therfore we wyl confesse that when we do accordynge to the institution of the Lorde receyuâ— the Sacrament with fayth we are vndoubtedlye made partakers of the substaunce of the body and bloude of Christe Howe thys thynge shoulde be done some men can better define and more playnly expounde then other But thys thynge is chiefely to be remembred that we exclude all carnall imagination that the mynde ought to be erected into heaueÌ„ and that we thynke not our Lorde Iesu Christe to be so vyle that he may be conteyned in corruptible elementes Agayne leste the force of thys most sacred mistery shoulde be diminished we must thynke that it is wrought by the secrete and wonderful power of God and that his spirite is the bonde of thys partaking whiche is for that cause called spirituall Finis ¶ The order that the churche and coÌ„gregacion of Christe in Denmarke and in many places couÌ„treis and cities in Germany doth vse not onelye at the holy supper of the Lorde but also at the ministration of the blessed Sacrament of Baptisme and holy Wedlocke TO all that hunger and thyrst the glorye of God wealth of theyr neyghbours be grace mercye and peace from the same euerlastyng God our moste deare father in heauen thorow our Lorde and onely Sauiour Iesus Christe It were to me a singuler comfort my ryght deare and intierly beloued brethren and systers in Iesu Christe yf I myghte be wyth you my selfe continuallye comunicate vnto you some part of that litle taleÌ„t which I haue receiued of the Lorde my God for your sakes and all the lawefull wayes that I coulde deuyse I haue sought thys greate whyle to opteyne liceÌ„ce of the hygher powers for the same purpose But it wyl not be Wherfore though I be hyndred and kepte from you by all the meanes that Sathan his membres can imagen yet shall ye haue my poore herte yet wyll I not ceasse to wyshe you good yet wyll I do the beste for you that I can although it be but wyth my pen. In token wherof I haue set forth vnto you the order and maner that many whiche haue receyued Goddes worde vnfaynedly do vse not onely at the mooste hâ—lye supper of our Lorde but also at the ministracion of the blessed Sacramente of Baptisme and when anye couple of persones are ioyned into holy wedlocke And thys haue I done to the intent that when ye haue spyed and do se that thys order is agreable vnto Gods worde not varying froÌ„ the moste wholsome doctrine therof Ye maye wyshe in your hertes to haue Goddes truth prospere lykewyse amonge you in the realme of Englande And praye vnfaynedly wyth me and all other synners that the father of mercy and God of all comforte wyll â—o lyghten and illuminate the hertes of oure rulers that they maye folowe the earnest monicion of the seconde Psalme and be no more wythout vnderstaÌ„dyng but be wyse by times and embrace the sonne of God whyle he offreth him selfe vnto them And not only to suffre the worde of God to haue the vpper hande aboue all other doctrines but also them selues to laye to theyr handes in abolishyng the blasphemous and dampnable abuses that are here as yet â–ª suffred about the forsayed thre principles of Christes religion wherfore deare brethren wheÌ„ ye compare this order vnder wrytten whiche is the doctrine of Goddes worde and practise of the primatyue churche to the vayne ceremonyes vsed here yet after the churche of Rome lyfte vp your hertes to almightye God and beseche hym that for Christes â—ake 〈◊〉 wyll once graunte that these thre his holy Supper holy Baptisme holy wedâ—ocke maye be truelye and sincerelye ministred and practised also amonge vs. To the glory of his blessed name â—nd encrease of his kyngdom for euer Amen ¶ The order taken for the due ministration of the holy Supper of the Lorde FOr thy better instruction thou shalte fyrste vnderstande that the blessed Sacrament of the bodye and bloude of the Lorde the worthy memoriall of oure redempcion is at no tyme denyed to any christen man where gods worde is truely preached yf he lawfully require it And as none dothe minister it saue the priest which is the officer appointed therto So is it not ministred but wheÌ„ there be other present to receyue it as well as the pryeste Now bicause that where gods worde is truely preached meÌ„ do se the fruite of the sayd holy Sacrament therfore resort they the oftener to the same holy supper of the lorde and delyte the more therin But specially to se what a nuÌ„bre come to it on the soÌ„daye how reuerently it woulde do ones hert good And bicause they may the more fruitfully be partakers thereof therfore on the saterday wheÌ„ the preachyng is done euery daye they haue a sermon all suche as are appoynted in them selues to be partakers of the Lordes supper come one after an other to the priest of whoÌ„ they learne not onely what the Sacrament is the right vse therof but also they beynge repentaunt and sorye for theyr synnes professing amendement receyue there gods promises for theyr absolucion to the singulare comforte of theyr conscience are exhorted by the priest to do agaynste the morow as the holy Apostle Paule biddeth them that is euen to trye examen and proue them selues whether they caÌ„ be coÌ„tent vnfaynedlye in theyr hertes to take better holde on the kyngdome of God then they haue done in tymes paste to be more stedfaste in fayth and hope towarde god hys promyses to bemore feruent in prayer and loue towarde God and for hys sake to shewe vnfayned soue towarde euery man to forgeue hertely as they wolde be forgeuen to mortyfie theyr fleshe dalie more and more by reasonable abstynence and godly exercises of the spirite and vertuous occupacion of the bodye to bee glad in distrybutynge the workes of mercy to the poore c. And wheÌ„ the pryest preacher or curate for al is on thynge hathe geuen euerye one thys or suche a lyke exortation and enioyued ech one hys penauÌ„ce accordyng to his estate as subiectes to be true obedieÌ„t to their ruleâ—s seruaÌ„tes to be faithful and diligent in waytyng on their masters conmaundement children to honour and obâ—ie their parentes â–ª and to lerne vertue whyle they be yonge housholders to kepe their houses in the feare of God so forth wheÌ„ the priest I saye hath enioyned them thus to lyue and to increase in the same wel doynge he commytteth them to God and to the worde of hys grace And so they departe ¶ On the sondaye in the mornyng at .vi. of the clocke in SoÌ„mer and at .vii. in winter the bell ryngeth and the people prepare them selues to the churche so that sone after the bel hath ronge the secoâ—de tyme the churche is almost full of men women and chyldren Then a lytle a fore the houre is expired they rynge y â— bell the thirde tyme whiche ceasseth
Iewelles the sacramentes of Christâ—s body and bloude and howe he laboureth daylye in hys members the wycked papistes to wyth holde from vs the knowledge of the spiritual eating and drynkynge of Christe whiche begynneth nowe to spreade the worlde ouer all Lette vs runne therfore vnto oure present and onelye succour in thys greate daunger To Christe I saye let vs runne moste humbly besekyng him oure Sauiour and redeamer plenteouslye to poure out of his spirite of knowledge vpon vs all that we maye daylye more and more fynde out the hydde and secrete abhominacions to the vtter extirpacion and rowtyng out of the same And in the meane tyme let vs pray to gyther that it may please the Lorde to augment the nuÌ„bre of his faythful tournynge Saules in to Paules that the harde hertes may be molified by hearing the persecutours preach Christ whom they persecuted The spirite of truth be wyth you al. So be it It is the spirite that quyckeneth the fleshe profiteth nothynge at all Iohn svi FOr as moche as the most holye supper of our lorde Iesu Christ hath of longe tyme ben lapped vp in manyfold and great errours and euen of late dayes wrapped in many opinions and contentions nothynge so quiet as was besemyng no meruayle thoughe certayue weake conscienced persones can not wel determyne what thynge they ought chyflye to folowe but do wyth indeferente and suspense mynde loke whan the seruauntes of God settinge all contention a parte shall agree amonge them selues and brynge the matter to some concorde and vnitie And seynge that such kynde of doubte hath no smal incommoditye annexed and that it is a thyngee mooste dayngerouse to haue no certayne determinacion of that mistrye the knowledge wherof is so necessarye to our saluation I haue thought it a thynge moste profytable bryeflye to spake of the chiefe sume of the matter and yet playnlye to declare what thynge we oughte chyeflye to sticke vnto therin More ouer certayne honeste men perceyuynge the matter to require no lesse desyred me earnestly to take it in hande whose requeste I coulde by no meanes denye vnlesse I wolde haue bene slake in doynge my dutye And that the difficultie therof may the more easely be opened it is neadfull to declare what order we intende to folowe herein Fyrst I shall declare for what cause and to what ende the Lorde hath instituted this most holye sacramente Then what â—ruite we take therof and herein I wyll declare howe the bodye of Chrystâ— is geuen vs in it Thyrdlye what is the ryght vse therof Forthlye I shall reherse the erroures and superslicions wherby it hath ben defaced and so wyll I declare howe the seruauntes of God ought to differ from the papistes Finallye I wyll declare the originall of that contencion whiche hath ben so ernestlye mayntayned euen of the same men whyche in our time haue applied al theyr studye to bring the gospel to lyght agayne to replenish againe the congregatioÌ„ and to restore the syncere and pure doctryne As concernynge the Fyrste When it pleased the almyghty oure God by baptisme to chose vs into the coÌ„gregation that is to saye into his house whyche he wyll nouryshe and defende and that he hath receyued vs not onely as houshold seruauntes but also as his chyldren it behoueth hym yf he wyl playe the parte of a good father to bringe vs vp ministrynge vnto vs all thynges necessarye to foode and clothynge But as concernynge the thinges that pertayne to the educacion of the bodye bycause they be common to all men so that as well the euyl persones as y â— good be partakers therof they are not to be taken as for thynges appertaynyng to his houshould onely No doubt in that he feadeth and defendeth our bodies and whiles we be partakers of al those good thinges which he most pleÌ„teously and liberally geueth vs is declared a great tokeÌ„ of his fatherâ—y goodnes towarde vs. But in lyke maner as the lyfe wherin he hath regenerate vs is spiâ—ituall so is it neadfull that the meate wherwith we should be susteyned streÌ„gthed be alâ—o spiritual For we muste vnderstande y â— we are not called to possesse the celestiall inheriâ—aunce in tyme to come onely but y â— throughe â—ope we are in maner set in possession therof â—l ready So y â— he hath not onely promised vs lyfe but delyueringe vs from death he hath al ready ledde vs into it in very dede And thys thinge opteyned we wheÌ„ he begate vs a newe wyth the sede of immortalitie y â— is to saye his worde whiche through the holy goste he hath prynted fastened in our hertes That we ther fore may defende susteyne this lyfe we must not seke y â— caducal corriptible meates wherwith the bealy is fed but we must prouide for our soules much better more excellent foode And the whole scripture witnesseth y â— the selfe same wordes wherby the lorde hath begotten vs a new is y â— spiritual bread wherby our soules are susteined fedde the reasone is this by cause in it Christ our onely life is giueÌ„ ministred vnto vs. For when god would that al abundance of lyfe shoulde remayne in Christ to the intent y â— by hym he myght make vs partakars therof he ordayned the worde also wherby Christ all his mercyes myght be