and eyght ; and that day of Saint Thomas because of the businesse that commonly it hath ( because of those holydaies that follow soone after ) may well bee allowed , to bee charged no farther , for that second portion of time that it hath , but onely with one : and so haue we al placed for the second yeare also .

But then , wherof diuers times Sundaies and Holidaies meete together in one , and then ( in Diuine-Seruice , and set Sermons ) the most vsuall maner is , that the one drowneth the other , in this case it might bee performed ( by such as may haue conuenient leisure ) in some time of the weeke ensuing : and the same course might be likewise obserued , so often as otherwise the exercise wee speake of , were by any occasion omitted . It may be likewise , that some would conceiue , it were much better , if in some Table it were set downe , what Sections would so fall out to be for euery day , and for the seuerall portions thereof : but neither could that so well be done , because so many of those Sundayes and Holidaies are so mooueable ; and in this course that now we haue noted , may euery one at all times beginne , whensoeuer himselfe shall be disposed so to do . As also because some Sections are much longer , and some other but short euery one may vse his owne discretion and freedome therein , both in the one , and in the other , as himselfe is disposed .

As touching the benefite , that in thine estate towards God , both in this present life heere , and in that which is to come , is like ( by the goodnes and grace of God ) to redound vnto thee , if truly thou employ thy selfe therein , and seekest withall thy successe from aboue , so often haue I seene the good hand of God on many therin , that I cannot but hope , but that it will be gracious and comfortable to thee likewise : and the more it shall please God to extend his goodnesse to thee therein , the more be his name glorified therefore ; and be thou more carefull , both safely to keepe , and still to encrease that gracious Talent , that so it shall please him , in trust to commend vnto thee .

Of all the whole together , yet , by thy pacience , one thing more ; this manner of teaching by the whole Body of holy Scriptures , doe I take to be of such importance , to the ouerthrowing of the power of darkenesse , and both to let in , and to settle in the hearts of the faithful the loue of the Truth , that if it should be taken in hand by any that should be rightly furnished to such a purpose , and accordingly disposed withall , as in former ages there were many and diuers Engines of great force in Warres ; but none like to the inuention of Gunnes since both great and smal : so in this spirituall warfare of ours , it might well fall out , that although wee haue many and diuers waies to impugne that power of darkenesse that of late did so ouerwhelme vs , and those very forcible ; yet such vnfoulding and laying open of the word of God , being rightly and kindly handled in deed would bee the most forcible Engine ( to batter downe Popery , and the whole power of Satan too ) that yet we haue vsed .

And for thy better furtherance heerin , before thou shalt enter into the Books themselues , thou hast some farther helpes besides : some , that may be to the vse of all ; one other such , as for many of the common sort will be needfull also . Those which may be to the vse of all , are concerning the matter it selfe : and they are , in that the effect of the whol● and of euery of the seueral Bookes by themselues is laide forth , first to the Learned , in the Tables of Method prefixed ; then , to the residue , in the Contents of the Chapters , after the vsuall manner , besides . That other , that for many of the common sort will bee needfull also , is about the quotations of the Scriptures that therein are vsed : to which end I haue likewise set down ( for the readier going to all the places that there are noted ) not only the names of the Bookes themselues , as in our Bibles they are wont to be noted ; but for some farther , and the more easie getting of them a Method likewise , in what sort they may be well taken .

Those few moe that concerne the manner wherein it now proceedeth or commeth forth , are , one of them before intended : others , comming in at the Window since . That which was before intended , is , that the Tables are framed to the Capitall Letters in the inner Margent , as other books for the most part are vnto the Pages . The reason is , for that the Tables were made before , while the Booke was but in writing , and so could not bee knowne then , of what number the Pages would be when they should be printed : but then those Letters do note in effect , but Pages also , for that they all in euery Section ( the first and the last , which must euer take their place as it falleth , only excepted ) had the space of a written page .

At the Window ( that I speake of ) are other two come in since : one , in certaine of the Sections ; the other , in the quotations onely . In the Sections no more but this , that a few of the first of them , are into diuers parcels , by Breakes ( as they tearme them ) diuided : which for a while on supposall was done , as thinking thereby to ease the Readers labor therein . That which is in the quotation , is , that therein for a time they haue followed their wonted order : whereas the manner of these quotations , are to distinguish the number that noteth the Chapter with a Colon , or Middle-distinction from the verses that follow ; and some-times to sort the verses also ( as the case doth sometimes require ) by some other distinctions besides .

These are the things that thus I do commend vnto thee : and that they may prooue to thy greater good , the successe thereof , together with thy selfe and thine , I commend to the good blessing of God .