Mr. John Arndt (that famous German divine) his book of Scripture declaring that every child of God ought and must 1. daily die to the old Adam, but to Christ live daily, 2. and be renewed to the image of God day by day, 3. and in the new-birth live the life of the new creature / translated out of the Latine copie by Radulphus Castrensis Antimachivalensis.

To the Courteous Readers.

COurteous and loving Rea∣ders (for to you onely doe I write) in stead of an elo∣quent Exordium, I humbly intreat you would be pleased to extend your patience untill you have read my part-impertinent narration: in which doing, for Conclusion, let the Criticks think what they please. And thus I begin.

In the time of William Rufus and Henry Beauclark Kings of Eng∣land, there lived one * 1.1 John of the Town of Beverley in the County of York, who when the Churches of all the Arch-bishoprick of York were indi∣cted by the Pope from saying Service, and their doores shut up for many years,

by reason of the strife between Lang∣frank, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Thomas, Archbishop of York, concerning the preheminency & prero∣gative of those two Archbishopricks: such was the eager contention for and concerning the ambition in them both, that they could be content to disconti∣nue the open-church-service of God, for many yeares, rather then to yeeld to each other after the humble example of Jesus Christ; nor could the strife be en∣ded or determined by any godly or lear∣ned Bishop, or men of this Kingdome, untill by appeale to the Pope, his thun∣der-bolt of excommunication was sent against Thomas, his Monks and Cler∣gy-men in all his Dioceses. During which time of suspension from the Sa∣cerdotiall Function, this John was de∣barred from his Church office; in the mean time he bethought how to imploy himselfe in some laudable exercise for

avoiding of Idlenesse; which moved him to write the Brittish, Roman, and Saxon Story from tbe entrance of Brute untill his time, compiled in one volume, concurring in substance with Galfridus Monumetensis the Welsh∣man in the following Age, who writ and lived sixty yeares after the said John. Which being so, the said * 1.2 Jeffrey of Monmouth was not worthy of, neither is guilty of that aspersion laid upon him in these lat∣ter times, as being an in∣venter of the Welsh Story, and not be∣fore his time ever heard of by any. Which two Historians being so farre distant as Beverly and Monmouth, and being by their originals & births, from severall people descended, the one a Britain, or Welshman, the other a Yorkshire man (by ancient Writers termed Brigantes) for distance from

each other both in language and place, doth imply that they (agreeing in the substance of the Story) had some former Historians, as Coleman 1140. the Saxon Gildas Historicus, or Gildas * 1.3 Poeta, who lived and writ in the time of * 1.4 Claudius Caesar, or some others to be their guides. Whoso doubteth thereof, may read Pitheus for further satisfa∣ctio in British & Saxon Writers. But what is this to the Translator of Reve∣rend John Arndt the German Writer de ve••o Christianismo, or true Chri∣stianity? Yea, this is something in i∣mitation of John of Beverley, the Translators Countreyman: John of Beverley so called at the a 1.5 first, being a Clergyman, to avoid idlenesse, ha∣ving no imployment, in his b 1.6 vacation took upon him the collection of the British, Roman, and Saxon Story of England. So this Translator of reverend John Arndt his True

Christianity, being a Lay man, and a gardian of the Peace, through envy and distraction of these warlike times, having no imployment, for avoyding of idlenesse, and desire to benefit his Countrey-men in what hee may in his old age, tooke upon him the translati∣on of True Christianity, to give it thereby some more freedome to passe here amongst us, then it had this twenty yeares past, when it past amongst us in a Roman habit. Moreover, have wee now no ambitious Prelates, or covetous Clergy-men answerable to them of those times foretold and spoken of long ago by * 1.7 Hildigardis, Egelfreda, Henry of Huntington, and others † 1.8 that for the retchlesnesse of Gods house, they should be overcome and cast out: and is now in action under the Scottish Co∣venant, and demonstrated and fulfilled * 1.9