ministred vnto vs. Thys sentence therfore is infallibly true that our soules are fed nourished wyth none other foode then Iesu Christ. Wherfore the heauenly father being careful for our educacion gaue vs none other foode yea rather he committed thys vnto vs singularly And for as muche as it is sufficient ynoughe for the recreacion and sustenaunce of our soules he wyllâ—d vs to content oure selues therewith and that our soules shoulde rest tâ—gether therin bycause we maye by no meanes be with out that foode whyche beynge taken awaye none other can be founde Nowe do we perceyue after what sort Christe is y â— onely foode wherwyth our soules be seddâ—â—â—ut bycause he is distributed vnto vs by the worde of y â— lorde as by the instrument appoynted for the same purpose he is named breade and wyne And that whyche is spoken of the worde appertayneth also to the sacrament of the supper wherby the Lorde leadeth vs vnto the partakyng of Christ. For because we be so weake and feble that we can not wyth vnfayned trust of mynde receyue hym when he is offred vnto vs in the bare preachyng of the doctrine the father of mercye wyllyng to accommodate hym selfe vnto our infimitie therin hath ioyned vnto the worde a signe to be sene with the eyes whereby he myght represent vnto vs the very substance of his promesses that al doubt and wauerynge taken awaye we myght be coÌ„fyrmed and strengthened in hym Seynge therfore thys misterye is hyghe and harde to attayne to and that we can not by witte comprehende or by studye vnderstaÌ„de howe the bodye and bloude of Christe maye be
tutours Agayne the fathers and mothers whych haue yong folkes apte to mariage are circumspecte not suffringe theyr sonnes and daughters to go longe beyonde theyr tyme vnmaryed but both for the auoydynge of vncleanly coÌ„uersacyon in theyr children also for theyr owne discharge they prouyde them honeste mariages mete for them Which thynge to do they are not only in the dayly sermons that they heare but also by the olde Godly practises of suche holy men as was Abraham Isaac c. Nâ—ther do the two yong persones come together after a lyght or vndyâ—cret maner but euen at theyr handfastynge whan the knot of holy wedolke is fyrst â—â—yt ther are present the father and mother of the partyes or els yf they be dead or absenâ— theyr nyest kynsfolkes and tutours and so is also some honest discrete preacher or curate of theirs who to the edifienge of them maketh a Godly collacion out of Gods worde for thyr enâ—aÌ„ple lerninge coÌ„fort in holy wedlocke So whan the time approcheth that they shalbe maried openly in the face of the church the curate in the presence of the whole congregacion geueth warninge certeyne dayes afore and requyreth that yf anye man knowe some lauful impediment to hindre the sayd mariage he wyll notifie it at his monicion Yf no hinderaunce be made then at the day appointed the brydgrome hauynge a company of honest men with him and lyke wyâ—e the bride hauinge an honesâ— company of women wyth her come to the sermon in the mornyng whych as I sayd afore is euery deye at .vii. of the clocke in SoÌ„mer and at .viii. in wynter and after that the preaching is done the sacrament ministred in maner afore saide they come both before the preacher and in the meane tyme the whole churche in their mother toÌ„ge do sing the Cvi psalme Beati omnes qui timent dominuÌ„ c. ¶ Then the preacher speaketh to them both by name and asketh them sayinge N and N are ye mynded to lyue togyther in holye wedlocke and to testify and coÌ„firme the same purpose here in the presence of the coÌ„gregagicion They answer yea then sayth he I take you all here that stande by to wyines requirynge you to recorde the same and to remeÌ„bre it and sayeth moreouer Yf there be any maÌ„ here that knoweth lawfull impediment by Gods worde that these two persones may not procede togither in maryage let hym speke nowe So yf there be none to make impedimente then the preacher sayth For asmuch as here appeareth no hynderaunce to the contrarye but that ye maye go forth togyther in holye wedlocke I praye God establyshe the thynge that he hath wrought in you Seynge also that both your consentes are knyt in holy wedloke and ye coÌ„fesse the same here openlye before God and the world I declare and pronounce you to be maryed togither In y â— name of the father of the sonne of the holy goste And in so sayinge he ioyneth their haÌ„des togither addeth moreouer let no man therfore seperate theÌ„ a sundrr whoÌ„ god hath coupled togither This done he erhorteth theÌ„ to remeÌ„bre how y â— god hath ioytheâ— in holy mariage according to y e coÌ„mauÌ„dement of god to loue one an other so to kepe their houshold to bring vp their childreÌ„ wheÌ„ God sendeth theÌ„ in the feare of god that theyr whole liuing may redounde to the glory of his holy name and edifiyng of the comâ—n wealth ¶ Then rehearseth he this or suche another prayer in the name of the whole churche and congregâ—cion O Almighty God father of heauen for as muche as it hath pleased the to call these new maryed folkes vnto holy wedlocke lyke as at the begynnynge thou sawest it not good for a maÌ„ to be alone for the which cause thou mâ—deste hym an helper lyke to hym selfe and so ordeynedest that they two should be as one persone we beseche the y â— vnto these newe maryed folkes thou wylt graunt thy holy spirite whereby they lyuynge in holye wedlocke maye styll truste in thy goodnes ouercome all temptation leade an honest godly lyfe to the edifying of euery maÌ„ Blesse them also thaâ— in the fruite of theyr bodye they maye prayse the and so brynge vp the same y â— it maye be to thy glory and profyt of the comon wealth Amen Then the churche syngeth a Psalme of thaÌ„kes gyuyng and so departeth ¶ The conclusion of this lytle boke THou seest nowe what order is kepte in the ministracion and vse of the forsayd thre holy ordinaunces of God coÌ„cernynge the whyche I wrytte here nothyng of had I wist nor of vncertentie but euen as I knowe as I haue not onely sene with myne eyes heard wyth myne eares but bene present also longe and many a day at the execution practise experience therof whiche thinge as I wryte to gyue al good hertes occasion of feruent prayer to God that he wyll grauÌ„t his worde to grow lykwyse amonge vs euen so in the vertue of Gods holy name and for that precious bloud sake of his most deare sonne I admonish and exhorte al subiectes to be pacient to auoyed all kynde of sedicion to coÌ„mitte the refourmation of all errours supersticions ceremonies vayne tradicions wicked lawes vniuste statutes of men Euen vnto God the authour of peace to the workynge of his spirite in those princes and rules whome he hath called to office for the same purpose lette no maÌ„ be slacke in his duetie but gyue god that whiche is his and to the king the thing y â— beloÌ„geth vnto hym acordynge as Christe coÌ„maundeth Math .xxii. as saynt Paule exhorteth Roma .xii. ¶ This I saye to stoppe the mouthes and the blasphemous tonges of suche as wyll not ceasse to rayle on me and to slaunder me yea euen to the kynges maiestie as though I were a peruerter of comon order or toke vpoÌ„ me to chaunge the lawes and to make new statutes Naye ye vngodly hypocrites not so but as I am sure that there is heauy dampnacion layed vp for al such subiectes as rebel or make sedicion against theyr Prince or disobeye the least coÌ„mauÌ„dement of god in theyr soueraygne eueÌ„ so I am assured that there is no lesse dampnacion prepared for those rulers or heades that make vniuste lawes cruell statutes to maynteyne theyr owne lustes and opresse the poore I reporte me to the .x. chapiter of Esaye the .ii. and .iii. of Micheas and to the later ende of the .v. chapter of the prophet Hieremy Let all rulers threfore beware that they make no actes of parliament nor statutes agaynste gods worde and let al subiectes learne of S. Peteâ— i. Pe .ii. to be obedient c. And not onely that but yf they be coÌ„maunded any thynge then let them learne of the same S. Peter Act .iiii. to obeye god more then meÌ„ In the meane time tyll gods blessed worde onely be ruler amonge vs tyl all wicked inuentions of men
deserued for vs. For euen as we se that we beyng many are partakers of one loofe of breade by eatynge therof and of one cuppe of wyne by drynkyng thereof so are we certified by that participation that we beyng manye beleuynge in Chryst are by that belefe made partakers of Chryste and wyth Chryste in al that is his none otherwyse then all the membres of one bodye be partakers of all ioyes and pleasures that chaunce to the heade For as the lofe wherof we eate is made of manye graynes and the Cuppe of wyne wherof we drynke is made of manye grapes and yet is but one Cuppe of wyne and the lofe but one lofe euen so are we that beleue in Christe but one bodye wyth hym and he oure heade notwythstandyng we be manye in numbre and of diuerse nacions estates and condicions For as in the body be diuers meÌ„bers seruynge to diuers vses so are there in the congregacion of Christe whyche Paule calleth the bodye of Christe diuers estates Some Apostles some preachers and some teachers And as in the bodye is no membre wher vnto is not appoynted hys peculiare and necessarye office So in the congregacion of Christ is there none estate or condicion but it is profitable yea necessarye to the other Thys is a greate misterye sayeth Paule the misterye I saye of Christe and hys congregacion for it is hys bodye of hys fleshe and of hys bones Not that the congregacion or churche is that naturall bodye that dyed on the crosse nor we the members of the same churche the fleshe and bones of the same But for that it was that congregacion it was we the membres of thys churche that caused Christe to take oure nature vpon hym that therein he myghte satisfye for oure synnes makynge vs partakers wyth hym in thys satisfaction and so are we hys bodye and membres that is to saye hys bodye and membres were and are the pryce wherewyth we were redeamed out of the captiuitie and thrawledome that we were in â–ª Thys misterye is greate and farre aboue the beastelye mans capacitie But yf we wyll be geuen to the spirite the spirite shall minister vnto vs abundauntly the vnderstandinge therof For it is a comon phrace or maner of speakynge amongeste vs when anye hath bestowed his money vpon any kynde of marchaundyse we saye Lo here is my xx.li or here are his hundreth markes showynge forth the wares that were bought wyth my xx.li or his huÌ„dreth markes so that here the thynge boughte bearethe the name of the price In lyke maner doth Paule call the coÌ„gregacion redeamed by Chistes bodye his verie bodie his fleshe and his bones because it is the machauÌ„dice that was bought with his bodie his fleshe and his bones The mooste sacred sacramentes also of the bodye and bloud of Christ are called his body and bloude because they declare vnto vs what the bodie and bloude of Christ be vnto vs none other wyse then I call thys boke the suppet of the Lorde because it declareth the supper of the lorde so that here thou mayste se gentle readar wherin thou hast bene so farte and so longe deceyued Forsoeth in that thou haste not knowne nor consydered the causes why these moste holy sacramentes beare the names of that they represeÌ„t shew or declare vnto vs â–ª But haste grosselye persuaded thy selfe with the carnall and fleshly Iewes y â— Christe spake carnallye myndynge to tourne the substauncâ— of the breade and wyne into the substance oâ— his body and bloude when he sayed vnto hiâ— disciples thys is my bodye But doubtlessâ— good christian brother oure mooste cruel eneâ—mye hath in thys poynt vttered euen the greaâ—test parte of his maliciouse practyse He hatâ— not faylled alwayes to beate into oure heades the omnipotencie of God who coulde by