when they praye him so giue these chyldreÌ„ the thinge that we pray the for thorowe thy sonne Christ that when we shal now say our haÌ„des vpoÌ„ them in thy name and shall certifie them by thys signe that thy fatherly hande shall be euer stretched forth vpon theÌ„ and that they shall neuer wante thy holy spirite to keepe leade and gouerne theÌ„ in the way of health and in a very christian life graunt thou I say vnto them that they maye acknowledge these thinges wyth true fayth and that they may certeynly beleue that thou wilte defende theÌ„ with thy almightie ryghte hande and keepe them froÌ„ al euil and deliuer them and leade them to al good workes Finally that thou wylt neuer take thy holy spirite from them thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christ ⧠Here the pastour laying his haÌ„des vpon them shal say O Lorde Iesu Christ the sonne of God which saidest in the Gospel If you then beinge euyl caÌ„ gyue good gyftes to your children howe muche more shal my father giue the holie goste to them that aske hym Item If two consent together vpon the earth etc. Confirme thys thy seruante wyth thy holie spirite that he may coÌ„tinue in the obedience of thy Gospell and strongly resist the diuel and his owne weakenes and not greue the holie goste or trouble or offende thy churche wyth sclaunders but that his whole lyfe maye serue to the prayse of thy glorie his owne health and commune profitte of thy congregation as thou hast prescribed to vs and as thou haste promised that thou wylte gyue to them that aske the. Amen ⧠After thys lette the Hymne be songe Nowe al thankes etc. Nowe a good whyle sithens the signe of oyle was wonte to be vsed in confirmation but bycause they abused thys signe moost superstitiously and forasmuche as also amonge christian men signes and shadowes of spiritual thinges ought not to be so much regarded as the thynge and trueth it selfe the signe of layinge on of handes shall be sufficient in thys ministration whiche the Apostles and olde fathers thoughte sufficient And that thys Ceremonie maye be haÌ„dled wyth greater granitie and reuerence and wyth more fruite both of the chyldren and of the whole congregation the deanes wyth the visiters or parishe priestes of euerie congregation shal chose out suche a place in the temples froÌ„ whence the coÌ„fession and profession of the chyldren and other thinges that muste be done there wyth all maye be clearely hearde and perceyued of the whole congregation ⧠Of the Lordes supper MEn muste be muche and often taught and warned of this most holie Sacrament that it is as Paule witnesseth a coÌ„munion of the bodye and bloude of oure Lorde Iesus Christ wherin we muste so celebrate the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of him wyth greate religion and graue preachynge of his death and resurrection and of al thinges which he was made for vs whiche he dyd and suffered for oure saluation that our fayth in hym may be coÌ„firmed that we maye cleaue faster and lyne more fully in hym and he in vs. And forasmuch as the Lorde when he iustituted thys holie supper dyd saye Do thys in remembraunce of me the preachers shall diligently warne thys also that the Lorde coÌ„maunded that we shoulde do those thynges in this Sacrament whiche he hym selfe shewed to be done by his exemple Therefore we muste set the same acte of the Lorde before vs neither muste we in any wyse decline from the same or chaunge any thynge of it though an Angel from heauen or an Apostle did counsel and bidde vs so to do Which thinge the right holy bishop and martyr Ciprian gathereth well and truely out of these and many other wordes of the Lorde For if Christ be our onely Lorde and maister we as the ministers and disciples of hym muste needes folowe and do not the worde or dede of anie man or Angel but we muste folowe and do wyth al reuerence the thynges that he dyd and layed before vs to do neither maye we regarde what other dyd before vs but what Christe oure Lorde fyrste dyd whiche is before al thynges And al they that do not thys but chaunge somewhat of the institution of the Lorde in thys moste holie misterie ought not to be iudged his vicares or his priestes seing that for the traditions of men they caste away the commaundement of Christe The holie martyr wryteth these and muche moore seuere and earneste thynges in the same Epistle agaynste them that in the administration of this most holy SacrameÌ„t chaung any point of that the Lorde hym selfe did in his supper For he coÌ„maunded vs to do that onely Nowe if we consider howe Christe instituted this holye supper it appeareth clearelie out of the declarations of the euangelistes and saynt Paull that first he made his holie supper with his disciples and that he made the same one and commune to al that were preseÌ„t and with suche disciples as had wholye gyue theym selues to hys doctrine For thoughe Iudas were a fayned disciple and as Christ calleth him a diuyll neuertheles the other disciples dyd not yet knowe that for he dyd cleane to the Lorde in outwarde profession and lyfe as the rest did But the Lorde whan he gaue his disciples an exemple in hys supper where as he admitted Iudas he would not followe hys owne secret iudgement but that open manifest iudgemeÌ„t which his disciples might shoulde folowe afterwarde For thys cause â—n the old church which obserued that thing â—hat it had receiued of the Aposteles no maÌ„â—as admitted vnto the holye communion whiche hadde not witnessed hymselfe to be he disciple of the Lorde Further more such 〈◊〉 any companie and congregacion of the â—aythful had one supper only and that comâ—une to al so that thei al receiued the lordes â—ody in one bread and his blod in one cup. Whereof Paule writeth thus The cuppe of blessing whiche we blesse that is to saye wherwyth we giue thankes is it not the coÌ„munion of the bloude of Christe And the breade whiche we breake is it not the communion of the bodye of Christe For we beinge many are one breade and one bodie for we receiue al of one bread and of one cuppe Loo the Apostle speaketh of one cup in whoÌ„ one man gyueth not thankes for hym selfe and he speaketh of one bread whiche all we that come together breake beinge commune and he witnesseth that this is the coÌ„munion of the bodie and bloude of Christe whyche communion all we receyue together oute oâ— one Sacrament and we confirme the same because we are the members and bodye oâ— Christ Wherefore the Apostle willinge tâ— streÌ„gth the thinge that he had say I meame that the breade whiche we breake in the holie supper is the communion of the bodie oâ— Christ vsed these wordes we beinge many saieth he are one breade and one bodie as â—â— he woulde saye one breade is broken anâ— one sacrament is distributed amonge vs beinge manie for this
purpose that we being many which receiue this sacrameÌ„t with trâ—â— faith shoulde be more and more vnited in â— one bodie euen the bodie of Christ and thâ— we should altogether abide and liue in hiâ— and he in vs after that we hade gotten the true communion of his bodie Thys is singulerly to be noted that the Apostle willinge to proue that we which in the holye supper of the Lorde are partakers of the Lordes bodye and bloude be one bodye added furthwith For al we be parttakers of one bread whereby he signifyed also the communion of one cuppe Lette vs than consider this reason of the Apostle diligentli For if we testifie and declare therebi that we are one bodye and one breade of Christ and that we truly receyue and obteyne the communion of Christes bodye and bloude from the Lordes table whaÌ„ al we that come â—ogether to the Lordes table be parttakers â—f one breade and one cup two thinges suer â—â— folow hereof one that they which in one â—ongregacion of the faythfull doe minister â—ore than one supper of the Lord testifie of â—â—em selues therby that they be not one boâ—ye and one breade of Christ nether rightly â—â—ceiue nor haue the coÌ„munion of the Lordes â—odye and bloude The other is that they â—hiche be present at the Lordes supper and â—â—eyue not the sacramentes testifie by thys â—â—eir abstinences from the lordes table that â—â— wil not be a meÌ„ber with other Christiâ—â—s whyche receyue the sacramentes that they wyll not be one bodye with them and one breade of Christe if they be sufficiently enstructed of thys institution of the Lorde and haue not a lawful cause to abstaine froÌ„ the sacramentes Therefore for thys verye cause that the Lord conmanded vs to do that in his holie supper that he himselfe dyd and he celebrated it wyth those hys disciples only whych had wholy giuen theÌ„selues to hys doctrine and euer folowed hym and celebrated one supper only the prechers shal obserue two thynges First they shall teach and exhorte the people wyth all diligence that in thys most holy sacrament they shewe them selues the true disciples of the Lord that is to saye such as putte al their trust in the Lord hymself and haue bound them selues wholy to his worde and folowe the fame studiously in al thinges For thus the lord sayeth Iohn iij. If ye abyde in my worde ye are my disciples in deade But they that wyll declare themselues to be faythful ministres of the Lorde in the administracion of these misteries shall not admitte anie other to the lordes supper but such as be tried and haue confessed before the congregacion that they haue giuen theÌ„ selues to the Lorde and haue proued the same with theyr life as the Lord also celebrated the supper wyth chosen disciples Secondly that in one coÌ„gregacioÌ„ of the faythfull one supper be ministred and that the pastour himself celebrate it if he may by anie meanes at such tyme whan the whole congregacion is wont to come together as vpon sondayes and holye dayes if so be there shal be present that wyl communicate as men that be one bodye and one breade of Christ and are so outwardly also ioyned together of the Lord that thei pertain to one congregacion and pastoral cure and receiue the communioÌ„ of the Lord out of one bread and one cuppe The seconde thynge that the Lorde dyd in his supper is this he gaue thanges to the father and that in such language as the disciples might vnderstand al thinges and be sterred vp wyth hym to prayse God For whyche cause the pastours shall warne the people firste that in the administracion of thys sacrament we must gyue thankes to God throughe oure Lorde Iesus Christe for al the benifites that he hath gyuen and giueth to vs dayly and cheifely for that benifite out of whyche al other come and be made true benifites vnto vs I meane that he so loued vs that he gaue vs hys sonne a redemer that all that beleue in him shoulde not perishe but haue euerlasting lyfe Iohn iij. wherefore he hath giuen vs all thynges wyth hym Ro. viij remyssion of synnes the spirite of adoption and al thinges that may dooe vs good ether in body or soule in this lyfe or in the life to come Secondly that the prieste and ministre of this sacrament in gyuinge thankes to God giueth thankes in his owne name and in the name of the whole coÌ„gregacion wherfor the people must lyft vp theyr mindes and herkeÌ„ to the thinges that are spoken of the priest that thei maye praise and thanke God together with the preist For in thys giuinge of thankes as Chrisostome well warneth all thinges must be commune betwene the people and the prieste where vnto all men that be present are called whan the preiste saieth lifte vp your hertes Item lette vs giue thankes to oure Lord God And they promise the same whan they Answer we haue vnto the Lord. It is worthi and right For in old time as S. Cipriane testifieth whan the prieste or ministre sayde lyfte vp your hertes the people aunswered we haue vnto the Lorde But all these thinges must be done before the Lord in spirite and truth Wherefore the people must wyth all dyligence ioyne theyâ— myndes wyth the wordes of the priest thaâ— with one hert one mouth thei may magnifi and thank God with him The. iii. and principal poynt in the Lordes supper is this that he distributed the bread and the cuppe to al and bad al take both that al should eate the bread and drink of the cup and added This is mi bodi which is giueÌ„ for you This is mi bloud of the new TestameÌ„te which for you and for many is shed furth vnto the remyssion of sins Out of these wordes of the Lord the pastour shal teach the people with great reuereÌ„ce and diligence that this is the principal point and work in the supper of the Lord that sacrameÌ„tes be distributed according to the insttitucioÌ„ of our Lorde Iesus Christ and receyued with true faith in Christ with this faith I saie that we certanly beleue that our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe is here present in the midest of vs and that he himself though iâ— be bi the ministerie of the church doth truly giue vs his body blod and together althinges whatsoeuer he obteined deserued by the offryng of his bodye on the crosse I meane remissioÌ„ of sins the euerlastyng couenant of Gods grace the blessed adoption of God that we be the sons heires of God â—is coheires Out of these thinges yâ— pastors â—hal teach warne the peple with al possible â—iligence First that they come to these most deuyne misteries not as the common sorte were wont to do heretofore wyth cold myndes far from a faythful and religious consideration of the thynges that bee here executed but that they sterre vp theim selues and come with a godly burning desyre of Christ flamynge furthe
Mathew Marcke Luke and Paule clearely describe vnto vs as we shewed before Who is he than whiche beinge well admonished hereof wil not coÌ„clude furthwith that al they that wil christianely and holesomely handle this sacrament must consider and folowe as S. Ciprian very godly warneth not that that some other hath done before vs no not what the hole world doth or thyncketh to be done but what Christe the Lord dyd and coÌ„maunded to be done which is before al thinges whych is the maker and redemer of the world nether only the highest amonge vs but also our only master and teacher and finaly they must further consyder that all they whyche dare other wise administer this sacrament do administer it vnworthyly that is to say other wise than it be cometh and thei do make them selues gyltie of the body and bloud of the Lord. The fautes that we haue coÌ„mitted heretofore in this most holy mistery vsing it otherwyse than the Lord coÌ„maunded the Lord hath mercifully forgeueÌ„ vnto his which haue put al their trust in him his merite not in the worke of the sacrameÌ„t other mynistred or receiued But we to whom the lorde hath giuen sure knoledge of his institucioÌ„ and commaundemeÌ„t shal not be pardonned if we neglect the thing that Christ did in this sacrament and commaunded vs to do preferring that befor the Lords institution that hath ben brought in by men swaruynge from hys worde and coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t Before al thinges the pastours must labour to take out of mennes myndes that false and wicked opinion wherebi men thincke communly that the prieste in masses offreth vp Christe oure Lorde to God the father after that 〈◊〉 â—â—at wyth hys intention and prayer he 〈◊〉 Christe to become a newe and acceptable sacryfice to the father for the saluacioâ—â—â—â—en applyeth and communicateth the 〈◊〉 of the passion of christ and of the sauing â—â—â—rifice wherebi the lord hym selfe offred hâ—â—â—â—lfe to the father a sacrifice the crosse to â—hem that receiue not the same with theyr owne fayth For to make men partakers in the supper of the Lorde of the sacrifice and merite of oure Lorde Iesu Christe the minister canne helpe no more than that firste he exsibite and ministre the holye supper as the Lord instituted and than faythfully declare and celebrate religiously the ministerie of it the redemption and communion of oure Lord Iesus Christe and further more dispense the sacramentes whereby he maye stirre vp and confirme in them that be present tru faith in Christ by which faith euerye man maie him selfe apprehend and receyue the merite and sacrifice of Christe as gyuen vnto hym Fynaly that he praye for suche fayth to all men in the name of the