because they haue no true Faith without which we can not be members of Iesus Christe nor consequently receiue life of him who is the only hed of the faithful F. What then doo the Infidels wheÌ„ they receiue the Sacrament of the Supper C. They eat and drink their owne damnation in sted of receiuing the pledges and gages of their salnation F. Where must the true faithful séek Iesus Christe to inioy him and to haue the fruition of him C. In heauen For if we be risen again with Christe we must séek the things that are on hye where Christe is sitting on the right hand of God. F. Is not this the matter that the auneient Bishops vsed in the celebration of the Supper to say to the people Sursum corda that is lift vp your harts C. Yes And therfore the people answered Habemus ad Dominum We haue them to the lord Now that Iesus Christ is in Heauen and we on earth how can wée be ioyned vnite or made one with him C. By faith and by the woork of the holy Ghost whiche can wel ioyne and knit that that is otherwise seperated by distance of place F. What shall we then say of them that séek Iesus Christe in the Elements of the Supper and say that there is a Transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Iesus Christe C. They erre diuers and sundry waies F How so C. First they speake against thrée Articles of our Beleef that is that Iesus Christ is ascended vp into Heauen that he sitteth on the right hand of God and that he shall not depart from thence til he come to iudge vothe the quick and the dead F. What more C. By their transubstantiation also they abolish the signe of the Sacrament that is to say the bread and the wine and consequently they abolish the Sacrament of the Supper which caÌ„not be without the signe F. This doctrine of Transubstantiation hath it no other absurdities C Yes for it giueth holy thingê to swine and graniteth that the Insidels may eat Iesus Christe Moreouer it maketh men Idotaters and causeth them to worship the Sactament F. Say on C. It maketh also the glorious body of Iesus Christe subiect to rotting and filth Tobe short it abolisheth the true humanity of the sonne of God making him an infinit body and such an one as is in all places F. But hath not Iesus Christe said that he would be with vs vnto the ende of the world and where as two or three should bee gathered togither in his name there hee would be in the middest of them C. Yes But these places must be vnderstood of the presence of his diuinitie and not of his humanitie F. How canst thou prooue that C. By the witnasse of Iesus Christe him self whiche saith that wee shall alwayes haue the poore with vs but him we shal not haue alwaies and S. Peeter saith the Heauen must contain Iesus Christe vntil the restoring of all things F. Therfore thou wilt conclude that although Iesus Christ by his diuinitie and his holy Spirite be alwaies with vs yet notwithstanding touching his humanitie he can be but in one certain place that is in Heauen C. Yea as S. Augustine also witnesseth saying Vntil heauen be ended the Lord shal be alwaies on hie But the trueth of the Lord is also with vs For his body wherein he was raised must needs be in one certain place but his trueth is spread throughout F. What is the summe of this true faith which seeketh not Iesus Christe in Earth but in Heauen C. I beléeue in God whiche hath created me I beléeue in Iesus Christe which hath redeemed me from sin from Sathan from Hel and from death I beleeue also in the holy Ghost which hath sanctified me F. Why saiest thou perticulerly I béeleeue and not we beleeue C. Because that euery one must examin himself and liue by his owne faith and not by the faith of other men F. How must that be doon C. When we doo euery man particulerly for him self apply Iesus Christe vnto him self with all his blessings and riches F. What riches are there in Iesê° Christ C There is saluation for the lost life for the dead trueth for the liers wisdoine for the ignoraunt Iustice for the sinners sanctification ctification for the impure ones redemption for the captiues F. Must we therfore by faith applye all these things vnto vs séeing we are by nature lost dead lyers ignorant sinners vnclene and captiues C. Yea for Iesus Christe hath taken vpon him all our miseryes and wretche ones to giue and communicate vnto vs all his blessings and riches as also in deéd they be distributed vnto vs in his holy Supper F. Let vs now speak of the second parte of our duty towards God which consisteth in repentance and first of all what repentance is C. It is a sorowfulnes and hafred of euil and a looue of that that is good F. Tobe sory and gréeued for our wicked nesse is it not necessary to knowe it C. Yes F. How doo we know the euil the is in vs C. First of all by our beginning for that that is borne of flesh is flesh Secondly because we transgresse the law of God which is the rule of all perfection Iustice Third ly by the ordinary afflictions whiche God sendeth vs because of our sinnes F. Haue we not also the Sacraments a glasse to beholde our sinnes in C. We haue so For is we were not sinners we should haue no néed of remission of our sinnes in Baptisme And if we were not in death it were in vain for vs to come to the Supper to séek life and saluation in Iesus Christe F. When we knowe our sinnes ought we not confesse them before God C. Yes According to the example of Dauid and the Publican if we wil be iustified before God. F. Why should we confesse and acknow sedge our sinnes before God C. To obfain parden and ful remission as God is iust and faithful to doo it F. For what end and purpose dooth God pardon vs our sinnes C For thrée principall ends F. What are they C. First to this end that we should reconcile our selues to our enemyes secondly that we should forgiue them thyrdly that we should abstain from sinne and liue to righteousnes F. Is there nothing in the Supper that exhorteth vs to flée and hate â—m C. Yes for in that that wee breake the bread of the Supper it sheweth vs that our sinnes did brute and breake the Sonne of God with the sorowes of death F. What foloweth then C. That we should condemne and detest our sinnes as the Authoures of the death of the Sonne of God. F. Is it sufficient to abstaine from euill and not to doo good C. No for euery trée that bringeth not foorth good frute is cut down and cast into the fyre And therfore the naughtie Sernant was cast into
