and wearied the freedome and safetie of all sinners when they are chased and pursued who would beleeue I saie that such a God had locked vp as it were al his pitie and compassion from his owne sonne and that he had now no more either eies to behold and to looke vpon him in his distressed estate nor eares to hearken vnto his praiers and complaints Was it not sufficient that he should come into the world but he must liue heere in so great miserie as he did or if he must needs liue here that he might not haue died or if he must needs die that he might not haue died on the crosse or if vpon the crosse it might haue beene without shame or if with shame it might haue beene without the cursse or if with cursing at the least it might not haue beene without some pitie on thy part If thou be forced after we haue infinitelie and grosselie sinned to take vp thy rods and scourges to giue vs due correction thou art grieued if thou see that we are stiffnecked thou art well contented for the first to let vs see thy rods in redinesse if we be not the better after that sight thou liftest thy arme thou shakest it long before thou strikest thou stretchest it out and then soddenlie pullest it in againe and withholdest thy stroke and thou shewest plainly by thy countenance what griefe and paine it is vnto thee to smite vs if thou smite vs thou doest it sparingly and often feelest the hurte that thou doest vs sooner then we our selues if we crie out vnto thee by and by thou ceasest thy correction and repentest yea we can no sooner open our mouth to shew our sorrow and to confesse our sinnes vnto thee but thou openest thine also at the same instant to forgiue the same and to comfort vs in our distresse Wherefore then being so gentle and easie towards vs who are no other then wolfes and verie Deuils in the shape of men hast thou helde so hard and so sharpe an hand ouer this Lambe who is so much more mightie vnspotted and innocent then all his Angels as they cannot haue the like preheminence and aduantage ouer vs what had he deserued to be so little spared or we to be so greatlie forborne if he haue not offended in That he made himselfe of no value and tooke on him the forme of a seruant Phil. 2. when as he being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God his Father and in that he humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Wherein hath he so greatlie offended that he should deserue so strange and rigorous punishment If Satan himselfe as Sainct Matthew saide could place his hope in thee and call vpon thee he should finde place also in thy grace and mercie and yet thy sonne who felt in his soule an horrible distresse and was oppressed with the anguishes and panges of death notwithstanding his often cryings humble requests and praiers yea the bloodie sweate that dropped downe his face euen vnto the earth for verie anguish paine that he endured in bearing that huge and heauie burthen which thou didst laie vpon his shoulders could not in the extremitie of this his miserie prouoke one drop of pitie compassion in thy bowels What meaneth all this I saie alas O Lord I may not enquire nor reason long with thee to seeke the cause thereof and to vnderstande it For it is nothing else but a singular and souereigne mercie which it pleased thee to shew vs that we might be saued and on the other side the like iustice which thou hast executed against thy sonne in him to punish our trespasses and transgressions It is we that haue sinned and it was thy pleasure that he should receiue the shame the condemnation and the tormēts he was righteous and the onelie innocent and guiltlesse before thee in all the world yet his innocencie did profite him nothing to escape thy iudgement For we haue gathered the fruite by thy grace haue receaued the glorie the life the recōpence generally al the good things that he had deserued he was made a sinner in vs we are made righteous in him he became poore to make vs rich sicke to make vs whole low humble that we might be exalted set aloft and receaued nothing of vs but a mortall miserie giuing vs in counterexchange a blessed life so certein as it cannot be changed so great as it cannot be encreased so lasting as it can neuer be ended Before by our sinnes euil deserts we were lost but now by thy gracious fauour and by the merites of thy Sonne we are found againe before we were deade but now we are raised vp againe we were banished out of thy presence and out of thy realme but now we are called backe againe our banishment is repealed we were the seruants and slaues of Satan in continual feare of death but now we are made thy friends and children to whom by promise thou hast giuen a certeine hope of life Out of hel in a momēt thou hast raised lifted vs vp into heauen of earth and doung as we were thou hast made vs pretious vessels vnto thy golrie The very depth of darknes remained in vs and in our nature but by the power of thy word of thy Spirit thou hast caused the day to shine continuallie in thy church and that some of the members of the same do glyster as the starres of heauen other more bright then the Sunne it selfe This is our second creation thus hast thou of nothing renued vs the second time and made vs of nothing new creatures S. Peter perceiuing that he was escaped out of the hands of Herod and out of the prison wherein he was so streightlie kept and locked thought for a season that he dreamed of his deliuerance And is not this a dreame O Lord or is it true I meane that which I thinke and speake of thy innumerable graces toward vs of this most blessed freedome wherein thou hast set vs by the death of thy Sonne No no it is no dreame by any meanes For there is nothing so certeine as thy graces blessings vpon al those that wil receiue them with cōfidence in thy promises I cannot speake in the honor of them so much as I conceiue nor conceiue so much as I beleeue nor beleeue so much as is in truth For they are so great that my tongue my cogitations and my Faith cannot reach atteine nor measure the greatnesse and height thereof Dauid considering the infinite vncōceiuable malice wickednesse of mankind asked this question whither there were any that could reckon and vnderstand their faultes But contrarilie Psal 19.12 I aske this question who is he that can number or speake or thinke of al thy benefits For albeit that our sin aboundeth yet thy grace aboundeth more without the
