A Catechism, Title page – To the reader
A CATECHISME or institution of the Christen Religion.
Newely set forthe by Richard Tauerner.
Anno. M.D.XXXIX.
Cum Priuilegio, ad imprimendum solum.
RICHARD TAVERner to the Christen Readers.
FOR asmuche as nat only fathers and mothers (whiche by theDeu. 1…. lawe of god be commaunded to teache theyr chyldren) godfathers and godmothers (whiche be as it were suerties for the same purpose) hauehave bene of longe tyme in suche sorte blynded and vtterly ignoraunt in Christes doctrine whiche neuertheles they professe, that they be nat able to Catechise, that is to say, to institute, teache, bryng vp, and instructe theyr chyldren, for whom the one hauehave promised to the churche at the Christening of the same,Deu. 11. the other are boūden by goddes lawe (as afore is remembred) to se them taught and ryghtly instructed in the christē faythe and lawes of god: but also the prestes thē selues whiche be theyr curates and pastoures1. Tim. 3 (where as by Paules sentence they ought to be apte to teache) partely for defaulte of lerning and partly for neglectynge theyr flocke (lyke careles hyrelinges be be exceading defectiue in this be halfe:Ioan. 10 I therfore moued of christen charitie to vtter the lytle talent that God hathe endowed me with, am enforced, accordynge to the example of learned men in other coūtreis, to set forthe vntounto my coūtrey men some handsome and compendiouse Catechisme (which is so called because it instructeth, and bryngeth vp the yōge christiā in Christes lawe) For vndoubted suche one is to be setforthe in the churche to be lerned and as it were drō ken in of chyldren, to be oftē reuolued of men and women, yea and to be continually caryed in the hādes or bosomes (but much rather ī the hertes) of all ages, for an instruction to the ignoraūt persons, a cō forte to the troubled, reioyce to the faythfull, spurre to the slouthfull, brydell to the arrogant, relief to the desperate, occupation to the ydle, refresshyng to the occupied, to be shorte, an argumēt and mater for sklender shepherdes whervpon to instructe theyr cure.
Nowe therfore, lyke as the kynges most excellent maiesty moste worthy to be compared vntounto the godly kynge Ezechias,4. R…. 18. whiche destroyed the moste detestable ydolatrie of the brasen serpēt, by the hygh prouidence of God traueileth dayly of a wonderfull zeale he beareth to the auaūcement of godes true religion, to banysh all poprie and Romyshe marchaundyse within this his graces realme, to the vnspeakable healthe of his people the churche of Englāde, to the supremacie wherof he is by the said prouidēce of god nowe at last in spyte of all his enemies restored: So semblably it shalbe your parte to embrace suche pure, true and sincere doctrine of Christe as setteth forth the same, & so vtterly to renoūce nat only the Romisshe byshop our archenemie and the moste pestilēt ouerthrower of al god lynes, but also his deuelyshe lawes, constitutions and supersticious thynges whiche hauehave hertofore intangled our consciences contrary to the Euangelicall libertie and trouthe of gods worde.
That if ye shall appeare louyngly & gredely to embrace this brief worke, wherin is cō prysed aswell compendiously as purely the hole doctrine of the christen religion: ye shall occasion me not only nat to repente me of my paynes taken for your sakes in this behalfe, but also to take the lyke when so euer I shal espy that my industry and diligēce may serue to your edification, profyt, instruction and pleasure, whiche thynge is my onelyonly desire and instaūt prayer, as best knoweth god, that seeth all, to whom be all glory prayse and thankes for euer and euer. Amen.
GOD SAVE THE KYNGE.