from eternall death it hath pleased him that his only sonne should suffer death and passion who hath taken vpon himselfe our pouertie to geue vs his riches laid our weakenesse vpon himselfe to stablish vs in his strength become mortall to make vs immortall come down untoo the earth to aduance vs vpp too heauen and become the sonne of man with vs too make vs the children of God with himselfe Who is hee then that shall accuse vs God is he that iustifieth vs and who shall condemne vs Iesus Christe is dead for vs yea and rysen agayne 〈◊〉 vs and sitteth at the right hande of God making intercessioÌ„ for vs. Let vs then D my soule leaue of these teares and sighes THE CIII Psalme 1 MY Soule prayse thou the Lorde and all that is within me praise his holy name 2 My soule prayse thou the Lord forget not all his benefites 3 Which forgiueth al thine iniquitie healeth all thine infirmities 4 Which redéemeth thy life from the graue and crowneth thée with mercy and compassion 5 Which satisfieth thy mouth with good thinges and thy youth is renued like the Eagles 6 The Lorde executeth righteousnessâ— and iudgement to all that are oppressed 7 No made his waies knowne vnto Moses and his workes vntoo the children of Israell 8 The Lord is ful of coÌ„passion and mercy sâ—ow to anger and of great kindnesse 9 We will not alway chide neither kéepâ— his anger for euer 10 He hath not delt with vs after our sins nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities 11 For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercie towarde them that feare him 12 As farre as the East is from the West so far hath he remoued our sinnes from vs. 13 As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him 14 For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust 15 The dayes of man are as grasse as a floure of the field so florisheth he 16 For y â— winde goeth ouer it it is gone and the place therof shall know it no more 17 But y â— louing kindnes of y â— Lord endureth for euer euer vpoÌ„ theÌ„ that feare him amp his righteousnes vpon childrens childreÌ„ 18 Unto them y â— keep his couenaÌ„t think vpon his commaundements to doe them 19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in heauen and his kingdome ruleth ouer all 20 Praise the Lord ye his Angels that excel in strength that doe his commandemeÌ„t in obeying the voyce of his woordâ— 21 Praise the Lord al ye his hostes ye his seruants that do his pleasure 22 Praise the Lord all ye his works in al places of his dominion my soule prayse thou the Lorde So hath he had mercy on vs in giuing vs his onely sonne With this faith w t those thaÌ„ksgeuings with these or such other like thoughts must wee receiue the sacrament of the body and bloode of our Lorde Iesus Christ. After this maner is all fearfulnesse driuen out of the soule of the Christian and charity is increased fayth strengthened the conscience quieted the toung neuer ceasseth to prayse God and to yéeld him infinit thanks for so great a benefite This is the vertue efficacie only trust of our soule This is the rocke wherevpon if the conscience be buylded it feareth nother tempest nor the gates of hel nor Gods wrath nor the law nor sinne nor death nor the diuels nor any other thing And forasmuch as the substance of the Lords supper and table consisteth is this diuine sacrament When the Christian is at it he must hold his eyes fastened continually vppon the passion of our gratious Sauiour beholding him on the one side vppon the crosse loden with all our sinnes and God on the other side punishing chastising and whipping his owne onely begotten and Déerebeloued sonne in steade of vs. O happie is that man that shutteth his eyes from al other sights and will neither heare nor sée any other thing than Iesus Christ crucified in whoÌ„ are layde vp and bestowed al the treasures of Gods wisdome and diuine knowledgeâ— Blessed say I is he that féedeth his minde with so heauenly a foode and maketh himselfe drunken in the loue of God with so sweete and singular a liquor But before I make an ende of this matter I will first aduertise the Christian that Sainte Augustine hath ordinarily béene woont too terme this holy Sacrament the bonde of charity and the mystery of vnity And he saith that whosoeuer receiueth the mystery of vnitie regardeth not the bond of peace receiueth not the Sacrament to his owne behooâ—e but as a witnesse agaynst himselfe Therfore we must vnderstaÌ„d y â— the Lorde hath ordeyned this holy sacrameÌ„t not only to make vs sure of y â— forgiueues of our sins but also to inflame vs to peace vnity brotherly charitie For in this Sacrament the Lord doth after such a maner make vs parlakers of his body as he becommeth al one thing w t vs we with him By reasoÌ„ wherof forasmuch as he hath but one body wherof he maketh vs Partakers it is méetâ— that we also shoulde by such partaking becom al one body together amoÌ„g our selues And this vntoÌ„ is represeÌ„ted by the bread of the sacrament which as it is made of many grains mingled kneaded together in such wise as one of them caÌ„ not be discerned froÌ„ another So also must we be toyned together after such a sort so vnited together into one agréement of mind as no diuision may créep in And