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The Rev THO ROGERS, B.A. Minifter of the Gospel at Horningar, Suff

June Sculp

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EXPLICATION

OF THE

FAITH and DOCTRINE

OF THE

Church of England:

AS ESTABLISHED IN HER THIRTY-NINE

ARTICLES and CREEDS.

Illuftrated and Confirmed,

By many Texts of Scripture, with the Teftimonies of all the Primitive Fathers, &c.

Abstracted from a very Scriptural Commentary, on the 39 Articles, Written by the Rev. THO. ROGERS, B. A. Chaplain to his Grace RICHARD, Abp. of CANTERBURY, in the Reign of K. JAMES I. Also many other valuable Notes felected from Archdeacon WELCHMAN, Bishop BEVERIDGE, &c.

IN WHICH

All the Scripture References are carefully examined and revifed, feveral Errors difcovered and corrected.

BY THE AUTHOR OF THE

CHRISTIAN's MEMORANDUM-BOOK, &c.

Hold fast the form of found Words, 2 Tim. i. 13.

LONDON:

Printed by M. LEWIS, in Paternofler-Row, for the EDITOR; and fold by C. HOOD, and J. WAKELIN, No. 8, StationersAlley, Ludgate-Street; J. PRIDDEN, No. 100, nearly oppofite Fleet-Market, Fleet-Street; by J. DODD, in Weft Street, Seven-Dials. M. DCC. LXXVI.

[PRICE NINE-PENCE.]

ADVERTISEMENT.

NOTWITHSTANDING the utmost care has been

taken to render this little performance as accurate as poffible, yet a few literal errors, have through the hurry of the Printer, efcaped notice, particular in the Preface, by omitting two or three words: Thefe overfights, and being too brief in the abftract from Mr. ROGERS's Notes on fome particular Articles, viz. Xth, XIIth, and XVIIth, has excited the remarks of a very fevere Critick, a Gofpel Minifter, who neverthelefs moft generously acknowledges that the whole of this performance, appears, fays he, "to be drawn 66 up and published, with an exceeding good defign: "And that, (notwithstanding its defectivenefs) it " contains many valuable paffages, and may be not alltogether unufeful."

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** Several of thefe literal errors the Editor has corrected with his pen, and others with more accuracy. Alfo an appendex to fupply the deficientcy above noticed, with fome other additions, will be speedy added, which may be had fingly.

(iii)

THE

EDITOR

TO THE

R E A D E R. RE

MANY attempts having been made by

men of corrupt minds (particularly Arians, Socinians, &c.) to fubvert and overthrow the found Doctrine of our Church of England, as contained in her Articles and Creeds; it is therefore incumbent upon every true Minister and Member of our Church to ufe their utmoft endeavour, and the ability which God has given them, to oppofe, and, if poffible, confute the errors of fuch men, but more especially to ftrengthen and fupport the Truth, by the authority of the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit.

A Commentary, or Notes on the 39 Articles, with many rare citations, both from God's Word, and the testimonies of the Primitive Fathers (written by the Rev. Tho. Rogers, Minifter of Hornenger, near Bury, Suffolk, and firft publifhed by him in the reign of K. James), having fallen into my hands, I have perufed it thoroughly and attentively, comparing fcripture with icripture, to my own great fatisfaction and comfort: and by the advice and defire of fome fpiritual friends, zealous for God's cause and glory, an abstract has been,

a

(iv)

been, with great accuracy, drawn from it; carefully compared with the holy fcriptures, and some late commentaries on the 39 Articles: which the Editor humbly hopes will meet with a kind reception among the well wifhers to our (now finking) Church, and her moft excellent doctrine; in oppofition to her numerous and inveterate enemies, who are striving all they can to fap and overthrow

it.

Indeed much has been faid already on this head, and much more may yet be advanced by men of learning but my chief design in this undertaking, is, (that it may come at an eafy price to common people) to fay no more than what is barely fufficient to explain each part of the Articles; and then more fully to prove the doctrine they maintain, by the Word of God, the holy Scripture, together with the authority of the primitive Fathers, &c. (many of whom fealed the truth with their own blood), Chiefly for the use of fuch as take pleasure in reading and fearching the holy Scriptures, to the edifying of their Souls, and the increase of their Faith in Chrift Jefus; a moft profitable exercise, in which we are frequently recommended, by an eminent Gofpel minifter of this City, to invoke the affiftance of the holy Spirit, to enlighten and open the eyes of our under ftanding, that we may understand the Scripture by the inspiration of Him, who is the beft and only interpreter thereof.

Mr. Rogers, in his Introduction, has taken notice of the indefatigable labours of fome of our most worthy and learned Archbishops, Bithops, and other bold Champions for God, and the cause of our holy Religion, who fpared no pains nor labour to bring about and establish the fame on a ftrong and lure foundation, against which the gates of Hell fhall not prevail. Amongft which

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learned

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