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Common Places of Christian Religion

Name: Common Places of Christian Religion
Author: Wolfgang Musculus

Wolfgang Musculus 1578

Musculus systematically presents core Christian doctrines in accessible form, serving as an influential theological reference for Reformed Protestant understanding of faith and practice.

Henry Bynneman, London, 1578. Trans. John Man. archive.org: bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_common-places-of-christi_musculus-w_1578

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, in the spelling of this edition.

Preface of Wolfgang Musculus unto the Christian Reader,

Years past (welbeloved in the Lord) since I first began without good deliberation let any thing escape me. And I do wish to God, that the slowness I used in the setting forth thereof may throughly help, that there be found nothing therein dissonant from the rule or purpose of the holy Scriptures. For I would not willingly in any thing that I write, be the Author or maintainer of any kind of error, though it were never so small. And the cause of my slow proceeding in this work, was, that by the order of our school I could not take in hand but one place in a week to expound to my hearers: but I perceive that there cometh no harm at all by the long tarrying in the setting forth hereof: for surely it shall seem soon enough done, in case it be well enough done.

I do understand right well, that many learned men have heretofore written and set forth Common Places touching Religion, whereupon it may seem perhaps a matter both vain and superfluous to travail any further therein, forasmuch as it is beyond all hope, that any of my doings can be comparable, much less better, than that which is already done by others. But like as I think their travail and labour well bestowed, which have written herein before me, so I shall not mislike with them neither, which shall enterprise to do any thing in the like case after me. For notwithstanding that there be some lack now and then in their writings, which do occupy themselves in the work of the Lord, yet the very endeavour itself being good, is always to be borne withal, and not to be misliked. Such is my judgement of the writings of others, and therefore I take it not to be much out of the way to stand in this hope, that others also may judge the like of me. For as Augustine doth allow sundry translations of holy Scriptures, because they may all turn the diligent Reader unto some profit, so what is the let, but that the like travail employed by sundry persons in the handling of Common places in the Church of God, so that it be reverently used, may much profit all faithful folk towards the bet- ter understanding of holy Scriptures and godly lyfe: For it may so fall out.

in others: and againe, it is possible, that some pointes which other writers

gan to write these Places, and therefore no man can have occasion to thinke that I have rashly and

that those pointes which be to seeke in this worke of mine, may be founde

and do other eche one of us see all, no nor any thing perfectly, but some

it. Yea, and especially because that when they fall either of purpose, eyther

gathered them Common places, by the meanes of their much reading, and

have not once touched may be founde expressly noted by me. And it is the part of a wise and discrete man, not to embrace all that I, or others may hap

to write, without a good discretion and judgement: albeit that the endeavour herein be good and commendable, yet forasmuch as we be all men,

few things, and that dimly, as it were under a cloude, it is not onely possible, but also certaine and sure, that generally all the writers that ever have bene (except onely the Canonicall) have bene sometimes deceyued, and have oftentimes set forth in writing things likely more than true, and that which they have supposed rather, than certainly knowne to be so, which some rashe head will immediatly maintaine and stisly upholde as moste true. Wherefore notwithstanding this my opinion, that the travayle and paynes of no good writer ought to be contemned, yet withall my minde and judgement is, that they must examine and trie them all unto the touchstone and rule of holy Scriptures, and stande onely unto those which they finde consonant, and agreeable unto them: and whatsoever eyther is, or semeth to be contrarie thereunto, they may doe well to passe it over quietly, without any quarrelling or offensive wordes. And I entred into the trauaile of this matter not of mine owne drift, but at the commaundement of others, whom I was the better contented to obey in this case, because I know right well, what a lacke it is to the Church that many Preachers doe verie selde apply themselves to open and expounde to the people any one Common place of doctrine in Religion, but take it to be sufficient for them, if they handle some text or peece of Scripture to declare it pistlelike, as they terme by happe into ſome Common places, they do handle it ſo coldly, confuſely, out of order, and ſo farre from the purpoſe, that it vvere better for them not to meddle vvith it at all, than ſo euilfauouredly to entangle and darken ſuch points as ought to be moſt ſimply and plainly expounded, and ſet foorth to the fruite of the faithfull. Learned men have through their ovvne diligence

be able alſo to vſe a very good order in their teaching, by reaſon of their long uſe and often exerciſes. And as for them, they have no neede to uſe this my trauaile, and therefore in caſe they chaunce to finde anye lacke therein, they muſt remember that theſe Places be not vvritten for them, and ſo they may holde themſelues contented, for that they neede not to be troubled vvithall, but may leaue them to the vnlearned ſort, for vvhom they vvere firſt vvrit- ten. And novv touching the order of the Places, ſome have vſed one vvay, and ſome another. …