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It often happens that books on dogma are either not
full enough,
or too technical for young students.
Some of the best of them suffer from being based on the 39 Articles.
The present book is offered
as an accurate and reasonably full compendium of theology,
as clear and as simple as it can be made,
which will be invaluable not only to students
but as a reference book for those already ordained.
(Preface -1965 ed.)
As the right order of going requires that we should
believe the deep things of God
before we presume to discuss them by reason,
so it seems to me to be negligence if, after we have been confirmed in the faith,
we do not study to understand what we believe.
St. Anselm, Cur Deus Homo.
The subject of this book is not APOLOGETICS but DOGMATICS:
that is, it is intended primarily,
not for those who are outside,
but for those who are inside the Christian fold.
It is our duty as Christians to try to bring all men to the knowledge of the truth;
but we cannot do so, unless we ourselves know clearly what the Christian religion is.
The lectures on which this book is based were given,
through many years, to Anglican candidates for ordination,
and were at all times subjected to their criticism.
Readers are warned, as they were warned, to take no statement for granted, but to check it for themselves.
No belief is really ours until we have made it our own (St. John 4.42).
This book is intended chiefly for members of the Anglican churches,
which, though they have no doctrines peculiar to themselves,
have a standpoint and an emphasis of their own,
which is given here without qualification or apology.
For this reason, more space is devoted to Anglican authority, formularies, and organization, than might otherwise be
justified.
Readers who are not Anglican, if any, should bear in mind that the book is not addressed directly to them.
References to authorities, other than scriptural, have been reduced as much as possible in order to save
paper.
I am sorry if I have inadvertently quoted anyone without acknowledgement.
This book is dedicated to the students who listened to the lectures on which it is based, at the Scholae Cancellarii, Lincoln, and St. Boniface Missionary College, Warminster.
I should wish to withdraw anything in this book that is contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church as the Church of England interprets it.