BIBLIOTHECA THEOLOGICA : OR , A LIBRARYE THEOLOGICAL containinge ,

Drawen for the vse off yonge Christians / specially off the poorer sorte , vnable to purchase Variety off holy-men theyr wrytinges :

¶ By HENOCH CLAPHAM .

HAlfe A yeare togither was I ernestly fol●●●ted to vndergoe the Analysinge of God his sacred Booke / and that but for the first heads off the Chapters . For so long tyme I refused that attempt / though much was ofred for promouinge the work / yet that helpe beinge cut off / I finally tooke pen and did som what soc . But then thinkinge with my selfe that such A generall Diuision wold litle helpe without som Sub-diuision , I therefore subdiuided som chapters . Yet me thought / it shold litle to edify / except from obscure places in the text were made cleare / where vpon I finally drewe an Elucidation / such as it is .

At this my work I looke that may shold storme : disdayners off all mens wrytinges but theyr owne : specially / the Hereticall sort off people : and no Maruel though Satan belloe from theyr mouths / seinge my Pen is as A Goade in his sudes . Carpers do prophane and snatch som times at Manner , somtymes at Matter . For the Manner / I expect theyr snarlings specially at the Diuision : som curiously as tyingme me to Dichotomie or partition into two : others that lesse delite in that forme , fallinge me for vsing it somuch . Betwene them both I haue here walked / that so I might sanssy both partly , whome I knewe it to be impossible to satisfy wholy .

For the Matter , som will snarle at som fewe words , som at Doctrine . Off such doth Erasmus speake thus in his Antidore on Hieroms epistle to Heliodore : His mos est , è toto libro quatuor aut quinque verba decerpere &c. It is the manner off these persons to pick 4. or 5. words out off A whole booke , and in thes to shoe by calumnie the excellency off theyr Ingene . They animaduert not in what tymes , to wome , ō what occasion , with what mynde that man writ ; nor do they conferre what preceded , what folowes , what in another place is writen on the same matter . Only they vrge and presse them 4. words : Against them they moue all their syllogisticall engines : they wrythe , depraue , and somtimes speak euell of the thinges they vnderstand not .

Off this which Erasmus speakes / I off experience can speake this : In my Bibles breife / I said that Elohim was the plurall off El: and to the proper Name Ehjeh , I suffired , I AM. In Scotland the learned excepted not against it that I heard of : Mr. Brought on as sufficient for the holy tongue as any publikely knowen off in Europe / he also could read it without stumblinge : but 2. or 3. englis he youths som off them hardly knowinge Beth from A Batle dor / they behinde my hath because of them two words / did labour the disgrace off Author and his booke .

They ( for I will not turne my speach to them though I speake off them ) did not for the first vnderstand ( or wold not vnderstand ) what like scholers and Christians charitable / they might haue vnderstood . When Hebrue Lexicons or Grammarians do say that Iehouah is deriued off hajah , To be , do they speak properly ? Hajah is not properly to be : but he hath bene : yet euery scholer knoweth what the speach meaneth : so thei might haue thought that I ment Elohim the plurall came off El his Roote : off which El commeth also Eloha his singular . That Elohim is said to com off El in english Strong , it so giues vs rightly to conceiue both Elohlm and Eloha his singular in direct forme off Declenson . And as I spoke it / it helped to the vnderstanding off Gen 17. 1. where t is El-shaddai● , God alsufficient : not Eloah-shaddaj : and so off many other places . The Declenson-deriual / no Child that had bene two days lessoned in his Declensons could de possibly ignorant off .

