THE PREFACE TO THE Christian Reader.
AVGVSTINE thus wrote to a friend of his, excusing the prolixi∣tie of his Preface,*Scio me non esse oneri tibi, si prolixum aliquod mit∣to, quia legendo diutiùs sis nobiscum, I know I am not burthensome vnto you, if I send you any prolix writing, because you are so much the longer with me: But I will forbeare by any long or te∣dious Preface to keepe the Reader in suspence; though if I should, I presume of his courtesie, that he would vouchsafe it the reading. The length of the Worke, doth make me more short in the Preface: a smal entrance in, may serue to a large house: and the greatest cities haue not the greatest gates. I shall not neede in many words to shew the excellent vse of this prophecie of Daniel, nor what I haue performed in it: the generall Questions set before the Booke, shall satisfie the Reader in the one, and the worke it selfe shall speake for the other. I haue gathered together the best things, and most worthie of obseruation, out of writers both old and new, both Protestants and others: that the Reader may in few houres finde that, which I was many weekes in setting together: for here I say and professe with Hierome,*Operis est & studij mei, multos legere, vt ex plurimis diversos flores carperem, non tam probaturus om∣nia, quam bona electurus: assumo multos in manus, vt à multis multa cognoscam: It is mine endeauour and studie, to read many, and out of sundrie to take diuerse floures, not to that ende to approoue all, but to sort out the best: I take many into mine hands, that from many I may know much; and impart to others, that which I know.
In the reading of this Booke, let the Reader take these directions: I haue followed the same course, which I propounded vnto my selfe in other Com∣mentaries, as the title of the booke sheweth: But I thought it best to set downe the whole text, for more plainenesse and perspicuitie, and not the di∣uers Readings onely: wherein C. standeth for Chalde: H. for the Hebrew: L. for the Latine: S. for the Septuagint: P. for Pagnine: A. for Arias Montanus: V. for Vatablus: B. for the great English Bible: G. the Geneva translation: I. for Iunius: det. is put for detract: add. for adding: The Authors names which are cited in this Booke, are summed in the Epistle set before the second part thereof.
If by these my trauels I may profit the Church of God, I haue my desire: it is mine onely terrene reward and encouragement, if my poore labours may finde acceptance: other rewards they sooner carie that labour not, then they which labour:* as the Poet sometime complained, that he made the verses, and other had the honour: As for my selfe, I finde by experience that saying of Page [unnumbered]Augustine most true, In eo quod amatur, aut non labor autur, aut labor ipse amatur: in that which one delighteth in, either there is no labour at all, or the labour it selfe is loued: and it giueth me encouragement, that I am not in the number of them,* of whome our blessed Sauiour saith, Receperunt mercedem suam, they haue receiued their reward. God graunt vs all faithfully to labour in our vocations in this life, that we may receiue our euerla∣sting reward in heauen with Christ our blessed Lord and onely Sauiour, to whome be praise for euer.
