A19564:123
Catechismus, that is to say, a short instruction into Christian religion for the singular…Catechismus, that is to say, a shorte instruction into Christian religion for the synguler…
Catechismus, that is to say, a short instruction into Christian religion for the singular commodity and profit of children[n] and young people. Set forth by the most reverend father in God Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and MetropolitanCatechismus, that is to say, a shorte instruction into Christian religion for the synguler commoditie and profyte of childre[n] and yong people. Set forth by the mooste reuerende father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury, primate of all England and Metropolitane
printed for Gwalter Lynne, 1548
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
IN the former sermon it hath ben declared unto you, how you should understand the fourth ⟨image 77⟩precept, in the which you have learned, how you must behave your selves towards your fathers & mothers & all common ministers in the public weal. Now followeth the fifth commandment. Thou shalt not kill. Which teacheth us how we ought to order our selves towards each of our neighbours, that we hurt them not, nether in their goods, nor in their life. For among all worldly goods, and bodily gifts, there is none more precious than health and life. Therefore God before all other damages and hurts doeth chiefly forbid this, that we kill not our neighbour. And this commandment doth not only restrain our hands from killing with violence and force, but it for biddeth also all anger, envy, wrath, hatred and malice, that ⟨p. liiii⟩we be not manquellers neither in heart, word nor dead.1 For the law is spiritual (as saint Paul sayeth) and requireth of us obedience, not only in outward work but also in the affection of hart and inward motions and most secret senses of the same. And it is an high wisdom, to look in the bottom of this commandment, & rightly to understand the same. Therefore our lord Jesus Christ did expound this commandment, his own self, lest we should err and falsely understand it, as the Jews did. For the Jews thought, that as long as they had refrained their hands from killing and slaying, so long they had kept this commandment. And although their heart had ben full of hatred, envy, & malice towards their neighbour, & with contumelious ⟨image 78⟩words or deeds had given occasion of manslaughter, yet this they counted for no sin, and their scribes & pharisees did so teach them.2 Therefore Christ in the fifth of Matthew saith. Verily I say unto you, except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye can not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said unto them of the old time, Thou shalt not kill. Whosoever killeth shall be worthy to be judged. But I say unto you, that who soever is angry with his brother, shall be worthy to be judged. Here you see good children, that Christ doeth as earnestly forbid hatred, anger and envy, as he doeth bloody manslaughter.