his worde make al thynges of nought his veritie whyche wyll not suffer hym to leaue oughte vndone that he sayeth is or shall be done and then his wordes at his laste supper Thys is my hody c. Here laboureth he wyth toeth and nayle as they saye to kepe vs in the playne letter that we measure not these wordes by the scriptures of lyke phrace The veritie it selfe sayeth he hath spoken it wherfore it can not be otherwise The onely almyghtye which created all thynges by his worde hath sayed it it is not therfore impossible that it shoulde be so Thou arte a christian man and hast professed to beleaue all the wordes of Christe to be trewe though thy reasone can not comprehende the maner howe And wylte thou wyth the carnal and fleshly Iewes doubt in the perfourmance of the wordes that thy Sauioure shall speake He sayed that a vyrgyne shoulde brynge forth a chylde and wylte not thou beleaue it bycause thou canste not by reasone be persuaded that it is possible for a vyrgyne to brynge sorth a chylde what coulde the obstinate Iewes do more then blyndely and obstinately saye Howe can thys man gyue vs hys fleshe to eate and hys bloude to drynke And wylte thou be as obstinate as they and thynke it impossible for hym to gyue the his fleshe yea hys very naturall fleshe and bloude vnder the fourme of brâ—ade and wyne Oh subtylle serpent Oh crafty dissembler Nowe chaungeste thou thy selfe into an angell of lyghte Thou â—adest the Iewes abhorre Christes wordes bycause the law whych they professed taught them that it was abominable to eate the rawe fleshe or drynke the bloude of any beast muche more of a man And bycause they shoulde not consyder and vnderstande the spiritual eating of his dodye and drynkynge of his bloude by fayth thou puttest them in mynde of the corruptible Manna that the fathers dyd eate in wyldernesse And that notwythstandyng that breade came from heauen yet was it not of suche lyuelye force that it myghte preserue the eaters therof from death Yea thou heldeste them in opinion that it was not possible for Christe to gyue them his fleshe to eate and his bloude to drynke after suche sorte that theyr stomakes myght awaye wyth all Wherfore they sayed Howe can this felowe gyue vs his fleshe to eate and his bloude to drynke But here thou commest vnto vs with the contrary Thou byddest vs beleaue that he was able to chaunge breade and wyne into his fleshe and bloude that we myght therby awaye wyth the deuouryng therof Thus thou playest on both handes wyth them bycause they shoulde not loke for any spirituall eatynge or drynkyng of Christes fleshe and bloude And wyth vs that we shoulde not regarde the spirituall eatynge and drynkynge but that we shoulde moste regarde the fleshely deuourynge of the bread and wyne So that neyther the Iewes nother weâ— can come to the trewe eating of Christes fleshe and drynkyng of his bloud by vnfayned fayth in hym and his merities Here mayeste thou playnely se most dearely beloued in the lorde by what meanes our gostely enemy hath spoyled vs of the vse of these mooste preciouse
communicate vnto vs and that we be so rude and ignoraunt that we vnderstande not euen the verye leaste of the diuine matters it was neadefull to declare and open thys misterye after suche sorte as the abilitie of oure wytte myght awaye wyth all And for that cause dyd the Lorde institute the supper â–ª that he myght print in our consciences those promesses wherwyth he hath in the gospell promysed to make vs partakers of hys bodye and bloude and that he myght establysh vs in thys perswasion our spiritual lyfe to be remaynynge in hym that we receyuyng so noble a pledge maye conceyue a sure hope of saluation Forthermore that we should be exercised in acknowledgynge his great goodnes towardes vs in celebratyng and settyng forth of the same wyth all laâ—de and prayse Thyrdly that we should be prouoked to imbrace holynesse and innoncencie for as much as we acknowledge oure selues to be the members of Christe and that aboue all other we set forth and maynteyne frendshyp and brotherly concorde wherof we haue an especial coÌ„maundement When we haue wel and diligently marked these thre causes to whyche no doubte the Lorde had respecte when he instituted the supper an entrye shall be opened vnto vs that we maye the better vnderstande what fruyte we receyue therby and by what meane we maye vse it a ryght We muste therfore nowe come vnto the seconde parte that we maye declare what holsome fruyte the supper of the Lorde bryngeth vnto vs so we wyl vnderstande and gather the same And that shall we know wheÌ„ we wyll digentlye perpende oure owne greate lacke which if succurreth No remedy we must neades be vehementlye troubled and vexed in mynde so often as we consyder what we are our selues and when we examyne al that is in vs. For there is not one of vs that can fynde so muche as one lytle crombe of iustice in hym selfe but contrarye wyse we are defyled wyth so many vices and wycked dedes stouffed full of so greate a multitude of synnes that there neadeth none other accuser then our owne conscience nother neadeth it to seke for any other iudge to gyue sentence agaynste vs. Wherof it foloweth that the yre of God is styred agaynste vs and that none of vs can be able to escape the iudgement of eternall death And vnlesse we wyll be verye dreamars and blockeheades no remedy we shal through this horrible cogitacion be veâ—ed and troubled as it were wyth a continuall hel fyre For we can not remember the iudgmente of God but incoÌ„tinent oure owne damnation is before oure else We are therfore al redy swalowed vp by the deuouring sincke of death were it not that almightie God delyuereth vs. And what hope of resurrection may we haue wheÌ„ we coÌ„syder oure owne fleshe so rotton and full of all corruption And therfore whether we consyder body or soule nothynge can be more miserable then we are so longe as we shall