A discourse wherin is debated whether it be expedient that the scripture should be in English for al men to reade that wyll. Fyrst reade this booke with an indifferent eye, and then approue or condempne, as God shall moue your heart.

The .xvii, probation.

Can the vnlearned only with the english bible and with rea∣ding only the english translatiō discerne or know how Christes wordes be trewe that he came to fulfylle the lawe,* 1.1 and not to breake it, and how many maner of wayes that is trewe, and yet

how he is the ende of the lawe? Agayn can he perceyue therby how the old testament and the new are both one in substaunce,* 1.2 and yet diuerse in perfectiō and in imperfection, & what nedeth the olde styll to remayne, yea or what neded the newe to be ge∣uen, seyng Christe answered to the lawyer askinge howe to come to heauen:* 1.3 In the lawe what readest thou? Loue thy lord God. &c. Moreouer can he see in his english booke how the gospel is easy and lyght? (for so Christ calleth it) and that thold was ouer hard and importable as it is in thactes the .xv. seyng that in thold only manslaughter was forbyd, here to be angry is is condemned: there loue thy frende, here loue thyne enemy:

there, eye for eye, here, yf thou hast a boffet on thone side, turne thother: there, commytte no ad∣ultery, here, yt thou beholdest a woman vnchastly thou art an adulterer: there, thou shalt not be forsworne, here thou shalte not sweare at al: there, for stea∣lyng other mens goodes y^u must restore fourefold, here, for not geuyng thyne owne thou mayst be dampned? Can ye with then∣glish bible tell these and many moo as hard thynges as these be? I am sure ye can not. And therfore if ye might be suffered (whiche God forbyde) styll to wade in thenglish translation, ye muste nedes styl walke from blindnes to blindnes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Math. v.
• * 1.2

  Vetus lex oc∣cultatio nouae, nona reuelatio veteris, Aug.
• * 1.3

  Luc. ••.