we sée also the ther were great notable abuses on their behalfe that made profession of the true woord of god How many were there which knew no more then the Papists to giue any reasoÌ„ of their faith and which presented them selues like beasts to the Lords holy Supper Some came thither as ignoraÌ„t asses other as swine leding a dissolute slanderous life I wil not speak of an infinit number of hipocrits false brethern traiters Apostates which were vnknoweÌ„ had a countenance shew of honestie Therfore is was not without cause that the wrath of god was kindled against his people that they were scourged with stripes for wittigly abusing of the knowledge of his holy name Now that this good God through his Sonne Iesus Christe may cast his pitiful and merciful eye vpon this so poore and desolate Realme it behoueth bothe the one and the other to learne hence forwarde to serue and honor God according to his woord better then they haue doon espetially that they take héede that héerafter they prophane not by any meanes the holy supper of Iesus Christe our lord To this ende and purpose they may read this little tretise wherin they shall finde the the true preparing of our selues to the Lords supper consisteth not in decking of the body fair garments pomps countenaunces and outward profession of the name of God but in clenenesse of hart and vp rightnes of conscieÌ„ce to th' end that God who is a spirit may be also serued of his in Spirit and trueth The Preface ¶ To come worthely to the holy Supper of our Lord Iesus Christe we must examine our selues according too the admonition of the Apostle Saint Paule Now the examination of our selues consisteth cheefely in foure poynts that is to say in Faith repentance giuing of thanks to God and looue towards our neighbours Of Faith. The first Article FIrst of all we must haue faith that is to say a certain infallible assurance firme perswasioÌ„ that God is a merciful father vnto vs in the name of his sonne Iesê° Christe our Lord whoÌ„e he deliuered to death for vs This faith coÌ„meth not of vs nether is it grouÌ„ded vpon vs nether vpoÌ„ any other thing the is in vs but it commeth from God and is grounded vpon God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost and vpon the promises of the gospel confirmed inwardly within vs by the working of the holy Ghost whiche cryeth in our harts Abba that is to say father Furthermore this faith is nourished confirmed and increased in vs by the holy Sacraments For in the Supper God as a good father after that hee hath once brought vs into his Church by baptisme nourisheth vs spiritually with the proper substance of his Sonne Iesus Christe applying and making proper vnto euery one of vs the merit of his death passion To this end and purpose is it that Iesus Christe him self giueth vs the bread and Wine that he commaundeth vs to eat and drink it that he saith that the Bread is his body whiche is giuen for vs and that the Wine is his Blood which is shed for the remission of our sinnes by whiche woordes he giueth him self wholly vnto vs he wil be our nourishment and spyrituall life hée will dwell in vs by his holy Spirit and wil that we abide in him by faith that through beléef we may not perish but haue eternall life wherof he is the onely heyre and giuer In like sorte the breaking of the Bread of the Supper serueth to the confirmation of our faith and sure warranting of our saluation in so much as it assureth vs and causeth vs to see with spirituall eyes that Iesus Christe was once broken with the paines of death in Ierusalem to deliuer vs from the same and to get vs eternall life Also in that that by the commaundement of Christe Iesus we take the Bread in our hands and then the Cup more ouer in that that we eate the Bread and drink the Wine whiche turn into the nourishment of our bodyes we are certyfied that by the haÌ„ds of Faith we take and embrace Iesus Christe our Lord for our onely Saueour and redéemer and that by the same Faith we eat his body spiritually and drink his blood to the hope of eternall life Now euery one of vs must liue by his owne faith according as we may make our confession in the beleef whiche is called the Apostles in that that euery man saith by him self I beleelue in God and saith not we beleeue We must not heer cast our braines or think vpon the beléeuing or vnbeleeuing vpon the worthynes or vnworthynes of an other man but vpon our owne For Saint Paule dooth not teach vs to examin other men or that other men should examine vs but he saith namely let a man examine him self Therfore let euery one of vs for his owne parte be assured in his hert that Iesus Christe the trewe Messias is come into the world to saue sinners amongst whome he ought to account and estéeme him self by the example of s. Paule the chéefest Let him beléeue that Iesus Christe came down from Heauen into Earth to lift him vp from Earth to HeaueÌ„ that he was made