S. Forasmuche as they haue the fauor of God through Christe whatsoeuer is required in them that haue thei also sufficientlye in and through Christe whiche hath taken theyr weakenes vpon himselfe is become their satisfaccion as he is to all others And his fayth and obedience is of grace imputed vnto them and throughe his spirite they are sanctified to bee the tēples of God whose heade and sauior is Christe and they membres of his body M. Than may they be baptised with a good conscience S. Yea no doubt For seyng they are reputed as faythfull in the syghte and iudgement of god thorowe Christe they ought as faythfull to bee baptised that thorowe the ministracion of the churche they may haue a sure token witnes that they are the heyres of the blessyng promised vnto the sede of the faythfull the membres of our sauior Christe cleane purged and washed from all theyr synne in his bloude M. From what synne nedeth a chylde that is newe borne whiche hath wrought neither good nor euil to be purged or washed S. From original sinne whiche is the verye roote of all other synne M. What is originall sinne S. It is the poison infeccion or corrupcion of nature wherein we are conceyued Whiche alwayes resisteth rebelleth and lusteth againste the wyll of God and is euer inclined and redye vnto all euill wickednes and hath a luste and delite therin From the whiche we can none otherwyse be deliuered or pourged but alonlye throughe the power of God in our sauior Christ M. But how are we pourged from this sinne through baptisme S. In as muche as in baptisme we haue a promise that it is forgeuē vs and not imputed to damnacion vnto vs. And againe that the holy ghost is also geuē vs whiche shall dayly mortifie kyll and subdue this synne and wicked inclinacion in vs begynnyng and daylye increasyng in the stede therof a newe affeccion and nature in vs obediente vnto the wyll of God and deliting therin whiche in the blessed resurreccion shall bee altogether perfite M. Nowe tell me what ought our baptisme to worke in vs and to put vs in remembraunce of S. Firste we ought to bee thankefull vnto God for it and vnto our parentes also for furtheryng and healpyng vs vnto it and to receyue all doctrine and correccion of them obediently and redily M. What more S. It ought also to put vs in remēbraunce of the remission of our synnes of the grace and mercye of God and of the blessed resurreccion wherin we shall aryse agayne vnto euerlastyng lyfe By the remembraūce wherof we maye haue a singular comforte agaynst all synne agaynst the deuyll death hell damnacion M. And what els S. Finally it ought to worke in vs a perfite obedience vnto the wyll of God to leade our liues in continuall repentaunce and amendemente praying ernestly that he wyll strengthen and make more perfite in vs through his holy woorde and spirite the newe byrth whiche is already begonne in vs and dayly to mortifie our fleshe and to practise with all faythfulnes and diligence to serue God and to kepe his commaundemētes M. Nowe what is the .v. speciall article of the christen doctrine or religion S. The holy supper of the lorde M. What is the supper of the Lorde S. It is an holy ordinance and institucion of our sauior Christe wherby christen people are commaūded to eate and drynke the bread and cuppe of the Lorde together therby to remembre his passion and to be assured of theyr communion with hym in his body and bloud For it is a pledge and an assuraunce that the Lorde geueth them his bodye bloud to be the foode and nourishemēt of theyr soules vnto euerlastyng lyfe M. Than is it not a bare signe and an vnfruitfull token S. No. For we receyue in the supper a spirituall meate and drinke wherin by the lordes owne institucion the true communion and participaciō of the bodye and bloud of Christe is most liuely represented and confirmed vnto vs. And at the ministracion therof beeyng ministred after Christes institucion it is certayne that he is alwaies presente and worketh effectuously therwith M. How ought this supper to be ministred S. In euery poynte condicion as the Lorde himselfe dyd ministre and ordeyne it M. Where is it written how the lorde did ministre and ordeyne it S. In the holy Euangelistes Mat. xxvi Marc. xiiii Luke xxii Matthew Marke Luke And in the .xi. Chapiter of the fyrst Epistle to the Corinthians in these woordes In the same night that the Lorde Jesus was