OF QUEEN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD.
As Dr. Field’s Book of the Church has become excessively rare, and, though much in request, is not attainable at any price, the Publisher, at the suggestion of several eminent clergymen, has undertaken a new edition of this very valuable work. In order to render it worthy of attention, and far superior to all preceding ones, the Rev. J. S. Brewer (a Gentleman whose well-known diligence and accuracy guarantee its being executed in the best manner) has kindly offered his services to collate the various editions, to verify all the References, and to supply additional Notes where necessary. He has likewise determined, on account of the extreme rarity of many of the Authors cited by Dr. Field, to give his quotations at full length at the bottom of each page; and at the end of every chapter a brief list of writers, especially of English Divines, who have treated on the same subject: thus rendering the work a Text Book of Theology.
As the rarity of this masterpiece of one of our most eminent Divines has prevented its being so universally known as it deserves to be, the Publisher may be pardoned for citing a few among the numerous commendations in its favour.
Coleridge, the Poet, in a letter to his son, the Rev. Derwent Coleridge, emphatically writes:—“This one volume, thoroughly understood and appropriated, will place you in the highest rank of Doctrinal Church-of-England Divines, and of no mean rank as a true Doctrinal Church Historian.”
King James I. delighted to discourse with Field on points of Divinity, and, when he first preached before him, said: “Is his name Field? This is the Field for God to dwell in.” On hearing of his death, the King expressed regret, and added, “I should have done more for that man!”
Fuller, in the same punning age, calls him, “That learned Divine, whose memory smelleth like a Field which the Lord hath blessed.”
Anthony a Wood tells us he was esteemed “the best disputant in the schools.”
“Field was well skilled in School Divinity, and a frequent preacher while he lived in Oxfordshire, and is said to have been very instrumental in preventing the increase of nonconformity in the University.”—Gough.
“When he first set about writing his book 'of the Church,' his old acquaintance, Dr. Kettle, dissuaded him, telling him that when once he was engaged in controversy he would never live quietly, but be continually troubled with answers and replies. To this Field answered, 'I will so write that they shall have no great mind to answer me;' which proved to be nearly the case, as his main arguments were never refuted.”—Chalmers.