the Sonne of man to make him the Childe of God that he was conceiued by the holy Ghost and that he was borne of the Virgin mary to purifie and clense his wicked conception birth Let him perswade him self that the Sonne of God hath ouercome the Deuil to deliuer him from the tiranny and slauish subiection of the deuil that he hath fulfilled all the Law loouing God his father with all his hart streÌ„gth and might and his neighbour as him self to get him iustice that he appéered before Pilat an earthly Iudge and receiued as euil dooer sentence of condemnation for this life to exempt him from appering before the terrible iudgement seat of Gods iustice to receiue sentence of death euer lasting damnation for that he had offended one eternall and euer lasting god Let him assure him self that the same Iesu Christe went down to hel for him that is to say that he suffred the sorrows and terrours of the second death and of the sincere wrath of God to deliuer him that he dyed a death accursed of God in that hée was hanged on the Crosse to purchase him life blessing before God that he rose again for a gage and assurance of his resurrection that he assended into Heauen for a certain token that he also shal assend thither that he sitteth on the right hand of God his Father to bée for him an euerlasting Préest teacher king defender reconciler and aduorate tobe short the he shall come at his last comming for his comfort ful redemption We must also euery one of vs for his owne parte make proper
vnto our selues yea and make ours all the goodnes all the riches that is in Iesus Christe because that in giuing him self to vs he giueth vs also his benefits So then in that that Iesus Christe is God it is to make vs partakers of his diuinitie in that that hée is heyre and Lord of the world it is to make vs partakers of his Lordshippe and inheritaunce that we recouer in him the gouernment of all things which we lost in Adam in that hée is well belooued of his Father it is that we may bee acceptable vnto him in that that hée is riche it is to make vs Partakers of his riches in that that hée hath all power against the Deuil Sin Hel Antichriste the worlde and all our enemies it is to defend and sheelde vs in that that he is iust and good it is to iustifye vs make vs good in that that he is happy and immortall it is to make vs partakers of his blessednes and immortalitie When we shall thus particulerly applye all the actions and benefits of Iesus our Lord and also all his essentiall qualityes vnto our selues putting a whole trust in him and in his promises and distrusting our selues then may we boldly come to the Lords table wher at we shall inioy Iesus Christe God and man by the benefit of faith and shall feel moreouer a great increace augmentatioÌ„ of the same But we must note that it is impossible for vs to be vnite and made one with Christe and to be made partakers of the treasures and riches which are in him vnlesse we first renounce Antichriste and his kingdome and vnlesse we detest all Idolatry superstion and traditions of men directly contrary to the pure seruice of God bounded limitted out in his woord For séeing the God is our onely creator and he giueth him self wholly vnto vs in the persoÌ„ of his soÌ„ne Iesê° Christ the true Isaack in whoÌ„e all the nations of the earth are blessed it is great reason the likewise by faith we giue vp our selues yéeld vs wholly vnto god And theÌ„ce is it the God in his law dooth rightfully require of his people the they haue no other Gods but him And that they loone him withall their hart with all their soule with all their strength vnderstaÌ„ding that is to say with al their partes aswel inward as outward And thence is it also the God dooth not onely rebuke reproue all them the halt on both sides but coÌ„maundeth also the they whiche sacrifice vnto strauÌ„ge Gods should be put to death And to this purpose S. Paule minding to warn the Corinthians to flée from Idolatrye vseth an argument taken from the knitting to gither vnion that we haue with Iesê° Christ our lord in the supper speaking after this sort The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the coÌ„munion of the blood of Christe And the bread which we breke is it not the communion of the body of Christe As if hée would say that séeing the Corinthians caÌ„e not to the supper to be partakers simply of earthly elements but to be partakers really in déed of the body blood of our Lord Iesus Christ to be made one with him by faith and be made flesh of his flesh bones of his bones the therefore it were to great wickednes and abhomination to be present in the assemblyes of Infidels or to be partaker of their Idolatry therfore the Apostle addeth afterward that the CorinthiaÌ„s caÌ„not drik of the cup of the L. the cup of Deuils that they cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and of the table of Deuils Wherby he signifieth that it is impossible to serue God and the deuil togither that who so euer dooth coÌ„municate with Idolatry dooth manifestly renounce our Lord Iesus Christe Therfore séeing that darknes is no more contrary to light vice to vertue death to life paradice to Hel then the Pope and his doctrine is contrary to our Lord Iesus Christe and to his holy gospel it behooueth all trew faithful people to withdraw them selues wholly from popery and cast of without delay the yoke of that Romish Antichrist that they may giue them selues wholly to the seruice of this saueour redéemer Iesus Christe but if so be that the communion that we haue with the sonne of God and the promises of the heauenly Father cannot intice and perswade vs to yéeld our selues wholly to