and beholdeth the inwarde parts may commaunde and will rewarde the good conscience will and is able to discerne right and iudge uprightly and hath denounced to take vengeance of the very soules of sinners wherein they closely but chiefly offende Neither may mortall men adde to take from or alter at pleasure his wordes and what are his Sacraments but his wordes made visible and inuested with signes of his owne ordayning August 80. tract in Ioh. The examination of Iohns Baptisme was on this maner Whence is it Matt. 11.15 from aboue or from beneath of God or of mā Yf from heauen it was to be receiued if from the earth they might reiect it For what is earth to heauen man to God our dreames to his worde our dregges to his wine Is there any taste in the white of an egge What is chaffe to wheate or glasse to a diamonde 1. Sam. 15.22 Verily obedience is better then the sacrifice of good ententes as they be termed For will we honour him with the fattest cattell out of the stall or worshippe him in the calfe of purest golde the one is but a beast that eateth hay the other the workmanshippe of the engrauers hands By obeying we offer vp our bodyes soules a reasonable sacrifice wherein he is well pleased Thereby we reuerence his maiesty adore his wisedome subiect our willes to his will rest in his worde making no reckoning at all of any institutions that merely touche the conscience but of his Wherupon with the blessed virgin we saye Iohn 2.5 What euer he commandeth doe and also what he hath not commaunded we feare not to transgresse breake asunder as Samson did those greene withes and newe cordes Iudg. 16 9. Wee knowe all such witchecraftes the Lorde doeth vtterly abhorre As for his Sacraments they are his owne institutions hee marketh his sheepe with his owne markes writeth all with his own singer sealeth his writing with his owne signet Neither shoulde any presume so much as to set to these his seales but one ly such as are called to so hye a calling to be as it were the keepers of them to that ende appointed much lesse may men make newe seales of their owne deuising When it pleased GOD to seale his promise made to Abraham with the sacrament of circumcision Gene. 17. he calleth it his own couenant and saide It is I the Lorde the author thereof A particular rule generally to bee obserued in euery Sacrament of either Testamēt It is I the Lord. The signes 2 In the second place we are to take viewe of these seales for they are visible to the eye as his voyce is audible to the eare The drane water flie gazeth on euery faire flower but gathereth no honye as doth the Bee The wandring sight cōsidereth litle of the excellencie of the seales Before it was true to say No institution no Sacrament here we may as truely auouch No signe no Sacrament For the whole is made of all his partes and euery Sacrament hath euer these two members the outwarde signe and the inwarde grace and without the signe is no grace sacramentally signified at any time neyther is the shew of a signe sufficient it must be material and able in a conuenient proportion to demōstrate and declare to mans frayle capacitie the grace implied and signified as shall better appeare in the specials afterwarde The signes barely looked vpō in thēselues they are base matters earthly elements common ordinarie but put once the princes stampe to the mettall the seale to the waxe the waxe and seale to the Lordes promise the case is altered For earthly common and vsual elementes Iren. lib. 4. cap. 34. that a litle before were doe put nowe vpon them and are endued with diuine considerations yet stil in substāce remaining the same but in efficacy vertue seruice ends signification and representation of graces base thinges become beautifull and marueilous being thus sequestred by God himselfe to so high and holy purposes and therefore are vsualy termed by the very names that the graces themselues are called by And this is also a common rule amongst the Fathers See it so in examples out of the Scriptures Circumcision is the couenant the Lambe the Passeouer the Arke the Lorde Baptisme our buriall Christ the rocke the Bread his bodye the Cup his blood because the analogie of these thinges is liuely the proportion plaine the signes significantly ordeyned of God and being thus vttered they more affect our fayth and touch our affections The inuisible grace 3 Thirdly the graces that is the inward parte of the Sacraments are though singular in consolation yet secret in the mysterye of their operation God worketh howe he listeth and on whom he pleaseth The Iay feedeth belowe the carnall eye seeth nothing but the barke and ryne of these things bare water and bakers bread Fayth flyeth higher as the Eagle soareth vpwarde and mounteth to heauē it selfe where Christ sitteth at the right hande of the father the onely grounde worke life and soule of all the Sacraments that euer were or are in vse The song of Salomon is called the song of songes for his excellencie Nazianz. de Sacro Bapt. and God the God of gods for his puissāce In like maner the graces we reape receiue by Christ in the sacraments so great gracious are they they may be termed graces of graces as namely remission of sinnes imputation of righteousnesse sanctification of life a speciall application of our sauiour Iesus Neither yet for all this which is diligently to be noted doe we tye or binde his goodnes so hereby that he must needes worke with or can not worke without these meanes by his spirit the saluation of them whom he had chosen and destinated to eternal life before all worldes Many Israelites that died in the desert when they could not trauaile if they had bene sore and cut were saued without circūcision The thiefe that from the crosse went straight to heauen was neuer otherwise baptized then in his owne confession faith and petition to Christ Saluation is neither kneaded into the dough nor mingled w e water no more then with the word which is as Hierom sayeth more truely Christ Hierom. in Psal 147.3 cap. eccle but proceedeth from God and is conueyed by ordinary meanes of eyther word or outward signes where they are not contemned but may conueniently he had are reuerētly vsed as they ought The vse cōtinuance 4 And this is the fourth and last point the right vse and continuance of the Sacraments Phisicke is not prepared but to be receiued As in the Reuelation no man receiueth the white stone Reuel 2.17 but to whome it is giuen so no man readeth the writing but who receiueth it The authour of the Sacraments is God the signes holy the grace most holy This Manna would be kept in a golden pot and these iewels set in the