betrayed he tooke bread and whan he had geuen thankes he brake it M. What learnest thou out of these wordes S. Fyrst I lerne that this supper sealeth vp confirmeth assureth vnto vs the verye true communion of the true body and bloud of Christ with all the frutes and benefites whiche he dyd euer pourchase and merite thorowe his body bloud M. Howe canste thou proue that S. By the verye woordes of the institucion For whereas he commaundeth vs to eate his body and drynke his bloud that is to saye to receyue our nouryshement vnto euerlastyng lyfe thorowe fayth of his bodye and bloud he addeth immediatlye Whiche is geuen vp for you and shed for you By the whiche woordes he signyfieth seeyng we are partakers of his bodye and bloud and in faythe fleshe of his fleshe and bones of his bones he our head and we his members that we are also partakers of all that he did euer purchasse or merite thorow his passion and bloud shedyng that is reconciliacion with God the father remission of our synnes righteousnes and euerlasting lyfe M. What lernest thou more out of the forsayed woordes S. I learne also that the Lorde geueth me thorowe this supper a sure hope and comforte that I am partaker of the new testament and of the couenaūt of grace whiche he confirmed and sealed with his precious bloud M. What is that newe Testamente or couenaunte of grace S. It is this that almyghtye God for the bitter passion and deathes sake of his deare beloued sonne wyll freely pardon and forgeue me all my synnes and take me for his childe and heyre and at the latter daye will rayse me vp agayne vnto euerlastyng ioye requiryng that I should beleue all this stedfastly and loue and serue him obediently M. And is nothyng els to bee noted in the woordes of the institucion S. Yes this also is to be learned that al they which minister or receyue this holy sacramente muste celebrate kepe the memoriall or remembraūce of our sauiour Christe Iesus M. Wherin consisteth this memoriall or remembraunce S. It cōsisteth specially herein that we beeyng assembled and gathered together in his name considre and setfoorth with all diligence and reuerence all the benefites of our Lorde Iesus whiche he hathe doen and suffered for vs or will yet hereafter do for vs And agayne that we render moste highe
all one in Christ Iesus If ye be Christes then are ye Abrahams sede heires according to the promise The places of holy scripture and the woordes makyng for the institucion of the Lordes supper are these here folowing Math. xxvi VVHan they were eatyng Iesus tooke breade and whan he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue it to the disciples and sayed take eate this is my body And he tooke the cuppe and thanked and gaue it them saying drynke ye all of this For this is my bloude whiche is of the newe testamēt that is shed for many for the remission of synnes Marke xiiii And as they were eatyng Iesus toke bread and whan he had geuen thākes he brake it and gaue to them sayed take eate this is my bodye And he toke the cup and whan he had geuen thankes he toke it to thē and they all dranke of it and he sayed vnto them this is my bloud of the newe testamente whiche is shed for many Luke xxii And he toke bread and whan he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue vnto them saying this is my body whiche is geuen for you This do ye in the remembraunce of me lykewise also whan he had supped he tooke the cup saying this cup is the newe Testamente in my bloude whiche is shed for you 1. Corin. xi That whiche I haue deliuered vnto you I receiued of the lord For the lord Iesus thesame night in whiche he was betraied toke breade and whan he had geuen thankes he brake it said take ye eat this is my body which is broken for you This do ye in the remembraunce of me After thesame maner also he toke the cuppe whan supper was doen saying this cuppe is the newe Testament in my bloude This do as ofte as ye drinke it in remembraunce of me For as often as ye shal eat this bread and drinke of this cup ye shall shew the lordes death till he come Wherfore whosoeuer shal eate of this bread or drynke of this cuppe of the lorde vnworthily shall bee giltie of the bodye and bloud of the Lorde But lette a man examine hymselfe and so lette him eate of the bread and drynke of the cuppe For he that eateth drynketh vnworthyly eateth drynketh his owne damnacion because he