This treatise gentile reader, is not written for the Curates & preachers, for many of them have so much knowledge in holy scripture (thanks be to God) that they be already sufficiently instructed in these matters: But it is written ⟨image 8⟩for the behove of the young children, which must be brought up with plain and short lessons. For we see daily by experience, that who so ever will teach children, must use much discretion & wisdom, not to give them to much at one time, (lest he dull and oppress their wits) and yet that which he giveth them, he must often and many times rehearse and repeat unto them again, as near as he can after one manner of wise, and with the same words. For if they teach them now this, now that, now with these words, now with other, then the children learn little or nothing, they keep almost nothing in memory, & beside that, they wax weary of learning, & conceive a loathsomeness thereto, and be more slothful and unapt to learn. Forasmuch therefore as it was to be feared, ⟨p. ii⟩that every pastor would not take the pains to draw out such a short form of teaching to the children, nor we thought good to burden every one with so great labours, and also if every pastor severally should devise a form for his parish, it might chance that there should be as many sundry forms, as there be pastors, which diversity might engender much division and controversy, and be also much hinderance to the children, if in one place they learn one form, and in an other place an other form. For to eschew the said inconveniences, we have thought good to devise this short manner and form to instruct children and young men, whereby they may both shortly and easily learn the chief principles and beginning of Christen religion and doctrine, and ⟨image 9⟩learn aswell how they ought to live, as also what they should believe. And when they have learned this in their tender age, they shall not only understand godly sermons and all other godly doctrine and books the better, but also they shall become godly men, and wise, lovers of true religion and godliness, and to all states and orders of life, aswell ecclesiastical as civill be more apt and toward, unto which godly purpose, all fathers and mothers, Curates and preachers and all christen Magistrates and officers, should with all their mind and endeavour give their aid and help.
THis treatice gentile reader, is not wrytten for the Curattes & preachers, for many of them haue so muche knowledge in holy scripture (thankes be to God) that they be alreadye sufficiently instructed in these matters: But it is written ⟨image 8⟩for the behoue of the yong childrē, whiche muste be brought vp with playne and shorte lessons. For wee see daylye by experience, that who so euer wyll teache children, must vse muche discretion & wysedome, not to geue them to much at one time, (lest he dull and oppresse their wittes) and yet that which he gyueth theim, he muste often and many times reherse and repete vnto them agayne, as nere as he can after one manner of wise, and with the same wordes. For if thei teache them now this, now that, now with these wordes, now with other, then the childrē learne litle or nothing, thei kepe almost nothing in memorye, & beside that, they waxe wearie of learnyng, & conceaue a lothsomnes therto, and be more slothfull and vnapte to learne. Forasmuch therfore as it was to be feared, ⟨p. ii⟩that euery pastor woulde not take the paynes to drawe out such a shorte forme of teachynge to the children, nor we thought good to burden euery one with so great labours, and also yf euery pastor seuerally should deuise a forme for his parishe, it myght chaunce that there should be as many soundrye formes, as there be pastors, which diuersitie myght engender muche diuision and controuercie, and be also much hinderaunce to the children, yf in one place thei learne one forme, and in an other place an other forme. For to exchewe the said inconueniences, we haue thoughte good to deuise this shorte manner and forme tynstructe children and yong men, wherby they maye both shortlie and easely learne the chief pryncipilles and begynnynge of Christē religion and doctrine, and ⟨image 9⟩learne aswell howe they oughte to lyue, as also what they should beleue. And whan they haue learned this in their tender age, they shal not onely vnderstande godlye sermons and al other godly doctrine and bookes ye better, but also they shall become godly men, and wise, louers of true religion and godlynes, and to al states and orders of lyfe, aswell ecclesiasticall as ciuill be more apte and towarde, vnto whiche godly purpose, all fathers and mothers, Curattes and preachers and al christē Magestrates and officers, should with all theyr mynde and endeuore gyue their ayde and helpe.