TWO TREATISES OF THE LORD HIS HOLIE SVPPER THE ONE INSTRVCTING THE SERVANTS OF GOD HOW THEY should be prepared when they come to the holy Supper of our onely Sauiour Iesus Christ Whereunto is annexed a Dialogue conteining the principall points necessarie to be knowne and vnderstood of all them that are to be partakers of the holy Supper The other setting forth Dialoguewise the whole vse of the Supper Whereunto also is adioyned a briefe and learned treatise of the true Sacrifice and true Priest Written in the French tongue by Yues Rouspeau and Iohn de l'Espine Ministers of the word of God and latelie translated into English 1. CORINTH 11.28 Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of this bread and drinke of this cup. IOHN 6.58 This is the bread which came downe from heauen not as your fathers haue eaten Manna and are dead He that eateth of this bread shall liue for euer PSAL. 51.16 Thou desirest no sacrifice though we would giue it thou delitest not in burnt offering The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O God thou wilt not despise Imprinted by Thomas Thomas Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1584. YVES ROVSPEAV TO THE CHRISTIAN READER FROM OVR LORD IESVS CHRIST greeting AMong the causes of all publique calamities and of the scourges wherewithall diuerse realmes countries are grieuously chastised S. Paul maketh mention of the notable abuse contempt of the Lord his Supper For this cause saith he manie are weake sicke among you many sleepe for if we would iudge our selues we should not be iudged Wherupon we haue not to meruaile that the Lord God hath so sharply punished this poore realme of France the last yeare 1562. with plague warre and famine seeing it is manifest that the contempt of the Gospel with the abusing and profaning of the holie Supper of the Lord hath brought vpon vs the foresaid miseries afflictions And for this cause both the Pope his adherents may stop their mouthes with the which they are so readie to cast reproch vpon our God and they that make profession of the Gospel in this lanâ— may keepe like silence seeing the causes haue flowed from both parties indifferently and the fault belongeth as wel to the one as to the other To begin with the Papists we may boldly auouch out of the word of God that their Masse is stuffed full of blasphemies that it abolisheth the holy Supper of our Lord Iesus Christ that the remembrance of his death passion is therein suppressed made oâ— none effect that in the same there is no communion that wheras Iesus Christ hath giuen a generall charge to all the professors oâ— his name to take eate and drinke the bread and wine in the Masse there is but one that taketh eateth drinketh for all the rest Further we see how there the creature of God euen a morsell of breade is worshiped in the place of God himselfe the creator how they seeke Christ Iesus vpon the earth whereas the word of God the Creed of the Apostles and the ancient Canons do teach vs to haue our hearts lifted vp on high and to seeke him by Faith aboue in the heauens Lastlie in it we may behold manie other most shamefull and grieuous abuses which for this time I thinke best to couer with silence Now seing that manie do so stoutly and obstinately stand vpon that point that in the defence and quarrell of a thing so vile wicked they haue put to death so manie godlie and honest men so many holie personages and true martyrs of our Lord Iesus Christ I conclude that we haue iustly beene visited of God for their offences As for the Protestants we see they also haue beene marked with the foule spots and blemishes of manie grosse and notable abuses How many of them haue bin found as vnable to render reason of their Faith as verie Papists haue offered like bruit beasts their presence at the holy Supper of the Lord some for learning as ignorant as Asses others for life as beastly as swyne I ouerpasse an infinite number of hypocrites of false brethren of traitours and such as haue fallen from their faith and knowledge who being inwardly vnknowen caried outwardly a shew colour of great vertue and holynes And therfore not without cause hath the wrath of God beene kindled against his people and they haue receaued double correction seeing that in the strength of their knowledge they haue wittingly abused the knowledge of his holy name Now to the intent that our good God by his Sonne Iesus Christ may cast his eye of pitie and compassion vpon this poore realme that lieth so desolate and forlorne it behooueth the one the other henceforth to learne how they may better performe their dutie of seruice and honor to their God according to his word then they haue done in time passed and chieflie that they be verie circumspect and heedfull not to defile or profane the holie Supper of our Lord in any kind of condition whatsoeuer To this end I haue addressed this small Treatise vnto their reading wherin they shall find that the true