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…

For in marriage the act of generation between the husband and the wife is no sin (for God hath ordained it, & it pleaseth him) but fornication & adultery be sin which God hath forbid, and they highly displease him. To married folks ⟨p. lxv⟩he hath said: Grow, increase and fill the earth, but to horemō gers & harlots he hath not said so, but hath condemned them. Children begotten in marriage please God, but the generation of bastards displeaseth him, & lacketh his blessing, wherefore it is much for the profit of the common wealth, that wedlock should be kept purely and chastely, out of the which springeth the fruit of virtuous and honest children, which may prove honest men, and be mete to bear office in their cities and countries. But where adultery reigneth, where youth doth both hear and see unchasteness, there the infection of uncleanness spreadeth abroad, and doth poison the multitude, and God at the length doth punish such since with hunger, famine, battle, pestilence, ⟨image 89⟩& such like, until he hath utterly destroyed the whole realm or city. Furthermore mark this also diligently, that the Lord sayeth. Grow, increase, replenish the earth & dig it. Many abstain from marriage, because they be to careful how they shall live, if they were married. Therefore our Lord God doth here plainly show, that he will minister plentifully to married folks, all things necessary to the maintenance of their life, if they put their trust in him, and apply their labours diligently. For he sayeth, dig, plough or till the earth, as who should say, I have made for your sake all things that grow upon the earth, I have given to you all kinds of heastes, fishes, fowls, that liveth in the world, only labour you that you may purchase ⟨p. lxvi⟩and possess those my riches truly and honestly. Now good children consider this, that it is not in your own liberty, whether you will be married or not. And thus I speak for this purpose, that you should be the more diligent to learn in time, some craft, way, or science, whereby you might keep your house and get your living honestly, both for yourselves, your wife & your children, for god willeth all those to use marriage, that can not live continently. And Christ speaketh in the gospel of saint Matthew of .iii. sorts of people that live without marriage.¹