+Because the doctor of Catholic truth ought not only to teach the +proficient, but also to instruct beginners (according to the Apostle: +As unto little ones in Christ, I gave you milk to drink, not meat -- 1 +Corinthians 3:1-2), we purpose in this book to treat of whatever +belongs to the Christian religion, in such a way as may tend to the +instruction of beginners. We have considered that students in this +doctrine have not seldom been hampered by what they have found written +by other authors, partly on account of the multiplication of useless +questions, articles, and arguments, partly also because those things +that are needful for them to know are not taught according to the +order of the subject matter, but according as the plan of the book +might require, or the occasion of the argument offer, partly, too, +because frequent repetition brought weariness and confusion to the +minds of readers. +

+Quia Catholicae veritatis doctor non solum provectos debet instruere, +sed ad eum pertinet etiam incipientes erudire, secundum illud apostoli +I ad Corinth. III, tanquam parvulis in Christo, lac vobis potum dedi, +non escam; propositum nostrae intentionis in hoc opere est, ea quae ad +Christianam religionem pertinent, eo modo tradere, secundum quod +congruit ad eruditionem incipientium. Consideravimus namque huius +doctrinae novitios, in his quae a diversis conscripta sunt, plurimum +impediri, partim quidem propter multiplicationem inutilium +quaestionum, articulorum et argumentorum; partim etiam quia ea quae +sunt necessaria talibus ad sciendum, non traduntur secundum ordinem +disciplinae, sed secundum quod requirebat librorum expositio, vel +secundum quod se praebebat occasio disputandi; partim quidem quia +eorundem frequens repetitio et fastidium et confusionem generabat in +animis auditorum. +

+Endeavouring to avoid these and other like faults, we shall try, by +God's help, to set forth whatever is included in this sacred doctrine +as briefly and clearly as the matter itself may allow. +

+Haec igitur et alia huiusmodi evitare studentes, tentabimus, cum +confidentia divini auxilii, ea quae ad sacram doctrinam pertinent, +breviter ac dilucide prosequi, secundum quod materia patietur. +

Introduction

TREATISE ON SACRED DOCTRINE (Q[1])