424 Wolf 



truely soche thyng-es, as greate vniuersites, and notable Rabys 



knowe nott. Ye never shall knowe, to the intent tbat God 



uever knowe theym also. It declareth what is faythe in God, 



and charite towardes mannes neghboure. and that so evidently 



(all papisticall sophistry and delusion set asyde) that even 



babes of seven yeare olde palynly ' perceave thinges that a 



while agone men of greate age coulde nott apprehende as are 



the power, goodnes, and mercy of god, and the course vf ^ his 



workes. What the anchre of fayth is, which is eternall pre- 



destinacion and aspercion of Christis bloudde, wherwith alonly 



we are clensed from synne. The vnderstondynge whereof, 



Paul calleth the wysdom hydde vnder the mistery of christis 



Crosse, vnknowne to the wyse of the worldde. For oute of it 



proceadeth, myldnes of the mynde, gentle behaveour, soffraunce 



of evyls, softnes, temperancy, and all chastnes of lyfe, whiche 



all are the frutes of the sprete, Avheare oute, as oute of an 



originall sprynge or fountaine, floweth towardes God, and 



amonge men, peace, and charite, which in the realnie of Christ, 



is a iewell [fol. 3''.] most precious. Nowe therfore, all wother 



thinges set asyde, I have determened first to präsent vnto 



you vand'^ so forth vnto all wother of my countre and nacion 



this so singuler a treasure, Nothing doutinge but that it shalbe 



bothe plesaunt and acceptable to the elect and chosen of god, 



litle regardinge the vngodly, which hate nothyng but that that 



is good, and that thynge whyche allwayes and every whear is 



proffitable. I also require and exhorte the commen people 



that they rede not this boke as they are wont to rede vayne 



Storys or fahles, hastly renny[n]ge there over. For when they 



shall end it, more frute shall apere, then the begynning semeth 



to pretende. For the Avorde of God hearde, and well pondered, 



entreth (thorowe his inspyracion) into the herte only. Doutles 



therfore it shulde be vnto the reders greate frute and proffyt, 



yf at certayne howres there vnto apoynted, they diligently 



did discusse somwhat by ordre therof, and that among theii- 



owne housholde, and singlerly wheare as yueth is. and let it 



not be tedious vnto theym once or twise, with prayei-, to repete 



that they have alredy redde. For goode thynges ten tymes 



' Für j)lahüy. ^ l/" ' an(i. 



