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 fyrst sermon.

¶A declaration of the fyrst peticion.

[illustration]

* 1.1

NOw good childrē, to the intente you maye the better vn¦derstande this pra¦yer, you shall fyrst learne thys lesson, that we wretched synners do not fyrst preuente God, and go before him, in the worke of our iustifica∣tion, but it is God that layeth the fyrst foundation of our saluation, he begynneth with vs, and fyrste calleth vs, by the gospell. Fyrst he

sendeth vnto vs godly and fayth∣ful ministers by whom we be bap∣tised and before we do anye good woorke, he offereth vnto vs hys grace, he sēdeth vnto vs preachers and messengers of peace, whiche declare vnto vs the glad tidinges of the gospell, and the promises of the fauoure of God, towardes all them that truely repente theym of theyr euyll lyuynge, and do moue theym to put theyr trust in Gods mercye for pardon of the same. God also openeth our hertes, that we maye lysten and gyue credit to his holy preachers, as Christ hym self sayeth. Ye haue not fyrste cho∣sen me, but I haue chosen you. Nowe forasmuche as God hathe thus called vs to the fayth, and by fayth hath gyuen vs lyght in our heartes, that we maye forsake all straunge Gods, and beleue onely

in him, now it is our parte, to lead our lyfe in godlynes, to desier god with hertye and feruente prayers, that it maye please hym to make perfecte, that thyng which he hath begonne in vs, to healpe & streng∣then vs, that by his grace we may be able to do those thinges, whiche he hath commaunded vs, and that he wyll augment and increase our fayth in vs. For the prayer of the vnfaythful, is nothinge worth be∣fore God, and without faithe it is vnpossible to please God. There∣fore God must beginne, and cal vs by his worde, and put faith in our heartes, or elles we shoulde neuer aske nothing of him. And for this cause we be not taught in the lor∣des prayer to saye to God. Father graunt me to beleue, that thou art my father, but we be taught to say thus. Oure father whiche arte in

heauen, halowed be thy name. That is to saye, o Lorde God our heauenly father, before I beganne to praye, and before I knewe thy name, thou through thin exceding greate mercye didst sende vnto me thi preachers, by whom thou didst declare vnto me, that thou art my father for Iesus Christes sake, and thou didst open my heart that I might beleue that thou arte my father. Therfore graunt I besech the my heauenlye father, that thy name maye be halowed. And he y^t taketh not God to be his father, yet he maye lerne that it is so by this prayer. For Christ our Lorde knewe most certenly the wil of his heuenly father, that is to say, that he would be oure moste swete and louynge father (for els he woulde not haue taught vs this title, our father) and therfore must we again

vpō our parties haue suche a loue and obedience to hym, as becom∣meth the childrē vnto their father, & conceyue a most assured trust in God (who is all our fathers) that we shall lacke nothyng necessarye for vs, and that nothyng shalbe able to hurt, as long as we haue so mighty and so louyng a father. We see by dayly experience, howe intierlye the fathers loueth their children, what care they take to bryng theim vp in vertue and ler∣nyng and to get theim good may∣sters and gouernours, howe they labore to prouide for their liuing, and al thīges necessary for theim. And if perchance theyr childrē cō∣mitteth any faulte, for the whiche they deserue correction yet we se how the fathers loue remayneth, what pitie and compassiō he hath of them, howe lothe he is to beate

theim, and wolde rather forgyue theim, yf it wer not for their bene∣fite and amendment. And whē the childe falleth on his knees, and asketh forgyuenes, promysynge amendement, we see how redy and willynge the father is to forgiue. Now seyng our earthly fathers, be so louynge to their children, muche more God our heauenlye father wil be our most kynde and louyng father, wil nourysh kepe and defende vs, teache & instructe vs, the way to euerlastyng salua∣tion. And yf we fall into anye er∣rore or synne, yet for Christes sake he is wyllynge to forgyue vs, and althoughe he punysheth vs here for a tyme, yet he doethe it of fatherlye loue that he bea∣reth towardes vs not to punyshe vs for euer, but to amend vs and to make vs to know our faultes,

and to bryng vs agayne into the right waye. And lyke a most lo∣uyng father he correcteth vs for a smal tyme in this worlde, lest he shoulde punyshe vs for euer in y^e worlde to come. Of this therefore so louyng and so mightie a father we may wel reioyce, and haue an excedynge great comforte, farre passyng any harte to thynke, or tongue to tel. And hym agayn we ought moste entierlye to loue and obey, seyng that he is our father, and hath loden vs with so many gyftes and benefites. With glad hartes therfore you ought to saye this prayer, which whā you say, you speake with God the father in heauen, & he heareth you, and lyke a most kynde father, dothe graunt al that you aske.

Often tymes also, and ernestly you must praye, whan you ryse in

the mornyng, whan you go to the churche, whan you eate & drynke, whan you go to bed, whan you awake out of your slepe, that frō your youth you maye accustome your selfes, both gladly and oftē to praye. For by prayer we shall obteyne all thynges, that eyther Christ hathe purchased for vs, or our heuenly father hath promised to vs.