preparing vnto the Supper consisteth not in the furniture of the bodie in rich and costlie attire in gorgious and statelie shewes in counterfait colours and in outward professing of the name of God but in purenesse of heart and vprightnesse of conscience that God which is a Spirit may also be worshiped of his in Spirit and truth A TREATISE TEACHING THE SERVANTS OF GOD HOW THEY SHOVLD BE prepared when they come to the holy Supper of our onely Redeemer Iesus Christ The Preface THat we may worthily come to the holy Supper of our Lord Iesus Christ we must examine our selues The examining of our selues and wherein it consisteth as we are aduised and counselled by the Apostle There be fower principall pointes wherein we haue to sound our hearts and consciences at the bottome namely Faith Repentance Thankesgiuing in respect of our God and Charitie toward our neighbours OF FAITH The first Article FIrst it is requisit that we haue Faith that is to say What Faith is a certaine and vndeceiueable assurance stedfast perswasion that God in the name of his Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ whom he deliuered vp to death for our behoofe is a Father to vs of all mercie fauour and compassion The causes of Faith God This Faith commeth not from our selues neither is it built vpon vs or vpon any thing to be found in vs but it commeth from God and is built vpon God the Father His word the Sonne and the holy Ghost and vpon the promises made in the Gospel The holie Ghost which are inwardly ratified in vs by the working of the holy Ghost which crieth in our hearts Abba that is to say Father And this Faith is nourished confirmed and increased in our hearts by the holy Sacraments
The Sacraments For in the Supper God most like a louing and carefull Father after he hath brought vs into his Church by Baptisme The effects of God in the Supper doth feede vs in spririte with the very substance of his Sonne Iesus Christ applying and making proper to euerie one of vs in particular the merite of his death and passion Why Iesus Christ giueth the bread the wine of the Supper and biddeth vs to take eate and drinke Matth. 26. To which purpose it is that Iesus Christ himselfe doth giue vs the breade and the wine that he commaundeth vs To eate and to drinke that he saith the bread is his bodie which is giuen for vs and the wine his blood which is shedde for the remission of our sinnes In which words he giueth himselfe vnto vs whollie he wil be our spiritual foode and life he will remaine in vs by his holy Spirite will haue vs to abide in him by Faith to the end that in beleeuing we do not perish but may obtaine that life euerlasting whereof he is the onely inheritor and giuer What we learne by the breaking of the bread In like manner the breaking of the bread in the Supper serueth for the confirmation of our Faith and ratifying of our saluation forasmuch as it assureth vs and causeth vs to see with our spirituall eyes that Iesus Christ was once in the citie of Hierusalem broken with the sorrowes of death for our deliuerance from euerlasting death and to purchase vnto vs euerlasting life And wheras by the commandement of Iesus Christ we take the bread into our hands then the cup and further that we eate the bread and drinke the wine which are conuerted into the food of our bodies we are taught by the hands of Faith we should seise vpon our Lord Iesus Christ and embrace him for our onely Sauiour and Redeemer and that by the same Faith we should spirituallie eate his bodie and drinke his blood continuing in hope of euerlasting life But the life of euery man in particular lieth in his owne Faith according to the confession made in the Apostles Creed wherein it is written for euery one apart to saie I beleeue not in generall we beleeue We are not in this case to busie or trouble our heads with the faith and beliefe of another with his worthinesse or vnworthines but wholly to rest and to stay vs vpon our own For S. Paul doth not teach vs that we should examine other men neither yet that other men should examine vs but he speaketh plainly and precisely in these words 1. Cor. 11. Let euerie man examine himselfe Wherefore let euerie one of vs in seuerall assure his conscience That Iesus Christ 1. Tim. 1. the true Messias is come into the world to saue sinners of whom he ought following the example of S. Paul to accompt himselfe the chiefest Let him beleeue that Iesus Christ came down from heauē to abide vpon the earth that he might lift him vp from the earth into heauen that Christ was made the sonne of man to make him the childe of God that he was conceaued by the holie Ghost and was borne of the virgin Marie to purifie and clense the sinfulnesse of his conception birth Let him perswade himselfe that the sonne of God hath ouercome the deuill to free him from the crueltie of that tyrant that he hath fulfilled the whole lawe louing God his Father with al his hart power and strength his neighbour as himselfe to purchase righteousnes for him that he made his appearance before Pilate an earthly iudge receaued sentence of temporall condemnation as an offender to exempt him from appearing before the dreadfull throne of God his iustice where he was to heare sentence of eternall condemnation pronounced against him for his offences committed against a God Almightie and euerlasting Let him be assured in heart that the same Iesus Christ descended into hell for his cause that is to say endured the sorrowes and terrible pangs of the second death and the heauie wrath of God to acquite him from that fearefull iudgement that he died a death accursed of God in hanging on the crosse to obteine for him both life and blessing