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…

Now the sum of the commission which Christ gave to his disciples, was this, that they should preach repentance, and forgiveness of sin, in his name. And he added thereto, both a promise & a threatening, saying. He that will believe, and be baptised, shall be saved. But he that will not believe, shall be damned. Wherefore all things which the ministers of the church do say or do to us, ought to be directed to this end, that they may loose us, and declare unto us, the forgiveness of our since, when we truly repent, and believe in Christ. ⟨image 254⟩But when we do not repent us of our sin, and forsake the same, or do not believe the gospel, then they ought to bind or reserve sin, and to declare unto us, that if we still continue in sin, we shall be damned for ever. And when the ministers do thus execute their commission, then they obey God, & whose since soever they forgive in earth, their since be forgiven in heaven also. And contrary wise, whom soever they bind in earth, their sins be bound also in heaven. But if the ministers would enterprise to do contrary to their con mission, that is to say, to forgive since to unrepentant sinners and unbelievers, or to bind their since and deny them absolution, that be repentant and trust in the mercy of God, then they should not do well, nor their act ⟨p. ccxxiii⟩should be of any force, but they should deceive themselves, and other also. And than should that be true, that Christ speaketh in the gospel. When the blind leadeth the blind, both fall into the ditch. But when the ministers do truly execute their office, you ought good children, to take great comfort, and to confirm your faith thereby, that you may steadfastly believe, and in all temptations answer your adversary the devil after this manner. God hath sent to me one of his ministers, he in the name and place of God, hath declared to me the forgiveness of my since, and hath baptised me in the assurance of the same.

Now the summe of the commission whiche Christ gaue to his dysciples, was this, that they shoulde preache repentaunce, and forgyuenes of synne, in his name. And he added therto, bothe a promise & a threatnyng, saying. He that wil beleue, and be baptised, shalbe saued. But he that wil not beleue, shall be damned. Wherfore all thinges whiche the ministers of ye churche do saye or do to vs, ought to be directed to this ende, yt they maye lowse vs, and declare vnto vs, the forgyuenes of our synnes, whē we truly repent, and beleue in Christ.