Catechismus, 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

The thirde sermon of our Sanctification.

NOwe remayneth the third parte of the Crede to be declared, whiche entreateth of our sanctificatiō, how we be made holy. And it is spokē

in these wordes.

¶I beleue in the holy gost / the holy catholicke churche / the communion of saynctes / the forgyue∣nes of synnes / the risyng agayne of the bodye and lyfe euerlastyng. Amen.

IN the seconde parte of the Crede (which trea∣teth of our Redempti∣on and pryce giuen for vs) you haue bene taughte (good children) to knowe the seconde per¦sone in Trinitie, Iesus Christe what he is, and what he hath done for vs, that he was made man for our sakes, that he toke vpon him our synnes, and suffered for vs y^e

feare and panges of deathe & hel, and had victory ouer them by hys passiō and death. And after by his godly and victorious power he a∣rose again from death to lyfe. And after this most glorious conquest, he ascended into heauen, where he sitteth at the ryghte hande of his father, & is our Lorde, and we his seruantes derely boughte.

All this you haue learned in the last sermon, but now good childrē, in this thirde parte of the Crede, you shall lerne to knowe the thirde person in trinitie, y^e holy gost, and also his benefites and giftes that we maye knowe, what we haue re∣ceyued of God after our redēpti∣on, wherby we may be made mete to come to euerlastynge lyfe tho∣rough the merites of Christ. For althoughe our Lord Iesus Christ, hath redemed vs from y^e captiui∣tie

of synne death and hel, and hath set vs agayne in the fauor of God, yet we should haue no knowledge of these great benefites, we should feale in our cōsciences no comforte ioy or peace, by the same, yf they were not declared vnto vs by the preachīg of gods most holy word.

And our consciences should styl remaine troubled, and the feare of eternal death, and all noughty de∣siers and concupiscences of the frayle fleshe, shoulde euer remaine in vs (euē as frō Adams time thei be in vs as sone as we be borne) and so we shuld be vtterly vnapte to the kyngdō of God & lyfe euer∣lasting, yf we shulde stil remayne, as we be borne. For yf we wyl be the heyres of god & euerlastynge lyfe, we must be borne agayne, & sanctified or made holy, as apper∣teyneth to y^e childrē of y^e most holy

God. Nowe this newe birthe and sanctification, the holy gost wor∣keth in vs. And therfore he is cal∣led the holy gost, because al thing that is sanctified or hallowed, is sanctified or made holy by hym. Wherfore when the holy goost is not in man, then it is not possible that he should be holy, althoughe he dyd all the good workes vnder y^e sunne. And for this cause saincte Paule, writing to the Romaines,* 1.1 doth cal the holy gost, the spirite of sanctification, that is to say, the spirit that maketh holynes. Lerne therefore good children, that al we must be made holy and newe men, by the vertue of the holy gost, and that we can not atteyne this ho∣lines by our awn strength or wor∣kes, and therfore we must beleue in the holy gost that he wil sancty∣fye vs at such tyme and place, and

after that sorte & maner, as it shall please him. And it is our part to gyue place to his workynge & not to w^tstande thesame. And therfore we saye in this Crede, I beleue in the holy gost. But it is necessarye some thynges here to speake of the maner of sanctification, how and after what maner y^e holy gost doth hallowe vs, y^t we maye so prepare our selfes, or rather gyue place to the holy goost whiche preuenteth vs, that he with his lyght and al∣mighty strenght and power maye worke hys wyll in vs.

Now I desier you to marke dy∣ligently, by what meanes & fashi∣on the holy gost dothe worke thys sanctification or halowyng in vs. After y^t our Lorde Iesus Christ by his death passion and resurrec∣tion had redemed vs, and obtey∣ned for vs, that our synnes should

be forgyuen, and we be made the childrē of God, shortly after in the feest of Pētecoste, he sent down vp on his Apostles the holy goost in the lykenes of fyery tongues. The whiche holy goost gaue them wysdome connynge audacitie and constācie, to teach boldly this holy gospell of Christe, that is to saye, this christen faith whereof we do speake. And where they could not be presēt thēselfe, or long abide & continew in their awne persons, thither they sent their disciples & other godly & learned mē, & to thē they gaue the holy gost, by layng their hādes vpō their heades. And this rite or ceremonie, to ordē prea¦chers & mynisters of gods worde, hath cōtinued in the churche euen from the Apostles tyme vnto this day, and shall endure vnto the worldes ende. For saincte Paule

