vnto our selues yea and make ours all the goodnes all the riches that is in Iesus Christe because that in giuing him self to vs he giueth vs also his benefits So then in that that Iesus Christe is God it is to make vs partakers of his diuinitie in that that hée is heyre and Lord of the world it is to make vs partakers of his Lordshippe and inheritaunce that we recouer in him the gouernment of all things which we lost in Adam in that hée is well belooued of his Father it is that we may bee acceptable vnto him in that that hée is riche it is to make vs Partakers of his riches in that that hée hath all power against the Deuil Sin Hel Antichriste the worlde and all our enemies it is to defend and sheelde vs in that that he is iust and good it is to iustifye vs make vs good in that that he is happy and immortall it is to make vs partakers of his blessednes and immortalitie When we shall thus particulerly applye all the actions and benefits of Iesus our Lord and also all his essentiall qualityes vnto our selues putting a whole trust in him and in his promises and distrusting our selues then may we boldly come to the Lords table wher at we shall inioy Iesus Christe God and man by the benefit of faith and shall feel moreouer a great increace augmentatioÌ„ of the same But we must note that it is impossible for vs to be vnite and made one with Christe and to be made partakers of the treasures and riches which are in him vnlesse we first renounce Antichriste and his kingdome and vnlesse we detest all Idolatry superstion and traditions of men directly contrary to the pure seruice of God bounded limitted out in his woord For séeing the God is our onely creator and he giueth him self wholly vnto vs in the persoÌ„ of his soÌ„ne Iesê° Christ the true Isaack in whoÌ„e all the nations of the earth are blessed it is great reason the likewise by faith we giue vp our selues yéeld vs wholly vnto god And theÌ„ce is it the God in his law dooth rightfully require of his people the they haue no other Gods but him And that they loone him withall their hart with all their soule with all their strength vnderstaÌ„ding that is to say with al their partes aswel inward as outward And thence is it also the God dooth not onely rebuke reproue all them the halt on both sides but coÌ„maundeth also the they whiche sacrifice vnto strauÌ„ge Gods should be put to death And to this purpose S. Paule minding to warn the Corinthians to flée from Idolatrye vseth an argument taken from the knitting to gither vnion that we haue with Iesê° Christ our lord in the supper speaking after this sort The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the coÌ„munion of the blood of Christe And the bread which we breke is it not the communion of the body of Christe As if hée would say that séeing the Corinthians caÌ„e not to the supper to be partakers simply of earthly elements but to be partakers really in déed of the body blood of our Lord Iesus Christ to be made one with him by faith and be made flesh of his flesh bones of his bones the therefore it were to great wickednes and abhomination to be present in the assemblyes of Infidels or to be partaker of their Idolatry therfore the Apostle addeth afterward that the CorinthiaÌ„s caÌ„not drik of the cup of the L. the cup of Deuils that they cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and of the table of Deuils Wherby he signifieth that it is impossible to serue God and the deuil togither that who so euer dooth coÌ„municate with Idolatry dooth manifestly renounce our Lord Iesus Christe Therfore séeing that darknes is no more contrary to light vice to vertue death to life paradice to Hel then the Pope and his doctrine is contrary to our Lord Iesus Christe and to his holy gospel it behooueth all trew faithful people to withdraw them selues wholly from popery and cast of without delay the yoke of that Romish Antichrist that they may giue them selues wholly to the seruice of this saueour redéemer Iesus Christe but if so be that the communion that we haue with the sonne of God and the promises of the heauenly Father cannot intice and perswade vs to yéeld our selues wholly to God to put our trust in him only to serue and worship him only according to his wil but that we wil yet cleue vnto Antichrist and his seruants ministers yet at the lest let the threatnings and iudgements of God hinder vs and fear vs so to doo as when it is said go out of her my people the ye be not partakers in her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues And again if any man worship the beast and his Image and receiue his mark in his forehed or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is poured into the cup of his wrath and he shal be tormented in fire brimstone before the holy Aungels and before the Lamb. And that stink of their torment shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night whiche worship the beast and his Image and who so euer receiueth the print of his name And again The fearful and vnbeléeuing the abhominable murtherers whoremongers Sorcerers Idolatours and all lyers shal haue their parte in the lake which burneth with fire brimstone which is the secoÌ„d death Let this therfore be wel printed in our harts that we be not seduced and destroyed with the vain seruers of this world which think it a thing not impossible to serue God and the deuil Iesus Christe and Antichriste to folow the commaundements