Sechs Bücher vom wahren Christenthum. Paradies-Gärtlein

excepting the editions in large octavo, therefore

this edition has the advantage over most others.

(*) The late Doctor Buddeus cited these pieces at length and proved the excellence of this book from them in the preface to the Leipzig edition of 1715.

(**) In the Collections for the Building of the Kingdom of God original: "Sammlungen zum Bau des Reichs Gottes", in the tenth contribution, page 262, and in the sixty-seventh piece of the New Theological Library.

(***) In the third part of his writings, page 503.

The Third Section: Regarding the Advantages of the Present Edition.

§ 25. This new edition does not only have the advantage over all previous editions that it is printed with large and legible type, but also:

1. The content of every paragraph is placed at the beginning of each chapter. The content of each paragraph connects with the content of the following one. When read together, these chapter summaries provide a complete understanding. As one can easily imagine, this was a laborious task for the editor, though very useful for the reader. In a book like this, which is written more from the heart literally: "from the breast" than according to academic art, the reader can now overlook the content of an entire chapter at a glance. The matter of each paragraph is concentrated into a short sentence and expressed clearly in few words. Anyone who wishes to compare these summaries with the marginal notes of the Leipzig or Frankfurt editions will notice a great difference. One must admit that the editor performed a task here

where he had to break the path himself due to a lack of predecessors.

2. A very important and significant improvement has been made to the indexes previously attached to Arndt’s True Christianity. The first index of Biblical verses is arranged so that the starting words of each verse are printed as far as the line allows. This can be useful in many circumstances. In the subject index, which was previously compiled merely from the marginal notes of the Leipzig and Frankfurt editions, many errors have been corrected. Previously, the headings were somewhat rambling, confusing, and full of repetitive tautologies. More diligence will be applied to its improvement in the future. The greatest work, however, was done on the Sunday and Festival Index. All chapters of the entire work are distributed within it. It also shows the connection between the Gospel or the Epistle and the chapter to be read. This allows simple people to know why they should read a specific chapter

on that Sunday. If they first read the Gospel or the Epistle from the Bible and then the chapter from Arndt, it is as if a sermon were being held for them on the same subject. This will be especially beneficial to the sick and other persons who cannot go to church. In this index, not a single chapter of True Christianity is missing, except for the very short chapters of the sixth book. Some chapters appear several times. However, a distinction is made in the printing: those chapters that actually belong to this or that Gospel or Epistle are marked on the margin with small strokes. Whoever reads these chapters on every Sunday and festival can be certain of having read through the entire work by the end of the year.

3. Instead of the Catechism index found in some editions, which barely covered one and a half pages, this edition includes a Catechetical Introduction to Arndt’s True Christianity. This is arranged according to the order of the main parts of the Catechism through questions and answers. As much as possible, the answers consist of Arndt’s own words, with citations for the book and chapter. If a few words had to be inserted for the sake of the connection, they are set in small letters to distinguish them from Arndt’s own words. Thus, here in two hundred and

eighty-eight questions, the catechetical core of True Christianity is concentrated for the benefit of simple people.

§ 26. Furthermore, it should be noted that this edition also includes Arndt’s Garden of Paradise original: "Paradies-Gärtlein" and the Biblical Guide original: "Informatorium Biblicum".

1. The Garden of Paradise is one of the most beautiful prayer books. In it, a Christian is taught to ask God for things that concern the true salvation of the soul. It uses the pure words of Holy Scripture, which carry spirit, power, and life. It has been printed in various places and formats, sometimes separately and sometimes together with True Christianity. It has been translated into various languages. Mr. Philipp Friedrich Hiller also turned it into very edifying, flowing hymns, published in Nuremberg in 1730. Many credible testimonies confirm that God often wonderfully preserved this little Garden of Paradise in water and fire. Reports of thirteen such occurrences are printed in most editions, including the Magdeburg edition of 1727 and this present one.

2. The Biblical Guide has often been printed under the late Arndt’s name. However, some have doubted whether he actually wrote it. It was first published in 1623, two years after his death, by Melchior Breler, a physician. Also, the content...