he take no liberty to sinne for this doctrine belongeth to none suche as honor themselues with the name of Christians confessing Christ with their mouth and yet deny him in theyr déedes But it cōcerneth the true Christians who though they fight manfully against the fleshe the worlde and the Deuil doe notwithstanding fall dayly and are constreyned to say Lorde forgeue vs our offences These are they to whom we speak to comfort them and to holde them vp that they fall not into despayre as though the blood of Christe washed vs not from all sinne and that hée were not our aduocate and the Attonementmaker for his members And therefore when wée bée prouoked too doubt of the forgeuenesse of our sinnes and that our owne cōscience beginneth to trouble vs then must wée furnishe our selues with true faith out of hād haue recourse to the precious blood of Iesus Christe shed for vs vpō the altar of the crosse distributed to his Apostles at his last Supper vnder the veile of a most Holy Sacrament which was ordeined by Christ to the end y ◠wée shoulde celebrate the remembrance of his death and that by the same visible Sacrament our troubled consciences might be assured of our attonement with God The blessed Iesus Christe made his last Will when he said this is my body which is geuen for you and this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the forgeuenesse of their sinnes Wée knowe that a Testament saith S. Paul although it be but a mans Testament yet neuer thelesse if it be allowed no man dispiseth it or addeth any thing to it and that no Testament is of force til the testator be dead but hath ful power after y ◠parties decease Then did Iesus Christe make his Testament wherin he promiseth forgiuenesse of sinnes and the grace and good fauor of him selfe and of his father togeather with mercy and euerlasting life And to the intent that the saide Testament shoulde be of ful force he hath confirmed it with his owne precious blood and with his owne death By reason whereof Saint Paul sayeth that Iesus Christe is the Mediator of the newe Testament that by his dying for the the redemption of those transgressions which were in the former testament they that are called might receiue the promise of the eternal inheritance For whersoeuer is a Testament there must also be y ◠death of the Testator for the Testament is confirmed by the death of the partie insomuch as it is of no value so long as the maker of it is aliue Wherefore we be very certaine assured by the death of Iesus Christe that his Testament is auaileable whereby all our misdéedes are pardoned and we made heyres of eternal life And for a token and faithfull pledge héereof in stéed of a Seale he hath left vs this Diuine Sacramente which not onely giueth our soules assured hope of their euerlasting Saluation but also warranteth vnto vs that immortality of our flesh forasmuch as it is euen nowe quickened by that immortall flesh of his in a certaine maner becōmeth partaker of the immortalitie therof he that is partaker of that diuine flesh by faith shal not perish for euer But vnto him that receiueth it without the saide faith it turneth too a dangerous poyson bicause that like as whē bodily sustenance findeth the stomacke incumbred with euill humors it corrupteth likewise and worketh great anoyance euē so if this spirituall foode light into a sinfull soule that is full of malice and misbeliefe it casteth it headlong intoo some greater ruine not through it owne default but because that too the vncleane and vnbeléeuer all thinges are vncleane notwithstanding that the thinges bee sanctified by the Lords blessing For saith S. Paul be that eateth of that bread drinketh of that cup unworthily is is giltie of the body and blood of the Lord and hée eateth drinketh his own damnation bicause he maketh no differēce of the Lordes body For he maketh no difference of the Lords body which presumeth to the Lords supper without faith and charity And forasmuch as he beleueth not that body to be his life and the cleanser of all his sinnes he maketh Iesus Christe a lyar and treadeth the sonne of god vnder foote and estéemeth the blood of the Testamente whereby he was sanctified but as a cōmon worldly thing and doth great wrōg to the spirite of grace he shal be punished very sore at Gods hād for this his vnbelief and wicked hypocriste For whereas he reposeth not that trust of his iustificatiō in the passiō of our Lord Sauior Iesus Christ yet neuerthelesse he receiueth this most holy Sacrament and maketh protestation that he putteth not his trust in any other thing Wherby he accuseth himselfe and is witnesse of his owne iniquitie and condēneth himselfe to euerlasting death by refusing