And whereas they wold haue Ehjeh to be the future tyme / I will , not the present tense I am : then babble they knoe not what . Ehjeh can neither be restrained to tyme to com , tyme present / or tyme past : for as it is A proper name off God / it is off all thre tymes : and therefore ( as Vatablus wel obserueth ) Iohn in Apoc. 1. 4. he expoundeth it by / which was which is , and which is to come . The Thalmudists so vnderstand it : and all Hebrues do by Ehieh vnderstand the eternity of God . The Septuagint turne Ehjeh asher Ehieh in Exod. 3. 14. thus : Ego Eimi ho ●n : and theyr Interpreter , Ego sum qui sum . Tremellius , Arias and such as translate it , I WIL BE. they do it not for tyinge men to that : and that they shoe by the other translation in theyr margen-annotations . Hierom in his tennanes off God / and in his Bibles version / and all aancients do expresse it as I haue . And ●ff A man set downe one off the 3. tymes and not all . 3. let the learned iudge iff I AM agre not rather with the nature off God / to whome thing preter it and future are present / then I ●●DE BEENE / or I WIL BE. And let the how sober spirited also iudge ( for the spirit of the prophets must be subiect to the prophets ) if my annotation there vpon Ehjeh , do not more fully set downe the nature off God / then the future tyme wold . Let the foolishnes past cawse them be more sparinge in censouringe hereafter off words .

For Doctrine / as it is either Literall or Mysticall / so also theyr Calumnie wil be twofole . The Literall or Grammaticall doctrine I here meane to be that which at next had ariseth from Open text . At such doctrine I looke to heare off thunderclaps ▪ from our english Dona●●●●es , Anabaptistes , Arrians , and Sectes off all sortes : and no maruell / for / as I labour to hold fast / so they labour to transgresse the bounds off the 〈◊〉 : except off auncient heresy / which they a newe fur●ish . Against such doctrine they haue made an insurrection / since my publishinge off the XII . Theologicall Axioms : nor was my Bibles ●r . fre from theyr enuenonied tongue . I therein ( from the consideration off / 2. Cor. 3. ) did affirme that the Iudicial , Moral , Ceremonial lawes were peculiar to Canaan : but to vs the letter remoued / yet equity and spirit thereoff remayninge , Som bere ( who wold only haue Moses his Iudiciall lawes established ) did wickedly giue out that thereby I shut the maiestrate out off the Church etc. For Ceremoniall lawes they knew that euery one holds them abolished . For the Morall / the ●leainge letter off them two tables is abolished / the former scripture teacheth : and so ●● . Beza with others Old and New vnderstand it . As for the state off the Iudiciall / I knoe none / that is not madly fond / but he graunts they were peculiar to Ganaan . Mr. Caluin in his Iustitutions / ●ib. 4. ch. 20. he teacheth it at large : and in the 16. section he vseth the word peculiar which they cary at in me .

For Doctrine mysticall / more reasonable sprites ( it may be ) will say somthinge : and the rather because som late holy writers haue disliked off Mysticall interpretation . Theyr reason is : Bapistes vse it much for establishing theyr matters . This reason indeed is no reason : for the Papists vse asmuch the Letter for theyr purposes : and neither Donatist , Anabaptist , Arrian &c. but they call to the Bible and the letter of the Bible for only discussinge theyr matters . Shold we therefore reject the Bibles Such slender reason hath caused late factions Spirits to reject the auntient holy writers : because ●omanistes vse them : and such insufficient collection / hath caused the Swenkfeldians to cast the Bible vnderfonte / and to lissen to the priuate motions off theyr owne fleshly sprite .

An / t is damgerous medlinge with mysticall expositions : true ●s so . T is damgerous medlinge with two edged instruments ( and the word off God is ● two edged sword ) and damgerous to meddle with the Bibles bare letter . 〈◊〉 or yongones can hardly medle with the letter but with perill . Learne that off the Iues and our ages Donatistes . And I wold with Pithagoras his scholers they wold at first be fiue yeares silent : more redy to heare and slower to speak . Euery one shold knoe ●eyr measure off faith and keepe themselues within theyr limits / not medlinge with things to hy for them : Yet him that hath som knowledge how to handle A two edged sword / this is no barre to his medlinge with it .

One and the same spirit administreth diuersly : to som aboundance in the sence Grammatical or literall : vnto others A rauishment ut the sence mysticall : nor ought the One to despise the other . Yet this always vnderstood / the Mysterie can neuer be builded safely / except the Grammer sence be first rightly laid : for the Letter is the Ground and foundation to the Mysterie . Which is greene heads did well looke into / they wold not easly wade in Allegoricall , Tropological , and anagogicall constructions / surder then first is by sad discreet sprites administred vnto them .

