RIght Honorable : It hath pleased God to giue vs in this Church , verie many remarkeable testimonies of his mercie , whether we looke to the heauens aboue vs , the earth beneath vs , our Princes who rule vs , our Pastors who teach vs , our lawes which command vs , or the singular mercies which we haue receiued , or the fearefull iudgements which we haue escaped . Our heauen is not brasse , as it was in Achabs time a a 1 K. 17 , 1 , ● , our earth is not barren , as it was in Pharaohs time b b Gen. 41 , 55 : our Princes are not Lions , as the princes of Iudah c c Zeph , 3.3 : our Pastors are not wolues , as were the shepheards of Israell d d Math , 7 , 15 : our Lawes which commaund vs , are not as the Lawes of Draco : and our mercies receiued , are Gods mercies : our iudgements escaped , are mens cruelties . Yet , of all the testimonies of Gods loue vnto vs , this is , and ought , to be esteemed the greatest , that we are come out of Babylon , know God in Christ , may read the scriptures , heare Gods word , be partakers of the sacraments , pray in a knowne tongue , worship the true God , and that of mortall and sinfull men , we are made the immortal , and righteous children of God .

But , because wee are so blinded with the loue of this world , that we see not , or perceiue not this note of Gods loue : therefore the Apostle Iohn setteth an Ecce vpon it , and saith , behold , what loue the father hath giuen vs , that we should be called the sons of God e e 1 Ioh. 3. ● . Behold we therefore , not the loue of Sampson to Delila f f Iudg. 14.3 , for that was a wanton loue , nor the loue of Iaakob to Rahel g g Gen , 29.17 , for that was a carnall loue , nor the loue of Dauid to Ionathan h h 1 Sam , 18.3 , for that was an humane loue , but the loue of God to man , the Creator to his Creature , & a good father , to a multitude of prodigall and rebellious children .

Hee loued vs in our creation , for he made vs men , but more in our redemption , for he mad vs saints : he created vs with a word of his mouth , he redeemed vs by the bloud of his sonne : he created vs when we were nothing , hee redeemed vs when we were worse then nothing : he created vs to liue before him on earth , he redeemed vs to liue with him in heauen . He created vs , and so did he others , he redeemed vs , but did not redeeme others . He hath not dealt so with euery nation , neither haue the heathen knowledge of his lawes i i Psal. 147 ●● . If there were in vs , eyther Nobility of birth , or comelines of beautie , or correspondence of vertue , or aboundance of riches , our God might loue & like vs for these , as men doe affect and follow vs for these . But since , by discent we are Cananites , k, k, EZ . 16.3 : by deformitie polluted in our owne bloud , l. l. v. 6 by sin , there is none that doth good , no not one m m Rom. 3 , 12 , & that our pouerty is such , that we are poore , naked , and miserable creatures n n Reuel. 3 . 1● , it is not our old birth , but the new birth , not our owne beautie , but Gods bountie , not our vertue , but Gods grace , not our goods , but Gods goodnes , by which we become Gods children .

If I were ( Right honorable ) as profound as Paule , as eloquent as Apollos , as deuout as Dauid , and as zealous as the Prophet Elias was , I could neither expresse the quantity of this loue , it is so great , nor the quality of this loue , it is of such efficacy . By this fauor of God , we of seruants , become sons o o Gal. 4.4 , of enemies frinds p p Rom. 5.10 , of diuorced , espoused q q Hos. 2 , 20 , of prophan , priests r r Reuel . 1.6 , of captiues kings s s Reuel . 5.8 of Cananites , Israelites t t Acts. 11.26 , , of heathens , christians , of inheritors of hell , heires , nay felow heires , with Iesus Christ u u Rom. 8 , 17. . By this fauor we enioy , the forgiuenes of sins , peace of conscience , ioy in the holy ghost , protection of angels , the communion of saints , audience in praying , acceptance in obeying , security in life , comfort in death , and eternal glory after we be dead . By this fauor we are written in Gods book , receiue a new name , incorporated into Christs body , clothed with Christs righteousnes , indued with Christs spirit , and one day shall be partakers of his glory .

