[The Pentateuch]

Some man would haply say, that the prayers of the mass help much: not the living only, but also the dead. Of the hot fire of their fervent prayer which consumeth faster then all the world is able to bring sacrifice, I have said sufficiently in other places. Howe be it it is not possible to bring me in belief that the prayer which helpeth h•• own master unto no virtue, should purchase me the forgiveness of my since. If I saw that their prayers had obtained them grace to live such a life as God's word did not rebuke, then could I soon be borne in hand that what soever they axed off ⟨image 181⟩God their prayers should not be in vain. But now what good can he wish me in his prayers that envieth me Christ the food and the life of my soul? What good can he wish me whose heart cleaveth a sunder for pain when I am taught to repent of my evil?

Some man wold happely saye, that the prayers of the masse helpe moch: not the lyuinge only, but also the dead. Of the hote fire of their farvent prayer which consumeth faster then all the world is able to bringe sacrifice, I haue sayde sufficiently in other places. Howe be it it is not possible to bringe me in beleffe that the prayer which helpeth h•• awne master vnto no vertue, shuld purchesse me the forgeuesse of my synnes. If I sawe that their prayers had obtayned thē grace to lyue soch a liffe as goddes worde did not rebuke, then coud I sone be borne in hande that what soeuer they axed off ⟨image 181⟩God their prayers shuld not be in vayne. But now what good can he wysh me in his prayers that envieth me Christ the fode and the liffe of my soule? What good can he wish me whose herte cleaveth a sundre for payne when I am taught to repent of my euell?

Furthermore because that few know the use of the old testament, and the most part think it nothing necessary but to make all goryes, which they feign every man after his own brain at all wile adventure without any certain rule: therefore (though I have spoken off them in another place) yet lest the book come not to all mens hands that shall read this, I will speak off them here also a word or twain.