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…

And although many men in this world, get their living and riches by craft and deceit, yet let us abstain from such unlawful means. For they do rather bring poverty to a man, then riches. ⟨image 204⟩And although bribers, extortioners, usurers, and crafty deceivers of their neighbours, do prosper for a while in this world, yet they seldom establish their things. For it is written, that scarcely the third heir shall enjoy goods ill gotten. And God doth only wink at them, suffering them to flourish for a time, that afterward he may the more grievously punish, and suddenly destroy them. And when we desire God to give us our daily bread, think not (Good children) that our heavenly father will give us only a morsel of bread, and nothing beside, but under the name of bread be all things contained, which be necessary to the maintenance of our life, as meat, drink, apparel, house, lands, cattle, and money, according to the saying of saint ⟨p. clxxxii⟩Paul. God giveth all thing to our use richly and abundantly. But Christ teacheth us in this petition, to ask only for our daily bread, for this intent, that we should be content with such a mean, as our daily use and necessity doth require, and that we should not by overmuch eating and drinking, wastefully spend those things, where with poor people might be relived. For saint Paul doth command us to labour and work, that we may eat our own bread, & also give to them that have need. The which commandment we shall easily keep, if we will be content with a mean diet, and keep a measure in our apparel. But they that delight in superfluity of gorgeous apparel and dainty fare, & make pleasure the end of their eating ⟨image 205⟩and drinking▪ and not necessity, they be not wont to give much to the poor, but commonly such do deceive the needy, bribe and pile from them, and oftentimes by plain robberies & force do steal other mens goods, that they may have wherewith to maintain their charges and sumptuous expenses. As we see by daily experience, that covetous persons and the rich men of this world, that be given to riot & superfluity, use to give little or nothing at all to the poor.

And although many men in this worlde, get their lyuyng and ryches by crafte and deceipte, yet let vs absteyne from such vnlawful meanes. For they do rather bryng pouertye to a man, then ryches.