A path way i[n]to the holy scripture

A pathway into holy. &c.

A pathwaye into holy. &c.

I Do marvel greatly / dearly beloved in Christ / that ever any man should repugn or speak against the scripture to be had in every language / and that of every man. For I thought that no man had ben so blind to ask why light should be showed to them that walk in darkness / where they can not but stumble / & where to stumble is the danger of eternal damnation: either so despiteful that he would envy any man (I speak not his brother) so necessary a thing: or so bedlam mad to affirm that good is the natural cause of evil / & darkness to proceed out of light / & that lying should be grounded in truth & verity / and not rather clean contrary that light destroyeth darkness / and verity reproveth all manner lying.

I Do ma•ueyle greatly / derely beloued in Christ / that euer any man shulde repugne or speke agaynst the scrypture to be hadde in euery language / and that of euery man. For I thought that no man had ben so blynd to aske why lyght shuld be shewed to them that walke in darknes / where they can nat but stomble / & where to stomble is the daūger of eternall dampnacion: either so dispytefull that he wolde enuy any man (I speake nat his brother) so necessary a thing: or so bedlem mad to afferme that good is the naturall cause of euyll / & darkenesse to procede out of lyght / & that lyeng shulde be grounded in trouth & verytie / and nat rather clene contrary that lyght distroyeth darkenes / and veritye reproueth all maner lyenge.

Nevertheless / seeing that it hath pleased god to send unto our English ⟨image 3⟩men / even to as many as unfeignedly desire it / the scripture in their mother tongue / considering that there be in every place false teachers & blind leaders / that ye should be deceived of no man. I supposed it very necessary to prepare this Path way into the scripture for you that ye might walk surely & ever know the true from the false. And above all to put you in remembrance of certain points which are: That ye well understand what these words mean. The old Testament / the new Testament / the law / the gospel / Moses / Christ / nature / grace / working & believing / deeds and faith. L••t we ascribe to the one / that which belongeth to the other / and make of Christ / Moses / of the gospel / the law: despise grace and rob faith: and fall from meek learning in to idle disputations / brawling ⟨image 3⟩and scolding about words. The old testament is a book wherein is written the law of god / & the deeds of them which fulfil them / & of them also which fulfil them not.

Neuerthelesse / seyng that it hath pleased god to sende vnto oure Englysshe ⟨image 3⟩men / euen to as many as vnfaynedly desyre it / the scrypture in their mother tonge / consyderynge that there be in euery place false techers & blynde leders / that ye shuld be disceyued of no man. I supposed it very necessarye to prepayre this Path way into the scripture for you that ye myght walke surely & euer know the trewe from the false. And aboue al to put you in remēbraunce of certayne pointes which ar: That ye well vnderstande what these wordes meane. The olde Testament / the newe Testament / the lawe / the gospell / Moses / Christ / nature / grace / workyng & beleuyng / dedes and fayth. L••t we ascrybe to the one / that whiche belongeth to the other / and make of Christ / Moses / of the gospell / the law: dispyse grace and robbe fayth: and fall from meke lernynge in to ydle dispicyons / braulynge ⟨image 3⟩and scoldinge about wordes. The olde testament is a boke wherin is written the lawe of god / & the dedes of them which fulfyll them / & of them also which fulfyll them nat.

¶ The new Testament is a book / wherein are contained the promises of god / & the deeds of them which believe them / or believe them not.

¶ The newe Testament is a boke / wherin are conteyned the promyses of god / & the dedes of them whiche beleue them / or beleue them nat.

Evangelion (that we call the gospel) is a greek word / & signifieth good merry / glad / & joyful tidings / that maketh a mans heart glad / & maketh him sing / dance / & leap for joy. As wham David had killed Go lyath the giant / came glad tidings unto the jews / that their fearful & cruel enemy was slain / & they delivered out of all danger: for gladness whereof they song / danced & were joyful. In like manner is the evangelion of god (which we call gospel & the new testament) joyful tidings ⟨image 4⟩and as some say: A good herring published by the apostles through out all the world / of Christ the right Dauyd / how that he hath fought with sin / with death / and the devil / and overcome them.

