For yf we vnderstande not what they meane, ād seke health in the outwarde sygne: thē we sucke the ale pole ād laboure in vayne. But yf we do vnderstāde the meanynge of thē, thā shal we seake what they sygnyfye, and go to the thynge sygnyfyed, and there shall we fynde vndoubted health. As to our purpose, in this Sacrament wherof we speake, we muste note what yt sygnyfyeth, ād there shall we fynde our redēpcyon. It sygnyfyeth that Christes bodye was broken vpon the crosse to redeame vs from the thraldome of the deuyll, ād that his blode was shedde for vs to washe away our synnes. Therfore we muste ronne thyther yf we wyll be eased. For yf we thynke to haue our synnes forgeven, for eatynge of the sacrament, or for seynge the sacrament ones a day, or for prayenge vnto yt: then surely we sucke the ale pole. And by thys you may perceyue what profytte commeth of these sacramentes the which eyther haue no sygnyfycacyons put vnto them, or els when their sygnyfycacyons are loste and forgotten. For then no doubt they are not commended of God, but are rather abhomynable. For whan we knowe not what they meane, then seake we health in the outwarde dede, and so are iniuryous vnto Christe and hys bloode. As by example, the sacryfyces of the Iewes were well allowed and accepted of God as longe as they vsed them a ryght and vnderstoode by thē the death of Christe, the sheadynge of hys blood, ād that holy oblacyō offred on the crosse ones for euer. But when they begane to forget this sygnyfycacyon and sought their healthe and ryghtuousnes in the bodely worke and in the sacryfyce yt selfe, then were they abhomynable in the syght of God, and then he cryed out of them bothe by the Prophete Dauid and Esaye: And lykewyse yt is with our sacramentes. Let vs therfore seke vp the sygnyficacyōs, & go to the very thyng which the sacramēt ys set to presēt vnto vs. And there shall we fynd such frutefull foode as shall neuer fayle vs, but cōforte our soules into lyfe euerlastynge. Now wyll I in order answere to master Mores boke, and as I fynde occasyō geuen me, I shall indeuoure my selfe to supplye that thynge which lacked in the fyrste treatyse. And I trust I shall shewe suche lyght that all men whose eyes the Prynce of thys worlde hath not blynded, shall perceyue the truthe of the scripture and glorye of Christe. And where as in my fyrste treatyse the truthe was set forthe with all symplycyte, and nothynge armed agaynste the assaultes of sophysters, that haue I somwhat redressed in this boke, ād haue brought bones fytte for their teth, which yf they be to busy, may chaunce to choke them. Thus endeth my lytle treatyse that I wrote vnto my frynde, beynge sufficyent for hys instructyon. Here begynneth the preface of Master Mores boke.