God to put our trust in him only to serue and worship him only according to his wil but that we wil yet cleue vnto Antichrist and his seruants ministers yet at the lest let the threatnings and iudgements of God hinder vs and fear vs so to doo as when it is said go out of her my people the ye be not partakers in her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues And again if any man worship the beast and his Image and receiue his mark in his forehed or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is poured into the cup of his wrath and he shal be tormented in fire brimstone before the holy Aungels and before the Lamb. And that stink of their torment shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night whiche worship the beast and his Image and who so euer receiueth the print of his name And again The fearful and vnbeléeuing the abhominable murtherers whoremongers Sorcerers Idolatours and all lyers shal haue their parte in the lake which burneth with fire brimstone which is the secoÌ„d death Let this therfore be wel printed in our harts that we be not seduced and destroyed with the vain seruers of this world which think it a thing not impossible to serue God and the deuil Iesus Christe and Antichriste to folow the commaundements of God and of men and to satisfie the affections of the spirit and of the flesh all at once ¶ Of Repentance Article 2. THe preparation wherof we spake before touching Faith which applied vnto euery one of vs particulerly Iesus Christe with all his riches and blessings can haue no place in vs vnlesse it bring foorth also in vs a true repentance that is to say a true misliking of euil and a burning loue affection of goodnesse as we see the example in Dauid Peeter Paule and other holy men We must haue a sorowe and vnfained greef for that we haue offended God for that we haue before times wickedly abused our creatioÌ„ redemption and Baptisme for that we haue prouoked God with all our meÌ„bers for that we haue abused our vnderstaÌ„ding hart tung feet and hands for that we haue giuen and set foorth our soules and bodyes which are the temples wherin God would dwel to Infidelitie Idolatrye superstition filthines blasphemy whordoÌ„e extortion vsury robery gluttony drunkennesse ambition excesse
ryot other worldly vanities which is asmuch as if we wold haue lodged God the father the sonne and the holy ghost in a moste stinking and filthy priuy We must therfore be sory for our wicked life passed vsing a true and seuere examining of our selues which may bring forth in vs a displeasantnesse and horrour of our fore passed renting and breaking by all maner of menes of the law of God to folow the wil of the Deuil of the world and of the flesh Now the breking of the bread of the Supper which is omitted in the paosure of the Papistê should cause vs to acknowledge and detest our wickednesse that is to say whatsoeuer is fouÌ„d in vs contrary repugnaunt to the pure and holy law of god For in that that the bread is brokeÌ„ for vs or rather in the that we breke the bread of the Supper our of Lord Iesê° Christe it signifieth vnto vs that indéed it is we that it is our sinnes and iniquityes which haue crucified put to death the Lord of life who is the very same Iesus Christe our lord So that we must not doo as in times passed the Infidels did which made great lamentatioÌ„s and inuectiues against the Iewes Pontius Pilate Herod Iudas and them that had executed and put Christ to death and in the mene season flattered theÌ„ selues vaunting of their owne merits and deserts and did not narowly consider that Iudas Pontious Pilate and Herod were but executers and ministers of their impietyes and sinnes Let vs therefore consider in the breaking of the bread that our sinnes yea the sinnes of euery one of vs seuerally crucified the sonne of God brake him with the sorowes of the first and second death as namely the woords of the Supper doo shew that the body of Iesus Christ was broken for vs his blood was shed for the remission of our sinnes And our heauenly father witnesseth the same speaking of the death of his sonne for the sinnes of my people haue I smitten him TheÌ„ if it be so that our sinnes beeing way in the balaunce of the Iustice of God were found to be so weightie and of so great importaunce that his wrath could neuer haue béen appeased towards vs but by the death of his onely Sonne which maketh ful satisfaction I say by the cruel and ignominious death of the crosse How should not we hence forwarde detest abhorre our sin as that which is the cruel bloody murtherer of the onely sonne of God Beholde the Sun the Moon behold the element beholde the vale of the Temple beholde the stones Rocks which were mooued at the death of Iesus Christe which shewed foorth tokens of sorow and we which bere within our selues the cause of his death shall not we haue in horrour and detestation this cursed enemy sin that is lodged within vs Shall we suffer him to rule dwell in vs as before that it may bring home death vnto vs Not so but we must detest it as that that before time seperated vs from God our chéefest happinesse as that that caused vs to loose the Image and similitude of God according to which we were created at the beginning by god It is that that hath wholly destroyed vs that hath depriued vs of holinesse and righteousnes that hath banished vs out of paradise that hath made vs flaues to the tiranny of the deuil the hath made vs subiect to so many miseryes and diseases and tobe short bothe to the first and second death it is that which after it had set a bar deuision betwéen God and vs caused vs to sée our owne filthines purchased vnto vs