conuenient preparatiō thereunto Chrisost in 1. Cor. hom 24. For if it were a princes sacred body or but purple garment onely the matter whereof is wormes thread colour no better then the dead fishe blood yet were it not rashly to be abused with vnwashed or vncleane handes How much the more reuerent then ought the receiuing of these holy mysteries of Christs body and blood to be of all them that know what it is to stand in awe that they offend not Wherfore let a man examine himselfe saith the Apostle 1. Cor. 11.28 so let him eat of this bread drinke of this cup. Euen so therfore if not so not at all Better to abstaine then to come together for the worse As the print in waxe is more fitly receiued and fully expressed when the waxe is wrought and warmed first so like wise the effect of this Sacrament is more liuely felt and seene when wee repayre thereunto with prepared mindes wel instructed and throughly examined In which examination two poyntes chiefely are obserued wherof the one cōcerneth faith the other loue Fayth to be setled in our heartes towardes God Loue to be she wed to our neighbor The latter procedeth out of the former and both from the spirit of God Faith receiueth increase by hearing and prayer Rom. 10.17 Luk. 17.5 Mark 9.24 O Lord increase our faith Loue and faith iointly are stirred vp and strengthened by repentance in the worthy repayring to receiuing at the Lordes table Wherupon ariseth these three as agents in this examination assured faith brotherly loue earnest repentance Faith directeth in knowledge Loue is occupied in thākfulnes to God and good doing toward men Repentance euer in eyther amendeth what is omitted or done amisse and craueth pardon with humble minde and ful purpose not to offend in the like againe All which dueties as I take may be rightly considered according to the times wherin eyther we are to receiue or presently receiue or haue receiued the Sacrament The first is called a Preparation vnto the Supper the second a meditation therein the third a christian conuersation that must ensue thereupon In preparing our selues is required Preparatiō that we knowe of whom what and in what order wee must receiue It seemeth to be recorded as a commēdation Of whom we receiue 1. Sam. 1.23 that Anna nursed her owne sonne in which respect among infinite others the loue of God exceedeth all loue Wherein as he spareth no cost so hee vndertaketh any care Plutar de institu lib. which nice and vnnatural mothers refuse to do putting forth their infantes to bee nursed abroade without neede or cause Our God doeth not so neyther needeth he so to doe Isai 49.15 his breasts are neither sore nor drye at any time Of his owne good will he begat vs againe in baptisme so will he stil feede and bring vs vp to a full age perfect grouth in Christ Sufficient or abundant prouision for the house himselfe in his wisedome hath prouided the holy spirite being steward of all and as it were distributer and caruer at the board What we receiue And to come to the seconde poynt what we receiue The meate of this table is the very death of Christ the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world The story and institution whereof is recorded by three Euangelistes Matt. 26.26 Mark 14.22 Luk. 22.19 and againe commented vpon by the holy ghost at large in the former Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians where the Apostle beginneth the matter with a faithful saying 1. Cor. 11.23 That which I haue receiued of the Lorde I haue deliuered you For otherwise if he came with offers of his own deuising himselfe raught the Galathians what his entertainement ought to be Gal. 1.8 Let him be accused though he were an Angell of God from heauen The Lord Iesus that night that he was betrayed tooke bread and when he had giuen thanks he brake and sayde Take eate this is my bodie which is broken for you this doe in remembrance of me In like maner the cup c. For as often as ye shall eate this bread and drinke this cup ye shewe the Lordes death till he come againe Wherein wee see euidently what Christ did also in duetie what we must do In the visible signes which he tooke of bread that he brake wine that he powred foorth and in deliuering thē both to be taken eaten and drunke he manifestly declared two things the one that he woulde immediately make an oblation for the redemption of mankinde vpon the altar of the crosse the other that for euer he woulde be the euerlasting foode of their soules his body to be the bread of life his precious blood to be their comfortable drinke the Physicke of immortalitie Ignat. epist ad Eph. and preseruatiue against all euill The sacrifice oblation he intēded is plaine by these words Which is broken Mat. 26.28 which is shed for many for remission of sinnes Euen is brokē and shed because the houre wherin he should be betrayed and suffer drewe nigh and was at hande That he would be their foode is proued cleerely in that hee commaūded to take eate this is my body Nowe by the way out of these two