so moche that wheÌ„ christ knewe that yt was his fathers will pleasure that he shuld suffer for ourâ—innes wherin his honour glorie prayse shulde be published then was yt a pleasure vnto hiÌ„ to declare vnto his disciples that great benefite vnto hiâ— fathers prayse and glorie and so did institute that we shuld come to gether aÌ„d breake the brede in the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of his bodye breakynge bloudeshediÌ„ge that we shuld eate it to gether reioysinge w t eche other declariÌ„ge his bnÌ„fitesâ— Now were the corinthians fallin froÌ„ this houÌ„ger and caÌ„ not to gether to th enteÌ„t that goddes prayse shuld be published by theÌ„ in the myddes of the congrygacion but caÌ„ to fede their fleshe to make carnall chere In so moche that the ryche wolde haue meate and drincke ynough aÌ„d take suche aboundauÌ„ce that they wolde be droÌ„ke and so made yt ther owyn souper not the lordes as paule sayth aÌ„d did eate onlye the brede and meate aÌ„d not the bodye breakynge as I sayd before and the poore which hade not that is to saye that had no meate to eate where shamed hongrye aÌ„d so could not reiose aÌ„d prayse the lorde by the reason that the delicate fare of the riche was an occasion for the pore eo lameÌ„t their pourtye aÌ„d thus the riche did nether prayse god theÌ„selues nor suffered the poore to doo yt but were an occasioÌ„ to hynder them They shulde haue brought their meate drinke aÌ„d haue deuided yt w t their poore brothern that they might haue byn mery to gether aÌ„d so to haue geuyn theÌ„ occasion to be merye aÌ„d reioyse in the lorde w t thaÌ„kes geuinge But they had nether luste to prayse god nor to coÌ„forte their neighboure Ther fayth was feble aÌ„d their charite cold and had no regard but to fyll their bodye fede there fleshe And so dispised the poore congrygacion of god whom they shuld haue honoured for the spyrite that was in theÌ„ fauour that god had shewed indifferentlye vnto them in the bloude of his sonne christe When Paulâ— perceyued that they were thus fleshlie minded had no mynde vnto that spuÌ„all maundye which chefelye shuld ther be aduertised he reproueth theÌ„ sore rehersinge the wordes of christe That w c I gaue vnto you I receyued of the lorde For the lorde Iesus the same night in the w c he was betrayed toke bred thaÌ„ked and brake yt sayd take ye and eate ye this ys my bodie w c ys brokeÌ„ for you this do ye in the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of me After the same maner he toke the cup wheÌ„ souper was don sayinge this cup is the new testameÌ„t in my bloude this do ye as ofte as ye drinke yt in the remembraunce of me For as ofte as ye shall eate thys bred and drynke this cup ye shall shewe the lordes deth tyll he come As though he shuld saye ye corinthians are moche to blame w c at this souper seke the foede of your fleshe For yt was institute of christe not for the enteÌ„t to noryshe the belye but to streÌ„ghtheÌ„ the harte soule in god And bi this you maye knowe that christe so meÌ„t For he callyth yt his bodye w c is geuin for you so that the name yt sellf might testifie vnto yow that in this souê‘ you shuld more eate hys bodye w c is geuyn for you by digestyng that in to the bowelles of your soule theÌ„ the breed w c by the breakiÌ„ge the distributyng of yt doth repÌ„sent his bodie breakiÌ„ge the distributyng theroff vnto all that are faythfull And that he so meaneth ys euydent by the wordes following w c saye this do in the remembraunce of me and likewise of the cup. And finallie â—oncluding of both Paule sayth as often as ye shall eate this brede aÌ„d drinke this cup in this place and fellowship ye shall shewe the lordes deth vntill he come praisinge the lorde for the dethe of his sonne and exortinge other to do the same reioysinge in him w t infinite thankes And thefore ye are to blame w c seke onlye to fede the bellye w t that thinge w c was onlye institute to fede the soule And ther vppon yt followyth Wherfore who so euer doth eate of this bred or driÌ„ke of this cup vnworthelie is giltye of the bodye bloude of the lorde He eateth this brede vnworthelie w c regardeth not the purpose for the w c Christ did insâ—itute yt w c comith not to it w t spuÌ„all honger to eate thorough faith his verye bodye w c the bred representeth by the breaking aÌ„d distributinge oâ— yt whiche comith not w t a merye harte geuinge God hartye thankes for their deliuerance from synne Whiche do not moche more eate in their harte the deth of his bodye then they do the bred w t their mouth Now sith the Corinthians dyd onlye seke their bely and fleshe forgat goddes honour and prayse for which â—t was institute that thankes shuld be geuyn by the remembraunce oâ— his bodie breakinge for vs they eate yt to goddes dishonour to their neighboures hinderrance and to ther owin condempnacion and so for lacke of fayth were gâ—ltye of Christes bodie