of God and of men and to satisfie the affections of the spirit and of the flesh all at once ¶ Of Repentance Article 2. THe preparation wherof we spake before touching Faith which applied vnto euery one of vs particulerly Iesus Christe with all his riches and blessings can haue no place in vs vnlesse it bring foorth also in vs a true repentance that is to say a true misliking of euil and a burning loue affection of goodnesse as we see the example in Dauid Peeter Paule and other holy men We must haue a sorowe and vnfained greef for that we haue offended God for that we haue before times wickedly abused our creatioÌ„ redemption and Baptisme for that we haue prouoked God with all our meÌ„bers for that we haue abused our vnderstaÌ„ding hart tung feet and hands for that we haue giuen and set foorth our soules and bodyes which are the temples wherin God would dwel to Infidelitie Idolatrye superstition filthines blasphemy whordoÌ„e extortion vsury robery gluttony drunkennesse ambition excesse
Séeing then that it is so the the end of our redemption baptisme iustification requireth of vs to abstain from sin so farfoorth as possibly we may and our fleshly infirmitie wil suffer we must take all paines diligence by the vertue of the spirit of God to cast out from vs all foulenes and filthynes Idolatry blasphemy rebellion hatred murder whordome theft and vsury and all other things contrary to the holy law if we wil not be more theÌ„ ingrate towards Iesus Christe and open enemies of his Church and our owne saluation But because it is not sufficient for the induing of a true helthful repentance to acknowledge our misery to abhorre it to confesse it to abstain froÌ„ it but we must also knowe desire and doo the good whiche God coÌ„mandeth in his woord we must coÌ„sider the argumeÌ„t which ought ernestly to stir vs vp to the sanctifying of the name of god First in that we are ioyned and made one with Christe Iesus in the Supper in that we are made flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones in that we liue by his holy spirit Ought not this vpon good cause to exhort vs to coÌ„forme our selues to the Image and likenes of the holinesse of our Lord Iesus Christe Can he dwel in vs nourish vs with his owne substance quicken vs with his holy spirit ioyne vs vnto him self by the bond of faith yet so that he his holy spirit faith bring not foorth in vs good and holy woorks Moreouer for so much as he dooth not giue him selfe vnto vs halfmele destitute of his qualities and richis and accompanied with all spirituall gifts blessings adorned with righteousnes perfection accompanied with innocency and sanctification how can we receiue Iesus Christe inriched with all his graces that the righteousnes of our hed may not shine in vs which are his members yea shine in all our partes aswel in warde as outward Must it néeds be that the two parts of our soule that is to say our minde and hart which ought to apprehend take holde of the promises of God which ought to receiue by faith the body and blood of our Lord Iesus Christe that is to say whole Iesus Christe true God equall in euery respect to God his father true man made of humain body and soule that this minde and hart I say must be applied to the meditation looue of worldly and wicked things béeing destitute of the knowledge looue of God and of the looue of our neighbour Dooth it behooue our body which is the temple of God to be prophaned That our eares whiche were created of God to hear his voice should be stopped against it and be open to vanities wanton talk and vnchaste worldly songes Dooth it behooue our tung which is bound by the right of creation to sing the praises of God by the right of redemption to shew foorth the Lords death til he come that this tung which is so proper an instrumeÌ„t of the glory of God shold be mute to goodnes and incessantly occupyed in backbiting slandering blaspheming or at the least in speaking idle words wherof one day we shall yéeld an accouÌ„t before the throne of the maiestie of God Dooth it behooue our mouth which ought to receiue the blessed signe of the body blood of our Lord Iesus to to suppresse the benefit of our redemption to haue Adders poison in it Dooth it behooue our hand which ought to take at the Supper the assured gage of the looue of God the infallible pledges of his legue with vs the ernest peny of our saluation to be void of goodnesse and be side that be giuen to extortion theft murder oppression and violence Dooth it behooue our féet which ought to run make haste to goodnes to be redy and light to run to mischéef No surely but as he which calleth vs is holy so likewise must we also be wholly holy as he hath brought vs by holy baptisme into his holy house which is his Church the communion of Saints euen so likewise must we leade therin a good holy conuersation as he hath washed vs from our sinnes by the pretious blood of his sonne Iesus Christe so must we dye to them and liue in righteousnes as he hath called vs to the incorruptible hope of the blessed resurrection and eternall life so must we lift vp our harts on hye and not be buryed like Moules in this frail and transitory Earth To be short séeing that the grace of God is set before vs euery day and his holy woord souÌ„deth in our eares to this only end that it may be saluation vnto vs and that renouÌ„cing all vngodlines and worldly desires we should liue soberly iustly godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appéering of the glory of the mightie God and of our Saueour Iesus Christe we must pray vnto this good God that he would giue vs grace so to behaue our selues towards him in liuing godly so towardê our neighbours in liuing iustly so towards our selues in liuing soberly that we may be found at the day irreprensible by the meanes of that his wel belooue Sonne our Lord Iesus Christe Of thanks giuing Article 3. THirdly we must giue thanks to this good God for the benefit of our redemption and for this cause it is that the auncients called the holly Supper Eucharistie that is to say gratefulnes good grace giuing of thanks For if so be that our ordinary food and dayly bread whiche God giueth vs for the nourishment of our bodyes ought to be sanctified by the word and receiued with thankê giuing ought we not much more to thank God for the heauenly bread and for the nourishment of our soules which is offered vnto vs and really giuen vs in the holy supper of Iesus Christe And we sée also how Iesus Christe him self sheweth vs an example héerof For when he took the bread of the Supper S. Mathevv and S. Mark say that Iesus Christe blessed And S. Luke expoundeth this woord to blesse when he saith that he gaue thanks Now then séeing that we sée the Iesus Christe when he tooke the bread of the Supper gaue thankê to God his Father as he did also when he took the cup and that for the redemption of man kinde it is our duty to doo the like And that we may be the better mooued to giue thaÌ„ks to God we haue to consider the greatnes of the benefit of our redemption the excellency of the gift which God giueth vs at this holy table which cannot be doon vnlesse we consider our miserable coÌ„dition which was before figured by the teÌ„porall captiuite of Egipt We sée there how Pharaoh was strong mightie how he knew not the eternall how he went about to kil all the séed of the Israelits by the suppression death of their men children we see
times and seasons that is to say aswel in affliction as in prosperitie and to this purpose Dauid protesteth That hée will alwaye giue thanks vnto his Lord and that his praise shal be in his mouth continually And Saint Paule admonisheth the Thessalonians to giue thanks in all things adding for this is the wil of God in Christe Iesus But this is clene contrary to time seruers and to all them whiche in time of prosperitie fawne vpon the gospell and are well content for that time to praise God whome afterwarde in time of affliction they defye and set naught by The cause of this mischéef is for that they haue not yéelded them selues to the Churche of God for a good end and purpose as to extoll the glory of God to séek their owne saluation and the saluation of their brethern but rather to greaten them selues in their goods and honours and to satisfye their owne affections And therfore it commeth to passe that as soon as the deuil lifteth vp his hornes against the Churche of God and perscutions be at hand they melt away by and by in affliction as dooth War before the fire they are offended and parched with the Sunne of the Crosse they are sory for the good they haue doon they repent theÌ„ selues that they were so hasty to confesse the name of our Lord Iesus Christe in the assembly of the faithful they wish they had neuer knowen God nor his woord nor his Church nor his ministers because they make greter account as Esau did of one messe of pottage then of the birth-right and blessing of the heauenly father But let such maner of persons knowe the it shall no more profit them that they made a fair beginning ioly holding vp of their buckler then it did Cain Esau Saule Iudas For séeing that sentence is generall that whosoeuer continueth vnto the end he shal be saued it foloweth by the contrary the all they whiche doo not coutinue coÌ„stantly in the confession of the sonne of God are hindred by their goods and honours looue of the world ease of their flesh to set foorth declare with a continual train the benefit of our redemption it foloweth I say that such persons shall go to ruin and euerlasting destruction Last of all this acknowledging must not onely bee priuat but publique in the face and preseÌ„ce of the whole church and therfore as Dauid saith what shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits toward me I wil take the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the lord I wil pay my vowes vnto the Lord euen now in the presence of all his people And again I haue declared thy righteousnes in the great congregation to I haue not refrained my lips O Lord thou knowest I haue not hid thy righteousnesse within mine hart but I haue declared thy trueth and thy saluation I haue not concealed thy mercy thy trueth from the great congregation So then this ought tobe wel printed in the hart of the weke and those that are ashamed to confesse praise openly our Lord Iesus Christe For séeing that God dooth auouche vs openly for his people he giueth him self fréely vnto vs to our children in the person of his wel belooued sonne our Lord Iesê° Christe we can doo no lesse theÌ„ auouch him publiquely for our god and saueour in the person of that same his welbelooued sonne Christe Iesus our Lord. ¶ Of Looue Article 4. FAith Repentance and acknowledging of Gods benefits cannot haue place in vs and in vain are we called Christians or that we brag of our selues for the practise of