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Archive for May 21st, 2010

Anglican Catechism of 1553:

Master. All these foundations that you have laid are most true, Now, therefore, let us go forward to His works, wherein lies our salvation and conquest against that old serpent.

Scholar. It shall be done, good Master. After Christ Jesus had delivered that charge to His apostles, that most joyful and in all points heavenly doctrine, i.e., the gospel, which in Greek is called evangelion, in English “good tidings”; and had as by sealing established the same with signs and miracles innumerable, whereof all his life was full; at length was he sore scourged, mocked with potting. scorning, and spitting in His face; last of all His hands and feet were bored through with nails and He fastened to a cross. Then He truly died and was truly buried, that by His most sweet sacrifice He might pacify His Father’s wrath against mankind; and subdue him by His death, who had the authority of death, which was the devil; forasmuch not only the living, but also the dead, were they in hell or. elsewhere, all felt the power and force of this death: to whom lying in prison (as Peter says) Christ preached, though dead in body, yet relieved in Spirit. The third day after, He rose again, alive in body also and with many notable proofs, in the space of forty days, He abode among His disciples, eating and drinking with them. In whose sight He was conveyed away in a cloud, up into heaven, or rather above all heavens where He now sits at the right hand of God the Father being made Lord of all things in heaven or in earth; King of all kings, our everlasting and only high bishop, our only attorney, only mediator, only peacemaker between God and men. Now since He has entered into His glorious majesty, by sending down His Holy Spirit to us (as He promised), He enlightens our dark blindness, moves, rules, teaches, cleanses, comforts, and rejoices our minds; and so will He still continually do till the end of the world.

“Anglican Catechism (1553),” in Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation, ed. James T. Dennison, (Grand Rapids Michigan: Reformation Heritage Books, 2010), 2:23.

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1552 Book of Common Prayer:

Catechism, that is to say, an Instruction to be learned of every child before he be brought to be confirmed of the Bishop.

Question. What is your name?
Answer. N. or M.

Question. Who gave you this name?
Answer. My godfathers and godmothers in my baptism; wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.

Question. What did your godfathers and godmothers then for you?
Answer. They did promise and vow three things in my name. First, that I should forsake the devil, and all his works and pomps, the vanities of the wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. Secondly, that I should believe all the articles of the Christian faith. And thirdly, that I should keep God’s holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life.

Question. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe, and to do as they have promised for thee?
Answer. Yes, verily; and by God’s help so I will. And I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he hath called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Savior. And I pray God to give me his grace, that I may continue in the same unto my life’s end.

Question. Rehearse the articles of thy belief.
Answer. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Ponce Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church ; the communion of saints ; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Question. What dost thou chiefly learn in these articles of thy belief?
Answer. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me and all the world.
Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me and all mankind.
Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifies, me, and all the elect people of God.

The Two Books of Common Prayer, Set Forth by Authority of Parliament in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth, 3rd edition, ed., Edward Cardwell, (Oxford: At the University Press, 1852), 345-346. [Some spelling modernized; textual notes in original footnotes not included; and underlining mine.]

[Thanks to Marty Foord for assistance in finding this.]