A19564:248
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.
Our father which art in heaven / hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be don in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses ⟨image 170⟩as we forgive them that trespass against us. And suffer us not to be led into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen. This good children is the prayer of the Lord, which although it be short, yet it containeth most great and weighty matters, such as neither angel nor man, nor other creature, was able so pithily to comprise in so few words. For in this prayer Christ our Lord teacheth us to ask all things, that either be commanded us in the ten commandments, or promised us in the article of our Creed. Wherefore good children you ought to endeavour your selves, not only to learn without the book this most holy prayer, taught us by Christs own mouth, our great master & ⟨p. cxlviii⟩teacher, but also you ought to give diligence to understand & justly to weigh every word of so great a master, that when you be apposed herein, you may be able to make a direct answer, and also in time to come to teach your children the true understanding of this prayer, as you your selves be now instructed. For what greater shame can there be before God and man, than wham in our mouths we profess our selves to be christen men, and to know what we ought to believe, and how to live, and yet to be ignorant what thing we ought to ask of God, and after what manner we ought to ask those things, which he of his goodness hath promised most largely to give us.
OUre father which art in heauē / halowed be thy name. Thy kyngdome come. Thy wil be don in earth as it is in heauē. Geue vs this day our daily bread. And forgeue vs our trespaces ⟨image 170⟩as we forgeue them that trespace against vs. And suffre vs not to be led into temptacion. But delyuer vs from euyl. Amen. This good children is the prayer of the Lorde, whiche althoughe it be short, yet it conteyneth moste great and weyghty matters, suche as neyther aungell nor man, nor other creature, was able so pitheli to cōprise in so few wordes. For in this prayer Christ oure Lord teacheth vs to aske all thynges, yt eyther be cōmaūded vs in the ten cō maundementes, or promysed vs in ye article of our Crede. Wherfore good children you ought to endeuour your selfes, not only to lerne without ye boke this most holy prayer, taught vs by Christes owne mouthe, our great master & ⟨p. cxlviii⟩teacher, but also you ought to giue dilygence to vnderstāde & iustlye to weye euery worde of so great a master, that when you be apposed herein, you maye be able to make a directe answer, and also in tyme to come to teache your childrē the true vnderstāding of this praier, as you youre selfes be nowe instructed. For what greater shame can ther be before God and man, thā whā in our mouthes we professe our selues to be christē men, and to knowe what we ought to beleue, and howe to lyue, and yet to be ignoraunt what thynge we ought to aske of God, and after what maner we ought to aske those thinges, whiche he of his goodnes hath promised most largely to gyue vs.
Or else if we know how and what to ask, yet of negligence, ⟨image 171⟩sloth or contempt of God, not to ask the same in deed in such wise as we ought to do. Specially seeing that the proper office of a Christen man is, to call upon God in all his busyness and necessities, to give thanks, and evermore to honour his most blessed name with most high lauds and praises. Wherefore good children forasmuch as God hath commanded us to resort to him boldly, and to move our selves to him in all our troubles and adversities, and hath promised that he will hear our prayers, deliver us, and grant us all things necessary for our salvation, let us not refuse this honour that we be called unto, let us not refuse this remedy, help, aid and succour that is freely offered of our most merciful father, to all his children that will ⟨p. cxlix⟩call upon his name. For this is a sacrifice most acceptable to God, wherewith he is most highly honoured and pleased.
Or els yf we knowe howe and what to aske, yet of neglygence, ⟨image 171⟩slouth or contempt of God, not to aske the same in dede in suche wise as we ought to do. Specially seynge yt the propre office of a Christen man is, to call vpon God in all his busynes and necessities, to gyue thankes, and euermore to honoure his mooste blessed name with moost hye laudes and prayses. Wherfore good children for asmuche as God hath commaunded vs to resorte to hym boldelye, and to moue oure selues to him in all our troubles and aduersities, and hathe promysed that he wyll heare our praiers, delyuer vs, and graunt vs al thinges necessary for our saluatiō, let vs not refuse this honoure that we be called vnto, let vs not refuse this remedie, helpe, ayde and succoure that is freelye offered of oure most mercifull father, to all his children that wyll ⟨p. cxlix⟩call vpon his name. For this is a sacrifice most acceptable to God, wherwith he is moost higly honored and pleased.
Wherefore good children both daily and hourly accustom your selves, even from your tender age, to pray to your heavenly father, for all things necessary. Offer up unto him at your uprising and down laying, before your meals and after your meat, this sacrifice of your lips, the oblation of praise and thanks giving, worship him at all times with the frankincense of this prayer taught unto you by your saviour Christ. The perfume whereof, if it be cast into the burning coals of faith and charity, it pierceth the clouds, and is so sweet and pleasant unto God, that it vanisheth not away, until it have obtained ⟨image 172⟩that thing, that it was sent for. For it is written, that the prayer of a just man can do much with god, and the eyes of the Lord do look upon the righteous, and his ears be opened to hear their prayers.