the commaundements of the first table which concerne the seruice of God before mentioned vnlesse we shew the effects by the keeping of the commaundements of the second Table which concerne the looue of our neighbour without whiche also we cannot worthely present our selues to the holy Table of Iesus Christe our lord And therfore is it that Iesus Christe him self in the sermon of the Supper which hee made to his Apostles the same night that he was betrayed and deliuered to death for vs did diligently beat this point into their heads saying By this shall all men knowe that ye army Disciples if ye haue looue one to au other And again This is my commaundement that ye looue one an other as I haue looued you Greater looue then this hath no maÌ„ when any man bestoweth his life for his Fréends Ye are my fréends if ye doo what so euer I commaund you To this same end tendeth also that that the same night Iesus Christe washed the féete of his Apostles acter which washing he said vnto them knowe ye what I haue doon to you ye call me Maister and Lord and ye say wel for so I am If I then your Lord and Maister haue washed your feet ye also ought to wash one an others féet For I haue giuen you an example that yee should doo euen as I haue doon do you We must therfore according to the commaundement and example of the sonne of God be furnished with true and hot looue that we may worthely present our selues to the Lords table If we wil haue a true discription of this looue we must take it of S Paule which pointeth it out in liuely coulours writing to the Corinthians in this sort Looue saith he suffereth long it is bountiful looue enuieth not looue dooth not boast it self it is not puffed vp it disdayneth not it séeketh not her owne things it is not prouoked to anger it thinketh not euill it reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyceth in the trueth It suffereth all things it beléeueth all things it hopeth all things it indureth all things Sée what manner of looue ours ought tobe euery one of vs must indeuour that all the partes of this description may rightly agrée vnto vs We are many waies and in sundry sorts exhorted to this looue and brotherly concord in the holy Supper of our Lord Iesus Christe First in that that we must wait one for an other and that it is not lawful for euery one of vs to celebrate the Supper perticulerly and a parte but when the whole congregation is assembled togither all the faithful togither must take eate and drink the Bread and wine of the Supper according to the commaundement of Iesus Christe Take ye eate ye and drink ye all of this It is a true figure and testimonie of the vnitie the ought tobe among vs Moreouer in that that wée béeing all gethered togither in one house of God which is his Churche we doo there all call vpon one self same Father which is in Heauen we haue all one self same hed aduocate and intercessour whiche is Iesus Christe we are all quickened with his holy Spirit which dwelleth in vs in that that we all haue one self same word of God in that that we all eat of one self same spirituall
meat and drinck all of the self same spirituall drink in that also that we all pretend as Brethren to one self same inheritance whiche is the kingdome of He auen ought not this inflame vs with true and hot looue Finally the making of the bread and wine of the Supper dooth teach vs asso what vnitie and concord we ought to haue one with an other for as we sée that the bread is made of many cornes and yet not withstanding afterwards is but one selfe same lump of Bread as we see also that the Wine is made of many clusters of grapes and yet after it is made is but one onely wine in like sort must the Christians whiche are many in them selues be ioyned togither thorow looue into one body which is the Church wherof Iesus Christe ought tobe the onely hed and leader But we must note that this looue wherunto we are exhorted by so many reasons of the Supper cānot be where there is enuy brauling cōtencions rancour debate diuision and therfore before we com to the Supper whiche is a witnesse of our agréement aswel with Christ as with his congregation if we haue had any strife and cōtention with our brethern we must loouingly reconsile our selues vnto them If any man haue offended vs wée must frankly and fréely forgiue our brethrē yea our enemies as we would that that good God should pardon vs and as wée sée how Iesus Christ our Lord hath left vs an example of this looue when he prayed to God his father for his enemies whiche put him to death as we rede also that S. Stephen did the same Again we must also mark that this looue ought tobe practised in all estates Kings must looue their subiects they must be Nurces of the church of God loouers of cōmon peace they must vse their people with all moderation and clemency So likewise must the people honor the king they must pay him their tribute faithfully they must be obedient to all his Lieutenants and Officers The Pastour must looue his flock he must watch take paines and pray incessantly for it So like wise must the shéep looue their pastour the Fathers their children the Children their fathers and Mothers the Wife the husband and the Husband the wife the Maisters their seruants the Seruants their maisters and euery one in his calling must indeuer to exercise looue in the vocation whervnto God hath called him For other wise it wil be impossible for vs to doo our