w c by faith they shulde there cheffelye haue eatâ—n to ther soules helth And therfore yt followith ¶ Lett a man therfore examyne hym sellfe and so let hym eate of the brede and drinke of the cup. THis prouynge or examinynge of a mans selfe is fyrste to thinke w t him sellfe w t what luste and disyre he comyth vnto the maundye wyll eate that bâ—ed whether he besure that he is the childe of god in the fayth of Christe And whether hâ—s conscâ—ence do beare hym wytnes that Christes bodye was brokyn for hym And whether the luste that he hath to prayse god aÌ„d thanke hym w t a faythfull harte in the myddes of the brethern do dryue hym thither warde Or els whether he do yt for the meates sake or to kepe the custome for then were yt better that he were awye For he that eateth or drinketh vnworthelye eateth aÌ„d drinkethe his owyn daÌ„nacyon because he maketh no difference of the lordes bodye That ys as yt ys sayd before he that regardeth not the purpose for which it was institute aÌ„d puteth no defference betwene this eatâ—ng and othâ—r eating for other eatynge doth onlye serue the bellye but thys eatynge was institute and ordeyned to sarue the soule and inwarde man And therfore he that abuseth yt to the fleshe eateth and drinketh hys owyn dampnacyon And he comyth vnworthelye to the maundye where the sacrament of Christes bodye ys eaten ye where the bodye of the lorde ys eaten not â—arnallye w t the teth and bâ—llye but spiritually w t the harte and faythe Uppon this followeth the text that master More allegeth and wresteth for his purpose For this cause manye are weake and sike amoÌ„ge you manie slepe Yf we had trulie Iudged
fayth For yt ys no nother thynge to beleue then to haue fayth and therfore when a man answereth that the infant beleueth which hath not the affecte of fayth he answerethe that yt hathe faythe for the sacrament of fayth And that yt turneth yt sellfe to GOD for the sacrament of conuersyon For the answere yt sellfe perteyneth vnto the mynistryng of â—he sacrament As the apostle wryteth of baptyme we are buryed sayeth he with Christe thorough baptyme vnto deth He sayâ—th not we signyfye buryinge but vtterlye sayeth we are buryed He called therfore the sacrament of so great a thynge euyn with the name of the verye thynge yt sellfe c. Iff a man wolde auoyde contencyon and loke soberly on thosse wordes of Sayncte Austen he shall sone perceyue the mysterye of thys matter For euyn as the next good frydaye shal be caulled the day of Christes passyon and yet he shall not suffer deth agayne vppoÌ„ that daye for he dyed but onece and ys nowe immortall euyn so ys the sacrament called Chrystes bodye And as that daye ys not the verye daye that he dyed on but onlye a remembrance therof So the sacrament ys not hys verye naturall bodye but onlye a remembrance of hys bodye breakynge and bloude she dynge And lykewyse as the next ester daye shall be called the day of hys resurrectyon not that yt ys the very same daye that Chryste dyd ryse in but a remembraunce of the same Euyn so the sacrament ys called hys bodye not that yt ys hys bodye in dede but only a remembraÌ„ce of the same And furdermore euyn as the prest doth offer hym that ys to saye crucyfye hym at masse euyn so ys the sacrameÌ„t hisâ— bodye But the masse doth but only repÌ„sent his passyoÌ„ And so doth the sacrameÌ„t represent hys bodye And â—et though the masse dothe but repÌ„sent his crucifying we maye trulye saye he ys cruâ—ified euâ—n so though the sacrameÌ„t do but signifie or repÌ„sent hys bodye yet may we trulye saye that yt ys hys bodye Why so verely sayeth he for the sacramentes haue a certayne similitude of thosâ— thinges wherof theâ— are sacramentes And for this simiâ—itude for the moste ê‘te they take the namys of the verâ—e thynges Blessed be god w t hathe so clerely discussed this matt by this faith full father Notwtstonding he doth yet expresse yt more playnlye saying after a certayne maâ—er the sacrameÌ„t of Christes bodye ys Christes bodye Be holde deare brethern he sayth after a certayne maner the sacrament ys Christes bodye And by that you may sone knowe that he neuer ment that yt shulde be hys verye naturall bodie in dede but onlye a token and memoriall to kepe in mâ—morie the deth of his bodye and so to norishe our fayth Besides that his similitude w c he after alâ—egeth of baptime doth holye expounde this matter for saieth he the apostle saieth not we signifie buryinge but he saieth we are buried aÌ„d yet in dede the baptyme doth but signifie yt And there vppon s. Austen addeth that he called the sacrameÌ„t of so great a thinge euyn w c the name of the very thinge yt sellfe And lyke wise yt ys in our sacrameÌ„t Finallye to be shorte I wyll passe ouer many places w c I haue gatherred oute of this holye father and wyll touche but this one moare Saincte Austen sayth Non â—nim Dâ—Ì„s dubitauit dicere Hoc est corpus meuÌ„ cuÌ„ daret signuÌ„ corporis sui Et in eodeÌ„ capite exponitâ— Sic est emÌ„ sanguis anima quomodo petra erat christus nec tameÌ„ petra ait significabat Christum sed ait petra erat Christus That is to sayâ— The lorde doubted not to saye this ys my boâ—ye when he gaue a signe of his bodye And after in the same chapiter he expoundeth yt For trulye so the bloude ys soule as Christe was the stone And yet the apostle sayth not the stone did signifye Christ but he sayth the stone was Christe Here. s. Austen saith playnlye that Christe called the signe of his bodye his bodye aÌ„d in this chapiter doth coÌ„pare these thre textes of scripture this ys my bodye the bloudâ— ys the soule and Christe was the stone and declareth theÌ„ to be one phrase and to be expounded after one fasshyon Now ys there no maÌ„ so mad as to saye that Christ was a naturall stone except he be a naturall foole whose Iudgâ—mâ—nt we nede not greatly to regard therfore we may well coÌ„clude that the sacrameÌ„t ys nat his naturall bodie but is caulled his bodie for a similitude that yt hath wherin yt signifieth representeth his bodye And that the sacrament of so great a thinge ys caulled euyn w t the name of the verye thinge yt sellf as s. Austen sayde immâ—diatly before This were proffe ynough to coÌ„clude that all the olde fathers did holde the same opinion for who wolde once surmise seinge we haue s. austeÌ„ so pâ—ayne for vs w c is the chesest emoÌ„ge theÌ„ all who wolde once surmise I say that the dissented in this great matter from the other faithfull fathers or they froÌ„ him neuerthelesse I dare not leâ—t hiÌ„ stoÌ„de post alone ieste ye dispice him And therfore I will shewe you the minde of certaine othâ—r allso and furâ—â—e of his master s. Ambrose S. Ambrose wrytynge vppon the Epistle of Paule to the CorinthiaÌ„s in the xiâ— chap. sayth Quia emÌ„ morte DnÌ„i libeâ—ati sumê° huiê° rei in eden do potaÌ„do carneÌ„ sanguineÌ„ q ê“ nobis oblata sunt significamus That is to saye because we be deliuered by the deth of the lorde in eatyng and drynkinge of this thynge meanynge of the sacrament we signifye the fleshe bloude w c were offered for vs. Here doth s. ambrose saie ynough yf men were not sophisters but wolde be coÌ„tent w t reason For he sayeth that in eatyng aÌ„d drinkyng the sacrament of Christes bodye we signifie or represent the fleshe and bloude of our sauyour Iesus Natwtstondynge be cause you are so slybberye we shall bynde you a lytle â— better by this mans wordes S. Ambrose saythâ— Sed forte dices specieÌ„ sanguinis noÌ„ uideo sâ—d habet similitudineÌ„ Sicut emÌ„ mortis similitudineÌ„ sumpsisti ita etiaÌ„ similitudineÌ„ preciosi sanguinis bibis That ys to saye But ê‘aduenture thou wylte saye I se no apperauÌ„ce of bloude but yt hathe â— similitude For euyn as thou haste taken the similitude of deth euen so thou drinkest the similitude of the pÌ„cyous bloude Here maye ye see by the coÌ„ferrynge of thesse two sacramentes what s. Ambrose iâ—â—ged of it For he sayeth euyn as thou haste taken a similituâ—e of hys deth in the sacrameÌ„t of baptyme so doste thou drinke a similitude of his preciouse bloude in the sacrameÌ„t of the auâ—ter And yet as s. AusteÌ„ sayd before the apostle saith not we signifie buryinge but saâ—th we are buried And likewise here Christ sayd not this signifyeth my bodye but
scripture glorye of christe And where as in my firste treaâ—ise the truthe was set forthe w t all symplicite aÌ„d nothyng armâ—d agaynste the assauâ—e of sophesters that haue I somwhat redressed in this boke aÌ„d haue brought bones feyt for their teth which yf they be to busye may chaunce to choke them ¶ Thus begynnyth the preface of master Mores boke IN my moste hartye wise I recoÌ„meÌ„de me vnto yow aÌ„d sende yow by thys brynger the wrytynge agyane whiche I receyved from yow Wherof I haue byn offered a cople of copies mo in y e meane while as late as ye wot well yt was Deare brotherne coÌ„sider thes wordes and prepare yow to the crosse that Christe shall laye vppon yow as ye haue ofte byn counseled For evyn as whan the wolffe howleth the shâ—pe hade nede to gather them sellfe to their shepard to be delyâ—ered from the assaulte of the blodye beaste lykewise hade yow nede to flye vnto the shepard of your soules christ Ihesus aÌ„d to sell youre coetes and bye hys spuÌ„all swerd w c is the word of god to defende and deliure yow in this pÌ„sent necessyte for now ys the tyme that Christ tould vs of math 10. that he was come by hys word to se et variaunce betwene the sonne and hys fader betwene the doughter and her mother betwene the doughterlawe aÌ„d her motherlawe and that a mans owne househould shal be hys emnyes But be not dismayed nor thynke yt no wonder for christ chose .12 and one of theÌ„ was the devyll and betrayed hys master And we that are hys disciplis may loke for no better than he hade hym sellfe for the scoler ys not aboue