PREFACE.

children of God grow [thrive and bloom] in this tree, and every [child of God] is a sprout on the same tree: so we have wanted to communicate our branches and fellow-twigs in our tree (in which we all stand and grow out) along with our scent, sap, and essence, so that our Paradisiacal tree may become large, and that we [may] rejoice among one another, where throughout one twig and branch helps to protect [and free] the other from the storm. Such we give to all children (of the same growth in this tree [which is Christ]) to friendly consider, etc.

14. [The Reader is warned that everything that stands between such [ ] marks is not by the Author, but by the translator, to come to the aid of our mother tongue: I have also enriched this book with a Register Index or Table of Contents for every Chapter, and divided the Chapters into Verses to be able to find everything better, and annotated the Register on the margin for every verse: make your profit with this, and remain commended to the eternal good and the mercy of God.]

An ornamental knot-work design depicts a symmetrical arabesque, used as a decorative tailpiece to signify the end of the preface.

Short Summary of the Book.

High and deep grounds of the threefold life of man through the three principia principles: in which is clearly pointed out the eternal, and also the mortal: and why God ([being] the highest good) has brought everything to the light [or to the day]: also why one thing runs against the other and corrupts: and then, what may be right or false, and how one thing separates [or divides] itself from the other. In which are primarily grounded [or confirmed] the three principles, which are the only origin or fountain from which all things are flowing, and are born. From which then the manifold meanings [or opinions] of faith are clearly known: why and from what cause there are manifold meanings among men concerning the Being and Will of God, also what is useful for man to do, so that he may obtain the highest and eternal good. And then [also] concerning the departure and end of all things: why all things have appeared [or come into being] in such property and being, for the comfort of the poor, wounded, sick soul of man, and for the rebuilding of the true Christian Religion, in which the anti-Christ stands entirely bare and revealed. Composed for ourselves as a memorial, and for encouragement in this confused, miserable [or wretched] time.