the life which GOD promiseth him in that holy Sacrament And in this point when the Christiā féeleth that his enimies are like to ouercome him that is too wit when he beginneth too doubt whether hee haue receiued forgiuenesse of his sinnes by Iesu Christe and that he shall not be able to withstand the Deuill and his temptations and that the accusation of his owne doubtfull conscience comes too presse him so as he beginneth too feare least Hell fire should swallow him vp death hold him in his euerlasting bands by reason of gods wrath I say when the good Christian féeleth himselfe in suche an agony Let him get him to his holy Sacrament with a good hearte and stout courage and receiue it deuoutly saying in his heart and answering his enemies thus I confesse I haue deserued a thousand hels and euerlasting death by reason of the great sinnes which I haue committed But this heauenly Sacramēt which I receiue at that preset assureth me of the forgiuenesse of all my misdoinges of mine attonement with God For if I haue an eye to my works there is no doubt but I acknowledge my selfe a sinner condemne mine owne self in such wise as my cōscience should neuer be quiet if I should thinke that my sinnes are pardoned mée for my workes sake But when I looke to the promises and couenants of God who promiseth me forgeuenes of my sinnes by the blood of Iesus Christe I am as sure I haue obteined it that I haue his fauour as I am sure y ◠he which hath made y ◠promises couenants cannot lye nor deceiue and through this stedfast faith I become righteous by Christes righteousnes wherthrough I am saued and my conscience quieted Hath he not geuen his most innocent body into the hands of sinners for our sins Hath hee not shed his blood to wash away my iniquities Why then doest thou vexe thy selfe O my soule put thy trust in the Lorde who beareth thée so great loue that to deliuer thée
of the threatnings which S. Paule vseth to the Galathians who hauing béene deceiued by false Preachers beleeued not that the Iustification by fayth was sufficient of it selfe but went about stil to be made righteous by thelaw Unto whom S. Paule saith Iesus Christ shall nothing profite you that iustifie your selues by the law for you bee falne from grace because that we through the spirit of sayth wayt for the hope of righteousnesse Now if the seeking of righteousnesse forgiuenesse of sinnes by the keeping of the law which GOD gaue vpon mount Sinai with so greate glorie and maiestie bée the denying of Christe and of his Grace what shall wée say to those that will néeds iustifie themselues afore God by theyr owne lawes and obseruances I woulde wishe that suche folkes shoulde a little compare the one with the other and afterwarde geue Iudgement themselues God myndeth not too doe that honour nor to geue that glory to his owne lawe yet they will haue him too geue it too mens lawes and ordinances But that honour is geuen onely to his onely begotten sonne who alone by the sacrifice of his death and passion hath made full amendes for al our sinnes past present and to come as Saint Paule and Saint Iohn declare Wherfore as often as we apply this satisfaction of Iesus Christs vnto our soules by fayth out of all doubt we obteine forgeuenesse of our sinnes and become good and righteous before God through his righteousnesse And therfore after that Saint Paule hath said that as touching the righteousnesse of the law he had liued vnblameable he addeth and yet whatsoeuer I haue gained by it I haue accompted in all respectes too bée but losse for the loue of Christe And specially I esteeme all thinges to bée losse for the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christe my Lord for whom I haue compted all things too bée losse and déeme them but as doung so may I winne Christ and be founde in him not hauing mine owne righteousnes which is of the lawe but the righteousnes which is by the fayth of Iesus Christe w t righteousnes is giuen by God I meane the righteousnes of faith that I may come to the knowledge of Iesus Christ. O most notable words which al Christians ought to haue engrauen in their hearts praying God to make them to fast it perfectly Lâ—e howe Saint Paule sheweth plainely that whosoeuer knoweth Christe aright estéemeth al the woorks of the lawe to be hurtfull for somuch as they make vs too swarue from our trust in Iesus Christ too whom euery man ought to impute his saluation and too trust onely vnto him alone And to inforce this sentence the more he addeth further that he estéemeth all things but as doung so he may gayne Christ he found incorporated in him declaring therby that whosoeuer trusteth in his owne workes pretendeth not iustifie himselfe by them getteth not Iesus Christ nother is engraffed into him And forasmuch as the whole mystery of our faith consisteth in the truth hereof to the end we might the better vnderstand what he meant to say he addeth and repeteth oftentunes that he had nothing to do with all the outward iustification all y â— righteousnes that is grounded vpon the keping of the law but y â— he would cloth himself with the righteousnes which God geueth by sayth to all them that beléeue that all our sinnes are fully chastised and punished in Iesu Christ and that Iesus Christ as Saint Paule saith is made our wisedom righteousnesse holinesse and redemption to the end as it is writteÌ„ that he which wil glory should glory in y â— Lord and not in his owne woorks Uery true it is that in the holy Scriptures there are some textes to be found which beyng misvnderstood séeme to gainesay this holy doctrine of Saint Paules to attribute iustification remission of sinnes vnto works and to charity But those authorities haue already byn well expounded by some who haue shewed plainly that such as haue vnderstood them in the sense aforesaid vnderstood them not aright Wherefore my déere beloued brethren let vs not folow the fond opinions of the bewitched Galathians but rather let vs followe the trueth which S. Paule teacheth vs and let vs geue the whole glory of our iustification vnto Gods mercie and to the merites of his Sonne who by his owne bloodshed hath set vs frée from the soueraintie of the law and from 〈…〉 geue vs life and endlesse felicitie I say yet further that he hath deliuered vs from the dominion of the lawe insomuch as he hath geuen vs his holy spirit who teacheth vs al truth that he hath satisfied the law to the ful giuen the same satisfactioÌ„ vnto al his members that is to wit to al true Christians so as they may safely appeare at Gods throne because they be clothed w t the righteousnes of his Christ by him deliuered from the curse of the lawe Then can not the law any more accuse vs or coÌ„ndenm vs nor moue our affections or appetites nor increase sinne in vs. And therefore S. Paule saith that the obligation which was against vs is cancelled by Iesus Christ discharged vpon the trée of the crosse insomuch as he hath set vs frée froÌ„ the subiectioÌ„ of the law consequently from the tyranny of sinne and death which can no more holde vs oppressed because it is ouercome by Iesus Christ in his resurrection so coÌ„sequently by vs which are his members in such maner that we may say with Saynte Paule and with the Prophet Osée Death is quite vanquished and destroied O death where is thy sting O Hel where is thy 〈…〉 strength of sinne is the law But God bée praised who hath granted vs victory by our Lorde Iesus Christ. He is the blessed séede that hath crushed the head of the venomous Serpent that is to wit of the Diuel insomuche that al those which beleue in Iesus Christe reposing their whole trust in his grace doe ouercome sinne death the diuel hel as Christ hath done He is that blessed séed of Abraham in the which God hath promised blessednesse to al nations It behooueth euery particular person too fighte with the sayd horrible serpent to deliuer himselfe froÌ„ that curse But that enterprise was so great that all the force of the whole world knit together was not able too goe through with it Wherfore our God the father of mercy being moued with compassion of our miseries hath geuen vs his onely begotten sonne who hath deliuered vs froÌ„ the venim of the serpent and is himself become our blessednesse and righteousnesse condicionally that we accept the same renouncing all our owne outwarde iustifications Then my déere brethren let vs imbrace the righteousnesse of our Lord Iesus Christ and let vs make it ours by meanes of fayth let vs assure our selues that we be righteous not for our own workâ— but
through the merites of Iesus Christe and let vs liue merily and assured that the righteousnes of Iesus Christ hath vtterly done away all our vnrighteousnes made vs good righteous holy before God who beholding vs ingrafted into his sonne by fayth estéemeth vs not nowe any more as the children of Adam but as his own children and hath made vs heyres of all his riches with his owne begotten sonne The fourth Chapter Of the effectes of liuely faith and of the vnion of mans soule with Iesus Christ. THis holy faith woorketh after suche a sorte in vs that hée which beléeueth that Iesus Christ hath taken all his sinnes vppon him becommeth like vnto Christ and ouercommeth sinne the diuel death hell And the reason thereof is this namely that the Churche that is to witte euery faithfull soule is Christes wyfe Christ is her husbaÌ„d For we know how the law