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…

For in this standeth a Christian, and holy life, that as our since be forgiven us by Christ, so we ought ever to withstand sin, that we suffer it not to enter in to us, or to reign over us. For what a monstrous thing should Christen religion be? if we that be Christen men, (which confess sin to be nought & against God, and desire God to forgive us our sin) should continue still and walk in sin, after that God most mercifully hath forgiven us the same.

For in this stādeth a Christian, and holy lyfe, that as oure synnes be forgyuen vs by Christ, so we ought euer to withstande synne, that we suffer it not to enter in to vs, or to raigne ouer vs. For what a monstrous thynge should Christen relygion be? yf we that be Christen menne, (whiche confesse synne to be nought & against God, and desier God to forgyue vs our synne) shoulde contynewe still and walke in synne, after that God most mercyefully hath forgyuen vs the same.

Also we may easily withstand temptation and sin, if we believe truly, and pray earnestly. For we have learned in the doctrine of faith, that we can not be righteous pure and holy of our selves, but the holy ⟨p. cxcix⟩ghost doth purify cleanse and hallow us. And if we believe this steadfastly, then we ought to pray with a fervent spirit, and say thus. Lord our heavenly father, we be seche the suffer us not to be led into temptation. And if we thus pray, then God will hear us, and will give us strength against him that tempteth us, and against his temptation. For a Christen mans life, is a continual war upon earth, & so long as we live in this world, we may not look to have peace or quietness, but as in the sea one wave cometh after an other, so in this world one temptation followeth an other. So that, when we have overcome one temptation, by and by, an other is at hand, peradventure greater then the first. Wherefore in this sixth petition, we do not pray thus. O heavenly father, ⟨image 222⟩grant that we may have no temptations, but we say thus. O heavenly father suffer us not to be led into temptation. To be led into temptation, is when God suffereth, the greatness of temptation so to grow, that we be not able to overcome the same, but be so deceived & blinded by the devil, that sin is pleasant unto us, and we see nothing in the same but pleasure and profit, and consider not the anger of God due for sin, nor the poison that lieth hid in the same, nor the pain that shall follow thereof, and so we persuade our selves, that we have no more need to watch or fight against sin, but do consent to temptation, and yield our selves into the hands of our enemies. This Christ calleth to be led into temptation, as in our common speech we are wont to say. This