Practical truths, plainly delivered

There have been many Systems thereof Published, but above all that I have seen, I recommend unto you Dr. Ames his Medulla Theologiae. That Supereminent Divine Dr. Thomas Goodwin would sometimes say, That he esteemed that Book as the best Book in the World next to the Holy Bible. I remember an Hungarian Protestant assured me that in those Protestant Churches, they never Ordained any Minister without requiring Legistine Amesium. I Exhort you not only to read it, but to digest it, and adhere to the Principles of Truth contained therein. It was once most highly esteemed of by the Students in this College; yea, by all those of them that have proved Eminent Men of God in their Generation. Let it ever be so. But besides Theology, a Minister should have acquaintance with other sorts of Learning. ⟨p. 131⟩Especially with Ecclesiastical History. I recommend to you the Ecclesiastical History of the Magdeburgensian Divines, in which you will see what the Christian Church was in the Primitive Times, and how Superstitions and Degeneracy did gradually corrupt both the Doctrine and Discipline thereof, until at last it became quite another Church, than what it was in the Apostles days, and what Heresies have Pestered the Church in several Ages. It will also be of great use to you, to Read the Lives of Eminent Divines, both Ancient and Modern.

There have been many Systems thereof Published, but above all that I have seen, I recommend unto you Dr. Ames his Medulla Theologiae. That Supereminent Divine Dr. Thomas Goodwin would sometimes say, That he esteemed that Book as the best Book in the World next to the Holy Bible. I remember an Hungarian Protestant assured me that in those Protestant Churches, they never Ordained any Minister without requiring Legistine Amesium. I Exhort you not only to read it, but to digest it, and adhere to the Principles of Truth contained therein. It was once most highly esteemed of by the Students in this College; yea, by all those of them that have proved Eminent Men of God in their Generation. Let it ever be so. But besides Theology, a Minister should have acquaintance with other sorts of Learning. ⟨p. 131⟩Especially with Ecclesiastical History. I recommend to you the Ecclesiastical History of the Magdeburgensian Divines, in which you will see what the Christian Church was in the Primitive Times, and how Superstitions and Degeneracy did gradually corrupt both the Doctrine and Discipline thereof, until at last it became quite another Church, than what it was in the Apostles dayes, and what Heresies have Pestered the Church in several Ages. It will also be of great use to you, to Read the Lives of Eminent Divines, both Ancient and Modern.