Nowe this also you must dily∣gently considre, that we say, O fa∣ther which art in heuē, to dyscerne hym from our fathers whiche be here vpon earthe. For we haue fathers here in earth, whiche be but men, and be not able to saue vs. But in heauen we haue an o∣ther maner of father, of far more might, a spiritual & an euerlastīg father: whiche in al oure nedes is able to helpe vs, and finallye to

gyue vs helth & lyfe euerlasting. And as childrē take of their car∣nal fathers fleshe and blode, and many tymes be veray lyke theim in their face and countenaunce, so take we of our heuēly father our soule and spirite, and therein we ought to resemble our heuēly fa∣ther, that is to saye, we ought to beleue his worde, obey his com∣maūdementes, forbere those thin∣ges that he forbyddeth, and in all thynges be conformable to hys holy wyl and worde. And than is he assuredlye oure gentle father, and we his dere children.

And than as he dwelleth in he∣uen, in a lyght passynge all mea∣sure, euyn so shall we dwel wyth hym in heauen for euer. These great thynges (whiche far excede the capacitie of mannes vnder∣standing) our sauiour Christ doth

teache in these fewe wordes, whan he teacheth vs to saye. O our fa∣ther, whiche art in heauen.

Now folowe in this holy praier certen petitions, wherein be com∣prehended all thynges, that be ei∣ther conteyned in y^e ten Commaū∣dementes, or elles promised in the Crede. These petitions good childrē, you shall lerne with al di∣ligence, that you may know what you shoulde aske. The thre first petitions entreate of the matters perteynynge to y^e first table. The other .iiii. speake of thīges promi¦sed in the Crede, & belongynge to the seconde table, as herafter you shall heare.

The first petition conteyneth matters of the first and seconde commaundement. I am thy God. Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord God in vaine. And these

be the wordes of that petition.

Thy name be halowed.

[illustration]

* 1.2

BEfore I told you good children, y^t we go not before god, we pray not first, that God wil be our God and our father, but god of hys inestimable mercye dothe preuent vs, dothe cal vs by hys worde, dothe cal vs vnto faithe, doth gyue vs his spirite, to know him for our father and Lorde, be∣fore we coulde thynke therof, and

seke for God. But now seing that by his word & faith he hath called vs, and by Baptisme hath grafted vs in Christ, and made vs mem∣bres of his churche, we ought not to be slouthful nor ydle, but study to go forwarde & increace in god∣lynes, and to praye thus. Our fa∣ther, whiche art in heuen, for as∣muche as thou hast gyuen vnto vs, being vnworthy, thi holy gos∣pell, and hast chosen vs, and not we the, and seyng that thou haste sent vnto vs preachers, whiche teache vnto vs thy word, wherby we be sanctified, and instructed in the faith, (so that nowe we maye know the for God, and partelye fulfyl the first commaundemente) now fulfyl O father y^t thou haste begonne, procede to helpe vs, that we maye fulfyl the seconde com∣maūdemēt, that is, y^t thy name mai

be halowed, that is to say, may be honored as holy. This prayer pleaseth God, and he heareth it, & God giueth vs grace & strength, that we maye halowe his name.

To halowe the name of God, is not to make it holye (whiche in it selfe is euer most holy) but to ha∣lowe his name is to take it for ho∣ly, & reuerentlye to vse it, as a most holy thing, of great feare and loue to God, to beware that we speake not of his name vaynely, nor with out great reuerence to confesse his name, to laud him, extolle him, & in all necessities to call vpon hym. And on the other syde, we do vio∣late the holye name of God, whan we abuse the same to euyll and naughty thinges, whan we speake euyll of God or godlye thynges, whan we teache any false doctrine of God and his religion, or abuse

the name of God to ydoltarie and errours, or whan by the name of God we be forsworne.

Also whan by the name of God we curse mē or other creatures, or whan we speake of God & godlye thīges & make therof but scoffing & gestyng. And whan we lyue not accordynge to the worde of God, and regarde not God, but gyue e∣uyl exāple to other, both to thinke and speake of God and godly thin¦ges lyghtly and contemptuously, as they passed not of them.

But nowe it is an horryble hea∣ryng good childrē, that we be cal∣led the churche of Christ and chri∣sten men, we be taughte that God is oure Lorde and father, and yet we be so faynte, so euyll, naugh∣tye and vnkynde people, that we do not halow nor reuerētli vse his name. Therfore it is more than

nede to praye, and instantlye to pray for Gods helpe, that we mys∣use not his name vnreuerētly, but that we maye halowe it, and most hyghly honour it oure selfes, and prouoke other to do the lyke whi∣che we shall do, yf we preache and teache the worde of God purelye, and agree vnto the same in pure innocent lyuynge, so that no man can reprehende vs, yf we beleue Gods word▪ and professe thesame, in all necessities call vpon hys name, and gyue hym thankes for all his benefites,

But whan false doctrine is taughte, than the name of God is defiled, and false doctrine is hono¦red, and taken for the holy worde of God, which in dede is not holy, but wicked and the false inuentiō of the deuyll, the inuentour of all lyes and falsehode. And howe can

the holy name of god be more hor∣ribly abused? thā whan the deuyls lyes and false inuentions, be sette out and honoured vnder the pre∣tence and coloure of Gods holye name, that by that meanes the people maye the sonner be decey∣ued.