hole congregacion and of his owne charite For he that without hys owne fayth ether ministreth thys supper of the Lorde or is presente at it or receyueth it pulleth damnacion vpon hym selfe and is made gyltie of the Lorâ—s body and blond But it is plaine that 〈…〉 euerie where in this errour that they beleue if they be present whan the prieste sayeth masse and take parte of the masse only wyth theyr presence that this verie worcke and sacrifice of the preiste whereby he offerâ—â—â— thâ— sonne to the father for their sinnes that 〈…〉 setteth him before the father with his 〈…〉 prayer is of suche efficacie that it turneth al euil from them and bringeth them al felicite of bodie and soule though they continue in all maner of sinnes and mischeues againste God and their coÌ„scieÌ„ce and nether perceiue or receyue the sacramentes oute of the masse but onely beholde the outwarde action as a spectacle and honour it wyth bowynge of knes and other gestures and signes of veneracion But what more spightfull shame can be doone to goddes maieste and to the kynge of glorye Iesu Christe than that thys moste diuine sacrament whiche he himselfe instituted and commended vnto vs that throught it we shoulde be confirmed in fayth towardes hym and shoulde dye more and more to sinnes and liue more fully in hym is so peruerted that of goddes institucioÌ„ it is made a playn inuention of manne and suche one that men trust moste in it against God and our Lorde Christe For thorowe thys worke of the masse thei are made more careles and stronger in theyr synnes and contempte of Christe thynkynge that by that ceremonie the wrath of God is turned from them and all other euilles That the grace of God is gotten to them and all blisfulnes though thorowe theyr whole lyfe they be agaynste God and abuse all thynges agaynst God and that wythout anie earnest thoughte of repentaunce Wherefore the preachers shall enstruct the people wyth al diligence of this vngodlie truste of the worke and sacrifice of a priest and they shall call them froÌ„ the same by all maner of wayes And where as the holie fathers call the ministration of thys Sacrament a sacrifice and oblation and wryte sometyme that the priest in administrynge the supper offereth Christe let the preachers knowe and teache other when neede shall be that the holie fathers by the name of a sacrifice vnderstode not application whiche was deuised a great whyle after the fathers and preuaised wyth other abuses but a solemne remembraunce of the sacrifice of Christe as Augustine expouneth it For whyle the supper of the Lorde is ministred as the Lorde instituted it the sacrifice of Christe is celebrated and exhibited therein thorowe the preachynge of his death and distribution of the sacramentes that al they whiche rightly vse the holie supper receiue the fruit of this sacrifice The pastours shall warne moreouer that it is no smal abuse of thys Sacrament that it is wonte to be set forth and caried about to be gased vpoÌ„ and to be worshypped wyth golde and syluer and other suche carnall ornamentes and that wyth thys opinion as though thys cariynge aboute and shewing forth and outwarde worshppyng of the SacrameÌ„t were able to turne away all incoÌ„modities though they do not once thynke of true repentaunce of sinnes fayth in our Lorde Iesus Christ Wherfore we wyl in anie wyse that the pastours hereafter set not forth nor cary about the SacrameÌ„t wyth lyke diligence they shal teache the people that the Lorde instituted and commended to all that beleue in hym both partes of the Sacrament the cuppe no lesse then the bread that in them they might receyue his bodie and bloude For thus it is in Paule I receyued of the Lorde that that I deliuered also vnto you But the Apostle deliuered to the whole congregation of the Corhinthians the communion aswell of the cup as of the breade Wherefore some make a rashe and a lyght argumeÌ„t that the Lorde in his supper gaue the whole Sacrament to his Apostles whiche were all priestes and that we can not gather therof that the cuppe must be also gyueÌ„ to the lay meÌ„ For in thys Sacrament saith S. Chrisostome and that out of the testimonies of the
holie scripture the priestes haue nothyng more then the lay men but all thynges are commune to both and one breade of the Lorde and one cuppe is sette before al men togyther and equally Thus the Lorde instituted thus the olde churche obserued alwayes Therefore none other thynge coulde be instituted of meÌ„ neither dyd the fathers euer institute anie other thynge But in these later tymes when the gouernours of congregations dyd vtterlie neglecte theyr office thys abuse crepte in secretely that in the holy supper the Lordes breade onely should be distributed whether priestes or laye men dyd communicate But that all the abuses that haue crepte into thys Sacrament maye be vtterly takeÌ„ away and rooted vp by the true vse of thys Sacrament whiche the Lorde hym selfe coÌ„maunded the pastours and preachers shall diligently warne and exhort the people that as often as they come togyther to the holie supper of the Lorde with the bretherne they gyue them selues wholy to the Lorde to be his disciples that they thynke that all his wordes be spoken vnto them and that they beleue them certeynely that they feruently desire the communion of the Lorde to be encreased in them and that they receyue the same offered in the SacrameÌ„t wyth a faithfull and thankeful minde briefely that they euer go forwarde in the faith of Christ and in the whole newe lyfe wyth Christ neither stande there as dispisers of so great gyftes whiche in the holie supper be offered to all that are present nor make to them selues an hurtfull spectacle of a blessed teaste Surely he that is not meete to receyue the Sacrament is not meete neither to praye wyth the coÌ„gregation as S. Chrisostome doth rightly gather Thys Sacrament is not only the meate of the stronger but also the medicine of the weake onely lette no man receyue it whiche sticketh in synnes agaynste his conscience For he that coÌ„tinueth in such sinnes wyll not lyue in Christe the Lorde he refuseth his communion in dede and vtterly renounceth Christ and his kyngdome Wherfore he must absteyne froÌ„ those SacrameÌ„tes in whiche the coÌ„munion of Christe is exhibited And such sticke also in the condemnation of hell and haue no parte in the kyngdome of Christe Wherfore they can neither be present nor ought to be present at the holie supper nor pray wyth the congregation For no man that determineth to continue in open synnes and in the despite of God can call vpon God his father wyth true fayth and praye for the sanctification of his name the commyng of his kyngdome and obedience of his wyll But they that repent them selues of theyr synnes that desire the grace of God and reteyne the coÌ„munion and lyfe in Christe our Lorde and wishe the same to be encreased in them neither be commaunded by the congregation to absteyne these men I saye maye muche lyfte vp and conforte them selues wyth fayth and kendle them selues wyth the desire of a newe lyfe thorowe the participation of Sacramentes at euerie supper whereat they be present Therfore they ought not in anie wyse to despice so great bountuousnes of Christ the Lorde beinge freely offered to them but 〈◊〉 ther receyue it wyth mooste feruent 〈◊〉 and great thankefulnes remembryng 〈◊〉 blessed worde of the Lorde alluryng◠〈…〉 to him Come vnto me al ye that 〈…〉 Item take eate thys is my bodie 〈…〉 of thys al thys is my bloude etc. 〈…〉 thys meate and drynke he truly refresheth and receyueth vs vnto euerlastyng lyfe The fathers in the primitiue church which obserued the Apostles tradition estemed so muche these wordes of Christ that they excoÌ„municated them that were present at the Lordes supper and woulde not be parte takers of the sacramentes wyth the rest For thys cause was that ordeined that we reade distinct ij of the coÌ„stitutions wheÌ„ the consecration is ended let al coÌ„municate they that wil not let them not come into the temple For so the Apostles ordeyned and the holie Romaine churche holdeth Lo this decree speaketh of one consecration and it requireth that al that be present do coÌ„municate and that vndre the payne of excoÌ„munication It witnesseth also that the Apostles so constituted whiche had receiued it of the Lorde Item that the Romaine church doth so holde which thinge also al other coÌ„gregations obserued as many as had â—eteined thordinauÌ„ce of the lorde of thapostles This is the cause why S. Chrisostome so sore rebuked theÌ„ whiche in his coÌ„gregation taried in the temple at the celebration of the Lordes supper yet did not coÌ„municate and he saied that they stode at the Lordes supper vnshaÌ„fastly and stubburnly and not wythout the dispite of Christ and coÌ„tempt of his so great bountuousnes which he offereth vs in the holie supper For thei that be not the meÌ„bres of Christ neither of true repeÌ„tauÌ„ce and griefe of their synnes seeke renuinge of lyfe in Christe but wil coÌ„tinue in their sinnes willingly or haue offended the coÌ„gregation of Christe with so greuous sinnes that except they first repent and approue them selues wyth a better lyfe thei caÌ„ not come to the Lordes borde al these whiles the Lordes moste holy supper is ministred oughte to be awaye and not once to beholde the Sacrament of the Lorde as S. Chrisostome with greate grauitie warneth and that out of the deede and wordes of the Lorde whiche as he hym selfe did so he coÌ„maunded that this supper shoulde not be celebrated but wyth his disciples wyth suche I saye which haue gyuen them selues to his worde which desire remission of synnes and saluation out of true repeÌ„taunce and griefe of synnes which be made part takers of the newe TestameÌ„t and be the sonnes of God Al which thinges as we shewed before are coÌ„preheÌ„ded in the very wordes of the Lorde As the pastours then muste deligently teache and dissuade them whiche wyth the rest of the congregation can not communicate bycause they sticke in open synnes that they be not present at the holie supper and testifie vnto them that if they stande at the supper wyth suche a mynde they do spite vnto Christe and that it shall be damnation vnto them So they muste also diligently warne and exhort them which wyth a good conscience may be present at the supper that is to saye whiche truly beleue in Christ the Lorde that they receyue the Sacramentes wyth other membres of Christe But forasmuch as thys institution of the Lorde that all they whiche be present at the same supper of the Lorde should communicate of one breade and cuppe his bodie and bloude is to muche out of vse and couered a greate whyle sithens thorowe commune ignoraunce it shall be needefull to call men backe agayne treateably and gently to the obseruation of thys tradition of the Lorde and they muste beware that the myndes of the simple whiche neuertheles be the true disciples of the Lorde and are entangled in no mischiuous and wycked actes for the whiche they shoulde be restrayned from the Lordes
ought vnterly to humble and caste vs doune before the Lorde and to cutte our hertes wyth suche repentaunce of synnes that we shoulde be pricked forth and enflamed to seeke receyue with sure fayth and greatly desire the grace of God offered to vs in the worde and sacramentes and the restitution and renuinge of our selues thorowe the coÌ„munion of Christe and holsome participation of his fleshe and bloude Furthermore let vs diligently considre that the eternal worde of God the sonne of God al. mightie to deliuer vs out of thys meserie was made flesh was made our brother that there myght be some holie fleshe and holie bloude that is to saye a verie heauenlie and diuine man by whom the fleshe and bloude of all vs mighte be restored and sanctified whiche thinge is then brought to passe wheÌ„ we truly eate his flesh and drinke his bloud Iohn vi Here it is meete that we be moued the more to wondre at and to embrace with certeyner fayth and gredier wil in this onely begotten sonne of God our sauiour the exceadynge and vnspeakable loue of God towardes vs whiche gaue his sonne vnto vs that beleuyng in him we should not perishe as we were borne and as we deserued but haue euerlastynge lyfe whiche he deserued and gyueth vnto vs. Thirdly let vs acknowledge and firmely beleue that the Lorde Iesus truely offereth vnto vs this his sanctifiyng fleshe and bloude in his holie supper wyth visible signes of breade and wyne by the ministerie of the congregation and exibiteth the same vnto the remission of synnes to be meate of euerlastyng lyfe to confirme the couenaunt of Gods adoption and of euerlastyng lyfe for so be his wordes Wherefore they caÌ„ not deceyue and they shall remayne when heauen and earth passe awaye and they truely exhibite and gyue vnto vs the thinges that they preache so that we applie true fayeth vnto them Take sayeth he eate thys is my bodie that is gyuen for you Item drinke of thys all thys is my bloud of the newe testament whiche is shedde forth for you and for many vnto the remission of synnes we must receyue these wordes wyth true fayth and doubte nothynge but that the Lorde when we celebrate the holie supper after his institution is in the middeste of vs and offereth hym selfe vnto vs by the ministerie of the congregation whiche he instituted for the same purpose and deliuereth his bodie and bloude and all his merites and satisfaction for oure synnes whiche he perfourmed his bodie and his bloude beynge offered on the crosse remission of synnes and the grace of the father and the ryghte of the Testament of the euerlastynge couenaunte of adoption and communion vnto the lyfe of God so that the breade that we breake in the holie supper is truely euen to vs the communion of his bodie and the cuppe at whiche we blesse the communion of his bloude Therefore lette vs euer religiously considre why the Lorde doeth often exhibite vnto vs thys holie and holesome communion of himselfe in the sacrament namely for this purpose that he maye brynge vs daily in to the knowlege of our sinnes and more ernest repentaunce that we maye desire more feruently remission of the same by him and receyue it with perfecter fayth gredier mindes and so be more confirmed and sette for warde in a new lyfe thorough the true communion of him that so we maye daily more and more abide and lyue in hym and he in vs and be more fully his dodie and meÌ„bers and he our heade whiche thinge we professe whan we all receiue the communion of him in his sacrament so beinge parttakers of his bodye and bloude as we in coÌ„men be parttakes of one brade and cuppe Finally we must praye and labour also to receyue these heauenlye giftes wyth true fayth and greate reuerence and that we celebrate the holesome remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the Lord wyth godly ioye and pleasaunt thankfullnes and that we gyue vp our selues and all ours to him and testifie the same with collacions and almes for the vse of the poore lyberally and accordinge to euerie mans power finally that we euer prayse and magnifie Christe in al oure wordes and worckes for these so greate benifites for his incarnacion whereby he was made oure heade and brother for hys most bitter death whereby he satisfied for our sinnes for his resurrection and ascencioÌ„ in to heauen heaueÌ„ly kingdoÌ„ which he administreth at the ryght hand of the father maketh vs perfect and absolute in his lyfe beinge quickened with his spirite and sette in heauenlye thinges whiche lyfe he hath gyuen in the lyfe of God and it is an euerlastinge lyfe for this holesome communion of hys bodie and bloude whereby we are confirmed in this same lyfe of God and are sette forwarde and euer finyshed vp For al which thynges we must chiefely geue thanckes in the coÌ„munion of this supper And forasmuch as our God is such one as alloweth not wickednes nether canne all thei stande before him which worcke iniquitie it is necessarie that we knowe that those men muste not be admitted to the supper of the Lorde that is to saye to his communion whiche lyue without true faith and loue by whome the glorie of God is manifestly blemisched and hys congregacion is offended I meane all vnbeleuers and manyfest Idolaters whiche calle vppon and worshippe saints departed Angels or other creatures whiche honour paynted or grauen stockes Item all enchaunters and sothsaiers which wil preserue catel and other thinges against perils with their consecrations yea and I meane those to which beleue shuch enchaumentes and the manifest despicers and blasphemers of God the mockers of goddes worde and sacrameÌ„tes Item al those which at appointed tymes wildely continue in neglectinge sermons and other open exercises of the congregacion which obeye not accordinge to goddes commaundement theyr parentes ordinarye officers and maisters but speake euil of theÌ„ and rayle vpon theÌ„ do theÌ„ spight and resiste them seditiously and stubburnly whiche bringe not vp their children familie shuch as they haue charge of nor enstructe them to godlynes honestie and iustice Furthermore I meane murtherers and all those whych willingely continue in hatred of their bretherne in braulinges and shedinge of their neygboures bloude Item al whoremongers aduoâ—â—erers and Dronkerdes al theues vserers raueners disers vnlaufull gainers exercisers of faulse marchandises al those lykewise which lyue idely without a lawful excuse and burthen other al ilspeakers liers periuers backbyters and whych confesse not the truth and rightuousnes and confirme not the same wyth theyr testimonies where they are bounde to do it by reasone of their vocacion All these felowes as longe as thei liue and continue in such sinnes nether haue a true purpose to amende their liues maye in no wise be admitted to the holye supper of the Lorde seinge that they be restrayned and excluded from thens by God by his owne worde Another exhortacion Forasmuch as deareli beloued in