But as Augustine was swallowed vp , by the admiration of Gods Maiesty : so am I with the consideration of this mercy ; I say of this mercy , which is giuen vs by the father , purchased by the son , assured by the holy ghost , offered in the word , sealed in the sacraments , apprehended by faith , tried by tribulation , and , though not deserued by vs , yet reserued for vs in the highest heauens . Is God our father ? behold our dignity , are we his children ? learne we our duty . The consideration of this dignity , made Theodosius to thanke God more , that he was a christian then a King , Moses to refuse the crowne of Aegypt x x Heb. 11.24 , Dauid to desire the place of gods doorekeeper y y Psal. 84.10 . , and Paul to make a base account of all things in this world z z Philip. 3.9 . . The consideration of this duty made Abell to sacrifice his sheep a a Gen. 4.4 , b b Gen , 26. Abraham to sacrifice his son , and the Romans to sacrifice themselues c c Rom , 12.1 , Ioseph to flie adultery d d Gen , 39.9 , the three children to flie idolatry e e Dan , 3 , 16 , Nehemiah to fly tyranny f f Neh ▪ 5 , 15 , and all Gods children to abandon impietie g g 1 Ioh. 3 , 4 , . Now then , If we call him father , which without respect of persons iudgeth according to euery mans work , let vs passe the time of our dwelling heere in feare , knowing that we were not redeemed with corruptible things , as siluer and gold , from our vaine conuersation , receiued by the tradition of the fathers , but with the pretious bloud of Christ , as af a Lamb vndefiled , and without spot h h 1 Pet. 1 : 17 .

And surely , God is our father though Abraham be ignorant of vs , saith the Prophet i i Isa. 63.16 . For , he begetteth vs by the seed of the word a a Iames , 1 , 18 : , giueth vs a new name b b Reuel. 2 , 17 , nourceth vs with the milke of the gospell c c Hebr , 5 , 12 , instructeth vs in true religion d d Ier. 31 , 33 , teacheth vs euen ciuill conuersation e e Coloss , 4 , 5 , & prouideth instructors to teach vs more f f M●t , 28 , 20 yea he placeth vs in our callings g g Gen , 2 , 15 , is an example of holines h h 1 Pet. 1 , 16 , correcteth vs when we sin i i Prov. 3 , 11 , trieth our obedience k k Gen. 22.2 , exerciseth our patience l l Iob. 1 , 16 , deferreth our petitions m m Math 15 , 23 , and pitieth vs vs when we be in misery n n Psal. 103.13 . Hee , as a good father , prouideth for vs in this life o o 1 , Pet , 5.7 , , protecteth vs against wrongs p p 2 K. 6.16.17 , is sory when we sinne q q Psal , 81.13 , glad when we do wel r r Prov , 10 , 1 , , admonisheth vs of dangers s s Reuel . 18.4 , beareth with our wants t t Psal. 103 , 9 , 10 , heareth our cries u u Ioh , 15 , 16 , and for our sakes is good vnto others x x Gen. 39.3 . To conclude this , he loueth vs all , but most of all such as feare him most y y Gen , 6.8 , he is not ashamed of vs in our poorest estates z z Hebr , 15 , 19 , , he blesseth vs as Iaakob did his children a a Gen , 49 , 2 , and , like good father Abraham , all that he hath belongeth vnto vs b b Gen , 25 , 5 . God is your father , you see your dignity : men thinke it a great dignity to be borne of the bloud royal , to descend of ancient families , to be blazoned by gentry , to stand before princes , to be honored and enriched in this world , to command many , to obey few , & to be called the sons of nobles : and so it is indeed . But say that we could draw our pedegrees , not from the conquest , but from the flood , yet we might as well descend of cursed Cham , as of blessed Sem. But if we can draw our pedegree from the line of Christ , it is better then to deriue it from the line of princes . To this end Iuuenall said well .

And better another .

But Prudentius best of all , as I once writ to an honorable family * * To the Honorable House of the Mon●ag●●● . .

Wherfore as Ambrose said to Auxentius , so giue me leaue to say to you ; saith he , Quid honorificentius quam vt imperator Ecclesiae filius dicatur ? What honor can be greater , then that the Emperor should be called the son of the Church ? Of the Church ? nay , say I , that noble men should be called the sons of God ?