Moreouer the name of God is not halowed, but blasphemed and dispised, whan the true woorde of god is cruelly persecuted, as Cain persecuted his brother Abell. For whan the vngodly hypocrites, do call the gospell and true doctrine of Christe, heresy and errore, than is God as it were accused of here∣sy, which gaue the sayde doctrine, whiche is an horrible blasphemie of Gods name.

Also whan we beleue not the worde of God, than we violate and do iniurie to y^e name of God,

not takynge hym to be true.

The name of God is halowed also, but lytle regarded and con∣temned, whan the gospel & worde of God, is not boldely professed before the worlde. For he that de∣nyeth y^e gospel, and doth not con∣stantly stāde vnto it, but for feare of men doth shrynke from it, and reuoketh those thinges, which be∣fore he hath truly & godly taught he counteth not Iesus Christ the sonne of the lyuing God, nor hys holy worde and gospell, to be of that value and estimation, that he wil for their sakes, speake bol∣dely, or suffer any thynge, before the kynges and powers of the worlde.

Also we do not halowe y^e name of God, whan we cal God our fa∣ther, and bost our selfes to be his childrē, and yet that thing whiche

we professe, we do not parforme by holy and godly liuing. For an vnthristy & wicked child, is a dis∣honour to his father. Herof com∣playneth God by the Prophet Ezechiel the .xxvi. Chapter, say∣ing. By you my name is blasphe∣med amonge people & nations.

And he also regardeth not the holy name of God, that doth not cal vpon God, and gyue than∣kes to god, as though he wer not the very true God, which hath hol¦pen hym, and both can and wyll helpe him in all his nedes. For he that knowlegeth himselfe, that he is holpē of God, he of dewty must nedes gyue hym thankes there∣fore, and he y^t trusteth to be holpē, must lykewyse cal vpon hym for the same.

Therefore briefly to conclude, he y^t teacheth any other thā god∣des

true doctrine, that beleueth not in the name of Christe, that doth not boldely confesse y^e worde of God, that doth not leade hys lyfe accordyng to the gospel, that doth not cal vpō God in al neces∣sitie, that doth not willyngly and gladly gyue thankes to God for al his benefites, he dispiseth God, and his holy name, & gyueth oc∣casion to other, to do y^e lyke, which of al other, is the greatest offence to God. Therefore we ought to praye, that God kepe and defende vs from this synne.

This is the meanynge & plaine vnderstandynge of this petition. The name of God is of it selfe holy, but in this petitiō we desier, that we may also halow it, which we do, whan the worde of God is purely & sīcerely taught, whā we walke and lyue accordynge to the

gospel. This graunt vs O heuē∣ly father. For he that teacheth o∣ther doctrine, than the pure word of God, he dyshonoreth and defy∣leth the worde of God. Wherfore from this synne good Lorde de∣fende vs.

Lerne these thinges dilygentlye good children, and whan you be asked, how vnderstande you this first petition? you shall aunswer. The name of God of it selfe is holy, but here we do aske, that it may be halowed of vs. And whā you be asked, how is it halowed of vs? Answere, whan the worde of God is puerly and syncerelye taught, whan we leade our lyfe in this worlde holyly and godly, as it becommeth the veray true chil∣dren of God. Here in this point succour vs good Lorde, helpe vs O heauenly father. For he that

either teacheth or liueth, otherwise than the worde of God requireth, he dyshonoreth and polluteth the worde of God.

The generall conclusion in all sermons of the Lordes praier.

Thus you haue herde good children, the summe and mynd of this firste, seconde, thirde &c. peti∣cion, kepe this in your memorye, & cease not to make your prayers vnto the Lorde, nothyng dowting but he wil heare you, & make you holy and veray godly as the true children of God without faulte, whiche haue their father in hea∣uen. For he hath promysed to graunt vs, what soeuer we aske in his name. And in his name we aske, when so euer we say his prayer, and vse the same forme of praier whiche he prescri∣bed vnto vs, and commaūded vs

so to praye. Therefore we ought to beleue in our hartes, that God doth heare, for so muche as he is oure father. For whan we giue faithe vnto hys promyses, than surelye he hearethe vs, and by our prayer we trust to obteyne that thynge which we aske and to obey and par∣forme such thinges as he hath commaun∣ded, which thing God graunte vs all. A∣men.

Thy kyngdome come.

[illustration]

* 1.3

BEfore you herd in the first petytion, howe we praye in it, that God wyll graūt vs, that we may fulfyll the se∣conde commaundemente, that is to saye, that we take not the name of God in vaine, but that it maye be sanctified and honored by vs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luke. xviii
• * 1.2

  Nume. xv.
• * 1.3

  Rom. vii▪ Philip. i••. 2. Cor. v.••.