notes may be noted two forcible reasons against the sacrifice pretended in the masse They are lately delighted with motiues and demandes may I aske them this question Doe they thinke a sinfull priest can do more at his masse then the sōne of God did at his supper I hope they will not prefer a meere man before Christ God and man the Sauiour of the worlde And if so then may they see their priest can make no sacrifice for Christ himselfe when he sate at boorde with his disciples made none but declared what he meante to make For and if he had so done the Thursday at night what needed he thē to haue suffered the Fryday at noone againe he willeth vs to take and eate and feede on him He offreth himselfe to be receiued of vs not to be offered by vs to his Father That was his owne proper and personall duety But to leaue to speake hereof our dewtie is with thankfulnes to feede on the food he offreth vs euen to eate and drinke him to partake his blessed body and precious blood Wherein notwithstanding to mistake and mingle the signes and the things signified cōfusedly without differēce were as Aug. sayth De doct Chr. a miserable thraldome to the very soule of a Christian man Christes wordes be plaine He tooke bread after thankes giuen he breake gaue bread for what he toke he brake and what he brake he gaue and therefore he gaue bread For the Apostle saith he brake bread and that he calleth his body and so concerning the cuppe for after a sort to speake of one is to speake of both Marie tooke Christ to
haue bene a Gardiner Iohn 20.15 but the aduersaries take a portion of bread to be Christ The true professors say and beleeue that this saying of the Lorde This bread is my body hath a spirituall and Sacramental meaning otherwise to auouch that a piece of bread for that it is bread is proued or els which is all one the the shewe of bread is literally very Christ is a mōstruous kinde of speaking vtterly impossible altogether blasphemous For if bread or the shew of bread or that which was bread be called Christ properly and with out figure of speache without all controuersie as properly and as truely but there is no shewe of trueth in so grosse errors bread was borne of the virgin Marie bread was crucified on the crosse bread shal iudge the quicke and the dead and a piece or a fancye of bread is the Sauiour of the worlde the sonne of God the seconde person in Trinitie God himselfe the Lord of life In effect so strangely haue our vnnatural countrey men writtē and one more fondly then the rest Sand. in his Manhu directing an Epistle dedicatorie to his Lorde and God vnder the formes of bread and wine in the Sacrament Thus it fareth with these men by the iust iudgement of the Almighty God who haue giuen him ouer he them that because they woulde not beleeue the trueth they shoulde still beleeue lyes without ende chaunging the glorie of the immortall God into the similitude of corrupt creatures besides all sense reason and congruence of fayth Chrysostome writing vpon Labans complaint where he saith to Iacob Gene. 31.30 Why hast thou stolen my gods what saith that father what perfect folly is this Are thy gods such as they may be stolen or art thou not ashamed in so saying Semblably what a Christ haue the aduersaries made and imagined is Christ made of bread ground with teeth consumed with the bitte of mouth and stolen away sometime of the sely mouse or are they not ashamed of these carnal fleshly more the Capernaitical grosse dreames the profite nothing nay rather dread they not in hearte soule to say as they haue sayde to the cake in the Priests hands D. Har. confuta of the Ap. pag. 94. Pointz in his Testi cap. 3. Brist Mot. 26. Thou art my maker and to the wine in the chalice Thou art my Lord and my God by thee alone and nothing else I hope to be saued Bish Cran. to Winch. and Bish Iewel to Hard. c. The iust confutatiō of which strāge speaches hath bin vnder taken discharged of most excellent learned mē in our English tongue My purpose is onely in a worde to giue warning to the simple of this myre wherin they see those drūken men seruants to their owne deuises thus to wallowe plunge and tumble themselues vp and downe There are others who albeit they are not so farre gone out of the way yet they treade not the true hie way in euery respecte As they confesse Christ to be in heauen and yet they worshippe no heauen but Christ sitting there at the right hand of his father so ouer much resting vpon the bare letter of the words they suppose onely a conioyned presence in the bread and no more They go no further neither doe they adore the bread thogh they thinke Christ consubstantially to be therein When they are vrged with the vndouted article of the Creed wherby we beleeue the ascension of our Sauiour some of thē replie that Christ being God may be euery where Others altogether absurdly say he auen it selfe is euery where Were it not but that somewhat might bee learned belōging necessarily to this treatise by the way it were a folly to refute follies Verely as Christ is perfect God so is hee perfect man the properties of both natures entire in one person We may not build his deity destroy his humanity Who according to his manhood is gone from the earth taken vp to his father ascended on hie sitteth and maketh intercession there the heauens must conteine him till the last tymes and then thence we look for his comming again Neither can all this be a meere supposed vanishing out of sight but a locall departure because the place is set downe whence he went and whither he ascended and that he shall come againe I leaue the worlde and goe to the father Ioh. 16.28 and he shall so come againe from heauen Act. 1.11 And here to dreame that heauen is euery where were a madnesse For then Christ had bene in heauen before already so what needed he to