A19564:376
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.
Wherefore good children when a man is baptised, it is as much to say, as he doth there confess, that he is a sinner, and that he is under the rule and governance of ⟨p. ccxvi⟩sin, so that of himself he can not be good or righteous. And therefore he cometh to baptism, and there seeketh for help and remedy, and desireth God, first to forgive him his since, & at length to deliver him clearly from all sin, and perfectly to heal his soul from the sickness of sin, as the physician doth perfectly heal his patient from bodily diseases. And for his part he promiseth to God again, and solemnly voweth, that he will fight against sin with all his strength and power, & that he will gladly bear the cross, and all such afflictions, as it shall please God to lay upon him, and that also he will be content to dye, that he may be perfectly healed and delivered from sin. For God doth forgive us our since by faith, but by afflictions and death, he doth take ⟨image 239⟩them clean away, as saint Peter witnesseth,1 saying. He that suffereth or is afflicted in the flesh, doth cease from sin. And saint Paul sayeth, he that is dead, is justified or delivered from sin. These be the promises, which we make, when we are baptised. And of this mind must all they be, which shall have any fruit by baptism. Wherefore seeing all you that be here are already baptised, continue I pray you in this good mind and purpose, knowledge in your hearts before God, that you be sinners, be sorry for the same, and pray to God, to heal and deliver you from your sin. Beware you fall not to sin again, have no delight in sin, nor sin not willingly. But be godly and holy, and suffer gladly such afflictions, as God shall lay upon your backs. And if you do thus, ⟨p. ccxvii⟩then your baptism shall be avail able unto you, & God shall work in you by his holy spirit, and shall finish in you all those things which by baptism he hath begun. Hitherto you have heard, what we promise to God, when we are baptised, now learn also I pray you, what God worketh in us by baptism, & what benefits he giveth us in the same. For baptism is not water alone, and nothing else besides, but it is the water of god, and hath his strength by the word of God, and is a seal of gods promise. Wherefore it doth work in us, all those things, where unto God hath ordained it. For our Lord Jesus Christ sayeth.