Wherfore good children bothe daily and hourely accustome your selfes, euen from your tender age, to praye to your heauenly father, for all thinges necessarie. Offer vp vnto hym at youre vprisinge and downe leyinge, before youre meales and after your meate, this sacrifice of your lyppes, the oblatiō of praise and thankes gyuing, wourshippe hym at al tymes with the frankyncense of thys prayer taught vnto you by your sauiour Christ. The perfume wherof, yf it be cast into the burnynge coles of faythe and charitie, it perceth the cloudes, and is so swete and pleasant vnto God, that it vanishethe not awaye, vntyll it haue obteined ⟨image 172⟩that thynge, that it was sente for. For it is writen, that the prayer of a iust man can do much with god, and the eyes of the Lord do looke vpō the rightuous, and his eares be opened to heare theyr prayers.
Wherefore study you, to be the children of God, and there is no doubt, but your heavenly father will give all good things, which you shall desire of him, in the name of his son and your brother Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory now and ever. Amen.
Wherfore studye you, to be the children of God, and there is no doubte, but youre heauenly father wyll gyue all good thinges, which you shal desire of him, in the name of his sonne and your brother Iesus Christ, to whom be all glorye nowe and euer. Amen.
This preface must be rehearsed before every sermon of the Lords prayer.
This preface must be rehersed before euery sermon of the Lordes prayer.
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Now good children, to the intent you may the better understand this prayer, you shall first learn this lesson, that we wretched sinners do not first prevent God, and go before him, in the work of our justification, but it is God that layeth the first foundation of our salvation, he beginneth with us, and first calleth us, by the gospel. First he ⟨image 173⟩sendeth unto us godly and faithful ministers by whom we be baptised and before we do any good work, he offereth unto us his grace, he sendeth unto us preachers and messengers of peace, which declare unto us the glad tidings of the gospel, and the promises of the favour of God, towards all them that truly repent them of their evil living, and do move them to put their trust in Gods mercy for pardon of the same. God also openeth our hearts, that we may listen and give credit to his holy preachers, as Christ him self sayeth. Ye have not first chosen me, but I have chosen you. Now forasmuch as God hath thus called us to the faith, and by faith hath given us light in our hearts, that we may forsake all strange Gods, and believe only ⟨p. cli⟩in him, now it is our part, to lead our life in godliness, to desire god with hearty and fervent prayers, that it may please him to make perfect, that thing which he hath begun in us, to help & strengthen us, that by his grace we may be able to do those things, which he hath commanded us, and that he will augment and increase our faith in us. For the prayer of the unfaithful, is nothing worth before God, and without faith it is unpossible to please God. Therefore God must begin, and call us by his word, and put faith in our hearts, or else we should never ask nothing of him. And for this cause we be not taught in the lords prayer to say to God. Father grant me to believe, that thou art my father, but we be taught to say thus. Our father which art in ⟨image 174⟩heaven, hallowed be thy name. That is to say, o Lord God our heavenly father, before I began to pray, and before I knew thy name, thou through thin exceeding great mercy didst send unto me thy preachers, by whom thou didst declare unto me, that thou art my father for Jesus Christs sake, and thou didst open my heart that I might believe that thou art my father. Therefore grant I beseech the my heavenly father, that thy name may be hallowed.
And he that taketh not God to be his father, yet he may learn that it is so by this prayer. For Christ our Lord knew most certainly the will of his heavenly father, that is to say, that he would be our most sweet and loving father (for else he would not have taught us this title, our father) and therefore must we again ⟨p. clii⟩upon our parties have such a love and obedience to him, as becometh the children unto their father, & conceive a most assured trust in God (who is all our fathers) that we shall lack nothing necessary for us, and that nothing shall be able to hurt, as long as we have so mighty and so loving a father. We see by daily experience, how entirely the fathers loveth their children, what care they take to bring them up in virtue and learning and to get them good masters and governors, how they labour to provide for their living, and all things necessary for them. And if perchance their children con mitteth any fault, for the which they deserve correction yet we see how the fathers love remaineth, what pity and compassion he hath of them, how loth he is to beat ⟨image 175⟩them, and would rather forgive them, if it were not for their benefit and amendment. And when the child falleth on his knees, and asketh forgiveness, promising amendment, we see how ready and willing the father is to forgive. Now seeing our earthly fathers, be so loving to their children, much more God our heavenly father will be our most kind and loving father, will nourish keep and defend us, teach & instruct us, the way to everlasting salvation. And if we fall into any error or sin, yet for Christs sake he is willing to forgive us, and although he punisheth us here for a time, yet he doeth it of fatherly love that he beareth towards us not to punish us for ever, but to amend us and to make us to know our faults, ⟨p. cliii⟩and to bring us again into the right way. And like a most loving father he correcteth us for a small time in this world, lest he should punish us for ever in the world to come. Of this therefore so loving and so mighty a father we may well rejoice, and have an exceeding great comfort, far passing any heart to think, or tongue to tell. And him again we ought most entirely to love and obey, seeing that he is our father, and hath laden us with so many gifts and benefits.