departe and ascende and goe hence and if earth were heauen the wicked and earthely minded men were most in heauen And not onely they but the very damned spriits in hell were in heauen also for hell is some where and they say heauen is euery where And thē where were that great Chaos that is spoken of in the Gospel Luk. 16.23.26 betwixt Abrahams ioyes in heauen aboue and the riche mans torments in hel beneath There is a kinde of spirite which is not driuen away but with prayer fasting to the end to praye more earnestly the Lorde if it be his will ende all quarels especially about this sacrament of vnitie open the eyes of all those who euer they be that seeke vaine shiftes and fond detrises to the end onely to exclude one conuenient vsual figure which necessarily goeth with the nature of a sacramēt agreeth with the canons of christian beleefe wtout the which our beleefe concerning the person of Christ can neuer stande For if hee be perfect man as we beleeue like to his brethren in al thinges Heb. 1.17 sinne excepted being but one man hee can bee but in one place at one tyme. The want of sinne both not extende a bodye to pluralities of places for then euery man as hee hath lesse or more sinne shoulde bee straightwaye in fewer moe places accordingly But these thinges in sight are but vanities Wherfore Christ according to his humanitie is and must bee in one place at once and no moe and that is in heauen Nowe then in earth what do wee receiue while wee receiue the Sacrament certainely Christ Iesus the land and the fruite Christ and the vertues of his life and death and of what euer hee did But he is in heauen and we in earth and the distance is great Faith hath an eye an hande a wing wherby it pearceth reacheth and flyeth vp to heauen it selfe To fayth thinges absent are present thinges distant are conioyned thinges secret are open vnseene are visible impossible are easy As verely as bread both serue for the strength of the body and wine for the comforte thereof so and as certainly to the in warde man in fayth Christ is bread to the soule and wine to the minde and we mistically made one in him and hee with vs dwell in
him and hee in vs feede on him and he our spirituall foode And this is that which we receiue at his boarde I confesse our knowledge is in parte and therefore our speach is vnperfect Those harder partes of the Lambe that could not be eaten were consumed with fire euen so if there be any thing as I graunt to me there is which wordes cannot expresse a godly mans faith may better comprehend and in heart conceiue theÌ„ I vtter It is not bare bread a sip of wine as scorners speake that we receiue but truely in deed very Christ And wheras it is so let vs go on see how such a ghest ought to be entertained â—â—we â—â—rist â—â—ght to receiâ—â— Prepare the chamber of thy soule sweepe the house of thy coÌ„science yeeld vp the keyes of thy heart prostrate thy selfe in humilitie open wide the gates of faith that the king of glory may enter therein Berengariaâ— his recantation The aduersary whetteth his teeth openeth his mouth maketh ready his belly the he might chewe and swallow vp his maker Meate for the belly the belly for meate and the Lord shall destroy them both O my brethren who euer you are this heauenly foode is not Let vs eate and drinke 1. Cor. 6 1â— and to morrowe we shall dye Here is neither venison for Isahac nor a Kid for Tobi nor Quailes in the desert nor wine in boules nor wine in flagons Who euer eateth of this celestial Manna drinketh of this spiritual rocke which is Christ shal not only walke in the strength of it fourty dayes and fourty nights as the Prophet did but shal liue for euer with God Wherfore the wicked and vngodly Faith haue no part nor portion therein They eate the bread of the Lorde but not the Lorde the bread of life because they want the hand of fayth to receiue him He that eateth Christ shall liue by the meanes of Christ but the life of the wicked is no life in their death is eternal daÌ„nation The aduersaries care litle what Iewels they cast to swine what vncleane beastes they driue into the Lordes pastures howe fine manchet they throwe to very dogges There is no communicating of Christ but in the true communion of Christ One head is head but of one body and though it giueth some heate by meanes of the heart to a rotten member that is not yet cut off yet it giueth life only to the sound partes The chaffe and huske of corne receiueth a kind of humour but the fat and heart of the seede onely nourisheth the wheate and not the chaffe The bare name of Christianitie the barke and letter of the word the outward elemeÌ„ts of the Sacrament are after a sort in common to all but true Christianitie a good vnderstanding and the inward grace of these thinges are proper to the godly and to none other The humor that the wicked receiue froÌ„ the roote serueth to encrease a great deale more chaffe and the chaffe to nourish a bigger fire the is due for a greater quantitie thereof If it were otherwise howe easely might the Apostle be answered and howe soone put to silence when he asketh what part communion 2. Cor 6.19 meaning a good societie is there betweene the faithfull and the infidels Forsooth they haue a fellowship in the participation of Christ in the Sacrament No the spirit of God suffreth no replye The Communion in this supper is two folde In respect of the giuer and the duetie of the receiuers toward him alone and amongst themselues onely The gift of communicating him is offered by grace for who euer gaue him first that it may be giuen him againe Cyril lib. 4. cap. 17. in Iohn And he is receiued by faith send forth thy faith thou hast taken holde on him The communitie which is betwixt the receiuers themselues is by charitie loue Loue seeketh not his owne Loue. and that is loue in deede