For Mysticall sences necessarily lyinge hid vnder the letter or Historie / I wold men wold not only read Greek and Latin Fathers / who herein solaced theyr sowles : but also word go heare what reasons Moses Bar-kepha Syrian Bishop off Bethrawan in his Commentary off paradise hath concluded for repulsinge such Calumnie : where / amongst the rest he writes so : Except therein lay mysticall senses , from whence coulde the auncient Fathers , Prophets & other holy men off old knoe Christ to com : & therein be so solaced ? Finally , iff yre shold with these heretikes be so mynded , off a troth we fall into Iudaisme : for the lues ( who are voyd off the holy sprite ) they embrace no senses but what is corporall & grosse . And indeede to vnderstand the scripture only literally / it is but grosse Iudaisme : and ●● not liftinge it vp hyer then A humaine Cronicle / that containes no further wisdom then bare letter affordeth . Paul drawinge Sarah and Hagar , Ismael and Isaac into Allegorn / he vnderstood otherwise : and the Author to the Hebrues / who calls the Law A shadowe off good thinges to com : Iohn in his Apocal●ps : the Prophets on Moses / and the Apostles on All / they conceiued off scripture otherwise . Somuch for Aduerse Spirits .

As for Freindly Spirits / som off them it may be / wil be makinge question touchinge Manner and Matter : but not as the former with purpose to abuse the work . A godly Ma 〈◊〉 Scotland hearinge that my foresaid Breif-booke had english Verses in it / she for ●● season refused to read it : ●n som such like inough will here be stumblinge at the Chapters Arguments because they are verse . For the proud Donatist that termed them ●ymes and Trumyeries ( though I could justly twite such to the iudgment off theyr owne faction ) etc. and for the english Anabaptist that called them Playeclike thinges / I will not answer the foole accordinge to his foolishnes least I be like vnto him : but to the holy spirited I speak thus : The learned do knoe that sondry bookes off scripture are off Poeticall shape / consistinge off apt Nomber and som off Kythmed forme But where our language admitteth the Kythme in the end off A Measure / that holy tongue giues it in the begininge . One Instance do take in the 119 psalme . First / it is diuided into 22. parts according to the nomber off the Hebrue Alpha●et / euery part answeringe to one Letter : secondly / euery part consisteth off 8. verses / and euery verse with the same Letter with which that Octouary beginneth . So that herein ( as also in other places ) there is not only verse / but also Kythme / and that with admirable elegancy These therfore that condemne Poetry because som prophane it / they may for like abuse aswell reject other excellent guiftes off the Spirit .

●t my forme off Diuision the Learned may say som thinge / because it vttereth no Art : butas the Diuision it self is homely / so the braunches thereoff not vttered in Logicall termes . These must knoe / that I write specially for the erudition off vnlearned Christians : by whome I haue somtimes bene s●●●bd for speakinge so darkly . Nor do I expect otherwise to be intreated off som such ( though godly ) to whome I must also say : though I writ specially for them / yet not only for them . And therefore / what vnto them semeth difficill at first / that shal be made vnto them more easy by more readinge . As for wordes in anotherr language / let them leap ouer such / and iff they be vnenglished after / the thing concerneth them not much .

Touchinge the Matter / it is but an vnbowellinge off the sacred booke off Elohim : and that is don first by comparinge scripture with scripture : secondly / by introducinge the Auncient holy writers for confirmation off my iudgment in thinges of most waighte : that so it may not be demed myne owne priuate fancy . And least I shold play the Theyfe to wisdome ( for so Clemens Alexandrinus . 1. Stromatôn calleth such ) I haue ordinarily put downe his name from whome I borowed it . I could with Others haue passed by them vnmentioned / and so haue flowen abroad with other mens feathers as iff they had bene my owne : but I detest that payde to be thought to walk alone . Our Ages heretikes that are vnto me contrary mynded / they for theyr alone walkinge do commonly alleadge Elijah : sayinge he was somtymes alone . But iff the lyers wold serch the scriptures they shold knoe / that notwithstandinge he se himselff alone in Israel , yet he could not be ignorant that the state was otherwise in Iudah : for then good Iosaphat raigned . Nor yet in Israel was the hali seede extinguisht / as the Lord doth teach the Prophet / but many there were that did neither inward nor outwarde homage vnto Baal . To say that the Church off God many age hath bene holy invisible / it is A dayngerous introduction to all heresy .