consyder but oure selues onely and whylse we perceyue so great miseries no remedye we must neades be miserably tormeÌ„ted and affected with extreme heauynesse That the heauenly father therfore myght succure thys oure calamitie he gaue vnto vs the supper as a glasse wherin we myght beholde Christe crucifyed and raysed agayne Crucified that our sinnes might be forgynen Raysed agayne that we delyuered from corruption and deathe myghte be restored to the heauenly immortalitie Thys singular consolacion take we of the lordes supper that it directeth and leadeth vs vnto the crosse and resurrection of Christe that we maye knowe for certentye that we although we be wycked and vncleane be acknowledged and receyued of the lorde yea and taken for iust and that by hym we are restored to lyfe notwithstandynge that we be hedged in W tin al kindnes of death and that we be replenished wyth all kynde of felicitye notwythstandyng that we be miserable and ful of calamitie Or to make the thyng more playne When there is no goodnesse at all remaynyng in vs neyther any one thynge of those thynges whiche shoulde helpe to the opâ—aynynge of saluacion the supper doth abundauntly wytnesse vnto vs that we haue â—ptayned all thinges profitable and holsome in that we be partakers of the death and passion of Chist Wherfore we maye affirme that whiles the lorde admitteth vs in to the felowshyppe of the goodes and richesses of Christe he openeâ—h the treasorye of hys mercyes Let vs remember therefore that in the supper is geuen vnto vs as it were a glasse wherin we may beholde Christe crucifyed to delyuer vs from death and dampnacion and reysed vp agayne to iustifye vs and gyue vs lyfe euerlastyng And all be it that the same merâ—cye is geuen vnto vs in the Gospel yet for that in the supper we haue more certentie and fuller fruiâ—yon we can do no lesse but acknowledge that we receyue thys profyte therof But for bycause the merytes of Christe appertayne nothynge vnto vs vnlesse he him selfe be ouâ—â—s before it is mooste expedyente that in the Supper he be geuen vnto vs that those thynges whereof we haue spoken may in verye dede be perfourmed in vs. And therfore haue I vsed to saye That Christe is the mattire and substaunce of the Sacramentes and that the mercies and benefytes which we gette by him are the efficacie and strength therof To coÌ„clude the hole strength and energye of the supper consisteth in this thinge to confirme the reconciliacion wyth God made by the death and passion of Christe To certifye vs that our soules be washed in his bloude 〈◊〉 that we be made iust throughe his obedience And â—o conclude To prynt surely in our myndes that hope of saluacion which we haue in all those thynges that he hath done for vs. Upon this must we necessarilye conclude that there is a substance annexed vnto this vertue otherwyse shoulde we haue no stydfastnesse or certentie therin we must therfore conclude that in the supper are geueÌ„ vnto vs two thynges that is to saye Christ as fountayne origyn and mattier of all good thynges and the fruite and efficacie of his death and passion whiche thynge euen the verie wordes y â— be spokeÌ„ in the supper do a bundauÌ„tly declare For when he bedde vs eate his body drynke his bloude he addeth that his body was geueÌ„ for vs and his bloude shedde for the remission of oure synnes wherin he doth fyrste declare that his bodye and bloud are not simply with out any other consideracion communicate vnto vs but that we must also coÌ„sider the fruite that coÌ„meth vnto vs by his death and passion In fine Howe maye we be able to come to the fruâ—cion of so excedynge good thynges onlesse we be partakers of the bodye and bloude of him that hath produced these thynges and gyuen them vnto vs. Nowe entre we into that question whiche hath bene so greatly tossed both in tyme paste and in these oure dayes also howe those wordes
ought to admonishe vs to come to the supper as to the chyefe remedye that they myght bee amended and corrected So that we come not voyde of all faythe and repentance Wherof the fyrst is hyd in y e mind and therfore our conscience must beare vs witnesse before God The later is declared in action and worke and therfore it is requisyte y â— it appeare in our lyfe As concernynge the tyme of celebratynge the supper it may not bee apoynted and prescribed vnto all men For there is no man but he shall sometyme haue suche pryuate impedymentâ—s as maye excuse a man thoughe he abstayne Besydes that wee haue no precepte wherby all men be compelled to vse it so ofte as it maye be offered vnâ—o them but yet yf we haue respecte vnto the ende where vnto the Lorde leadeth vs we shall knowe that the vse therof oughte to be muche more common thn it is commonlye amonge many men For loke how moch more we be â—â—pressed w t weakenes so moch the more often ought wee to be exercy sed in it because it maye and ought to bee profytable vnto vs both for the confirmacyon of our fayth and also for the settynge for warde of the holynesse of lyfe Wherfore in all congrâ—gacyoÌ„s wel ordered ought to be such custoÌ„ that the supper be celebrate so ofte as maye be and so much as y â— people shalbe able to receyue And euerye priuate persone ought so much as in hym lyeth to be ready to receyue it so often as it shall be celebrate in a common assemble vnlesse he be by verye vrgent causes constrayned to absteyne For all be it that the tyme is not assigned nor the daye expressed by any precepte or coÌ„maundement yet ought this thinge to suffice that wee knowe it to be the Lordes wyl we should vse this SacrameÌ„t of y â— times Otherwyse we knowe not the profite that cometh vnto vs therby The excuses that some men lay are voyed and vayne Some say they are not worthye and by that pretexte they absteyne all the yere Other do not onelye consyder howe vnworthy they be But they do also laye for them that they can not communicate