The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…

I will therefore bestow my labour & diligence, through this little preface or prologue, to prepare a way in, thereunto, so far forth as God shall give me grace, that it may be the better understand of every man, for it hath ben hitherto evil darkened with glosses, and wonderful dreams of sophisters, that no man could spy out the intent, and meaning of it, which nevertheless of it self, is a bright light, and sufficient to give light unto all the scripture.

I will therfore bestow my labour & diligence, thorow this little preface or prologue, to prepare a way in, therunto, so farreforth as God shall geue me grace, that it may be the better vnderstand of euery man, for it hath ben hitherto euill darkened with gloses, and wonderful dreames of sophisters, that no man could spy out the intent, and meanyng of it, which neuerthelesse of it selfe, is a bright lyght, and sufficient to geue light vnto all the scripture.

First we must mark diligently the ¹manner of speaking of the Apostle, and above all thing, know what Paul meaneth by these words the Law, sin, grace, faith, righteousness, flesh, sprite, and such like, or else read thou it never so oft, thou shalt but loose thy labour. This word Law may not be understand here, after the common manner, and to use Pauls term, after the manner of men, or after mans ways: that thou wouldest say the law here in this place were nothing but learning, which techeth what ought to be done, and what ought not to be done, as it goeth with mans law, where the law is fulfilled with outward works only, though the heart be never so far of, but God judgeth after the ground of the heart, yea and the thoughts and the secret movings of the mind, therefore his law requireth the ground of the hart, and love from the bottom thereof, ²and is not content with the outward work only, but rebuketh those works most of all, which spring not of love from the ground, and low bottom of the hart, though they appear outward, never so honest and good, as Christ in the gospel rebuketh the pharisees above all other that were open sinners, and calleth them hypocrites, that is to say, Simulars, and painted Sepulchres, which Pharisees yet lived no men so pure, as pertaining to the outward deeds, and works of yt law, yea, and Paul in the third chapter of his epistle unto the Philippians confesseth of himself, that as touching the law, he was such a one, as no man could complain on, and notwithstanding was yet a murderer of the christen, per