A68595:44
A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith
A brief and pithy sum of the Christian faith made in form of a confession, with a confutation of all such superstitious errors, as are contrary thereunto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of French by R.F.A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.
London: printed by Richard Serll, 1565
Preface: ❧ Theodore de Beze. to the Church of the Lord, grace and peace in him.
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.
At the first I made this but for mine ⟨image 19⟩own use, and to satisfy him who required of me. But since partly by the advise of certain good and learned men, and also being moved with certain reasons which me thought were of importance, I was easily persuaded to have it set abroad.
At the first I made this but for mine ⟨image 19⟩own vse, and to satisfie him who required of me. But since partly by the aduyse of certayne good and learned mē, and also being moued with certayne reasons whiche mee thought were of importance, I was easely persuaded to haue it set abroade.
For first, I know, that among those which persecute the Gospel of God in his members, there be many that offend thorough ignorance whom it is very hard to make understand how much they be deceived, except before they be put to the reading of the texts of the scripture, they have some brief instruction which may open the matter plain unto them, and accustom them with the manner of speech of the holy ghost for to gather out the true sense and meaning, & refer the whole to the right use and end. Moreover, even among those which have some understanding of gods truth, I know that there be many very negligent and slow to read the scriptures, ⟨image 20⟩because they know not the treasures which therein be contained. And many also, although they read the scriptures diligently, as all christians ought principally to do, and can after a sort discern ••e true exposition from the false, yet nevertheless have not so ready judgment and such capacity, that they can aptly set & agree together those texts which they find dispersed in diverse places of one matter for to comprehend them w•ll, to their edifying and instruction. And this is the cause why in the church of Christ so long as it was well governed, there was evermore an instruction called a Catechism, for those that were lately come to the knowledge of the eternal god. But this very word Catechism declareth that this Instruction was rather by word of mouth then otherwise And I think that from thence did proceed the symbol of the Apostles as we call it, the exposition whereof was declared by mouth in y church.