before God that he rose againe from death for an earnest pennie and a warrant of his resurrection that he ascended into heauen for a certeine token of his ascension into the same kingdome that he sitteth on the right hand of God his Father to be for him an euerlasting Priest Teacher King Defender Reconciler and Aduocate And to be short that he shall come at his second comming to his endlesse consolation and perfect redemption In like manner it is necessarie that euerie one of vs do in particular applie vnto himselfe all those graces and treasures that are in Iesus Christ in asmuch as in giuing himselfe vnto vs he hath also giuen vs all his riches And therefore in that he is God it is that we may be partakers of his Diuinitie in that he is heire and Lord of the whole world it is that we may haue part of his Lordship and inheritance and that in him we may recouer the title of such possessions as we lost in Adam our first parent in that he is the welbeloued of his Father it is that we also may be acceptable in him in that he is rich it is to blesse vs with his riches in that he hath all power against the Deuill sinne hell Antichrist the world and all our enimies it is to be our warrant and defence against them al in that he is righteous good it is to iustifie vs to make vs good in that he is blessed and immortall it is to indue vs with his blessednesse and immortalitie Thus when we shall applie vnto our selues all the actions and benefites of the Lord Iesus Christ particularlie in like manner all his essentiall qualities affying vs wholly in him and in his promises and distrusting wholly our owne strength then we may boldlie draw neare vnto the table of the Lord where we shall by the benefite of Faith haue full fruition of Iesus Christ God man and further shall feele the same Faith encrease and grow in vs exceedingly to our great comfort And now it behooueth vs to note that it is impossible we should be made one with Iesus Christ and enioy the rich treasures that are in him vnlesse we do first renounce Antichrist his kingdome and vnlesse we haue in vtter abhomination all idolatrie superstition such traditions of man as are in a direct line set against the pure seruice of God the bounds and termes whereof are plainely set downe in his holy word Forseeing that God is our onely creator that in the person of his sonne Iesus Christ the true Isaac in whom al the nations of the earth are blessed he giueth himselfe entirely vnto vs his creatures it is great reason that in like maner we
of God because it would haue his bodie to be infinite and to be at once in all places F. Why hath not Iesus Christ witnessed saying And lo I am with you alway vntill the end of the world Actes 3.21 againe for where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them C. So it is but these places import the presence of his diuinitie not the presence of his humanity And this I proue by the testimony of Iesus Christ himselfe who saith in the Gospell The poore ye shal haue alwaies with you but me ye shal not haue alwaies also by that which S. Peter witnesseth in the Actes saying in these wordes concerning Christ Whom the heauen must conteine vntill the time that all things be restored F. Then you conclude that Iesus Christ albeit he is among vs by his diuinitie his holy spirite in respect of his humanity can be in no more then in one that one a certaine place and namelie in heauen C. That is my meaning so ment S. Augustine saing Till heauen earth shal be destroyed the Lord shal continually remaine aboue in the heauens The Truth of the Lord also remaineth with vs for it must needs be that the body wherein he rose vp should be in one that a certaine place but his Truth is spread ouer the face of the whole earth F. What is the sum of this true faith which seeketh Iesus Christ not vpon the earth but in the heauens C. Math. 28. Math. 18.20 This is the summe I beleeue in God the father who hath created me I beleeue in Iesus Christ who hath redeemed me from sinne from Satan from hel from death I beleeue in the holie ghost who sanctifieth me F. Why say you so in particular I beleeue and say not in generall we beleeue C. Because Euery man must examine himselfe Habac. 2. Rom. 1. Gal. 3. Heb. 10. and liue by his owne faith not by the faith of other F. And how may this be done C. If we shal applie to euery of vs in particular Iesus Christ himselfe with all his blessings and rich treasures F. What are the rich treasures to be found in Iesus Christ C. There is saluation for them that are lost life for them that are dead truth for them that are lyars wisedome for them that are ignorant righteousnesse for sinners holynesse and sanctification for the vngodly and redemption for captiues them that are in bondage F. Must we not then by faith applie all those things vnto our selues seeing we are all by nature lost dead lyars ignorant sinful defiled vngodly and captiues C. Yes verely For Iesus Christ hath taken vpon him al our neede miserie to make vs partakers of al his blessings rich treasures which in verie deede are distributed vnto vs in his holy Supper F. Now let vs speake of the second part of our dutie towards God which consisteth in Repentance and first what is Repentance C. It is a disliking of that is euill and a loue of that is good F. To the end we may haue our sins in disliking hatred is it not necessary that we know them C. It is necessarie F. How come we to haue knowledge of the euill that dwelleth in vs C. Iohan 3. First we know by our original birth For that which is borne of the flesh is flesh Secondly because we transgresse the law of God the rule of al perfection and righteousnes And thirdly by the ordinary afflictions calamities that God sendeth vpon vs for our sinnes and iniquities F. May we not also behold in the Sacraments a mirrour of our sinnes and offences C. We may For if we were no sinners we shold not stand in need of that forgiuenes of thē which is signified in Baptisme And againe except we were dead it should be in vaine that we come to the Supper to seek life saluation in Iesus Christ F. When we know our sinnes are we there to rest and not to proceede further namely to make confession of the same C. Psal 31. 