The Auncient Fathers ( Greeke and Latine for the first 600. Years , but specially for the first 400. ) they are vnto me so deare / as ( after all the tryall and knowledge I haue taken off , all Sects ) I cannot se how I ought to swarne from them in anye one poynt essentiall . what heresy is there in these days whose grounds they then ouerturnd not ? Our English Brownisme is but flat Donatisme : he that knoes the Son may fetch the Father out by his face in the Arguments off Parmeneanus , Petilianus , Cresconius the Grammarian / and such other Vermine strangled longe synce by holy Augustine . Large Anabaptisme grewe also out off Donatus : for makinge all other ministry voyde besides theyrs / it must then folowe that only themselues could administer Baptisme . The holy Father then tels Parmenean lib. 2. cap. 12. that they ought aswell make voyde the Sacrament off ministeriall ordination ( for iff th●one was good / both stood good : iff the one voyd / the other also ) and so Donatus and his sectary Ministry / who had and could haue no other Ordination then first they from them / that also shold be voyde : and so themselues deliuer no baptisme rightly . Our Donatistes must learne also / iff theyr Ordination in the English church be fully frustrate / then also theyr Baptisme : If Baptisme remaine good / then also the Ordination . And iff the Ordination be fully nothinge / then they are like for euer to minister without Ordination : except priuate laynien may impose hands : which is flatly false ▪ as I haue shewed in Our booke off In Conclusions .

As for Artianisme / Iudaisme and other our Factions theyr doctrines / not only Augustine , but many others haue cut the stringe off theyr bowe : that iff the Deuel were not on men / theyr Bowe shold haue bene burnt or euer it had bene stroong againe . But not to digresse farre from the purpose of my Proeme : the holy Reader must not be offended / though in this Matter off Matters I consult with those Auncient my Betters : who haue so valiantly fought the Lord Battels / and sealed the sanctifying truth with theyr latest breathinge . There is not A Sectary in these days but he reionceth in the writinges off his owne faction : and why shold not the faith full be as carefull to vphold the Men●ornall off the just . Let vs be faithles hereyn / yet God will haue his owne Captaynes ( though dead ) theyr Ensignes displayd in his temple / when the memoriall off the wicked shall rotte . Shewe me One off Arrius , or Donatus , or Pelagins , or any off the sophisticall auncient Heretikes theyr Bookes iff now can . No / God hath cased them from the fate off the earth : that were it not the holy Fathers do mention them and theyr stuffe ( as the sacred scriptures remember Achan , Iudas and theyr stealth ) we shold not haue knowen somuch as theyr rotten Names . This Argument ( iff there were no more ) it vrgeth me to celebrate the Memoriall of the anncient ●ighteous : verily here withall beleiuinge / that my writings ( though off thowsands most vnworthy ) they shall ourline the Fartions : and be as an Aegles fether to other fethers / A finall consumption : For euery plant our heauenly father hath not plained / it shal be pulled vp by the ●ootes .

Whereas somtimes I alleadg som Iewe or prophane writer / it is but in such A case as the parti may without prejudice be a fit witnes . Hierom ( or serom , all is one ) beinge off Ruff●nus vnto Magnus charged with the like as with ●●ryme / he vnto the Romayne Grator alleadgeth Pauls practise / there withall sainge / that he first ( according to the lawe ) pareth theyr nailes / washeth them ●●● and then why may he not matry with the captine of the Gentiles : and also by occasion take by Goliahs sword for cuttinge off the vncircumcised head off the Owner . what he might say / I also for my selfe may say : whereunto I adde : vnto the pure are all things pure / but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleuinge / nothing is pure : but euen theyr myndes and consciences are defiled .

