The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,

[This prologue is from p.] Luk hath manie special poyntis, and nameli of oure Ladi, and almoost alle the poyntis of Matheu and of Mark; and therfore he comprehendith moost lettre of alle the gospelleris, thouȝ he haue not so manye chapitris as Mathew. As Luyk was first a bodily leche bi craft of kynde, so he is a myche bettir goostli leche of cristen soulis, bi techinge, prechinge and writynge of Cristis gospel. Sith Luyk lefte his craft of bodily medecyne, and suede so bisili Poul, to lerne and preche and write the gospel; myche ouȝten Cristen preestis to putte awei worldly bisynes and erthely lucre, to lerne and preche and write the holi gospel. But as Grosthed seith, in his secunde Dicte, Manye clerkis lernen lucratijf sciencis, to gete richessis and honouris of the world. Summen lernen filosophie, to knowe kyndis of elementis, of beestis, of eerbis, and of othere creaturis, to be preisid of men for these sciencis; summen lernen fisik, to make mennis bodies hole of dyuers sijknessis, that herbi thei seme as to reise hem fro deeth to lif, and geten therwith myche riches and honouris; summen lernen musik, to chaunge mennis hertis into dyuers affecciouns bi swetnes of songis; summen lernen the craft of alkymye, to make clene of vnclene metal bi greet traueile and craft, as to make siluir and gold of vnclene metals. But, he seith, a trewe techere of Goddis lawe schal make myche bettir chaungis goostli, in turnynge synful soulis fro her synne, than ony of these othir clerkis doon bi here kyndely sciencis. For as seynt Austyn and seynt Bernard seien, It is miche bettere, that a man kneew God and himsilf, than that he kneew heuene and erthe, and alle othir elementis and kindis of creaturis, and kneew not God ne him silf. And whanne men ben sike in the mooste perilous sijknes of orrible synnes, the techere of Goddis word may reise hem to lijf of grace; and that is withouten comparisoun bettere than the lijf of kynde, and myche bettere to turne synful men out of synne bi techinge of Goddis lawe, than bi craft turne o metal into another, as alkemyneris doon. And goode God of his merci stire his peple to be more bisi aboute vertues and goostly riches, that euere schal laste, than aboute ertheli richesse, that soone schal perische. Amen.