saieth. How shal men beleue with∣out a preacher? And how shal men preache, excepte they be sente? And here you may learne, that this ho∣ly gospel whiche we preache, and the doctrine of y^e grace of Christe, taught in the hole churche, cōmeth not of the wil of mā, but by the cō∣maūdemēt of God, & by y^e motion of the holy gost which doth sturre vp mēs myndes, to publishe gods most holy worde, and doth worke by his secret inspiration in the pre∣chers and ministers of the same. For they wer not able so muche as to open their moughtes, to teache so highe mysteries and heauenlye wysedome, yf the holy gost did not moue theim therto, and worke in theim. Neyther wolde the hearers so greatlye esteme the preachers worde, and giue so good eare vnto it, excepte the holy goost dyd par∣suade

theym, that y^e doctrine of the gospell, wer of God and cam from heauen. Now the holy goost wor∣keth by this worde on this fashiō. First he that beleueth y^e gospel, and receaueth the doctrine of Christ, is made the sonne of God, as sayncte Iohn witnesseth in his gospel,* 1.2 sai∣yng. As manye as receiue him, he hath gyuē them power to be made the children of God. For when we beleue in Christ, and are baptised, then we be borne agayne, and are made the children of God. And when we be his children, then he gyueth the holy gost into our har∣tes, as sainct Paule testifieth wri∣tyng thus.* 1.3 Forasmuche as you be now the children of God, therfore God hath sent the spirite of hys sonne into your hartes, which cry∣eth, Abba, father. And when we haue receaued y^e holy gost, he doth

kyndle in our hartes true loue to∣warde God, as saincte Paull wri∣teth in the pistle to the Romaynes in the fifthe chapter. The loue of God (saith he) is poured abrode in our hartes, by the holy gost which is gyuen to vs. And where as the true loue of God raygneth, there are gods commaundements kept, and there begynneth a certen obe∣dience to his wil and pleasure. Forthermore the holy goost dothe staye the fleshe and y^e lustes of the∣same, and helpeth vs to ouercome theim, that we be not caried away by them, but may continew in clen¦nes and holynes of lyfe. These be the benefites and workes of y^e ho∣ly gost in vs. And to thentent you maye the more easely beare them awaye, I wil (as briefly as I can) repete theym agayne vnto you. First of all y^e holy gost prouoketh

& stirreth vp men, to preache gods worde. Than he moueth mēs har∣tes to faith, & calleth them to bap∣tisme, and than by faith and bap∣tisme he worketh so, y^t he maketh vs newe men agayne. And whē we be thus newely borne and made a∣gain, and be bicome the children of God, then the holy gost doth dwel in vs and make vs holy & godly, that we may be y^e temples of God, in whome God maye dwell and inhabite. Also thys holy ghoste doeth daylye more and more en∣crease and establyshe our faythe, that we lyke moste louing childrē maie colle and embrace our heuē∣ly father, and hang fast about his necke. The same holy goost doeth also assure and warrant vs, that our synnes be forgyuen, and that our pardon is signed with Gods seal. He doeth also kyndle in vs a

feruent loue towardes God, and maketh vs wylling to kepe gods law and commaundementes, and helpeth vs also to fyght agaynste synne, and to wythstande oure yll appetites and desyers. Further∣more with the crosse of syckenes & diuerse other kindes of afflictions and aduersities, the holy gooste doth as it were, crucifie and mor∣tifie vs to the world, that we may lyue to Christ. And this worke he woorketh continually in vs, and cesseth not vntil he hath wrought in oure hartes a perfecte faythe & a perfect charitie, and vntyl synne and all euell desyres be cleane at lengthe purged oute of vs, by the death of our bodies. And then we shalbe perfecte in all holines, and cleane delyuered from all synne & aduersitie, and be heires of oure fathers kyngdome, and hys true

and most derely beloued children,

Wherefore good chyldren, as heretofore you haue bene taught, that we oughte to beleue in God the father that made vs, and in God the sonne that redemed or boughte vs, so you muste nowe learne to beleue in the holy goste that hathe hallowed vs, and doth cōtinually more and more renew and make holy, all those that be∣leue the gospell. For he that bele∣ueth in Iesus Christe, that he is oure Lorde and oure redemer, to him God gyueth the holy gost, to make him holye and ryghtuouse. As sayncte Paule witnesseth, sai∣yng. No man can cal Iesus, lord, but by the holy goste. And for as∣much, as now it hath ben plaine∣lie declared vnto you, after what sorte and manner the holy gooste doth sanctifie vs, it is your part,

not onely to emprynt this lesson diligently in youre myndes, but also to desier God, with continu∣all and earnest prayers, that he wyll vouchesafe more and more to sanctifie you.