hys master ¶ Saynt Paul protesteth that he was in perell emoÌ„ge the false bretherne and suerly I suppose that we are in no lesse yeopardye For yf yt be so that hys mastership Receyvyd one copye and hade a coeple of copyes mo offered in the meane while then maye ye besure that ther are many faulse brethernÌ„ which pretend to haue knowelege and in dede be but pykthankes ê“uidyng for ther belye prepare ye therfore clokys for the wether wexeth cloudye and rayne ys lyke to folowe I meane not faulse excuses and forsweringe of your fellfes but that ye loke substancially on goddes worde that yow may be able to answer ther sotle obiectioÌ„s And rather chose maÌ„fully to dye for crist aÌ„d hys worde thaÌ„ cowardli to denye hym for this vaine aÌ„d traÌ„sitory lyffe coÌ„sâ—deringe that they haue no furder power but ouer this corruptible bodye w c yf they put yt not to deth muste yet at the length perishe of yt sellfe But I truste the lorde shall not suffer yow to be teÌ„pted aboue that yow may beare but acordinge to the sprite that he shall poure vppon yow shall he allso sende yow the scorge and make hym that hath receyuyd more of the sprite to suffer more hym that receyuyth lesse therof to suffer accordinge to his taleÌ„t I thought yt necessarie first to monyshe yow of thys matter and nowe I wyll recite more of master Mores boke Wher bye men may see how gredely thes newe named brethern wryt yt oute secretly spred yt a brode The name ys of great antiquite allthoughe yow â—iste to iest For thei were called brethernerâ— our bushoppes were called lordes and had the name geuyn them by Christe sayâ—ge Math. xxiij all ye are brethern And luke the .xxij Confyrme they bretheâ—n And the name was continued by the aposteles and ys a name that norysheth loue amite And very glad I am to here of ther gredye affection in wrytynge oute and spredynge a brode the worde of god for by that I do perceyue the ê“phesie of Amos to haue place whiche sayth in the ê‘son of god I wyll send hoÌ„ger thurste in to the yerth â— not honger for mâ—ate nor thurste for drynke But for â—o here the worde of god Nowe begynyth the kyngdom of heuyn to suffer violence Now runne the pore publicanes which knowelege them sellfys synners to the worde of god puttynge bothe goodes and bodye in Ieoperdy for the soule health and though our Bishopes do caule yt heresye and all them herytyckys that honger after yt yet do we knowe that yt ys the gospell of the leuynge god for the helth and saluacyon of all that beleue And as for the name doth nothing offende vs though they calle yt heryse a thousand tymys For sainct Paulle testifyeth that the pharises and prystes whyche were counted the very churche in hys tyme did so calle yt and therfore yt forsyth not though they rulynge in ther roumes vse thesame namys ¶ Whiche youge man I here say hathe lately made diuers other thynges that yet runne in hoker moker so close amoÌ„ge the brothern that ther comyth no copies abrode ¶ I answer that surely I can not spynne and I thinke noman more hateth to be idle than I doo Wherfor in suche thyngys as I am able to doo I shal be deligent as longe as god lendyth me my lyffe And yf ye thynke I be to busye yow may rid me the sonner for euyn as the shepys in the bochers handes ready bounde and loketh but euyn the grace of the bocher when he shall shede hys blode Euyn so am I bounde at the bushopes pleasures euer lokynge for the day of my dethe In so moche that playne worde was sent me that the chaunâ—elour of London sayd yt shuld coste me the best blode in my body which I wolde gladly were shede to morow yf so be yt myght opyn the kynges graces eyen And verely I marvyll that any thynge can rune in hoker moker or be hyde from yow For sythe yow mought haue suche store of copyes coÌ„cernynge the thynge which I moste desyred to haue byn kept secreat how shuâ—d yow thaÌ„ lake a copye a those thynges w c I moste wolde haue published And here of ye may be sure I care not though yow alâ— the bushoppes w t in engloâ—d loke on all that euer I wrote but rather wolde be glade that ye so did For yf there be any sparke of grace in youre breastes I trust yt shulde be an ocâ—aâ—ioÌ„ somwhat â—o kyndle yt that you may coÌ„syder and knowe your sellâ—es w t ys the fyrst poynt of wysdom And wolde God for nys mercye sayth M more that syth ther can nothynge refrayne ther â—tudye from deuise and compassyng of euyll vngracyous wryting that they wolde coulde kepe yt so secreatly thaâ— neuer man shulde se yt But suche as are so ferre corrupted as neuer wolde be cured of ther canker It ys not possyble for hym that hathe hys eyen and seth hys brother w c lackyth sight in Ieoê‘dye of peryshynge at a peryâ—ous pyt but that he must com to hym and guyde hym tyll he be past that Ieoê‘dye and at the lest wiâ—e yf he can
