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…

Wherefore we are bound heartily to thank God, which hath opened unto us so great wisdom and mysteries. ⟨p. cxxvii⟩Hereby you perceive (good children) that in this short treatise called the Creed (as I said before) we be taught what God is, that is to say, God the father, God the son and God the holy ghost. Also hereby we learn what great benefits God hath given unto us, and how tenderly he loveth and favoureth us like a most gentle and merciful father. In the which knowledge, consisteth our felicity, and blessedness. For if we did only know, what God were, & did know nothing of his will toward us, whether he were our friend or foe, favourable or angry, pleased or displeased with us, then our conscience being wavering and doubtful, should be destitute and void of comfort. Wherefore listen to me diligently good children, that you may know what ⟨image 134⟩benefits those be which god hath given among you, what love he beareth toward you, and what is the hope of everlasting life to the which we be called. The benefits of God toward us be infinite and innumerable, yet nevertheless as God himself is three persons, the father, the son and the holy ghost, so there be three special works whereby he hath declared his singular love toward us. The first is, that God the father hath create & made us of nothing, and given to us body and soul, and all things necessary to the maintenance of our lives, and hath made us lords over all earthly creatures. The second is, that when we were all borne in sin, God the son did redeem us from our since and wicked life. The third is that the holy ghost ⟨p. cxii⟩doth renew our hearts, sanctify us, and make us the temples of God. And in these three benefits, given unto us by the three parsons of the most blessed Trinity, consisteth the matter and effect of the hole Creed. For this is the brief sum of the Creed, to say. I believe in God the father, which did create and make me. I believe in God the son, which did redeem me. And I believe in the holy ghost, which hath sanctified and hallowed me. For the which considerations we intend to deuyde this our exposition made upon the Creed, into three parts, of the which the first shall be of the Creation, the second of the Redemption, and the third of Sanctification.

Wherefore we are boūde hartely to thāke God, which hath opened vnto vs so great wisedome and mysteries.