A19564:375
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.
For a christen man hath the certain word of God, ⟨image 237⟩where upon he may ground his conscience, that he is made a christen man, and is one of Christs members which he is assured of by baptism. For he that is baptised, may assuredly say thus. I am not now in this wavering opinion, that I only suppose my self to be a christian man, but I am in a sure belief, that I am made a Christen man. For I know for a surety that I am baptised, & I am sure also, that baptism was ordained of God, and that he which baptised me, did it by gods commission and commandment. And the holy ghost doth witness, that he which is baptised, hath put upon him Christ. Wherefore the holy ghost in my baptism assureth me, that I am a Christen man. And this is a true and sincere faith, which is able to stand against the gates ⟨p. ccxv⟩of hell, forasmuch as it hath for it the evidence of gods word, and leaneth not to any mans saying or opinion. Furthermore good children, you shall diligently learn, the cause, wherefore we are baptised. You have already heard, that by baptism we be borne again. The cause of this our second birth, is, the sinfulness and filthiness of our first birth. For by our first nativity (when we were borne of our fathers and mothers) all we were borne in sin, and when we issued out of our mothers womb we were laden with sin and Gods anger, as it was at large declared unto you in the exposition of the ten commandments, and specially in the last commandment. For as Adam did sin, and by sin was so corrupted both in his body and soul, that by his own power or ⟨image 238⟩strength he was not able to do any good thing, even so all the children & offspring of Adam be borne sinners, so that they can not be justified by themselves or by their own strength but are inclined and bent to sin at all times. And as saint Paul sayeth,1 by nature they be the children of Gods wrath. That is to say, God is angry with us for those since, which by nature be, as it were, a kin to us, and we be borne with them into this world. But when we be borne again by baptism, then our sins he forgiven us, and the holy ghost is given us, which doth make us all so holy, & doth move us to all goodness.