A19564:231
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.
And our consciences should still remain troubled, and the fear of eternal death, and all naughty desires and concupiscences of the frail flesh, should ever remain in us (even as from Adams time they be in us as soon as we be borne) and so we should be utterly unapt to the kingdom of God & life everlasting, if we should still remain, as we be borne. For if we will be the heirs of god & everlasting life, we must be borne again, & sanctified or made holy, as appertaineth to the children of the most holy ⟨p. cxxxiiii⟩God. Now this new birth and sanctification, the holy ghost worketh in us. And therefore he is called the holy ghost, because all thing that is sanctified or hallowed, is sanctified or made holy by him. Wherefore when the holy ghost is not in man, then it is not possible that he should be holy, although he did all the good works under the sun. And for this cause saint Paul, writing to the Romans,1 doth call the holy ghost, the spirit of sanctification, that is to say, the spirit that maketh holiness. Learn therefore good children, that all we must be made holy and new men, by the virtue of the holy ghost, and that we can not attain this holiness by our own strength or works, and therefore we must believe in the holy ghost that he will sanctify us at such time and place, and ⟨image 157⟩after that sort & manner, as it shall please him. And it is our part to give place to his working & not to withstand the same. And therefore we say in this Creed, I believe in the holy ghost. But it is necessary some things here to speak of the manner of sanctification, how and after what manner the holy ghost doth hallow us, that we may so prepare our selves, or rather give place to the holy ghost which preventeth us, that he with his light and almighty strength and power may work his will in us.
And our consciences should styl remaine troubled, and the feare of eternal death, and all noughty desiers and concupiscences of the frayle fleshe, shoulde euer remaine in vs (euē as frō Adams time thei be in vs as sone as we be borne) and so we shuld be vtterly vnapte to the kyngdō of God & lyfe euerlasting, yf we shulde stil remayne, as we be borne. For yf we wyl be the heyres of god & euerlastynge lyfe, we must be borne agayne, & sanctified or made holy, as apperteyneth to ye childrē of ye most holy