I haue spoken of our dignity , but what is our duty ? by this we must learne to admire this mercy of God the father , to adore this loue in God the sonne , to keepe this assurance in god the holy ghost : and that the more fauors he hath shewed to vs , the more we are indebted to him . By this , we must learne , to haue this adoption written in our hearts , sealed in our consciences , & to esteeme it the greatest blessing in the world . By this we must learne , to loue him who thus loued vs : for amante non amato , nihil est miserius : and to loue all such as belong vnto God , for , he that loueth him which begate , loueth also him who is begotten a a 1 ▪ Iohn . 5. . In a word , are we Gods children , we must loue his house , not sell our inheritance , desire to bee with him , pray onely vnto him , depend vpon his prouidence , be patient with his corrections , content with his allowance , and as glad to see his great name honored , as we would be sory to see the Kings name abused . And to conclude this point , as Menedemus , tutor to a kings son , said vnto him , Remember that thou art the kings son ; so say I , Remember that you are the King of Kings sonnes , so that you must neither think , speak , nor do any thing but that which becomes the sons of God . I had almost forgotten the greatest duty ; we liue at this day among pseudocatholick professors , who loue an Idoll more than God , the Pope , more then the King , Italy more then England , & who vse all equiuocatory means to draw disciples after them : are we sons ? therfore depart from amongst them , b b 2 Cor , 6.17 18 saith the Apostle , & separate your selues , & touch none vncleane thing , and I will receiue you , yea I will be a father vnto you , and ye shall be my sons , and daughters saith the Lord God almighty . Let vs therfore separate light from darknes God from an Idoll , the Israelites from the Cananites , the pretious from the vile c c Ier. 15.15 , the beleeuer from infidels , and Protestants from Papists . Let them returne vnto vs , but let not vs returne vnto them : who in superstition are heathenish , in tradition Iewish , and in treason diuelish . I am the bolder right honourable to write of this argument , because I doe write vnto the sons of nobles , that therby I may stirre vp your pure minds , to vse all diligence to become as great by grace , as you are by nature , & as Honorable in the Church , as you are in the common wealth , that as you are the children of mighty men on earth , so you may be the children of the Almighty God in heauen . If I did present this booke to some great Counsellor of State , I would haue vsed the art of Brachyography , sh●rt writing : ●l●ng speach but since I am bold to make choice of you ( who as yet liue vnder the counsel of others ) I hope it wil not be offensiue to vse this Polylogye Habet hoc proprium generosus animus ( saith Seneca ) vt excitetur ad honesta . It is proper to a noble mind to be excited to honest actions . When Luke did so , it was wel liked of noble Theophilus d d Acts ●1 , ● , when Paul did so , it was wel aproued of the noble men of Berea e e Act. 17.11 ● , & when Daniel did so , it was wel taken of that great Nebucadnetzar , though it were to the breaking off , of his sins f f Dan. 4.24 . . How necessary it is for young noble men to be stirred vp to true nobilitie , Isocrates shewes by his Oration to Demonicus , Agapetus by his precepts to Iustinian , Tully by his Offices to his son , Plutarch by his institution of children , Pythagoras by his golden verses , Phocylides by his pithy sentences , Sir Walter Mildmay by his counselto his son , Solomon by the prouerbs taught by his Parents , and our noble King Iames by his booke to Prince Henry . Remember therfore ( my Lords ) that you are called Nobiles , as it were noscibiles , because others must see wherin you excell : and that then you shal be noble indeed , if as Chrysostom saith , you do disdain to be seruants to sins : & , as saith Apuleius , When to the nobility of birth , you adioyne also the nobility of life . The nobilitie of vertue it is your owne , the nobility of birth it is your ancestors . If you be honored for the one , thank your predecessors , if for the other , ascribe it to your selues . If you consider your Honor , many bad persons are partakers of as great , if you looke vnto vertue it is appropriate only to the good ▪ your Honor without vertue is a Iewel of it selfe , your Honor with vertue will be as a Iewel set in gold ▪ your Honor it makes you esteemed of men , your vertue it wil cause you to be respected of God . By your Honor you may glory in your parents , by your vertue your parents shal glory in you . By your honor you shal command many , by your vertue you shal command your selues . Summa apud Deum nobilitas est ( saith Ierome ) clarum esse virtutibus : Before God the soueraigne nobility is to be famous for vertue . To stir you vp to this , I need not to commend vnto you the examples of kings before Christ , Emperors in the primitiue Church , & many heathen gouernors who excelled in vertue : looke vpon that king vnder whom you do liue , vpon that admirable prince before whom you do stand , and you shall see that the table of the one is a schoole of Diuinity , the familie of the other a court of piety . Besids consider , I beseech you , that most noble Earle Salisbury , who though by nature he be father but to one , yet in affection and tuition he is a father to you both : doth not he build his religion vpon the sacred grounds of faith & hope , His answere to certain scandalous papers . in the pretious bloud of his Redeemer , without presuming vpon any particular merits ? doth hee not promise , Nec Deo , nec patriae , nec patri patriae deesse ? is he not an Hushay to our Dauid against rebellious Absolon g g 2 Sam. 15 , 37 , ? a Mordecai to our Ahashuerosh againg Bightana and Teresh h h Hester . 6 , 2 ? an Antipater to our Alexander to watch when he sleepeth i i Antipater vigilat , ? a Zopyrus to our Darius for the subduing of Babylon k k Herod . L : 3 ? and a Zabud to our Solomon , euen the Kings friend l l 1 King . 4 , 5. ? Is hee not a star in our heauen , to enlighten many ? a tree in our ortyard , to shadow many ? and such an eysore to our euill sighted & blindfolded aduersaries , that next to the extinguishing the light of our Israel , they foolishly forewarne him that they seeke his life ? But , the soule of that worthy Earle shal be bounden in the bundle of life with the Lord his God : when the soule of his enimies , shall be cast out , as out of the middle of a sling m m 1 Sam: 25 : 29 . Remember him O Lord according to all the goodnesse which he hath done for this people n n Neh , 5 , 19 . As therefore Alexander was moued by the vertues of Philip , Scipio the lesser by Scipio Africanus , Octauian by Caesar , and Pyrrus by Achilles , so let the examples of Princes in times past , of gouernours in this present age , and especially of your noble progenitors , be glasses for you to behold your selues in , that whatsoeuer they haue gotten , it may be reteined by you , & if any thing hath bin lost , by you it may be recouered . And if it please god , that the fruit of your age be like to the sap of your youth , Si non sit viti●m in radice , non erit in fructu : si fons pur●●s etiam ri●●ls . the streams of your manhood be answerablie current to the fountaine of your minority , I doubt not , but the generation to come , shall as greatly reioyce at the possession of your honours , as they are much cheered in the hope of your vertues .

