An introduction to the loue of God. Accompted among the workes of S. Augustine, and set forth in his name, very profitable to moue all men to loue God for his benefits receaued

To the Reader.

FOR as muche as that fa∣mous Clarke Erasmus, and profounde Censor, both of wyt and skill, letteth not first to confesse that thys treatise following, tasteth of good learning, though the stile, phrase, and or∣der differ from the workes of S. Augustine, in the number of the which it hath bene accomp¦ted: And next, that it descryeth or bewrai∣eth a very diligent Reader of that holy father his volumes, out of whose confessions especially hee hath inserted into this Pamphlet manye wholesome and proper sentences, as well tea∣ching and prouing that S. Austine doth so of∣ten inculcate: namely that nothing was create without the word of God, as mouing and styr∣ring vs to ghostly loue and affection, from the right feeling of the which it seemeth to haue flowen: I am the bolder to presume that to thee (good Reader) it shall be both the more leefe and acceptable: And the rather because that I haue endeuoured my selfe to the vttermost of my power, in the translatyng hereof, so to ex∣presse the copye vsed by the Author, as no ob∣scuritie (I trust) may seme to remaine, and so

with him to haue iterated one thyng or mat∣ter, that it may rather serue as a drop by oft fal¦ling to pearce more deepelye, then to breede or induce any lothsomnes or sacietie. For albeit that thinges earthlye, vayne, and transitorie may iustly bring with them a certaine tedious disdaine, when they are to often or commonly repeated, or lacke the releefe of pleasant varie∣tie, yet am I perswaded, and so would I haue thee, that thinges heauenly, euerlasting, endles and durable, and verely repleate wyth blysse and felicitie, so worthely deserue the Poet hys testimonie, that the oftener they be inculcate, the more they shall double their pleasure wyth profit. Take this therefore in gree and good worth, how soeuer for want of good methode it seeme to be confused, as a wholesome medi∣tation, and no lesse needefull then fruitfull for this tyme and season, in the whyche selfe loue, friēding of the flesh, and vanity of the world so vniuersally rage and raigne, as I pity to see, & am sorry to report. For herein thou mayst by contemplation and vew of thy duty to God, & his loue to thee, learne to abandon whatsoeuer to thy soule health is repugnant or aduersant, without the interlacing of superstitious vani∣ties or feare of infection proceding frō popery.

For in auoyding thereof, I confesse me plainly that I haue euen wittingly vsed in this trāsla∣tion a certain fredome and libertie, and redu∣ced the sense of the Author, to the consonancy, and Canon of the holy scripture.

For as I acknowledge it to be great and pre∣sumptuous impiety, to racke or vse force in di∣uine testimonies, suche I meane as are inclu∣ded within the compasse of both Testaments, as holden & allowed for canonical scriptures: beyng by God his own mouth prohibited anye way to wrest or to wring them: so I thinke it not vnlawfull, but rather requisite and neces∣sarie, in translating or readyng the bookes of Interpretours, be they olde, be they newe, or what soeuer they be, sithens they cannot well be without some wartes of errour, especiallye when they are conceaued & written in mood and affection, or rest in the preiudicate opini∣ons of humane infirmitie, or willingly followe the iniquitie of their time: to vse such mode∣ration, discretion and iudgement grounded vp on holy writ, as by diminishing, adding, alte∣ring, or rasing, they may reasonably be amen∣ded, and as in part, so in all made fruitfull to the Reader. This if any man either of spiced conscience, or wayward mynde, dislike or con∣trole,

I wish him more wyt, then fantastically to desire to haue hurtfull thinges ioyned to the wholesome as of necessity, especially when they maye conuenientlye either be taken awaye, or chaunged, without preiudice done to God his word, or offence geuen to good men. For I hold him an vnwiseman, and more then franticke in folly, that wil haue any such opinion of any Phisicion, how learned or skilful so euer he be, that bccause hee hath receaued at his handes many wholesome drugs, and comfortable con∣fections, which at sundry times turned to hys ease, health and sanitie: that a poyson by the same Phisition in the ende or among them so ministred, shall not be able to annoy or to hurt him: especially when the drugs or confections before geuen, had neyther qualitie, quantitie, nor operation in them to qualifie, resist, or ex∣pell the poison. And yet is there no earthly poi∣son so pestilent to the body, as the poyson of er∣rour is noysome to the soule. And therfore to fantasie any earthly man so muche in the dys∣course of anye peece of doctrine (considering that as he may both deceiue and be deceiued, so he may therin couertly conuey into the eares of his hearer, as many damnable paradoxes as Christian articles) that not onely the care

shall bee taken awaye from vs to eschewe hys heresies, but also a desire faire kindled to lyke and to learne them, where nothing is infarced to their confutation, I holde it so incurable a peece of frensie, as all the pollicies in the world are not able to tame.

Thus trustyng that I haue not onelye ac∣quaynted thee with the profit and cōmoditie which this treatise shall yeld thee, but that I haue also rendred a sufficient reason of my li∣bertie in translation, and of alteryng the sense where it tended any way to the derogation of Gods glory by attributing to much to man his merites and deseruinges, and aduertising thee to esteeme no man his workes, opinions, doc∣trine, or counsail, further then they shall agree with the touchstone of all truth and veritie: I wish thee the grace of God his holye spirite to conduct & leade thee into all such thinges as shall stand with thine own dutie, and tend to the glorie of the whole Trinitie.

FINIS.