AS THE CHILdren of Israel had inestimable cause to praise the great goodnesse of almightie God , and to render condign thanks vnto him for his most mercifull deliueraunce out of their vile captiuity & bondage , which they so long had susteined vnder that proude resister of Gods omnipotent power , king Pharao ; Euen so ( Right honourable ) are we no lesse bound , to honour , lande , and praise the same God with immortall thanks , which now of his entire loue , pitie , and compassion ( in this our last age of the world ) hath broken the yoke of our miserable seruitude , vnder that proud exalter of himselfe , the Romish Antichrist , and of the bondmen and slaues of that tyrant , hath made vs free men in his sonne Iesus Christ through the true knowledge of his eternall and euerlasting word . For as the people that dwel in the country called Cimmeria do remaine in continuall darknes , by reason they want the cleere light of the Sunne which is so farre distant from them . So were we ( poore soules ) during the time of our thraldōe vnder the power of the Pope in like obscuritie shut & pend vp ( as prisoners ) in the darke dungeon of his Antichristian iurisdiction , and alwaies constrained to feed on the scraps of his owne vnsauery and most vnfruitfull traditions & diuelish deuices , for lacke of the wholsome foode of the Gospell of Iesus Christ , whereof the least little sparke could not be permitted to put forth his light among vs . But now ( my good Lord ) seeing that all the sleights and grounds of the Popes inuentions ( which wholy consisteth in false superstitious worshipping , filthy Idolatry , fained hypocrisie , foolish scrupulositie , with other the like ) be cleerly sifted and boulted out , from the boulting tub of his Canon laws by infinit godly & learned writers , especialiye by such as bee here expressed within this volume , it shall behoue vs to embrace and lay sure holde on the profound saiengs of those so godly writers , or rather vpon the truth vttered by their pens : that being weaponed with such artillerie , we may be able to resist & ouerthrow , whatsoeuer the whole Popish army shal assay to assalt vs with all . For what is the cause that many at this present day , do fall a lusting after Romish religion , as did the Israelits to feed on the flesh pots of Aegypts gaine ? But that they despise to apparell themselues with the armour of Christ , esteeming much better their old apparell of Popery , although it seeme neuer so vile in the sight of God . Which miserable and deceiued sort ( but yet truly most wilfull & froward people ) that I might by the mercye of God in some measure perswade , if not wholy conuert to the truth , I haue the rather employed my diligence in collecting these common places ( sincerely expounded by the authors themselues ) that in the reading and earnest study therof , there may some sparke of Gods true knowledge , kindle aright vnderstanding in them , which the Lord graunt , that his onely praise & glory may therein be shewed . And now , Right honourable , hauing as yet no help for the publishing of my Concordance , which without speciall helpe is like to lye not onely helples , but also fruitlesse , inclosed in an huge volume of mine owne writing , wherein I haue spent many yeres , in purpose therby to profit the studies of the godly affected , in the English tongue , so that I am not able , as my meaning was , to exhibit the same vnto you : I shall most humbly beseech your honor to accept and take in good part , my simple trauailes in this other worke , which God of his goodnes , in these mine olde yeres , hath now brought forth in me : That I may not seeme altogethers vnfruitfull to the Church of God , nor vnthankfull vnto you mine especiall good Lord , but that at the least a testification of my faithfull hart to Gods people , and of my good will to your honour , may somewhat therein appeare . For whom as dutie requireth , I wil remaine during life , a continuall intercessour vnto almightie God , that his blessings may be multiplied vpon you , & that abounding in all good gifts both of body and mind , you may enioy vpon this earth a long , life , in perfect health and honour , to his glory , and to the profit of others , and after the end of your race , may be blessed for euer in the felicitie of the faithfull .