ATAT.64.A.D.1604.

J. Sturt fe.

ROBERTUS BELLARMINUS,
Romanæ Ecclefiæ
CARDINALIS.

Etatfua quando hocfcripfit,76.A.D1616,

Heaven Opened.

OR

The SUBSTANCE of

Cardinal BELLARMINE'S
FIVE BOOKS

Concerning the

Eternal Felicity of the Saints.

Publifh'd in Latin 94 Years ago.
And now made English; With fome
few Variations.

By B. EN K S, Rector of Harley in
Shropshire, and Chaplain to the Right
Honourable the Earl of Bradford.

Fas eft & ab Hofte deceri.
Ubi bene, Nemo melius.

LONDON:

Printed for W. Rogers at the Sun against St. Dunstan's
Church; and B. Tooke at the Middle-Temple-Gate,
in Fleetftreet. M DCC X.

To the Right Honourable

THE

i

Earl of Bradford,

Lord Lieutenant of the County of Salop; and One of Her Majefties moft Honourable Privy-Council.

My Lord,

I

Must deny my felf the Liberty of Expatiating upon the usual Subject of Dedications; Leaft I should create Uneafinefs to one that I know had rather hear any thing than his own Praifes. But this being the first PubliA 3

cation

cation that I have made fince your Lordfhip became my Patron, I fhall prefume on your Pardon for Honouring my felf fo far as to put it into your Honour's hands. Tho the Prefent which here I make be Such as may at first surprize your Lordship, confidering where I had it, and who was the Compofer of it: Yet if I have refcued a beautiful Banner out of the Enemies Tents, where I found fome of our own Truths well drefs'd and finely Adora'd, I hope your Lordship will like the Notions never the worse, that they are none of my Own, when you'll find 'em much fuperior to any of Mine. The most that I can here pretend being but to make 'em Palatable to the English Reader, and Inoffenfive to fuch as may mistrust the unfriendly Author.

Numb. 23, & 4.

But Truth is never the Lefs it felf, whoever Speaks it. Even a falfe Prophet once gave out fuch glorious Truths as ftill shine bright in two Chapters of our Bible. So can be that does Wonders Over-rule even the very worst Inftruments, to make

'em