duties faithfully aswel toward god as toward men if the rule of looue doo not guide and gouern vs in all our dooings Article 5. Necessary obseruations for them that wil come to the Lords table IN the articles aforesaid consisteth the true examining of our selues notwithstanding we must take good héed to these points and notes which folow First we haue to note that we must not rast our heds and bend our braines to examine curiously an other mannes life as many doo whiche stretch out and scanne so narowly the blemishes of their Brethren that they forget their owne It is to be wished and we must procure it asmuch as lyeth in vs that the Church of God may be maintained in puritie without shew of offence But for so muche as in this worlde Corne shall alwaies be mixed with chaffe wéeds with whete good fish with bad Iudas with true Apostles foolish Virgins with wise yet none of vs must be offended therfore and moreouer let euery man indeuour to finde that perfection in him self which he desireth to bring into an other Secondly we must not think that faith repentance giuiuing of thanks looue and other vertues which God requireth of vs can be perfet héer in this world for there wil be alwaies in vs what regēerate and new borne so euer we be some remnants of sinne of incredulitie of lacke of repentance of vnthankfulnesse and of selflooue which is directly contrary and opposite to the true looue of our neighboure As long as we liue the flesh wil fight against the Spirite the Deuill and the Worlde wil make war against vs as the life of the Patriarches Prophets and Apostles doo sufficiently witnesse vnto vs so that euen to the last breath of our life we shall haue néed to craue of our God that he would forgiue vs our sinnes through his sōne Iesus Christe Notwitstanding so far it is that the imperfections which are in vs should cause vs to drawe back from God and from this holy banquet that rather so that we are displeased with our selues for thē they ought to cause vs to come the sooner to the intent that as poore famished creatures we might more gréedily and with greater desire receiue Iesus Christe which is the true shepherd of our soules Thirdly although it be not required to the worthy cōming to the Supper to haue a perfit faith perfit repentance perfit giuing of thanks perfit looue yet must they be notwithstanding true and procéed from the hart and from the Spirit Our faith must not be fained our repentaunce must not be counterfait and painted as that of Hipocrites the thanks whiche we giue to God must not come onely from the mouth neither must we loue our brethren in word only and not in déed but let the whole profession of our faith and christen life abooue all things be far frō ostententation hipocrisie so the we take more paines to be good Christians in déed and before God then to be so counted and taken before men ¶ Against them that vvillingly and of set purpose abstain from the holy Supper of the lord Article 6. AS there are many which doo amis in presenting them selues vnworthyly to the communion so there are many which doo amisse on the contrary side in that they wil by no meanes come nor present them selues to this holy banquet For feare of communicating as they say vnworthyly and so consequently tobe culpable of the body and blood of Iesus Christe But let them that so abstain of set purpose frō the Lords holy table knowe that it is no lesse fault vp on an vnthankfulnesse and cōtempt to abstain from the holy and sacred meats whiche God presenteth to vs at the Supper then to receiue it vnworthely as we see that a Patient which beeing very sick maketh no account of the receipt and dyet whiche the Phisition hath prescribed is no lesse faulty then he which abuseth or vseth it not competently as the Phisition hath appointed Therefore let not this sort of people flatter them selues as though by this meanes they could be excused bothe before God and men séeing that it is a most certain trueth that so haynous an ingratitude is in no wise tobe admitted or worthy excuse For first of all such men doo willingly contemn the commaundemēt of Iesus Christ which saith to all his doo this take ye eat ye Secondly they contemne the blessed remembrance of
the death and passion of the Sonne of God who commaundeth all the faithful to selebrate the Supper in remembrance of him Thirdly they contemne the price of their redemption that is to say the pretious body and blood of Iesus Christe which are giuen and distributed to all faithful Christians in the Supper according as it is said This is my body which is giuen for you this is my blood which is shed for the remission of your sinnes Finally they despise the church and the vnitie therof and willingly excommunicate them selues from the Communion whiche the faithful haue in the Supper as wel with Iesus Christe as one with an other We sée therfore how fondly these contemners of the Lords holy Supper doo fall and ar vtterly inexcusable And therfore let vs take good héed that we folowe them not if we wil not be punished with thē which for their Oxen Fermes Wines and trastique of merchandise refused to come to the mariage in the Gospel Contrarywise of thē which come vnworthily to the holy Supper of the Lord or ought not be therunto admitted Article 7. ¶ Of them vvhich sin against the first Article of the first preparation which consisteth in true faith ALl Atheists that is such as are with out God misbeléeuers ignorant of God his woord all heretiques false prophets all Magicians Idolaters and superstitious whiche are partakers of the tables of Deuils likewise all they which haue but an historicall Faith all the adherents ministers of the Roomish Antichrist and they that establish by any maner whatsoeuer his kingdome or depend there on also all they which haue not yelded them selues to the Church of God and haue not made profession of their Faith finally all they that customably swere either by the name of God or by their Faith and apply it to vain matters and causes of no value all these ought to abstain from the Lords Table for so muche as they haue not a true trust in God without the whiche we can not bée members of Iesus Christe nor consequently bee apt and méete to receiue life of him which is the onely hed of the true faithfull ¶ Of them which sin against the second Article of the second preparation which consisteth in Repētance ALl they which liue slanderously all impenitent and vnthrifts all contemners of God of his woord and of his holy assemblies all blasphemers and denyers of the name of God all despisers of correction and ecclesiastical discipline they also the haūt and frequent ordinarily euil cōpany which walke in the counsel of the wicked which stand in the way of sinners which sit in the seat of the scorneful To be short they in whome appéereth no amendment of life no regeneration and they that conimit haynous and infamous vices and such as are tobe punished by the magistrate all these after that they are knowen tobe such ought not tobe admitted to the supper and if they present them selues vnto it they ought not tobe receiued lest that that is holy be giuen to Dogs and Swine to the great dishonour of God and slander of his Church ¶ Of them which sin against the third Article of the third preparation which consisteth in giuing of thanks WIithout true faith and repentance we cannot be méet to set forth the parises of God who wil not be praysed by the mouth of the wicked therfore all Infidels Igno rants and impenitent sin also against this Article and ought not tobe receiued to the Lords Supper Also they that are mad or fooles either by nature or some other accident They also which by reason that they be vnder age as little childrē can not shew foorth the Lords death til he come are not capable of the Supper Finally they which by fragilitie vnkindnesse and contempt in time of persecution did forsake Gods cause and renounce the name of our Lord Iesus Christe ought not also tobe admitted thither vnlesse that they doo first make open confession of their fault and be reconciled to the Church of God. ¶ Of them which sin against the fourth article of the fourth preparation whiche consisteth in Looue toward our neighbours THe disobedient to Father and mother to the magistrate to al superiours the seditious conspiratours fighters murderers and such as bere malice and hatred against their neighbours they that are caried away with a desire of reuengement whoremongers adulterers incontinent bougerers drunkards and gluttons deceiuers couetous théeues and vsurers backbiters mockers false witnesses lyers conmon periured persons and in sum all they which make an art of the breach of looue toward their neighbours contained in the second table of the law of God ought not tobe receiued to the Supper For seéing that the Scripture pronounceth thus that suche sort of men haue none acquaintance of God are shut out of the kingdome of Heauen and shall not dwel in the Lords holy mountain they ought of right tobe shut out from these sacred signes wherby the faithful are ioyned to Iesus Christe and made possessors of eternall life ¶ Finis A Dialogue of the preparation to the holy Supper of our Lord IESVS CHRISTE ¶ The Father HOwe must wée be prepared to come worthely to the supper of our Lord Iesus Christe The Childe We must examin our selues according to the precept of the holy Apostle S. Paule F. Wherin consisteth the eramination of our selues C. In two points First that we behaue ourselues as it is méet towarde God who calleth vs to this holy banquet Then that we doo our dutye to our Brethren which are called to this holy Table with vs. F. What is our duty towards God C. It cōsisteth principally in three points F. Which are they C. In faith repentance giuing of thāks F. What is faith C. It is a certaine assurance that God is our father and Saueour in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christe our Lord. F. This assurance commeth it of vs C. No for the faithfull are not borne of flesh nor blood neither of the wil of man but they are borne of God. F. But what meanes dooth God vse to beget vs vnto him and to giue vs faith C. His woord confirmed in vs by the woork of the holy Ghost who cryeth in our harts Abba that is to say father F. Is not this faith confirmed and ratyfied in vs by the Lords Supper C. Yes F. How so C. First of all in that that Iesus Christe giueth himself vnto vs promising vs that his body was giuen to death for vs and that his blood was shed for the remission of our sinnes F. What more C. In that that the bread and wine whiche we take eate and drink according to Gods institution teache vs that through faith we take eate and drink the body and blood of Iesus Christe for the nourishment of our soules F. And those that are Insidels can they eate the body of Iesus Christe and drinck his blood C. No