And as muche as lyeth in you, ap¦ply your selfes to heare godly ser∣mons and gyue youre hartes to God lyke waxe, apte and mete to receyue what thyng so euer it shal please him to prynt in you.

For he that is wyllynge and glad to lysten to godly sermons, he that is studyous to learne the word of god, wherin christ is prea¦ched, & w^t a stedfast faith cleueth to y^e promise of y^e gospel▪ he is ma∣de partaker of this Sāctificatiō and holynesse, and of this so great comforte, and euerlastyng salua∣tion. For God sayeth by his pro∣phet Esaye. My worde shall not

returne to me in vayne. And saynct Paule sayeth, that the gos∣pell is the power of God, where wyth he wourketh the saluation of all them that beleue.

Nowe the rest that folowethe in the Crede, is a shorte declara∣tion of these thynges before reher¦sed. For it foloweth in the Crede.

I beleue the holy catholycke churche, that is to saye, all godly and Christē men must beleue, that the gospel or doctryne of goddes grace thorowe the merites of oure sauiour Iesus Christ, is neuer in vayne published in the worlde, or sowed abrode without fruit, but euer there is founde some compa∣nye of men, or some congregacion of good people whiche beleue the gospel and be saued. And this cō∣panie of men whiche beleueth the gospell, although here vpō earth

thei be seuered in sōdry places, yet are they called one holy catholike or vniuersal churche of Christe, that is to saie, a multitude cōgre∣gation or companye of Christen people. For this worde, churche, doth not here betoken a temple or churche buylded of tymber and stone, but it signifieth a companye of men lyghtened with the spirite of Christe, whiche do receaue the gospel, and come together to heare gods wourde, and to praye. And this Christē churche is a cōmuny∣on of sainctes, that is to saye, all that be of this cōmunion or cōpa∣ny, be holy, & be one holy body vn¦der Christe their heed, they be one holy congregation or assemble. And this congregation receaueth of their hedde and Lorde Iesus Christe, all spirituall riches and gyftes that perteyneth to the sanc∣tification

and making holy of the same bodye. And these gostly trea∣suers, be commen to y^e hole body, and to euery membre of the same. For he that is vnfainedly a fayth¦full and Godly man, is made par∣taker of these benefites. And these are the sayde gyftes, which be com¦mē to y^e hole church of Christ and to euery membre of the same.

The first is that God the father (that euerlastīg and endles maie∣stye) is our most gentle & mercyful father. That God y^e sonne, is our redemer and mediatour betwene the father and vs. And that God the holy gost, is y^e commen sancti∣fier or halower, of all theim y^t haue a true faithe in God. The second, is the preaching of y^e gospel, thad∣ministration of baptisme, and the sacrament of the bodye and bloude of our Lorde Iesus Christ, by the

whiche we are made partakers of all the inheritaunce of heauē, & of all the benefites of Christe. The third, is prayer. The fourth, is the crosse of affliction and aduersitie, whiche God sendeth to all godly men, to make theim to knowe him, to proue therby & trye their faith, to mortifye their fleshe & to make clene the corruption of the same. And here I speake onely of the crosse, which good men suffre. For thafflictions of the vnfaithful and vngodly, do rather hurt them, then make them holy. For inasmuch as their vnpatientnes, is encreaced by such aduersitie, thei be brought to more disperatiō and damnatiō. Nowe it is very good for you to knowe these thinges, that you may also knowe, that there is nothyng in heauē or erthe better for vs, thā is the true knowlege of God, and that these excellent gyftes and be∣nefites,

cannot be had, but onely in the foresayde churche or cōgre∣gatiō, and no where els. But whan the true churche (which is ruled by the holy gost, & the worde of God) dothe promyse vs these so great riches and benefites, we ought not to doute, but that we haue alredye receaued them. And when y^e chur∣che doth happoint and ordeine vs, to be preachers and ministers of these most pretiouse treasures, we must stedfastly beleue, that God effectuously worketh with vs that he is present with vs, and that he at all tymes doth strengthen vs a∣gaynst the worlde and the deuyll, and that he doth helpe vs to do all thynges accordyng to our callyng prosperously and with good suc∣cesse. Secondly we must beleue the remission of synnes. Therfore next vnto this article, I beleue the

