A17599:23
Aphorisms of Christian religionAphorismes of Christian religion
Aphorisms of Christian religion: or, a very compendious abridgement of M. I. Calvins Institutions set forth in short sentences methodically by M. I. Piscator: and now Englished according to the authors third and last edition, by H. Holland.Aphorismes of Christian religion: or, a verie compendious abridgement of M. I. Calvins Institutions set forth in short sentences methodically by M. I. Piscator: and now Englished according to the authors third and last edition, by H. Holland.
London: printed by Richard Field and Robert Dexter, 1596
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Preface: THE AUTHORS PREface to Master Beza.Preface: THE AVTHORS PREface to Maister Beza.
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.
And when my Scholars desired for their furtherance in Divinity, that I would take the pains to appoint them some Logical disputations: I soon granted their request: and therefore to proceed in some lawful and good course, for their more ⟨image 8⟩speedy and better profit I did reduce every point of Christian doctrine, so soon as I finished any place in the Institution, into some few Aphorisms, and the same I propounded unto them for disputation. And this was the first cause of writing these Aphorisms: In collecting them I have used Christian liberty, I have not followed the very words of the author (for that could not well be done, the authors stile being full and large, and Aphorisms requiring brevity) and I added some thing in the sentences, which is not in that abridgement: yet the work agreeth well, as I think, and as the brethren judge, with the authors doctrine, and specially with the holy Scriptures.
And when my Scholers desired for their furtherāce in Diuinitie, that I would take the paines to appoint thē some Logicall disputations: I soone granted their request: and therfore to proceede in some lawfull and good course, for their more ⟨image 8⟩speedie and better profite I did reduce euery point of Christian doctrine, so soone as I finished any place in the Institution, into some few Aphorismes, and the same I propounded vnto them for disputation. And this was the first cause of writing these Aphorismes: In collecting them I haue vsed Christian libertie, I haue not followed the very wordes of the authour (for that could not well be done, the authors stile being full and large, and Aphorismes requiring breuitie) and I added some thing in the sentences, which is not in that abridgment: yet the worke agreeth wel, as I thinke, and as the brethren iudge, with the authors doctrine, and specially with the holy Scriptures.
1Again, I rather call these sentences, Aphorisms, then (as they be called usually) themes, or questions, for the word thesis carieth some sign of doubtfulness with it, as may be seen with Aristotle in his Topics, where disputers are said aliquid [Greek or Hebrew] to set down some thing, which they do not avouch to be true: for the Logician, saith Aristotle in those books,