The King's Most Excellent Majesty, by the prudent advice of his most dearly beloved uncle Edward Duke of Somerset (Governor of His Majesty's person and Protector of all His Highness's realms, dominions, and subjects), together with the rest of his most honourable council, has graciously considered the many evils that have until now crept into His Grace's realm through the false, usurped power of the Bishop of Rome and the ungodly doctrine of his followers. These evils have brought not only the great decay of the Christian religion, but also (had God's mercy not prevented it) the utter destruction of countless souls; for through hypocrisy and harmful doctrine those souls were seduced and led away: from honouring the only true, living, and eternal God to the worship of creatures, yes, of stocks and stones; from doing the commandments of God to voluntary works[2] and fantasies invented by men; from true religion to popish superstition.

For a Christian there can be nothing more necessary or more profitable than the knowledge of holy Scripture, because in it is contained God's true word, setting forth his glory and also our duty. And there is no truth or doctrine necessary for our justification and everlasting salvation that is not, or may not be, drawn out of that fountain and well of truth. Therefore all who desire to enter the right and perfect way to God must apply their minds to know holy Scripture, without which they can neither sufficiently know God and his will, nor their own calling and duty. And as drink is pleasant to those who are thirsty, and food to those who are hungry, so is the reading, hearing, searching, and studying of holy Scripture to those who desire to know God or themselves, and to do his will. Only those loathe and abhor the heavenly knowledge and food of God's word whose appetites are so drowned in worldly vanities that they have no taste for God or for any godliness; and that is why they desire such vanities rather than the true knowledge of God.

The Holy Spirit, in writing the holy Scripture, is more diligent at nothing than at pulling down man's vainglory and pride. Of all vices this is the one most universally grafted into all mankind, ever since the first infection of our first father Adam. And so we read in many places of Scripture many notable lessons against this old, deep-rooted vice, lessons that teach us the most commendable virtue of humility: how to know ourselves, and to remember what we are of ourselves.