shameful vilanous infamy made vs to tremble at the voice of our God which was before moste pleasant loouing vnto vs It is that wherby the wrath of God is heaped vpon men that maketh the Earth to become barrain and to bring foorth thornes and thistles that causeth women to bring foorth in sorow and that men eat their bread in the sweat and labour of their bodyes Séeing then that sin bringeth foorth and procureth vnto vs dayly so many miseries it foloweth the we ought to withdraw our selues from it if we wil not be wilful enemies of our owne happines saluation Now theÌ„ I cite héer all disordered and flaunderous persons which notwithstaÌ„ding are so impudent to present them selues to the Lords holy table I aske them what it is that they promised to God and his church in baptisme They wil answer me that they promised God to renounce the Deuil and all his works But one of the chéef and principall works of the deuil is sin Why doo they not then abstain from it Why are they traytours disobedient to God and his Church Why haue they conspired with the deuil the world and the flesh against their owne saluation How dare they present them selues béefore God to aske him pardon and remission of their sinnes séeing that more and more they hepe sin vpon sin and crucifie kil again as much as in them lyeth the sonne of God or at the least make a scorne scoffe of the purging of his blood which was applyed vnto them in Baptisme Put the case that a wicked man poor and destitute of all help were fallen into a mire wheÌ„ce out he could by no menes raise vp him self and that some yung Prince passing that way took the paines to draw him out of this ditch to make him clene to clad him with gorgeous and pretious apparel if this wicked man poor miserable caitif fall again into this mire beray bothe him self and his apparel béeing moreouer in great daunger of his life would not one think that this man were maruelously vnkinde and a contemner of that princely bounty and goodnesse and on the other side a wilful sworne enemy of his owne helth worthy tobe lost cast away with out any help or assistance Euen so soundeth our cause with Iesus Christe We fel all into the pudle of sin in the person of Adam we are all wicked dooers and worthy of an hundreth thousand gibbetê before God we can by no meanes get out of our selues and out of the ditch of destruction wherinto we are al fallen of our owne fault Beholde the Sonne of God the king of kings the Lord of Lords which commeth to draw vs out of this pudle which commeth to wash vs with his pretious blood whiche vouchsafeth to clad vs with the proper Cloke of his righteousnes innocency If we coÌ„e again to wallow our selnes in the puddle of sin if we plese our selues in it if we defile be durt the robe of innoceÌ„cy which he hath giueÌ„ vs in baptisme are we not manifest contemners of the inestimable looue gift of Iesus Christe are moreouer worthy to rot a thousand times in our filthynes or rather to gnash our téeh euerlastingly with the deuilê in hel It is euident
the death and passion of the Sonne of God who commaundeth all the faithful to selebrate the Supper in remembrance of him Thirdly they contemne the price of their redemption that is to say the pretious body and blood of Iesus Christe which are giuen and distributed to all faithful Christians in the Supper according as it is said This is my body which is giuen for you this is my blood which is shed for the remission of your sinnes Finally they despise the church and the vnitie therof and willingly excommunicate them selues from the Communion whiche the faithful haue in the Supper as wel with Iesus Christe as one with an other We sée therfore how fondly these contemners of the Lords holy Supper doo fall and ar vtterly inexcusable And therfore let vs take good héed that we folowe them not if we wil not be punished with thē which for their Oxen Fermes Wines and trastique of merchandise refused to come to the mariage in the Gospel Contrarywise of thē which come vnworthily to the holy Supper of the Lord or ought not be therunto admitted Article 7. ¶ Of them vvhich sin against the first Article of the first preparation which consisteth in true faith ALl Atheists that is such as are with out God misbeléeuers ignorant of God his woord all heretiques false prophets all Magicians Idolaters and superstitious whiche are partakers of the tables of Deuils likewise all they which haue but an historicall Faith all the adherents ministers of the Roomish Antichrist and they that establish by any maner whatsoeuer his kingdome or depend there on also all they which haue not yelded them selues to the Church of God and haue not made profession of their Faith finally all they that customably swere either by the name of God or by their Faith and apply it to vain matters and causes of no value all these ought to abstain from the Lords Table for so muche as they haue not a true trust in God without the whiche we can not bée members of Iesus Christe nor consequently bee apt and méete to receiue life of him which is the onely hed of the true faithfull ¶ Of them which sin against the second Article of the second preparation which consisteth in Repētance ALl they which liue slanderously all impenitent and vnthrifts all contemners of God of his woord and of his holy assemblies all blasphemers and denyers of the name of God all despisers of correction and ecclesiastical discipline they also the haūt and frequent ordinarily euil cōpany which walke in the counsel of the wicked which stand in the way of sinners which sit in the seat of the scorneful To be short they in whome appéereth no amendment of life no regeneration and they that conimit haynous and infamous vices and such as are tobe punished by the magistrate all these after that they are knowen tobe such ought not tobe admitted to the supper and if they present them selues vnto it they ought not tobe receiued lest that that is holy be giuen to Dogs and Swine to the great dishonour of God and slander of his Church ¶ Of them which sin against the third Article of the third preparation which consisteth in giuing of thanks WIithout true faith and repentance we cannot be méet to set forth the parises of God who wil not be praysed by the mouth of the wicked therfore all Infidels Igno rants and impenitent sin also against this Article and ought not tobe receiued to the Lords Supper Also they that are mad or fooles either by nature or some other accident They also which by reason that they be vnder age as little childrē can not shew foorth the Lords death til he come are not capable of the Supper Finally they which by fragilitie vnkindnesse and contempt in time of persecution did forsake Gods cause and renounce the name of our Lord Iesus Christe ought not also tobe admitted thither vnlesse that they doo first make open confession of their fault and be reconciled to the Church of God. ¶ Of them which sin against the fourth article of the fourth preparation whiche consisteth in Looue toward our neighbours THe disobedient to Father and mother to the magistrate to al superiours the seditious conspiratours fighters murderers and such as bere malice and hatred against their neighbours they that are caried away with a desire of reuengement whoremongers adulterers incontinent bougerers drunkards and gluttons deceiuers couetous théeues and vsurers backbiters mockers false witnesses lyers conmon periured persons and in sum all they which make an art of the breach of looue toward their neighbours contained in the second table of the law of God ought not tobe receiued to the Supper For seéing that the Scripture pronounceth thus that suche sort of men haue none acquaintance of God are shut out of the kingdome of Heauen and shall not dwel in the Lords holy mountain they ought of right tobe shut out from these sacred signes wherby the faithful are ioyned to Iesus Christe and made possessors of eternall life ¶ Finis A Dialogue of the preparation to the holy Supper of our Lord IESVS CHRISTE ¶ The Father HOwe must wée be prepared to come worthely to the supper of our Lord Iesus Christe The Childe We must examin our selues according to the precept of the holy Apostle S. Paule F. Wherin consisteth the eramination of our selues C. In two points First that we behaue ourselues as it is méet towarde God who calleth vs to this holy banquet Then that we doo our dutye to our Brethren which are called to this holy Table with vs. F. What is our duty towards God C. It cōsisteth principally in three points F. Which are they C. In faith repentance giuing of thāks F. What is faith C. It is a certaine assurance that God is our father and Saueour in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christe our Lord. F. This assurance commeth it of vs C. No for the faithfull are not borne of flesh nor blood neither of the wil of man but they are borne of God. F. But what meanes dooth God vse to beget vs vnto him and to giue vs faith C. His woord confirmed in vs by the woork of the holy Ghost who cryeth in our harts Abba that is to say father F. Is not this faith confirmed and ratyfied in vs by the Lords Supper C. Yes F. How so C. First of all in that that Iesus Christe giueth himself vnto vs promising vs that his body was giuen to death for vs and that his blood was shed for the remission of our sinnes F. What more C. In that that the bread and wine whiche we take eate and drink according to Gods institution teache vs that through faith we take eate and drink the body and blood of Iesus Christe for the nourishment of our soules F. And those that are Insidels can they eate the body of Iesus Christe and drinck his blood C. No
Séeing then that it is so the the end of our redemption baptisme iustification requireth of vs to abstain from sin so farfoorth as possibly we may and our fleshly infirmitie wil suffer we must take all paines diligence by the vertue of the spirit of God to cast out from vs all foulenes and filthynes Idolatry blasphemy rebellion hatred murder whordome theft and vsury and all other things contrary to the holy law if we wil not be more theÌ„ ingrate towards Iesus Christe and open enemies of his Church and our owne saluation But because it is not sufficient for the induing of a true helthful repentance to acknowledge our misery to abhorre it to confesse it to abstain froÌ„ it but we must also knowe desire and doo the good whiche God coÌ„mandeth in his woord we must coÌ„sider the argumeÌ„t which ought ernestly to stir vs vp to the sanctifying of the name of god First in that we are ioyned and made one with Christe Iesus in the Supper in that we are made flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones in that we liue by his holy spirit Ought not this vpon good cause to exhort vs to coÌ„forme our selues to the Image and likenes of the holinesse of our Lord Iesus Christe Can he dwel in vs nourish vs with his owne substance quicken vs with his holy spirit ioyne vs vnto him self by the bond of faith yet so that he his holy spirit faith bring not foorth in vs good and holy woorks Moreouer for so much as he dooth not giue him selfe vnto vs halfmele destitute of his qualities and richis and accompanied with all spirituall gifts blessings adorned with righteousnes perfection accompanied with innocency and sanctification how can we receiue Iesus Christe inriched with all his graces that the righteousnes of our hed may not shine in vs which are his members yea shine in all our partes aswel in warde as outward Must it néeds be that the two parts of our soule that is to say our minde and hart which ought to apprehend take holde of the promises of God which ought to receiue by faith the body and blood of our Lord Iesus Christe that is to say whole Iesus Christe true God equall in euery respect to God his father true man made of humain body and soule that this minde and hart I say must be applied to the meditation looue of worldly and wicked things béeing destitute of the knowledge looue of God and of the looue of our neighbour Dooth it behooue our body which is the temple of God to be prophaned That our eares whiche were created of God to hear his voice should be stopped against it and be open to vanities wanton talk and vnchaste worldly songes Dooth it behooue our tung which is bound by the right of creation to sing the praises of God by the right of redemption to shew foorth the Lords death til he come that this tung which is so proper an instrumeÌ„t of the glory of God shold be mute to goodnes and incessantly occupyed in backbiting slandering blaspheming or at the least in speaking idle words wherof one day we shall yéeld an accouÌ„t before the throne of the maiestie of God Dooth it behooue our mouth which ought to receiue the blessed signe of the body blood of our Lord Iesus to to suppresse the benefit of our redemption to haue Adders poison in it Dooth it behooue our hand which ought to take at the Supper the assured gage of the looue of God the infallible pledges of his legue with vs the ernest peny of our saluation to be void of goodnesse and be side that be giuen to extortion theft murder oppression and violence Dooth it behooue our féet which ought to run make haste to goodnes to be redy and light to run to mischéef No surely but as he which calleth vs is holy so likewise must we also be wholly holy as he hath brought vs by holy baptisme into his holy house which is his Church the communion of Saints euen so likewise must we leade therin a good holy conuersation as he hath washed vs from our sinnes by the pretious blood of his sonne Iesus Christe so must we dye to them and liue in righteousnes as he hath called vs to the incorruptible hope of the blessed resurrection and eternall life so must we lift vp our harts on hye and not be buryed like Moules in this frail and transitory Earth To be short séeing that the grace of God is set before vs euery day and his holy woord souÌ„deth in our eares to this only end that it may be saluation vnto vs and that renouÌ„cing all vngodlines and worldly desires we should liue soberly iustly godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appéering of the glory of the mightie God and of our Saueour Iesus Christe we must pray vnto this good God that he would giue vs grace so to behaue our selues towards him in liuing godly so towardê our neighbours in liuing iustly so towards our selues in liuing soberly that we may be found at the day irreprensible by the meanes of that his wel belooue Sonne our Lord Iesus Christe Of thanks giuing Article 3. THirdly we must giue thanks to this good God for the benefit of our redemption and for this cause it is that the auncients called the holly Supper Eucharistie that is to say gratefulnes good grace giuing of thanks For if so be that our ordinary food and dayly bread whiche God giueth vs for the nourishment of our bodyes ought to be sanctified by the word and receiued with thankê giuing ought we not much more to thank God for the heauenly bread and for the nourishment of our soules which is offered vnto vs and really giuen vs in the holy supper of Iesus Christe And we sée also how Iesus Christe him self sheweth vs an example héerof For when he took the bread of the Supper S. Mathevv and S. Mark say that Iesus Christe blessed And S. Luke expoundeth this woord to blesse when he saith that he gaue thanks Now then séeing that we sée the Iesus Christe when he tooke the bread of the Supper gaue thankê to God his Father as he did also when he took the cup and that for the redemption of man kinde it is our duty to doo the like And that we may be the better mooued to giue thaÌ„ks to God we haue to consider the greatnes of the benefit of our redemption the excellency of the gift which God giueth vs at this holy table which cannot be doon vnlesse we consider our miserable coÌ„dition which was before figured by the teÌ„porall captiuite of Egipt We sée there how Pharaoh was strong mightie how he knew not the eternall how he went about to kil all the séed of the Israelits by the suppression death of their men children we see
meat and drinck all of the self same spirituall drink in that also that we all pretend as Brethren to one self same inheritance whiche is the kingdome of He auen ought not this inflame vs with true and hot looue Finally the making of the bread and wine of the Supper dooth teach vs asso what vnitie and concord we ought to haue one with an other for as we sée that the bread is made of many cornes and yet not withstanding afterwards is but one selfe same lump of Bread as we see also that the Wine is made of many clusters of grapes and yet after it is made is but one onely wine in like sort must the Christians whiche are many in them selues be ioyned togither thorow looue into one body which is the Church wherof Iesus Christe ought tobe the onely hed and leader But we must note that this looue wherunto we are exhorted by so many reasons of the Supper cānot be where there is enuy brauling cōtencions rancour debate diuision and therfore before we com to the Supper whiche is a witnesse of our agréement aswel with Christ as with his congregation if we haue had any strife and cōtention with our brethern we must loouingly reconsile our selues vnto them If any man haue offended vs wée must frankly and fréely forgiue our brethrē yea our enemies as we would that that good God should pardon vs and as wée sée how Iesus Christ our Lord hath left vs an example of this looue when he prayed to God his father for his enemies whiche put him to death as we rede also that S. Stephen did the same Again we must also mark that this looue ought tobe practised in all estates Kings must looue their subiects they must be Nurces of the church of God loouers of cōmon peace they must vse their people with all moderation and clemency So likewise must the people honor the king they must pay him their tribute faithfully they must be obedient to all his Lieutenants and Officers The Pastour must looue his flock he must watch take paines and pray incessantly for it So like wise must the shéep looue their pastour the Fathers their children the Children their fathers and Mothers the Wife the husband and the Husband the wife the Maisters their seruants the Seruants their maisters and euery one in his calling must indeuer to exercise looue in the vocation whervnto God hath called him For other wise it wil be impossible for vs to doo our duties faithfully aswel toward god as toward men if the rule of looue doo not guide and gouern vs in all our dooings Article 5. Necessary obseruations for them that wil come to the Lords table IN the articles aforesaid consisteth the true examining of our selues notwithstanding we must take good héed to these points and notes which folow First we haue to note that we must not rast our heds and bend our braines to examine curiously an other mannes life as many doo whiche stretch out and scanne so narowly the blemishes of their Brethren that they forget their owne It is to be wished and we must procure it asmuch as lyeth in vs that the Church of God may be maintained in puritie without shew of offence But for so muche as in this worlde Corne shall alwaies be mixed with chaffe wéeds with whete good fish with bad Iudas with true Apostles foolish Virgins with wise yet none of vs must be offended therfore and moreouer let euery man indeuour to finde that perfection in him self which he desireth to bring into an other Secondly we must not think that faith repentance giuiuing of thanks looue and other vertues which God requireth of vs can be perfet héer in this world for there wil be alwaies in vs what regēerate and new borne so euer we be some remnants of sinne of incredulitie of lacke of repentance of vnthankfulnesse and of selflooue which is directly contrary and opposite to the true looue of our neighboure As long as we liue the flesh wil fight against the Spirite the Deuill and the Worlde wil make war against vs as the life of the Patriarches Prophets and Apostles doo sufficiently witnesse vnto vs so that euen to the last breath of our life we shall haue néed to craue of our God that he would forgiue vs our sinnes through his sōne Iesus Christe Notwitstanding so far it is that the imperfections which are in vs should cause vs to drawe back from God and from this holy banquet that rather so that we are displeased with our selues for thē they ought to cause vs to come the sooner to the intent that as poore famished creatures we might more gréedily and with greater desire receiue Iesus Christe which is the true shepherd of our soules Thirdly although it be not required to the worthy cōming to the Supper to haue a perfit faith perfit repentance perfit giuing of thanks perfit looue yet must they be notwithstanding true and procéed from the hart and from the Spirit Our faith must not be fained our repentaunce must not be counterfait and painted as that of Hipocrites the thanks whiche we giue to God must not come onely from the mouth neither must we loue our brethren in word only and not in déed but let the whole profession of our faith and christen life abooue all things be far frō ostententation hipocrisie so the we take more paines to be good Christians in déed and before God then to be so counted and taken before men ¶ Against them that vvillingly and of set purpose abstain from the holy Supper of the lord Article 6. AS there are many which doo amis in presenting them selues vnworthyly to the communion so there are many which doo amisse on the contrary side in that they wil by no meanes come nor present them selues to this holy banquet For feare of communicating as they say vnworthyly and so consequently tobe culpable of the body and blood of Iesus Christe But let them that so abstain of set purpose frō the Lords holy table knowe that it is no lesse fault vp on an vnthankfulnesse and cōtempt to abstain from the holy and sacred meats whiche God presenteth to vs at the Supper then to receiue it vnworthely as we see that a Patient which beeing very sick maketh no account of the receipt and dyet whiche the Phisition hath prescribed is no lesse faulty then he which abuseth or vseth it not competently as the Phisition hath appointed Therefore let not this sort of people flatter them selues as though by this meanes they could be excused bothe before God and men séeing that it is a most certain trueth that so haynous an ingratitude is in no wise tobe admitted or worthy excuse For first of all such men doo willingly contemn the commaundemēt of Iesus Christ which saith to all his doo this take ye eat ye Secondly they contemne the blessed remembrance of