this doth S. Paule shew vs when he saith Is not the cup of blessing which we blesse the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the blood of Iesus Christ is not the bread y â— we break the coÌ„munion of the body of Iesus Christe whereas we be many yet are we but one bread and one body forsomuch as we be all Partakers of one bread By these thinges we vnderstand that when we receiue his most holy coÌ„munion we must coÌ„sider that we are al of vs ingraffed into Christ are all become members of one selfsame body that is to wit of Iesus Christ in such wise as we caÌ„not offend defame or despise any of our brethren but we must therewithall offend defame and despise our saide head Iesus Christ neyther caÌ„ we be at variance w t any of our brethren but in likewise we must be at oddes with him Also we cannot loue him excepte wee loue him in our brethren Look how much care we haue of our owne bodie so much must we haue of our Christian brethren who are the meÌ„bers of our body And like as no parte of our body féeleth any griefe which spreadeth not it selfe into al the other parts so ought we to determine w t our selues that our brother feleth not any inconuenience which should not moue vs to coÌ„passioÌ„ With such maner of thoughtes must
Christ and all that is his as we possesse our own garmēt And therfore to be clothed with Iesus Christ is nothing else but to beleeue for a certaintie that Christ is wholy ours and so is he in very déede if we beléeue so and hold our selues assured that by the same heauenly garment we be recetued into fauour before God For it is moste certaine that he as a most déere father hath geuen vs his sonne meaning that all his righteousnesse and al that euer he is can or hath done should be in our power and iurisdiction in such wise as it shoulde be lawfull for vs to make our boast of them as if we had done purchasen and deserued them by our owne strength And whosoeuer beléeueth this shal find that his belief is good true as we haue shewed heretofore Then must the Christiā haue a stedfast faith beliefe y ◠al the goods al the graces al the riches of Iesus Christ are his for sith y ◠God hath geuen vs Iesus Christ himself how should it be possible that he hath not geuen vs all things w t him Wow if this be true as true it is in déed y ◠Christian may rightly say I am y ◠child of God Iesu Christ is my brother I am Lord of heauē and earth of hel of death of the law insomuch as the law cannot accuse me nor lay any curse vppon me bicause the righteousnes of God is become mine And this fayth is it alone y ◠maketh a mā to be called a christī which clotheth him with Iesus Christ as we haue saide afore And boldly may this be called a great mystery wherunder are contamed marueilous things things not hearde of cōcerning y ◠great God which cānot enter into mās heart except God do first soften it w t his holy grace as he hath promised to do by his holy prophet saying I wil giue you a new heart and I wil put a new mind into you and I wil take away the stony hart out of your bodie I wil giue you a heart of flesh Now then he that beléeueth not after the said maner that Iesus Christ with all the goods that he possesseth is his cannot call himselfe a true Christian nor euer haue a quiet and ioyfull conscience nor a good and feruent courage too doe good but shal easily faint in doyng of good woorkes yea and moreouer hee shall neuer bee able to doe woorkes that are truely good This only beléefe and trust y ◠we haue in the merites of Iesus Christ maketh men true christians stout cheereful mery louers of God ready to doe good works Possessors of Gods kingdome and of God himselfe his right dearely beloued children in whō the holy Ghost doeth truely dwell What heart is so cowardly cold vile which cōsidering the inestimable greatnesse of the gift that God hath bestowed vpon him in geuing him his owne so welbeloued sonne with all his perfectnesse is not inflamed with an exéeding earnest desire to become like vnto him in good works specially séeing that the father hath giuen him vnto vs for an example wheron we must continually loke framing our life after such a sort as it may be a true counterpaine of the life of Iesus Christ forasmuch as Christe as saith S. Peter hath suffered for vs leaning vs an ensample to the ende that wée should follow his footesteppes Out of this consideration issueth another kinde of clothing of a mans selfe with Christe which we may terme an example clothing for so much as the christiā must frame his whole life after y ◠example of Christe fashioning himselfe like vntoo him in all his déedes words thoughts leuing his former wicked life decking himselfe with the new life that is to wit with the life of Christe By reason whereof S. Paul saith Let vs cast away the workes of darkenesse and put on the armour of light not in feasting nor in drunkennesse nor in chambering wantonnesse nor in striefe but put vpon you the Lorde Iesus Christe and make no preparation for the flesh nor for the lustes thereof Héereupon the true Christian being in loue with Iesus Christ saith in him selfe Sith that Iesus Christe not hauing any néede of mée hath redéemed mee with his owne blood and is become poore to inriche mée I will