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I would that ye should knowe brethren, how that I haue often tymes purposed to cum vnto you: but haue bene leat hitherto, to haue also sum fruite among you, as a∣mong other of the gētiles. I am debter bothe to the grekes & to the vngrekes, to the ler∣ned, & to the vnlearned: so that (as muche as in me is) I am ready to preache the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospell of Christ, because it is the power of God vnto saluacion to euery one that beleueth: to the Iewe first, and also to the gentile.
Muche rather assure your selfes (brethren) that oftētymes purposed I to see you, but vntil this tyme some one lette or other hath chaunced: that I could not, and for this cause desired I so muche to see you, that I might among you also do sum good, as I haue heretofore done among other nacions. Nor am I bounde to bestowe this my labour of prea∣chyng the gospel, wherwith I am by God putte in truste, peculiarly vpō this nacion or that, but as he is indifferently God of all the worlde, so is Christes gospel equally due to all people. I cal y• gospel a meane, wher∣by a man is made righteous through fayth in Iesus Christ the sonne of God, whom the lawe promised, and in figure represented.
Debter therfore am I herein, not onely to the Grecians, but also to barbarous nacions, not to the learned and eloquente onely, but to the rude also and vnlearned, whosoeuer he be, that renounceth it not, nor dis∣dayneth it. So that, asmuche as in me is, I am in a ioyful readynes to preache the gospell, euen vnto you also that are at Rome. No neither the maiestie of thempier of Rome maketh me afrayde so to do, nor thinke I the preachyng of Christes gospel any suche thyng, wherof I ought to be ashamed. For as to the wicked and vnfaythfull the gospell seameth a matier to be laughed at, and vaine: so whoso beleueth it, to him it is the mightye power of God, effectual to saluacion, and perfecte quietyng of mennes cōsciences: whiche thynges neither Iewes tradicions, nor your Philosophie, nor yet your dominion are able to bryng aboute. And al∣beit this mightie power of the gospel be in like condicion auailable to al men, yet as Goddes pleasure was, so for honoures sake, fyrst was it offe∣red to the Iewes, after that streight by the preachers of the gospel, to be spread abroade among the grecians, and al other nacions of the worlde: to the ende, al men should bothe knowledge their owne vnrighteousnes, & also seeke to be made righteous by God, whither they be Englishmen, or Frenchemen. For farre is that man frō saluacion, whiche neither kno∣weth his owne disease, nor woteth where to seeke for remedy.