wyth suche as they see come thyther vnprepared Also other suppose that the ofte vse of it is superfluous neyther do they thynke that it ought to be so often iterated and repeted after that we haue once receyued Christe I aske of those fyrste whyche laye for them selues theyr owne vnworthynesse howe theyr conscience can susteyne so greate miserye more then an yere dare not call vpoÌ„ the lorde accordyngly For they wyl graunt it to be a poynte of rashnesse to call vpon god as a father vnlesse wee be the membres of Christ. Whyche thynge can not be done vnlesse the substaunce and veritie of the supper be fulfylled in vs. And yf wee haue the veritie it self â–ª we are wyth muche better reason mete to receyue the signe Wherby we perteyue that they whyche woulde exempte them selues from the supper as vnworthye do robbe them selues of that great commoditie of inuocatyng and prayinge to god But I woulde not coÌ„pell them whose consciences be troubled and feared by anye religion to the intente they shoulde intermingle them selues rashlye But rather I counsayle them to tarye for a season vntyll the lorde shal voultsafe to delyuer them from that anxietie In lyke maner yf there be anye other cause I do not deny but it is lawfull to deferre I do onelye purpose to declare that no man ought to continewe longe in thys thynge that he maye absteyne for vnworthynesse For so is the congregacion robbed of the communion wherin all oure health consisteth Let hym rather indeuoure to fyghte agaynste all the impedimentes wyche the deuyl casteth agaynste hym leste he be excluded froÌ„ so greate a good thynge and consequently robbed of all the benefytes to gyther The other mens reasone is more aparaunt bycause they vse this reasone That is to say yf it be not leaful to eate commune bread with them that name them selues brethrens and dooe yet neuerthelesse â–ª lyue fylthyly and lycen cioussye moche lesse that breade whych is consecrated for this intent that it maye represent and geue vnto vs the bodye of the Lorde But it is no harde thynge to make answere to these also that it perteyneth not to euery priuate person to iudge and decerne who ought to be admitâ—ed and who to bee depelled but to the whole congregacion other else the shepe heâ—de and elders whose helpe he oughte to vse in the orderyng and gouernyng of the congregacion For sayncte Paule coÌ„maundeth vs not to examyne other but oure selues It is our dutie to admonish them that lyue viciouslye and if they wyll not here vs to make relacion to the shepeherde that he maye finishe the matter by the authoritie of y â— congregacioÌ„ But we maye not so wythdrawe oure selues frome the coÌ„panie and assemble of the wycked that we forsake the communion of the congregacion Bysydes these thynges it shall ofte tymes chaunce that the crimes be not so magnifest that it maye beleaful to procede to excoÌ„municacion For although the shepeherde shal in his mynde iudge any man to be vnworthy yet may he not pronounce him to be such a one or prohibite hym the supper vnlesse he haue coÌ„uicted hym by the iugemente of the congregacion whyche thynge whan it chaunceth there remayneth none other remedie but that we desyre god that he wyll delyuer his church from al offences in this meane tyme whylse we loke for the daye of indgement wherin the chaffe shall be seuered from the good grayne The thyrde haue no kynde at all of the lyklinesse of the truthe For this spirituall bread is not gyuen vnto vs to the inteÌ„t we should be glutted incontinent but rather that tastyng the swetnesse therof we shoulde hunger the more after it and vse it as often as it shoulde be profered vnto vs. This is the thing that I haue expouÌ„ded before that Iesus Christ is neuer so communicate vnto vs so longe as we be in thys mortall lyffe that oure soules maye be saciate with hym but that he maye be an acustomed nouryshement vnto them To come to the fourth parte Whan the deuyll perceyued that the lorde lefte to the congregacion nothyng more profitable than thys sacrameÌ„t he dyd after his accustomed maner employe hym selfe euen incontineâ—t vpon the fyrst institucion to coÌ„taminate it with diuers errours and supersticions to y â— inteÌ„t he might corrupte and distroy the fruite therof neither dide he sease to labour hys purpos vntyll he had put away the institucion of the lorde and tourned it into a lye and vanite It pertaineth not to my purpose to assygne in what tyme euery disceyte and erroure had hys begynnyyg It shall be sufficient for me articularly to note the erroures y â— the deuyl hath inuented which we muste beware of yf we wyll haue the supper of the
I sayd afore that ye wyl hold your hand styl on the plough that ye wyll walke honestly now whyle the mercy of God lendeth you day light Ye know that our Lord sayd The night shal come in the whych no man shalbe able to worke Ye se howe oure aduersarye the deuel goeth aboute lyke a roaryng Lyon sekyng whom he may deuoure Ye se what a noÌ„bre of great men on the one syde haue gyrded theyr swâ—rdes aboute them and stande euen in complete harnesse to fyght agaynst the manifest worde of God Yea what swering what blasphemyng of gods name what pryde what excesse what fylthynes of bodye and ydylnesse is vsed practised daylye maynteined in theyr houses Ye se howe they can not abide the hearing of gods worde but blast and blowe agaynste it persecute it as much as in them lyeth On the other side ye se what a noÌ„bre of hypocrites Antichristes false prophetes and flatterrynge chaplens are not onely aboute greate men but euery where in maner roare and crye and stampe agaynst our Lordes doctrine kepe the peoble stil in blynesse and fedde them wyth draffe dregges in stead of Gods word Thyrdly ye se what a nomber here be in the worlde whyche pretendynge to loue Gods worde by theyr outwarde hearyng readyng and talkynge of it lyue cleane contrary agaynste it brynge not