With glad hearts therefore you ought to say this prayer, which wham you say, you speak with God the father in heaven, & he heareth you, and like a most kind father, doth grant all that you ask.
With glad hartes therfore you ought to saye this prayer, which whā you say, you speake with God the father in heauen, & he heareth you, and lyke a most kynde father, dothe graunt al that you aske.
Often times also, and earnestly you must pray, when you rise in ⟨image 176⟩the morning, when you go to the church, when you eat & drink, when you go to bed, when you awake out of your sleep, that from your youth you may accustom your selves, both gladly and often to pray. For by prayer we shall obtain all things, that either Christ hath purchased for us, or our heavenly father hath promised to us.
Often tymes also, and ernestly you must praye, whan you ryse in ⟨image 176⟩the mornyng, whan you go to the churche, whan you eate & drynke, whan you go to bed, whan you awake out of your slepe, that frō your youth you maye accustome your selfes, both gladly and oftē to praye. For by prayer we shall obteyne all thynges, that eyther Christ hathe purchased for vs, or our heuenly father hath promised to vs.
Now this also you must diligently consider, that we say, O father which art in heaven, to discern him from our fathers which be here upon earth. For we have fathers here in earth, which be but men, and be not able to save us. But in heaven we have an other manner of father, of far more might, a spiritual & an everlasting father: which in all our needs is able to help us, and finally to ⟨p. cliiii⟩give us health & life everlasting. And as children take of their carnal fathers flesh and blood, and many times be very like them in their face and countenance, so take we of our heavenly father our soul and spirit, and therein we ought to resemble our heavenly father, that is to say, we ought to believe his word, obey his commandments, forbear those things that he forbiddeth, and in all things be conformable to his holy will and word. And than is he assuredly our gentle father, and we his dear children.
Nowe this also you must dilygently considre, that we say, O father which art in heuē, to dyscerne hym from our fathers whiche be here vpon earthe. For we haue fathers here in earth, whiche be but men, and be not able to saue vs. But in heauen we haue an other maner of father, of far more might, a spiritual & an euerlastīg father: whiche in al oure nedes is able to helpe vs, and finallye to ⟨p. cliiii⟩gyue vs helth & lyfe euerlasting. And as childrē take of their carnal fathers fleshe and blode, and many tymes be veray lyke theim in their face and countenaunce, so take we of our heuēly father our soule and spirite, and therein we ought to resemble our heuēly father, that is to saye, we ought to beleue his worde, obey his commaūdementes, forbere those thinges that he forbyddeth, and in all thynges be conformable to hys holy wyl and worde. And than is he assuredlye oure gentle father, and we his dere children.
And than as he dwelleth in heaven, in a light passing all measure, even so shall we dwell with him in heaven for ever. These great things (which far exceed the capacity of mans understanding) our saviour Christ doth ⟨image 177⟩teach in these few words, when he teacheth us to say. O our father, which art in heaven.
And than as he dwelleth in heuen, in a lyght passynge all measure, euyn so shall we dwel wyth hym in heauen for euer. These great thynges (whiche far excede the capacitie of mannes vnderstanding) our sauiour Christ doth ⟨image 177⟩teache in these fewe wordes, whan he teacheth vs to saye. O our father, whiche art in heauen.
Now follow in this holy prayer certain petitions, wherein be comprehended all things, that be either contained in the ten Commandments, or else promised in the Creed. These petitions good children, you shall learn with all diligence, that you may know what you should ask. The three first petitions entreat of the matters pertaining to the first table. The other .iiii. speak of things promised in the Creed, & belonging to the second table, as hereafter you shall hear.
Now folowe in this holy praier certen petitions, wherein be comprehended all thynges, that be either conteyned in ye ten Commaū dementes, or elles promised in the Crede. These petitions good childrē, you shall lerne with al diligence, that you may know what you shoulde aske. The thre first petitions entreate of the matters perteynynge to ye first table. The other .iiii. speake of thīges promised in the Crede, & belongynge to the seconde table, as herafter you shall heare.
The first petition containeth matters of the first and second commandment. I am thy God. Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord God in vain. And these ⟨p. clv⟩be the words of that petition.
The first petition conteyneth matters of the first and seconde commaundement. I am thy God. Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord God in vaine. And these ⟨p. clv⟩be the wordes of that petition.
