A08483:29
An exposition of the Symbol of the ApostlesAn exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles
An exposition of the Symbol of the Apostles, or rather of the articles of faith In which the chief points of the everlasting and free covenant between God and the faithful is briefly and plainly handled. Gathered out of the catechising sermons of Gasper Oleuvian Trevir, and now translated out of the Latin tongue into the English for the benefit of Christ his Church. By John Field.An exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles, or rather of the articles of faith In which the chiefe points of the euerlasting and free couenant betweene God and the faithfull is briefly and plainly handled. Gathered out of the catechising sermons of Gasper Oleuvian Treuir, and now translated out of the Latine tongue into the English for the benefite of Christ his Church. By Iohn Fielde.
London: printed by H. Middleton for Thomas Man, 1581
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To the youth addicted to true godliness, health &c.
To the youth addicted to true godlinesse, health &c.
Thou hast understood, most dearly beloved youth, and flower of the Church, the purpose of this my little work, by the preface to the most noble Elector Palatine, only it remaineth that thou take it with the same hand wherewith it is reached unto thee, that is with the right hand and not with the left. That shall be done, if I shall achieve my purpose, and by the grace of God, shall kindle many from amongest you, to the fervent study of the holy scriptures. Surely I my self being but yet a boy, was wonderfully kindled with a desire both of learning & teaching others concerning God; in outward show upon very small occasion, but indeed upon very great: for I fell upon the writing of a certain excellent learned man, where almost even to this purpose he exhorteth youth: there is nothing more excellent (saith ⟨p. 37⟩he) than for men to teach others, concerning God as touching the creation of mankind, of mans fall into sin, of reconciliation and restoring of him again through the Son of God that same promised seed of the woman, that shall bruise the head of the serpent, &c. These seemed to me altogether religious and holy sayings, and it pleased the Lord by these words to kindle in me the sparks of a fervent desire both of learning and in time to come, of instructing others, either in the school, or in the Church. For I set before mine eyes the company of young men in the school, also the flock of learners in the Church: What can be more notable (thought I) then to have there before me, not only young men, but also hoar headed husbandmen, who together with thy self are banished from paradise, for sin, & like Adam till the earth, who for their old age are reverend, and as fathers: many women also, who are as mothers: if the Lord will have thee to speak his word unto these, and to instruct them of God, of the creation and preservation of the ⟨p. 38⟩world, of the subtlety of the serpent deceiving man, of the promised salvation by the seed of the woman: what can be more comfortable, what can happen unto thee, more to be wished for of God? seeing without the knowledge of these things men live more miserably than brute beasts. The Lord continually after that time nourished these sparks in me, by his holy spirit, and by the reading of the holy scriptures.