euery sacrament is the signe of an hollye thinge but the sacrament of the aulter is a sacrament as all faythfull men confesse ergo yt must follow that the sacrament of the aulter is y â— synge of an hollye thinge Nowe yf yt be the sygne of an hollye thinge then yt is not the hollye thinge yt sellfe w c yt doth signifye represent Why shulde we then feare to call that bred a figure that ys to saâ—e a sacrament of that holye bodye of our lord sauiour Besides that I wolde knowe of what necessite or profite his fleshe muste be present in the sacrament For the pÌ„sence of his fleshe can no more profit vs then doth the remembraunce of his bodie but this remembraunce maye as well be don by the sacrameÌ„t as though hys bodie were present And therfore sith God and nature make nought in vayne yt followethe consequentlye that his naturall fleshe is not there but onlye a memoriall therof Furthermore the ende aÌ„d finall cause of a thinge is euer beter then those thinges w c are prouided for the ende as the howse is better than the lyme stone and timber which are prouided for the howse but the ende and finall cause of the sacrament is the remembraunce of Christes bodye and ther vppon yt muste followe that yf the sacrameÌ„t be his naturall bodie that the remembraunce of Christes bodie shulde be better then his bodie yt sellfe Whiche thinge is to be abhorred of all faythfull men It were fondenes to fayne that the soule did other wise eate then do the angellys in heuen aÌ„d their meate is onlye â—â—e Ioye and delectatyon that they haue of god and of his glorie And euen so doth the soule w c is here vppon the yerth eate thorough fayth the bodye of Christe w c ys in heuen For yt deliteth reioyseth whyles yâ— vnderstondeth thorough faith that christ hath taken our synnes vppon him and pacified the fathers wroth Nether yt is necessarie that for that or for thys cause that hys fleshe shulde be pÌ„sent For a man maye as well loue and reioyse in the thinge w c ys from hym not present as though yt were pÌ„sent by him of that maner Moreouer the brede is Christes bodye euin as the breaking of the brede is the deth of his bodie Nowe y â— breakiÌ„ge of bred at the mauÌ„dey is not the verye deth of Christes bodie but onlye a representation of the same allbeyt the minde thorough fayth doeth spâ—allye beholde his verye deth and euyn likewise that naturall brede is not the verye bodie of our lorde but onlye a sacrament signe memoriall or representatyon of this same albe yt thorough the monision therof the mynde thorough fayth doth spâ—alye beholde the verye bodye And surely therof yf a maÌ„ be faythfull the sprite of God worketh in hys harte verye swetlye at his communion Finallye yt was not lawfull to eate or drinke the bloude not onlye of man but also of a brute beaste and the apostelles themâ— selues moued by the rule of charite did institute that men shulde abstayne from bloude somwhat fauorynge the infyrmyte of the Iewes Now yf the apostellys had taught as ye doo that in the sacrament hys verye fleshe and bloudâ— ys â—aten and dronke with the teth and mouthe of faythfull and vnfaythfull what coulde haue be ne a gâ—eater occasyon to haue excluded the Iewes from crystes fayth euyn at once Thynke you that the appostellys wolde not haue byn to scrupulous to haue dronken hys very bloude seynge yt was so playne agaynst Moses lawe yf they had vnderstonde hym so grosselye as ye doo Petâ—r had a clothe sent downe from heuyn in whych were all maner of beastes â—orbidden by the lawe and was commaunded to sâ—e and â—atâ— them And he answered God forbyd for I neuer eate any vnclene thynge meanynge therbye that he neuer â—ate any thynge forbydden by the lawe Wherof yt moste nedes followe that ether he neuer recâ—yued the sacrament w c ys playne false or els that he more spiritually vnderstode the wordes of Chrisâ—es maundie then ye falselye fayne For yt was playnely forbydden by the lawe to eate or drinke any maner of bloude And I knowe but one reason that they haue w c they count an insoluble how beyt by goddes grace we shall sone auoyde yt There reason is this Paule sayth he that eateth and drinketh this sacrament vnworthylye shal be gyltye of the bodye bloude of the lord Now saye they â— how sâ—uld they be gyltie of the lordes bodie bloud w c receiue yt vnworthelie except yt were the verye bodye and bloude of the lorde This argument I saye is verye weake slender For I can shewe many exampleâ— by the w c yt may be dissolued for he that dispisseth the kinges sealle or letters offendeth agaynst his oweÌ„ parson and yet the letter or seale ys not hys owen parson He that vyolently plucketh downe hys graces armes or breakyth hys brode sâ—ale wyth a furyoâ—se mynde or vyolence committeth treason agaynst hys owyn parson And yet hys armes and brode seale are not hys owyne person he that clepyth the kyngys coyne coÌ„mitteth treason agaynst the kynges parson and the commen welth and yet the mony ys nether hys graces parson nor the coÌ„mon