A19564:395
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.
¶A sermon of the authority of the Keys.¶A sermon of the authoritie of the Kayes.
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, you shall give due reverence & honour to the ministers of the church, and shall not meanly or lightly esteem them in the execution of their office, but you shall take them for gods ministers, and the messengers of our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christ himself sayeth in the gospel. He that heareth you, heareth me. And he that despiseth you, despiseth me.1 wherefore good children, you shall steadfastly believe all those things, which such ministers shall speak unto you, from the mouth, and by the commandment of our ⟨p. ccxxxi⟩Lord Jesus Christ. And what soever they do to you, as when they baptise you, when they give you absolution, and distribute to you the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, these you shall so esteem, as if Christ himself in his own person, did speak, and minister unto you. For Christ hath commanded his ministers to do this unto you, and he himself, (although you see him not with your bodily eyes) is present with his ministers, and worketh by the holy ghost in the administration of his sacraments. And on the other side, you shall take good heed, & beware of false and privy preachers, which privily crepe into cities, and preach in corners, having none authority, nor being called to this office. For Christ is not present with such preachers▪ ⟨image 253⟩and therefore doth not the holy ghost work by their preaching, but their word is without fruit or profit, and they do great hurt in common wealths. For such as be not called of God, they no doubt of it do err, and sow abroad heresy and naughty doctrine. And yet you shall not think good children, that preachers which be lawfully called, have authority to do or teach what soever shall please them. But our Lord Jesus Christ, hath given them plain instructions, what they ought to teach and do. And if they teach or do any other thing, then is contained in their commission, then it is of no force, nor we ought not to regard it. And for this cause our saviour Christ did breath into his disciples, and gave them the holy ghost. For where the holy ghost is, there he ⟨p. ccxxxii⟩so worketh, that he causeth us to do those things which Christ hath commanded. And wham that is not done, than the holy ghost is not there. Wherefore all things which we shall so speak or do, can take none effect.