which is betwixt brethren then when a man loueth another August de temp ser 256. either because Christ is in him or to the ende Christ may be in him And this is a necessary poynt which must also be brought to the worthy receiuing of Christ Some are pale with fasting and blewe with enuie tame their body as it were a wilde horse and ride out of the way wheÌ„ they haue done When you come together there are dissentions among you sayth S. Paul to the Corinthians euery man maketh his supper before he come to the Lords Supper no man tarieth one for another Ye haue made a priuate matter of the publike liturgie church duetie What shall I say shall I praise you in this I praise you not And his not praysing theÌ„ was a marueilous disprayse The rich disdained the poore the poore enuied the rich the head would not direct the foote one member was at variance with an other and yet euery member hath an interest in the next so the last and euery one eche in another and altogether among them selues The candle must not hide it selfe vnder a bushel nor flash in another mans eies being proud that one hath lighted it and litle considering that it self might be burnt or put out and another lighted in his roome Vessels conteine water not for them selues but for others if they refuse their duetie though they are ful they may be emptied There is a more excellent way if men did walke therein and if euery maÌ„ woulde cary his brothers burden The elme vnderproppeth the vine the vine is without prickes and hurteth not but is an ornament to the elme The foot beareth the head and body the head guideth them both Shall an Hebrewe wound an Hebrewe Exod. 1.13 the fathers sonne his brother and the sonne of his mother the seruant his fellowe The worlde that is wtout hateth vs ynough though we that are within hate not our selues The God of loue enflame our coldenesse in charitie mollifie our hard and cruell hearts qualifie and soften all rough and vneuen wayes and dealing Why are we not brethren of the same parent of God in his Church subiectes of one King the Lorde and vnder one Queene a gracious Lady are we not couÌ„trymen and fellowes in one familie haue we not the same hope and spirite haue wee not the same enemies friendes faith and the foode of faith the word and Sacraments Cor. Tacit. in vita Iul. Agric. Cornelius Tacitus reporteth that the olde Britons were easely conquered because they vsed no coÌ„sultation nor common consent in matters The Madianites killeth one an other Iosias fought an vnnecessary battell dyed in the field It is good to be wise and patient wise and constant patient silent in trifles when a man shall but digge in the fire the sparkles flie in his face and no good done Otherwise if a venimous spider come in the way who will not set foot vpon it Yf
the cause be the Lordes and the quarell good thy calling according it is good fighting these battels Striue for the trueth for life defende iustice vnto death Eccle. 4.2 In this case the white liuered souldier that feareth a frost shall be couered with snow If euery heare were a life and euery life a thousand liues vēter them all for him that gaue them all But againe in the dayes of peace where peace may be redeemed with lesse a doe what wise man woulde be hanged in heare of his own fancie or fal as Saul did vpon his owne sword He that loueth daunger shal perish in trouble and no man pitie him and the meeke shall possesse the earth A gentlewoman of Lacedemonia Plutar. contra Colo. and Diotorus his wife did alwayes fall out at the table and varie because the one loued oyle and the other butter and yet the qualities of butter and oyle were not much diuerse Charitie doeth couer malice enuie and hatred doeth vncouer as the boysterous Northwinde all imperfections and naturally men are giuen to prie in at other mens windowes to beate dust of their coates find motes in their eyes But Saint Paul saith Let euery man proue him selfe and not other men and so let him come to this Sacramēt When Christ foretolde that one of his disciples shoulde betray him euery one of them began to aske him Mar. 14.19 Is it I not is it he or he but euery one was desirous to proue him selfe and know whither it were he Is it I they were not like him that saide Mat. 7.4 Brother suffer me to take foorth the mote out of thine eye And doe we call them brethrē whose good name we seeke to take from them in obiecting motes and faultes A mote is a litle fault and a beame is a great faulte and neither great nor litle should be suffered especially in the eye Yet euery man is not a fit Physition the eye is a tender parte and maye as soone take hurt as good if there be not great discretion taken Let the publike minister proue all and the priuate man proue him selfe and so in fayth and loue let vs all in one repair to the Sacrament of vnitie which as goates milke shoulde breake and mollifie the stonie hearts of men Plin lib. 20. prooe lib. 3.7 cap. 4. as rayne alaieth great windes as Dauids musicke asswaged Sauls melācholie and euill spirite And yet when all this is done the best men are men still and the best earth is earth euer and will beare nettles and brambles and prickes Flesh is fraile in faith blood imperfect in loue seetheth and boyleth with a litle fire and vpon a small occasion Repētance therefore repentance alwayes in eyther is most requisite which accompanying with faith her mother and loue her sister warmeth and cherisheth them both who otherwise waxe wanne and colde and loose their force Yf any man deeme Christes death vnsufficiēt suppose his sacrifice needeth renuing imagineth any other intercessours requisite doubteth of his kingdō beleueth not his word these are great wants of faith and he neuer proued himselfe that cōmeth with this minde to the Lordes boorde where these thinges are or should be felt