A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

And although •n these beginnings of the restoring and repairing of the decays •f the Church, the sincerity of doctrine and familiar manner of teaching was not in all points such ⟨image 21⟩as was to be wished, yet no•• withstanding these manners and forms teaching be very meet for to remedy and help those inconveniences which I have spoken of heretofore. And this I dare well say that there shall not •• found either in times past or to come any such work published and set abroad whereby to have a brief and perfect knowledge of the whole Christian religion as is the Catechism of this Church of Geneva▪ god be praised therefore, and his faithful servants labour acknowledged, which hath so haply and profitably travailed in this work Although there be I know dogs both far of and near which bark after him, and except for barking they would be as dumb, as dumb Fishes: but when as they meet with beasts of their own kind then they be at liberty to prate and babble without knowledge. But to return to my purpose, I confess that it was not greatly needful to set for the ⟨image 21⟩this confession after that Catechism whereof I have spoken. Nevertheless because men are given in heavenly food even like as they be in bodily meats to wit that one and the same meat, shall please some in one kind of dressing, and other in an other kind or way: I have enforced my self something more to dilate and declare matters at large: as one that would not so much teach the auditors which are already bent and willing to hear and learn in the church of God▪ as also to answer those which do with stand the truth of GOD, or at the least those which be in doubt in which side to turn themselves. I hope with the grace of him whose honour I have regarded in this little work, that my labour shall not be without profit, neither for those which suffer them selves to be persuaded in any thing that may •ee invented against us either in •yfe or doctrine, nor for those which ⟨image 22⟩