likewise geue my goodes yea and my very life for the loue and welfare of my neighbor And like as I am clothed with Iesus Christ for y ◠loue he hath borne to me so wil I haue my neighbor in Christ to cloath himself with me and with my goodes likewise for ◠loue that I beare him for Christes sake He that doth not so is no true Christian for he cannot say that he loueth Iesus Christe if he loue not the members brothers of him if we loue not our neighbour for whose sake Christ hath shed his blood wée cannot truely say that wée loue Iesus Christe who being equal with God was obedient to his father euen to the death of the crosse hath loued and redéemed vs geuing himselfe vnto vs with al that euer he hath After the same maner we being rich hauing abundance of good things at Christes hande must also be obedient vnto God to offer giue our workes al that me haue yea euen our selues to our neighbours and brethren in Iesus Christe seraing them and helping them at theyr néede and being to them as another Christe And like as Iesus Christ was lowly and gentle and far from all debate and strife so must wee set our whole mind vpon lowlinesse and méekenesse eschewing al strife and impacience as well which consist in wordes and reasoning as in déedes And as Iesus Christ hath indured all the persecutiōs spites of the world for y ◠glory of God so must we with al patientnes chéerefully beare the persecutiōs and reproches that are done by false Christians to all suche as will liue faithfully in Iesus Christ who gaue his life for his enemies and praied for them vpon the crosse and so must wée also pray alwayes for our enemies willingly spēd our life for their welfare And this is to folow Christs steps according as S. Peter saith For whē wée know Iesus Christ with al his riches to be our own good which thing is to be clothed with Christ too become pure cleane w tout spot ther remaineth nothing more for vs to doe but to glorifie God by following the life of Iesus Christe and to doe to our brethren as Christe hath doone to vs and specially forasmuch as wee bee warranted by his word that whatsoeuer we do to his brethren ours he accepteth it as a benefit doone to himselfe And doubtles séeing that the true Christiās are members of Christ we cannot do either good or euil to the true Christians but wee doe it likewise vntoo Christ
THE benefit that Christians receiue by Iesus Christ crucified Translated out of French into English by A. G. Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree for George Bishop and Thomas Woodcocke 1580. To the English Reader THou hast here deliuered to thee good Reader a litle treatise first written in the Italian tongue and printed at Venice after that translated intoo thâ— French language and printed at Lions and nowâ— translated printed for thee to reade in the Englishe tongue Enquire not of the Author he is vnknowen and to know him would doe thee but little good Reade the booke deuoutly regard the matter of it attentiuely it may doe thee much good in these euil dayes This may be counted among the greatest euils with which this age is infected that they which are called christians are miserably diuided about Christ. And yet in trueth as the Apostle saith vnto vs there is but one God which is the father of whom are all things and we in him our Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him To discourse on this diuision and the cause thereof woulde be to some pleasing to some it would be displeasing For what one truth can please mindes so diuersly diuided would God it could please al to become one in that one Christ whose name we all doe carrie In this little booke is that benefitâ— which commeth by Christ crucified to the Christians truely and comfortably handled which benefit if all Christians did truely vnderstand and faithfully embrace this diuision would vanishe away and in Christ the Christians should become one To this ende reade this booke and much good in Christ may it doe to all them which doe reade it Amen The Translator sendeth greeting to all Christians vnder heauen I Cannot maruell ynough whereof it commeth that all of vs are more mooued by iniuries then by benefites and that we take the one so much too hearte imprinting them in our remembraunce and forget the other so suddaynely Truely wee cannot denie but that among so many other imperfections wherewith wee are vnhappily defiled wee haue also taken this of the greate corruption and maymednesse of our earthly and transitorie humane nature wherein there cannot be imagined any thing more vnconuenient nor more hurtefull than reprochefull vnthankfulnesse whiche a man might rightly terme the welspring of all Vices For by it our myndes are so drawne away and peruerted that the more wee bee besette rounde aboute and loden with the benefites of GOD our Soueraigne Father so muche the more become wee blockishe and as it were distraught and out of our wits running after our own lusts and vanities wherthrough as though wee had drunke of the Riuer Lethe we forget our selues and misspende our whole time busying our heades like litle Children that goe seeking of pinnes in the Sande whereaboute they are so wholly occupied that although a man call them they heare him