51. Luke 18. We must also confesse our sinnes after the example of Dauid and of the Publican if we will obtaine righteousnesse before God F. Why should it be necessarie for vs to know and to confesse our sinnes before God C. To the end we may obteine forgiuenes and a ful and absolute remission according as God is iust and faithfull to performe his promises F. Why doth God forgiue vs our sinnes C. Math. 5. 18. To three especial and principal ends purposes First that we should be reconciled to our enemies secondly to the end we should freelie forgiue them thirdly to the end we should absteine from sinne and liue after righteousnesse F. Is there ought in the Supper which putteth vs in mind to flie from sinne and to abhor it C. There is for euen the verie breaking of the bread in the Supper doth teach vs that our sinnes haue broken and brused the sonne of God with the sorrowes of death F. What is hereupon to be gathered C. That we ought to condemne our sinnes and to haue them in abhomination as the causes of the death of the sonne of God F. Is it sufficient to absteine from euil without further proceeding in doing of good C. No forsooth Math. 3. 7 for Euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire And therefore is the euill and foolish seruant cast into vtter darknes Math. 25. not because he had vnthriftilie spent his masters talent but because by his diligence and painefulnesse he had done no good therewithall ne had raised any commodity therby vnto his master F. Then be like it is requisite that euery one according to the talent which he hath receiued of God should glorifie him in that vocation wherein he is placed and appointed C. Surely so it is if we desire to enter with the good seruant into the ioy of his master F. To the end we may do the thing that is good ought we not to seeke the knowledge thereof C. We ought and namely by these meanes by the law of God and generally by all the parts of the holy scripture which teacheth vs plainelie what those good workes are which God requireth vs to performe F. Whether doth the Supper or any part thereof exhort vs to a godly life or no C. It doth for whereas we are vnited to Iesus Christ made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone also whereas we are made partakers of his holynesse and righteousnesse we are taught that we should be holy as he is holy F. What else C. Whereas we meete and assemble together in his holy Church which is the communion of sancts wheras by the working of the holy ghost we call vpon one father who is most holy lastlie whereas we heare his holy and heauenly word and also haue part
of the Lord his supper by the imperfection and weakenesse of our Faith prouided allwaies that the same be vnfeined and that we acknowledging the basenesse and weakenesse thereof do praie vnto God to haue it augmented and increased by the working of his holie Spirite and also that to this end we vse the meanes that he hath left to be vsed Minist It is sufficient that we beleeue that Iesus Christ by his obedience hath purchased vnto vs the grace of God and in this grace and fauour hath gotten vs righteousnesse and life and that by his crosse he making satisfaction for our sinnes hath appeased his wrath and hath freed vs from the danger of death and of the cursse Euseb No syr but when we haue beleeued thus much we must be well assured that we are receiued into the communion of this obedience satisfaction when we receiue the bread and the wine which are presented vnto vs in the supper And for the last and most principall point we must beleeue that we are made one and incorporate with Iesus Christ and allowed of him of his Father not onely for his flocke his disciples his brethren and friends but also for members of his bodie and flesh of his flesh Out of which point we may drawe matter of singular and manifold comforts and consolations For by this meane we are sure that so long as we continue in this vnion we cannot be condemned ne kept holden in the bands of death no more then he himselfe and that the prince of this world hath no more part in vs or power ouer vs then he hath in or ouer him and that righteousnes and life are as well inseparable from vs as from him and that we are coheires with him of all the honor of his kingdome that where he is there we shal be of necessitie not impeacheable by al the power and practises of the Deuill Minist I haue two questions to aske you touching that you said euen now of the participation that we haue in the humanitie of Iesus Christ when we do take and eate the bread in the supper The first is whither that before the bread is giuen vnto vs we be not already vnited vnto him and if we be what profit we can receaue by the supper Euseb It is necessarie that by Faith we be ioyned vnto him before we come vnto the table otherwise we should be wholie vnworthy and yet we come that we maie be yet more neerelie knit in one with him For euen as two diuers things when they be tyed bound together with a corde maie be yet tied with another and if a man would vse an hundred cordes to that purpose it might be verie well saied that they are still tied together more