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

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 ⟨image 35⟩will this necessity of predestination, wax sweet unto them, then thou shall first feel in the 9. 10. and 11. Chapters, how full of comfort and consolation this doctrine of predestination is. For unless thou hast had experience and trial of tribulation:² unless thou hast felt thy self to have been brought sometime even unto the gates of hell (as we see in David and other Saints) thou canst not bear or brook this doctrine and sentence of predestination without peril and danger, with a certain murmuring & grudging of nature against GOD. Therefore it is needful and necessary that old Adam should first be mortified, that the sense of the flesh should be beaten down, that the sucklings should first grow up in Christ before ⟨image 36⟩they drink of this sweet Cup of wine. For even here also there is in every one a certain infancy & childhood, who hath in the mean time need to be fed with milk, until he be accustomed to eat stronger meats.

¹First of all learne the knowledge of Christ, that thou maist acknowledg that al thy strength and power availeth to nothing, but to sinning. Furthermore, that by faith thou mayst daily wrastle with thy flesh, as hee hath taught thee in the 7. first Chapters. Finally, after that thou bee come to the 8. Chap. that is, after that thou hast tryd the crosse and tribulation, after thou hast had experience of this wholsome mortification, often to bee repeated, then first of all ⟨image 35⟩will this necessitie of predestination, waxe sweet vnto them, then thou shall first feele in the 9. 10. and 11. Chapters, how full of comfort and consolation this doctrine of predestination is. For vnlesse thou hast had experience and tryall of tribulation: