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It may perhaps be marveled of some, why
throughout the book, as well in the Latin as in this translated, the
master asketh, the scholar answereth,
and ever the declaration of the matter is put in the scholar’s
mouth, so as some may muse why the scholar may seem to be made wiser
than the master. This objection
hath easy answer; and such answer as it hath I thought meet to disclose.
It may not be thought it that the master here inquireth
of the scholar as desirous to learn of him, nor that the scholar informeth
the master as presuming to teach him.
But the master opposeth the scholar
to see how he hath profited, and the scholar rendereth
to the master to give accompt of his memory
and diligence. And that it may appear that this order of opposing
by the master and rendering by the scholar for good reason might seem
to the author more convenient than the other form which some other writers
of catechisms have used, that is, of inquiring by the scholar and teaching
by the master, (without prejudice alway or
condemning the other) it may be remembered that the end and purpose
of catechism is in good and natural order fitly applied to serve the
good use of confirmation by the bishop, at which time the bishop which
confirmeth doth not teach but examine, and
in his whole manner of opposing useth such form as here in like sort the Catechumenus or child is prepared unto; which is also
not done without example, for the same manner is in the short catechism
now used in the Church of England at confirmation.
Now
surely there are no greater means of advancing true religion and rooting
out of errors than these two, that is to say, catechism or good instruction
of youth, and good information of ecclesiastical ministers in sound
truth, and the proofs thereof, howsoever perhaps they may lack some
full furniture of other learnings. And therewith
for my part I have long thought it a much better way toward removing
of heresies and superstitions (whereof Rome hath brought us and left
us plenty) to deal first with plain setting out of truth as not in controversy,
without dealing at the beginning with the strife of confutation. For so both discretion and charity in the teacher
is easilier kept, and truth once being settled,
error will fall of itself, so that he which hath once thus with conference
of God’s word conceived a certain and stayed judgment of truth,
shall either wonder how absurd errors have been received, or shall with
less peril hear them talked of
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