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¶ The Prologe to the epistle of S. Paul vnto Philemon.
IN this pistle S. Paul shewet•• y• a godlye en sample of Christen loue. Herein we se how Paule taketh poore Onesimos vnto him & maketh intercession for him vnto his master & helpetly him with all that he may / and behaueth him selfenone other wyse then as though he him selfe were the say∣de Onesimos. Which thinge yet he dothe not with power and auctoryte / as he well myght ha¦ue done: but putteth of all auctorite & whatso e∣uer he might of ryght do / that Philemō myght do likewise towarde Onesimos / and with great mekenes and wysdome teacheth Philemon to se his dutie in Christ Iesus.
¶ The pistle of S. Paul vnto Philemon.
PAul the presoner of Iesu Christ / and brother Timo∣theus. [ A]
Vnto Philemon the belo∣ved / & oure helper / & to the be¦loved Appia / and to Archip∣pu soure felowe soudier / and to the congrega∣cion of thy housse.
Grace be with you & peace / from God oure father / & from the Lorde Iesus Christ.
I thāke my God / makinge menciō all way¦es of the in my prayers / when I heare of thy love and fayth / which thou hast towarde the Lorde Iesu / and towarde all saynctes: so that the fellisshippe that thou hast in the fayth / is frutefull thorow knowledge of all good thin¦ges