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…

Some set their trust in their own works, thinking that by them they may be delivered from sin, reconciled to the favour of God, justified before him, and by them also to attain eternal salvation. These have their merits & works in the stead of God. This is the greatest idolatry that can be under the sun, and a plain denial of the faith in christ, as here after it shall be declared unto you at large in the treatise of faith. Other there be that be servants to their own belies giving them selves holly to eating and drinking, & bodily pleasures, so much that in comparison of bodily pleasures they either despise or else forget God. Such men make their belie ⟨p. xvi⟩their God, as saint Paul writeth of them saying. Some there be which selling the word of God do teach perversely whose God is their belly. But that thing where in they do now glory, shall be their confusion. By these examples you may easily perceive, how by to much fearing, trusting and loving, we make a God of a creature, which in deed is not God. And besides these abuses, there is an other that maketh an idol of yt true and living God. And that is when we imagine by our own heads an other form or shape of god & his will, than is true in deed, and otherwise than he himself hath declared to us in his word. As for an example, when we believe that God is a bodily thing having hands, feet & other members like a man, or that he is more pleased ⟨image 24⟩with wearing of a grey friars coal or hallowed garments, than with any other seemly apparel, or that he delight with our wilworkes and worshippings, which he never commanded, but we of our brains have devised them. Such fantasy and false opinion, I say, maketh an idol of the true God, & it is a great offence against the first & chief commandment. But of this you shall hear more in other sermons.

Some set their trust in their owne wourkes, thinkyng that by them they may be deliuered from synne, reconcyled to the fauour of God, iustified before him, and by them also to atteyne eternal saluacion. These haue their merites & wourkes in the steade of God. This is the greatest ydolatrie that can be vnder the sunne, and a playne denyall of the fayth in christ, as here after it shall be declared vnto you at large in the treatise of fayth. Other ther be that be seruaūtes to their owne belyes gyuynge theim selues holly to eatynge and drynking, & bodely pleasures, somuch yt in cōparisō of bodily pleasures they eyther dispise or elles forget God. Such men make their belie