conscience and the peace of his Church in and for his sonne our Lorde Iesus Amen Your Honours most humbly to be alwayes vsed in the Lorde Christe VVILLIAM HOPKINSON ¶ A preparation into the waye of lyfe with a direction into the right vse of the Lords Supper Question HOwe had you your beeing at the first Answere God created mee and all men in Adam as it is written The Lorde God made man of the duste of the grounde and breathed in his face breath of life and man was made a liuing soule Question Wherefore did God create you Ans To seeke his glory as it is written Of him through him and for him are all things to him be glory for euer Amen Qu How will God be glorified Ans According to his will reuealed in his worde For it is written Deut. 12.32 Whatsoeuer I commaunde you take heede that you doe it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therefrom Iosh 1.7 Qu. In what estate were you created An. Holy and excellent without sinne in perfect righteousnes and holynes before him as appeareth Gen. Let vs make man in our image according to our likenes Gen. 1.27 c. Qu. How became you subiect to so many infirmities Ans By sinne and disobedience As it is written Because thou haste obeyed the voyce of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree wherof I commaunded thee Gen. 3.17 saying Thou shalt not eate of it cursed is the earth for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life Qu. How became you sinnefull An. Adam transgressed the Lords precept in eating the forbidden fruite lost his innocencie and brought sinne vpon him self and all his posteritie As appeareth when he had yeelded to disobey the Lorde Gen. 3.9.10 The Lorde God called to the man and sayde to him Where art thou Who said I heard thy voyce and was afraide because I was naked therefore I hidde my selfe Also the Lorde God sent him foorth from the Garden of Eden Gen. 3.23 to till the earth from whence he was taken c. Qu. Is this sinne in euery one by nature An. Yea in all Adams posteritie none excepted as it is written Rom. 5.12 As by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death went ouer all men in as much as all men haue sinned Qu. What is the rewarde of sinne An. Death eternall as it is written Deut. 27.26 Cursed bee hee that continueth not in all the wordes of this lawe to doe them Rom. 6.23 Gal. 3.10 Qu. Shall I escape this death by the workes of the lawe An. No. For it is written Rom. 8.3 For that that was impossible to the law in as much as it was not able because of the flesh God sending his owne sonne in the simisitude of sinnefull flesh condemned sinne in the flesh Qu. Sith the Lawe doth not instifie vs before God what profite hath a Christian by it An. The vse of the lawe Iosh 1.8 First it is a way for Gods children to walke in as it is written Let not this booke of the lawe depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou mayest obserue and doe according to all that is written therein for then shalte thou make thy waye prosperous and then shalt thou haue good successe c. Deut. 6.6 Secondly it teacheth man not to truste in his owne innocencie For it is written We haue proued that all both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne Rom. 3.9 10. Psal 14.1.53.4 Thirdly it pulleth downe the pride of mans heart and humbleth him before God as it is written We knowe that whatsoeuer the lawe sayth it sayth it to them which are vnder the lawe that euery mouth may be stopped Ro. 3.19.20 and all the world culpable before God And by the workes of the lawe shall no fleshe be iustified for by the lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne Fourthly it is a scholemaister to Christ Gal. 3.23 for it is written Before faith came we were kept vnder the lawe and shut vp vnto the fayth that should afterwardes be reuealed wherefore the lawe was oure scholemaster to bring vs vnto Christ that we might be made righteous by fayth Qu. Why should we doe good workes sithe they do not iustifie vs An. First The right end of workes Ioh. 14.15 to shewe our loue to God our father in walking as becommeth his children For the Lorde sayth If you loue me keepe my commaundementes Leui. 11.44.19.2 Secondly to shewe our loue to our selues making our election therby sure vnto our selues For it is written Ephes 1.3.4 Blessed be God euen the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ c. He hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the worlde was layde that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue 1. Pet. 1.2.2 Pet. 1.10 Thirdly to profite our brethren and glorifie the Lorde Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good workes maye glorifie your father which is in heauen 1. Pet. 2.12 Qu. VVhat works be good and the contrary Rom 14.23 Howe many things are principally to be considered in good workes An. Three First that they proceede from an heart purified by fayth Whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne Mat. 7.17.18 Secondly they muste be ruled by the worde of God for it is written Eph. 