A compendious introduction, prologue or preface unto the pistle off Paul to the…A compendious introduccion, prologe or preface vn to the pistle off Paul to the…

Acquaint thy self therefore with the manner of speaking of the Apostle / and let this now stick fast in thine heart / that it is not both one / to do to deeds and works of the law / and to fulfil the law. The work off the law is / whatsoever a man doeth or can do off his own freewill / off his own proper strength / and enforcing. Not with standing though there be never so great working / yet as long as their remaineth in the heart unlust / tediousness / grudging / grief / pain / loathsomeness and compulsion to the law ward / so long are all the works unprofitable / lost / yea and damnable in the sight of God. This meaneth Paul in the third chapter / where he sayeth / by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in the sight off God. Here by perceivest thou / that those sophisters are but deceivers / which teach that a man may and must prepare him self to grace and to the favour of God / with good works. Howe can they prepare themselves unto the favour off God / and to that which is good / which themselves ⟨image 5⟩can do no good / no can not once think a good thought or consent to do good / the devil possessing their hearts / minds / and thoughts captive at his pleasure? Can those works please God / thinkest thou / which are done with grief / pain / and tediousness / with an evil will / with a contrary and grudging mind? O holy sancte Prosperus / how mightily / with the scripture of Paul confoundedest thou this heresy / about (I trow) a twelve hundred years ago or there upon.

Accoynte thy silfe therfore with the maner of speakynge of the Apostell / and let this nowe steke faste in thyne hert / that yt is not bothe one / to doo to dedes and workꝭ of the lawe / and to fullfill the lawe. The worke off the lawe ys / whatsoevyr a man doeth or can doo off his awne frewill / off his awne propyr strengthe / and enforsynge. Not with stondynge though there be nevyr so greate workynge / yet as longe as their remayneth in the herte vnlust / tediousnes / grudgynge / gryffe / payne / lothsumnes and compulcion to the lawe ward / so longe ar all the workes vnprofitable / lost / ye and damnable in the syght of God. This meaneth Paul in the threde chapter / where he sayeth / by the dedes of the lawe shall no flesshe be iustified in the syghte off God. Here by perceavest thou / that thoose sophisters ar but disceavers / which teache that a man may and must prepare hym sylfe to grace and to the favoure of God / with good workes. Howe can they prepare themsylves vn to the favoure off God / and to that which is good / which themsilves