J.H. Heidegger's Corpus of Christian Theology: Preface to the Reader

To the pious, learned, and benevolent Reader,

Greetings from

Johann Heinrich Schweizer,

Professor at the School in Zurich.[1]

 What is found in the frontispiece of the Hymns of DAVID, Psalm 1:2, 3, That Man is blessed, whose delight is in the law of Jehovah, with the result that he doth meditate in that Law day and night.  He is like a Tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, the leaves of which fade not; that is certainly worthy also to be found at the beginning of this Work, both so that by the example of our Most Celebrated Author confidence might be given to it, and so that it might be an incentive to others to engage in similar study.  Of course, that man alone has true and solid merit, who, with things cast aside that confer either little to life and piety, or nothing, solely pursues the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness, Titus 1:1,[2] wholly immersed in the divine Law, and the delights contained in it.  For, however great the knowledge of others might be, if it be without this acquaintance, it is the knowledge of the World but not of Heaven, of the Flesh but not of the Spirit, human but not Divine, puffing up but not saving, making the mouth water but not nourishing, completely devoid of all sap, life, and fruit.  Certainly also, if a hungry man dreameth that he eateth, whose soul is nevertheless at the same time awake, and tormented by emptiness; or if a thirsty man dreameth that he drinketh, behold! with sleep shaken off, he is so faint that his soul σφύζουσα/throbbing with palpitations is on the verge of fainting.  For what satiety, I ask, is there able to be, what vigor of soul, what joy, from the perishable, vain, often trifling? in which there is no remembrance of the Virtues of God, especially His saving Grace and unstained Righteousness; no showing of the Ways of God, whereby Heaven is approached; no union of the sinner with God, placated through Christ; no renovation of Man unto the Image of God; where humility is banished and haughtiness exults, insane self-love boils and that of God and the Neighbor grows cold; finally, hope in affliction and death is inert or non-existent, nor is able to be.  Such are worthy of the Holy Spirit’s accusation of supine brutishness, saying, Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? why do ye expend Your labor for that which satisfieth not?  But thus are accustomed those that are deluded with the false likeness of wisdom, and μεριμνῶντες τυρβαζόμενοι περὶ πολλὰ, being careful and troubled over many things,[3] are troubled in this life, pursuing with frenzied purpose joys issuing in sorrow.  The Spirit Himself, the Teacher of all Truth,[4] instructs these to understand more accurately, to think better thoughts, when to that rebuke He then subjoins an exhortation both solemnly grave and incredibly sweet:  Rather hearken diligently to me, that ye may eat the Good, and your soul may delight itself in fatness:  Incline your ear, and come to me:  Hear, and your soul shall live:  For with you I will make an ETERNAL COVENANT, even the SURE MERCIES OF DAVID, Isaiah 55:2, 3.  That is, that Word is to be heard obsequiously, with much προθυμία/readiness,[5] in which the ETERNAL COVENANT is narrated, and the SURE MERCIES OF GOD in Christ, the Son of David, are celebrated, which Word is not able to be diverse from the Law of Faith,[6] the Gospel of Grace,[7] in which is the Testimony of Jesus, and so is the Spirit, the sap and Marrow, of all Prophecy, Revelation 19:10.

