A path way i[n]to the holy scripture

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