WE offer here unto thy view (good Christian Reader) the principles of Religion, with a short exposition upon the same; for the explanation of what may seem difficult, the confirmation of the truth professed against popery, and the enforcing of sundry duties of weighty and great importance. The method we have followed is plain and natural, the matter wholesome, but not adorned with flowers of eloquence. We begin with the main end, that all men ought to aim at: because there can be no motion but for some end, as there can be no effect but from some efficient. Thence we proceed to the means whereby the end may be attained: for it is in vain ⟨image 4⟩to propound an end unto our selves, if either the way be impossible, or imperfect; if either it cannot be known, or do not lead to the fruition thereof. In the means we consider, whence direction is to be taken, and what is to be learned: and there we show what, and who God is, how we must conceive of him, why he ought to be worshipped, what covenant he made with Adam in the time of innocency, and how Adam by transgression fell, and plunged himself, and his posterity into woe and misery unspeakable, intolerable, and eternal. In the next place we lay down the means that God hath ordained for mans recovery: And there is handled, what Christ is, what he hath done for us, how we are made partakers of his benefits, how faith is wrought, and increased in us, and what obedience we owe to God in Christ, who is the object of Christian religion. ⟨image 4⟩And because the godly in this course of Christianity are compassed about with infirmities, subject to many falls, and assaulted with many tentations, which might discourage and turn them out of the way: Therefore we have added, what course a Christian should take to grow in grace, how he may be preserved from falling, how he should recover after his fall, and of what privileges the godly are, or may be partakers in this life. And in the last place, the blessedness of the Saints after this life is ended, is touched in few words; whereby the sufficiency of the means is manifested. For as it is a way prescribed of God; so it leadeth us unto God, the first, chief, and all-sufficient Good. Our desire herein is to teach the simple Christian, how he may grow from grace to grace, and from faith to faith:
WEE offer here vnto thy view (good Christian Reader) the principles of Religion, with a short exposition vpon the same; for the explanation of what may seeme difficult, the confirmation of the truth professed against poperie, and the inforcing of sundrie duties of weighty and great importance. The method we haue followed is plaine and naturall, the matter wholsome, but not adorned with flowers of eloquence. We begin with the maine end, that al men ought to aime at: because there can be no motion but for some end, as there can bee no effect but from some efficient. Thence we proceed to the meanes whereby the ende may bee attained: for it is in vaine ⟨image 4⟩to propoūd an end vnto our selues, if either the way bee impossible, or imperfect; if either it cannot bee knowne, or do not leade to the fruition thereof. In the meanes we consider, whence direction is to be taken, and what is to be learned: and there we shew what, and who God is, how wee must conceiue of him, why hee ought to be worshipped, what couenant he made with Adam in the time of innocencie, and how Adam by transgression fell, and plunged himselfe, and his posterity into woe and miserie vnspeakable, intolerable, and eternall. In the next place we lay down the meanes that God hath ordained for mans recouerie: And there is handled, what Christ is, what hee hath done for vs, how we are made partakers of his benefits, how faith is wrought, and increased in vs, and what obedience wee owe to God in Christ, who is the obiect of Christian religion. ⟨image 4⟩And because the godly in this course of Christianitie are compassed about with infirmities, subiect to many falles, and assaulted with many tentations, which might discourage and turne them out of the way: Therfore we haue added, what course a Christian should take to grow in grace, how he may be preserued from falling, how he should recouer after his fall, and of what priuiledges the godly are, or may be partakers in this life. And in the last place, the blessednesse of the Saints after this life is ended, is touched in few words; whereby the sufficiencie of the meanes is manifested. For as it is a way prescribed of God; so it leadeth vs vnto God, the first, chiefe, and al-sufficient Good. Our desire herein is to teach the simple Christian, how he may grow from grace to grace, and from faith to faith:
