[The Pentateuch]

¶ A prologue showing the use of the scripture

¶ A prologe shewinge the vse of the scripture

Though a man had a precious jewel and a rich / yet if he wist not the value thereof nor wherefore it served / he were neither the better nor ryeher of a straw. Even so though we read the scripture & babble of it never so much / yet if we know not the use of it / and wherefore it was given / and what is them to be sought / it profiteth us nothing at all. It is not enough therefore to read and talk of it only / but we must also desire god day and night instantly to open our eyes / and to make us understand and feel wherefore the scripture was given / that we may apply the medicine of the scripture / every man to his own sores / inlesse then we intend to be idle disputers / and brawlers about vain words / ever gnaw enge upon the bitter bark with out and newer attaining unto the sweet pith with in / and persecuting one and other for defending of lewd imaginations and fantasies of our arene invention

THough a man had a precious iuell and a rich / yet if he wiste not the value therof nor wherfore it served / he were nother the better nor ryeher of a straw. Eyen so though we read the scripture & bable of it never so moch / yet if we know not the vse of it / and wherfore it was geven / and what is theim to be sought / it profiteth vs nothinge at all. It is not ynough therfore to read and talke of it only / but wo must also desyre god daye and night instantly to open oure eyes / ād to make vs vnderstond and feale wherfore the scripture was geuen / that we maye applye the medicyne of the scripture / every mā to his awne sores / inlesse then we entend to beydle disputers / and braulers aboute vayne wordes / ever gnaw enge vppon the bitter barcke with out and newer attayninge vnto the swetepith with in / and persequutinge one and other for defendinge of lewde imaginacions and phantasyes of oure arene invencyon