¶ Short questions and answeares , conteyning the summe of Christian Religion .

¶ Imprinted at the three Cranes in the Vinetree , by Thomas Dawson . 1579.

THe blessings of God powred vpon this Realme , in so great abundance , as the preaching of the Gospell , peace , prosperitie and wealth , vnder the rule and gouernement of our merciful Queene , causeth me in thankesgeuing to ioy . But the contempt and abuse of these blessinges , mingleth my ioy with greefe and causeth Gods children for sorow to mourne and lament . And this greeuing of Gods Spirite in his children , shall fathers of children , and maisters of housholdes ( though manie other do greeuously offend ) especially answeare for before GOD . The great blessinges sent of God , the lawes made by the Prince , the woorde preached by the Ministers , take small effect , and bring foorth little fruite : because parentes and maisters shew such examples of loose libertie in them selues , and throwe the raines of licentiousnesse into the neckes of others . They remember not the honourable calling whiche they haue of the Lorde , that he hath placed them as it were in his owne roome , and geuen them his own names , that they might gouerne , teache , and direct others , to honour and serue him , vppon whom their preeminence doeth wholy depende . But ( alas ) they do not their duetie in gouerning , they applie not themselues in teaching them that are committed to their charge : and therefore youth not gouerned , nor taught , nor praying at home , can not pray , nor learne in the congregation . But as the deuises of men are ready to find excuses , so seke they vp figge leaues in this , to couer their shame . First they wil say , We geue them meate & mony for their worke , what should we do more ? So do you bestowe vpon your beasts , in buying & feeding them : but your seruantes are more pretious in the eye of the Lord , & you are charged in the fourth commaundement , to see that they serue GOD . Some say , they sende them to the Church on the Sabbaoth , and so answeare that charge : But the Lorde commaundeth you your selues also to rehearse his lawes to your children and housholdes . Deu. 6.7 . If they plead ignorance , it wil be but a weake answeare to the Lord . Some say , they are ashamed to teache and pray with their housholdes . I say , because it is good , they are ashamed , else euerie thing they are ready to performe with brasen browes in open places . Some say , it is hypocrisie to performe their dutie : let such pray for new hearts : for if their owne consciences condemne them of hypocrisie , God is greater than their consciences . Some say , it will let and hinder their seruantes from worke , as Pharaoh obiected to Moses . Exod. 5.4 . But our Sauiour answeareth such , in his answeare to Martha , Luke . 10.41 . ( This I speake , not to nourse anie in idlenesse , for such should not eate , 2. Thess. 3.10 . ) Some say , they shal be scorned by worldlinges : If you seeke to please men , you are not the seruantes of Christ , Galat. 1.10 . Yet this was Christes portion , and they are but faint souldiours that flee for a woorde , for we must buckle with the diuell hande to hande , who will not leaue vs , till death , except by Apostasie we yeelde to him both bodies and soules . Some say , that they cannot bring the vnlearned in letters to this knowledge : but they do not remember , that God geueth knowledge of his mysteries , euen to the simple that feare him , Psalme . 25.14 . And in foure monethes space , I haue seene these principles and answeares learned by Gentlemen , Yeomen , Horsekeepers , Shepheardes , Carters , Milkemaides , Kitchen-boyes , & al in that houshold ( where these orders were obserued ) excepting three or foure whose capacitie was but meane & simple , & yet the simplest went not without some profite . Some say , youth are so stubborne , that they will abide no such orders : I say , better is the roome of suche then their companie , for if admonitions appointed by the Lord , winne them not , auoyde them : and so shalt thou auoyde the infecting of the rest of thy householde by them , so shalt thou make others to feare , so shalt thou by making them ashamed of their sinnes , driue them to repentaunce , & principally thou shalt auoyde Gods iudgement against thee and thy houshold . If thou knowest that thou keepest an ignorant & superstitious Papist , a blasphemous swearer , a disobedient subiect , to God , Prince , & Ruler , a licentious and loose liuer , which giueth his bodie to fighting , whooring , and stealing , & his tongue to quarelling , filthie talking , and lying , & thou seeke not to refourme him by the order of God , doest thou not make thy house his stewes , & thy selfe his bawde ? Remoue such , lest God remoue thee . Is it written in vaine , that the plague shall neuer goe from the house where the swerer is ? & that it shal be full of plagues ? Will not the Lord perfourme that which he hath spoken by his prophet Zacharie . 5.5 . That there shal remain a plague in such houses , to consume them with the timber & stones therof ? I would they would consider what God saide to Elie in the like case , Thou honorest thy children aboue me , therfore I wil cut thee and them off . The comfort he had of his youthes in the ende , was this , the Arke ( the witnesse of the Lordes pre●ence ) was lost , thirtie thousand of the people slayne , his two sonnes killed , this liued he to heare , and so in sorrow fell backward , and brake his necke : then his daughter in lawe fell in trauell , and in trauell died : the remnant of his house were glad to crouche and begge for a small peece of siluer , and a morsell of bread , If our Englishmen could beholde these plagues , the remouing of Religion to a people that shall bring foorth fruit of it , the taking away of our Queene , the wayling of their wiues , the murdering of their children , and the cutting of their owne throtes by straungers : they woulde looke better about them . O Fathers of children and housholdes , if you woulde before hand arreigne your selues before Gods iudgment seate , and there finde your selues endited readie to be condemned , for sending your posteritie to begge at straungers doores , for spoyling your children of their liues , this realme of religion , Queene , and peace , and that you shoulde see there your children , wiues , countrie , Churche of GOD , and Queene , accusing you for murtherers , and traytoures , what will you answeare ? what can you say ? Turne your musicke to mourning , your feasting to fasting , your riotting to repenting : and say with Dauid , and with Daniel . 2. Sam. 12.13 . Dan. 9.5 . We haue sinned , and committed iniquitie , done wickedly , & haue rebelled against thee , O Lorde : righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee , and vnto vs open shame and confusion of faces . Say with the men , Actes . 2.37 . and with Paule , Act. 9.6 . say , Lorde what shall we doe ? And you shall be taughte to ioyne amendement to repentance , you ( I say ) which were woont to aske how you shoulde passe the long Winter euenings without gaming , shall learne to turne your playing at Cardes , and Dice , and Dansing , to singing of Psalmes , teaching your housholde , and praying with them . It is enough ( as Paule sayeth . 1. Ephe. 4.3 . ) that you haue spent the times past after the fashion of the world : and how yll , madde , or straunge , ●hey account of the matter , that you runne not with them to the former excesse of riot , say you and performe with . Iosua . 24.15 . We and our housholds will serue the Lord . And you O Ladies , Mistresses , and Dames , say euery one of you with Hester , I & my maides will do the like . Hest. 4.16 . And howsoeuer the world condemne you , the Lord will reuele himselfe vnto you , powre his blessinges of knowledge , of peace , of religion , of good rulers , and will continue the same vnto the remnant of our children and posteritie , which shall come after vs , which he graunt for his Christes sake . Amen .