4 DIRECTIONS For Studying, I. A General Syftem or Body II. The Thirty nine Articles To which is added. St. JEROM's EPISTLE By THOMAS BENNET, D. D. Vicar of The THIRD EDITION. LONDON. Printed for JAMES and JOHN KNAPTON, THE PREFACE. T HE following LETTER, wherein I have given Directions for Studying a general System or Body of Divinity, was written in the Year 1705, at the Requeft of a young Gentleman, to whom, as the Beginning fhews, I had made a Promife of it. Whilft it lay by me, I beftow'd fome leifure Hours in correcting it; and at length I have determin'd to make it Public. Because I conceive, that fomething of this Nature is much wanted; and I have been encouraged to hope, that this imperfect Attempt will be Serviceable, till a more exact Performance fhall render it Ufelefs. The Texts relating to the Duty of the Clergy, which were barely named in the Original LETTER, I have printed at large. By this Means, without the Trouble of turning over his Bible, the Reader will be furnish'd with proper Matter for ferious Reflections on Days of Retirement. I have fubjoined fuch Directions for Studying the Thirty nine Articles of Religion, as will, if Imistake not, fet them in a different Light, and give a more diftinct and particular View of them, than may be found elsewhere. Such as have Opportunity, may compare (if they please) what others have written on them. I have been forc'd to add St. Jerom's Epiftle to Nepotianus; because 'tis not to be met with, that I remember, otherwife than amongst his Works, or in fome Collection of his Epiftles, which all Perfons can't command the Ufe of. The Nature of my Defign confin'd me to a very few Books; fuch as might plentifully inftruct, and yet not difcourage or overburden, young Beginners. 'Twas therefore impoffible for me to mention many excellent ones, which every Body efteems, and for which none has a jufter Value than my felf. This made my Choice difficult. I hope, it has not proved in many Instances unhappy. The whole Number of them may be bought for about Twelve Pounds, as will appear to those who confider the Catalogue. COLCHESTER, T. BENNET. W ADVERTISEMENT. Hereas in the following Papers I have made fome References to the Second Part of the Rights of the Clergy, which is now printing, but have omitted the Numbers of the Chapters, because I have already found it neceffary to alter the Divifion of them during the Working of the Prefs: Ido hereby promife, that when that Book is printed off, which fhall be as faft as my Circumftances will fuffer me to attend the doing of it, I will give fuch a Table at the End of it, as fhall direct the Reader how to make the Figures of Reference with his Pen, without prejudicing his Copy of this Book. THE THE 4 Different Methods of studying Divinity have been pre- ibid. First, An Inconvenience attends the tacking together the Writings of different Perfons. Secondly, Some Repetitions are unavoidable in this Thirdly, The Author fometimes differs in his Judgment ibid. Seventhly, He must join Devotion with Study. ibid. |