A19564:257
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 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.