TO THE

READ E. R.

I

HAVE in this Book undertaken an Expofition of the Creed, and think it neceffary in this Preface to give a brief account of the work, left any fhould either expect to find that here which was never intended, or conceive that which they meet with fuch as they expected

not.

The Creed, without controverfy, is a brief comprehenfion of the objects of our Chriftian Faith, and is generally taken to contain all things neceffary to be believed. Now whether all things neceffary be contained there, concerneth not an Expofitor to difpute, who is obliged to take notice of what is in it, but not to enquire into what is not: whether all truths comprehended in the fame be of equal and abfolute neceffity, we are no way forced to declare; it being fufficient, as to the design of an Expofition,

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Expofition, to interpret the words, and so deliver the fenfe, to demonftrate the truth of the fense delivered, and to manifeft the proper neceffity of each truth, how far, and in what degree, and to what purposes, it is neceffary.

This therefore is the method which I propofed to myself, and have profecuted in every Article. First, to settle the words of each Article according to their antiquity and generality of reception in the Creed. Secondly, to explicate and unfold the terms, and to endeavour a right notion and conception of them as they are to be understood in the fame. Thirdly, to fhew what are thofe truths which are naturally contained in thofe terms fo explicated, and to `make it appear that they are truths indeed, by fuch arguments and reasons as are respectively proper to evidence the verity of them. Fourthly, to declare what is the neceffity of believing those truths, what efficacy and influence they have in the foul, and upon the life of a Believer. Lastly, by a re-collection of all, briefly to deliver the fum of every particular truth, fo that every one, when he pronounceth the Creed, may know what he ought to intend, and what he is understood to. profefs, when he fo pronounceth it...

In the profecution of the whole, according to this method, I have confidered, that a work of fo general a concernment must be exposed to two kinds of Readers, which though they may

agree

agree in judgment, yet must differ much in their capacities. Some there are who underftand the original languages of the holy Scripture, the difcourfes and tractates of the ancient Fathers, the determinations of the Councils, and history of the Church of God, the conftant profeffion of fettled truths, the rise and increase of fchifms and herefies. Others there are unacquainted with fuch conceptions, and uncapable of fuch inftructions; who understand the Scriptures as they are tranflated; who are capable of the knowledge of the truths themfelves, and of the proofs drawn from thence; who can apprehend the nature of the Chriftian Faith, with the power and efficacy of the fame, when it is delivered unto them out of the word of God, and in a language which they know. When I make this difference, and distinction of Readers, I do not intend thereby, that because one of these is learned, the other is ignorant; for he which hath no fkill of the learned, languages, may notwithstanding be very knowing in the principles of Christian Religion, and the reafon and efficacy of them.

According to this diftinction I have contrived my Exposition, so that the body of it containeth fully what can be delivered and made intelligible in the English tongue, without inserting the least sentence or phrafe of any learned language; by which he who is not acquainted with it might be disturbed in his reading, or interrupted

terrupted in his understanding. Not that I have felected only fuch notions as are common, eafy, and familiar of themfelves, but have endeavoured to deliver the most material conceptions in the most plain and perfpicuous manner; as defirous to comprize the whole ftrength of the work, as far as it is poffible, in the body of it. The other part I have placed in the margin (but fo as oftentimes it taketh up more room, and yet is never mingled or confounded with the reft), in which is contained whatfoever is neceffary for the illuftration of any part of the Creed, as to them which have any knowledge of the Latin, Greek, and Oriental Languages, of the writings of the ancient Fathers, the doctrines of the Jews, and the history of the Church; thofe great advantages toward a right perception of the Chriftian Religion.

Now being the Creed comprehendeth the principles of our religion, it must contain those truths which belong unto it as it is a Religion, and those which concern it as it is ours. As it is a Religion, it delivereth fuch principles as are to be acknowledged in natural Theology, fuch as no man which worshippeth a God can deny; and therefore in the proof of these, I have made ufe of fuch arguments and reafons as are most proper to oppose the Atheists, who deny there is a God to be worshipped, a Religion to

*The marginal notes are in this edition placed in the second volume.

be

be profeffed. As it is our Religion, it is Chrif tian and Catholick. As Chriftian, it containeth fuch truths as were delivered by Christ and his Apostles, and thofe efpecially concerning Christ himself, which I have profecuted conftantly with an eye to the Jews, who obftinately deny them, expecting ftill another Meffias to come; wherefore I fhew out of the Law and the Prophets which they acknowledge, what was foretold in every particular concerning the Meffias, and prove all thofe to be completed by that Chrift in whom we believe. As our Religion is Catholick, it holdeth faft that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints, and fince preserved in the Church; and therefore I expound fuch verities, in oppofition to the Hereticks arifing in all ages, efpecially against the Photinians, who of all the reft have moft perverted the Articles of our Creed, and found out followers in these latter ages, who have erected a new body of divinity in oppofition to the Catholick Theology. Against thefe I proceed upon fuch principles as they themselves allow, that is, upon the Word of God delivered in the Old and New Teftament, alledged according to the true fenfe, and applied by right reafon; not urging the authority of the Church which they reject, but only giving in the margin the fense of the Primitive Fathers, for the fatisfaction of fuch as have any refpect left for anti