the grace of the Holy Ghost, to preserve thee in virtue and all other, givest thanks for the goodness of God towards thee and all other. He that knoweth less than this cannot be saved; and he that knoweth no more than this, if he follow his knowledge, cannot be damned, John xvii. There be two common verses that all men in manner knoweth, and doubtless worthy, that telleth us to know Christ, though we know no more, is sufficient: Hoc est nescire, sine Christo plurima scire: Si Christum bene scis, satis est si cetera nescis : that is to say, "To be ignorant, is to know many things without Christ. If thou know Christ well, it is sufficient, though thou be ignorant of all other things." Thus I have said in the ten holy precepts of Almighty God according unto the scripture. Fare ye well in our only and sole joy and consolation, Christ Jesu. [The following sentences are here added in the first edition, printed in 1548.] (And where as thou shalt find in any word a letter too much or too little, or perchance one for another, or true orthography not observed, the sentences not well at all times, and aright pointed, or for lack of putting on of ink, or slack drawing of the press, the letters not plainly expressed,―remember, I pray thee, that it is not in manner possible to print in a known tongue a whole work without faults: how much more impossible, where as the setters of the print understandeth not one word of our speech, and wanteth also such as knoweth the art of true correcting! Where as such faults or other shall happen, thou shalt without all difficulty and labour, by the lesson and process of the matter, straightway understand my mind and meaning, and as need requireth, add or take away a letter from a word, or change the whole word, if one be put for another in an open and plain sentence; as in the letter H, at the number xciv. in the fifth verse thou shall find penitence for pestilence. Such faults charitably bear withal, I pray thee; for although it be not as well done as I would wish, and as every christian reader would desire, yet is it as well as I could have it done: take it therefore well at worth, and remember the saying of Horace, Lib. 1. Epi. i. [v. 32.] Est quoddam prodire tenus, si non datur ultra. Farewell in our only and sole joy and conso lation Christ FINIS. Imprynted at London in An oversighte and deliberacion uppon the holy prophet Jonas: made, and uttered be fore the kinges maiesty, and his most honorable councell, by Jhon Hoper in lent last past. Comprehended in seuen Sermons. Anno . M. D.L. Except ye repent, ye shal al pearish. Lu. xiii. Imprinted at London by Jhon Tisdale, dwelling in Knight Riderstrete. [HOOPER.] An oversight, Jhon Hoper in lent hended in seven Sermons. Anno.M. D.L. Excepte pe repente, ye Luke xiii. Cum priuilegio ad impri mendum solum. 28 |