fed vpon Here Repentance is requisite to helpe fayth Againe if any man haue any thing against his brother or his brother against him let him go first and be reconciled before he eate and drincke the Sacramente which is of vnitie in Christ Iesus Thus examining his conscience as before and acknowledging his sinnes in his sight aske pardon with sighes teares because he eyther distrusted or disobeyed and so displeased so gratious a God so mercifull a father so perfecte a Sauiour that had commanded himselfe to be beleeued vpon our selues of our selues to be beloued in him one of another There is neuer a threede in Papistrie but is stayned They haue neither perfect faith which they deuide betwene God his creatures nor true loue which wanteth the bonde of loue true faith nor due repentance haue they For al their repentāce standeth in whispering in a Priestes eare or absteyning from the moderate vse of certaine meates in which they put a satisfaction as if God were pleased sinne done away with the eating of fish and not of fleshe or the not vsage of other his creatures reuerently with thankes giuing 1. Tim 4.3 But in deed the sowre herbes wherwith we must eate his passeouer are a penitent hearte a broken and contrite spirite because foolish flesh laboureth and werieth it selfe in sinfull wayes and doeth eftsoones offende in thought worde deede against his diuine maiestie And this if we do crauing pardon for al our sinnes and misdoings no doubt hee will consider our sighes receiue our prayers forgiue our sinnes accept vs for iust accoūt vs for his own make vs meete partakers of his heauenly table Being thus prepared instructed in fayth Meditatiō enflamed in loue after a sort repaired by repētāce thou maist present thy self before the Lord. Wherin as the wisemā willeth in an other case meditate againe and againe what is set before thee Pro. 23.1 least thy table bee thy snare thy meate thy bane thine own knife cut thine own throte Bread which is the staffe of strēgth to man wil choke the Hawke The faithfull charitable and repentant soule partaketh saluation the vnworthie receiuer eateth drinketh his owne damnation euen as the Babylonian dragon brake asūder as soone as he receiued the balles that Daniel put into his mouth as that story reporteth Wherfore thou godly man child of God ponder with thy selfe enter into thy conscience let cōuenient thoughtes meditations occupy possesse thy inward partes And that thou mayest so do remēber what thou art a doing what worke thou hast in hande Doe this in remembrance of Christ Plutar. in vlta Numae Hoe Age. feede on him in thy soule with thanks set forth liuely his death with praise Pharaohs butler forgate Ioseph Gen. 40.23 the vnclean hog neuer loketh vp to him that beateth downe the maste from the tree Lift vp your heartes wee lift them vp vnto the Lord. They are the wordes of the church seruice godly wordes It is meete right so to doe and our bounden duetie that we should at al times recorde his goodnesse but especially at the time of this action to shewe foorth his death till his comming againe agnize our sinnes which being the cause of his dying plucked the sonne of God out from the bosome of the father to be crucified on earth of amōg and for sinfull men The maymes wee receiued in Adam remaine yet in vs are three Sinne Ignorance Weaknesse The remedies whereof we finde in Christ the Physition of our soules Medicus est minister naturae that which is wanting by nature is supplied by grace Christ is a Priest to cleanse our sinnes a Prophet to instruct our
rudenesse a Kinge to conquere our enemies But his Priesthoode and his sacrifice we chiefly celebrate in this Sacrament which also may be and is termed therfore a Sacrifice not of Christ but to Christ in remēbrance of his the sacrifice of praise the calues of our lippes the incense of thankes giuing and this Leuites fire should neuer go out and in the present flame all abroad Wherein we beleeue in heart confesse with mouth that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners being perfite God was made perfite man Man that he might die God the in dying he might satisfie for mankind for because that the flesh alone profiteth nothing his manhood was not sufficient except also he had bene very God Wherfore God euen our God so exceedingly loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten sonne and therefore he also naturaly God the sonne like the father to bee the ransome for the sinnes of the world Isai 53 5◠The chastisement of our peace was vpon him the peace ours the chastisement his all sufficient for all the sinnes both of body and soule of all sinners The grieuousnes and bitternes of which cup may be considered in that our Sauiour after a sort tasted thereof and it tasted bitter put forth his hand to take it pulled it in againe began to tremble his very soule was sorowful praied earnestly went out and prayed againe that if it were possible it might passe ouer needed an Angell for comfort swet water drops of blood If there were nothing herein but an vsuall death woulde Christ thus haue bene afflicted The heathē haue suffred more with more pacience apparant therfore there must be and was more in it and yet he is not come to the bitternes in the bottom of the cup. Those former agonies were but hony in comparison of the conflict with Sathan which followed and the wrath of his father which ensued when all sinnes as heauy as hell more then the starres of heauen or the sand of the sea were layed in one vpon him and he for them made a curse and execration Isa 53.8 the iust executed for the vniust one for all A childe is borne to vs and giuen vnto vs and liued for vs. This might comfort Ierusalem at the heart but the end perfection of our ioy and his sorowe was his death on crosse wherein consisteth the thankfull