haue bene a Gardiner Iohn 20.15 but the aduersaries take a portion of bread to be Christ The true professors say and beleeue that this saying of the Lorde This bread is my body hath a spirituall and Sacramental meaning otherwise to auouch that a piece of bread for that it is bread is proued or els which is all one the the shewe of bread is literally very Christ is a mōstruous kinde of speaking vtterly impossible altogether blasphemous For if bread or the shew of bread or that which was bread be called Christ properly and with out figure of speache without all controuersie as properly and as truely but there is no shewe of trueth in so grosse errors bread was borne of the virgin Marie bread was crucified on the crosse bread shal iudge the quicke and the dead and a piece or a fancye of bread is the Sauiour of the worlde the sonne of God the seconde person in Trinitie God himselfe the Lord of life In effect so strangely haue our vnnatural countrey men writtē and one more fondly then the rest Sand. in his Manhu directing an Epistle dedicatorie to his Lorde and God vnder the formes of bread and wine in the Sacrament Thus it fareth with these men by the iust iudgement of the Almighty God who haue giuen him ouer he them that because they woulde not beleeue the trueth they shoulde still beleeue lyes without ende chaunging the glorie of the immortall God into the similitude of corrupt creatures besides all sense reason and congruence of fayth Chrysostome writing vpon Labans complaint where he saith to Iacob Gene. 31.30 Why hast thou stolen my gods what saith that father what perfect folly is this Are thy gods such as they may be stolen or art thou not ashamed in so saying Semblably what a Christ haue the aduersaries made and imagined is Christ made of bread ground with teeth consumed with the bitte of mouth and stolen away sometime of the sely mouse or are they not ashamed of these carnal fleshly more the Capernaitical grosse dreames the profite nothing nay rather dread they not in hearte soule to say as they haue sayde to the cake in the Priests hands D. Har. confuta of the Ap. pag. 94. Pointz in his Testi cap. 3. Brist Mot. 26. Thou art my maker and to the wine in the chalice Thou art my Lord and my God by thee alone and nothing else I hope to be saued Bish Cran. to Winch. and Bish Iewel to Hard. c. The iust confutatiō of which strāge speaches hath bin vnder taken discharged of most excellent learned mē in our English tongue My purpose is onely in a worde to giue warning to the simple of this myre wherin they see those drūken men seruants to their owne deuises thus to wallowe plunge and tumble themselues vp and downe There are others who albeit they are not so farre gone out of the way yet they treade not the true hie way in euery respecte As they confesse Christ to be in heauen and yet they worshippe no heauen but Christ sitting there at the right hand of his father so ouer much resting vpon the bare letter of the words they suppose onely a conioyned presence in the bread and no more They go no further neither doe they adore the bread thogh they thinke Christ consubstantially to be therein When they are vrged with the vndouted article of the Creed wherby we beleeue the ascension of our Sauiour some of thē replie that Christ being God may be euery where Others altogether absurdly say he auen it selfe is euery where Were it not but that somewhat might bee learned belōging necessarily to this treatise by the way it were a folly to refute follies Verely as Christ is perfect God so is hee perfect man the properties of both natures entire in one person We may not build his deity destroy his humanity Who according to his manhood is gone from the earth taken vp to his father ascended on hie sitteth and maketh intercession there the heauens must conteine him till the last tymes and then thence we look for his comming again Neither can all this be a meere supposed vanishing out of sight but a locall departure because the place is set downe whence he went and whither he ascended and that he shall come againe I leaue the worlde and goe to the father Ioh. 16.28 and he shall so come againe from heauen Act. 1.11 And here to dreame that heauen is euery where were a madnesse For then Christ had bene in heauen before already so what needed he to departe and ascende and goe hence and if earth were heauen the wicked and earthely minded men were most in heauen And not onely they but the very damned spriits in hell were in heauen also for hell is some where and they say heauen is euery where And thē where were that great Chaos that is spoken of in the Gospel Luk. 16.23.26 betwixt Abrahams ioyes in heauen aboue and the riche mans torments in hel beneath There is a kinde of spirite which is not driuen away but with prayer fasting to the end to praye more earnestly the Lorde if it be his will ende all quarels especially about this sacrament of