A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

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. ⟨image 20⟩After this when it pleased god to erect •p again the banner of his Church, which had been long time overthrown: this custom not one the most laudable, but also most necessary •as erected up again, yea to more edification then ever it was, as me thin•eth, and as in very deed experience and time must needs teach the •ysest sort of men some thing. For •hey have not only set forth the ancient manner to catechise, that is to ay, to instruct by mouth those that are lately entered into the church of god, y rncipall points of Christian religion orderly and briefly, but also too uoyde many inconveniences, those Catechisms were set forth and written for a singular profit, both great and small.