and more so albeit that we by baptisme and Faith wherein we heare and obey the word of God are allied vnto him and ingrafted in the bodie of Iesus Christ yet that is no hinderance but that by the supper when we do celebrate it this alliance is renued and more more confirmed Minist What needeth it that we haue so manie assurances of pledges tokens to confirme the agreement that he hath made with vs for it might be gathered hereupon that he should be a deceiuer or inconstant that we therefore could not be to sure and to warie in our dealing with him Euseb The word of God is eternall and the effect thereof most sure and certeine euen as he being the speaker is euerlasting and vnchangeable his gifts and his callings without repentance neither is our vnbeliefe able to make the Faith or truth of God of no effect Yea as S. Paull saieth the veritie of God is more aboundant through our lying vnto his glorie Therefore the reason why he sweareth and sealeth his promises with a double seale after they be made is not for that they are of theire nature doubtful vncerteine but because our hearts are so full of suspicion and wicked distrust that we will neuer take his bare word for sufficient assurance yea we will hardlie trust him with all the solemnities of swearing signes and sealing that are vsed of him for our warrant in this behalfe Minist Herein the frowardnes and wretchednesse of our nature is the more apparant For we can be content to rest our selues wholie vpon the dreames and conceipt of our owne vaine and foolish wisdome or vpon the bare word of a mortall man by nature a lyar and euerie moment changeable yea diuerse times not proouing and seeing vpon what ground what reason and apparance it is either conceiued or deliuered Nay we go further then so for all the errors lyes fooleries illusions dreames and vaine visions that the Deuill can forge to destroy and seduce from God we receiue both without anie difference or difficultie and also without anie reasoning or debating of their nature or of their end I will saie more that if God were on the one side telling vs one thing and Satan on the other affirming the contrarie this Father of lies and prince of darknesse will finde more credit and faith with vs then God shall finde with all his truth and light And hereof we haue long agone seene and knowne the wofull experience of our first parents who being wiser and better then all their children that came after them onelie Iesus Christ excepted were soone and easely perswaded the verie contrarie to that which God had spoken yea by the serpent being but a beast and vsing no great and long discourse or manie words to confirme his sayings And that which maketh me to marueile to detest the more our malice herein is that we are so readie to receiue and beleeue whatsoeuer this wicked abuser and deceiuer of mankinde is able to put into our eares to our destructiō though he haue no reason or argument to proue his purpose that on the cōtrary we are so slow to allow that which God doth tel vs confirmeth by so many oathes signes witnesses miracles that we might be saued But I will leaue that matter to ask you another doubt to wit whither the vniō whereof you haue spoken which we haue with Iesus Christ be of our bodies or of our soules and minds onelie and whither we are to go vp into heauen from the earth where we abide or he is to come downe from heauen where he remaineth that we may be ioyned and coupled together Euseb You propound a question vnto me which in these dayes much troubleth and exerciseth the heads of manie men yet me thinketh that a man of a modest and sober minde that seeketh not to be contentious might satisfie himselfe with so much as you haue taught vs in that point that is to wit that the vnion is corporall and of the bodies but the meane is spirituall euen as the vniting together of man and wife which is the fittest comparison that can in this case be vsed and alledged Their bodies are vnited
twelfth is that if Iesus Christ were bodilie eaten there were no necessitie to prooue to examin our Faith or our conscience when we would prepare our selues to the eating of his supper but onelie our teeth to wit whither they were sharpe and able enough to chew it and the stomach to see whither it were apt to digest it as we do in all other corporall meats The thirteenth is that we eate the flesh and drinke the blood of Iesus Christ euen in the selfe same maner as the Apostles haue done long before vs. But they did not eate the same corporallie for so men might haue seene the Apostles eating his bodie with their bodilie eies euen as wel as they did see his body before them when he ministred the same vnto them Now we must inferre that no more do we eate his flesh corporallie If anie will saie that God by a miracle prouideth that this eating be not discerned with bodilie eies to the end it should not be abhorred I answeare that in this case the onelie conceipte and inward imagination were sufficient as we reade of S. Peter who in a vision abhorred the eating of those creatures Act. 10. that were in the law forbidden to be eaten The fourteenth is that it is plainelie forbidden in Genesis Gen. 6. To eate flesh with the life thereof that is with the blood thereof Whereupon it may be inferred that Iesus Christ who is not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law hath not enioyned vs a thing so strictlie forbidden euen more abhominable then murther And the reason alleaged by S. Augustine to shew that al the places wherin Iesus Christ doth exhort his disciples to eate his flesh and to drinke his blood are vsed by waie of figured and shadowed speaches I wil turne the place of S. Augustine