not or at leastwise make as though they hearde him not from whence if wee did nowe and then lifte vp our eyes vntoo Heauen and inforce our selues too remember the greate benefite that wee daily receiue of his right fatherly goodnesse and mercy it were not to be doubted but we shoulde be more inclined to loue him and too obey his holy will than wee be whereas which worse is we be not onely carelesse to yeeld due thanks vnto him but also at al times cease not to offend him so deepely is the vice of vnthankfulnesse rooted in vs. Rightly may he be blamed for vnthankefulnesse which acknowledgeth not the good that hath been doone to him at leastwise by saying Gramereie Vnthankfull is he that forgetteth it but tootoo vnthankful is he that rendereth euill for good Wherefore wee can finde no lawful excuse because that which way soeuer we turn our selues the bountifulnesse of this greate God shineth throughout vppon vs. Let vs a little stirre vp ouâ— wittes and let vs looke aboute vs as farre and wyde as the huge frame of thâ— world may exteÌ„d so diuinely set together garnished with so greate diuersitie of goodly creatures so wel coÌ„passed in such an order so wisely coÌ„pacted that ther is nothing superfluous nothing vnprofitable nothing whereof there may not be reÌ„dred a reasoÌ„ This huge Sun the fouÌ„tain of al light heat the cause of al earthly generation the Moone which marketh vs out the yeeres the monthes and the seasoÌ„s the sky so trimly azured richly set with the â—â—istering starres this huge Sea which beateth vpon all sides of the earth the weight wherof is borne vppon his owne rounde counterpeise the great number of liuing creatures that are vppon it whereof some flye in the Ayre euery where dispersed and othersome dwell in the hollow Caues of it which nature hath fashioned of set purpose for them what shal I say more So many high mountaynes within whose veynes are founde innumerable treasures And others from whence issue many a faire spring sprouting out their thin and cleere water And othersome whereout doe gushe violent streames and pleasaunt Riuers nourishing infinite numbers and kindes of fishes So many trees and plantes yeelding most delicate fruites and sweete sauours Such store of medicinable hearbes and rootes So many Playnes and Valleys moste fruiteful Such store of medowes beautified with their louely flowers And to be short the full hugenesse of the whole the power of the Elementes and thâ— naturall beautie of the creatures what are they else but the vtterance and open shewing of Gods loue and great liberaltie towardes vs of which ech one in his kinde giueth glory to the Lord yea aske euen the â—eastes they will informe thee demaund of the foules of the ayre and they wil tell thee or else speake to the earth and shee will reporte vnto thee and to the fishes of the Sea and they will answeare thee The Lorde spake the woorde and wee were made hee commaunded and we were created For in his hande is the life of euery liuing thing And by him haue all of vs our being moouing and continuance Suche is the speache of allcreatures Onely man who is made after the image and likenesse of God indued with vnderstaÌ„ding memorie and reason shewing himselfe in that behalfe more vnhappy then the brute beastes passeth ouer the aboundance of so greate benefites with his eyes shut betrampling and beraying them with his feete as a swine doth precious stones Insomuch that after he hath once wholly buried remembrance there insueth ignoraunce and vtter blindnesse O lamentable state of reasonable man who can hope for any change in thee except it be from euil to woorse seeyng thou hast no knowledgâ— at all of God and that all his benefites are despised through thine extreeme vnthankefulnesse in this behalfe if so many creatures wherewith this whole huge world is garnished to thy vse and to touche thee yet more neerely if the cunning compacting together of thine owne body which may well
wee prepare our selues to this holy sacrament quickening vp our spirites with a feruent loue to our neighbourward For what greater spurre caÌ„ we haue to prick vs to loue one another thaÌ„ to sée that Iesus Christ by giuing himself vn too vs not onely allureth vs too geue our selues one to another but also by making himselfe common to vs all maketh vs also to be al one selfesame thing in him In respect wherof we ought to couet procure that in al of vs there may be but one mind one heart one touÌ„g accorded vnited together in thought words déeds And wée must mark wel that as oft as we receiue this holy and woorthy sacrament we binde our selues to all the dueties of charity as not to offende any of our brethren nor too leaue any thing vndone that may be profitable and helpfull in their necessity But if ther come any to this heauenly table of the Lord y â— are diuided at variaÌ„ce w t their brethreÌ„ the same must assure themselues that they eat vnworthily are guilty of the body blood of the Lorde that they eate and drinke their own damnation for that there wanted nothing on their behalfe but y â— the body of Iesus Christ was rent plucked in péeces again whilest they by hatred are diuided froÌ„ their brethren y â— vs to wit froÌ„ the members of Iesus Christ haue not any part w t him and yet neuertheles in receyuing this holy communion pretended to be Iéeuâ— that their whole saluation consisteth in the participation and vnion with Iesus Christ. Then let vs goe my brethreÌ„ to the receiuing of this heauenly bread to celebrate the remembrance of our Lords passion and to strengthen and fortify the belief and assurance of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes with the remembraÌ„ce therof and to quicken vp our minds toungs to praise exalt the infinit goodnes of our God and finally to cherish brotherly loue and to witnes y â— same one to another by â— streight vnioÌ„ w t al of vs haue in the body of our Lord Iesus Christ. Besides prayer and the remembring of Baptisme and the often resorting to the most holy communion there is one other very good remedy against di strust fearfulnes which is no lesse friend to Christian charity namely the remembrance of our predestination and election to eternal life grounded vpoÌ„ the word of God which is the sword of the holy Ghost wherwith we may beate back our enimies Reioyce ye in this saith the Lorde that your names are written in heauen There is no greater ioy in this life nor any thing that more comforteth the ChristiaÌ„ that is afflicted tempted or falne into any sinne than the remembraÌ„ce of predestinatioÌ„ the assuring of our selues that we be of the number of them whose names are written in the book of life w t are chosen to be fashioned like vnto the image of Iesus Christ O how unspeakeable is the comfort of him y â— hath this fayth museth coÌ„tinually in his heare vppon this excéeding swéet predestination wherby he knoweth y â— although he fall often yet notw tstanding God his father who hath foreordeined him too euerlasting life holdeth him vp reacheth out his hand vnto him coÌ„tinually And he saith continually in himselfe if God haue chosen me and predestinated me to the glory of his children who can hinder me If God bee with vs sayth S. Paule who can be against vs Nay rather to the end that the predestination may be accoÌ„plished in vs he hath sent his déere beloued sonne who is a most sure earnest penny pledge vnto vs that wee which haue receiued the grace of the Gospel are Gods children chosen to eternall life This holy PredestinatioÌ„ mainteineth the true christiaÌ„ in a continual spiritual ioy increaseth in him the indeuour of good works and inflameth him with the loue of God and maketh him enimy tothe worlde and to sinne Who is so fierce and hardharted which knowing that God of his mercy hath made him his child from euerlasting will not by by be inflamed to loue God Who is of so vile base courage y â— he will not estéeme al the pleasures al the honors al the riches of the world as filthy myre when he knowes that he hath made him a â—itizen of heauen yea these are they that worship God rightly in spirit truthe receiuing al thinges as well in prosperity as in aduersity at the haÌ„d of God their father â—nd euermore praising and thanking him or all as their good father who is righteâ—us and holy in al his woorks These being inflamed with the loue of God and armed with the knowledge of their Predestinatiâ—n feare neither death nor sinne nor the diuel nor hel neither know they what the wrath of God is for they sée none other thing in God but loue and fatherly kindenesse towardes them And if they fall into any troubles they accept them as tokens of Gods fauour crying out with S. Paule Who is it that shal separate vs from Gods loue shal tribulations shall anguish shall persecution or hunger or nakednes or perill or sword as it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long and counted as shèep appoynted to the slaughter But in al these things we get y â— vpper haÌ„d through him that hath loued vs. Wherfore it is not for nought that Saint Iohn saith how the true Christians know right wel that they must be saued and glorified that by reasoÌ„ of the same affiance they make themselues holy as Iesus Christ is holy And when S. Paul exhorteth his disciples too a good and holy life he is wont to put them in remembrance of their election and predestination as of a thing of very great force to stirre vp the mindes of the true Christians to the louing of God and too the perfourmance of good woorkes And for the same cause our good Lord Iesus Christ speaketh openly of this holy predestination as one that knew of how great importaunce the knowledge therof is to the edifiyng of his electe But perchaÌ„ce thou wilt say to me I know well that they whose names are written in heauen haue cause to liue in continuall ioy glorifie God both in woord and déede but I know not whether I am of that nuÌ„ber or no therfore I liue in continual feare specially because I know my selfe to be an excéeding weake and frayle sinner from the violence whereof I am not able to defende my selfe but that I am ouercome of it daily And furthermore forasmuche as I sée my selfe continually afflicted and troubled with diuerse temptations mée thinks I do as it were behold with mine eyes y â— wrath of God scourging me To answere to these doubts of thine I say my right déere brother that thou must assure thy selfe that al these are but temptations of the diuel