meditation I speake of holpen by breaking of the bread and the powring foorth of the wine before our sight wherein the default of our aduersaries appeareth greatly that debarreth the people of so great an helpe For be it that perfect Christ be communicated in the bread yet in the wine significātly is resembled his bloodsheding most And howe dare they alter the Lordes institution As he tooke bread euen so he tooke the cup 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then if bread be requisite so is the cup also For as he tooke the one so he tooke the other Eckius in ench Eckius woulde proue his halfe cōmunion out of his Paternoster giue vs this day our daily bread A begger is neuer out of his way What scripture wil not serue for any purpose if that do for his Saint Paul teacheth what the Lorde did and what the Corinthians should do till Christ his comming in the cloudes hee meaneth what al posteritie was to do For those Corinthians are gone the way of all fleshe their church rased He telleth them in them vs Other thinges at his comming he would dispose of as of indifferent circūstances But for the lawfull and inuiolable vsage of the Sacrament in both kindes he deliuered as he had receiued Dauid slewe the Gyant with one stone but he toke more then one out of the brook Christ is receiued in his word by his spirit in baptisme sacramentaly in either or rather in both the signes of the Supper ioyntly taken as he ordeyned So sufficiently and aboundantly hath the Lord prouided for his houshold bread made of many graynes and also wine of many grapes the answerably we being many may bee one in him and hee in vs expecting the accomplishment of our ioy to the full no more in signes figures in earth but apparantly to eate and drincke at Christes table with him in the kingdome of heauen where we shal sit on seates iudge the twelue tribes of Israel Luke 22.30 Amen There are certaine kindes both of byrdes and beastes Conuersation whose meate wil not tarie with them but passeth quickly away recto intestino Such beastes neuer chew the cud And some men not vnlike or worse then beastes meditate litle of whom they were begotten and fed what they feede on or in what sorte much lesse doth the meat digest with them to make thē strōg men in Christ as if Sara were their mother Agar their nurse or as if they were nursed with milke weaned with poyson and the meate naught and woulde not proue with them so doe they liue In comming to the Seruice Sacramentes eyther for company or custome sake they looke one way with the godly but in their conuersation they row another way and shewe in their deedes of what felowship they are They passe through the redde sea but murmure in the wildernes nay euen at the redde sea offend they God In pretence somwhat they are but inwardly nothing and in fact naught Their windows be not scued as Salomōs were to giue a full light into the house to their owne heartes in hypocrisie somewhat is shewed the window wide enough outwardly Fayth Loue Repentance to sight are set forth in performāce euery one is for him selfe neyther thankefull to God neyther charitable to his neighbor and both without remorse These thinges ought not to be so this Passeouer would not be so eaten our loynes so soone vngirded our staues throwen away the water of Baptisme trampled on the bread and wine or the body and blood of Christ thus receiued all in vaine Were it that the naughtye liuer could bee a good beleeuer for the time or were it that as water he might be whote immediately before and at the action of receiuing yet if when the fire is remoued the cold qualities returne againe what auayleth the former heate A cole is red while it is in the fire when the fire is out his blacke and naturall colour returneth by by againe and then light it againe and it seemeth red againe but yet in the ende it consumeth to ashes The bone that is often set in ioynte August de tem Ser. 58. will hardly be wel ioyned often Let no man presume of sinning nor yet despaire of mercie The Sacraments as they are seales of mercy so are they also bondes of obedience as God will perfourme on his part al so must we endeuour to shew our selus duetiful in al good works Wherunto to perswade if there were nothing els but this this may suffice that
because Christ our Passeouer is offered vp 1. Cor. 5. we keepe an holy feast vnto the Lorde not in the leauen of wickednes but in the sweete bread of a syncere conscience and vpright conuersatiō in Christ Iesu A prayer vpon consideration generally of the Sacraments O Almightie God most merciful Father who of thy tēder kindnesse hast chosen thine elect to euerlasting saluation before al times and in due time hast called them to the knowledge of thy good will reueiled in thy word sealed with the Sacraments of thine own ordaining we thy humble seruants and by mercie in Christ thine adopted sonnes pray thy fatherly goodnes to make vs meete partakers of these al other thy benefits so largely euer more bestowed and powred vpon vs. Let vs not O Lorde neither detaine the trueth of thy word in the vnrighteousnes of a sinfull life neither suffer vs deare Father to receiue the pledges of thy endles loue in vaine but to the endes that thou hast appointed them Wherefore graunt vs thy heauenly grace that we thy chosen people may vse thy holy ordināces to most holy purposes namely to the further increase of our weake faith to the comfort of our wan hope to the enflaming of our colde and frozen charitie in these hard and euill dayes to the dutifull and thankefull setting foorth of the glory of thy holy name Amen A prayer to be saide with meditation of our Baptisme MErciful Father we miserable and sinfull men feele with in our selues and therefore are forced to breake forth cōfesse that in our flesh dwelleth no good thing O Lorde thou lookest