TO THE READERS

A WARNING.

The solidity and substance of the Christian religion, original Latin: Religio Christiana. Here referring to the essential truths and core practices of the faith. and of the duties it prescribes, is a matter so simple, so clear in itself, and indeed so much in harmony with the instinct of a creature tending toward the search for its true good and the goal for which it was created, that it is astonishing that so few people occupy themselves and their affections with it above all else. This calamity undoubtedly proceeds from the fact that from tender years, A common idiom for early childhood. things entirely different from this are allowed into our hearts—which are already corrupt by their origin. A reference to the theological concept of Original Sin, the belief that humans are born with an inherent inclination toward wrongdoing. These things are small indeed and suited to the grasp of little ones; yet, because they are of this world and look toward the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride and vanity of life, These three categories of sin are drawn from 1 John 2:16. they ensure that the heart, being first occupied and filled by them, has neither the space nor the inclination for the Love of the Father, or the Love of God. original Latin: Amor Dei. This Love is the primary part of the Christian Religion, and in truth, it cannot coexist with the love of the world and the things that are in the world; for to love these, and to love God at the same time, is impossible, according to that saying of the Apostle: 1 John 2:15. If anyone loves the world, the charity, original Latin: charitas. In early modern English, "charity" was the standard translation for the Greek agape, meaning a selfless, divine love. or love, of the Father is not in him.

Nor can that same World, as our Savior asserts, receive the Spirit of Truth, original Latin: Spiritus Veritatis. A title for the Holy Spirit found in the Gospel of John. which is itself the Spirit of true and solid knowledge of the Christian Religion. And so, when 그 Spirit of Truth finds minds and hearts already occupied by the Spirit of the World, and open to and detained by the vanity to which they have surrendered their affections—behold! Seeing that the place which is his due has been preoccupied and snatched away by his enemy, he is forced to depart from us. Our inner selves are now full of something else. He only encounters some place outside, in the outer—

The text ends mid-word on "exteriori-", which likely completes as "exterioribus" (outer parts or senses) on the following page.

Christian Religion original Latin: Religio Christiana. Not just a set of beliefs, but the entire lived system of faith and duty.
Lust of the eyes/flesh original Latin: concupiscentia. Strong worldly desires or cravings that distract the soul from spiritual matters.