Certain godly, and most necessary annotations upon the thirteenth chapter to the RomansCertaine godly, and most necessarie annotations vpon the thirteenth chapter to the Romanes

To my very loving, and dear beloved fellow labourers in the word of God, & brethren in Christ, WILLIAM JENINS, Dean of the Cathedral Church in Gloucester, JOHN WILLIAMS, Doctor of the law, and chancellor, and to the rest of all the church appointed there to serve the living God, with all other, Archdeacons, Officials, Deans, Persons Vicars and Curates, within this the Kings Majesties diocese of Gloucester, grace, & mercy from the Lord ever living, in the blood of Jesus Christ, our only Saviour.

To my very louing, and deare beloued sellowlaborers in the word of God, & brethren in Christ, VVILLIAM IENINS, Dean of the Cathedrall Church in Glocester, IOHN VVILLIAMS, Doctor of the law, and chancellour, and to the rest of al the church apointed there to serue the liuing God, with all other, Archdeacons, Officials, Deanes, Persons Vicars and Curates, within this the Kinges Maiesties diocese of Glocester, grace, & mercy from the Lorde euer liuing, in the bloud of Iesus Christ, our onely Sauiour.

IF THE DANGERS AND perils of S. Pauls time, dearly beloved, ministered and gave occasion unto him, for to fear of the loss of such people as then were converted unto the knowledge and understanding of Gods holy word, least by negligence or corrupt doctrine of the Bishops and pastors, they might be seduced and brought into errors doubtless the dangers of this our time, that be not only to be feared, least such as know the truth, be by error seduced and brought from the truth, or else by continuance in ungodly life, continue in the truth in vain: But also that the most part of people be yet ignorant and not converted unto the truth, should minister and give occasion ⟨image 3⟩unto us a great deal more to be vigilant and circumspect: not only to keep those in truth, to whom God hath revealed it: But also to win and convert with all prayer, diligence, preaching, and other instruction, such as yet be ignorant and out of the way, unto the truth and knowledge of Gods word. And so much the rather because we see by experience, and also feel it in our selves, that the just God is offended and angry with our sins, and will not be contented with these troubles, miseries and crosses, that already he layeth upon us, but doth doubtless prepare & make ready many more and more grievous. Our office therefore is to be diligent and circumspect for the people of God, and now the hand of God being stretched forth, to admonish the flock committed unto our charges in time, least they dye, and their blood required at our hands. Certain I am, that our sins be the only cause, wherefore this most just God is offended, and certain we be, that the only way and means to please and quiet him again, is to leave & wash away our sins. What the sins of the people be where withal God is thus offended, you that have the oversight of them, know or ye ought to know. I mean not to descend particularly to any sin, least peradventure I might seem to be timorous and over hardy, to judge more then I perfectly know: or else in naming such sins, as many good simple people have not heard of, might rather learn to augment the evil they know, then to learn the good they know not.