That this was implanted in the Innermost Parts of our Most Illustrious HEIDEGGER, τοῦ νῦν ἐν ἁγίοις, who is now among the saints, all things do indeed confirm.  Indeed, since ἀπὸ βρέφους, from a child,[8] he had been nourished on the words of faith and of good doctrine,[9] he held nothing as more acceptable to himself, nothing holier, nothing sweeter. than meditation upon the divine Law and the searching of the Scriptures.  Whence throughout his whole life he gave his singular attention to it, so that he himself might be highly skilled in the Word of Righteousness, having his senses exercised to discern both good and evil;[10] and so that he, early enrolled in the order of ‎הַמַּשְׂכִּלִים, the Wise, the Doctors of the Church, might be found among those הרבים המקדישים, justifying many,[11] which, with divine Grace infusing, fell so readily to him, so that he might be ‎לְאוֹת וּלְמוֹפֵת, for a sign and for a wonder, of our age, a true φωστὴρ, bright Star, diffusing light in all directions.  Hence, beside his most ingenious manner of educating, both public and private, in which he hardly ever had an equal, so many and such great writings sprung forth, mentioned in their order in the Historia Vitæ ipsius, at which the World will marvel, as long as Letters and Truth shall retain their just esteem.  But if I should say that among those works this CORPUS OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY, which he completed before his appointed end, and which he also, with that Reverend Man, Master FRIDERICUS UZINGERUS, the highly accomplished Inspector of the College of Alumni, having finished and neatly arranged it, corrected with his own hand, being near to death, he wished to be the principal monument, more lasting than bronze and summarizing all the rest, of the faith and doctrine which he steadfastly held; no one, unless unjust, will think me to have hurled inflated expressions and sesquipedalian Words.  In him, indeed, is στερέωμα/ Firmament of faith in Christ,[12] laid according to the Rule and plumbline of Truth in Sacred Scripture in such a way that not even the fury of Hell is able to shake, much less to shatter, it.  Moreover, he, fortified by the Whole Armor of God, will not be afraid.

He has no need of Moorish javelins or bows,

Neither of a quiver heavy with poisoned arrows.[13]

In addition, he is a Type of the Manners to be formed according to Christian ἀκρίβειαν/exactitude,[14] shaped by such art and conscientiousness, that whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, are found depicted in him in their true colors and countenance.  And, so that it might not be deficient in any part, the very History of the Church, and its varying Conditions, sometimes joyous, sometimes sad, often dubious and uncertain, are found inserted in their places.  In a word, those that love Christian Theology have here an incredibly well-stocked THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY.  Truly a ‎מִכְתָּם/Michtam, something golden,[15] to be preferred above all the treasures of the world.  And so enjoy, O benevolent Reader, this Heideggerian labor, and recall frequently the memory of so great a Man.  Give thanks to God together with me for this inestimable benefit, with pious prayers added, that He, being mindful of His promises, might also hereafter raise up Doctors in the Church mighty in the Scriptures,[16] Scribes instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven,[17] peace-making Curates and just Exactors, who might be an Example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity, 1 Timothy 4:12; where under their auspices Goodness and Truth might meet together, Righteousness and Peace might kiss each other, Faithfulness might spring out of the earth, and Righteousness might look down from heaven, Psalm 85:10, 11.  In the meantime, benevolent Reader, prolixly commended to God, Farewell, and speak well of the study of the excellent Printer, which merits thine encouragement, indeed, help him, if thou art able.

                                           I wrote in Zurich, on August 17, 1700.

[1] Johann Heinrich Schweizer (1646-1705) was a Swiss Reformed pastor and theologian.  He served as Professor of Greek (1684-1692) and of Hebrew (1692-1705) at Zurich.

[2] Titus 1:1:  “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness (ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας τῆς κατ᾽ εὐσέβειαν, the knowledge of the truth which is in accordance with piety)…”

[3] Luke 10:41:  “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things (μεριμνᾷς καὶ τυρβάζῃ περὶ πολλα)…”

[4] See John 16:13.

[5] Acts 17:11:  “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind (μετὰ πάσης προθυμίας), and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

[6] Romans 3:27.

[7] Acts 20:24.

[8] 2 Timothy 3:15.

[9] 1 Timothy 4:6.

[10] Hebrews 5:13, 14.

[11] Daniel 12:3:  “And they that be wise (‎וְהַמַּשְׂכִּלִים) shall shine as the brightness of the firmament (ὡς φωστῆρες τοῦ οὐρανου, in the Septuagint); and they that turn many to righteousness (‎וּמַצְדִּיקֵי֙ הָֽרַבִּ֔ים) as the stars for ever and ever.”

[12] Colossians 2:5:  “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ (καὶ τὸ στερέωμα τῆς εἰς χριστὸν πίστεως ὑμῶν).”

[13] Horace’s Odes, book I, poem 22.

[14] Acts 22:3:  “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers (πεπαιδευμένος κατὰ ἀκρίβειαν τοῦ πατρῴου νόμου), and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.”

[15] Some derive מִכְתָּם/Michtam from כֶּתֶם/gold.

[16] Acts 18:24.

[17] Matthew 13:52.