vnitie open the eyes of all those who euer they be that seeke vaine shiftes and fond detrises to the end onely to exclude one conuenient vsual figure which necessarily goeth with the nature of a sacramēt agreeth with the canons of christian beleefe wtout the which our beleefe concerning the person of Christ can neuer stande For if hee be perfect man as we beleeue like to his brethren in al thinges Heb. 1.17 sinne excepted being but one man hee can bee but in one place at one tyme. The want of sinne both not extende a bodye to pluralities of places for then euery man as hee hath lesse or more sinne shoulde bee straightwaye in fewer moe places accordingly But these thinges in sight are but vanities Wherfore Christ according to his humanitie is and must bee in one place at once and no moe and that is in heauen Nowe then in earth what do wee receiue while wee receiue the Sacrament certainely Christ Iesus the land and the fruite Christ and the vertues of his life and death and of what euer hee did But he is in heauen and we in earth and the distance is great Faith hath an eye an hande a wing wherby it pearceth reacheth and flyeth vp to heauen it selfe To fayth thinges absent are present thinges distant are conioyned thinges secret are open vnseene are visible impossible are easy As verely as bread both serue for the strength of the body and wine for the comforte thereof so and as certainly to the in warde man in fayth Christ is bread to the soule and wine to the minde and we mistically made one in him and hee with vs dwell in
similitude that as in washing pooles when men goe into thē they doe off their aparell and then enter the bath and bathe their bodies so in this the olde man is put off Adams fig leaues throwen aside then with niter fullers sope nay rather with the bloode of the sonne of God all our former filthe is scoured away This dissimilitude is in this similitude our former rags are neuer resumed as sinners resume their garmentes when they haue washed Those plaguy clothes that tooke stayne and infection from sinfull Adam we burie or we burne The regenerate man hath done away his former generation dyeth to sin the gylte and dominion whereof lyeth as a dead body in the graue and hath no more power ouer the creature which is endued with the newe man freed from Satan accepted into seruice and fauour in the familie of GOD weareth the cloth of righteousnes and is apparelled as the womā in the Reuelation with the sonne of God Reue. 12.1 Wherein notwithstanding it is expedient still and euer to remember from what rocke we were he wen on what stocke we grewe what we haue lost and what wee haue founde howe fowle we were howe cleane we are that tasting howe sweete the Lord is we may as it were feele the difference betweene soote and sugar see and view the oddes betweene our crimosin blood red sinnes and the snowe white innocencie we haue obteyned in him To compare the state wherin we were by creation then in nature corrupted and nowe by grace and regeneration were to compare an innocent lyfe a deserued death life euerlasting together that is Paradise hell heauenly blisse betwixt themselues For our case at the first was no worse afterward no better and in Christ betterthen euer before Rom. ◠For as by one man came sinne and by sinne death which presupposeth a former innocencie and life so by the man Christ much more excellent is the righteousnesse that is imputed to faith imported by this Sacrament and shal be enioyed without end As the first Adam eating of the forbidden tree he susteining the person of al mankinde by his disobedience did set on edge his posterities teeth so the second Adam trode the wine presse alone and yet wee his posteritie also drinck neuer the lesse of his wine And here let no man say Prou. 9.2 I haue mixed mine owne wine I haue compassed these thinges my selfe Strength if it leane to presumption is weaker then water and the broken reede and yet the strongest thinges of man are but meere weaknesse the puritie of nature pollution libertie of will thraldome and the merite of workes a stayned cloute And then if the clothe be so course howe course is the list or if the wooll be course can the clothe be fine Adam begate Seth Gen. 5.3 and all his children in his owne likenesse For as the man that is not cannot beget himselfe that he may haue a being so man being naught can neuer of him selfe beget any thing els or him selfe to bee good againe Why thē do we presume A puffe of pride bloweth out the candle that was lightened of another at the first and cannot kindle it selfe the seconde time The debter in the Gospel was not able to make payment for the ten thousand talentes Matt. 18.24 and the more in debte in processe of time the more vnlike to come out of debt albeit he sayd as the aduersaries of the trueth saye if his Lorde would haue patience he would pay and satisfie all The three parables in Saint Luke tende all to this purpose Luke 15. to shewe mans inhabilitie in euery respect and the Lordes exceeding mercie altogether The lost groat lacketh sense the strayed sheep witte the prodigall sonne wisedome The woman lighteth the candle sweepeth the house seeketh diligently The shepheard goeth out into the wildernesse and bringeth home on his shoulders And as for the wastfull sonne God in his prouidence disposed so that by afliction and famin he should be taught and constrained to returne backe making a most true confession that hee had sinned against heauen and his father and was no more worthie to bee called his sonne Had sinned and therefore nowe onely was to stande vpon grace pardon had sinned against heauen and therefore in earth vnfit and vnable to make satisfaction had sinned against so louing a father therefore vnworthy the name of a sonne Notwithstanding while he stoode yet a great waye off his father sawe him and had compassion ranne preuented him with mercie fell on his necke and kissed him killed the fatte calfe put shoes on his feeete and a ring on his finger hyred musicians and called for the best robe clad him therewith that was vtterly destitute of al attire except such as Job speaketh of Iob. 9.31 Mine owne clothes defile me Many excellent and rich ornaments are layde together in one heape in the Prophet Ezechiel embroydred works Ezech. 16. bracelets silke siluer golde c. and all these God bestowed on them the lay dead in their blood whome he raised to life circūcised with his owne hand dryed their corruption with salte washed their vncleannes with water swadled and clad them with newe precious apparell euen with Iosephs party coloured coate or rather with the Queenes garment of needle worke which yet was not of her owne making The olde purifyings did prefigure out and as it were made the first draught thereof but the water of Baptisme most liuely expresseth his mercy compassion whose onely eye no mans els tooke pitie on vs then when we lay not wounded but dead long dead in our sinnes In this water the litle fish humble Christian resumeth life againe the lay gasping dead on the shoare before In this water the Scorpion loseth his venim Cypr. 4. lib. epist 7. and can not sting In this water Sinne Satan the flesh and the worlde lye floting drowned as in the deluge in Genesis 1. Cor. 10.1 1. pet 3.21 and red Sea in Exodus where Noah the preacher of righteousnesse and a few with him were saued in the Arke which after a sorte was a figure of Baptisme The Israelites went through on dry foot Pharao and all his hoste drowned in the red sea But for all this this is true in the letter of these stories and certaine in the trueth of a farther meaning the though Noah escaped drowning yet he was ouercome afterward with wine though the Egyptians were ouerwhelmed al yet there remained other enemies in the desert neither did Israel straightwayes enter the promised land wtout further labour fightes first had with sundry and diuers nations Hierom. ad Ocean Aug. retract lib. 1. cap. 7. Ephe. 5.25 Rom. 7. In this Sacrament though generally iniquity be pardoned and sinne drowned and wee saned yet for all this al infirmitie is not quite abolished wee are washed al Ioh. 13.10 but
the cause be the Lordes and the quarell good thy calling according it is good fighting these battels Striue for the trueth for life defende iustice vnto death Eccle. 4.2 In this case the white liuered souldier that feareth a frost shall be couered with snow If euery heare were a life and euery life a thousand liues vēter them all for him that gaue them all But againe in the dayes of peace where peace may be redeemed with lesse a doe what wise man woulde be hanged in heare of his own fancie or fal as Saul did vpon his owne sword He that loueth daunger shal perish in trouble and no man pitie him and the meeke shall possesse the earth A gentlewoman of Lacedemonia Plutar. contra Colo. and Diotorus his wife did alwayes fall out at the table and varie because the one loued oyle and the other butter and yet the qualities of butter and oyle were not much diuerse Charitie doeth couer malice enuie and hatred doeth vncouer as the boysterous Northwinde all imperfections and naturally men are giuen to prie in at other mens windowes to beate dust of their coates find motes in their eyes But Saint Paul saith Let euery man proue him selfe and not other men and so let him come to this Sacramēt When Christ foretolde that one of his disciples shoulde betray him euery one of them began to aske him Mar. 14.19 Is it I not is it he or he but euery one was desirous to proue him selfe and know whither it were he Is it I they were not like him that saide Mat. 7.4 Brother suffer me to take foorth the mote out of thine eye And doe we call them brethrē whose good name we seeke to take from them in obiecting motes and faultes A mote is a litle fault and a beame is a great faulte and neither great nor litle should be suffered especially in the eye Yet euery man is not a fit Physition the eye is a tender parte and maye as soone take hurt as good if there be not great discretion taken Let the publike minister proue all and the priuate man proue him selfe and so in fayth and loue let vs all in one repair to the Sacrament of vnitie which as goates milke shoulde breake and mollifie the stonie hearts of men Plin lib. 20. prooe lib. 3.7 cap. 4. as rayne alaieth great windes as Dauids musicke asswaged Sauls melācholie and euill spirite And yet when all this is done the best men are men still and the best earth is earth euer and will beare nettles and brambles and prickes Flesh is fraile in faith blood imperfect in loue seetheth and boyleth with a litle fire and vpon a small occasion Repētance therefore repentance alwayes in eyther is most requisite which accompanying with faith her mother and loue her sister warmeth and cherisheth them both who otherwise waxe wanne and colde and loose their force Yf any man deeme Christes death vnsufficiēt suppose his sacrifice needeth renuing imagineth any other intercessours requisite doubteth of his kingdō beleueth not his word these are great wants of faith and he neuer proued himselfe that cōmeth with this minde to the Lordes boorde where these thinges are or should be felt fed vpon Here Repentance is requisite to helpe fayth Againe if any man haue any thing against his brother or his brother against him let him go first and be reconciled before he eate and drincke the Sacramente which is of vnitie in Christ Iesus Thus examining his conscience as before and acknowledging his sinnes in his sight aske pardon with sighes teares because he eyther distrusted or disobeyed and so displeased so gratious a God so mercifull a father so perfecte a Sauiour that had commanded himselfe to be beleeued vpon our selues of our selues to be beloued in him one of another There is neuer a threede in Papistrie but is stayned They haue neither perfect faith which they deuide betwene God his creatures nor true loue which wanteth the bonde of loue true faith nor due repentance haue they For al their repentāce standeth in whispering in a Priestes eare or absteyning from the moderate vse of certaine meates in which they put a satisfaction as if God were pleased sinne done away with the eating of fish and not of fleshe or the not vsage of other his creatures reuerently with thankes giuing 1. Tim 4.3 But in deed the sowre herbes wherwith we must eate his passeouer are a penitent hearte a broken and contrite spirite because foolish flesh laboureth and werieth it selfe in sinfull wayes and doeth eftsoones offende in thought worde deede against his diuine maiestie And this if we do crauing pardon for al our sinnes and misdoings no doubt hee will consider our sighes receiue our prayers forgiue our sinnes accept vs for iust accoūt vs for his own make vs meete partakers of his heauenly table Being thus prepared instructed in fayth Meditatiō enflamed in loue after a sort repaired by repētāce thou maist present thy self before the Lord. Wherin as the wisemā willeth in an other case meditate againe and againe what is set before thee Pro. 23.1 least thy table bee thy snare thy meate thy bane thine own knife cut thine own throte Bread which is the staffe of strēgth to man wil choke the Hawke The faithfull charitable and repentant soule partaketh saluation the vnworthie receiuer eateth drinketh his owne damnation euen as the Babylonian dragon brake asūder as soone as he receiued the balles that Daniel put into his mouth as that story reporteth Wherfore thou godly man child of God ponder with thy selfe enter into thy conscience let cōuenient thoughtes meditations occupy possesse thy inward partes And that thou mayest so do remēber what thou art a doing what worke thou hast in hande Doe this in remembrance of Christ Plutar. in vlta Numae Hoe Age. feede on him in thy soule with thanks set forth liuely his death with praise Pharaohs butler forgate Ioseph Gen. 40.23 the vnclean hog neuer loketh vp to him that beateth downe the maste from the tree Lift vp your heartes wee lift them vp vnto the Lord. They are the wordes of the church seruice godly wordes It is meete right so to doe and our bounden duetie that we should at al times recorde his goodnesse but especially at the time of this action to shewe foorth his death till his comming againe agnize our sinnes which being the cause of his dying plucked the sonne of God out from the bosome of the father to be crucified on earth of amōg and for sinfull men The maymes wee receiued in Adam remaine yet in vs are three Sinne Ignorance Weaknesse The remedies whereof we finde in Christ the Physition of our soules Medicus est minister naturae that which is wanting by nature is supplied by grace Christ is a Priest to cleanse our sinnes a Prophet to instruct our