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which he hath prepared for vs to walke in Thirdly the speciall ende for which they are done muste be the glory of God 1. Cor. 10.31 for it is written Whether you eate or drinke or whatsoeuer you doe doe all to the glory of God Exod. 32.32 Rom. 9.3 Qu. What is eternall death An. The euerlasting curse of God whiche conteineth all the tormentes that can be deuised both of soule and body for it is written Deut. 27.26 Cursed is he that continueth not in all the wordes of this lawe to doe them Gal. 3.10 Qu. By what meanes shall I escape this death An. Onely by fayth in Christ as it is written Rom. 3.28 We conclude that a man is iustified by fayth without the workes of the lawe Iohn 3.13 36. 5.24 6.40 47. 11.25 20.29 31. Math. 9.2 Luc. 7.50 Act. 10.43 16.3 Rom. 1.12 Gal. 3.26 Phil. 3.9 Col. 1.23 Eph. 3.12 Heb. 11.6 1. Pet. 1.9 c. Qu. What is a Christian fayth An. VVhat fayth is A full perswasion and assurance of mine heart that whatsoeuer Christe hath wrought for mans saluation perteineth not onely to others but to me also and is furely mine as it is written For I am perswaded that neither death for life Rom. 8.38 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in
shrinke to looke into our sinnes seeme they neuer so horrible sith the sight of them serueth to shew vnto vs more plainly the greatnesse of the loue of God towards vs in Christe Secondly for their owne greater comfort for the more they see their condemnation by nature so muche more appeareth the loue of God to haue abounded towardes them in their deliueraunce by grace in Christ As it is written So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten sonne Qu. Then as you would haue the children of God to looke diligently into their naturall condemnation that is by the law which adiudgeth euery one guyltie of eternall death that continueth not in such absolute and pure obedience as the lawe requireth so you would not that they shoulde staye there An. VVe beholde our sinnes but the better to see the grace of Christ No in no case for then were there no hope of deliuerance for vntil we atteine to him that hath conquered the lawe the law still reigneth ouer vs vnto death as it is written whatsoeuer the lawe saith it saith it to them that are vnder the law c. which no Christian is for Christ is not vnder the lawe Qu. Wherein standeth the deliuerance of Gods chosen from his condemnation that is by the lawe An. Not in the works of the Lawe nor in any childe of man but onely in the free grace of God through Iesus Christe as it is written Rom. 7.24.25 Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of death I thank God through Iesus Christ our Lorde Qu. What is the meane of our attayning to this righteousnes of Christ An. Faith in him as it is written This is the will of him that sent me Ioh. 6.40 that whosoeuer seeth the sonne and beleeueth in him hath euerlasting life c. Qu. I remember you said that this faith was the peculier worke of the spirite of Christ and his ordinarie meane to be only the preaching of the Gospell but I pray you wherevpon must this fayth be stayde or grounded for a house without a fountation will not long continue An. Vpon the free promises of Christ A conscience feared with the sighte of Gods iudgementes for sinne muste not deal with the conditionall promises Qu. Why say you free promises An. Because in the gospel are promises with condition of our doing or perfourming which appertaine to the Lawe Qu. What is the triall whether we haue this faith or no for as it is easy to say that we haue it so are there verie fewe or none that do not say so An. We must by the effects learne to knowe the cause whiche woorketh them The tree is knowen by his fruites This iustifiyng faith is a peculier worke of the Spirite of Christe who lurketh noâ— but reneweth the heart as Christe testified to Nichodemus Ioh. 3.3 saying Except a man be borne againe he can not see the kingdome of God He worketh in vs first He doth not rightly hate others sinnes that loues his owne Rom. 7.23 an hatred and detestation of sinne in all men but especially in our selues As it is written I see an other law in my members rebelling against the lawe of my minde c. Secondly it maketh vs to haue our whole delight and ioye The Lordes vvayes are grieuous to our corruption Rom. 5.1 2. in those thinges which be agreeable to the will of God as it is written being iustified by faith we haue peace with God thorough Iesus Christ our Lorde by whome also we haue accesse into this grace wherein we stande and reioice vnder the hope of the glorie of God c. Thirdly it frameth our liues in obedience to the word as There is no condemnation to them which are in Christe Iesus which walke not after the fleshe Rom. 8.1 but after the spirite And fourthly it worketh effectually in Their imaginations are vayne vvho holde their hope in huggermugger and professe it not in the sight of men Ioh. 15.5 vs that we expresse the same in our liues and conuersations as it is written I am the vine and ye the vranches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth muche fruite c. Mat. 7.18 Iames. 