A19564:217
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.
Wherefore good children mark well this part of your Creed, that teacheth you both to know Christ, and by what means he did redeem you. For first in the Creed he is called, the only son, ⟨image 148⟩or only begotten son of God. Whereof it must needs follow, that he is very God by nature, borne of God the father, before the foundation of the world was laid. He is the everlasting wisdom, and word of God, by the which God the father made all things. That he is also very man, it is evidently expressed in these words. I believe in Jesus Christ, which was conceived by the holy ghost, borne of the virgin Mary, suffered under Ponce Pilate, was crucified dead and buried. And these .ii. foresaid things I can not comprehend more shortly nor aptly, than by these words. Christ our Lord is very God and very man. Secondly learn this also, by what means Christ did redeem us. For what soever God hath commanded ⟨p. cxxvi⟩in the ten commandments which we have not fulfilled because we be all sinners, that Christ himself hath fulfilled for us. And what soever punishment we have deserved to suffer of God for our since and offences, that Christ hath taken upon himself & suffered for us. By this you may perceive how requisite it was, that Christ God and man, should be conceived by the holy ghost, and borne of a pure virgin. For if Christ should redeem us, and satisfy for our since, than must he needs be holy & without sin. For if he had been guilty and a sinner, then could not he have holpen his own self, but he must needs have had an other Saviour and Redeemer for him, aswell as we have for us. For what soever he had done or suffered, should have ⟨image 149⟩been worthily for his own offences, & yet could he not have satisfied for him self, much less then he could have satisfied for other. Wherefore it was necessary (if he should satisfy for us) that he should be conceived of the holy ghost, and borne of a virgin, that his nativity might be pure without sin and not corrupt, as ours is. That our corrupt and damnable nativity, might be purified and made holy by the holy and pure nativity of Christ. Therefore we say in the Creed. He was conceived of the holy ghost, borne of the virgin Mary, that Christ being pure and clean from all sin, might redeem sinners and satisfy for them.