holy catholique churche, the com∣munion of saintes is added, y^e for∣geuenes of synnes. For where so euer the churche of Christ is, there is frely offred that eternall com∣fort aboue all measure, that is to say, the fauore of God, and remis∣sion of synnes. And without that churche is no remission of synne. Wherefore we must seke remission of synnes in the churche of Christ, and desier absolution. That when y^e true churche, by their ministers doth promyse vs remissyon of our synnes, and here in erthe dothe ab∣solue vs, we may surely trust, that in heauē also before God we be ab∣solued & pardoned. Thirdly, We must beleue the resurrection of the fleshe, wherefore after tharticle of the remission of synne, foloweth next this article. I beleue the ry∣sing agayne of y^e fleshe, for among

other ponyshmentes for originall syn, layd vpon Adam, & his posteri∣ty, we daily see this horrible paine, that the goodly beawtiful bodye of man, created to immortalitie, must nedes ones be dissolued by deathe, and brought to a filthye and stinc∣kyng corse and graue, that the ty∣ranny of synne (whiche so long as we liue rageth in our fleshe) by our deathe may ceasse, & haue an ende, as saint Paule saith vnto the Ro∣manes.* 1.4 For by deathe of the body cease all the desires, concupiscen∣ces and rages of y^e mynde whiche be against the wil and commaun∣dementes of God. There ceassith also all synnes against our neigh∣bours, as Ire, enuie, lechery, coue∣tuousnes, pride and all ill affecty∣ons, and at the last day god shall rayse vs agayne frō death, so that such infirmities and synnes, shall

no more be founde in vs, but we shal be pure, spiritual, and immor∣tal, and lyke to the bright & clere bodye of Christ. And that we may y^e more assuredly beleue this, both Christ himself rose from death, and many saintes also w^t hym. Four∣thely we must beleue euerlastyng lyfe. Wherefore it foloweth in the Crede, I beleue euerlastynge lyfe, that is to saye. I beleue, that whā we shall ryse from death, then we shall lyue euer with Christe in parfite holynes and iustice, and in suche a gloriouse ioy as no toung can tell, nor hart thincke. And this treatise of the Crede, we must end with this wourde. Amen. which is asmuche to saye, as I beleue that al the articles of our beliefe before rehersed, be very true, and thereof I haue a sure faithe trust and con∣fidence. Therefore good children,

from the bottome of your hartes, you must beleue in the holy gost, whiche doth promyse vnto vs re∣mission of our synnes, by al y^e true preachers & ministers of goddes worde. And he dothe also geue light to our hartes and myndes, and moueth vs to beleue goddes worde, and to put our faith and trust in hym. And the same holy goost dothe dayly purifye & sanc∣tifye vs, purge and clense vs from sinne and after this bodily death, shall rayse vs agayne to euerla∣sting life. And take this for a sure conclusion, and doubt nothynge thereof, that the holy goost, as he hath begonne these thīges in vs, so he will fynyshe thesame in vs, yf we obey him, and continue in faith, vnto thēde of our liues. For he y^t cōtinueth vnto y^e ende, shal be saued. And this is the summe, and

also the most plaine vnderstāding of this thirde parte of the Crede entreatyng of our sanctificatiō or halowing. Wherefore good chil∣dren, marke well this lesson, that when ye be demaunded howe vn∣derstande you the thirde parte of the Crede, yee may answer thus I beleue, y^t neither by mās strength power or wysedome, neyther by myne awne endeuour, nor cōpasse of myn awne reason, I am able to beleue in Iesus Christ, or to come vnto hym. But the holy goost did call me by the worde of y^e gospell, and with y^e giftes of his grace, he hath hitherto endowed me, & ha∣lowed me, and in the true faith, he hathe hitherto preserued and con∣firmed me, & this he hath not done only to me, but also he calleth and gathereth togyther in the vnitye of one faith and one baptisme, all

the vniuersal churche, that is here in earth, and he halloweth, kepeth and preserueth thesame, in the true knowledge of Christ, and faith in his promyses. And in this churche he geueth free and general pardō, to me and to al that beleue in him, of al our synnes, offences, and tres∣passes, and at the last day he shall rayse me, and all other y^t be deade, and al that dyed in the true faithe of Iesus Christ, he shall glorifye, in the lyfe euerlastyng. Therefore to the sayde holy gost that sancte¦fyeth vs, with y^e father that made and created vs, and the sonne that redemed vs, be geuen all ho∣nour and glorye world without ende. A∣men.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Roma. i.
• * 1.2

  Iohn. ii
• * 1.3

  Galat. iiii
• * 1.4

  Rom. vi.