2.17 Qu. Now concerning the seconde parte of this examination whiche apperteineth the supper it selfe I pray you what is the Lordes supper An. The Lordes Supper vvhat it is It is a ceremonie instituted by Christ to confirme and manifest our society and communion in his body and blood vntill he come to indgement as appeareth He tooke bread and when he had giuen thankes he brake it and gaue to them saying This is my body whiche is giuen for you doe this in remembrance of me Mat. 26.26 27 28. Likewise also he tooke the cup saying This cup is the new testament in my bloude which is shed for you c. Mar. 14.27 And as oft as thou shalt eate this bread and drinke of this cup thou shall shewe the Lords death till he come 1. Cor. 11.26 Qu. Howe many thinges are to be considered in the supper An. The author the water and the end Qu. Who is the authour of it An. The Lorde Iesus Christ him self as appeareth Mat. 26.26 Mat 14.27 Luk. 22. c. Qu. What thinges are wee taughte by that knowledge namely that Christ is the author of it An. By the maiesty and wisoome of the author is signified vnto vs the excellencie and necessity of the thing Qu. Where must it be ministred An. In the assembly of the faithfull where the word is preached for it is a publike action or deamed for the Churche as may appeare 1. Cor. 11.17.18.20 Now in this that I declare I praye you not that you come together not with profite but with hurt Also when you come together into one place c. Qu. How manie persons are to be considered in this action An. Two The pastor and the people Qu. What is to bee considered of both An. In the pastor or minister is required not onely that he be able but that he do preach the worde of the Lorde before vnto the people Mat. 26.24 for Christ first preached to them of his death and the indgement of God vpon the wicked c. And the Apostles also did the like as appeareth Act. 2.42 and Act. 20.7 Also in the people that they examine them selues For when Christ spake vnto them of the wicked fact of Iudas euery one entred into his selfe and sayd Master is it I Mat. 26.25 Qu. What is needefull for euery one that is willing to receyue the Sacrament aright to consider of An. When in examining him selfe he come to consider of the thing and so to deale with the worde of the Lorde he is especiall to beware of wrong meaning VVrong taking the vvorde is cause of much mischiefe and false gloses of the worde wherein as we
vs and to confirme our fayth in the same As appeareth All ye which are baptized into Iesus Christ haue put on Christ Act. 2.38 And Ioh. 6.51 I am the liuing bread which came downe from heauen if any man eate of this bread he shall liue for euer c. Qu. Are there no necessarie helpes vnto these for the increase and confirmation of our fayth An. Yes and those that can not be wanting without great preiudice to the Church of God namely true earnest and often prayer and discipline according to the worde As for the first it is sayde Aske and haue and whatsoeuer you aske of the father in my name he will giue it you And for the seconde it is written thus Cor. 5 3 4 5. I verily as absent in body but present in spiriie haue determined already as though I were present the he that hath thus done this thing when you are gathered togeather and my spirite in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ that suche a one I say by the power of our Lorde Iesus Christ be deliuered to Satan for the destruction of the fleshe that the spirite may be saued in the day of the Lorde Iesus Qu. What is a Sacrament An. A Sacrament what it is An outward signe ordeined of God for the greater assurance and strength of our fayth beeing vnto vs sure pledges of those venesites of our saluation which we receiue in Christ to be ours For it is written Gen. 17.11 Ye shall circumcize the foreskinne of your fleshe and it shall be a signe of the couenaunt betweene me and you Exo. 12.3 4 5 6. Rom. 4.11 Qu. How many Sacraments be there in the church of Christ An. Two baptisme the Lords supper as appeareth Brethren I would not haue you ignorant the al your fathers were vnder the cloude and al passed through the sea were al baptised vnto Moses in the cloude and in the sea 1. Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. and did all eate of the same spirituall meate and did all drinke of the same spiritual drink for they dranke of the spirituall rock that followed them and the rocke was Christe Qu. Who shall minister the Sacraments An. He in whose mouth the Lorde hath put his worde for the people as it is written Go teach al nations baptising them in the name of the father and the sonne and the holy ghost Christ gaue this commaundement neither to midwiues as they call them or any other women or to priuate men but to those whom he had chosen his Apostles and had giuen them warrant habilitie to teach Mat. 28.19 The Sacraments ministred where the worde is preached whereby appeareth that the word preached and Sacraments must go together Act. 10.47 Act. 16.32.33 Qu. Where must it be ministred An. Where the worde is preached and because this Sacrament comprehendeth an holy and solemne introduction or admittance into the Church of God Priuate places be not fit for publique actioÌ„s Mat. 28.19 and is a testimonie of our heauenlie deliuerance it is not lawfull to minister it but in the asseÌ„bly of the faithful as appeareth in that is said Go preach and baptize c. and. Mar. 16.15.16 Qu. To the strengthning of our faith how many thinges do we principally learne by baptisme An. Especially two First as water washeth away the filthines of the flesh so the bloode of Christe doth wash away sin from my soule as is written Mar. 1.4 Iohn did baptise in the wilderues preach the baptism of amendment of life for remission of sinns Secondly I am taught to rise to newnesse of life For it is written we are buried then with him by baptisme into his death Rom. 6.4 that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walke in newnesse of life Qu. Wherein is the faith strenthened in the vse of the Lordes supper An. First as by the hande and mouthe my bodie receiueth bread and wine so by faith my soule feedeth of the body and blod of Christ Iesus said vnto them Ioh. 6.35 I am that bread of lyfe he that commeth to me shall not hunger and he that beleeueth in mee shall neuer thirste Secondly all the benefites of Christes passion and his righteousnes are as surely sealed to be mine as I am sure my body hath receiued the bread and wine and as if I my selfe had wrought them For it is written He was deliuered to death for our sinnes Rom. 4.25 and is risen agayne for our iustification Qu. Who shal be admitted to the Lords Supper An. A Christian choyse in admitting to the Lords Supper Only they that can do those things that are required of them that be partakers thereof Qu. Children fooles madde folks and the ignorant must not be admitted for they can not doe this What must they doe that be partakers thereof An. Examine them selues as it is written Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate c. Qu. Must euery one that receiueth the Lordes Supper of necessitie examine him selfe An. 1. Cor. 11.28 Hee must of necessitie or else hee shall bee guilty of a moste horrible sinne Qu Of what sinne shall he bee guiltie An. Vnworthy receiuers equall with the murthereâ—s of Christ 1. Cor. 11.27 Of the death of Christe and shall be equall with those murtherers that slew him for it is written Who soeuer shall eat this breade and drinke the cup of the Lorde vnworthilie shall bee guilty of the bodie and bloode of the Lorde Qu. What is the rewarde of that sinne An. Gods standing vengeance eternall death for it is written he that eateth and drinketh vnwortily 1. Cor. 11. eareth and drinketh his owne damnation Qu. Seing the necessitie of this examination is so great as may appeare by the iudgements of God for the want of it Ignorant ministers carelesse people shift sinne betvvixt them which yet is greatly to bee feared that very fewe do rightly consider of How many thinges muste they especially seeke for in them selues that do communicate An. Three Three things to be especially considered in examination Namely their estate before God their right knowledge concerning the Sacrament and their estate towards their brethren or before the Church Qu. In seeking their estate before God what must they doe An. First seeke their estate by nature according to the lawe rightly vnderstoode where they shall finde themselues in the wrath of God as S. Paule testifieth to the Ephesians saying Ephes 2.3 We were by nature the children of wrath as well as others Qu. Whereto serueth this in searching their estate before God In all our actions vve musâ—â— especially caâ—e for the glory of God An. First for the glory of God whiche is not duly considered where our condemnation is not knowen For it is written Who careth for the Phisition that is not sicke VVe must not