The Scriptures I here alleadge for Canonicall , they are thes off the Old and new testament which are vsually off Protestant Churches receiued for the Only Canon or Rule off Faith . For the Olde testaments bookes there is cheifest controuersie and discontentment . Som off the Bookes called Apocrypha are by Rome and som others made regular for Faith : off vs not : and good reason why . Iosephus in his first booke againstte Appion hath this , There are not wih vs thowsands of bookes discrepant and fightinge in themselues , but only bare two and twenty . And then A litle after he tels the Atheist Appion , that the writings from Arrayezxes tyme till then ( these were our Apocrypha ) there was not like faith to be giuen vnto them / as vnto the former 22 , because with them there was not like certaine succession of Prophets . Origen on ps. 1. and Eusebius from him / do witnes that the Hebrues only acknowledged , 22. Hierom not inferiour to any for Hebrues iudments he in his Prologo Galeato doth tell vs the same / sainge that the 22. bookes ( answeringe the 22. letters ) they were thus called ▪ and into thre Orders disposed .

1. Breshith . Eenes●s . 2. Velleshemoth . Erod . 3. Vaijkta . ●euit . 4. Vaidabber . Nomb. 5. Elleh haddebarim . Dent. 6. Iehoshuag●●en-Nu● . Ios. 7. Shophtim . Iudges 8. Shemuel . Ruth . 9. Melacim . Sam. 1. and 2. 10. Ieshagniah . Kings 1. and 2. 11. Iirmiah . Isa. 12. Iechezekel . Ier. 13. Tere-gnasar . Ezek. 14. Iob. the 12. 15. Dauid . lesse proph. 16. Mishle . Psal. 17. Koheleth . Prou. 18. Shir hasharim . Eccl. 19. Daniel . Cant. 20. Dibre haiamim . Chro. 21. Gnezra . Esrah . 22. Ester . Nehem.

Vnder the which he suffireth : Quicquid extra hos est &c. whatsoeuer is besides these bookes / they are to be ●ut amongst the Apocrypha . And touchinge the Apocryphal writinges / Augustine thus writeth in his 15. booke off the City off ap. God and ch. 23. Omittamus igitur earum scripturatum fabulas quae Apocryphae noninantur &c. Let vs passe by the fables of those Scriptures which are called Apocryphal , because that theyr hidde begininge appeared not to the Fathers , from whome vnto vs the Authority of the true-speaking Scriptures , by most sure and euident succession hath com . For in the Apocrypha , although there be found som verity : yet by reason of many vntruthes , they are not of Canonical Authority . Ruffinus in his exposition off the Symbole / affirmeth the former bookes to be the Canon off the old testament / from whose fountaine we were to drawe the drinck of God . Som off thy rest he saith were Ecclasiasticall / but not Canomicall .

But touching this poynt I neede say no more / seinge our whitakres in his first off the six Questions controuerted with Bella●mine , hath set such A fyre in theyr Coate / as I troe they shall neuerin Englande but smell off the smoke hereafter . But had neither late nor auncient Christian writers euer disclamed them / it is sufficient that Zion ( mother church off the Gentiles ) she neuer Named them . He●ers tongue they knewe not , Iudah nor Israel euer cir●●m●cised them : nor had the Apostles euer comaundement t● baptise them . Som off them as Ecclesiasticus , Wisdome , Baruch , Machabees , they may be vsed well / prouided not for rule off faith : but for Esdras , Tobit : Susanna , Bel , ludeth , I knoe not iff so they be dreames : and for the fragmentes ●rep in vnder the name off Manasse● , Ester and Daniel they openly shoe themselues to be straingers in Israel . The Auncient Church neuer Acknowledged : the New testaments Church hath lesse cawse to receiue them .

