A19564:82
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.
Wherefore good children, fear the Lord, and take not his holy name in vain, beware of idolatry forswore not, abstain ⟨image 50⟩from oaths and curses, refrain your tongues, from all untruths, railings, scoffs and jests when you talk of holy scripture or matters concerning religion, fly from all kind of witchcraft and enchantments. For to this commandment god hath added a special threatening, saying thus. He shall not be guiltless before the lord that taketh his name in vain. Believe surely good children, that these be very weighty words and of great importance, and think not thus with your selves, what? is this so great a matter? I spake not these words in earnest, but in board. I pray you for Christs sake do not defend your fault with such excuses, but beware that you take not in vain the name of God▪ nether in earnest nor in sport. For the holy name of God is to be ⟨p. xxvi⟩worshipped with all honour and religion and he that doth not obey this commandment, him the lord shall not count guiltless but shall punish him grievously. And when God punisheth, he sendeth among us sicknesses, pestilence, hunger, dearth, battle, robberies, sedition, manslaughter, & such like, with these plagues he taketh vengeance on our sins. Therefore we ought to fear his wrath, and not to take his name in vain. Hither to you have heard five ways whereby we may take the name of God in vain, now it shall be declared unto you how you should rightly and duly use the name of God. Consider that we be professed in to our religion, and baptised by the name of God, wherefore good children listen diligently to this lesson, and learn that we ought to ⟨image 51⟩use the name of God three ways, by invocation and calling upon him, by confession of his name and his word, & by thanks giving.
Wherfore good childeren, feare the Lorde, and take not hys holy name in vayne, beware of ydolatrye forsware not, absteine ⟨image 50⟩from othes and curses, refrayne your tongues, from al vntruthes, raylynges, skoffes and iestes whē you talke of holy scripture or matiers concernyng religion, flye frō all kynde of wytchecrafte and inchauntementes. For to this commaūdemēt god hath added a speciall threatenynge, saynige thus. He shall not be giltles before the lord that taketh his name in vayne. Beleue surely good children, that these be veray weyghty wourdes and of great importaunce, and thinke not thus with your selfes, what? is this so great a mater? I spake not these wourdes in ernest, but in borde. I pray you for Christes sake do not defende your fault with such excuses, but beware that you take not in vaine the name of God nether in ernest nor in sport. For the holy name of God is to be