shall so escape two daungerous extremities about this Sacrament so are we well warned by a sorowfull experience of Adam as may appeare Gen. 2.17 Gen. 3.3 4 5. Qu. Whiche are the two extremities that may by this herdefull auoyding of false and wrong meaning of the worde be escaped An. Transubstantiation of the Papists and suche like and the vile contempt that Epicures Atheistes carnall Gospellers and many ignoraunt do to it Qu. In many places to this day for want of the Lords good meanes to make the worde familiar to them and to bring the people in obedience to be instructed in the wayes of the Lorde you shall heare many say Those that feare the Lord see the trueth of this to their greefe that they looke to receiue Christ by the act of receiuing the outward signes and some be yet so ignoraunt that if you aske them what they thinke so to receiue they will answere Their maker I praye you what thinke you of it An. Rom. 8.9 First you know it is written that who so hath not the spirite of Christ is none of his So that he that bringeth not Christ or rather is not brought of Christ to the Sacrament may rather assure him selfe of the diuell and damnation then to apply Christ and his merites to him by the acte without faith Mat. 26.47 48. as maye well be seene in Iudas c. Qu. What say you to the state of suche poore soules as first be ignoraunt of all these secondly haue no ordinatie meane of further knowledge and thirdly be straightly tyed vpon much bodily perill to receiue it by a day And what holde you best for them to do An. First if the Lorde haue set their aboade where his countenaunce which is comfortably shewed by the Gospell preached and Sacramentes rightly miuistred is not to be leene wherein alone standeth their knowledge and fayth they are to secke to the Arke where it is 2. Sam. 6.11 euen to Obed Edoms house and to heare what the Lorde sayth to them all excuses set apart Psal 27.8 Seeke ye my face And cōcerning the rest it is good not to runne into the daunger threatned of the Lord nor to touch the way that leadeth to so great perill before they shall haue learned the Lords trueth Qu. Whereas you sayde that this Sacrament must be ministred where the word is preached and shewed cause why I pray you what if some one that lyeth at the poynt of death should desire that the minister should come to deliuer him this Sacrament and hath there one or two of his neighbours or others that will receyue it with him for companie because there must be moe then one yet that the Papistes thinke will serue do you not thinke it good that he haue it An. What I thinke it matereth not much except my thoughtes be stayed vppon the worde of God rightly vnderstood The beste thoughts of the heart of man are vaine if they vvant the vvarrant of Gods vvorde Prou. 2.1 For all the thoughtes of the heart of man are vayne and will casily vanishe as the winde except they be strengthned by the Lords truth which sithe it alone must direct vs in all our actions muche more in these of so great importance For it is written My sonne if thou wilt receiue my wordes and hide my commaundementes within thee c. Then shalt thou vnderstande righteousnes Pro. 2.9 iudgement equitie and euerie good path 1. Cor. 11.31 Rom. 14.23 but as for the matter of your demande it shoulde seeme that whosoeuer in such sorte desireth the Sacrament dothe neither rightly consider him selfe the thing he desireth nor the ende why it was ordeined and therefore needeth more instruction and information of the Lorde then the thing it selfe And thus to minister the Sacrament causeth many times the poore sicke partie to put his hope and confidence in the externall fact and receyuing of the Sacrament and neuer to thinke him selfe sufficiently prepared to death but when he hath receiued the externall signe Also no parte of the Pascall Lambe was brought to the sicke in the eating whereof and celebrating of the Passecuer was onely regarded the Lordes ordinance wherevnto was nothing added or lefte out and it was not done of any in prinate but when the people did it together As it is written Exod. 2.6 All the multitude of the congregation shall keepe it at euen c. Num. 9.4.5 Qu. I pray you what is the cause why you woulde the sacraments not onely to be ministred where the word is preached but when the word is preached An. First that we may holde proportiō with the Lordes people in celebrating the the Passeouer Exod. 12.6 Num. 9.5 4. who held them selues strait ly to al that which they had receiued of the Lorde Also to glorifie the Lorde in yeelding obedience to his worde Who said go preach and baptise Mat. 28.19 Mat. 26.20 and in the institution of this sacrament he him selfe did the like Mark. 14.18 Luke 22.14 Iohn 13.21 Also the sacramentes are to the church of Christe as seales of his promise and what profiteth a seale without it be annexed to a grant Qu. Doe you not thinke it suffiseth in this behalfe if the worde be preached halfe a yeare or more or lesse before