[The Pentateuch]

OF the preface upon Genesis mayst thou understand how to behave thy self in this book also and in all other books of the scripture. Cleave unto the text and plain story and endeavour thy self to search out the meaning of all that is described therein and the true sense of all manner of speakings of the scripture of proverbs, similitudes and borrowed speech, whereof I entreated in the end of the obedience, and beware of subtle allegories. And note every thing earnestly as things pertaining unto thine own heart and soul. For as god used him self unto them of the old testament, even so shall he unto the worlds end use him self unto us which have received his holy scripture and the testimony of his son Jesus. As god doeth all things here for them that believe his promises and hearken unto his commandments and with patience cleave unto him and walk with him: even so shall he do for us, if we receive the witness of Christ with a strong faith and endure patiently following his steppes. And on the other side, as they that fell from the promises of god through unbelief and from his law and ordinances through impatience of their own lusts, were forsaken of god and so perished: even so shall we as many as do likewise and as ⟨image 91⟩many as mock with the doctrine of christ and make a cloak of it to live fleshly and to follow our lusts.

OF the preface vppō Genesis mayst thou vnderstonde how to behaue thi silf in this boke also ād ī all other bokes of the scripture. Cleaue vnto the texte and playne storye and endevoure thi silf to serch out the meaninge of all that is described therin and the true sense of all maner of speakynges of the scripture of proverbes, similitudes ād borowed speach, wherof I entreated in the ende of the obedience, and beware of sotle allegoryes. And note euery thinge ernestly as thinges partayninge vnto thyne awne herte and soule. For as god vsed hym sylf vnto them of the old testament, even so shall he vnto the worldes ende vse him silf vnto vs which haue receaved his holye scripture ād the testimonye of his sonne Iesus. As god doeth all thinges here for them that beleve his promises and herken vnto his commaundmentes and with pacience cleaue vnto him and walke with him: euen so shall he do for vs, yf we receaue the witnesse of Christ with a stronge faith and endure paciently folowinge his steppes. And on the othersyde, as they that fell from the promises of god thorow vnbeleffe and from his lawe and ordinaunces thorow impaciencie of their awne lustes, were for saken of god ād so peryshed: even so shall we as many as do lykewyse and as