A19564:97
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.
In the mean time you shall specially mark, that although every man hath need to labour daily for his daily food, yet God hath given us Sabbath days or resting times, in the which he hath commanded not only the masters themselves but also their servants and cattle to cease from bodily labours. And yet on those days he fedeth us aswell as on the working days. By the which, he signifieth unto us, that although we toil not continually until we be weary, yet he will give us abundantly all things necessary, when we obey his will, & first of all, seek the kingdom of God, that all other things may be given us.
In the meane tyme you shall specially marke, that althoughe euery man hath nede to labour daily for his dayly fode, yet God hath gyuen vs Sabboth dayes or resting tymes, in the whiche he hath commaunded not onelye the maisters themselues but also their seruantes and cattel to cesse from bodily labores. And yet on those dayes he fedeth vs aswel as on the workynge dayes. By the whiche, he signifieth vnto vs, that althoughe we toyle not continually vntil we be wery, yet he wil gyue vs aboū dantly all thinges necessarie, when we obey his will, & first of all, seke the kyngdome of God, that all other thinges maye be gyuen vs.
Hitherto good children you have been taught in what holy works you ought to spend the Sabbath ⟨p. xxxv⟩day, now it shall be declared unto you, how great a sin it is, not to sanctify the same. The which sin is then committed when we upon the holy days do not hear with great diligence and reverence, sermons & the most fruitful word of God, when we do not give our minds to prayer, and other Godly works, but to idleness, eating, drinking, banqueting, dancing, lechery, dicing, carding, backbiting, slandering and other ungodly works. For the which abuse of holy days God is grievously provoked and punisheth us grievously with diverse kinds of plagues, but specially with need and poverty. For so God threateneth in the .xxviii. chapter of Deuteronomy,1 that men shall labour and toil both day and night, and yet shall not be able