As for the Newe testaments bookes there is betwixt Protestant and Papist no controuersie . Both then and we receiue as the holy Fathers receiued / the 4. Euangels , Acts , Paul his 13. Epistles : to the Hebr. 1. Iames one Ep: two off Peter : 3. off Iohn : one off Iude : and the booke off Apocalyps which is the seale off the whole . Our vnity for the bookes one : god graunt that his spirit may once for the senre thereoff cawse both off vs therein to be One. For Arrians , E●tychians , Anabaptistes , and the residue off those dregges and most filthy off washinges off the Church off the Gentiles / they reiect som off the lynks off God his golden chayne / or else trample both the sacred bracelets vnderfoote . The Papists adde vnto the Canon ( A more tollerable transgression ) these detract or vtterly destroy the Booke off Elohim , A transgression intollerable : fitter to be scourged with that lash wherewithall Iesus whipped the theiues out off his fathers howse / then to be reasoned about pro and coir , as our sauiour did with the Temples Doctors at another season . To answer such accordinge to theyr foolishnes / it doth first make them proud : secondly / it rawseth vs seme foolish . They will heare no Auncient Christian writer speake : what hope haue we they will heare vs . They can turne all Auntients by / in sayinge : yow propound vnto vs the iudgments of men : I answer them : But of such men as had the spirit of God . Do not they propound to vs the iudgments of Men ? Yea / off hereticall Arrius , Manes , Donatus , Serueitus &c. The Swenkfeldians ran say : All is but the indgements off men / and so they will heare no man : but listen to the suggestion off theyr owne spirit . We set no mans iudgment aboue the scripture / but reuerrnce theyr interpretations who haue the Spirit off the scripentes . We knoe that the best Man hath his Ignorance and errour / but hauinge the spirit off Iesus he holds A true foundation and finally conquers : whereas the Hereti●●● slip from the Corner stone Iesus and are ground vnto powder . Such we must answer in Sword : The spirit of the Prophets , must be subiect to the prophets , and that is semelynes and Order : if any wil be contentious , the Church of God hath no such Custome : but he that is ignorant , let him be more ignorant : 1. Cor. 14.

A yeare and A halfes labour I haue taken about the 5. bookes off Moses . That I haue to communicate vnto God his Church here and there dispersed / iff Such be the good pleasure off God . About the residue I am not idle : but Moses wil be sufficient for one reasonable volume . I haue laboured because it sholde passe the presse for publike vtility / but I smell now at the very begining off the bookes outgate / that not only Sectaries , but Sectarie Favourits wil be no furtherance herein . What then My God he knoweth that I herein seck the Glory . off his name / in the edifiyng his poore people / by propounding to them / what first he hath manifested to me . And he knoes that I wold haue euery work off myne to perish as an vntimely byrth / the continuance whereoff might prejudice his Church : the yssue therefore off all / I referre to his will / his fatherly will . I labour to discharge duty imposed vpon me / iff others not only neglect duty enjoyned on them / but also shall oppose to duty in others : I say no more but this : the Lord rebuke Satan .

If any good Christian except at the work for ouer weak and vnworthy so excellent A subicet / I answer : Euery one off Israel cannot cast at an puch with Beniamin . Dauid had thre worthies beyond the rest : and 30. more excellent then the multitude / but inferiour to the 3 : iff I bringe but som what with the meanest off the lower rank / god will accept off it as worthy / though in my selfe vnworthy . Som offred to the Tabernacles work Gold / som Gemnies / and othersom but Badgers skynnes and Goates haire / so my offringe serue to any Holy vse : though not to the most Holy , I shal be glad : for I had leuer to stand on that howse his threshold then to dwell in the Tabernacle off vngodlines .

This I knoe / that sad discreet and humbled sprites / they will value the Labour by the mynd off the Labourer / who more wold / iff more he coulde : as for our Britanick sectaries / I only yet knoe / that whatsoeuer they snarle at secretly / they dare controuert nothinge openly . So my trauels may be approued off the Lord his people I haue that I wold : though wherein it is possible / I couet peace with the worlde . Let the Righteous smite me / it shal be A benefit : let him / rebuke me and it shal be as Sontraygne oyle not lost on my head . Not but I haue else learned / that Shimeyes railinges shal be turned vnto the best of such as are called according to God his purpose .

But in the heele off my proeme / let me vnto the yong Christian Student exhibit som Direction / for profitinge by readinge myne and others theyr writinges .

1. It is ordinarie with People to giue them sel●e● after Nouelty in writinges humayne ●● diuine : but without any great paynes takinge in the holy booke of God : or else through a proud disdayne of vsinge other holy men theyr hands and helpes / they only cast ey vnto the holy Canon . The first errour procedeth of Prophanenesse : the second off proud superstition . Betwene these two vices consisteth Vertue : A right vse of Both. And this is don / first by hauinge a recourse to the holy Bible : secondly by reading other mens writinges : humaine / for humanity : diuine for Diuinity . And off writers diuyne : first to se what ? o holy friend writeth / secondly what an vnholy aduersary concludeth : for without readinge the Aduersary / thow shalt want much assurance / what and how to think and speak off such .