of marriage is that of two they become one selfsame thing being two in one flesh that the goods and substance of eyther of them become common too them both by meanes wherof the husband saith that thâ— dowry of the wife is his and likewise the wife sayeth that her husbands house and al his riches are hers of a truth so they are for other wise they should not be one flesh as the Scripture saith After the same maner hath God married his onely begotten déere beloued sonne to the faithfull soule which hath not any other thing peculiar of her owne saue onely sinne yet the sonne of God hath not disdayned to take her for his wel beloued spouse together with her peculiar dowry which is sinne And nowe by reason of the vnion which is in this holy mariage look what the one hath is also the others Iesus Christ therfore saith thus y â— dowry of mans soule my déere wife that is to wit her sinnes traÌ„sgressings of the law Gods wrath agaynst her the boldnes of the diuel ouer her the prison of hell and al other her euils are become mine are in my power to do what I list with them Wherfore it is at my choyce to deale with them at my pleasure therfore I will put out the hand writing which is agaynst the soule my wife I wil take it out of y â— way I will fasten it to my crosse in mine owne body in the same will I spoyle principalities and powers make a shew of them openly triumph ouer them and consumâ— them vtterly vnto nothing Now when God sawe his sonne who knew no sinne neither had any sinne in him thus willingly taking on him the foulenesse of our iniquity he made him to be sinne for vs eueÌ„ the very sacrifice for our sinne did sharply punish our sinne in him putting him to death euen the death of the Crosse. Howebeit for asmuche as hee was his welbeloued obedient Sonne he woulde not leaue him in death nor suffer his holy one to sée corruptioÌ„ but raised him vp from death to life geuing him all power in heauen and earth and set him at his right hande in glory Nowe then the wise likewise with excéeding great ioy doth say the Realmes and Kingdomes of my most déere husband sauiour are mine by him I am an heyre of heaueÌ„ my husbaÌ„ds riches that is to wit his holines his innocencie his righteousnes and his godhead together with al his vertue might are mine and for me therfore in him I am holy innocent righteous godly and there is not any spotte in me I am welâ—auoured faire inasmuch as my lawful husband hath not any blemish in him but is altogether goodly fayre And sith that he is wholy mine so consequently al that he hath is mine all that he hath is pure and holy it followâ—th that I also am pure and holy Therfore to begin at his most innoceÌ„t birth he hath thereby sanctified the birth of his spouse coÌ„â—â—â—ued in sin The godly childhood youth of the bridegrom hath iustified the childish and youthfull life of his déerely beloued bride For the loue vnioÌ„ that is betwixt the soule of a true ChristiaÌ„ and the Bridesgrome Iesus Christ maketh all the works of either of them to be coÌ„moÌ„ to them both By reason wherof when a man saith Iesus Christ hath fasted Iesus Christ hath prayed Iesus Christ was heard of the father raised y â— dead draue diuels out of men healed the sicke dyed rose again and ascended into heauen Like wise a man may say that a christen maÌ„ hath done all y â— selfsame works forsomuch as y â— works of Christ are the works of the ChristiaÌ„ bicause he hath done them for him Uerily a man may say that the Christian hath béene nailed to the crosse buried raised again is gone vp into heauen become the childe of God madâ— partaker of the godhead On the other side all the works that a Christian man doeth are Christes works because it is his will to take theÌ„ for his And forasmuch as they be vnperfect he throughly perfect and canot away with any vnperfect thing he hath made them perfect with his vertues to the end that his wife should be alwayes ioyfull well contented and not be afraide of any thing assuring herself that although there be yet still some defalte in her works yet notwithstaÌ„ding they be acceptable to God in respect of his sonne vpoÌ„ whoÌ„ he hath his eyes alwayes fastened O that vnmeasurable goodnes of Godâ— how greately is the christiaÌ„ bound vnto God there is no loue of maÌ„ be it neuer so great that may be coÌ„pared w t the loue that God beareth too the soule of euery faithfull Christian whereof Christ is the bridegrome Where vpon S. Paul saith that Iesus Christ hath so loued his wife the church which is builded of liuing stones that is of the soules of the beléeuing Christians that for to sanctifie her he hath offered himselfe to the death of the crosse cleansing her with the washing of