in his booke of Christian doctrine to the end that the readers maie vnderstand his iudgement in this matter If there be anie sentence or anie manner of speach in the Scripture saith he that seemeth to commaund anie outrage or wickednesse or contrarily to forbid any bountifull and liberall action the same is spoken by waie of a figure But this sentence following Ioh. 9. Except you eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his blood ye haue no life in you seemeth to commaund an horrible and detestable case wherefore it followeth that this is a figure by the which he commaundeth vs to be partakers and to haue communion in the death and passion of the Lord and for the profit and comfort of our consciences to enclose this point within the most secret corners of our memorie that his humanitie was crucified and wounded for our cause This is S. Augustine his iudgement which I haue turned word for word The fifteenth is that we cannot receiue the corporal eating of the flesh of Iesus Christ but we must admit alow his bodie to be infinite which thing entirely derogateth from the truth of his nature and by the same meanes vtterly ouerthroweth the chiefest grounds most principall foundations of our Faith For except we beleeue him to haue bin man and the sonne of man in al things our sinnes and imperfections onely reserued like vnto vs whereupon shall we build our assurance and persuasion that he hath redeemed and ransomed our nature and that he is our high priest which hath compassion vpon all our infirmities Further it maie be alleadged that we cannot deuise to speake any thing more fauourable and auaileable for the herises of Marcion and Apollinaris the one of whom maintained that the body of Iesus Christ was a fantastique bodie and the other said that it was an heauenlie bodie as the foresaid corporall eating of the flesh of Iesus Christ is heauenlie The sixteenth is that if we eate the flesh of Iesus Christ bodilie the substance of our bodies must of necessitie be augmented therebie and nourished euen as it is by other corporall meates that we receaue a thing wholie and altogether contrarie to experience for the bodies of the faithfull notwithstanding the eating onely of his flesh drinking of his blood must of necessitie perish and wither awaie except they be nourished and preserued by some other food or else by some other meane The seuenteenth is that as we doe not eate corporall meates spirituallie euen so we can not eate according to this proportion things spirituall carnallie The eighteenth is That if we eate the flesh of Iesus Christ corporallie so little a bodie as his was being so broken in peices and parted should not suffice so manie as by eating were made partakers thereof Wherefore we may safely inferre vpon all these reasons that the meane whereby we are ioyned to Iesus Christ is spirituall and that by Faith wrought in vs by the power of the Spirite we do eate his flesh and drinke his blood that is to say that we are vnited and ingrafted in his bodie and more and more lincked and allied vnto him And so saith Sainct Augustine verie plainelie writing vpon the 26. Psalme Behold saith that holie father our pledge and our assurance that we by Faith Hope and Charitie are for euer ioyned to our head in heauē as he by diuinitie bountie vnion is with vs vpon the earth euen vnto the worlds end And vpon the 30. Psa Whole Christ is the head with the bodie the heade is the sauiour of the bodie the head I say which is already ascended vp into heauen and the body is the church which yet doth labour and is sore troubled heere vpon the earth Now if the bodie had not bin ioyned and bounde to the head with a chaine of Charitie that of the head bodie there might be made but one he would neuer haue spoken from heauen in this manner rebuking that persecutour Saul Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Act. 22. Minist Then this ioyning is not after the manner of things natural or conteined and circunscribed and enclosed in any place as the ioyning together of two stones in one place with lime and sand or of two peeces of wood the one to the other with glew but it is a diuine and mysticall ioyning as you haue sufficientlie declared and what maner of faith we ought to bring with vs when we come to celebrate the Supper Now if it please you I would haue you to proceede to shew me in like manner what manner of Charitie is required Euseb We maie carrie no hatred ne anie euill affection in our heart against our neighbour but forget and pardon one another all such iniuries and offences as being remembred might breake or otherwise offende that mutuall friendship which ought to compasse in and enclose the whole bodie of the Church And yet thus much is not sufficient but we must moreouer reknowledge our selues to bee brethren and the sonnes of one father and members not only of one bodie but also of another haue but one heart one soule and