2. But thus readinge / all shal be but a gatheringe of falshood and a loosinge off Truth / iff first in humility thow ron not by Prayer vnto the God off truth Ad Light . The poore and humble spirited / he will fill theyr hand and hart with euery good thing / but the proud and rich he will send empty away . The lack of this orderly course is cawse / that euery Heretike thinketh his heresy in the Bible : whereas the blessed word is without shadowe off chainge / as God himself is : Yet most off that hellish broode cry / scripture / scripture / and nothinge but scripture : although it is far inough from purposinge to play the Baude to proud harlot heresy . Others sekinge themselues in Ecclesiasticall writers / they neyther haue better successe : for Rome against Luther , He against them / and others against them both / they thinke the godly Fathers make for them . If men can bend God his golden reed / no maruell though they can bowe and break the Leaden squ●●e of men . Consideringe the dainger so many ron into / I troe men need to pray before they reade / that so with the Bee they may from that f●oure drawe hony , from whence the Spider draggeth his poyson .

He that Reades / Notes / Mediates without much prayer / is much his owne Foe : and he that attempts it without all prayer / he is passinge prophane . This hath cawsed me more then once to wonder at som men : who ( consideringe theyr judgment ) me thinks in theyr Library they shold not pray : and yet considering theyr othergates cariage / methinks they shold pray : specially seinge they study from writers Old an New / Popish and Protestant etc. The opinion off such is this : viz. It is symply vnlawfull to preach or Pray in Synagogues / and yet make no scruple to study for theyr church exercises / and that in A Synagogues Library : which booke cloyster must be as deeply in Idolatry ( iff not deper ) as any part off the Temple . Pray there methinks they shold / and yet consideringe the former opinion / methinkes they should not . For my part ( I praise God for it ) I still haue learned / that all the Creatures of God are to me sanctified by the word and prayer : and therefore laufull to hold vp pure hands euery where , and that withhout wrath and doubtinge : as also that is is A doctrine of Deuels to say , touch not , tast not , handle not , all which perish with the vsinge : hauinge indeed A shewe of wisdome , but not to be obserued of those that are risen with Christ from vnder the powre of the Law.

As thow Couets therefore to haue God his spirit to guide the in tryinge off all thinges to retaine that is good / do pray wheresoeuer thow reades / studies / meditates and that to this effect .

Heauenly Father , I sinning togither with my Parents Adam and Heuah , I so brought A Vale of darknes & spirituall blyndnes vpon my mynd , the ey of my sowle : and the ey being dark , how great must be my darknes ? For thy Sons sake my blessed sauiour Christ Iesus , do by the powre of thy sprite ( thy illuminatinge and sanctifying sprite ) dispell this Egiptian like darknes and foggie mystes that hinder my poore sowle in the work of my new-byrth . Call Light out of my Darknes , and fix in the firmament of my heart , Light for the Day , and Light for the Night , that so I may be able to discerne tymes , seasons : spirits , doctrine : whereby I thy poore Creature may be enabled to glorify the my Creator . For if , sweet father , thy spirit do not leade me into truth , I shall but pollute and prophane all the meanes of sauing knovledge and holynes : for Christ thy Son his sake , do not therefore leaue me now to myne owne sence and coll●ction , for then I perish and vanish away in myn●●wne imaginations : but as thow haste promised to be found , to open and to giue to them that seek , knock and craue : so be with me now thy owne handy-worke , who seeke , knock and craue in the name of Iesus remission of all my vnworthinesses , and A beinge further enlightned in the knowledge of thy will and works , for the furtherance of that New-work thou in fre-mercy hast begon in me . Amen . Sweet fathèr , Amen . for the glory of thy Sons name put vpon me , Amen .

To like effect pray / or else do holde thy leud eyes back from polluting the words / and works off our God . Nor do thow pray / but fyrst purge thy heart : for the pure in heart shall se god : as for the sacrifice off the wicked / it is abomination to the Lord . And so besuchinge the Lord his blessinge to accompany my labours / I commit the Sequel to the reading off well disposed spirits / whome the Lord do guide vnto good for euer : Amen .