TO THE ENGLISH READER
late it the other way, rather saying, Against free wil.that Abel was subiect to Cain, and that Cain by Gods ordinance had dominion ouer his brother Abel, then that concupiscence or lust of sinne is subiect to mans wil, or that man hath power of free wil to resist (by Gods grace) tentation of sinne. But as we heare, in a new Edition (which we haue not yet seen) they translate it almost as in the first. Against Melchisedechs sacrifice.In like sort Gen. 14. v. 18. the Hebrew particle Vav, which S. Hierom & al Antiquitie translated Enim (For) Protestants wil by no meanes admit it, because (besides other arguments) we proue therby Melchisedechs Sacrifice. And yet themselues translate the same, as S. Hierom doth, Gen. 20. v. 3. saying: For she is a mans wife. &c. And against holy Images.Againe Gen. 31. v. 19. the English Bibles 1552. and 1577. translate Theraphim, Images. Which the Edition of 1603. correcting, translateth Idols. And the marginal Annotation wel proueth, that it ought to be so translated.
This Edition dedicated to al that vnderstand English.With this then we wil conclude most deare (we speake to you al, that vnderstand our tongue, whether you be of contrarie opinions in faith, or of mundane feare participate with an other Congregation, or professe with vs the same Catholike Religion) to you al we present this worke: daily beseeching God Almightie, the Diuine Wisedom, Eternal Goodnes, to create, illuminate, and replenish your spirits, with his Grace, that you may attaine eternal Glorie, euery one in his measure, in those many Mansions, prepared and promised by our Sauiour in his Fathers house. Not only to those which first receiued and followed his Diuine doctrine, but to al that should afterwards belieue in him, and keep the same precepts. For there is one God, one also Mediatour of God and men, Man Christ Iesus, who gaue himself a Redemption for al. Whereby appeareth his wil, that al should be saued. Why then are not al saued? Christ redeemed al, but al are not saued.The Apostle addeth: that they must first come to the knowledge of the truth. Because without faith it is impossible to please God. True faith first necessarie.This ground-worke therfore of our creation in Christ by true faith, S. Paul laboured most seriously by word and writing to establish in the harts of al men. In this he confirmed the Romans by his Epistle, commending their faith, as already receiued and renowned in the whole world. He preached the same faith to manie Nations. Amongst others to the learned Athenians. Where it seemed to some, as