maketh no difference of the lordes body ¶ The woordes of the ecclesiasticall discipline or brotherlye correccion are these Math. xviii THe Lorde Iesus sayth If thy brother sinneth against thee go thy wayes and rebuke hym betwixt the hym alone If he heare the than hast thou wonne thy brother If he wyll not heare the then take one or two vnto the that euery thyng may be at a stay by the mouthe of two or thre witnesses If he wyll not yet heare the then tell it vnto the congregacion If he will not heare the cōgregacion then take him as a heathen and as an vnchristian Verely I say vnto you Whatsoeuer ye shal bynde vpon earth shal also be bound in heauen And whatsoeuer ye shall leuse vpon earth shall be also leused in heauen M. Well now declare me the same poyntes euerye one after other as I haue taught the here tofore fyrst tell me why dyd God geue the .x. cōmaundementes vnto man S. Forsouthe to th entent we might lerne his will out of them Psal xi know what he wylleth vs to do and what to leaue vndone Esai viii For the lawe of the .x. cōmaundementes is a perfite rule wherby the wyll of god is knowē Luke xvi both how to behaue our selfes towardes him our almightie euerlastyng god and maker also towarde our neighbour and euen christen M. What meaneth the Lorde where he sayeth I am the lord thy God c. S. He wylleth that we should beleue knowlege that he of his free mercye through our sauiour Iesus Christ Collo i. Gala. iiii hath redemed vs from the power of the deuill from the bondage of the worlde and of synne and hath receiued vs to be his owne peculiar heires into the fredome felowship of euerlastyng life lyke as he receyued the Iewes vnto hym Exo. xiiii whan he redeemed them out of the tirannie of the Egypcians M. And what is the vnderstāding of these wordes Thou shalt haue none other Gods c. S. He wylleth by those woordes that we shoulde withall diligence eschewe and be ware of all maner of Idolatry and false seruice of God inuented by man though it seme or be neuer so high and gloryous M. What is Idolatrye S. Idolatrye is to haue besydes the onely ryght god our heuenlye father Esa xlv some other to seeke helpe at Or Idolatrye is to make some other mediatour or aduocate betwene God and vs than alonely our sauiour Iesus Christe i. Tim. ii M. Maye we not than vse the help and intercession of the holy Angels sainctes that they may make intercession for vs vnto God S. We ought to seeke nor vse none other meanes to obteyne the fauour of God and reconciliacion of Iesus Christe than alonely suche as the lorde hym selfe hath appointed in his holy worde but to put all our trust and confidence in God and in our lorde Iesus onely and in no creature at all M. Whan is this commaundement rightly fulfilled and kept as it ought to be S. Firste whan I beleue and doubt nothyng at all that almightie God thorough our lorde Iesus Christe wil be my God and helper that he will delyuer me from all euyll and endue me with all felicitie both here and euerlastyng Secondarily whan I put all my trust and confidēce in god our heuenly father thorowe the lorde Iesus Christe onely trusting sekyng for all help comforte of hym alone and of none other creature And that thorow such meanes only as he hath appointed forsakyng all inuencions and dreames of manne Math xv Thus doyng I geue hym his Godly honor whiche is due vnto him M. What is mente by the second commaundement Thou shalte make the no grauen Image The secōde cōmaundement c. howe is that to be vnderstanded S. We ought so to print the maiestie of god which is a spirit Iohn v Exo. xx in our hartes that we neyther make nor sette vp no maner of ymage wherunto any maner of honor or wurship due vnto God onlye may be geuen either outwardly by any gesture Deut. v. Esa xliiii or inwardlye in the herte M. Whan is this commaundement transgressed S. As ofte as we ascribe any diuine power vnto any ymage or seke any helpe at theym or geue any manner of reuerence vnto theym as whan we praye before them whan we knele or fall down before them or make curtesie vnto them settyng vp any candels before theym or censing them or shewyng anye like poynt of reuerence Lykewise whan anye man doeth institute or imagine of his owne head without any authoritie of the word of god
laudes and thankes vnto him for suche excellente benefites geuyng vp and yeldyng our selues wholly vnto hym M. What maner of people are to bee admytted vnto this supper S. All that are truly repentaunte and sorye for their sinnes and yet beleue stedfastlie that god for Christes sake wyll be mercyfull vnto them and that they are the true membres of Christe liuing in the feare and true obedience of the Lord and in perfect loue of theyr neighbour as brethren of one kyngdome membres of one bodye and redemed with one bloud of Iesus Christ redye to confesse the doctrine of the holy gospell in the middes of all persecucion and affliccion and to defende it euen vnto death M. what thinkest thou of thē whiche will neuer receiue this holy supper with the faithfull congregacion of Christe S. If they abstaine from it wilfullye of concempte and stubbernes that is to saye yf they maye haue it ministred vnto them after the institucion of the Lorde and yet regarde it not and will not receyue it it is an euidente token that they pertayne nothing at all vnto the body of Christe For whosoeuer beleueth in the Lorde truly can not neglecte or contemne any of his hollye ordinaunces but with all reuerence vse them as ofte he maye M. Where as s Paul sayeth Lette euery manne proue hymselfe and so eate of that bread What is mente therby or whan eate we this supper wurthyly S. Of our selues we can neuer be woorthy vnto it But God of his grace and mercye reputeth vs woorthy of his heauenlye misteries and benefites whansoeuer we referre the remission of oure sinnes and oure saluacion vnto the death and resurreccion of Christe and seke it therat onely Wherfore whansoeuer I receyue the holy supper with this faythe and belefe that Christe Iesus gaue his tender bodye vnto death for me and shedde his precious bloud for me and so redemed me from euerlastyng deathe And that his fleshe and bloude are the foode and sustenaunce of my soule whereby I am refresshed and nourisshed vnto euerlastynge lyfe submitting my selfe in this faythe hartilye and fullye both bodye soule vnto the will of god and vtterly detesting in word dede and example almaner of sinne and wickednes and whatsoeuer maye geue any occasion therunto c. then receyue I this hollye supper wurthyly For this is the true communion and participacion of Christes bodye and bloud wherby we are sure that he dwelleth in vs and we in hym For els we coulde doe none of this at all M. Me thynketh by thy answers that the holy supper of the Lorde sendeth and referreth vs all together vnto the deathe and passion of Christe that we maye so by that meanes enioye and haue fruicion of the same S. Yea forsouth for whan he suffred vpon the crosse then he was made the onely euerlastyng sacrifice sufficiente for our saluacion wherefore there is nothyng remaynyng for vs more but that we maye enioy and haue the fruicion of hym M. And was not the supper ordeyned of God to bee a propiciatory sacrifice wherin the body of Christe should be offered vnto God of freshe or of newe S. No forsouth For that were iniurious vnto his death And the woordes doe sounde thus take and eate c. Where he commaundeth vs not to sacrifice or to offer his body but onely to eate c. M. And why was it ordeyned to bee receiued in two diuerse kyndes S. That was done for our infirmities sake to teache vs the more plainly that he is not only the meate wherwith our soules are norished but also the verye drynke wherwith they are refreshed that we shoulde seke no parte of our spirituall lyfe any where els sauyng at hym and in hym alone M. And ought all men generally without excepcion to receyue both kyndes S. Yea for south so do the woordes of Christe commaund saying drinke ye all of this from the whiche to derogate or mynishe any thyng it were an heynous synne M. But now how oughteste thou to behaue thyselfe after thou haste thus receiued this holy supper S. I oughte fyrste to reioyce in the remission of my synnes in the lyfe of Christe in me and in the blissed resurreccion whan as he shall lyue fully in me and in vs be all in all And thus to auaunce my selfe agaynste synne agaynst the deuyll death and hel And to geue God eternall thankes for all these his excedyng benefites M. What oughtest thou els to doe S. I ought also to subdue to tame and to crucify mine owne fleshe and bloud with al maner of wicked lustes and affecciōs to liue hereafter as a mēbre of that body onely whose head is Christe and not as a membre of any other body But vtterly to yelde and geue ouer myselfe vnto my lorde God to bee one breade and one bodye with all faythfull christians whyche doe truely inuocate and call vpon the name of the Lorde to lyue with them in perfite loue and charitie and wyth this bande of loue to haue my heart fixed and knitte vnto theirs and thus euermore to remayne cōtinue And I ought also to confesse and magnifie my Lorde Iesus in his churche and congregacion with all my woordes and dedes awaytyng dayly to haue this lyfe changed with a better and into a better lyfe M. What yf we receyue the supper with suche as be vnwoorthy doe we make our selues also vnworthy by reason of that S. No we doe not if so be that we consente not vnto theyr synnes but haue in mynde and will yf we can know them and may come vnto them to exhorte and admonishe them faythfully our selues or els cause some other to doe it For it pertayneth vnto no priuate person to exclude any man out of the churche or congregacion but onely vnto the whole churche or vnto them that are chosen appointed of the same vnto that office And theyr duetie it is to considre bothe in this matter and all other what may be most profitable and expediente vnto edificacion M. But nowe why should men receyue this sacramente ofte seing they receyue the sacramente of baptisme but once S. Baptisme is a sacramente of enteraunce into the religiō of Christ and betokeneth that menne are nowe dead vnto the olde lyfe wyll from thencefoorth walke in a newe lyfe Wherfore lyke as Christe died but once that for our synnes and shall from hence foorth dye no more euen so ought the sacrament of baptisme whiche representeth the same to bee receyued but once But the holye supper is a sacramente of procedyng and goyng forward in the religion of Christ and signifieth that the manne whiche is once incorporate vnto Christe and fed or susteyned continually through hym wyll euermore continue procede and goe forwarde in a perfite christian life And forasmuche as many impedimentes lets and temptacions doe chaunce vnto suche menne by the waye which notwithstandyng doe styll hungre and thurst after ryghteousnesse And this supper
harte in all maner of temptacions affliccions or necessyties and euen in the very panges of deth cry boldely and merily vnto the and saye I beleue in God the father allmyghtie maker of heauen and earthe And in his onely sonne Iesus Christe our lorde c. But o Lorde God heauenly father to comforte my selfe in affliccion and temptacion wyth these articles of the christē faith It is not in my power For fayth is thy gyft and for as muche as thou wylt be prayed vnto and called vpon for it I cumme vnto thee to praye and beseche the bothe for that and for all my other necessities euen as thy deare beloued sonne our sauiour Christe Iesus hath hymselfe taught vs. And from the very botome of my harte I crye and saye O our father whiche arte in heauen c. This doen I adde this prayer for the mornyng O Mercifull lorde God heauenly father I rēder most high laudes prayse and thākes vnto the that thou hast preserued me both this nyght and all the tyme and dayes of my lyfe hitherto vnder thy proteccion and hast suffred me to lyue vntyll this presente houre And I beseche the hartily thou wylt vouchesafe to receyue me this daye and the residue of my whole lyfe from hencefurthe into thy tuicion rulyng and gouernyng me with thy holy spirite that all maner of darkenesse of misbelefe infidelitie and of carnall lustes and affeccions maye be vtterlye chaced and driuen out of my harte and that I maye be iustified saued both body and soule thorow a right and a perfect fayth and so walke in the lighte of thy mooste godlye truthe to thy glory and prayse and to the profit and furtheraunce of my neybour thorowe Iesus Christe our Lorde and sauioure Amen Or thus more brieflye O Mercyfull lorde God heuenly father I laude and prayse the that thou haste preserued me this nyghte from all perill daunger and euyll And I beseche the of thy mercye to kepe preserue me from hencefoorth likewise And driue all maner of darkenesse oute of my hart that the light of thy truthe may shyne before me gyde me in all my wayes And thou wil vouchesalue also to kepe preserue our most noble kyng with all our rulers magistrates teachers parentes and all our frendes thorow Iesus Christe our Lorde and sauiour Amen A prayer to be sayed at nyght goyng to bedde O Mercifull Lord God heauenly father whether we slepe or wake lyue or dye we are alwayes thyne Wherefore I beseche the hartilye that thou wilte vouchsalue to take care and charge of me and not to suffre me to peryshe in the workes of darkenesse but to kindle the lyght of thy countetenaunce in my harte that thy godlye knowlege maye daylye increase in me thorowe a ryght and a pure faith and that I may alwayes be founde to walke lyue after thy wyll pleasure thorow Iesus Christ our lorde and sauiour Amen Or thus more briefly O Mercifull lorde God our heauenly father I laude thanke the moste hartily for that thou hast so graciously kepte preserued me this daye besechyng the to forgeue me all my synnes whiche I haue committed againste the I beseche the to preserue me and all men this night from all snares and wyles of the wicked fiende And graunte that although our corporal iyes shal slepe yet that our hertes myndes may continually watche wake in the thorowe Iesus Christe our Lorde and sauiour Amen A prayer to be sayed before meat O Mercifull father thou fedest and nourishest all maner of creatures vouchesalue to nouryshe and to refreshe vs nowe with thy gyftes so that we do not misuse them but that we beyng strengthned thorowe them maye bee more hable to serue thee in our callyng and cōdicion of lyfe and to walke and lyue before the in all vertue and honestie through Iesus Christ our Lorde and sauiour Amen After meate O Mercifull Lord God our heauenly father we laude prayse and thanke thee for thy moste holy and excellent giftes wherwith thou hast so graciouslye nouryshed and refreshed vs And we beseche the heartily graūt that we may neuer forget thy mercyfull goodnes toward vs but that we may cast al our care and sorowe vpon the only and may alway seke receyue with a perfite trust and confidence all maner of sustenaunce both of bodye and soule at thy handes which art the fountaine and welspryng of all goodnes through Iesus Christe our Lorde and sauior Amen Certaine godly lessons for al faythfull people young and olde HArken Israel the Lorde our God is one God Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God feruētly with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy strength All these woordes whiche I commaunde the this daye shall remayne continually in thy hearte Thou shalt beate them diligentlye into thy chyldren and thrust them sharplye into theyr heartes And lette all thy communicacion talkyng bee of them whether thou beest in thy house or goest abrode whether thou goest to bedde or rysest vppe Thou shalt bynde them for a token vpon thy hād And let them euermore glister before thy iyes Thou shalt wryte them vpon thy doores and vpon thy gates Micheas vi I will tell the O man what is good and what God requireth of the. Namely nothyng els but that thou kepest iudgement and doest ryghteousnes and that thou applye thy selfe vnto all godlynesse and walke humbly before thy Lord God Iaco. i. This is the pure and vndefiled religion before God our father to visite and coumforte the wedowes the fatherlesse in theyr sorowe affliccion and misery and for a manne to kepe hymselfe without spotte before the worlde i. Timo. i. The ende and fulfyllyng of all the lawe is this namely loue out of a pure hearte a good conscience and a perfite vnfayned fayth Iohn xiii By this shall all men knowe that ye are my scholars yf ye loue one an other lyke as I haue loued you i. Iohn iii.iiii.v God is loue and he that remayneth in loue remayneth in God and God in hym He that hath loue is borne of God and knoweth God He that loueth not he knoweth not God for God is loue If we loue one another than remayneth God within vs his loue is perfite in vs. And hereby doe we know that we are the childrē of God and that we haue loue yf we loue God and kepe his commaundementes And this is his commaundemente namely that we beleue in the name of his sonne Iesus Christe and loue one an other M. The God of all grace and mercye strengthen thee and all menne in the knowlege of his sonne our sauior Iesus and in the power of his heauenlye and godly spirite To hym be all laude prayse thankes glory power rule honor world without ende Amen Imprinted at Londō in Flete-strete at the signe of the Sunne ouer against the conduyte by Edwarde Whitchurche The .xix. daye of October the yere of our Lorde M. D.XLVIII Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum