[A methodical preface prefixed before the epistle to the Romans ...] Made[A methodicall preface prefixed before the epistle to the Romanes ...] Made

But these curious men (who before they have learned Christ & the virtue of his Cross,¹ do search the profundity & depth of predestination, labouring in vain to inquire whether they are predestinate to life or death) must be rained, strained and kept back with some holy bridle. For without all doubt, these men by this their foolish curiosity, will lead & learn to cast themselves headlong into ⟨image 35⟩the confusion of their conscience, or into the bottomless pit of desperation. But thou (dear Christian) see that in reading & learning holy things thou follow the order and method set down here in this place by the Apostle.

But these curious men (who before they haue learned Christ & the vertue of his Crosse,¹ doe search the profunditie & depth of predestination, labouring in vaine to inquire whether they are predestinat to life or death) must bee rayned, strained and kept back with some holy bridle. For without all doubt, these men by this their foolish curiositie, will leade & learne to cast themselves headlong into ⟨image 35⟩the confusion of their conscience, or into the bottomles pit of desperation. But thou (deare Christian) see that in reading & learning holy things thou follow the order and methode set downe heere in this place by the Apostle.

1. 1A Caveat for curious Christians.

¹First of all learn the knowledge of Christ, that thou mayest acknowledge that all thy strength and power availeth to nothing, but to sinning. Furthermore, that by faith thou mayst daily wrestle with thy flesh, as he hath taught thee in the 7. first Chapters. Finally, after that thou be come to the 8. Chap. that is, after that thou hast tried the cross and tribulation, after thou hast had experience of this wholesome mortification, often to be repeated, then first of all