water by his word to ioyne her to himself a glorious church without spot or wrincle or other like thing but that the shoulde be holy and vnblameable that is to wit like vnto him in holinesse and innocency and also be the true lawful daughter of God who hath loued the world so well that as Iesus Christ himselfe saith he hath geuen his onely begotten sonne to the ende that euery one which beléeued in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting For God sent not his sonne into the worlde too condemne the world but too the ende that the world might be saued by him insomuche that he which beléeueth in him shal not be damned Some man might demand after what maner the vnioÌ„ of this holy mariage is made how the soule which is y â— bride and her bridegrome Iesus Christ are knit together What assurance can I haue that my Soule is vnited
charge because of Christs merits which are geuen vnto thée and become thine by faith Therefore following the Counsell of Saint Bernard beléeue thou not onely the forgeuenesse of sinnes in generall but also apply the same beliefe to thine owne particular person by beléeuing without any doubt that all thy misdoinges are pardoned thée through Iesus Christ. And in so doing thou shalt geue the glory vnto GOD by confessing hym too bée mercifull and true and shalt become righteous and holy before GOD forsomuche as by the same confession the holynesse righteousnesse of Iesus Christ shalbée communicated vntoo thée But to returne to our purpose of Predestination I say that by the thinges aboue mencioned a man may euidently perceiue that the assurance of Predestination doeth the hurt but rather greatly profite the true Christians And I thinke not that it can hurt the false Christians and reprobates For albeit that such manner of folke woulde beare themselues in hande and pretende too the worldewarde too bée of the number of the predestmate yet can they neuer perswade theyr owne consciences which will euer bée gnawing and crying out to the contrary But yet it séemeth greatly that the doctrine of Predestination may hurt them For they bée woonts to say If I bée of the number of the reprobates what shall it auayle mée too doe good workes And if I bée of the number of the predestinate I shal be saued without any labouring of mine too doe good workes I answere thée at fewâ— wordes that by suche diuelishe arguments they increase Gods wrath against themselues who hath disclosed the knowledge of Predestination too the Christians too make them whot and not colde in the loue of God and to set them forwarde and not backeward vnto good workes And therefore the true Christian on the one side holdeth himselfe assuredly predestinated vnto euerlasting lyfe and to be saued not at all by his owne merits but by Gods election who hath predestinated vs not for our owne works sakes but to shew the greatnesse of his mercie And on the other side endeuoureth himselfe to doe good woorkes after the example of Iesus Christ asmuch as if his saluation depended vpon his own pollicy and paines taking As for him that ceasseth to do good because of the doctrine of Predestination saying If I be predestinated I shall be saued without strayning of my selfe to doe good woorkes he sheweth euidently that his trauelling is not for the loue of God but for the loue of himselfe By reason whereof the woorkes that he doeth may perhaps be good and holy too the sight of men but they bee wicked and abhominable before the Lorde God who hath an eye to the intent And herevppon it may be gathered that the doctrine of PredestinatioÌ„ worketh rather good than harm to the false Christians For it discouereth their hypocrisâ—e which cannot cure it selfe so long as it lieth hidden vnder the mantle of outward workes But I woulde hauâ— them that say I will not streine my selfe to doe wel for if I be predestinated I shal be saued without tiring of my self so much I say I woulde haue them tell me howe it happeneth that when they be diseased they say not also I will haue neither Phisition nor phisicke for looke what God had determined vpon me cannot but come too passe why eate they why drinke they why till they the ground why plant they Uines why be they so diligent in doing all thinges conuenient for to sustaine y â— bodie why say they not also that all these turmoylings pollicies trauailes of ours are superfluous forasmuch as it is not possible but that whatsoeuer God hath foreséene and determined concerning our life death must néeds come to passe And therfore if Gods prouideÌ„ce make theÌ„ not negligent and idle in thinges pertayning to the bodie why should it make theÌ„ more slouthfull and negligent in that which concerneth the Christian perfection which without all comparison is farre nobler then the body But forasmuche as we sée that neyther Iesus Christ nor Saynte Paule for any doubt of offending the reprobats haue forborne to preache the trueth which is necessary to the edifying of the chosen for the loue of whom the euerlasting sonne of God became man and was put to death vpoÌ„ the Crosse we also in likewise ought not to forbeare the preaching of Predestination to the true Christians forasmuche as wee haue séene that it importeth greate edification Now are we come to the end of our purpose wherein our thiefe intent hath béene according to our small power to magnify the wonderful benefit which the Christen man hath receiued by Iesus Christ crusified to shewe that faith of her selfe alone iustifieth that is to wit that God receiueth holdeth them for righteous which beleue stedfastly y â— Christ hath made full amends for their sinnes howbeit that as light can not be separated from fire which of it selfe burneth and deuoureth al thinges euen so good woorkes cannot bee separated from saith which alone by it selfe iustifieth And this holy doctrine which exalteth Iesus Christ and represseth abateth the pride of man hath and alwayes shal be reiected and fought agaynst by such Christians as haue Iewish myndes But happie is hée who following the example of Saint Paule spoyleth himselfe of his owne righteousness and would haue none other righteousnesse than that which is of Iesus Christ wherewith if he be clothed and appareled he may most assuredly appeare before God and shal receiue his blessing and the heritage of heauen and earth with his onely sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde too whom be al honor praise and glorie from this time foorth for euermore Amen Christ is the end of the Law ¶ Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson for George Bishop and Thomas Wodcocke 1580. 2. Cor. ◠〈…〉 12. The state of man before and after that he had sinned Psalm 114 Psalm 14. Originall sinne A very good comparison Who is our neighbour The first office or duety of the Law Rom. 3. 7. The second office of the law The thirde office of the law Deut. 27. 2. Cor. 3. The fourth office of the lawe Rom. 4. The fifth office of the law Exod. 2â—â— Collo 3. Actes 4. Matth. 11. Iohn â— Iohn ◠〈…〉 Iohn 8. 1. Cor. 15. Psalm 50. Rom 3â— The greatnes of sinne ought not â—o cause despayre â—or 5. Galat. 5. An excellent comparison of the vnability of our own works â—eb 7. Iohn 12. Phil. 3. 1. Cor. 1. How man is deliuered set free from the curse of the law Galat. 3. Rom. 8. Colos. 2. 1. Cor. 15. How we receiue the likenesse of God A very good similitude expressing the manner how our sinnes are taken away by Christ. Math. 28â— Philip. 2. Ephe. â— Iohn 3. Howe the â—aithfull mans soule is assured of 〈◊〉 being maâ—â—ed vnâ—o Christe Acts. 5. Mat. 3. 2. Cor. 3. Iohn 6. Iohn 3. Iohn 11. I. Iohn 12.
from eternall death it hath pleased him that his only sonne should suffer death and passion who hath taken vpon himselfe our pouertie to geue vs his riches laid our weakenesse vpon himselfe to stablish vs in his strength become mortall to make vs immortall come down untoo the earth to aduance vs vpp too heauen and become the sonne of man with vs too make vs the children of God with himselfe Who is hee then that shall accuse vs God is he that iustifieth vs and who shall condemne vs Iesus Christe is dead for vs yea and rysen agayne 〈◊〉 vs and sitteth at the right hande of God making intercessioÌ„ for vs. Let vs then D my soule leaue of these teares and sighes THE CIII Psalme 1 MY Soule prayse thou the Lorde and all that is within me praise his holy name 2 My soule prayse thou the Lord forget not all his benefites 3 Which forgiueth al thine iniquitie healeth all thine infirmities 4 Which redéemeth thy life from the graue and crowneth thée with mercy and compassion 5 Which satisfieth thy mouth with good thinges and thy youth is renued like the Eagles 6 The Lorde executeth righteousnessâ— and iudgement to all that are oppressed 7 No made his waies knowne vnto Moses and his workes vntoo the children of Israell 8 The Lord is ful of coÌ„passion and mercy sâ—ow to anger and of great kindnesse 9 We will not alway chide neither kéepâ— his anger for euer 10 He hath not delt with vs after our sins nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities 11 For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercie towarde them that feare him 12 As farre as the East is from the West so far hath he remoued our sinnes from vs. 13 As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him 14 For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust 15 The dayes of man are as grasse as a floure of the field so florisheth he 16 For y â— winde goeth ouer it it is gone and the place therof shall know it no more 17 But y â— louing kindnes of y â— Lord endureth for euer euer vpoÌ„ theÌ„ that feare him amp his righteousnes vpon childrens childreÌ„ 18 Unto them y â— keep his couenaÌ„t think vpon his commaundements to doe them 19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in heauen and his kingdome ruleth ouer all 20 Praise the Lord ye his Angels that excel in strength that doe his commandemeÌ„t in obeying the voyce of his woordâ— 21 Praise the Lord al ye his hostes ye his seruants that do his pleasure 22 Praise the Lord all ye his works in al places of his dominion my soule prayse thou the Lorde So hath he had mercy on vs in giuing vs his onely sonne With this faith w t those thaÌ„ksgeuings with these or such other like thoughts must wee receiue the sacrament of the body and bloode of our Lorde Iesus Christ. After this maner is all fearfulnesse driuen out of the soule of the Christian and charity is increased fayth strengthened the conscience quieted the toung neuer ceasseth to prayse God and to yéeld him infinit thanks for so great a benefite This is the vertue efficacie only trust of our soule This is the rocke wherevpon if the conscience be buylded it feareth nother tempest nor the gates of hel nor Gods wrath nor the law nor sinne nor death nor the diuels nor any other thing And forasmuch as the substance of the Lords supper and table consisteth is this diuine sacrament When the Christian is at it he must hold his eyes fastened continually vppon the passion of our gratious Sauiour beholding him on the one side vppon the crosse loden with all our sinnes and God on the other side punishing chastising and whipping his owne onely begotten and Déerebeloued sonne in steade of vs. O happie is that man that shutteth his eyes from al other sights and will neither heare nor sée any other thing than Iesus Christ crucified in whoÌ„ are layde vp and bestowed al the treasures of Gods wisdome and diuine knowledgeâ— Blessed say I is he that féedeth his minde with so heauenly a foode and maketh himselfe drunken in the loue of God with so sweete and singular a liquor But before I make an ende of this matter I will first aduertise the Christian that Sainte Augustine hath ordinarily béene woont too terme this holy Sacrament the bonde of charity and the mystery of vnity And he saith that whosoeuer receiueth the mystery of vnitie regardeth not the bond of peace receiueth not the Sacrament to his owne behooâ—e but as a witnesse agaynst himselfe Therfore we must vnderstaÌ„d y â— the Lorde hath ordeyned this holy sacrameÌ„t not only to make vs sure of y â— forgiueues of our sins but also to inflame vs to peace vnity brotherly charitie For in this Sacrament the Lord doth after such a maner make vs parlakers of his body as he becommeth al one thing w t vs we with him By reasoÌ„ wherof forasmuch as he hath but one body wherof he maketh vs Partakers it is méetâ— that we also shoulde by such partaking becom al one body together amoÌ„g our selues And this vntoÌ„ is represeÌ„ted by the bread of the sacrament which as it is made of many grains mingled kneaded together in such wise as one of them caÌ„ not be discerned froÌ„ another So also must we be toyned together after such a sort so vnited together into one agréement of mind as no diuision may créep in And this doth S. Paule shew vs when he saith Is not the cup of blessing which we blesse the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the blood of Iesus Christ is not the bread y â— we break the coÌ„munion of the body of Iesus Christe whereas we be many yet are we but one bread and one body forsomuch as we be all Partakers of one bread By these thinges we vnderstand that when we receiue his most holy coÌ„munion we must coÌ„sider that we are al of vs ingraffed into Christ are all become members of one selfsame body that is to wit of Iesus Christ in such wise as we caÌ„not offend defame or despise any of our brethren but we must therewithall offend defame and despise our saide head Iesus Christ neyther caÌ„ we be at variance w t any of our brethren but in likewise we must be at oddes with him Also we cannot loue him excepte wee loue him in our brethren Look how much care we haue of our owne bodie so much must we haue of our Christian brethren who are the meÌ„bers of our body And like as no parte of our body féeleth any griefe which spreadeth not it selfe into al the other parts so ought we to determine w t our selues that our brother feleth not any inconuenience which should not moue vs to coÌ„passioÌ„ With such maner of thoughtes must