which O Lord what should become of me whither should I go what hope should remaine for me vpon the earth there is nothing but thy cursse from heauen thy wrath is reueiled vpon my wickednes and vnbeliefe in al things that are vnder the sun there is nothing but vanitie Therefore when I looke to see from whence my helpe shall come after I haue cast mine eies euery way round about me I must of force confesse with thy Prophet that from thy goodnesse onely I am to looke and to wayte for my help and Psal 52. that among men there is giuen no other name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued then the name of thy sonne I am wicked and wretched more then I can expresse but thou art good and mercifull more then I can thinke or conceiue when I looke vpon my selfe al my hope of saluation departeth but as soone as thou turnest thy face towards me by by my hope returneth namelie when thou shewest in thy countenance the compassion that thou takest of my miserie to defend me against the fansies and illusions of my carnal vnderstanding and to vphold me in the dreadfull and terrible skirmishes wherewith my poore and weake conscience is often assailed sore amased to repel and to driue backe al the temptations of the wicked Spirit to giue me courage and an assured hardinesse against those horrible threatnings layd out in thy law agaynst all the transgressors of the same and in briefe to keepe me from falling and to lift me vp when I am downe I haue no other meane but thy mercie and the grace that thou hast promised me by the merits of thy sonne This is my forte castle when I am beseiged by the enimie of my saluation my place of refuge and rescue when thy wrath and iudgements do follow pursue me This is the staffe and the proppe not onelie of my age but also of my whole life for there is no parte or age of my life wherein I am not so weake that without it I cannot be able to stand O most excellēt perfect receipt which neuer man yet prooued but was cured of his sicknesse and redilie found remedy of al his diseases Am not I greatlie bound to the that thou hast taught me this receipte and further that thou hast made it for my vse applied it to my infirmitie and healed me by it O good God! O how great and how wonderfull is thy goodnesse There is nothing so great as I suppose as are the benefits that thou hast bestowed vpon me doest continue vpon me day by day And yet I must beleeue and confesse that they are small almost of no price in respect of those which thou keepest in store for me I looke for and hope for at thy hands But this seemeth a verie pitiful case that they should be so great and on the contrarie that my Faith should be so litle and so weake to receiue them and my spirit so rude ignorant to vnderstand them and my tongue so vnsmooth to expresse them and that which is worst of al my affection so cold to acknowledge to esteeme them at their price and value And yet this cursed and damnable vnthankfulnesse of mine doth not withdraw thy goodnesse largenesse towards me which day by day thou dost continue more and more yea in such sort as the latter fauour and graces which thou shewest me do far surmount surpasse the former which thou hast bestowed vpon me It is not possible to reckon or to imagine the thankes that I owe vnto the the let the hinderance whereof is partlie my owne insufficiencie and weakenesse and partlie the hugenesse and infinite number of thy benifits But to discouer all my shame and all my nakednesse vnto the it proceedeth from the small remembrance and feeling that I haue of thy goodnesse what remaineth but that I shal be esteemed altogether vnthankfull towards thee nothing remaineth but onlie to pray thee that thou wouldst open my lippes by thy holie Spirit to the end that I may acknowledge and confesse mine vnthankefulnesse and vnworthinesse to be sorowfull that I can no better feele and conceiue of thy benifits in my heart to cry out alowd that thou art infinite in goodnesse who hast bestowed so manie graces vpon me and that for my part I am infinite in wickednes who do price esteeme regard them so litle and in generall to protest in publique that my saluation proceedeth from thee my destructiō from my selfe if it were not thy good pleasure of thy singular grace fauor to prouide for to meete with that inconuenience Helpe me now ô Lord that I may do this by the whole course of my life and that the readines good affection hereunto that thou hast giuen me at this present be not in vayne of none effect Suffer me not ô God my father to take delight pleasure in any other thing thē in the knowledge meditation speaking praising of thy mercy and great fauors towards me of the contrarie to take no greater sorrow displeasure then in the crimes offences and lewde demeanours that I commit against thy Maiestie This is the praier and confession that I make before I come to the table of my Sauiour Minist Yet this is not all that I will require for you must now let me vnderstand what you thinke at the verie instant when the bread and wine is ministred Euseb The bread and wine that I take that I see and behold and that I taste are as it were certeine steps and traces to guid and to lift vp my spirit by litle and litle to the regard and remembrance of that league and alliance which God hath made with vs of the forgiuenesse of my sinnes of life euerlasting of the adoption of children of the inheritance of the kingdome of heauen of al spiritual ioye of perpetual rest of glorie of grace of peace and in generall of all the great and true felicities therein conteined After that I cal to minde Iesus Christ the Mediatour and worker of this new league who hath by his death found means that it shal be auaileable and of full strength and vertue and cancelling the bond obligation wherein we were bound before and acquitted vs and set vs free from al the whole cursse Thence I go farther and I come on to behold the charitie and loue of God towards vs not able to be conceiued who spared not his onely Sonne but deliuered him and gaue him ouer to the death that he might make satisfaction for our iniquities and offences Lastly I doe shut vp my inward thoughts with repeating ouer and ouer when I arise from the table how manie waies I am bound vnto him and with rendring vnto him such thankes as it pleaseth him to inspire into my heart Minist You haue greatlie satisfied contēted me Eusebius in al your answers I thanke God for