A19564:353
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 now to the intent, that you may the better understand this petition, you shall know (good children) that this word, evil, doth not signify in this place, only sin, against God's commandments, and unbelief against God's promise, but here it betokeneth all kind of adversity and affliction, which we suffer for our since, either in our bodies, souls, honours or riches, as ignorance, blindness of mind, sadness, sorrow, trouble of conscience, faintness of the heart, sickness of the body, poverty, ⟨p. ccii⟩slanders, despising, reproaches, persecutions, battle, sedition, hunger, pestilence, & all plagues, with the which Satan doth afflict and trouble us, either by himself, or by the wicked world, whereof he is prince and governor. The which evils no man can number nor rehearse, for they be without number, and increase daily more and more. For the devil in this latter time doeth daily more and more rage against the true church and people of God, forasmuch as he perceiveth,1 that his kingdom draweth to an end, and a short time remaineth until the day of judgement come, and his everlasting damnation.
And now to the intent, that you may the better vnderstande thys petition, you shall knowe (good children) that this word, euel, doth not sygnifie in thys place, onely synne, against Goddes commaundementes, and vnbelefe agaynst Goddes promyse, but here it betokeneth all kinde of aduersitie and affliction, whiche we suffer for our synnes, eyther in oure bodies, soules, honors or riches, as ignorāce, blyndnes of mynd, sadnes, sorow, trouble of conscience, fayntnes of the heart, sickenes of the body, pouertie, ⟨p. ccii⟩sclaunders, dispising, reproches, persecutions, battayle, sedition, hunger, pestilence, & al plages, with the which Satā doth afflict and trouble vs, either by hymself, or by ye wicked world, wherof he is prince and gouernoure. The whiche euyls no man can numbre nor reherse, for they be without numbre, and encrease daylye more and more. For the deuyll in this lattre tyme doeth dayly more and more rage against the true churche and people of God, forasmuche as he perceyuethe,1 that hys kyngdome draweth to an ende, and a shorte tyme remayneth vntyll the day of iudgemente come, and his euerlastynge damnation.