The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…

And as for confirmation, it is no doubt but that it came this wise up, & ¹that this was the use, which the word it self well declareth. We read in the stories, that they which were converted unto the faith of the age of discretion, ²were full taught in the law of God (as right is) and in the faith of our saviour Jesus, ere they were baptised, & upon the profession or promising to to keep that law and faith, were baptised. And then for the s•ccour & help of young children, baptised before the age of discretion, to know the law of God and faith of Christ was confirmation instituted, that they should not be alway ignorant and faithless, but be taught the profession of their Baptism. And this no doubt was the manner, as we may well gather by probable conjectures and evident tokens, when the children were of six or seven years old, their elders brought them unto the priest or Deacon in every parish, which officer taught the children what their baptism meant, & what they had professed therein: that is to wit: the law of God and their duty unto all degrees, and the faith of our saviour. And then because it should not be neglect or left undone, an higher officer, as the Archdeacon (for it hath not been as I suppose in the Bishops hands alway as now, neither were it meet) came about from parish to parish, at ³times convenient. And the Priests brought the children unto him at xj. or xii. year old, before they were admitted to receive the sacrament of Christs body haply. And he apposed them of the law of God and faith of Christ, & asked them, whether they thought that law good, and whether their hearts were to follow it. And they answered yea.

And as for confirmation, it is no doubt but that it came this wise vp, & ¹that this was the vse, which the word it selfe well declareth. We read in the stories, that they which were conuerted vnto the fayth of the age of discretion, ²were full taught in the law of God (as right is) and in the fayth of our sauiour Iesus, yer they were baptised, & vppon the profession or promising to to keepe that law and faith, were baptised. And then for the sccour & helpe of young children, baptised before the age of discretion, to know the lawe of God and fayth of Christ was confirmation instituted, that they should not be alway ignoraunt and faythlesse, but be taught the profession of their Baptim. And this no doubt was the maner, as we may well gather by probable coniectures and euident tokens, when the children were of sixe or seuen yeares olde, their elders brought them vnto the priest or Deacon in euery parish, which officer taught the children what their baptim ment, & what they had professed therein: that is to wete: the law of God and their dutie vnto al degrees, and the faith of our sauiour. And then because it should not be neglect or left vndone, an higher officer, as the Archdeacon (for it hath not bene as I suppose in the Byshops handes alway as now, neither were it meete) came about from parish to parishe, at