A19564:380
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.
By this which I have hitherto spoken, I trust you understand good children, wherefore baptism ⟨p. ccxix⟩is called the bath of regeneration, and how in baptism we be borne again and be made new creatures in Christ. The which doctrine you shall the better understand, if you consider in what condition you were, before you were baptised, and in what state you stand in, after your baptism.
By thys which I haue hetherto spoken, I trust you vnderstāde good children, wherfore baptisme ⟨p. ccxix⟩is called the bath of regeneratiō, and howe in baptisme we be borne agayne and be made new creatures in Christe. The whiche doctryne you shall the better vnderstande, yf you consider in what cō dition you were, before you were baptised, and in what state you stande in, after your baptisme.
First before we were baptised it is evident, that we were sinners, and he that is a sinner, can have no peace nor quietness of conscience before he come to Christ, so much he feareth God's wroth and everlasting damnation. But after that our since, in baptism be forgiven us, and we believe the promise of God, and so by our faith be justified, than our consciences be quieted, and we be glad and merry, trusting assuredly, that God is no more angry with us ⟨image 242⟩for our former offences, and that we shall not be damned for the same And this is a marvellous alteration and renewing of the inward man the which could be wrought by the power of no creature, but by God alone. Also before we were baptised, we were slaves and bondmen to sin, so that we neither could do that good, which we would have done, nor could keep us from that evil, which we would not have done, as saint Paul complaineth of himself.1 But when by baptism the holy ghost was given us, the which did spread abroad the love of god in our hearts, and did also deliver us from the bondage and tyranny of sin, and gave us new strength & power, to wrestle against sin, and manfully to withstand our ghostly enemy the