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❧A prologe vpon the Epistle of Sainct Paule to the Romaynes.
FOr as much as thys epistle is the principall and moste excellente parte of the newe testament, and moste pure Euangelion: that is to saye, glad tydinges and that we call Gospell: and also a light and a waye in vnto the whole scripture: I thinke it mete, that eue∣ry Christen man not only know it by rote and without the boke: but also exercyse hym selfe therein euermore continually, as with the dayly breade of the soule. No man verely can rede it to ofte, or studye it to well: for the more it is studyed the easier it is, the more it is shewed, the pleasanter it is, and the more groundely it is serched, the precyouser thynges are founde in it, so greate treasure of spirituall thynges lyeth hyd therin.
I will therfore bestowe my laboure and diligence thorow this lytel pre∣face or Prologue, to prepare a waye in there vnto, so farforth as God shal geue me grace, that it maye be the better vnderstande of euery man. For it hathe bene hetherto euyll darckened with gloses and wonderfull dreames of Sophisters, that no man coulde spie out the entent and meaning of it. Which neuerthelesse yet of it selfe is a bryght lyght, and sufficient to geue light vnto all the scripture.
Fyrst we muste marke diligentlie the maner of speaking of the Apostle, and aboue all thing know what Paul meaneth by these wordes, the Law, Syn, Grace, Faith, Righteousnes, Flesh, sprite, & such like, or els rede thou it neuer so ofte, thou shalt but lose thy labour. This word Law may not be vnderstand here after the cōmune maner, & to vse Paules terme, after the maner of men or after mans waies: that thou wouldest say the law here in this place wer nothing but learning which teacheth what ought to be done & what ought not to be done: as it goeth with mans lawe where the law is fulfilled with outward workes only, though the herte be neuer so farre of. But God iudgeth the grounde of the heart, yea and the thoughtes and the secret monynges of the mynde, & therfore his lawe requyreth the grounde of the herte & loue from the botome therof, & is not contente with the out∣warde worke onely: but rebuketh those workes most of all whiche spring not of loue, from the ground and low botome of the herte: though they ap∣pere outward neuer so honest and good. As Christ in the Gospel rebuketh the Pharises aboue al other that were open sinners, and calleth them ypo∣crites, that is to saye simulars and painted sepulcres. Which Pharises yet lyued no men so pure, as perteyning to the outewarde dedes and workes of the lawe: yea and Paul in the thyrd Chapter of hys epistle vnto the Philippians confesseth of hym selfe, that as touchynge the lawe he was suche a one as no man coulde complayne on, and not withstanding was yet a murderer of the Christen, persecuted them, and formented them so sore, that he compelled them to blaspheme Christ, & was all together mercilesse, as many which now fayne outwarde good workes, are.
For this cause the .cxv. Psalme calleth all men lyars, because that no