Christian Reader, it was the Authors purpose, if God had spared him life so long, to have finished this Exposition upon the Creed; but man purposeth, and God disposeth. It pleased God to •aish his course, before he had finished this work; *yet God in his divine providence hath so disposed of it, as that you may find the substance of those Articles which are not here perfected, to be handled in some of his other labours, unto which briefly I refer you: For the ninth Article, concerning the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, I refer you to his Treatise called The Principles, or, the pattern of wholesome words, Chap. 23. And whereas The Communion of Saints consists of two parts: First, The communion of the members with the head; Secondly, The communion of the members among themselves: for the former read his Exposition upon the Colossians, Chap. 1. vers. 18. pag. 121, 122, 123. for the latter, read his Exposition upon the third of Peter, ver. 7. pag. 169. for this title, Saints, read his Exposition upon the Colossians, Chap. 1. ver. 1. pag. 7, 8, 9. If you would be directed how to carry your selves in this communion amongst the Saints, and towards the godly, read his little Treatise called The Rules of a holy life, Chap. 25. For the tenth Article, The forgiveness of sins, I refer you to his Book of the Principles, Chap. 24. as also to his Exposition upon the Colossians, Chap. 1. vers. 14. pag. ⟨image 5⟩108, 109. Would you know what course to take to be delivered from your sins, then I refer you to his little Treatise, called The Doctrine of the beginning of Christ, or, The Catalogue of sins, Chap. 2. pag. 14. For the eleventh Article, The resurrection of the body, I refer you to his Book of the Principles, Chap. 26. For the last Article, Everlasting life, I refer you to his Exposition upon the third Chapter of Peter, ver. 7. where this is largely handled from pag. 141. to 163. The Author hath handled most of these things in divers parts of this Treatise, called the Rule of Faith, which you may easily find out by the use of the Index: These things I thought good to acquaint thee withal for thy help and benefit: as also to show that by the divine providence good supply, even out of the Authors own works may be made of that defect, which by his immature death may be thought to be in this Rule of Faith.
CHristian Reader, it was the Authors purpose, if God had spared him life so long, to haue finished this Exposition vpon the Creed; but man purposeth, and God disposeth. It pleased God to •aish his course, before he had finished this work; *yet God in his diuine prouidence hath so disposed of it, as that you may finde the substance of those Articles which are not here perfected, to be handled in some of his other labours, vnto which briefly I referre you: For the ninth Article, concerning the holy Catholike Church, the Communion of Saints, I referre you to his Treatise called The Principles, or, the patterne of wholsome words, Chap. 23. And whereas The Communion of Saints consists of two parts: First, The communion of the members with the head; Secondly, The communion of the members among themselues: for the former read his Exposition vpon the Colossians, Chap. 1. vers. 18. pag. 121, 122, 123. for the latter, reade his Exposition vpon the third of Peter, ver. 7. pag. 169. for this title, Saints, read his Exposition vpon the Colossians, Chap. 1. ver. 1. pag. 7, 8, 9. If you would be directed how to carry your selues in this communion amongst the Saints, and towards the godly, read his little Treatise called The Rules of a holy life, Chap. 25. For the tenth Article, The forgiuenesse of sinnes, I referre you to his Booke of the Principles, Chap. 24. as also to his Exposition vpon the Colossians, Chap. 1. vers. 14. pag. ⟨image 5⟩108, 109. Would you know what course to take to bee deliuered from your sins, then I refer you to his little Treatise, called The Doctrine of the beginning of Christ, or, The Catalogue of sinnes, Chap. 2. pag. 14. For the eleuenth Article, The resurrection of the body, I referre you to his Booke of the Principles, Chap. 26. For the last Article, Euerlasting life, I referre you to his Exposition vpon the third Chapter of Peter, ver. 7. where this is largely handled from pag. 141. to 163. The Author hath handled most of these things in diuers parts of this Treatise, called the Rule of Faith, which you may easily finde out by the vse of the Index: These things I thought good to acquaint thee withall for thy helpe and benefit: as also to shew that by the diuine prouidence good supply, euen out of the Authors owne workes may be made of that defect, which by his immature death may be thought to be in this Rule of Faith.
- *So much as now is published, comes unto thy hands, as it was left fully perfected by the Author in his life time.So much as now is published, comes vnto thy hands, as it was left fully perfected by the Author in his life time.
