A19564:331
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 according to this promise, Christ our master hath taught us to pray after this sort. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them, that trespass against us. For it were not reasonable ⟨p. clxxxix⟩nor agreeing to justice, that we should require God to forgive us our trespasses against him, when we are not minded to forgive our neighbours, their offences against us. Nor God would never hear us, if we should so pray. For if we have causes, why we will not forgive our neighbours, then surely God hath both mo & more weighty causes, wherefore he will not forgive us. So that if God were minded to forgive us our since, yet if we be not minded to forgive our neighbours, he would stay, and (as it were) call again this his purpose, by the reason of our uncharitableness and disobedience, as Christ himself doth plainly teach us,1 by the example of the servant, which after he had his debt forgiven him, was compelled to pay all the money whereof ⟨image 212⟩before he was discharged, by his masters pardon, because he would not forgive his fellow. Wherefore good children, accustom your selves even from your tender age, gladly to forgive them, that have offended you. Be not desirous to revenge your own quarrels, and then your heavenly father, will also forgive you. If you be angry, sin not,2 nor let not the sun set upon your anger. For it is not possible, that any man can truly believe that God hath forgiven him his since, when he himself is not willing to forgive his neighbour. Wherefore God our heavenly father did not intend to hurt or hinder us, when he said, that he would not forgive us, except we did forgive other, and if we forgive our neighbours their offences, that then he will also forgive us. But God ⟨p. cxc⟩did knit this condition to this promise, for our great wealth and benefit. For under these words, there lieth hide great comfort, for troubled consciences, where unto if you will listen diligently, ye shall know the singular goodness of God and his fatherly love towards you. It is not unknown to God, how hard a thing it is for us to believe, that God freely and for his mere mercy will pardon us when we have offended him.