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…

And this also is to be reproved, that some men, which continue in manifest and open sin, and go not about to amend their lives, yet they will be counted christen men, ⟨image 258⟩and enterprise to receive the same sacraments, that other do, to come to the church, to worship God, and to pray with other. Such must be warned of their faults, and if they refuse to hear and amend, then they ought to be excommunicate and put out of the christen congregation, until they repent and amend their lives. Lest by such manifest sin and evil examples, other men might be provoked to do the like and so at length many might be infected, and the Christen religion despised and evil spoken of, as though it were the worst religion, forasmuch as Christian men should than lead a shameful and ungodly life. And so by this means, the name of God, and God himself, might be blasphemed among the heathen people. And although those canons, ordinances ⟨p. ccxxvii⟩and rites, which be agreeable to the gospel, (and were ordained in time past, to punish such open transgressors and malefactors) are now in our time almost utterly abolished and taken away, yet for this cause we ought not to despise or cast away, the authority & use of the keys. For they which presumptuously do cast away all pokes of ecclesiastical discipline or chastisement, & do let, that such kind of correction, which is agreeable to the gospel, may not be restored again, shall have without doubt God for their judge. But let us pray our Lord Jesus Christ, that as it hath pleased him to restore unto us his most blessed word, and the true understā ding of the same, so also he will vouchsafe to render and send again to us, these and such like ⟨image 259⟩good and wholesome ordinances, agreeable to his word.

And this also is to be reproued, that some men, whiche continue in manyfest and open synne, and go not about to amende their lyfes, yet they wil be counted christē mē, ⟨image 258⟩and interpryse to receaue the same sacramētes, that other do, to come to ye churche, to worship God, and to praye with other. Suche muste be warned of their fautes, and yf they refuse to heare and amende, then they ought to be excommunicate and put out of the christen cō gregation, vntil they repente and amende their lyfes. Lest by suche manifest sinne and euel examples, other men might be prouoked to do the lyke and so at length many might be infected, and the Christē religyon dispysed and euel spoken of, as thoughe it wer the worst relygyon, forasmuche as Christian men shoulde thā leade a shameful and vngodly lyfe. And so by this meanes, ye name of God, and God himselfe, might be blasphemed amonge the heathen people. And althoughe those canons, ordynances