I do obserue my Lords ( though what can a man of my parts , and pouerty obserue ) that many great men in our kingdome haue bin for a while like vnto the great tree which Nebucadnetzar saw in the Prophecy of Daniel o o Dan , 4.6 , but either by vndermining Iesuits , or discontented followers , or Parasititall seruants , or enuiing of superiours , or desire of greatnesse , or seeking of reuenge , or excesse of life , the roots of these trees haue beene so stubbed vp , that the place of their aboad is no where to be founde . The Lord grant that you may take heed of these things ( especiallie in your youth ) that we who see you now as Ioseph and Beniamin , may see you hereafter as Dauid & Ionathan : so this twofold cable shall neuer be broken .

Now albeit you haue many liuing libraries to take counsell of , yet since books are , as one saith , muti magistri , & trusty counselors , it is good for you to take aduise from them . By them you may confer with the prophets , speak with the Apostles , & though Christ himselfe left nothing in writing , yet by them you may read the Sermons of Christ . By these you may cal a council of holy Fathers , wise Philosophers , eloquent Orators , acute Logitians , learned Historians , & great Mathematitians , to resolue any euen the greatest doubt . In the first place I commend vnto you the word of god : which is not a dumb doctor , a nose of wax , a Shipmans hose , a dead letter , an Inky Gospel , as our aduersaries would haue it , but it is a directer of our waies , a comfort in calamity , a searcher of the heart , mighty in operation , a lanthorn to our life , & a counsellor to the Christian statesmen of the world . Habetis oracula Dei ? saith Chrysostome , ne moremini aliam doctorem : nemo docebit vos quemadmodum illa . Haue you the Oracles of God ? care not for other teachers , none will instruct you better then they .

But amongst many diuines which are worthy your reading , giue me leaue to commend vnto you this Christian Institution : The order of this author is methodical , & manifest , setting down diuinity in questions & answers , which order of instruction is ancient in the Church , as may appeare by the practise of Augustine , & Iunilius , & many worthy writers since & before them . The matter of this booke is very profitable , being the summe & substance , or a body of Theology . For what point of piety may not be learned out of this booke ? do you desire to know the Doctrine of one God , the trinity of persons , Christ crucified , the holy Ghost ? and the Scriptures of God ? Here you haue that doctrine set downe ? would you be acquainted with the creation of the world , the natures either of Angels , or mankind , or mariage , or diuorce ? Behold in this booke you may see them all . Is it the gouernment of the world , the doctrine of sin , the power of freewil , the law & the gospel , the agreement or disagreement of the old and new Testament , which you are willing to learne ? here is a teacher fit to instruct you . Here you haue a Synopsis of Faith & repentance , iustification & sanctification , of a Christians works , & christian liberty , of prayer & predestination , of the Resurrection & last iudgement , of eternall life & eternal death . Here you may read of the true Church , of the nature of Vowes , of the Sacrametns of the old & new Testament : and the office both of Magistrates & subiectes . And concerning these questions , whatsoeuer is material , in Luther , Melancton , Caluin , Peter Martyr , Zanchius , Hipperius , Hemingius , Vrsinus , and the rest , it is here set before you in one viewe . How necessary it is for young men , especially young noble men to read such bookes , the seasoning of their tender years with piety , & the future good which may come by this to posterity , doth easily proue . If young Alexander will bee studious of philosophy , why shal not young Theodosius be studious in diuinity ? if he said to his master , mallem singulari disciplina quam potentia praestare , why should not you say , mallemus Christiana disciplina quam potentia praestare ? But as Alexander was offended with his tutor Aristotle in making common those acroamatical books in which he alone desired to excell : so many , I feare me , will be offended with mee , in making this booke familiar to all , which many would haue to be reserued for Diuines . If any be scandalized at this labour of mine , it is an offence taken not giuen , I desire with Moses , that all people might prophecie : and since the Iesuites by their late inuented Catechismes , haue made thousandes skilfull in errours , why should not we who are Christians , labour by institutions , to make ten thousands skilfull in the trueth ? We commend them who bring vs either commodities , or drugs , or delites , or fashions , or fruites , or trees from forraine countries : and shall we discommend them who to the building of our Church , do bring from other countries euen the gold of Ophir ?