Euāgelion (that we call the gospel) is a greke worde / & sygnifyeth good mery / glad / & ioyfull tidynges / that maketh a mannes herte glad / & maketh him synge / daunce / & leape for ioye. As whā Dauid had killed Go lyath the giaūt / came glad tidinges vnto the iewes / that their fearfull & cruell enemy was slayne / & they delyuered out of all danger: for gladnes wherof they sōge / daūsed & wer ioyfull. In lyke maner is the euangelion of god (which we cal gospel & the new testamēt) ioyfull tidyngꝭ ⟨image 4⟩and as some saye: A good herynge publysshed by the apostels through oute all the worlde / of Christe the righte Dauyd / howe that he hathe fought with synne / with dethe / and the deuyll / and ouercome them.

Whereby all men that were in bondage to sin wounded with death / overcome of the Devil / are without their own merits or deservings / loosed / justified / restored to life / and saved / brought to liberty and reconciled unto the favour of god and set at one with him again which tidings as many as believe laud / praise / and thank god / are glad / sing / dance for joy.

Whereby all men that were in bondage to synne wounded with dethe / ouercome of the Deuyll / are withoute their owne meryttes or deseruynges / losed / iustifyed / restored to lyfe / and saued / brought to lybertie and reconsyled vnto the fauoure of god and set at one with him agayne which tidynges as many as beleue laude / prayse / and thanke god / are glad / synge / daunce for ioye.

¶ This Evangelyon or Gospel (that is to say / such joyful tidings) is called the new Testament. Because that as a man when he shall dye / appointeth his goods to be dealt and distributed after his death ⟨image 4⟩among them which he nameth to be his heirs. Even so Christ before his death commanded and appointed that such Evangelyon / Gospel or tidings / should be declared throughout all the world / and therewith to give unto all that repent and believe / all his goods: that is to say / his life / wherewith he swallowed and devoured up death his righteousness / wherewith he banished sin: his salvation / wherewith he overcame eternal damnation. Now can the wretched man (that knoweth him self to be wrapped in sin / and in danger to death and Hell) here no more joyous a thing / than such glad and comfortable tidings of Christ / so that he can not but be glad and laugh from the low bottom of his heart / if he believe that the tidings are true.

¶ This Euangelyon or Gospell (that is to saye / suche ioyfull tidynges) is called the newe Testament. Because that as a mā whan he shal dye / appoynteth his goodes to be delte and distributed after his deth ⟨image 4⟩amonge them whiche he nameth to be his heyres. Euyn so Christ before his deth commaunded and appoynted that suche Euangelyon / Gospell or tidynges / shulde be declared throughoute all the worlde / and therwith to gyue vnto all that repent and beleue / all his goodes: that is to saye / his lyfe / wherewith he swalowed and deuoured vp deth his rightwysnesse / wherwith he banysshed synne: his saluacion / wherwith he ouercame eternall dampnacyon. Now can the wretched man (that knoweth him selfe to be wrapped in syn / and in daunger to dethe and Hell) here no more ioyouse a thynge / than suche gladde and comfortable tidynges of Christ / so that he can nat but be gladde and laugh from the lowe bottome of his hert / if he beleue that the tidynges are trewe.

¶ To strength such faith with all / god promised this his evangelyon in the old testament by the prophets (as Paul saith in the first chapter unto the Romans) Howe that he was chosen out to preach God's Evangelion / which he before had promised by the prophets in the holy scriptures that treat of his son which was borne of the seed of Dauyd. In the third chapter of Genesis / god saith to the serpent: I will put hatred between the & the woman / between thy seed and her seed: that self seed shall tread thy heed under foot, Christ is the woman's seed / he it is that hath trodden under foot the devils heed / that is to say: sin / death / hell / and all his power. For without this seed can no man avoid sin / death / hell / and everlasting damnation. Again / Gene. xxii. God promised ⟨image 5⟩Abraham / saying. In thy seed shall all the generations of the earth be blessed. Christ is that seed of Abraham / saith s. Paul in the third to the Galatians. He hath blessed all the world through the Gospel. For where Christ is not / there remaineth the curse that fell on Adam / as soon as he had sinned / so that they are in bondage under the damnation of sin / death / & hell. Against this curse blesseth now the gospel all the world / in as much as it crieth openly unto all that knowledge their since and repent / saying: Who so ever believeth on the seed of Abraham shall be blessed / that is / he shall be delivered from sin / death and hell / and shall hence forth continue righteous & saved for ever / as Christ him self saith (in the. xi. of Johan.) He that believed on me shall never more dye.

