Bibliotheca parochialis: or, A scheme of such theological heads both general and particular, as are more peculiarly requisite to be well studied by every pastor of a parish. Part. I. Together with a catalogue of books which may be read upon each of those points. / By Thomas Bray ...

II. It is much desir'd they should be furnish'd with some Bodies of Divinity, and that both

First, Scholastical, of which sort, one at least, ac∣cording to the different Sentiments of the several most considerable Parties of Christians in the World.

1. For the Papists.

First, Such as have laid the Foundations of their Novel Doctrines; or at leastwise who have first introduc'd them into their Schemes and Bodies of Divinity.

• Johan. Damasceni de fide Orthodoxa, Libri 4.

N. Claruit Anno 730. & primus fuit inter Graecos, qui Theologiam ad Accuratiorem Methodum revocavit, ejusque Dog∣mata in proprias classes distribuit. Cave Historia Literaria. p. 695. He writes clearly and methodically, was a subtle Divine, and an able Compiler, says Dupin, Vol. 6. p. 106. he was a great Propugner of Images, and of the Worship of them, of the perpetual Virginity of the Virgin, of Relicks, &c. And having comprehended the whole substance of Divinity in a Scholastical and Methodical manner, he may very well be ranked here.

• Petrus Lombardus.

N. Libros 4. Sententiarum ex Patrum, praecipue Au∣gustini scriptis, compilavit; ex quo inter Latinos novam faciem induere cepit res Theologica, ad formam Elencticam, dubiisque in orbem recurrentibus in∣servientem, reducta; ad Philosophicum & Acroamaticum dicendi Genus re∣stricta, in Quaestiones infinitas, membratim discerpta, rationibus in utramque partem agitatis, curiosè nimis, penè usque ad ineptias, ventilata, methodo nihilominus brevi, nec usqucq aque inconcinna, & ad subtilem Argutamque de quaestionibus Theologicis disputandi rationem, satis aptè composita. Cave Hist. Literar. p. 695. Prodiit hic Liber Ludg. 1618. cui Ed. ad calcem Operis subjiciuntur Articuli erronei Parisiis olim damnati, adjectis nonnullis ipsius Magistri in quibus communit••r non Approbatur.

• Durandi Commentaria super Libros 4. sententiarum.
• Quae Juvenis Inchoavit, Senex absolvit. venet. 1571. Fol.
• Thomae Aquinatis summae.
• Cajetani Commentaria in totam Summam Thomae.

N. Lombard and Aquinas, are the Text to the rest of the Schoolmen, who under two general Classes Comment upon them, some on the Sentences, others on the Sums. And of these Commentators, these now mention'd are of the chiefest Repute, and may serve instead of more. And as to my placing 'em in the first Rank of Popish Systems, our Learned Dr. Cave will justifie me in that, whose words are Quantum ad plura Romanae Ecclesiae placita Stabilienda contulerit nova haec Scholastica Theologia, caecus sit, opor∣tet, qui non videt. His. Literaria p. 696. And indeed, as in this Shop of the Schoolmen most of the corrupt Doctrines of the Church of Rome were first forg'd, and for several Ages were in hammering, and increasing upon the World, so they receiv'd their finishing stroke and stamp of Authority in the Council of Trent. And concerning the Original and Progress of 'em may be read,

• Danaeus in primum Librum Sententiarum. c. 1.—6. 8o. Gen. 1589.
• Hospiniani Hist. Sacramentaria. Tom. 1. Lib. 4. p. 401.

Secondly, Such as having written their Bodies of Divinity after the Heretical and Erroneous Doctrines of the Church of Rome were arriv'd to their full growth, and receiv'd their esta∣blishment in the Council of Trent; have Incor∣porated all of 'em into their Systems.

• ...Catechismus ad Parochos ex Decreto Concilii Triden∣tini.
• Gregorii de Valentia. Or,
• Vasquez. Or,
• Becanus. Or,
• Suarez. Or,
• Ludovici Abelli Medulla Theologiae. 2 Vol. 8o.
• Du Hamel's Theologia speculativa & Practica. 8o.

2. For the Lutherans.

• Melancthonis Opera. Fol. Or,
• Chemnitii Loci Communes. Fol. Or,
• Brochmandi Universae Theol. Systema. Fol. Or,
• Gerhardi Loci Communes. 2 Vol. Fol.

3. For the Calvinists.

• Calvini Institutiones.
• Ʋrsini Catechismus à Paraeo Edit. Or,
• Turretini Institutio Theologiae. 3 Vol. 4o. Or,
• Turretini Compendium. 4o.

4. For the Arminians.

• Arminii Opera.

• Episcopius.

N. Cautè Legendus in some things, and particularly in the Articles of the Trinity, and not without Dr. Bull's Judicium Ecclesiae Catholicae de necessitate credendi quod Jesus Christus sit verus Deus, 8o. Oxon. 1694. And the like Caution is to be given about other Authors of that Set; and the rather because being Learned Men, and clear Writers, their Heterodoxies are in greater danger of being unwarily imbib'd.

• Philippi a Limborch Theologia Christiana. Fol.