Now , right Honorable , hauing finished this booke , I am bold to present it to your most Honorable patronage : and as that most Reuerend father , the late Archbishoppe of Canterburie , commended to vs students of our Vniuersitie , Caluins Institutions , so do I commend vnto you Bucanus Institutions . You haue , both of you , bin two worthy members of our two Vniuersities , and the one The Lord of Cranborne is now in , and of that famous Colledge of Saint Iohn the Euangelist , where I haue bin fellow , now neere eighteene yeares . If it please your Honors to pardon my boldnesse , to peruse diligently mine Epistle , and to be as willing to read this excellent booke , as Alphonsus did Tully , Erasmus did Terence , Bishop Iewell did Horace , the Lady Iane did Plato , and Antoninus the Emperour did read all good bookes , I haue all that I desire or expect . The God of Heauen so blesse you , that , whether you trauaile abroad , or stay in this Kingdome , you may so , by your Christian Tutors , bee seasoned with pietie in your youth , that , learning with those young children , to sing an Hosanna a a Math. 21 , 9. , to Christ in your life , you may after this life ended , with the blessed Saints , sing Halleluiah b b Reuel . 19.10 to him in the Highest Heauens . London , Saint Martins in the fieldes . March . 3. 1606.

CHristian Reader , as the writings of God doe testifie that Antichrist shall be consumed by a breath : so the writings of men do also testifie , that the same Antichrist shall be weakned by rags . The breath which shall consume him , is the preaching of the Gospell : the rags which shall weaken him are printed papers . If he be burned by the one , blesse God for good preachers , if decaied by the other , thanke painfull writers . That these two are the meanes which must ruinate Antichrist , we may see by the practise of our Antichristian aduersaries . For though they haue many who declame against vs , yet will they suffer none to preach Iesus Christ : and though they haue many to write against vs , Read the inhibition of preaching and Printing , by Queene Mary in the booke of martyrs yet few will they suffer to read their owne controuersies . That they want Christ preached , behold their miserie : that we haue him preached , see our felicitie : that their people dare not reade bookes , marke the tyrannie of the pope : that we haue libertie to read so manie worthie bookes , note the goodnes of God , and care of our gouernors . To this end authoritie permits manie excellent bookes daily to be published : and though much reading be a wearinesse to the flesh , and manie bookes bring confusion to students , yet as the stomacke must be preserued by varietie of meates , so the minde must bee cherished with varietie of writers . That thou mayest be moued to read old diuinitie in a new fashion I haue published in English this excellent discourse : which , because it is the quintessence of the best writers of our age , I doubt not but it wil be welcom vnto thee . If thou lookest for order , few bookes more methodicall : if for matter few more Iudiciall , if for breuitie few more compendious , if for plainnes few more perspicuous , if for vse few more pretious . And if either emulation amongst Stationers hinder not the sale , as it doth the sale of many excellent bookes , or the delite of vaine bookes do not hinder thee from reading it , as it doth many from the best things , I doubt not but thou shalt haue cause to say of this worthie man , as Salomon saith of a worthie woman , many Doctors haue done learnedly , but thou surmountest them all . Buy this truth but sell it not : read this booke , but forget it not . Thou shall buy much for little cost , and read much to thy great gaine . Thus I commend thee to the grace of God , and my selfe to the grace of thy prayers .