Christian theology, tr. by F. Reyroux

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY:

TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN OF BENEDICT PICTET: BY FREDERICK REYROUX, B. A.

PUBLISHED BY R. B. SEELEY AND W. BURNSIDE: AND SOLD BY L. B. SEELEY AND SONS, FLEET STREET. LONDON. MDCCCXXXIV.

PRINTED BY L. B. SEELEY AND SONS, WESTON GREEN, THAMES DITTON, SURREY.

THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

The theological works of the age of the Reformation, and of that immediately succeeding it, seldom fail to bear testimony to their value; as they express the most accurate and luminous views of divine truth, and as constituting a sort of standard of reference and appeal in the present age. Among these works, those of the divines who flourished in the Reformed churches abroad, occupy a distinguished place, and supply a fund of valuable matter on every branch of Christian Theology, properly so called. Many of these productions were translated into English immediately or very soon after they appeared; but most of these translations being now out of print, or copies of them very scarce, it is presumed that, without depreciating the value of modern performances, no mean service would be rendered to the Christian public, if new translations were made of the most valuable, and in their own time, most popular, writings of the divines in the continental churches.

The volume which is now presented to the public, claims attention as a body of Christian divinity, more concise and perspicuous, and therefore more acceptable to general readers, than similar productions of the same age and school. While it preserves, to a considerable degree, the accuracy of method, so studiously followed in that age, the author has, by the omission of formal controversies, and, as far as possible, of the scholastic terms in which such controversies were generally conducted, rendered it a suitable work for Christian readers in general, as well as for professed students of Christian theology. This design he probably had in view when he published a French edition of his work; as the illustrious Calvin published his famous Institutes in the same language, which was that of their country.

In giving the following edition to the public, the translator has endeavoured to present it to the English reader in as plain, perspicuous, and popular a style as possible; he has fully and faithfully given the sense of his author; he has, indeed, omitted a few passages in the original work, either when (as though very seldom the case) they appeared to him a needless repetition; or when such passages consisted of quotations from the fathers or the heathen writers, more curious than useful, or when they contained arguments rather subtle than solid; but these instances are altogether very rare, and, it is presumed, will not be of the slightest detriment to the original performance.

In addition to the intrinsic excellence of this work, it will perhaps be an interesting recommendation of it to many readers, that its author may in some measure be regarded as the last of those illustrious and orthodox divines who presided over as well as for professed students of Christian theology. This design he probably had, when he published a French edition of his work, as the illustrious Calvin published his famous Institutes in the same language, which was that of their country. In giving the following edition to the public, the translator has endeavoured to present it to the English reader in as plain, perspicuous, and popular a style as possible ; he has fully and faithfully given the sense of his author; he has, indeed, omitted a few passages in the original work, either when (as though very seldom the case) they appeared to him a needless repetition ; or when such passages consisted of quotations from the fathers or the heathen writers, more curious than useful, or when they contained arguments rather subtle than solid; but these instances are altogether very rare, and, it is presumed, will not be of the slightest detriment to the original performance. In addition to the intrinsic excellence of this work, it will perhaps be an interesting recommendation of it to many readers, that its author may in some measure be regarded as the last of those illustrious and orthodox divines who presided over the church of Geneva, and who contributed, by their indefatigable labours and excellent writings, to render it the bulwark of the reformation in those parts. For shortly after his death, or to use the words of a living writer, 'scarcely had the venerable Benedict Pictet been cold in his grave, when that highly favoured church commenced her grievous declension ; the pure and scriptural doctrines, taught by Calvin, Beza, Diodati, and their associates, were exchanged for those crude and reckless attempts of human speculation, which cannot be better comprehended than under the modern and expressive name of Neology : and thus Geneva took her place on the melancholy list of those Christian Churches which have "departed from the faith," and left their first love.' May a gracious God speedily restore "the candlestick" to this, and to every other place from which, in his mysterious providence and righteous judgment, it has been taken away.

On the whole, it is hoped that this volume will form an acceptable manual of Christian knowledge to those Christian families and individuals who, believing and loving the truth, as it is continually presented before them in this age of privileges, are desirous of obtaining sound, comprehensive, and intelligent views of the whole Christian system. While therefore the readers of the 'Family Library' are edified by various treatises on experimental and practical religion ; and instructed by the interesting history of the church of God ; and animated in their Christian course by the biography of persons eminent for their piety and zeal; it is earnestly hoped, and prayer is hereby offered to God, that their understandings and judgments may also be soundly informed on the various and important points of Christian doctrine; so that they may be at all times "ready to give a reason of the hope that is in them," and be able to defend with the meekness of wisdom, "the truth as it is in Jesus."