downe from heauen and beholdest the sonnes of men and their sinnes they are infinitely great and in nomber mo then the heares of our head or the starres of heauē they can not be hidden Our children gather stickes our fathers kindle the fire our mothers kneade dough to make cakes to serue other gods There is not one that doth good no not one We are all borne in sinne conceiued in iniquity and the whole race of our life is naturally naught We are not able to dreame of a good thought and when we haue done all that we can doe or if we could do al that we are commaunded yet were we vnprofitable seruants and therefore we appeale from thy iustice O most iust God to thy mercie seate and throne of grace for we feare nothing more then the examination of our drossy workes O Lord wash thou vs that we may be white for in our selues we are altogether blacke purge vs that we may be cleane sanctifie vs that we may be holy circumcise our eares and heartes and other partes seare our polluted lippes with the cole of thy spirit create a new heart win vs this olde heart of ours will not serue wash vs more more and we shal be cleane This thou hast promised in thy word O gracious God and in the Sacrament of our newe birth is this nowe fully set forth and sealed wherefore with confidence wee appeare before thee in prayer not trusting in our owne merites which are not but in thy manifolde and endlesse mercies which as a great and pure streame of water shall make vs whiter then the snow and clearer then the Christall glasse O Lorde haue mercie vpon vs according to thy great mercy put away our iniquities pardon our offences cancell the bill of debt quench the flames of lust plucke out the sting of sinne mortifie our flesh more more kill and burie the olde man bruise the serpents head drown the spirituall Pharao and all Egypt that we in a good time may bee presented perfectly blamelesse in thy sight through Christ our Lord Amen A prayer to be said immediatly before the receiuing the holy Communion O Almightie GOD who in thy eternal wisedom hast built thee an house and he wen out the pillars thereof chosen a Church which shall not faile killed thy vittayles mixed thy wine prepared a Table hast sent foorth thy ministers to cry in the open streetes and to inuite vnto this feast in thy worde and Gospell and yet hast denounced that the scornefull the wicked and the wilfull sinner shall haue no part nor portion with thee graūt vs grace O Lord that we may effectually heare and willingly followe the voyce of thy calling and that the seede of thy worde being shed in to our eares may take deepe roote in our heartes and bring forth fruit accordingly in a godly conuersation And whereas not only by thy worde but by thy Sacraments also we are fed at thy hande and specially in the Supper of thy Sonne our Lorde his institution we craue the assistance of thy holy spirite worthily to prepare vs for the receiuing of so heauēly a banquet Otherwise who or what are we to entertaine or to be entertained in this manner we are vnworthy the least of thy mercies much lesse are we worthie that the heire of all should enter vnder the roofe of our soule or that our vncleane feete shoulde once step within thy courts and yet thou hast commaunded we shoulde repaire to thy Temple and receiue at thy table Wherefore good Lorde prepare thou vs aright that wee may bee prepared dwell in vs that we may dwell in thee knocke at the gates of our heartes that we may opē vnto thee sup with vs that we may sup with thee encrease our faith and loue toward thee and in thee towarde our neighbours And albeit we offend often fall many times yet stay thou vs by thy mercifull hand that we neuer fall away Finally strengthen our weakenes with thy euerlasting foode neyther looke vpon our imperfections but on the perfectnesse of thy sonnes oblation in whose name we pray that thou endue vs euer with an humble and a contrite spirite for all our sinnes past with a constant purpose alwaies hereafter vnfainedly to serue and please thee in newnes of life to our liues ende through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A thankes giuing vpon the receiuing of the holy Communion MY soule praise thou the Lorde and all the powers within me praise his holy name My heauie soule awake praise the Lorde forget not his benefites shewe not thy selfe an vnthankefull thistle being watered with so many graces He fashioned the roūd world all the is therein yea with a more speciall care he guideth the feete of his Saintes He clotheth the lilies of the fielde and feedeth the birdes of the ayre but he apparelleth his chosen with the cloth of righteousnesse in the familie of his Sonne and feedeth them with the bread of life In him we are and are regenerate by him wee liue and are fed at his owne table in him by his spirit we moue with al godly motions and this comforte no man can take from vs. Al good giftes descend from aboue and the prayse of all is due to thee O Lord euen as the waters ishue from the sea and to the sea returne againe O then what shall we render vnto our louing God for all his kindnes he hath not spared his onely begotten sonne to the death the death of the Crosse for our sakes Thou O Lord art not pleased with mans inuentions onely thou hast willed that wee bee a thankfull people and that wee continue a freshe and gratefull remembrance of thy goodnes for euer The calues of our lippes the incense of prayer and the sacrifice of prayse thou wilt accept Wherefore O my soule praise the Lord set forth thy Sauiours death remēber his passion shew not thy selfe vnkinde feede on him in thy heart and be thankful in a full assurance of all his mercies in Iesus Christ Amen FINIS Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker Printer to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie