To the Courteous Reader
you thrice Honourable in your future successors, and long continue you a notable instrument under his Highness, of the peace and welfare of your country as he e hath done, accomplishing all your desires for present prosperity and future felicity. From Emmanuel college in Cambridge: August. 10. 1604.
Your Honours most humbly devoted, Rafe Cudworth
To the Courteous Reader I here offer to your view (gentle reader) a comment, and a supplement—the comment begun by an excellent workman, and drawn in excellent proportion, in all points suiting to the analogy of faith and the doctrine of the orthodox fathers of the church, being the substance of three years of lectures upon the Lord's Day. If his former works either of positive divinity in sundry of his treatises, or controversial divinity in his Reformed Catholic, or case divinity in his
Cases of Conscience, have ministered any comfort unto you, or given you content, [then] I doubt not but these commentaries will abundantly satisfy your expectation. For (to omit the variety of matter) as also the brevity and admirable perspicuity in regard of the manner (being the chief commendation of Oecumenius, or any interpreter), in them as in a mirror you may more clearly see his knowledge in the mystery of Christ [Eph. 3:4], and his dexterity in
exemplifying that by practice which he had formerly taught by precept, than in any of his writings besides, as having a double eminency above the rest. First, in that they were penned the last of all his works, being come to ripeness of judgment, and that upon mature deliberation after his sermons (as his manner was). Secondly, in that they were written with his own hand, whereas all his other writings (except some short treatises) were taken by some diligent auditors, and perused by himself. Herein resembling the epistle itself which was written with Paul's own hand [Gal. 6:11]—all the rest
(except that short one to Philemon, Philem. 18) by his scribes. And as they do exceed his other writings, so I might say (perhaps more truly than discreetly) that they surpass in this kind all the modern writers that have gone before them, so that he which will vouchsafe to read them shall not greatly need nor desire any other interpreter upon this Scripture. The which I speak not as esteeming of antiquity no better worth than to be put under a bushel, that novelty might be set upon the candlestick; but for that I see not but that John Baptist the last of all the prophets was as goodly a burning and shining candle
[John 5:35] as any of the rest, and that he pointed forth Christ more distinctly than the rest [John 1:36]. But I hope I shall not need to use many words in commendation either of the work or of the author, being so well known and sufficiently commended by others for soundness of doctrine and integrity of life—which (whilst he was living) did parallel each other, his doctrine being a pattern of his life, and his life a counterpane of his doctrine. And now being dead, his savory writings which he has left behind him, breathing forth (as it were) the sweet smell of a sanctified spirit (like a field which the Lord has blessed), has got him a name never to be forgotten, which gives him after his death a second life.
I am further to advertise you (good reader) that there were some places in the original copy, to which the author would (no doubt)
have given some review and correction, if God had drawn out the line of his life but a little longer, which I have filed and polished according to my poor skill, though very sparingly, in such places only as were obscure or had any phrase of doubtful construction or otherwise seemed to be mistaken—pointing and interlining the rest to fit it for the press. It may be my unskillful handling of them has deprived them of their due luster, yet sure I am it has given them no tincture.
Touching the supplement, it was my purpose at the first to have made a supply of that which was wanting out of the author's own writings, as it has been done in Aquinas's Summas and others; but afterwards perceiving that his works already extant would not afford me sufficient matter to furnish out that argument, I was inforced to take another course, and to make a supply with courser stuff of mine own, as I could. Which if it shall seem not to suit the former in all points, I shall desire you to consider that it is not so easy a matter for Asclepiodorus, accustomed to draw with a coal or chalk only, to finish a picture begun by Apelles with so curious a pencil. And that is an argument wherein (I confess) I have not been so much conversant as perhaps in some other, neither chosen out of purpose to make ostentation of wit, reading, or invention, but left as a necessary task to be performed by some for the perfecting of the work, and the good of the church (if this poor mite may confer anything to the treasury of the Lord's temple). And thus hoping that these respects may entreat for a friendly acceptance at your hands, and that you will afford me your good word for my good will, and a favorable construction for my pains, I commend it to the blessing of the Almighty, and you to His gracious protection, unfeignedly wishing to you as to myself, the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. August 10.
Yours in the Lord Jesus,