Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same

I Have heard oftentimes many godly men greatly desire some writing, in the which there might briefly be confuted all the chief arguments of the Popish prelates. For (said they) there is much written very copiously and learnedly against them, but all men have not leisure to read over so great and large works: And furthermore, to those which travel, and by cruelty of the persecutors of our religion, are forced to read them privily, these great volumes are to them very incommodious: because they cannot easily be carried about with them, nor thrust or hid in their bosom. And remembering that a few years agone, the reverend father in God John Parkhurst, did often times desire me, that like as D. Bullinger my father in law (whom for reverence sake I name) had briefly set forth the ⟨image 7⟩chief points of our religion, and confirmed the same by testimony of holy scripture, intituling it the Sum of Christian Religion, so I in like manner should gather together all the arguments which the papists are wont to bring out of the scriptures against us & our doctrine. And he encouraged me hereunto, saying: that this labour would not be so tedious & hard unto me, as profitable and grateful unto many good men. And it would be the less labour for that many of our countrymen had written very largely in the same matter, so as there remained nothing else unto me, but to bring them into some brief order. And as touching the profit hereof, he said it might well be perceived, for that heretofore there was set forth an Enchiridion of common places by John Eckius, a very stout champion on the Popes behalf, which being studiously and earnestly read of many Papists, confirmed them in their errors: and therefore he had no doubt, but if some like book were set forth by us, many would willingly read the same, and ⟨image 7⟩thereby also take great profit: which thing he said might well be gathered, because that little Books, of all those chief points might very easily be spread abroad by the Printers, and so be studiously read of all men.

I Haue heard oftentimes many godly men greatly desire some wryting, in the which ther might bréefely be confuted all the chéefe argumentes of the Popishe prelates. For (saide they) there is muche written very copiously and learnedly against them, but all mē haue not leisure to reade ouer so great and large woorkes: And furthermore, to those which trauell, and by crueltie of the persecuters of oure religion, are forced to read them priuily, these great volumes are to them very incommodious: bicause they cannot easily be caried about with them, nor thrust or hidde in their bosome. And remembring that a fewe yéeres agone, the reuerend father in God Iohn Parkhurst, did often times desire me, that like as D. Bullinger my father in lawe (whome for reuerence sake I name) had bréefely set foorthe the