pressly ascriber u Cramer user u first appeared in the edinom Cramer But the first WIR WAT & EL. accession of the you re na Žasst.. PARAPHRASE OF THE NEW Car most timely and effectual aid in the diffusion of Christian knowledge and a right understanding of the Scriptures. Admirable for its perspicuity and for the theological learning which it displays, it is still to be considered as a most valuable expositor and assistant in the study of the Scriptures. When it was published it bore the highest sanction which could be attached to it, and doubtless contributed in a very eminent degree to subyert the power of Popery in this kingdom. It has not however been quoted in the following pages, because it is not adapted to them. A Paraphrase to be used at all, must have been transcribed too largely for the limits of this work, and after all would not have been so explicit, probably, as the Catechisms which have been employed. Within a year after the publication of this Book, and of the first Book of Homilies, was edited one Queen Katherin. Which makes me suppose these Paraphrases were countenanced by that King, and had been set forth by his order if he had lived." "The whole Paraphrase upon the New Testament was printed at least twice under King EDWARD. The first edition was, as was said, about 1547. Which was only of the Gospels and the Acts. The rest of the New Testament was not so ready for the press, and came not forth till about 1549. The second impression was in the year 1552. Both printed by Edw. Whitchurch. The Paraphrase upon the Gospels was ushered in with three Epistles; all composed by Udal: one to the King, another to Queen Katherin, and the third to the Reader. The Paraphrase upon the Epistles, containing the second volume, was dedicated also to the King by Miles Coverdale." of very unequivocal character and of great authority*. CRANMER'S CATECHISM †, actually entitled * Of this book there is more than one edition. The Author's copy is dated 1548, and it is evidently a revised and corrected edition of one which he has seen, probably of the same year, but having the date torn out. There are some important corrections in the later impression. + Strype's Mem. of Cranmer, B. II. ch. v. "This year the Archbishop put forth a very useful Catechism, intituled, A Short Instruction to Christian Religion, for the singular Profit of Children and Young People. This Catechism went not by way of Question and Answer, but contained an easy Exposition of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the two Sacraments. The First and Second Commandments were put together as one, and the whole recital of the Second omitted, according to the use in those times. But that Commandment is explained under the First. The substance of this book is grave, serious, and sound doctrine. It is said in the titlepage, to be overseen and corrected by the Archbishop. Indeed it was a Catechism wrote originally in the German language, for the use of the younger sort in Norinberg; translated into Latin by Justus Jonas, junior, who now was entertained by the Archbishop in his family; and thence turned into our vulgar tongue by the said Archbishop, or his special order. But 'tis certain, so great a hand he had therein, that in the Archbishop's first book of the Sacrament, he said, that it was translated by himself and set forth." Strype's Memorials, B. I. ch. v. "To these Church Books I add a Catechism, set forth not only by the Archbishop's authority, but in his own name, in 1547: it bore this title, A Short Instruction into the Christian Religion; for the syngular Commoditie and Profite of Children and Young People, Set forth by the Most Reverend Father in "Catechismus, that is to say, a Shorte Instruction into Christian Religion, for the synguler Commoditie and Profyte of Children and Young People, set forth by the Mooste Reverende Father in God, Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all Englande and Metropolitane," printed in 1548, was expressly dedicated to the King in a preliminary Epistle, in which the Prelate, having pointed out the duty and benefit of instructing the rising generation in "the Commandments of Almighty God, the Articles of the Christian Faith, and the Lord's Prayer"" for," says he, doubtless in these three points is shortly and plainly included the necessary knowledge of the whole sum of Christ's religion, and of all things appertaining unto everlasting life" God, Thomas, Archbyshoppe of Canterbury. This book is but a translation out of Latin, made by a Lutheran Author; but there be additions in the English, as accommodated to the English Church, which were not in the Latin, but put in, as it seems, by the Archbishop: particularly the whole second Sermon (as it is called) on the First Commandment (more truly the Second) about Images. "This Catechism, towards the latter end of King EdWARD's reign, was printed again, and had the approbation of a Convocation." Burnet's History of the Reformation, Part II. B. I. 1548. “The next thing Cranmer set about was, the publishing of a Catechism, or large Instruction of Young Persons in the Grounds of the Christian Religion. In it he reckons the two first Commandments but one, though he says many of the ancients divided them in two. But the division was of no great consequence, so no part of the Decalogue were suppressed by the Church.” concludes thus, "which thing," (the improvement of both young and old in religious knowledge) "I assuredly hope shall come to pass, if it would please your Highness to suffer this little book by me offered unto your Majesty to be read, taught, and learned of the children of your most loving subjects, in whom is great hope of all grace, godliness, and virtue." This Catechism, though not acknowledged by any public act of the Legislature, claims every attention on account of its editor, of its patron, and of the circumstances under which it was pub. lished, on account too of its having received the approbation of Convocation, but not less on account of its own merit. Plain and explanatory, it is not only calculated to convey the rudiments of Christianity to the young and the uneducated, but also to furnish much valuable admonition to all ages and classes, as well as information to the theological student. It was not, indeed, Cranmer's original composition, but was translated and altered by him from a Lutheran Catechism. Yet, whatever might be its origin, it is sufficient for its admission here, that it was "set forth" by Cranmer under the implied sanction of the King; that it was afterwards approved by the clergy; and that it harmonizes with the principles established in the public acts of the reign. It will be observed, that the custom which formerly obtained of uniting the two first Commandments, and dividing the last one into two, is preserved in the Chapters on the Decalogue. This |