Catechism for Children, Preface – Sermons on the ten commandments
¶A short Instruction into Christian religion for the synguler commoditie and profite of children and yonge people. Ouersene and corrected by the moost reuerende father in God the Archebyshoppe of Canterburie. The preface.
THis treatice gentile reader, is not wrytten for the Curattes & preachers, for many of them hauehave so muche knowledge in holy scripture (thankes be to God) that they be alreadye sufficiently instructed in these matters: But it is written for the behoue of the yong childrē, whiche muste be brought vp with playne and shorte lessons. For wee see daylye by experience, that who so euer wyll teache children, must vse muche discretion & wysedome, not to geue them to much at one time, (lest he dull and oppresse their wittes) and yet that which he gyueth theim, he muste often and many times reherse and repete vntounto them agayne, as nere as he can after one manner of wise, and with the same wordes. For if thei teache them now this, now that, now with these wordes, now with other, then the childrē learne litle or nothing, thei kepe almost nothing in memorye, & beside that, they waxe wearie of learnyng, & conceaue a lothsomnes therto, and be more slothfull and vnapte to learne. Forasmuch therfore as it was to be feared, that eueryevery pastor woulde not take the paynes to drawe out such a shorte forme of teachynge to the children, nor we thought good to burden eueryevery one with so great labours, and also yf eueryevery pastor seuerally should deuise a forme for his parishe, it myght chaunce that there should be as many soundrye formes, as there be pastors, which diuersitie myght engender muche diuision and controuercie, and be also much hinderaunce to the children, yf in one place thei learne one forme, and in an other place an other forme. For to exchewe the said inconueniences, we hauehave thoughte good to deuise this shorte manner and forme tynstructe children and yong men, wherby they maye both shortlie and easely learne the chief pryncipilles and begynnynge of Christē religion and doctrine, and learne aswell howe they oughte to lyue, as also what they should beleue. And whan they hauehave learned this in their tender age, they shal not onelyonly vnderstande godlye sermons and al other godly doctrine and bookes ye better, but also they shall become godly men, and wise, louers of true religion and godlynes, and to al states and orders of lyfe, aswell ecclesiasticall as ciuill be more apte and towarde, vntounto whiche godly purpose, all fathers and mothers, Curattes and preachers and al christē Magestrates and officers, should with all theyr mynde and endeuore gyue their ayde and helpe. Wherunto God of his grace graunt hys fauour and assistaunce. Amen.