prayse and magnifie the Lorde holie father almightie euerlastyng God thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde by whom thou madest vs of nothinge vnto thy image and haste appoynted al other creatures to our vses and where as we thorowe the synne of Adam slidynge frō the were made thyne enemies and therefore subiecte to death and eternall damnation thou of thy infinite mercie and vnspeakable loue dyddest sende the same thy sonne the eternall worde into thys worlde who thorowe the crosse and death deliuered vs from synnes and the power of the Deuyll and brought vs agayne into thy fauoure by his holie spirite whom he sent to vs from the and gaue his bodie and bloude to be the fode of a newe and eternall lyfe that being more confirmed thorowe the truste of thy mercie and loue we should euer go forward to all that that is thy pleasure by renuinge and sanctifiynge of our selues and that we should glorifie and exalte the here and euermore in all our wordes and dedes and singe vnto the without ende with al thy holie Angels and beloued chyldren After these thinges Sanctus shall be songe where clerkes be in latine but of the people in douche one syde answerynge the other thryse of bothe partes As for that that is wont to be added The Lorde God of hostes and Benedictus it shal be songe cōmunely of the whole congregation and therefore in douche Streyght waye after thys let the priest synge the wordes of the Lordes supper in douche Our Lorde the nighte in whiche he was deliuered etc. But these wordes muste be songe of the priest wyth great reuerence and playnely that they maye be wel vnderstanded of all men And the people shal saye to these wordes Amen Whiche all the olde church obserued and the Grekes do yet obserue the same For the whole substance of this Sacrament is conteyned in these wordes And it consisteth altogether in the true vnderstandyng and fayth of these wordes that the Sacrament be holesomely administred and receyued ⧠Whē the people then haue answered Amen The priest shall adde lette vs praye Oure father whiche arte in heauen etc. To whiche prayer of the Lorde the people shal say agayne Amen ¶ The priest The Lordes peace be euer wyth you ¶ The people And with thy spirite After thys they which be admitted to the cōmunion and do loke for the same in their place shal come to the Lordes bourde religiously Firste men and then women and the whole Sacrament shal be gyuen to them al that they may be partakers of the body and bloud of the Lorde receiuing not only bread but also the Cuppe euen as he instituted it ¶ At the exhibition of the bodi let the the pastour saye Take and eate to thy health the body of the Lorde whiche was deliuered for thy synnes ¶ At the exhibition of the cuppe Take and drinke to thy health the bloud of the Lorde whiche was shedde for thy synnes ¶ After the communion lette Agnus dei be songe both in douche and in latine one syde answeryng the other where clerkes be And then lette thys douch songe be songe Gotte sey gelobette Item Iesus Christus Vnser Heylant If the communion shall gyue so muche tyme and leasure ¶ When the communion is ended let the priest synge turnyng to the people The Lorde be wyth ynn ⧠The people And with thy spirite ¶ The priest Let vs praye Almightie euerlastynge God we gyue thankes to thy exceadynge godnes bicause thou haste fedde vs wyth the bodie of thy only begottē sonne and gyuen vs his bloud to drynke We humbly beseche the worke in vs wyth thy spirite that as we haue receyued thys diuine Sacrament wyth oure mouthes so we maye also receyue and euer holde fast with true fayth thy grace remission of synnes and communion with Christ thy sonne Al whiche thinges thou haste exhibited vnto vs in these sacramentes thorow our Lorde Iesus Christe thy sonne whiche lyueth and reygneth wyth the in vnitie of the holie gost verie God and verie man foreuer Amen ⧠An other thankesgyuyng We gyue the thankes father almightie God whiche haste refreshed vs wyth the singuler gyfte of thy bodie and bloude we beseche thy goodnesse that the same maye healpe to confirme our fayth in the and to kendle mutual loue amonge vs by the same our Lorde Iesus Christ etc. ¶ Laste of all lette the pastoure blesse the people wyth these wordes The Lorde blesse the and keepe the the Lorde lighten his coūtenaunce vpon the and haue mercie on the. The Lorde lyfte vp his face vpon the and settle the in peace ⧠Or thus God haue mercie on vs and blesse vs lyghten his countenaunce vpō vs and gyue vs his peace Amen ⧠Or thus God the father the sonne and the holie goste blesse and keepe vs. Amen ⧠Or thus The blessyng of god the father the sonne and the holie gooste be wyth vs remaine wyth vs for euer Amen But where clerkes be not as in villages there lette all be reade and songe in douche But lette the songes be so moderated as in euerie congregation shall make to the edification of godlines But forasmuche as our Lorde instituted thys his sacrament onely for thys purpose that we shoulde eate it and drynke it for the remēbraunce of him and not that we should set it forth or carie it about to be loked vpon forasmuch as sundrie abuses be brought in the true vse of this sacramēt being ouer passed so this sacrament hath bene drawen to horrible superstition and vngodlines for the takyng awaye both of this superstition and vngodlines and also sundrie scruples of the worke and irreligious questions aboute these misteries the pastours and they that administre the Sacramente shall endeuoure them selues that as often as the supper shal be ministred whether it be in the cōgregatiō or in priuate houses for sicke folke they compte the numbre of them certeynely whiche shall communicate that accordynge to the same thei may receiue pieces of bread and measure of wyne As for the remnauntes after that the communion is ended lette the pastours them selues receyue them forthwith and lette them not keepe the same nor lay them vp in any place nor eary them away or set them forth to be beholded For the worde of God whiche saueth vs if we beleue and obey it and damneth perpetually if we do not beleue nor obey it hath thus prescribed cōcerning his sacramētes Take and eate this is my bodie Take and drinke this is my bloude Therfore we must stand in thys institution of Christe and not institute a newe vsage wythout Goddes worde about thys moste holy Sacrament And bicause also that here the Lordes death muste be preached and the communion of hym cōfirmed in vs that thorowe hym we maye be daily more crucified to the world al worldly pompe muste lykewyse be taken frō thys ministration and all tynges muste be so ordeined and moderated that thei may healpe forth and adurne the
surely we haue deserued that we shulde suffre eternally those punishmentes that the sonne of God suffred for vs seynge that inobedience and stubburnnes agaynste God do euer remayne in vs. Hereof it commeth that the Apostles in theyr sermons as we maye see in the actes were wonte to ioyne together the deathe and resurrection of Christe as the principal poyntes of Christian doctrine which al mē ought euer to haue in theyr sight And vndoubtedly they euer declared the same diligently and taught thereby howe Christe thorough the preordeined purpose and prouidence of God was deliuered and died for our sinnes and rose for oure ryghteousnes Wherefore thorough the preachinge of the passion and death of Christ they exhorted the people to acknowledge theyr sinnes and to repent truly and by the testimonies of the resurrection they stirred them vp to fayth and truste of grace and for gyuenes of synnes For they that can truly beleue and perswade them selues that the sonne of God was smitten for theyr sinnes and that the horriblenes of oure synnes is so greate that it behoued the sonne of god to suffre so shameful and cruel a punishmente for the purgation of them while he would redeme vs from eternal death these men vndoubtedly shal be ashamed repentaunt of theyr sinnes such men shal abhorre excedinglye and feare synnes And so they shal conceyue a liuely and substātial repentaunce Wherfore whan Paule exhorteth to profit and go forwarde in repentaunce of sinnes and warneth that we liue not to satisfie sinnes but to kille them in vs and to dye concerninge the same he is wonte to make mention of the passion and death of Christe Roma vi Knowe ye brethern that as manie of vs as be baptised into Christe Iesus we be baptised into his death That he dyed he dyed for synne Item hym whiche knew not sinne he made sinne for vs that is to saye a sacrifice for synne The Apostle doeth the same thynge in manie other places where he allureth to a newe lyfe and to amendement that is to saye to true repentaunce Ephesi iiij Philip. ij iij. and. Collo ij and in other places For whiche cause also in mentioning both the Sacramentes Baptisme and the the supper of the Lorde he preacheth of the death and passion of Christ For as he sayd of baptisme that we are buried with Christ so he addeth in the description of the supper do thys in my remembraunce For as often as ye shall eate thys breade and drynke of this cuppe ye shall shewe forth the death of the Lorde tyll he come So. S. Petre sayeth also Se that hauyng your conuersation in feare ye passe the tyme of your dwellynge knowyng that you were redemed frō your vayne conuersation whiche ye receyued of the fathers teachynge not wyth transitorye thynges as with syluer and golde but with the precious bloude as of an vnspotted and vndefiled lambe Christe After the same sorte it shall be the preachers parte aswell in sermons as in the administration of the Sacramentes to shewe forth diligently to the people the death of the Lorde as the onely satisfaction for oure synnes and thorowe the same to rayse them vp and to dryue them vnto repentaunce And they muste witnesse to them that synne careleslie and stubburnly the thynge that is in the Epistle to the Hebru that is to saye that suche with theyr wicked life do stampe the sonne of God with theyr fete and defile the bloude of the Testament and therefore shall be punished of God at length horriblebly and euerlastyngly ¶ Of the true propre vse of Gods lawe FOrasmuche as the true acknowledgynge of synnes is necessarie to repētaunce or contrition the lawe of God must be continually declared and beaten into the people and the horrible punishmentes whiche God in the lawe threatneth to them that synne both wyth terrible wordes and moste dreadfull exemples whiche he sheweth in punishing the vngodlie must be sette before them For though Christe alone be the author of repentaunce towardes God that is to saye of holesome contrition and griefe for synne whereby the herte of man is perfectlye turned vnto God and brought agayne vnto the obedience of him yet he wyll that the preachynge of his lawe be applied to thys purpose and he wyll not denie the encrease of his spirite when it is faythfully applied Thys thynge then is chiefely to be warned to the entent that men maye be ryghtly taught of the lawe namely that all that is called the lawe or commaundemēt of God is so in dede that declareth vnto vs what god requireth of vs what pleaseth him and what displeaseth hym And this thing must What is to be vnderstāded by the name of the lawe necessarely be taughte because of thē which thinke that the lawe is not conteyned in the bokes of the newe Testamēt and that there be no cōmaundementes taught therein And agayne that there is no Gospell in the olde Testament Which errour maketh mē vnfitte and vntowarde to vnderstāde the scripture a right Wherefore where so euer commaundemētes are taught with whiche god sheweth what he alloweth ordisalloweth in vs whether they be in the newe Testament or in the olde they ought to be compted for the lawe of God and they must be none otherwyse taughte and declared then those that Moyses taught Secondly we must knowe thys also that there is a double vnderstādyng of the law A double vnderstandinge of the lawe The fyrste is flesly and grosse when men thynke that onely outwarde actes are prohibited in the lawe whiche if a man auoyed metely wel he hath satisfied the law though there remayne styll in the mynde euyll affections and concupiscence repugnant and cōtrarie to the lawe which is onely restrained for feare of punishmentes that it breake not forth into outwarde mischeuous actes As if a man should thinke when the law sayth Thou shalte not steale that he hath obeyed thys precept when he hath holden him selfe from manifest robberie and thefte though in the meane whyle his herte boyle wyth couetise and carefulnesse of thys lyfe and burne wyth the desire of an others good Surely thys vnderstandynge of the lawe is a false and a verie heathnishe erroure whiche maketh nothing els then hipocrites of whiche sorte that pharisee was standyng in the tēple and praying I thanke the God that I am not as other men be raueners vn iuste adulterers as also thys publicane is They then that thynke so carnally of the lawe haue muche a do and greate difficultie to come to the knowedge of Christe For they loke onely to outwarde workes which they thynke they can perfourme wyth their owne strength and therfore they truste that they maye obteyne forgyuenes of synnes and saluation wyth theyr owne workes And as for the preachynge of free remission of synnes thorowe Christe and the ryghtuousnes of fayeth they are either offended wyth it or despice it as folishe The vayle in olde tyme layed ouer the face of
the Catechisme as may be fouÌ„d most readie meete thereunto though they be not priestes or in other ordinarie ministeries But howe and after what fourme the Catechisme must be expouned we wyll declare hereafter In cities we wyll that euen vpon the workynge dayes there be two holy asseÌ„bles euerie day in the which holie lessons shal be reade with prayers and Psalmes if ministers wante not and if the people wyll be entreated to come togyther diligently Let suche houres be appoynted for these assembles as shal be moste comodiouse to the people In villages if it maye be for the people let holie assembles be called togyther thryse a wieke in whiche mornynge prayers and exhortations shall be vsed out the scriptures If by reason of the negligence of the people it can not be done so often they shall procure that they come togyther once or twyse ¶ Of the holy Sacramentes generally LEtte the pastours and teachers remembre that it is there duetie to enstruct the people diligentlie not onely in the administration it selfe of the SacrameÌ„tes but also ofteÌ„ in their sermons when the place shall require it what is done and exhibited in the handlynge and dispensation of euery Sacrament How meÌ„ ought to prepare them selues to receyue the SacrameÌ„tes and wyth what trust we must take them and wherein we muste putte confidence of receyuing the benifitte of God in the Sacramentes and howe much diligence religion is required to the handlyng of sacrameÌ„tes not only of them which theÌ„ selues vse the sacrameÌ„tes but also of theÌ„ which be present at the administration and dispensation of the same and chiefly of the ministers whiche exhibite and distribute theÌ„ to other But chiefely they shall warne the people that they thynke not that they maye obteine the grace of God and communion wyth Christe in the Sacramentes thorowe the streÌ„gth and worthines of outwarde worke either in him that ministreth the sacrameÌ„tes or of hym that receyueth theÌ„ but onely thorowe the strength of God and merite of Christe whiche wil worke in his worde and Sacramentes and perfourme al those thinges vndoubtedly whiche he offereth in the Sacramentes and testifieth wyth his wordes to all them whiche receyue the Sacramentes accordynge to his worde wyth true fayth ¶ Of Baptisme BAptisme is a Sacrament of regeneration whereby we be planted and incorporated into Christe the Lorde and be buried into his death and put on the same and be made thorowe hym the sonnes and heryes of God Wherefore we muste handle and receyue thys Sacrament wyth greate reuerence and religion And therfore we must vse that maner of administrynge thys Sacramente and suche tyme muste be appoynted for the administration of the same that all thynges maye serue to steare vp and encrease reuerence and religion that this holy Sacramnent may be godly and holesomly administred and receiued Amonge the auncient fathers Baptisme was openly ministred onely at two tymes in the yere at Ester Witsontyde Which constitution bicause it shoulde be harde perchaunce to renue we wyl that Baptisme be ministred onely vpon the sundayes and holie dayes when the whole congregation is wonte to come togyther if the weakenes of the infantes lette not the same so that it is to be feared that they wyll not lyue tyll the nexte holie daye for oure mynde is that the handlyng of the Sacrament of Christes bodie and bloude called Eucharistia maye be ioyned with Baptisme and that they which brynge the infantes to Baptisme maye vse the bodie and bloude of oure Lorde Iesus Christ after the maner and institution of the primitiue churche But that all thynges maye be ministred and receyued religiously and reuerently the parâ—â—es of the infaÌ„tes shall signifie the matter betymes to the pastours and wyth the godfathers shall humbly require Baptisme for their infantes That if the parentes or the godfathers or both be subiecte to manifest crimes they may be corrected of the pastoure if they wyll admitte correction or if they be incorrigible that they maye be kepte from the communion of Baptisme lest they be present at so diuine a ministration vnto damnation and wyth daunger of offending the churche For they aswell make them selues gyltie of the bodie and death of Christ whiche vnworthelie be present at thys Sacramente of Baptisme and require the same for theyr Infantes wythout true fayeth in Christe as they whiche take the bodie and bloude of the Lorde vnworthely that is to saye not after the institution of Christe namely wythout true repentauÌ„ce and faith in Christe Whrefore if suche come vnto the pastours to aske holie Baptisme whether they be the parentes of the chyldren or theyr godfathers as be defiled wyth manifeste crimes and abominatioÌ„s the preachers shall exhorte them vnto repentaunce and warne them that they be not present at the administration of the Sacramente for that tyme leste they pull damnation vpon them selues and offende the churche For suche by reason of theyr wycked actes haue no parte in the kyngdome of God neyther be they to be admitted to the participation of the sacramentes excepte they repent openly But if the parentes be founde in suche crimes they shall desire theyr kinsfolke or other frendes whiche be as yet the true and lyuely membres of the churche that in theyr steede they wyll aske Baptisme for theyr infantes If the godfathers shal be iudged vnworthie of the church other shal be desired which haue good testimonie In the request of Baptisme the pastours shal aske them whether the infantes haue not receiued Baptisme already whiche thinge is wont to chaunce when the chylde is in perill of death For if they be baptised then the pastours shall do those thynges that we wyll declare hereafter coÌ„cernyng suche infantes But if they be not baptised or not certeynly baptised or not as it behoued and if the parentes and godfathers be not subiecte to those crimes for whiche they shoulde be kepte of from Baptisme they muste be diligently warned by the pastours of the exceadynge benefitte of regeneration in Christe whiche they desire to theyr chyldren Item of the horrible fall and gilte from whiche the infantes are deliuered in Baptisme thorowe Christe Then he shall exhorte them that they be present religiously at the exorcisme and Catechisme and so afterward at the ministration of baptisme laste of all that they vse togyther the Sacrament of the bodie and bloude of the Lorde For it becometh thys thynge to be done not onely for thys cause that they be the membres of Christe and it behoueth not to be present at the Lordes borde wythout part takynge but also bycause it is an vnworthie thynge to aske the communion of Christ for infantes and to receyue it in baptisme and not to receiue the same in the Sacrament for them selues wherein it is offered to theÌ„ also For if they aske and receyue the communion of Christ in Baptisme with true fayth they can not but aske the same for them selues and receiue it desirously beinge offered in
the Sacramente of Christes bodie and bloude The olde fathers administred thys Sacramente of the supper of the Lorde euen to infantes wyth Baptisme But seynge that that custome is worne awaye not wythout a cause it is conuenient and it perteyneth to godlines that the parētes wyth the godfathers and the kinsfolke whiche obteyne the moste holie Sacrament of regeneration for theyr infantes shoulde vse the supper of the Lorde wyth singuler desire of the spirite that they maye receyue the communion of Christe to them selues whiche they obteyne in Baptisme for theyr infātes Which thing healpeth to the edification of other also yea of the whole congregation and it commendeth the holie cōmunion of Christe to other Therfore that all thynges maye be done more diligently and wyth greater religion in the administration of holie Baptisme we wyll that when so euer it maye be conueniently done the Catechisme or instruction of the parentes and godfathers and the exorcisme of the infātes be exhibited the day before the holie daye or sunday that baptisme shal be ministred For seinge that Baptisme muste be ministred in an high administration whē al the church is gathered togither it is cōuenient that in these holie actions suche moderation of both the sacramētes be vsed that maye healpe to steare vp the deuotion of the people and that thorowe longe taryinge it gyue not some occasion of negligēce or of diminishynge the godlie feruentnes of the mynde Wherefore when it maye so be it shall be profitable to seperate in tyme the handlinge of the Catechisme and exorcisme from the ministration of baptisme after the custome of the olde fathers But when the people can not be commodiously present bicause that manie of them dwell farre from the temple or for some other iuste cause then the exorcisme and Catechisme may be handled wyth Baptisme Howe be it the pastours shall laboure as muche as is possible that thys moste holie Sacrament of Baptisme whiche is the first adoption receyuyng and entrynge into the kyngdome of Christe be not administred and receyued but before the whole congregation wyth greate grauitie and reuerence Whē the Catechisme then and exorcisme shal be handled the daye before Baptime let the infantes be brought forth at the euening assēble at the whiche people bycause of the holie day folowyng or sundaye is wont to be present The parentes and the kinsfolke after the exemple of the olde saintes muste also be presente and brynge theyr Infantes to the temple Which and other being come togyther the pastours and ministers muste fyrste playnely declare the misterie of holie Baptisme and the exceadynge benifittes of God exhibited therein to them whiche brought the chyldren and to the reste of the people with singuler grauitie and religion Secondly they shal exhorte thē to a godlie and faythfull receyuyng of so greate a Sacramente and so inestimable benefittes of Christe Then they shall require of the parētes godfathers to renounce Satā the worlde and to confesse the principal articles of our fayth and religion whiche confession and renunciation they muste make playnly and grauely before the whole congregation ¶ A fourme of Catechisme that is to saye of institution exhortation and demaundes made to the godfathers and all them that brynge infantes to holie Baptisme FYrste the pastoure other ministers standynge by hym shall thus exhorte them whiche brynge the infantes to Baptisme Beloued in Christe Iesu we heare dayly out of the worde of God and learne by our owne experience that all we from the fal of Adam are conceyued and borne in synnes that we are giltie of the wrath of God and damned thorowe the synne of Adam except we be deliuered by the death and merites of the sonne of God Christe Iesu our onely sauiour Seinge then that these present infantes be borne in the same state and condition that we were it is playne that they also be spotted wyth originall synne and disease and that they be subiecte to eternall death and damnation But God the father accordynge to his vnspeakeable gentlenes and mercie towardes mankynde sent his sonne to saue the worlde Wherfore he wyll also that these infantes be saued He bare the synnes of all the worlde and deliuered and saued aswell the infantes as vs whiche be of greater age from synnes death the diuel and euerlastynge damnation which would haue the infantes to be offered vnto hym that he myghte gyue them his blessynge Wherfore according to your christiā godlines take thys childe bryng him vnto Christ and offre hym wyth your godly prayers that he may obteyne of him remission of his synnes and be remoued into the kyngdome of grace beinge deliuered from the tirrannie of Satan and that he maye be made heyre of eternal saluation And be ye most certeine hereof that oure Lorde Iesus Christe wyll mercifully regarde thys worke of your charitie towardes thys infant and that he wyll heare your prayers for he him selfe thus cōmaunded wyth hys worde Suffre the litleones to come vnto me for vnto such perteyneth the kingdome of God Wherefore beloued I exhorte you and beseche you as manie as be present that you wyll religiously considre wyth your selues the greatnes of thys ministration and worke that we go aboute For ye se howe the churche humbly but constantly bryngeth hither these miserable weake infantes destitute of al strēgth Wyth whiche dede they confesse playnely that they be the childrē of the wrath of God of synne and euerlastyng death They pray for them wyth godlie and feruent wishes desiring to obteyne for them the grace and healpe of God that thorowe baptisme beinge borne agayne of God they may be the chyldren of God Thynke not then that anie triflynge or chyldishe thynge is handled in thys holie administration wherein warre is taken in hande agaynste Satan wherein he is not onely dryuen out of the infant but the infant is bound with an othe that he euer warre agayng hym as the enemie of his kynge Christ vnto his last breath wyth all his power Wherefore God must be called vpon wyth greate confidence and moste feruent prayers that he wyll not onely deliuer thys chylde from the power of Satan but also strēgthen and defende hym that thorowe out all his lyfe and chiefely in the poynt of death he maye stande fyght agaynst Satan valiauntly Wherefore lyfte ye vp your myndes also and thynke that you muste in thys place heare the worde of God wyth singuler deuotion that you muste call vpon God with lyuely fayth and that here you are prouoked to prayer for a moste weightie cause Therefore behaue your selues so that God maye se your religion and allowe it neither suffre ye that thys moste holie Sacramente of Baptisme be vnworthelie handled thorowe you and be made a mocke vnto Satan and so shame be done to God whiche here powreth forth so greate ryches of his grace For he hym selfe calleth thys Sacramente the lauer of regeneration whereby he maketh vs his owne sonnes heyres of
the congregation or other that wyll shewe me suche loue do reproue me of sinne that I take it in good parte and amende my lyfe that I also thorow a sincere zeale of Christ their health warne my neighbours liuing il and inordinately and amende them if I can but if I cā not that I take other wyth me whiche I thinke may do more wyth them and if they wyl not heare them neither that I bring the whole matter before the elders of the cōgregatiōs whō if they despise to heare be therfore excōmunicated that I take thē for heathē publicanes and auoide their cōpanies asmuch as my vocacion wil suffer and ciuile busines wyth them and their necessitie accordyng to the word of God Demaūd What doeth the communion of the congregacion of Christ require beside Answ It requireth also that I receyue the supper of the Lorde with other Christian men to whom I come and with whom I dwell as one that is one breade and one bodie with them in Christe Demaunde What is this sacramēt Ans It is the communion of the bodye and bloude of Christ whiche in the Lordes supper whā it is celebrated accordinge to the institution of the lord be truly exhibited with the bread and wine De. To what vse doest thou receiue the bodie and bloude of the Lord. Answer That mi fayth in him and truste of the newe and eternal testament of the grace of God redemptiō of Christ and communion wyth hym maye be confirmed in me more and more and that I maye lyue lesse to my selfe more in hym that he may repaire a new holy life in me For as cōcerning mine owne flesh and bloud I canne do nothyng but sinne and lyue an vngodly lyfe Demā What more doeth the communion of the congregation require Ans That I adde my prayers to the commen prayers of the churche that I come together with thē and gyue their oblations and almes lyberally to the vse of the pore and so behaue my selfe in al thynges as a mēbre of Christe ioyned in Christe and cleauynge togyther with all godly men and that I acknowledge and reuerently vse in all thynges those whom the Lorde hath made feeders of his cōgregatiōs curates of soules and elders as it becometh an obedient sonne of God finally that I be thankeful for these exceadinge benifittes the Gospel and cōmunion of his sōne our Lorde Iesus Christ Dema. Wilt thou faythfully perfourme and obserue al these thynges as thou haste nowe professed I wyll by the healpe of oure Lorde Iesus Christe After that one of the chyldrē hath rehearsed a ful cōfession of his fayth hath professed the obedience of Christ before the whole cōgregation it shal be sufficient to propoune questiōs to the other childrē after thys sorte Demaūd Doest thou also thy sonne beleue and cōfesse and wylt thou wholy gyue ouer thy selfe vnto the cōmunion and obedience of Christ and his cōgregatiō as thou heardest euen now thys childe to beleue and cōfesse that he woulde bynde hym selfe to the obedience of Christe and his congregation ⧠Here it shall suffice that euerie one answere thus for hym selfe I beleue and confesse the same and yelde vp my selfe to Christe and his cōgregation trusting in the grace and healpe of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ But where chyldren be not so exercised in the knowledge of religion that they can answere by herte according to the prescribed fourme the visiter whiche shal administer confirmation muste reade al the answers to suche children and it shal be sufficient if they answere simply that they beleue the thinges that were read how be it he shall labour so to declare all thinges vnto them that they may vnderstande what thei go about and what thei cōfesse and professe Howbeit they must be diligently warned that they remēbre that they stand in the sight of god whō they cā not deceyue which beholdeth the herte And that therefore they must procure with al reuerēce that they declare the same thinge in their lyfe that they professe wyth their mouth and thynke in their herte But as we warned before al the chyldrē one by one muste be exercised and prepared hereunto and diligētly examined the wieke before by the ministers and Elders of euerie congregation and the pastours and Elders must bring no childrē before the visiter to be cōfirmed but such as they trust know the summe of religion and beleue truely in Christe It is not to be required precisely that the childrē answer featly cōcerning the wordes for it chaūceth oftē that they which be wel enstructed in the knowledge of faith can not verie handsomely vtter the thynges that they meane chiefly in an open place either for shame or some other weaknesse of minde Wherefore we muste more regarde which childrē truly vnderstāde the thynges that perteine to religion then which cā featly declare them with wordes wherein those excell moore often whiche haue lesse godlie myndes Nowe further when the children which shal be confirmed haue confessed their fayth and professed the obediēce of the Gospell the cōgregation muste be warned that they humbly pray for these chyldrē Whose prayer the pastoure shall offre to the Lorde wyth suche a collecte ⧠The Collecte Almightie and merciful God heauēly father whiche onely workest in vs to wil and to performe the thynges that please the and be good in dede we besech the for these childrē whō thou hast gyuen to thy church and hast begottē againe to thy selfe by holy baptisme and in whom thou haste powred that light that they acknowledge and cōfesse before the cōgregatiō thy grace and benifittes towardes them selues and their redemption in Christ Iesu and wil wholy giue ouer thē selues to the and thy congregation to be obedient to thy cōmaundementes confirme this thy worke which thou hast wrought in them encrease in them the gift of thy spirite that euer going forwarde in the knowledge and obedience of thy Gospell in thy cōgregation they may cōtinue to th ende and that they go no where aside from that fayth and obedience of the Gospell whiche they haue now confessed and professed beinge seduced thorowe some peruerse doctrine or dryuen forth by the lustes of the fleshe Graūt them that they luckely springinge vp in thy sonne our Lorde Iesu Christe the heade of vs all may grow into him tyl they come to mānes age fully and perfectly in al wysedome holines and rightuousnes that they may more fully know and more feruently loue the the father and thy sōne our Lorde Iesus Christ and that they may confesse exhalt and magnifie the same more earnestly and effectuously before their neyghbours both in wordes and deedes And as thou haste promised vs that thou wilt giue vs what so euer we shal aske of the in the name of thy deare sonne as thy sonne promised vs that thou wouldest gyue vs requirynge the a good spirite much more prōptly then any father gyueth his children good thinges
with true repentaunce and griefe of synnes and fayth fixed vpon oure Lord. Further that thei heare embrace the wordes here of the lord and al giftes as the words giftes of saluatiō euerlasting life as thei be in dede For this actiō is a proper and principal work of our saluatiō wherin Christ himself offceth geueth to vs all his thinges that he was made for vs that he suffred and deserued accordinge to hys name Iesus he sheweth himself a sauiour vnto vs in wordes and dedes Neyther is there anye word or dede of his set before vs to be folowed or done that doth not properly and effectuously make to our euerlastyng helth so that we take holde of it and vse it with true fayth As in this present action of the holye supper he hath heaped together with singuler and most feruente desyre to do vs good and hath comprehended in a summe and set befor vs to be knowne embraced and enioyed al those thynges that for oure saluation he spake commaunded suffred dyd and willed vs to do Wherfore whan we here those holsome wordes of Chryst in the holy Supper Take eate drynke Surely we must receyue the Sacramentes with great religion and moste bounden thankfulnes of mynde And it is a great abhominatiō to dispise the Lorde callyng vs so gently and so louingly bidding vs to this feast of health and meat of euerlastyng lyfe not to make hast most gredely to this heauenly and blessed banket Thirdly the pastours shal warne the peple that they dout nothing but the Lord him selfe is present in the myddest of theym and geueth them this very body and bloude that thei euer may more fully liue in hym and he in thē and that they may dayly grow more and more into hym whych is the heade and be moued of him as hys lyuely and vncorrupt members and require of him confidently al good thynges and al euils to be taken away and finally that they may receiue the thynges most aboundantly which thei aske For as we receiue hym in this sacrament so we receiue with him al thinges that pertain to the children of God And forasmuch as this exhibition and receiuyng of the body and bloude of Chryste this thinge and action is so heauenlye and diuine a matter of fayth and of the newe testament the pastours shall warne this also that men excludyng the iudgement of theyr owne reason geue fayth simply to the Lordes wordes and that they study to receyue this heauenly meat and this blessed communion of our onelye sauioure and Lorde with singuler desire and thankfulnes of mynde Fourthly the preachers shall diligentlye warne the people that they ernestly considre those most blessed wordes of the Lord which is geuē for you which is shed furth for you and for many vnto the forgeuenes of sinnes Item this is the newe testamēt in my bloud or this is the bloud of the newe testamente For by this only thyng that Chryst on the crosse offred his holi body and bloud to the father for our sinnes we be recōsiled to God and deliuered from the power of satan and hel beyng made the sonnes heyres of God and the newe leyge of grace the testamente of eternal saluation is ordained and confirmed betwene God and vs that God wil be our father also and acknowledge vs to bee his people yea his sonnes and heyres that he wyll driue al euils from vs and heape al good thynges vpon vs both present and to come finally that in the last day he wil raise vs from the dead and settle vs in an heauenly and ful blessed lyfe The fourth thinge that the Lorde deliuered and dyd in his holye supper is this that he saide Do this in the remembraūce of me And he gaue manie other holsome cōmaundementes to his disciples and exhortacions For he taught thē and warned them afore hande wyth manye wordes of hys passion and the fruit that we receyue by the same of his resurrection and heauenly kingdome of the office and ministerie of christen men and chiefely of theyr apostolike offyce to preach hys kingdome in al the world and together in to it the scatered children of God and to confirme and further them in the same For this cause than the preachers shal warne diligently as often as this sacrament is ministred that thei must studiously stirre vp and celebrated the remembraunce of Christe by godlye and diligente handelynge and preaching of the Gospel whereby thei shal faithfully declare to the people how necessarie it was for vs that the sonne of God shoulde take oure flesh and with hys death deliuer vs from eternall death and the terannye of Satan and howe greate benifites he obtayned and gaue vs and dayly gyueth vs thoought hys death and resurrection that is to wit remission of sinnes the spirite of adoption a newe and blessed powre of liuinge the felloshippe of resurrection vnto a verie heauenlye diuine and euerlastinge lyfe All whiche thinges muste be muste religiously preached and considered in the holie supper Wherefore in this must hollie action the doctrine of the Gospell and the lawe muste be diligently beaten in that the Lordes death and resurrectiō and al thinges that he was made for vs that he dyd and suffred that he obteyned for vs and perfourmed and dayly perfourmeth be muste studyously preached and that the remembraunce of him be fully and perfectly celebrated to this end that our fayth in him and new and blessed lyfe in the lame maye be euer confirmed and augmented Therefore we vse yet of the custome of the olde church that open and principal sermons be made a boute this ministracion of the holye masse The pastours and teachers of cōgregacions shall often and faythfully warne and enstructe the people of all these thinges So the chosen of God shal easly suffer them selues to be led awaye from al abuses of thys most reuerende and holie sacramente and be brought agayne to the true and holsome vse of the same For the shepe of Christe knowe the voyce of theyr shepeherde and folowe him hertely This maner surly canne not be obscure or vncertayn to they in that sauour anye thynge of Christ All christiane Doctrine consisteth herein and is grounded hervpon that men be taught to kepe all those thinges that oure Lorde Iesus Christe commaunded as the father hym selfe witnessed of hym from heauen sayinge Thys is my welbeloued sonne here him And he sayeth of himselfe to the Apostles al power in heauen and erth is giuen to me teach and make all the heathen my disciples baptise them in the name of the father and the sōne and the holye goste and teache them to kepe al these thsnges that I haue commaunded you But it is euident that this our only master and Lorde instituted the sacramente of thanckes gyuinge wyth these wordes and commended it vnto vs. Do this in the remēbraunce of me meaninge that that he hymselfe dyd and that that the Euangelistes
bourde be striken and troubled wyth sore rebukes or vntymely thrustynge vnto the receyuynge of the Sacrament For there be not a fewe whiche though they can not thorowlie vnderstande this misterie and the perfecte vse of Sacramentes yet they haue suche fayth in Christe that they can praye wyth the congregation and be somewhat edified in fayth thorow holie doctrine and exhortations that be wonte to be vsed aboute the holie supper and the ministration thereof yea and they maye be taughte and moued by litle and litle to a perfecter knowledge of thys misterie and an oftner vse of the Sacramentes euen by thys that they be present at the holie supper which absteyne not from the Lordes supper of anie contempte of the Sacramentes which they acknowledge in them selues but of a certeine weakenes of men and preposterous reuerence of the Sacramente These men the pastoures muste fatherlie and gentlie teach and enstructe dayly of these misteries and brynge them fayre and softlie to a perfecter knowledge and vse of the same declarynge diligently and printynge in them the thynges that we haue taughte in this place concerning the true and perfect administratiō and vse of this Sacramēt and they must not fray them away and driue them frō the hole action of the supper whyle they haue anie hope of them that they wil go forward in the studie and communion of Christ ¶ At what tyme the supper of the Lorde muste be celebrated ⧠Therfore that thys moste holie Sacrament may be better knowen among al godlie men and that the true vse of it maye be more easely restored and muche estemed we wyll that it be ministred as sone as the people of euerie cōgregation for the moste part be well enstructe out of Goddes worde of the true vse of it onely vpon the sundayes and holie dayes or vpon suche dayes when great companies assemble together to commune prayer Thys thynge was obserued in the time of the fathers also in greater and muche more populous cōgregations then we haue For the Lorde instituted not thys Sacramēt vnto vs for a thinge to be beholded but he commaunded it to be ministred for the commune and holsome receyuyng of his bodie and bloude whiche thynges al the membres ought equally to receyue in euery great holie assemble from one table and one altare Hereof S. Ciprian amonge other alledgeth thys cause why we celebrate this holy supper in the mornyng whereas Christe dyd it after supper bycause sayeth he that when we suppe we can not cal the commune people to our feaste that we maye celebrate the trueth of the Sacrament al the brotherhode beinge present These be the wordes of Ciprian whiche he toke out of the doctrine of Paul i. Cor. x. which we alledged before For the truth of thys Sacrament is as the Apostle teacheth in the same place that all we whiche are the membres and bodie of Christe should receyue the bodie and bloud out of the same Sacramēt Wherfore the father 's iudged that thys supper is not truly rightly celebrated except the whole brotherhode be present I meane thys commune supper For the holie bishoppes dyd sometymes celebrate the holie supper priuately that is to saye the whole congregation not beinge present sometymes wyth straungers and sometymes wyth the better and feruenter sorte of bretherne and that in their peculiar prayinge places and sometymes also in priuate houses wyth sicke folke of whose communion we wyll speake hereafter And these the holie fathers called priuate masses not bicause that in them the Sacramentes were distributed to no bodie but bycause they were distributed to fewe and the whole cōgregation not beinge present and that euen as it were in a priuate place For the holie fathers celebrated no supper wythout distribution of the Sacramentes For they doubted not but that that dyd vtterly fyghte wyth the Lordes Institution ⧠Of the preparation to the supper of the Lorde Seinge that the Lordes supper as we sayed before ought not to be celebrated but wyth his disciples and for asmuche as the ministers must be faythfull disposers of the misteries of God and must take great hede that they caste not an holie thynge before dogges and pearles before swyne we wyll that the pastours admitte no mā to the Lordes supper which hath not first offered him selfe to thē and after that he hath first made a confession of his synnes being Catechised he receyue absolution accordyng to the Lordes worde And that there may be a certeine and appoynted tyme for the doinge hereof I meane that they whiche shall cōmunicate be prepared and sanctified to the cōmunion of Christ with an holy instructiō and prayer let the pastours procure that the people be called together in the temple at euentyde the day before the celebration of the Lordes supper and lette them make a preparation and sanctification vnto the Lordes bourde after thys sorte Wheree clerkes shall be or scholers let them in the meane ceason while the people come together syng a Psalme or two with a dominical antiphone or Hymne whiche yet we wyll haue to be pure that is to saye diffenting in no parte from the holie scripture To these let them adde the songe of the Lordes mother Magnificat and some conuenient Collecte Afterwarde when the people be come together they shall synge a Psalme in the Douche tonge And then the pastour or ministre to whom the office of thys preparation is committed shall reade some place of the Lordes supper out of the Euangelistes or out of Paule Chap. x. xi Of the firste to the Corhinthi or out of the Lordes sermon Iohn vi For though the Lorde speake not in that place of the Sacramēt of the supper whiche he had not yet made neuertheles he preacheth of the true eatynge of his bodie and drynkyng of his bloude for the exhibition wherof he afterwarde instituted the holie supper Out of such lessons the ministers shall diligently teache the people to what vse the Lorde ordeined his supper and howe we may receiue it holsomely after this sort ¶ Ashorte institution or sermon of the Lordes supper Forasmuche as we entende to keepe tomorowe the moste holie supper of our sauiour Christe by his healpe for the celebration of a blessed remembraūce of him and cōfirmation of our fayth first it is conuenient to declare with fewe wordes and call to our mindes the misterie of this right diuine Sacrament Before al thinges then the Lorde offereth vnto vs his fleshe and his bloude and biddeth vs to take the same and affirming that we shall not haue lyfe but shall remayne in euerlasting death excepte we eate his fleshe and drinke his bloud Let vs remembre and acknowledge that our fleshe and bloud that is to saye our whole nature is thorow wickednes so loste adiudged to eternal death by the iust wrath of God that of our selues we can neuer obteyne euerlastynge life and the inheritaunce of the heauenly kingdome Thys remembraunce acknowledging of our destruction
out of the worde of God as Paule witnesseth saiynge The swerde of the spirite is the worde of god Ephe. vi Seinge than the beginninge the middle and the ende of oure newe lyfe that is to say regeneration in to the saide lyfe the encrease of it and victorie agaynst Satan consisseth of the worde of God the feeders of congregations maye easely see in to what daunger of Goddes wrath they runne if anie be not parttakers of this regeneration thorough theyr negligence or if they that be borne agayne of the spirite wante the feedinge of goddes worde and the cherishinge of holesome doctrine of exhortation or if they falle from the lyfe and communion of Christe beinge sedused thoroughe false doctrines of men wherefore they that haue this office must euer with al diligence continue in readinge doctrine praier and other exercises spiritual that they maie saie with that faythful seruaunte Lorde thou deliueredest to me ten talētes and lo I haue gained other ten And that they maie heare agayne wel done faythful seruaunte thou wast faithful ouer fewe thinges I wil sette the ouer manie Entre in to the ioye of thy Lorde Wherfore that feeders and al ministers of congregations may the better vnderstande and handle the holye scripture we wil opē vnto thē a certaine way and we wyll declare in ordre the more notable places of the Chrystiane doctrine not that we would haue them to tary in these places but because we desire to haue them brought by these more easelie to the holy scripture it selfe out of which afterward they may be instructed more fully and perfectly ¶ That some leason out of the holie scripture muste be set forth to the people before the sermō and that the same muste be declared to them FYrste we wyll that the pastours take all theyr sermons that they make to the people out of some leason of the holie scripture whiche at the begynnynge of the sermon they shall recite wyth singuler reuerence grauitie As we know that the olde holy fathers vsed it euen from the tyme of the Apostles Which thing also was obserued in the synnagoges of the Iewes as it appeareth by that that we reade of the Lord. Luk. iiii of the synnagog Act. xiii into the whiche Paule and Baruabas entred vppon the Sabbath at Antioche of Pisidia Wherfore in olde tyme euerie congregation had peculiar readers whiche red the bokes of the holie scripture to the people out of the pulpette But this custome being abolished amonge other fautes of ecclesiasticall administration and in thys scarsnes of ministers of the worde by reason wherof Peculiar readers cānot be appointed in euerie congregation we wil that the pastours and preachers execute theyr office and religiouslie to reade to the people afore hande those thinges wherof they wyl speake that so thei may the more accustome them selues to heare the worde of God and that they maye be more fullly enstructed of their saluation It shall healpe also the pastours thē selues to make and finishe their sermons with better ordre if they shal folow the prescripte of the leason preposed and keepe thē selues wythin the bandes therof And they shall measure these leasons after the measure of those lessons that are accustomablye recited in Masses So the people maye more easily remēbre the thynges that shall be redde and the preachers also maye more comodiouslie declare them For they must diligently auoyd this faute that some haue that they tarie not vpon one or two wordes of the premised leason lettyng the reste passe vntoutched or fall quite to other matters then were redde Oure fayth must leaue vpon the pure and onelie worde of God wherefore that worde must be hearde and vnderstanded of euerie person Wherfore it shal be conuenient to reade out of the holie scripture and declare so muche as by likelihode the people may perceyue and retayne to the edification of fayth ¶ That al sermons must be made to set forth and magnifie Christ the Lorde FOrasmuch as Christ our Lorde is the ende of the lawe and Moses the psalmes Rom. x Luke the last Actes x. and the prophetes doe testifi and preach of hym that he is the onely sauiour of the chosen people in whom whosoeuer shal beleue shal receyue forgyuenes of sinnes thorowe his name all pastours must directe ordre theyr sermons to this marcke that they beare and declare witnesse of thys Christe For so he himselfe commaundid the Al christian doctrine is a testimonie of Christ the sauiour Actes i. i. Cor. ij apostles a litle before his ascention into heauen whan he instituted the holie ministerye of preaching you shal be witnesses vnto me at Hierusalē and in all Iurie and Samary vnto the vttermost endes of the earth Here of it cometh that S. Paule wryteth of hym selfe I iudged not myselfe to knowe anye thinge amonge you sauinge Iesus Christe and him crucified And he had a good cause to saye so For as he wrate to the Coloss al thinges were created by him that be in heauen and in erth visible and inuisible whether they be thrones dominations principates or powers All thynges were made by him and in him and he is before al thinges ▪ al thinges cōsist thorough is him He is the head of the body of the church which is the begining the frist begottē of the deade that he may be the chief in al thinges for it hath pleased the father that all fulnes shoulde dwelle in him and thorough hym to reconcile al thinges towardes hymselfe the thinges that be ether in heauen or in erth being pacified by the bloud of his crosse thorough the same persō Iohanne witnesseth the same thinges in the begininge of his gospel and epistle And the Lorde of hym selfe Iohan. v. iii. xii xvii and in manye other places Therefor Christe hym selfe comprehended the summe of the whole scripture in this sentence Luke the last repentaunce and remission of synnes must be preched in the name of Christ wherfore let the faythful ministers of congregations alwayes magnifie the name of oure Lorde Iesus Christe testifiynge that thys only sonne of God the true God and man is he by whome al thinges were made be Ephe. i. gouerned repared and renued which also ruleth al thinges with the worde of his power whyche gathereth together the scattered chyldren of God and straiyng sheepe Hebru i. Iohn x. and gyueth repentaunce and remission of sinnes For there is none other name vnder heauen gyuen to men wherein they shal be Act. v. Act. iiii Iohn xvii Iohn x. saued the power of all fleshe is gyuen to him that he maie gyue euerlastinge lyfe to al thē that the father hath gyuen hym He is that good shepeherde that giueth his life for his sheepe that he maye gyue them eternal lyfe which so defendeth and keepeth his sheepe that noman can take them out of his hande These and suche lyke testimonies of Christe must be often and diligintlye beatē
is and muche wished for of oure Lorde Iesus Christe namely that he came for thys cause into the worlde beinge made man to deliuer all them that beleue in hym from synne death and eternall damnation and to gyue them a newe and perpetuall ryghtuousnes and lyfe Whiche thynge al the prophetes spake afore hāde of him as the lorde him selfe expouned in the laste of Luke So sayeth he it behoued Christ to suffre and to ryse from the dead the thirde daye and that repentaunce and remission of synnes should be preached in his name among all nations The Apostles taught the same thynge euerie where as it appeareth in theyr actes For thus Petre preacheth repente your fautes and let euerie one of you be baptised in the name of Iesus Christ for the forgyuenes of synnes and ye shall receyue the gyfte of the holy goste actes ij Item the God of oure fathers hath raysed Iesus whom ye kylled hangyng vpon wodde hym God hath exalted wyth his ryght hande a prince and a sauiour to gyue repentaunce vnto Israell and forgyuenes of synnes etc. And agayne he commaunded vs that we shoulde preach to the people and testifie that it is he which was appointed of god a iudge of the quicke and the deade To hym all the Prophetes beare wytnes that who so beleueth in hym he shall receyue remission of synnes thorowe his name Saynt Paule preacheth the same thynge actes xiij Be it knowen to you then bretherne that thorowe thys man remission of synnes is preached etc. Though thys preachyng of the Gospell be short neuertheles it is the power of God vnto saluation to euerie one that beleueth Ro. i. Wherfore Christe also compareth the Gospell to a mustarde corne to a treasure hidde in a felde to a precious margarite for the gettyng wherof we must sell and leaue all thynges Math. xiiij But that the strēgth and efficacie of the Gospel may be more euident the preachers muste euer studiously set forth Christe and religiously preache howe great thynges he suffered for our saluation howe great thynges he did Further howe he wil haue these thynges shewed vnto vs and what he wyll worke in vs thorowe thys preaching It is euident thorow the preachyng of the lawe that all we be synners of oure selues and destitute of the glorie of God Rom. iij. Item that we are deade thorowe misdedes and synnes and be by nature the children of wrath as other be Ephesi ij prisoners and solde vnder synne that we oure selues can not ryse out of thys perdition of oure owne strengthe Roma viij Wherfore to obtaine saluation there needed a mediatour and sauiour whiche might pacifie God beinge angrie and recōcile vs to God and deliuer vs frō synne and death and make vs heyres of euerlastynge lyfe Suche a sauiour and intercessour Christe is made vnto vs. i. Timo. ij one God and one attonemaker of God and men Christe Iesus a man whiche gaue hym selfe a price of redemption for al men etc. Thys Mediatour first entreateth wyth God the father thorowe his lyfe death passion and intercession to turne his wrath frō vs to receyue vs into fauour and to gyue to vs as to his children the holy spirite and euerlastyng lyfe Further he cometh to vs and handleth his matter with vs thorowe the misterie of the Gospell his holy spirite and the crosse that we maye beleue hym and thorow faith obtayne ryghtuousnes and euerlasting life And he handleth his matter wyth God after thys sorte firste he ordred his whole lyfe accordyng to the wyl of the father beinge made obedient vnto hym vnto death whiche thynges we should haue done But bicause he sawe that they were impossible vnto vs he perfourmed them hym selfe he fulfylled the lawe as he sayth in Mathew I came not to destroye the lawe but to fulfyll it And Paule to the Gala. iiij Whē the fulnes of tyme came God sent forth his sonne made of a woman made subiecte to the lawe to redeame them that were subiecte to the lawe Therfore he wrate also to the Cor. Christe is made rightuousnes vnto vs of God that is to saye his rightuousnes was perfourmed for our sakes and gyuen vnto vs. Item Phil. iij. Yea and I thynke all thinges to be losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christe my Lorde and I cōpt them for refuse that I maye wynne Christe and be founde in hym not hauing my rightuousnes of the lawe but that that is thorowe the fayth of Christe etc. For whoso beleueth in Christ to him whole Christ and his perfecte ryghtuousnesse is imputed at once and togyther Secondly Christe translateth and remoueth all our synnes vpon him selfe dieth for them and suffreth al those thinges that we should haue suffred for our sinnes As Iohn Baptiste testifieth Beholde the lambe of God whiche taketh awaye the synnes of the worlde Item Esaie of a truth he bare our diseases and he susteyned our sorowes and we cōpted hym stricken wyth a plage and depressed of God But he was wounded for oure iniquities and beaten for oure synnes the chasteninge of peace was vpon hym and we were healed wyth his stripes And we haue strayed lyke sheepe euery mā into his owne way and God hath putte vpon him the iniquities of al vs. Item Paule Rom. viij God spared not his owne sonne but gaue him for vs all and Chap. iiij He was deliuered for oure synnes and raysed for our iustification So Gala. iij. Christ redeamed vs from the curse of the lawe beinge made a curse for vs for it is wrytten cursed is euerie one that hangeth on tree Thirdly he is a mediatour for vs that God wyll receyue vs into fauoure Esaie liij He bare the synnes of manie and prayed for transgressours The prayer of Christe Iohn xvij teacheth the same thynge I praye for them not for the worlde but for those whome thou hast gyuen me keepe them in thy name etc. And Paule Ro. viij Christe is at the right hande of the father and maketh intercession for vs. Itē to the Hebr. v. whiche in the dayes of his fleshe when he had offered vp with strōge criyng and teares prayers and supplications before him that was able to deliuer him etc. Yea the whole epistle sheweth thys thinge mooste euidently that Christe oure high bishoppe offred hym selfe for our sinnes and entred into the most holie place wyth his owne bloude an euerlastyng redemption beinge founde out So then Christe handled and doeth handle the matter for vs thorowe his death and obedience shewed to the father and thorowe his intercession that he reconcileth vs to God the father and for thys cause he is made Lorde ouer all thynges as the Apostle witnesseth Psal ij whiche beinge in the fourme of God thought it no robberie to be equall wyth God but he emptied him selfe taking the fourme of a seruaunt constituted in the lykenes of men and in shape founde as a man he humbled him selfe made obedient vnto the death and that of the crosse Wherfore God
raysed him vp vnto supreme highnes and gaue hym a name aboue al names that in the name of Iesus all knees shoulde bowe etc. After that Christ hath thus handled our matter before the father and pleased his anger afterwarde he executeth the office of a faithful intercessour and patrone he turneth him self to vs he entreateth vs that he may heale oure synnes and weaknes For thys cause he sayed to his disciples All power in heauen and in earth is gyuen vnto me go therfore and teache al nations and receyue them into my discipline preache the Gospel to euerie creature baptising thē in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holie goste he that beleueth and is baptised shal be saued and he that beleueth not shal be damned And teache them to keepe all those thinges that I haue cōmaunded you Thus thorowe thys shorte and simple preachinge of the Gospell he executeth the busines of oure iustification after a merueylous sorte Therfore as the strēgth and vse of the law muste be declared to the people so the vse and vertue of the Gospell muste be propouned and beaten in wyth singuler diligence For it is the power of God vnto saluation to euerie one that beleueth Ro. i. First then the preachers shall teache that the Gospell bringeth to vs remission of synnes if we beleue it truely and vnfaynedly and determine thorow this fayth that God for his sonnes sake wyll be mercifull vnto vs and accepte vs and compt vs for sonnes not for the dignitie of our workes and they shall teache that therfore it bryngeth peace to our consciences which by reason of synne were fearefull and brused of whiche peace the angelles sange in the tyme of the natiuitie of Christe Glorie in the highest to God and in the earth peace to men And Esaie the discipline of peace is vpon hym Itē Paule Roma v. Iustified of fayth we haue peace towardes God thorowe oure Lorde Christe Iesus Ephe. ij he is our peace etc. Esaie lij Ro. x. howe beautiful are the feete of them that preach peace etc. For where the voice of the Gospel soundeth not oure consciences can haue no peace as Dauid wytnesseth Psal xxxvij There is no whole part in my bodie by reason of thy wrath neither is there peace in my bones bycause of my synne etc. Secondly the Gospell bryngeth to vs the ryghtuousnes of Christe in whiche we maye trust as done for vs and gyuen vnto vs aswell as if we had perfourmed it oure selues For so Paule sayeth i. Cor. i. Christe Iesus is made vnto vs of God wysedome ryghtuousnes sanctification and redemption and Philip. iij. That I may be founde in hym not hauynge my ryghtuousnes of the lawe but that that is thorowe the fayth of Iesus Christ etc. For thys is a perfect true and euerlastyng rightuousnes For our vertues be farre from that ryghtuousnes and perfection of lyfe whiche the lawe of God requireth And besydes that verie manie synnes abyde euer in vs and wonderfull weaknes as Esaie sayeth lxiij all we are as one defiled and all oure ryghtuousnes as a garmēt of beggerlie patches And the Psal O Lorde entre not into iudgemente wyth me etc. which sentence teacheth merueilous playnelye that we can not sette oure worthines agaynste the iudgement of God Wherfore if our saluation shall be certayne vnto vs it must leaue vpō some other rightuousnes and that a perfecte rightuousnes namely vpon the ryghtuousnes of Christe as Paule wytnesseth Ro. viij God hath not spared his owne sonne etc. Therefore oure Iustification and oure rightuousnes before God which S. Paule and all the other Apostles teache consisteth in two thinges in forgiuenes of synnes and gyuynge of the rightuousnes of Christ thorowe fayeth And thys onely is a sure certayne and perpetuall ryghtuousnes which Christ hath caryed vp into heauē with him selfe to the ryght hande of God where no man can oppresse it or ouerthrowe it as innumerable daungers fal vpon our ryghtuousnes dayly Therefore our lyfe is sayed to be hidden wyth Christe in God Col. iij. And seing that we glorie of thys our Lorde and sauiour and his rightuousnes our lyfe is in the heauens Philip. iij. For where our treasure is there is our herte Wherfore the ryghtuousnes of God gyuen to vs in Christe must be diligently and continually beaten into the people by the preachers and they muste take verie good hede that the knowledge and truste thereof be not corrupted and that men slyde not backe agayne to the confidence of mannes ryghtuousnes For though that true fayth in Christ be neuer wythout good workes and loue yet workes deserue not remission of synnes neither is a man acceptable to God for workes but for Christes sake whyle he embraceth and holdeth by fayth his rightuousnes and redemption gyuen vnto hym Thirdly when a mynde affrayed wyth the feelyng of Goddes wrath susteyneth it selfe wyth the voice of the Gospel and thorowe the knowledge of the sauiour Christ and promises of God whiche Christe fulfilleth vnto vs the holie spirite is present and worketh in our hertes a sure truste of Goddes beniuolence and adoption of euerlastyng lyfe For in hearinge of the Gospel the holie spirite is gyuen as Paule wytnesseth Gala. iij. Thys one thinge I desire to learne of you receiued ye the spirite thorow the dedes of the lawe or thorowe the preaching of fayth Item iiij Bicause ye be children God hath sent forth the spirite of his sonne etc. And Iohn vij he that beleueth in me as the scripture sayeth fluddes of lyuely water shall flowe out of his bealy thys thynge sayeth Iohn he spake of the spirite whom they shoulde receyue that beleued in hym And thorowe thys receyuynge of the holie gooste a newe generation is caused whereof Iohn speaketh i. Chap. As many as receyued him he gaue them power to be the sonnes of God them I say that had beleued in his name whiche were not borne of bloud nor of the wyll of man but of God Item Ro. vij who so euer be ledde wyth the spirite of God they be the children of God And. ii Cor. iii. we representing the glorie of the Lorde in a glasse wyth a ryght face are transfigured to the same Image from glory to glorie as of the spirite of the Lorde that is to saye when we receyue thorow fayeth the exedinge mercie of God promised and exhibited in Christe the holy goste worketh in vs a newe lyfe and a newe knowledge of God vnknowen to mannes reason Moreouer thys fayth thys knowledge of God in Christ and assenting to his promises thorowe the worke of the same holie spirite the spirite of adoption kendleth susteyneth cōserueth and encreaseth such loue of God suche desire to gratifie and to serue God and to approue our selues to hym in all thynges to glorifie hym that wyth verie great diligence and carefulnes we keepe our selues from al synne and moste earnestly applie oure selues to all good workes The holy scriptures describe
that custome that when they come togyther to heare the worde and to receyue the sacramentes the faythfull shoulde offre theyr oblations to the Lorde and consecrate them to hym for the vse of the pore Out of these places of the scripture and institution of the olde churche the preachers shall teache the people fyrste that the sacrifice of Christe is that onely propitiatorie sacrifice of good sauour whiche by it selfe is accepted to God the father and deserueth vnto vs forgyuenes of synnes grace and other benifittes of God and that it is the sacrifice which was shadowed in al the sacrifices of the law whiche made al the other acceptable vnto God As also the sacrifice of our selues and what so euer pleasaunte thynges we can do to God be allowed and accepted of God for respecte of thys onely propitiatorie sacrifice Without Christ there is nothynge acceptable No man can do any acceptable thynge wythout Christ Wherefore the preachers muste busely beate into the people that they thynke not that acceptable seruice or worshyppe maye be done vnto God with any sacrifice or oblation be it neuer so precious for the dignifie and worthines either of the thynge or of the offerer if the same sacrifice or oblation be not offered and made acceptable in Christe the Lorde thorowe his merite Secondly that they go not about to giue any other sacrifices to God thē those which we rehearsed before that is to say the sacrifice of them selues of a brused spirite and herte afflicted thorowe synnes Item a sacrifice of prayse and thankesgyuynge for the benifittes that they haue receyued wyth liberalitie towardes the pore and other thinges that make for the promotynge of the kyngdome of Christe Wherfore to offre to God great gyftes to buylde adourne and enriche tēples altares monasteries farther then that it prouoketh the religion of Christ wyth thys false opinion as thoughe these thynges were muche moore acceptable to God then if suche gyftes were bestowed vpon the pore for Christes sake be in no wise those sacrifices which God requireth or alloweth but wherewyth the wrath of God is more prouoked And therefore the people must be warned that corporal goodes must be offered to God for none other vse then that the religion of Christe maye be furthered that the holie ministerie maye be ordeyned and maynteyned that the necessitie of the pore maye be prouided for Finally that there maye be ministered to euerie bodie as muche as is needfull to lyue godly Therefore to buylde huge temples and to decke them wyth more thynges then be requisite to thys purpose that the congregation maye haue a comelie place whereunto they maye come togyther to heare Goddes worde to receiue the sacramentes and to do other thinges perteynyng to religion is not allowed of God For these thynges make nothing for the edification of faith in Christ or for the health of our neighbours wherevnto all christian mēnes benifites and good workes should be referred seing that Christ Iesus is the summe of all the commaundementes of God and th ende of the lawe that we I saye maye truly knowe him and take holde vpon hym so that we maye lyue in hym and he in vs. And further seinge that the ende of the law is loue out of a pure hert and good conscience and fayth vnfayued i. Timo. i. Therefore lette the thynge that S. Hierome teacheth haue place that is to wit that the temples of christen men muste be so builded and decked that out of them it may appeare our riches and glorie to be sette in the crosse of Christ and that we serue suche a Lorde that gathered his congregation in the moste pouertie of the worlde wythout golde The matter stode otherwise with the people of the olde testament wich had theyr peculiar rites theyr ceremonies theyr policie their ornamētes in the tabernacle and in the temple all whiche thynges after the cōmyng of Christe ceased That people had onely one temple whiche they decked wyth some outwarde gorgiousnes in the meane whyle neuertheles they were commaunded that they shoulde haue no begger amonge them Deut. xv In the daye of iudgemente when Christe shall pronounce the laste sentence of al men he shall say thus I haue hungred thyrsted I was naked a straunger weake in bondes and you ministered vnto me For what so euer ye dyd to one of these litleones I take it to be done vnto my selfe entre therefore into the kyngedome of my father whiche was prepared for you from the begynning But to those whiche haue not done these thynges to his litleones he shall saye Go into euerlastyng fyer etc. But we shal heare no mention made of buyldyng of temples and monasteries and deckynge of the same Let the pastours then teach the people to exhibite true worshippynges vnto God to decke his true and liuely temples that is to succour the pore and afflicted whiche be the true membres and bretherne of Christe Thys thynge God hym selfe dyd not onely commaunde vs but the holie fathers also require the same of vs. S. Ambrose wryteth thus in the .ij. boke of offices Chap. xx When the Lorde shal cōplayne and require why the goodes of the churche golde and costlie vessels were not bestowed vpon the vse of the pore and redemyng of prisoners if a man wyll laye the ornamentes of temples for his excuse and saye I was a feard lest the temple of God shoulde want ornamentes he shall heare of the Lorde Sacramentes require not golde neither do those thynges please by reason of golde whiche are not bought wyth golde The raunsomming of prisoners is the verie ornamēt of sacramentes and they be verie precious vesselles whiche redeme soules from death That is the true treasure of the Lord which worketh the same thynge that his bloude wrought Then sayeth he I acknowledge the vessel of the Lordes bloud when the chalice redemeth them from the enemie whom the bloud redemed from synne etc. But our naturall blyndnes and rebellion agaynste God causeth that we neuer worshyppe him according to his prescription And thorowe our naturall pryde and vngentlenes and neglectyng of our bretherne it cometh to passe that we thinke those thynges vaynly wasted and loste or not well bestowed whiche are spent vpon the needie and despised men before the worlde Therefore men fall so farre that they had leuer offre theyr gyftes to God for an ornament of wodde stones and deade bones and for the maynteinaunce of vnprofitable felowes then for the vse of the pore where as yet he testifieth that he wyll compte those thinges done vnto him selfe what so euer we bestowe vpon the pore for his sake promisyng that he wyl recompence the same in thys worlde and in the worlde to come Wherefore thys false and peruerse opinion of the fleshe muste be earnestly rebuked and diligently corrected that they maye omitte those sacrifices vnacceptable to god and that they succour the needie and afflicted persones wyth true sacrifices and acceptable to God And
the lord we wyll celebrate to morowe by goddes grace the most holye supper of oure Lorde Iesu Christ where in he hath giuen vs hys flesh for meate and his bloud for drincke to confirme oure fayth and verie christane life it is conuenient that euerye man trye hym selfe with greate diligence as S. Paule exhorteth vs. For thys sacrament was giuen of the Lord for singuler cōsolacion and comforte to wretched and afflicted consciences which do ernestly fele and confesse their sinnes whyche be striken with the feare of the wrath of god and of death and hongre and thurste the rightuousnes of God But if euerie one of vs will examen oure selues as S. Paule teacheth we shall fynde none other thynge but all maner of horrible sinnes and euerlastinge death which we haue deserued thorought oure synnes For the rewarde of sinne is death frome whyche we can by no meanes deliuer oure selues Wherefore our Lord Iesus Christ taking pitie vpon vs was made man for oure synnes that he myght fulfyll the lawe and the whole wil of God for vs and procure our saluacion and that he hymselfe might suffer death and al that we had deserued thorough our sinnes only for vs and our redēption Which thing that we might firmely beleue and that thorough faith we might ioyfully lyue after his will whā supper was ended he toke breade gaue thankes and brake it sayinge take eate this is my bodye that is gyuen for you that is to saye that I am made man and further whatsoeuer I do and suffer all that is yours and it is giuen to you and is done for your saluacion For the testificacion and confirmacion whereof and that you maye daily a hide liue more more in me and I in you I giue my bodye vnto you to be meate and meate of euerlastynge lyfe After the same maner he toke the cuppe also saiyng Take drincke of thys all thys is the cuppe of the new testament in my bloude whiche is shed furth for you and for many vnto remission of synnes As often as ye shall do thys do it in the remembraunce of me that is to saye seinge that I haue now taken the charge of you and haue translated your synnes vpon me I will deliuer miselfe vnto death for thē I wil shedde mi bloude I wil deserue grace and remission of sinnes for you and I wyll sette vp a newe testament wherein synnes shal be perdoned and all remembraunce of thē shal be abolished For a pledge and witnesse of al these thynges and to cōfirme and further my life in you I giue you my bloud to drincke He than that eateth of this breade after thys sorte and dryncketh of the cuppe and firmely beleueth these wordes whiche he heareth of the Lorde and signes whiche he receiueth eateth truly holesomely the flesh of Christ and drinketh his bloude and more fully receiueth in to him selfe hole God and man with al his merites and fauour where wyth the father embraceth hym wyth the ryght and participation of euerlainge lyfe he abydeth in Christ the Lorde and the Lord in him he shal liue for euer Let vs thā god li recompēse these thinges with our selues let vs confirme and ster vp our faith in him lette vs celebrate the remembraunce of hym worthely let vs most studoyusly in al oure wordes and dedes exalte his death resurreccion heauenlye glorie and kingdome let vs reioyse in our owne behalfe that this sonne of God died for our sinnes rosse againe forour instificacion ascended into heauen and reigneth at the right hand of the father furthermore lette vs couragiousli euerie one of vs take vp our crosse and valiantly folowe this our capitaine and loue one another according to his cōmaundemēt as he loued vs. For al we are one bread one bodi because we be parttakers of one breade and one cup. After this praier there shall a praier be made for al the necessites of the congregaciō and cheifely for those men which shall communicate the nexte daye And whan the people haue ended their secrete praier the minister shal cōclude the preparacion with this collecte Almightie euerlastinge God heauealye father because we can please the only in thy deare sonne sanctifie our bodies and soules and graunte vs that to morowe we maye receiue the holesome communion of him in his holie supper with a godlie and faithfull desier and all thanckefulnes that beinge confirmed agayne conceruynge thy perpetual mercie and loue towardes vs and euer goinge forwarde in a new life we maye liue vnto the and serue the thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ with more feare and studie to the prayse of thy name and profyte of thy people A men ¶ How the Lordes supper must be celebrated Whan the people be come to gether vnto this ministration for asmuch as it is agreable to godlines that as often as we appere before the lorde before althinges we should acknowledge and confesse our sinnes and praye for remission of the same the minister whiche shall administer the Lordes supper whan he shal come to the altare shall make a confession in the name of the whole cōgregacion and that in the douche tonge whiche al maye vnderstande after this sorte Almightye euerlastinge God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe the maker of all thynges the iudge of all men we acknowlege and we lament that we were conceiued and borne in sinnes and that therefore we be prone to al euils and abhorre from all good thynges that we haue also transgressed thy holie commaundmentes with out ende and measure in despisinge the and thy worde in distrustinge thy aide in trusting our selues and the worlde in wycked studies and workes where with we haue most greuousli offended thy maiestie and hurted oure neighboures Therefore we haue more and more buried oure selues in to eternall death And we are sorie for it with al our hertes and we desire pardone of the for al the thinges that we haue commited agaynst the we calle for thy helpe against sinne dwellinge in vs and Satan the kendler thereof kepe vs that we do nothyng hereafter against the and couer the wickednes that remaneth in vs with the rightuousnes of they sonne and represse it in vs with thy spirite and at length purdge it cleane out Haue mercye vpon vs most gentle father thorough thy sonne oure Lord Iesus Christe Giue and encrease thy holye spirite in vs which maie teach vs to acknowlege our synnes truly and thoroughly and to be pricked wyth a liuelye repentaunce of the same and with true fayth to apprehend and retayne remission of them in Christ our Lord that dyinge to sinnes dailye more and more we maie serue and please the in anewe lyfe to the glorie of thy name and edifiynge of thy congregacion For we acknowledge that thou iustly requirest these thynges of vs wherefore wee desire to perfourme the same Vouchsafe thou o father of heauen which hast giuen vs a wil to graunte vs also that we
