"Men ought to take heed of rending God's church by two kinds of
controversies. The one is, when the matter of the point controverted is
too small and light, not worth the heat and strife about it, kiudled only
by contradiction. For as it is noted by one of the Fathers, Christ's
coat indeed had no seam; but the church's vesture was of divers
colours whereupon he saith, "in veste varietas sit, scissura non sit:"
they be two things, unity and uniformity. The other is, when the
matter of the point controverted is great; but it is driven to an
over-great subtilty and obscurity; so that it becometh a thing rather
ingenious than substantial."-LORD BACON.

LONDON: NISBET & Co.

DUBLIN: W. CURRY, JUN. & Co.

CORK GEORGE PURCELL.

THE PROFITS OF THIS WORK WILL BE GIVEN TO THE

PASTORAL AID SOCIETY, CORK.

"Unto a Christian man, there can be nothing either more necessary or profitable, than the knowledge of Holy Scripture; forasmuch as in it is contained God's true word, setting forth his glory, and also man's duty. And there is no truth nor doctrine, necessary for our justification and everlasting salvation, but that is, or may be, drawn out of that fountain and well of truth. For in Holy Scripture is fully contained what we ought to do, and what to eschew, what to believe, what to love, and what to look for at God's hands at length. In these books we shall find the Father from whom, the Son by whom, and the Holy Ghost in whom, all things have their being and keeping up; and these three Persons to be but one God, and one substance. In these books we may learn to know ourselves, how vile and miserable we be; and also to know God, how good he is of himself, and how he maketh us and all creatures partakers of his goodness. We may learn also in these books to know God's will and pleasure, as much as, for this present time, is convenient for us to know, And, as the great clerk and godly preacher, St. John Chrysostom, saith, whatsoever is required to the salvation of man, is fully contained in the Scripture of God."

Homily on the Reading and Knowledge of Holy Scripture.
PART I, page 1.

PRAYER.

O gracious God and most merciful Father, which hast vouchsafed us the rich and precious jewell of thy Holy Word, assist us by thy Spirit that it may be written in our hearts to our everlasting comfort; to reforme us; to renew us according to thine own image; to build us up, and edifie us into the perfect building of thy Christe; sanctifying, and increasing in us all heavenlie vertues. Grant this O heavenlie Father, for Jesus Christe's sake. Amen.