TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Colonell FRANCIS WEST O ftudy a requital of the able, and that I am as much willing as bound, ny my firft fruits, as a thank-offering unto your felf,and under your name to prefent them to the world. Yet would I not use your name for Patronage, having learned from the much-noble In augmentis Scient. and much learned* Verulam, not to account aBook worthy of a Patron, which hath not truth to patronize it; which if it have, it needs no other Patron; which if this had not, I fhould be as unwilling to fet your name as my own before it. As for the matter, though it feem contradictorious, yet it doth but feem fc; for utraque pars eft vera: and though it be made up of Paradoxes, yet they being grounded, not on Stoicifme, but Chriftianity, I hope they will answer the name of Orthodox. Yet what can a man call Orthodox in this Heterodox åge; wherein scarce any one thing is spoken or writ ten, but every man Comments or Gloffes upon it, interpreting, not as the Text fpeaketh, the truth requireth, or the Author meaneth, but as his Opinionative phanfie pleaseth to criticize; and this indeed might have been an argument fufficient for me, to have kept these enfuing Paradoxes within my breast, and not have written them; or within my Study, and not have Printed them: but having had some approbation and importunity to make them publike, I thought it better to lay my felf open to any cenfure, then to conceal any thing which may conduce to common good. Seeing therefore they are to go abroad, however they speed, it will be no small honour to me, that you bid them welcome; & entertain them, as that which doth and ever will, witneffe me to be, Sir, Your Worships devo ed to ferve you in the fervice of Chrift, RALPH VENNING. To the READERS. Hefe Paradoxes, which for the most part of them have Lain by me thefe many moneths, are at Laft prefented to publike view; not to make me, but Chrift, and the mystery of godlineffe more perfpicuoufly known in the world. That to me both in the firft writing of them, and fince in the often reading of them, they have been not a little profitable, I cannot but declare: and what ever my gaine hath been, I wish you as much, and as much more, térque quatérque. If the fpirit of God joyne with you in reading of them, I believe you will finde that made clear, in two or three lines, which many. pages, if I fay not Volumes, have left under a vaile; if it prove jo, give glory to God in Chrift for your felf and me,and pray for me, that God will give more of himself into me; that I may give out more unto you: and may be in all things inftrumental to his glory and your good: which is be highest ambition of him, who willingly fubfcribes himself Yours in all Chriftian fervice, Ralph Venning, THE Oncerning God in Trinity and Unity. 5 Concerning the Attributes of God, 14 Concerning the Lords Supper and Baptifme. 15 Concerning the Refurrection. 16 Concerning Heaven and Hell. ty, yet grants eternity. ratios & verbum eft ratio fidei. * 3. He believes three perfons in one God, ens. 4. He believes that God is nothing leffe then 5. He believes that the Father is not the A 4 the |