in the Directory now confirmed by Parliament. And that these times as well formerly acted, as at this present time before they came to passe, and the contentions of our elder Bishops were foretold; as was the ambition of Au∣sten the Romish Monk foretold by Marlin Ambrosius when hee said, Pallium Londini induet Dorober∣nia, Dover shall put on the Cloak of * 1.10 London: And fulfilled when Austen procured of the Pope that the priority that London had, should bee translated to Dover, and from thence to Canter∣bury. The Bishops of those times seeking themselves, and the things of this world, before the performance of their duties in their callings, Five times have they been chastised: First, the Bri∣tains by the Romans, the Romans by the Saxons, the Saxons by the Danes, the Danes by the Normans, the Normans by these present warres: a purging war

for the retchlesnes of Gods House, accor∣ding to the prediction of Hildigardis. Such were the late Bishops of Scot∣land, not long since, risen from the dead. Such were our late Bishops drawn in their Chariots with six Horses, imi∣tating and going about to renue unto us again the demeanour of the Roman Clergie, together with the swarms of Locusts lately permitted and increased amongst us, to eat up the verdure of our Land. And our supine Bishops to their last confusion, suffering their flocks to be devoured by the Wolves, and the shavelings to walk in triumph by Candle-light in open streets, in the bright Sun-shine. Whoso doubteth of this, may have further satisfaction if he read the illaudable practises of our last Archbishop of Canterbury, together with his brother of York, the endea∣vours of Con tbe Popes Agent, the discovery of Thomas Abernethie,

the Scottish Iesuit, and many more practises of these times; neither is there wanting a cloud of witnesses, foretel∣ling and declaring the fall of the * 1.11 Ro∣man Beast, which draweth neer, as wit∣nesseth Ironeus Ignostes, saying, Be∣stia quarta amittet unum caput: * 1.12 Tobias Snawber the German, de∣claring the same to the Emperours face, The Uropian Harold his Precusser, Our English Prophet Brightman, Napier the Lord Marqueston, the Author of the Scottish Banner, whose Motto is, Tandem bona causa tri∣umphat; The Pythagoriall Monk of Westminster, who sheweth the rise and fall of Antichrist in Hierogly∣phicall demonstrations, and by whom, to wit, the North-Islanders, that is, the Britains and Swedes; but none of these declare the manner how; yet this Author in his Hieroglyphicks sheweth, The Cardinals Hat shall cover the

Flower du Luce of France for a season, before that come to passe. After which the Cardinals Hat shall make a nest for the Owle to hatch her egges in: and the Popes M••ter shall bee thrown upon the dunghill; in it shall breed, and out of it shall crawle Toads and Serpents, the dolefull seed of the old Serpent the Devill, and fruits of the the carrion flesh, so much adored and beloved by that generation, the spirituall Baby∣lon. But what is this to the works of reverend John Arndt the German Author of the True Christianity? Very much by your good favour and pa∣tience, if you observe the Authors drift: First, the name or title of the book, doth intimate that there are false Christians, or out-side Christianity; such as have born sway (and yet do bear rule) amongst the Romanists a very long season; which this Author repro∣veth likewise out of the substance of his

works: you may find his endeavour is to teach the inward, spirituall, and true Christianity in these times, so much slubbred over even amongst the professors of the reformed religion, in so much as the hypocrites who can wipe the outside of the platter, doe obtain the chiefe rooms and greetings in the mar∣ket of the world, as it is said in the Gos∣pel. Such were our Bishops. This is that which this reverend man of God teacheth, how to overcome the great Antichrist so much detested, and of few known, even our selves; and endea∣voureth how to beat down in his works, and in the room thereof to plant the true vine and word of God, by the true knowledge of God, the chiefe and sove∣raign good, and to know our own vile∣nesse, to deny our selves, by faith, humi∣lity and prayer, to obtain true repen∣tance in Christ Jesus; and to acknow∣ledge true faith to be the work of God

alone, and to relye upon the promises comprised in the word of God, by a sted∣fast faith in Christ Jesus, the propitia∣tory sacrifice once offered up unto the Father for the sins of all men, and by him alone, and through his merit, to obtain eternall salvation, the free gift of God alone, without any merit in men. This is that which casteth down the Devils strong bold, the Popes Mi∣ter and glory of the world into the dunghill; which whoso well observeth the works of reverend Iohn Arndt, shall find therein, not onely this hea∣venly doctrine, but also the rich pearl, tree bearing humility, patience, meek∣nesse, and long-suffering, with the hid∣den treasure in the field, more to bee valued then all the world, and of higher price and esteem then can be valued or expressed by any tongue; with many more unspeakable gems of our Saviour Jesus Christ. And whereas most men

in the frontispice of their labours doe commend them to some Patron of power to defend, or protect them from in∣jury, oppression and detraction; so, I knowing nothing of worth (in these e∣vill times) can escape detraction and oppression, doe commend these works of Iohn Arndt concerning true Christi∣anity, to God the onely patron and de∣fe••der of his own profession, and no earthly protector; assuring my selfe, that as they have escaped the en∣vie of his own countrey-men, and have been protected by the heavenly power, from the fire of persecution, sword and injury; so likewise, I do as∣sure my selfe, these books shall here con∣tinue in our native tongue, and be preserved to a long-lasting memory to Gods glory, and his countries good, which is the translators onely aim and desire: O these doe hang out before the doore of the house, an encomium or title

of praise, as it were an Ivy-bush to draw custome to the Wine-celler. The name of this book is instead of an Ivybush to all good Christians, and better wine then is within it, cannot be had, even that wine for which wee contend with so much losse of British bloud, and we the laymen do stand up for with hazard of our lives and fortunes: I say, that heavenly pearle, or hidden treasure in the field, which by most, if not all the Bishops since the dayes of Langfrank and Thomas, hath been defaced or neglected even to this day; wherein the Bishops still with their Prelatical fa∣ction, doe labour after the •••••• example, who fought for preheminence, honour, wealth and wine for the belly, prefer∣ring it before the true vine and wine of John Arndt in this body comprised, which undoubtedly is the best, unlesse it may be impaired something in the Cel∣ler through the default of the Drawer:

yet seeing it retaineth the true taste & spirit, and in it self is found good and wholsome, and by your good favours (gentle Readers) covered and convey∣ed in the cup of charity, which maketh the good will more acceptable then the * 1.13 gift; it may easily draw from the Trans∣lator the remainder of the vessell in such expressions as Philopatiris is able. So resteth your devoted servant to be commanded,

Radulphus Castrensis Antimachivalensis.

Notes

• * 1.1

  By some called Iohannet Angli∣cus after his death.
• * 1.2

  Walter of Cale••••, Arch∣deacon of Oxford, delive∣red a History written in the British tongue, from Bru••e to Cadwalladar, to Ieffrey of Monmouth to translate, as writeth R. W.
• * 1.3

  As writteth V. P.
• * 1.4

  A••••eri∣•••• ••ene∣••ensis. 890.
• a 1.5

  But after∣wards Io••n H••••nes, Angli∣c••••.
• b 1.6

  Iohn de Oxe••∣ford writ a British Story again unto him. 1174.
• * 1.7

  Math. West. 1307. Poly∣cro••ieō 1360.
• † 1.8

  Saxtō and o∣thers more. 1484.
• * 1.9

  Abbot of Saint Albons, Iohn Weathamsteed. who lived anno 1440. was the first that accused Ieffrey of Monmouth for Fables.
• * 1.10

  But e∣nough hath been said be∣fore to cleare him of that a∣spersion
• * 1.11

  A mon∣ster ••ith two heads.
• * 1.12

  1640.
• * 1.13

  Simon Castren∣sis Ma∣chivele∣num Augli∣canum edidit.