forth the worthye frutes of repentaunce are as greate sweaâ—ers as fylthy as ydle as couetous as disceatfull in bargaining as vnapt to al good workes as they were afore they knew the trueth And by this meanes is it come to passe y â— thorow such vnchristeÌ„ lyuing the good word of god is more supprest theÌ„ other thorow y â— crueltye of tyrauÌ„tes or flattering lyes of hipocrites All whiche thresortes of enemâ—es bicause they are not of vs but w tout therfore wyll I haue the lesse to do w t the. But of you dearely beloued I wyll be bolde to exhorte you for the teÌ„der mercy of god y â— in coÌ„sideraâ—ion of the premesses ye wyl walke godly worthely in this wicked worlde coÌ„tinuing as I truste ye do in stead fastnes of the christeÌ„ fayth in ferueÌ„tnes of loue towarde god toward your very enemies for his sake in lokyng assuredly for his promises beyng pacient ioyful in trouble earnest in prayer at al times ready into true obedieÌ„ce to kepe al good ordre to be eâ—ercised in al good workes euerye maÌ„ according to the state y â— god hath called him vnto As many of you as are called to office comoÌ„ auâ—horitie to beare rule or to giue iudgemeÌ„t in causes of the comoÌ„ wealth be diligent in your office Romit xii punish the euyl maynteyne the good .i. Pet .ii. Roma .xiii. Actepte no persone in iudgâ—ment alowe no false accusaâ—n shedde no innocent bloude Exod .xxiii. and heare the small as wel as the great Dâ—utrâ— .i. ¶ As manye of you as are called to the office of preaching folow the apostles couÌ„sayle take hede vnto your selues to all the fâ—ocke in the which the holy goste hath appointed you to be ouersears to feade the coÌ„gregacion of god c. Act .xx. Fead Christes flocke which is amonge you and take the ouersyghte of them not as though ye were coÌ„pelled but willyngly not for the desyre of fylthy lucre but of a god mynde not as Lordes ouer the paryshes but to be an ensample vnto the flocke .i. Pâ—tri V. To caste alway vngodly olde wyuysh fables to be vnto them y â— beleue an ensaÌ„ple in theyr worde in coÌ„uersacioÌ„ in loue in spirite in fayth in purenesse To gyue atteÌ„dauÌ„ce vnto readynge to exhortacion to doctrine .i. Timo .iiii. Studye to shew your selues to god laudable workemen which neade not to be ashamed .ii. Timo .ii. All other estates amonge you I hertely exhort require euery one to do theyr duty As subiectes to be obedieÌ„t true to theyr princes and higher powers Ro .xiii. i Pet .ii. Tit .iii. Men to loue theyr wiues hertely as they are taught .i. Pet. iii. i. Thessal .iiii. Ephe .v. wyues so to behaue theÌ„ selues as it becoÌ„meth womeÌ„ that professe godlynes thorow good workes .i. Tim .ii. that theyr chaist coÌ„uersacioÌ„ may wynne the wicked i. Pet. iii Men to deale gently wyth theyr seruauntes Ephe .vi. Colo .iii. to brynge vp theyr childreÌ„ in the nurtoure doctrine of the Lorde Ephe .vi. Deut .iiii. SeruauÌ„tes to be faithful true obedieÌ„â— to theyr maisters Ephe .vi. Col .iii. i. Pet .ii. that they may do worshyppe to the worde of God in all thinges .i. Tim .vi. Tit .ii. ¶ And yf we thus behaue oure selues euerye one in his calling theÌ„ shal it come to passe that eueÌ„ they which now blaspheme vs as euyl doers shal at last be ashamed of theyr parte coÌ„uert from theyr owne euyl wayes to the true fayth lyuing which is taught in the word of god To whoÌ„ for his infinite grace and gyftes therof be honour prayse nowe euer Amen FINIS Set forth by Myles Couerdale Non possums que audiuimus et vidimuâ— non loqui Actâ— .iii â–ª Act. vii S. August Note Act. xxi Noâ— i. Corhin xi i. Corhin xiâ— Thesalo v. Note the subtyltie of the deuyll Not y â— visible signes but y â— thynges signâ—â—d Our infirmitie was cause of y â— sacrameÌ„t Note 〈◊〉 what ende the supper was instituted The vse of y â— Sacrament Of our selfe we haue none other thynge but sinne Folowe thys guyde The carnall ate can not see these thynges in this glasse Not y â— naturall substancd as â—â—â—pysters do faâ—â—e As we receiue hym so ys he geueÌ„ vnto vs. y â— is spiritually The mouthe of the soule y â— receiueth this fode is fayth The substaÌ„ce of a sacrameÌ„t is y â— free mercie therâ—n pâ—â—mised It is fayth y â— mouth of the soule that receyueth this body bloud Only the faitheful receiue this substaÌ„ce Use this commoditie God worketh by his sacramentes as the GeometriciaÌ„ doth by his deâ—oâ—stracion Note what it is to receyue a Sacrament vnworthyly These loode the consciences of men He y â— trusteth not in Christ only hath no parte w t him 〈…〉 The imaâ—e of repentaunce Discorde destroyethe that concorde hath buylded Beleue dispeare nâ—t A necessarie prayer So the Diuel would haue it This hypocriis daughter â—o câ—re shryfte None hath made of medicine but the sicke Once in ayeâ—e is to litâ—e of conscience These be the suggestioÌ„s of the deuill Christ is 〈…〉 health we may not do iuel for a good intent A good thyng can not be to often vsed Sathans olde practiese Euerye pope put to his porâ—ion Then is the masse the popes sacrifice The Diuels solusion The heareing of the gospell applieth Christes merites vnto vs. Measure al y â— is spoken of y â— sacrament by this sentence Herin resteth y â— whole mattier Let ne what these wordes this is my body do signifi Oxforde and Cambridg be not all voyde of thes doctoures Marâ—ians hereâ—â—ie Breade and wyne are corruptible Understande this coÌ„iunction aright Yea and that is half marde in y e dressinge The pope seeeth y t Christe â–ª sawe not TheÌ„ he spake not to oure pristes And yet must all â—e holie Then is it y â— doctrine that nourisheth The true definicion of the masse Honest ceremonies ar not to be despised TheÌ„ ar masse pense loste Lerne to seke Christe Yet by thys was y â— trueth tried out The apostles varyed in some thinges To honoure a creature as God is idolatry Learne here the truth This veritie is the â—remercie promised therin Hys wyll bee doene