welth And therfore your argument ys but weake and slender For euyn as a man doth offend agaynste the prynces parson by dispising hys armes seale or letters so doth a man offende agaynste Christes bodye and bloude by abusynge the sacrament of hys bodye and bloude although he be not there present as the kynges parson ys not present in his armes seale or letters Besides that s. paule saieth that euerye maÌ„ w c praieth or pÌ„cheth w t couered hâ—ed shameth his heed his heed is christe shall we therfore ImageÌ„ that christe is naturallye in euerye mans heâ—â— as your argument concludeth For soth that were a pretye phaÌ„tasâ—e Finally S. Ausâ—en saiâ—th that he doth no lesse synne w c negligentlye heareth the worde of god theÌ„ doth the other w c vnworthelye receyuith the sacrament of Christes bodye aÌ„d bloude Nowe yf thys be true theÌ„ ys your reason not worth a rishe for christes naturall bodie ys not in the worde w c is pÌ„ched as all men knowe And yet he sâ—unâ—â—h no lesse that negligeÌ„tly heareth yt theÌ„ dooth he that vnworthelye receyuyth the sacrament And thus you see their insoluble easely dissolued ¶ But now muste this yong maÌ„ consider agayne that hym self confesseth that the cause for w t himsellf saieth that christ in so saying did so meane ys because that yf he shuld haue meÌ„t soo yt was impossible to god to brynge his meanenynge a bought that ys to saye that christes bodye might be in two places at once And therfore but yf he proue that thynge impossible for god to doo els he confessyth that god not onlye sayd yt but allso ment yt in dede And yet ouer thys yf christ had neuer sayde
in dede then is he neuer the nere his purpose but moche the furder from yt And thys yâ— euyn yt that I sayd before that yt was not possible to stonde w t the processe of the scripture w c we haue receiued And now his mastership hath graunted yt himsellf which you maye be sure he wold not doo yf he coulde otherwise auoyde ytâ— And here you maye se howe sore I haue ouer sene my sellfe God forbid that any man shuld be the more prone readye to beleue thys yonge maÌ„ in this great mater because he sayeth in the begynyng that he wyll brynge all men to a concord and aquietnes of conscience For he bryngeth men to the worst kinde of quietnes that may be deuised when he telleth vs as he doth that euery maÌ„ in this mater maye w t oute parell beleue whyche waye he lyste Euery man maye in euerye mater w t oute any counsell sone set hym sellfe at reaste yf he lyste to take that waye and to beleue as he list hym sellfe and care not how But and yf that waye had byn sure S. Paule wolde neuer haue shewed that manie were in parell of sekenes and deth to For lacke of discernynge reuerently the bodye of our lorde in that sacrameÌ„t when they came to receyue hym When Christe shulde departe this worlde goo to his father he gaue his disciples a commaundemeÌ„t that they shuld loue eche other sayinge by this shall all men knowe that ye are my disciples yf ye loue eche other as I haue loued you This rule of charite wold I not haue broken w c notwtstondyng ys often in Ieopardie amoÌ„ge faythfull folke for this sacrameÌ„t of vnite This thynge conâ—â—â—ered I thought necessarye to aduertise both partyes to saue thys rule of charite and proued in the fyrste chapter of my treatisâ—e that yt was none article of the fayth necessarie to be beleued vnder payne of daÌ„pnacion and thâ—rfore that they were to blame that wolde be contencious for the mater For sith yt ys non article of the fayth they maye lawfullye dissent w t oute all Ieoperdye nede not to breake the rule of charite but rather to receyue eche other like weake brethern As by exaÌ„ple some thiÌ„ke that the mariage betwene our moste redoubtâ—d prince aÌ„d quen kateryn is lawfull and maye stonde w t the lawes of god and some thinke that yt is vnlawfull ought to be disanulled Now if we shuld for this maâ—er breake the rule of charitâ— and euery maÌ„â— haâ—e his neighboure that wolde not thynke as he doth then were we greatly to blame in Ieoperdie of coÌ„â—empnacion This I saye I proued in the fyrst chapter againste w c more maketh no busines and improueâ—h yt not Wherbye you maye sone gather that yt is verye true For els sith hys mastership so laboureth in thesse other poyntâ—s he wold not haue lefte that vntouched you maye be sure This is the concord that I wolde bringe theÌ„ vnto And as touchynge quietnes of conscience I haue knowen manye that haue sore byn coÌ„bured w t it And amoÌ„ge all a certayne master of arte which dyed in oxforth confessed vppon his deth bed that he had wept lying in hys bed an hundreth nyghtes with in one yere space because he coulde not beleue yt Now yf he had knowen yt had byn no necessarye article what comfort quyetnes shuld yt haue byn vnto him Furthermore euery man can not so quyet hymsellf as master more Imageneth For there are many that thynke theÌ„ sellfes no smalle foles w c whaÌ„ they haue receyued some folishe superstitioÌ„ ether bi ther owyn ImaginacyoÌ„ or by bâ—leuinge ther gosshepes gospell olde wyffes tales by bye thynke the contrarye to be dedly synne and vâ—terly for bydden by chrystes gospell As by exaÌ„ple I knowe an house of relegyoÌ„ wherin is a person that thynketh yt dedly synne to goo ouer astrawe yf it ley acrosse And yf ther be on the pauemeÌ„t any paynted picture or any Image graueÌ„ on a deed maÌ„s graue he wyl not trede vppon yt although he shuld goo a forelonge aboute What ys thys but vayne supersticyon wherew t the coÌ„science ys combred corrupted May not this be weded oute with the worde of god shewyng him that it ys none article of the fayth so to thinke and then to tell hym that yt ys not forboden by the scripture and that yt is no synne Now albeit hys coÌ„scieÌ„ce be so caÌ„kerd that the ruste wyll not be rubbed oute yet with godes grace some other whom he hath enfecte with the same maye come agayne to godes worde and be â—ured full well w c shuld neuer haue byn able to quiete themsellffes And lyke wise there are some which beleue as your suppersticious hartes haue informed them and these can not quiet them selues because they beleue that you haue â—et your doctryne out of scrypture But wheÌ„ yt ys proued to theÌ„ they theÌ„selues ê‘â—eyue that scripture sayeth not so theÌ„ caÌ„ they be coÌ„tent to thinke the coÌ„trarye Iudge yt no synne at all And as touchyng S. Paule suerelye ye take hym wrong For I wyll shew you what ê“cesse he taketh howe he his to be vnderstoÌ„d But because yt is not possible to fynyshe it in fewe wordes I shall deferre it vnto the bokes ende aÌ„d theÌ„ I shall declare hym at large And what a facioÌ„ ys this to saye that we maye beleue yf we list that there ys the verye bodye of our lorde in dede and theÌ„ to tell vs for a trouth that suche a fayth ys impossâ—ble to betrue For god hym sellfe can neuer brynge yt abought to make hys bodye be there Yf a maÌ„ take the bare wordes of christe of simplicite be deceyued aÌ„d thinke that his veriâ— bodye be in the sacrament present to their teth that â—ate yt I dare not saye that he sinneth therin but will referre tâ—e matter vnto godes IudgemeÌ„t yet w t oute doubt I dare saye he ys deceyued As by example yf a maÌ„ deceyued bi the leterall sense wold thynge that men shuld preache to fyshes as S. FrauÌ„ces did because christ bade his disciples goo preache to all creatures yet wolde not I thynke that he synned therin But wyll referre hym vnto goddes IndgemeÌ„t But yet I wene euerye woman that hath any wyte wyll saye that he was deceyued I am verye sure that the olde holye doctours w c beleued christes bodye aÌ„d bloode to be there aÌ„d so taught other to beleue as by ther bokes playnlye doth apere Yf they had thought ether that it could not be there or that yt was not there in dede they wold not for all the good in this worlde haue wryten as they haue done For wold thosse holye men wene you haue taught that meÌ„ be bouÌ„d to beleue that the verye bodie and bloude of christe ys there yf them sellfe thought they were not bounde there to wolde they make meÌ„ honoure
I dare saye that yt is printed and publyshed to our princes great dishonore For what lâ—rnâ—d maÌ„ maye in time to come truste to hys graces saffe coÌ„â—uyte or come at his graces instaÌ„ce or requeste sith not onlye the spuÌ„allye w c of ther professioÌ„ resyâ—â—e hys prerogatiue but also a laye man ê“moted to suche ê“minence by hys graces goodnes dare presume so to depresse hys prerogatyue not onlye to saye but also to publishe yt in preÌ„t that notwtstondyng hys graces saffe conduyte they myght lawfullye haue burnte hym But here he wold saye vnto me as he dethe in his boke that he had forfayted his saffe coÌ„duyte aÌ„d therbye was fallyn in to his enemyes handes Where vnto I answer that this your sayinge is but a vayne glose For I my sellfe did reade the saffe coÌ„duyte that came vnto hym w c had but onlye thys one conditioÌ„ annexed vnto yt that if he came before the feaste of christmas theÌ„ next insuynig he shuld haue fre lyberte to deperte at his pleasure And this coÌ„dicyoÌ„ I knâ—we was fullfylled How shulde he than forfayte hys saufe conduyte But master more hath lerned of hys masters our pÌ„lates whose procture he ys to depresse oure princes pÌ„rogatiue that men ought not to kepe any promisse w t heretyckes And so his saâ—fe coÌ„duyte cold not saue hym As though the kynges grace myght not admitte any maÌ„ to goo and come frelye in to hys graces realme but that he muste haue leue of our pÌ„lates For els they myght laye heresye agaynst the parson and so â—ley hym coÌ„trarye to the kynges salfe coÌ„duyte w c thynge all wyse meÌ„ do knowe to be preiudiciall to his graces prerogatiue roâ—all And yet I am sure that of all the tyme of hys beynge here you can not accuse hym of one cryme albeit vnto your shame you saye that he had forfayted his salfe conduyte These wordes hade be very extreme and worthy to haue byn â—oked vppon allthough they had byn wretyn by som presumptuoÌ„s prelate But that a laye man so heighlye promoted by hys prynâ—e shuld speake them and also cause them openlye to be publyshed amonge hys graces comes to deâ—ecte the estymacyon of hys royall power doth in my minde deserue â—orrection Natwithstondynge I leue the iudgemâ—nt and determinacyon vnto the discrecyon of hys graces honorable counsell And as for that holy prayer that this deuoute yoÌ„gmaÌ„ as a new christe teacheth to make at the receiuiÌ„ge of this blessed sacrameÌ„t all his coÌ„gregacioÌ„ I wold not geue the pariÌ„ge of a pare for hys praier though yt were better theÌ„ yt is pullynge awaye the true fayth therfro as he doth How be yt hys prayer there ys so dyuised peÌ„ned and paynted w t laysure studye that I truste eueri good christeÌ„ womaÌ„ maketh a moche better prayer at the tyme of hyr howsell by faythfull affectyoÌ„ aÌ„d by goddes good inspiracioÌ„ sodeÌ„lye Fryth ys an vnmete master to teache vs what we shuld praie at the receyuiÌ„ge of the blessed sacrameÌ„t when he will not knowelege it as it is but take christes blessed bodie for nothing but bare bred so lytle esteme the receyuyng of the blessed sacrameÌ„t that he forsyth lytle whether yt be blessed or not Where he discoÌ„mendyth my prayer sayeth that I am an vnmete master to teache meÌ„ to praye seyng I take awaye the true fayth from yt and sayeth that euery woman caÌ„ make a better wheÌ„ she receyuyth the sacrameÌ„t I wolde to god that euery womaÌ„ were so wyll lerned that they coulde teache vs both And sureli I inteÌ„ded not to prescrybe to all men that prayer onlye but hoped to help the ignorant that they might ether speake those wordes or els takyng occasion at theÌ„ to saye some other to the lawde aÌ„d prayse of god And as for your fayth w c you call the true fayth musâ—e I nedes improue For yt wyll not stonde w t the true text of scripture as yt playnâ—â— apereth But to the fayth in christesâ— bloude I exhorte all meÌ„ and teach theÌ„ to eate hys bodye w t fayeth and not w t teth w c is by hauynge his deth in contynuall remembraunce And degestynge yt in to the bowels of the soule And because yow so sore improue mi prayer to conclude my answer agaynst you I wyll wryte agayne And lett al meÌ„ Iudge betewne vs. Blessed be thou moste deare mercifull father w c of thy teÌ„der fauour benignite not wtstoÌ„ding our greuous enormytis coÌ„mitted agaynst the wouchsauedst to send thyn owine onlie deare sone to suffre moste vile deth for our redeÌ„ptioÌ„ Blessed be thou Christ Iesu our lorde sauiour w c of thine abundaÌ„t petye coÌ„sidering oure miserable estate willyngly tokest vppon the to haue thy moste innoceÌ„t bodie brokin bloude shed to purge vs aÌ„d washe vs w c are ladyn w t iniquite And to certifie vs therof hast left vs not only thy worde w c maye enstruce our hartes But allso a visible token to certifie eueÌ„ our outward sences of this great benefyte that we shuld not doubt but that the bodie and frute of thy passyon are oures thorough fayth as surelye as the brede which by our senses we knowe that we haue with in vs. Blessed be also that spirite of verite which ys sent from god our father thorough our sauiour Christ Iesu to lyghten our darke ignoraunce And leade vs thorough fayth in to the knowelege of hym which ys all verite Strengthe we beseche the our frayle nature and encrease our fayth that we maye prayse god our moste mercifull father and Christe his sonne our sauiour and redemer AMEN The paschal lambe and oure sacrament are here compared to gether NOw we shall shortly expresse the pith of our mater and borow the figure of the paschall lambe Which is in all poiÌ„tes so lyke That the offeringe of the pascall lambe did signyfye the offerynge of Christes bodye is playne by Paule which sayeth Christe our paschall lambe ys offered vp for vs When the childern of Israell were very sad and heuye for theyr sore appressyon vnder the power of Pharrao for the mo myracles were shewed the worse were they handeled God sent vnto them by â—oyses that euâ—ry howsâ—old shuld kyl a lambe to be a sacrifyce vnto GOD and that they shuld eate hym with their staues in their handes ther loynes gyrded and showes on their feeâ—e euin as men that were going an hastye Iorney Thys lambe muste they eate hastelye and make a merye maundye Now because thâ—y shuld not saye that they could not be meryeâ— For ther oppressyon and what coulde the lambe help them he added glad tydynges vnto yt and sayd thys ys the passing bye of the lorde Whiche thys nyght shall passe by you and â—â—e all the fyrste begotton with in the Londâ— of Egipt and shall delyuer you oute of your bondage and brynge you in to the lond that he hath promissed vnto your fathers Marke the processe