vpon holy dayes Then some lesson conuenient for the place and time shal be recited whereby the people may be steared vp to acknowledgyng of synne and amendement of the same wherewyth we prouoke the anger of God agaynst vs and deserue al maner of calamities Furthermore they shall also be moued to prayer for remission of sinnes for Goddes mercie and healpe and also they shall be steared to liberall almes Whereunto there shall succede a litanie in douch after the fourme that foloweth And whē the people haue also sayd their priuate prayers at length the pastoure shall ende commune prayers wyth some one of those collectes that folowe the litanie here Besides these cōmune prayers in Cities and where a greate companie of people is a litanie shall be songe wyth them that come together in the spirite and commune prayers shall be made vpon an appoynted daye euerie weeke But in those supplications which are appoynted for some notable necessitie and afflictiō sent of God an holy daye and fasting shall be proclaymed to the whole people at lest vnto the ende of cōmune prayers And in suche solemne dayes of supplication some vehemente and earneste lessons shall be reade out of the Prophetes concernyng repentaunce and renuinge and correction of lyfe and out of the same the intollerable wrath of God shall be propouned to the people most diligently and vehemently ⧠Litanie ⧠Lorde haue mercie Christe haue mercie Lorde haue mercie Christe heare vs O God the heauēli father haue mercy on vs O God the sonne redemer of the worlde haue mercie on vs. O God the holy goste haue mercie on vs. ¶ Be fauourable Spare vs O Lorde Be fauourable Deliuer vs O Lorde From al synne Deliuer vs O Lorde From al errour Deliuer vs O Lorde From all euyll Deliuer vs O Lorde From the awaytes of the diuyll Deli. etc. From sodeyne and euyll death Deliuer etc. From pestilence and hungre Deliuer etc. From warre and slaughter Deliuer vs. From sedition and priuie hatred Deliuer From lightenyng and tempestes Deliuer From euerlastynge death Deliuer vs etc. By the misterie of thy holy incarnation Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy holy natiuitie Deliuer vs. etc. By thy Baptisme fastynge and tentations Deliner vs O Lorde By thyne agonie and sweatynge of bloude Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy crosse and passion Deliuer vs. etc. By thy death and buriynge Deliuer vs. By thy resurrection and ascension Deliuer By the commyng of the holy goste the comforter Deliuer vs O Lorde In all tymes of our tribulation Deliuer In all tymes of our prosperitie Deliuer vs. In the houre of death Deliuer vs O Lorde In the daye of Iudgement Deliuer vs. etc. We synners beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to rule and gouerne thy holy and catholike churche We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to keepe the bishoppes pastours ministers of the church in holsome doctrine and holy lyfe We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to take awaye sectes and al offenses We beseche the to etc. That thou wylt vouchsafe to brynge them agayne into the waye of truth whiche stray and be seduced We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to treade Satan vndre our feete We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt sende forth faythful workmen into thy haruest We be That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue to al the hearers encrease of thi worde and the fruite of thy spirite We beseche the to here vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to lifte them vp that be fallen and to strengthen them that stande We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to conforte and healpe the weaklinges and suche as be tempted We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue peace and concorde to al kynges and princes We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue oure Emperour perpetuall victorie agaynste the enemies of God We beseche That thou wylte vouchsafe to guyde defende our prince wyth his officers We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to blesse and preserue our officer and cominaltie We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to regarde and saue the aflicted and suche as be in daunger We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to giue luckie deliueraunce and encrease to women wyth chylde and nurses We beseche the. That thou wylte vouchsafe to cherishe and keepe Infantes and sicke folke We besech That thou wylt vouchsafe to deliuer prisoners We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to defende Orphanes and wydowes and to prouide for them We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to haue mercie on all men We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to perdon and cōuert our enemies persecutours and sclaunderers We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue and preserue the fruites of the earth We be That thou wilt vouchsafe to heare vs. We. The lambe of God which takest away the sinnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnnes of the worlde Gyue vs peace Christe heare vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Christe haue mercie on vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Amen A prayer or collecte after litanie The minister Lorde deale not with vs after our sinnes The Quier Neither rendre vnto vs according to our iniquities The minister O God the mercifull father whiche despifest not the groning of the cōtrite nor contempnest the affection of them that morne be presēt at our prayers which we poure forth before the in the affictions which cōtinually laie vpon vs and heare the same mercifully that the thynge that the gyles of Satā and mē entende maye be brought to naught and dispersed by the deuise of thy goodnes that beinge hurte wyth no persecutions we may euer giue the thankes in thy holy congregation thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amē An other Collecte The minister Call vpon me in the daye of tribulation The Quier And I wyll deliuer the and thou shalte glorifie me The ministre Spare Lorde spare oure synnes And thoughe continuall payne be due vnto vs whiche synne wythout ceasyng yet graunte we beseche the that the thynge that we deserue vnto perpetuall destruction may passe frō vs vnto the furtheraunce of vertue thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The ministre Healpe vs O God our health The Quier And for the glorie of thy name deliuer vs and be mercifull to oure synnes for thy names sake The minister Almightie euerlastynge God by whose spirite the whole bodie of the congregation is sanctified and gouerned heare vs praying for al ordres and degres that bi the gift of thy grace al the same may serue the faithfully thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The minister Shewe vs Lorde thy mercie The Quier And gyue vs thy saluation The minister God from whom all holie desires good purposes and ryghtuous workes procede gyue
euer adde also to thys oure admonition and exhortion the sentence of Paule if they conteyne not lette them be maried For it is better to be maried then to burne what so euer men agaynste the same haue willed or commaunded or require thorowe theyr authoritie or fauour For against that that the Lord pronounceth to be better no maÌ„ mai vowe or coÌ„maund or require or perfourme by any meanes Wherefore we beseche and exhorte in the Lorde the pareÌ„tes and kinsfolke of these personnes that in them whom God hath committed to theyr charge which were borne of them and be ioined to theÌ„ by bloude or some other diuine copulation they wyll not preferre temporall coÌ„modites and ornamentes before euerlastyng and that they wyl rather considre thys thynge well and religiously that our whole wealth lyeth in the free and bolde inuocatioÌ„ of Goddes mercie thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christe Which inuocation can not stande wyth an euyl conscience But they whiche burne bicause they haue not the gyfte of geldyng them selues for the kyngdome of God if they refuse the remedie of burnynge that is to witte holie wedlocke they can verie scantly maintaine a good conscience For who so whyle he maye studieth not to embrace that that God hath iudged better he vndoudtedly dispireth god whose holsome counsel he regardeth not The Lordes worde standeth cleare and euident It is better to be maried then to burne And it oughte to comforte godly parentes whom God hath honoured rather then burthened wyth a greate meanie of chyldren that he hath promised that all other thynges shal be added vnto them which seeke the kingdome of God and the ryghtuousnes thereof thorowe his prouidence whiche surely can neuer leaue his destitute of anie maner of true commodities Lette them comforte them selues wyth thys and suche other lyke promises of God They whiche haue more chyldren then that they caÌ„ thynke that they may prouide meete mariages for them all accordynge to the dignitie of theyr familie lette them not doubte if principally they seeke the kyngdome of God and the ryghtuousues thereof for theyr daughters and sonnes permittynge vnto them holie mariage where as they haue not receyued the gyfte to serue God wythout the same let them not doubte I saye but that God wyll surely blesse both their chldren other so plentifully that they shall haue plaine experience that there is nothynge more profitable that nothinge obteineth greater blessing of god for al necessities of life theÌ„ faithfully simply to folowe his word and wil. Furthermore how horrible a thing should it be to be heard that christian noble meÌ„ or other wyse exccelleÌ„t thorowe the singuler benifites of the Lorde shoulde wyllyngly for temporal ritches and worldfly glorie putte theyr chyldren in daunger oeternall damnation and laye before them a snare of synne whom they had begotte to God to enioye eternall lyfe and not to the diuyll to suffre euerlastyng damnation and whom also they had consecrated to Christe to keepe al the thinges that he coÌ„maunded Wo be vnto them sayeth the Lorde by whoÌ„ an occasion of stumblyng commeth And if we hereafter by the councell and aduise of our prouinciall states can healpe godly and honeste men aswell noble as other whiche haue more chyldren then they can wel ioyne in matrimonie accordynge to theyr estate that they maye couple all theyr chyldren whom the Lorde hath called to holy wedlocke in mariages meete for them we wyl omitte no faythfulnes and diligence In the meane whyle lette the parentes and kinsfolke which haue the gouernaÌ„ce of their yongers laboure to shewe suche loue and faythfulnes to theyr chyldren and kinsfolke in thys behalfe whereby they maye declare that they desire nothinge more then the glorie of God to be sette forth in the wealth of they friendes So agayne lette yonge prisoners behaue them selues in suche sorte towardes theyr parentes and Elders as men whiche next after the obedience of God desire nothynge more then to ordre al theyr life to the acceptation and worshyppe of theyr parentes and kinsfolke and to do and suffre al thynges that God wyl haue them to do and suffre accordyng to theyr pleasure More then thys neither we nor other caÌ„ brynge any remedie agaynste the former inconuenience whiche men feare wyll ensue of the remission of monastical bondes I meane that virgines cloisterers returne not out of theyr abbayes to theyr frendes and be burthenous vnto them and also a disworshippe thorow vnaduised mariages or some worse chaunge of lyfe that is But that we maye ease theyr carefulnes whiche are troubled wyth the other incommoditie and feare leste their inheritaunces and patrimonies shal be diminished we beseche theÌ„ and exhorte theÌ„ in the Lorde that first they wyl wel considre that we christen men ought so to regarde teÌ„poral goodes that we do not onely preferre them in no wyse before eternall goodes but also that they be not an hidrauÌ„ce to the same in any poynte Secondly lette them remembre that Goddes lawe after whiche Abraham and other holie fathees lyued graunteth vnto parentes that they maye so distribute theyr temporal goodes amonge theyr chyldren as they shall thynke moste profitable and worshypfull both for theyr familie and also for the congregation of Christ For Abraham made Isaac his iust heyre and gaue to his other chyldreÌ„ though they were lawfulli begotteÌ„ only certain portioÌ„s of his goodes ordered and distributed accordynge to his pleasure So Dauid made not his eldâ—â—t sonne to be successour of his kyngdome but hym whom he iudged to be most meete to administre the same For the same reason Moyses his lawe whiche God him selfe gaue commaundeth that two partes of the inheritage be gyuen to the eldest sonne Thys reason then being wel considered if the same thynge shall seeme good to our diocesanes we wyll thus determine concernynge the enheritaunces of them which shal forsake Monasteries namely that none of them shall haue title to claime those enheritances whiche were distributed amonge the other heyres before that they came out of theyr Abbayes As for the enheritaunces which shal chaunce after that they haue lefte their Abbaies we wil take this ordre in theÌ„ If it be great hinderaunce to anie man to admitte theÌ„ to lyke portions which after cession of inheritaunce lefte their abbaies becaus that the persone trusting in that cession and lokinge for agreater protion of inheritaunce enterprised to marie or beganne som other trade of life so that he should be greatli endammaged if such cession of inheritauÌ„ce should be voide and if they shoulde clame againe their protion whiche had giuen vp the same at their entringe in to monasteries in such a case we wil procure that they whiche shal be putte to such hinderaunce shal be pâ—â—uided for and that they also which haue left their monasteries shal be brought to christiaÌ„ equite so that no body shall haue cause to coÌ„plaine of wronge Further it is conuenient that they which shal be deliuered out of