and not at the same time for whereas you spake of the seale to be onely in his vse when it is ioyned to the promise you know that men make grantes and seale them afterwards An. Your reason of the vsages of men which make graunts and seale them afterward if it proue any thing it should seeme to proue this that the promise may better be for a time without the seal then the seal without the promise yet you knowe that no man will seale a grant but at the time of sealing he will heare the grant and the meaning of euerie particular made plaine to all that haue interest or right in that action Also the Apostles who shoulde be our best president in this case next to the Lord himselfe helde them selues straightlie to that which they had receiued of the Lord and haue not sundred those thinges which the Lord hath ioined together as it is written Act. 20.7 The disciples being gathered together to breake bread Paul preached vnto them c. Acts. 2.41 Acts. 8.12 Acts. 9.17.18 Act. 10.34 Act. 16.15.32.33 Qu. What inconuenience suppose you may follow of the Sacramentes ministred without the worde preached An. Contempt of the Lorde and an opipion of iustifying in the act which is common with papists and vnbeleeuers and for the moste parte those that be ignorant Qu. The papists say that in the Sacrament of the Lords supper after the words of confirmation as they call them be spoken there remaineth no more bread but the verie bodie of Christ A perillous proofe of wrong meaning to the vvorde reallie and naturallie and they say they haue the worde to proue it namelie
the wordes of our Sauiour Christ to his disciples saying This is my body What thinke you of it An. The Papistes and vnbeleeuers in saying that these words of our Sauiour are of power to chaunge the nature of the bread in the very pronunciation to make the body of Christ forget them selues and in the enteraunce of their cause commit a foule ouersight For Christ in saying this is my body proueth it to be his body in suche sort as he ment it before the wordes be spoken and sayth not that after the words spoken it should be his body which they must confesse or els they wil be found to misname the thing and call bread fleshe whiche I thinke they will not laye vnto Christes charge who said it is my body not it shall be my body or is made my body by the words that I speake Qu. In deede as you say the words do playnly import that it is his body before in such sort as he ment it in whose mouth is no guile This is my body Eut I pray you may this their false iugling be made to appeare by the worde in any suche sorte as their nakednesse may be seene to the simple For as strumpets and brothels oft-times pretende great shewe of honestie so doe the Papistes and their friendes pretende great matter for the mainteinaunce of this and set a notable face on it and I perceiue that sith they meane still to dwell in the dregges of Romish idolatrie it doth muche stande them vpon to lye apace for the holding vp of this cursed vntruth For it is the chiefest prop of all the rest for away with that downe goes their priesthoode who they say haue greate skill and singuler dexteritie to make the Lords body when they lifte An. There be sufficient proofes in the worde the best witnesse to all them that haue not hardned their hearts and faces against the truth as appeareth that the Papistes haue for it may be truely auouched of them that is written The deafe adder stoppeth her eare and will not heare the voyce of the charmer charme he neuer so wisely And albeit I haue small hope to profite them to amendement yet for their sakes that may be snared with their subtilties and to helpe them to one witnes more of the Lords vndoubted trueth to their deeper iudgement I will here set downe a fewe wherein I trust their falsehood shall somewhat be seene to all that are not blind of purpose First Transubstantiation proueth an impossibilitie the transubstantiation which they so straine after teacheth an impossible thing namely the breaking of the body of Christ for they say it is the very naturall body and the worde addeth breaking vnto it So that if it be as they seme not vniustly to say the very naturall body of Christ then is Christes body and bones broken in the celebration of the Supper so that he is worse vsed amongst his dearest friends then he was at the handes of his greatest enimies For the Scripture witnesseth that they brake not a bone of him Io 19.33 36 Also this breaking that the Apostle speaketh of doth proue it to be bread after the words spoken for breaking hath respect to a substance for no accident can be broken but there we see the accidents of the bread as the shewe and taste and the Apostle addeth breaking Therefore it must needes be the same after that it was before namely bread Secondly it ouerthroweth the trueth of Christes body for to say that the bread is become the very naturall body of Christe that was borne of the virgin is to say that he is in the fleshe in many places at once and it mainteineth the error of Martion It proueth Christes body to be phantasticali which sayd that Christ had but a phantastical body and also the error of Entiches which cōfounded the two natures in Christ Thirdly it destroyeth our fayth as may appeare by that definition of fayth giuen by the holy Ghost Heb. 11.1 It destroyeth our fayth Faith is the ground of things that are hoped for and the euidence of things which are not seene But if there be the naturall body of Christ vnder the forme of bread as they say then it can not be denied but we see it for they saye it is not bread that we see but the body of Christ The Papistes vnder a 〈◊〉 shew of 〈◊〉 deliuer death therefore this teacheth that we can haue no fayth in this action and if we do it not in fayth all that we do therein is sinne as it is written Whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne Fourthly It is contrary to the vvorde of God it is contrary to the worde of God in other places and giueth a priuate sence to that place which S. Peter sayth the word of God can not beace for he sayth that there is no priuate interpretation in the worde And it is restefied in the worde Act. 3. that the heauens must receiue him vntill the time of there storing of all things And Christ him selfe sayth If they shal say vnto you Lo here is Christ or there is Christ beleeue them not Fifthly It is agaynst the articles of our fayth it discenteth from the articles of our fayth which say He assended into heauen and sitteth on the right hande of God the father from whence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead Sixtly it destroseth the institution of the Lordes supper It denieth the continuance of the Lords Supper which was commanded to be continued and vsed vntill the Lord him selfe should come If nowe therefore he be really present in the bodye of his flesh then must the supper cease And lastlie It is agaynst the trueth of the vvorde of God Mat. 26.20 it ouerthroweth the trueth of Christes wordes for he bid them doe it in remembrance of him now a remembrance and the thing remembred be not one so that if Christ be really and corporally present in the Sacrament the remembraunce is ceased for the thing remembrance presenteth it selfe Also if the wordes and the thing mente by the wordes be one then is the cup and not the wine in the cup the testamente in Christs bloud Luc. 22.20 for it is written This cup is the newe testament in my bloud which is shed for you Iohn 13.18 Also if the bread be turned into the naturall body of Christ Thus they iustifie the vvicked and condemne the innocent then the wicked eat his flesh and drinke his bloud but the wicked doe not eat the flesh of Christ or drinke his bloude therefore it is not transubstantiate Qu. Why the wicked do eat the fleshe of Christe do they not An. No for then should they haue eternal life as it is written Iohn 6.54 Who so eateth my flesh drinketh my blood hath euerlasting life c. Also it is bread after the wordes be spoken Qu. Now proue you that
body by faith in the meditation of the worde yet I deny that a man doth ordinarilic receiue Christes bodie by the onelie meditation of his death or hearing of his worde with so much sight by such senses be assurance whereof our infirmitie hath great need as by the receiuing of the sacrament not the Christ is not so much present in his worde preached as hee is in or with his Sacrament but because there bee mo windows open for Christ to enter into vs in the par ticipation of the Sacrament then by his worde preached or hearde For in the word Christ entereth into our hearts only by the eares and through hearing but in the sacrament is sealed the promises of God in the experience of all our sences Rom. 4.11 Qu. Then you say that the Sacrament rightlie receiued is Christes bodie and bloud do you not An. Yea I say yet further that it is Christes bodie broken which ioyned with eating doth set another difference betwene vs and the papists for that we affirme that it is not the bodie of Christe before it be eate of the faithfull Eating goeth before the testimonie that it is his body for Christ saide take eat this is my bodie so that eating doth go before which if they had knowne and considered it would easily haue put an end to all their vile and vaine questions aboute their hoste as they call it rotting in the pix and of a mouse or such like eating it Also the breaking of the bodie of Christe shedding of his bloude which the scripture witnesseth giueth vs to see the present breaking thereof and the exceeding horror of Gods iust wrath againste our sinnes The horror of Gods wrath for sinne is much more then the most can be perswaded of which could neuer be pacified or cur sinnes done away but by this meanes namely by the breaking of the bodie and shebding of the bloude of our Lorde and alone sauiour Iesus Christ Qu. What benefites haue we by receiuing the communion An. First by worthy receiuing this Sacrament we abide in Christ and Christe in vs. Also we atteine an heauenly and celestial life in assurance to be cuer with the Lorde in the lande of the liuing for it is written he that eateth my fleshe Ion. 6.41 and drinketh my blood hath cuerlasting life and I wil raise him vp at the last day And also we receiuing the Lorde Iesus Christe by faith with all the benefites of his death wee receiue in a certeine assurance the remission of our sinnes and eternall life Qu. Thus be thousands of the blinde multitude persvvaded vvhiche dreame to them selues they shall be vvell though they neuer haue more religion then a horse Is it not sufficient to holde that we are made partakers of Christes benefites though we haue in the mean time no communion or fellowshippe with the body of Christ An. That is no lesse absurde then if I shoulde say that one liueth by that meate which he did neuer eate or recouer health by that medicine which he did neuer taste Qu. Now concerning the thirde matter aboute the Sacramente in examination which as you said was the end for which it was ordeined of the Lorde and so to bee receiued of vs I pray you wherefore was it ordeined and to what end shall a christiā receiue it An. The end is Gods glory the profite of his Church To preuide for his owne glorie and the profite of his Church remedying two great and continuall euils in vs namely forgetfulnesse of Gods benefites doubtfulnesse of Gods fauoure towardes vs and also to shewe forth our profession before the Church and and in the face of the enimie First that we might be holden in continuall mindfulnesse of Gods benefites The Lordes supper doth put vs in minde of the death of Ghrist The cheefe and principall of all other is heare presented to vs namely the death of Christ the alone and deare sonne of God and to this end Christe saith Doe this in remembrance of me And to assure vs of the vnfaigned loue of God towards vs what can be more effectuall then to be in the fellowship of bys owne sonne in whom the loue that he beareth towards vs is without ende or measure I. Cor. 11.25 It doth assure vs of his loue for his mercy endureth for euer and of this loue of God towards vs we are assured in the Sacrament as it is written The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the body of Christe Is not the cuppe of blessing which we blesse the partaking of the bloud of Christ So as we are set in mindfulnesse of that which we should neuer forget so also are we put in assuraunce of that whereof we maye not doubt Qu. The Papists say that a man ought not to be sure of his saluation by Christe A doctrine fit for papistes but not for the Lords people howe thinke you of it An. No maruel though they teach men to doubt alwayes of their saluation the ground of whose teaching is their owne gayne For once let the trueth take place that Christians be by the worde and spirite of Christ assured of their saluation by him The Papistes God is his ovvne belly then downe goes their Priesthood their pardons their trentals their dirgies their chaunteries their sencing their singing their Masses and prayers for the dead with what soeuer of like sort for take away the gaine and all these will quickly lye in the duste But we are wartanted by the word of the Lord that the Lords children oughte to bee sure of their saluation by Christ Rom. 11.1 In deede carnall men that measure all by reason see not howe But the Prophet Esay sayth Esa 26. With my body shall they rise and S. Paule sayth They shall haue rest with vs. 2. Thes 1. Also it is written His spirite doth certifie our spirite that we are the sonnes of God Now if we be sure that we are Gods sonnes we are also sure of Gods grace and fauour and so consequently of our saluation Qu. Is there no other ende of this Institution An. Yes That he which worthily receiueth should be certayne of the remission of al his sinnes how many or great loeuer they be and so labour to aduaunce the prayse of God for his mercy but howe great this kindnes of the Lorde is They beste knowe vvhat sinne is that feele the vveight of it they onely know who haue felt the burthen of sinne which of all woes in this life is the greatest and of all burthens the most heauy Agayne no man can cōmunicate with Christes body bloud but the same must communicate with his spirice He that hath not the spirite of Christ is none of his he that hath his spirite hath proofe of his effects for Christes body is no dead carkas Nowe he that communicateth with Christes spirite is made partaker of