5. In the middle way, as Reconcilers.

First, Between Papists and Protestants.

• Georgius Cassander.
• Grotii Annotata ad Consultationem Cassandri. Inter Tractatus Grotii. quarto Vol.
• — Votum pro Pace.
• Thorndyke's Just Weights and Measures. 8o.
• Forbesii Considerationes Modestae & Pacificae. Lond. 1658. 8o.

N. Anton. à Dominis Ep. Spalatensis may be also rekcon'd amongst these Reconcilers.

Secondly, Between Calvinists and Arminians.

• Le Blanc's Theses. Fol.
• Theses Salmurienses. 4o.

N. These Scholastical Bodies take in not only what is purely essential to Christianity, but also the Controverted and Disputable Tenets e∣spous'd by that Party of Christians, the Compiler himself happens to be of: And here, in these their several Bodies, the best View of their different Hy∣potheses is to be seen, because here they lye in that Series and Concatenation wherein they support one another, better than when standing naked by them∣selves; so that a true Judgment cannot be made, as of Christianity it self; so not of any Sect of Christians, by examining their Principles separately, so well as by considering 'em connected in their several Bodies: And it is a Justice due to all Parties to see their Opinions in the clearest Light, and to

consider them in their full strength. And as to that general prejudice which has been of late Years taken up against all Systems of Divinity whatsoever; It seems considerable to me what has ••e••en spoken by a Learned Prelate upon that Point in his Pastoral Care, p. 167. viz.

That there is a vast Error in the first forming of our Clergy, that a contempt has been cast on that sort of Books. Indeed, to rise no higher than to a perpetual Reading over different Systems is but a mean pitch of Learning; and the swallow∣ing down whole Systems by the Lump, has help'd to possess Peoples Minds too early with Prejudices, and to shut them up in too Implicite a following of others. But the throwing off all these Books, makes that many who have Read a great deal, yet have no entire Scheme or Method, and so are ig∣norant of some very plain things which could never have happen'd to them, if they had carefully Read and Digested a System into their Memories.

6. And for a Nexus between Scholastical and Cateche∣chetical Bodies of Divinity.

• Corpus Consessionum Fidei quae in diversis Regnis & Nationibus Ecclesiarum Nomine fuerunt authenticè editae; in celeberrimis Conventibus exhibitae, publi∣ca{que} Authoritate comprobatae; 4o.

N. I place the Con∣fessions of the Reform∣ed Churches here, as being of a Nature, not altogether so Controversial as Scho∣lastical, nor yet of so simple a Nature, as Catechetical Theology is, or ought to be. And I do not rank them under that Great Article of the Covenant, fol∣lowing; namely, Points necessary to be believed in order to Salvation, because tho' stil'd Confessions of Faith, yet are esteemed by the respective Churches whose Confessions they are, rather as containing Terms necessary to Communion therein, than as absolutely necessary to Salvation with God.

Secondly, Catechetical, or Bodies that design to treat only upon Practical Points, and such as are more immediately Necessary and Fundamental to be understood by every Christian; and therefore to be taught by every one that has the Cure of Souls. Of which sort,

1. Amongst the Antients may be read,

• Clementis Alexandrini Stromata, with his
• —Padagogus.
• Sti. Cypriani Testimoniorum ad Quirinum, Libri 3.
• Lactantii Institutionum, Libri 7.
• Sti. Augustini Enchiridion ad Laurentium de Fide, Spe & Charitate.

N. Scarce any of these indeed can be pretended to be entire and compleat Bodies of Practical Christianity; nor per∣haps do the Doctrines and Duties of our Religion lie therein in so exact an Order and Method, as in our later Composures; yet however there are many, both Articles of Faith, and Duties of Christianity deliver'd in them; and what is wanting in the exactness of the Composure, is abundantly made up by the Piety of the Discourses, the constant prospect of Death before the Eyes of those Primitive Saints, by reason of frequent Persecutions, to which they were expos'd, and the severity of the Christian Discipline in those Days, ren∣dring their Discourses very Heavenly, and giving 'em such a Spirit and Force, as few of our modern Writings do come up to.

2. Amongst the later and more modern Writers.

• Dr. Hammond's Practical Catechism; with which may be also joyn'd his other Practical Discourses, Fol. as Enlargements upon the same Points.
• Sir Matthew Hales's Knowledge of God and our selves. 8o.
• Cradock's Knowledge and Practice, with a Supplement. 4o.
• Dr. Lucas's Practical Christianity. 8o.
• Dr. Scot's Works, 4 Vol. 8o.

N. By Catechetical Do∣ctrines, I mean no other than such as are necessary to be known, believ'd and practic'd by every Chri∣stian; And therefore do take the liberty, notwithstanding the Title, to range the Catechismus ad Parochos and Ursin's Catechism under the former Head of Scholastical Systems, rather than here; And in like manner I should have dispos'd of, even that call'd the Assemblies Catechism, if I had had oc∣casion to mention it; as containing many Doctrines, viz. concerning Praede∣stination, Election, Reprobation, Grace, and Free-will, which are Points fitter by much to be Problematically discuss'd in the Schools, than Dogmatically treated of from the Desk or Pulpit.