¶ To strength such fayth with all / god promysed this his euangelyon in the olde testameut by the prophetes (as Paule sayth in the fyrst chapiter vnto ye Romayns) Howe that he was chosen out to preche goddes Euangelion / whiche he before had promysed by the prophetꝭ in the holy scriptures that treate of his sōne which was borne of the sede of Dauyd. In the thirde chapiter of Genesis / god sayth to the serpente: I wyll put hatered betwene the & the woman / betwene thy seede and her sede: that selfe sede shall treade thy heed vnder fote, Christ is the womans sede / he it is that hath troden vnder fote the deuyls heede / that is to saye: synne / dethe / hell / and all his power. For without this sede can no mā auoyde synne / deth / hell / and euerlastynge dampnacion. Agayne / Gene. xxii. God promysed ⟨image 5⟩Abraham / sayeng. In thy sede shall all the generacyons of the erthe be blessed. Christ is that sede of Abraham / saith s. Paul in the third to the Galathyans. He hath blessed al the worlde throughe the Gospell. For where Christe is nat / there remayneth the curse that fell on Adam / as sone as he had synned / so that they are in bondage vnder the dampnacyon of synne / deth / & hell. Against this curse blesseth nowe the gospell all the worlde / in as moch as it cryeth openly vnto all that knowledge their synnes and repent / sayenge: Who so euer beleueth on the sede of Abraham shalbe blessed / that is / he shall be delyuered from synne / deth and hell / and shall hence forthe contynewe ightwyse & saued for euer / as Christ him selfe sayth (in the. xi. of Johan.) He that beleued on me shall neuer more dye.

¶ The law (saith Jo. in the first •ha) was given by Moses: but grace and virtue by Jesus Christ. The law (whose minister is Moses) was given to bring us unto the knowledge of our selves / that we might thereby feel & perceive what we are of nature, The law condemneth us & all our deeds / & is called of Paul (in the third cha. of the. ii. pistle unto the corinthians) the ministration of death. For it killeth our consciences and draweth us to desperation / in as much as it requireth of us / that which is unpossible for our nature to do. It requireth of us the deeds of an hole man. It requireth perfect love from the low bottom and ground of the heart / as well in all things which we suffer as in tho things which we do. But saith John in the same place▪ grace and verity is given us by Christ / ⟨image 6⟩so that wha• the law hath passed upon us / & condemned us to death (which is his nature to do) than have we in Christ grace / that is to say favour / promises of life / of mercy / of pardon / freely by the merits of Christ / & in Christ have we verity and truth / in that god for his sake fulfilleth all his promises to them that believe. Therefore is the gospel the ministration of life. Paul calleth it in the fore rehearsed place of the second ••ap. to the Corinthians. the ministration of the spirit▪& of righteousness. In the gospel when we be leve the promises / we receive the spirit of life / and are justified in the blood of Christ from all things whereof the law condemneth us. And we receive love unto the law and power to fulfil it / & grow therein daily. Of Christ it is written in the fore rehearsed first chapter of ⟨image 7⟩John: this is he of whose abundance or fullness / all we have received grace for grace / or favour for favour. That is to say / for the favour that god hath to his son christ / he giveth unto us his favour & good will / & all gifts of his grace / as a father to his sons. As affirmeth Paul / saying: which loved us in his beloved before the creation of the world. So that Christ bringeth the love of god unto us / and not our own holy works. Christ is made lord over all / & is called in scripture / God's mercy stole. whosoever therefore flieth to christ / can neither here nor receive of god any other thing save ¶ In the old testament (mercy.

are many promises / which are nothing else but this evangelyon or gospel / to save those that believed them / from the vengeance of the law. And in the new testament is oft made mention ⟨image 7⟩of the law / to condemn them / which believe not the promises.

ar many ꝓmises / which ar nothyng els but this euangelyon or gospell / to saue those that beleued thē / from the vengeaunce of the lawe. And in the new testament is oft made mencion ⟨image 7⟩of the lawe / to condempne thē / which beleue nat the promyses.

Moreover the law & gospel may never be separate: for the gospel and promises serve but for troubled consciences which are brought to desperation and feel the pains of hell and death under the law / and are in captivity & bondage under the law. In all my deeds I must have the law before me to condemn mine unperfectness. For all that I do (be I never so perfect) is yet damnable sin / when it is compared to the law / which requireth the ground and bottom of mine heart. I must therefore have always the law in my sight / that I may be meek in the spirit / & give god all the laud and praise / ascribing to him all righteousness / & to my self all unright wysenes & sin. I must also have the promises before mine eyes / that I ⟨image 8⟩despair not / in which promise I see the mercy / favour / and good will of god upon me in the blood of his son christ / which hath made satisfaction for mine unperfectness / & fulfilled for me / that which I could not do, ¶ Here may ye perceive that two manner of people are sore deceived. First they which justify them self with outward deeds / in that they abstain outwardly from that which the law forbiddeth / and do outwardly that which the law commandeth. They compare themselves to open sinners / and in respect of them justify them selves / condemning the open sinners. They set a veil on Moses face / & see not how the law requireth love from the bottom of the heart / & that love only is the fulfilling of the law. If they did they would not condemn their neighbours. Love hideth the ⟨image 8⟩multitude of since saith saint Peter in his first Pistle. For whom I love from the deep bottom & ground of mine heart / him condemn I not / neither reckon his since / but suffer his weakness & infirmity / as a mother the weakness of her son / until he grow up into a perfect man. ¶ Those also are deceived which without all fear of god give them selves unto all manner vices with full consent / & full delectation / having no respect to the law of god (under whose vengeance they are locked up in captivity) but say: God is merciful / & Christ dyed for us / supposing that such dreaming and imagination is that faith which is so greatly commended in holy scripture.

Moreouer the lawe & gospell maye neuer be seperate: for the gospel and promyses serue but for troubled couscyences whiche are brought to disperacion and fele the paynes of hell and deth vnder the lawe / and are in captiuyte & bondage vnder the law. In all my dedes I muste haue the lawe before me to condempne myne vnꝑfytnes. For all that I do (be I neuer so parfyte) is yet dampnable synne / whan it is compared to the lawe / which requyreth the grounde and bottome of myne herte. I must therefore haue alwayes the lawe in my syght / that I may be meke ī the spirit / & gyue god all the laude and prayse / ascribīge to hī all rightwysnes / & to my selfe all vnright wysenes & synne. I must also haue the promyses before myne eyes / that I

Nay / that is not faith but rather a foolish blind opinion / springing of their own corrupt nature / and is not given them ⟨image 9⟩of the spirit of god / but rather of the spirit of the devil / whose faith now a days / the popish compare and make equal unto the best trust / confidence and believe / that a repenting soul can have in the blood of our saviour Jesus / unto their own confusion / shame / & uttering what they are within. But true faith is (as saith the apostle Paul) the gift of god / & is given to sinners after the law hath passed upon them / & hath brought their consciences unto the brim of desperation & sorrows of hell.

Naye / that is nat fayth but rather a folysshe blynde opinyon / springynge of their owne corrupt nature / and is nat gyuen them ⟨image 9⟩of the spirit of god / but rather of the spirit of the deuyl / whose faith now a dayes / the popysshe compare and make equall vnto the best trust / confidence and beleue / that a repenting soule can haue in the blode of oure sauyour Jesus / vnto their owne confusyon / shame / & vttrynge what they are within. But trewe fayth is (as sayth the apostle Paule) the gyft of god / & is gyuen to synners after the lawe hath passed vpon them / & hath brought their conseyences vnto the brim of disꝑacion & sorowes of hell.