¶ A TREATISE of the preparation to the holy Supper of our onely Saueour and Redéemer Iesus Christe Necessary for all them that vvil vvorthely approche to the Lords holy Table Also a dialogue containing the principall points whiche they that wil receiue the Supper ought to knowe and vnderstand By Yues Rouspeau minister of the vvord of god Ttanslated out French into English by R.B. ¶ Let a man examine him self and so let him eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup. Printed at London by Lucas Harison To the right worshipful S. Iohn Zouch of Codner Knight R. B wisheth a blessed life happy dayes with great increace of vvorship AMongst the sundry woorks of many ancieÌ„t learned wise men right vvorshipful I fide no one thing more generally coÌ„mended then the trauel that procureth profit vtilitie to the common welth for to this end al the estate of mans life teÌ„deth that vvhilst vve coÌ„tinue in this base territory heer our vvhole indeuour should be imploied to the ben fit of our cuntrey in some respect And for this cause the moste renovvned Emperours and famouse Princes of the vvorld in times past had alvvaies diligent care to aduaunce such as by their pollicy conserued their kingdomes in publique traÌ„quilitie or by their valiantnes vanquished their enemyes or by iustice suppressed the vvicked either els by their vvritings learned documents instructed the Vulgaritie to vertuous liuing Anaxarchus amoÌ„gst the Phenicians alovved best of the maintainers of ciuil concord Numa Pompilius exhorteth the Romains ro recompence those largly that returned victorious from any battail Promotne us willed the Egiptians to make great accouÌ„t of those that were true Iusticiaries And Bias king of the Argiues commaunded his people aboue all others to honour reuerence moste their vvriters and teachers of vvisedoÌ„e Octauian and Mecenas gratified virgil the lerned poet with such rich preseÌ„ts that Seruius who vvriteth of him affirmeth that in short space hee was valued tobe worth six M. Sesterns vvhich amounteth to tvvo hundred M. crovvnes such zeale vnto vertue reigned in the noble Peares of that age that they accouÌ„ted those gifts best bestovved which vvere imploied vpoÌ„ them that vvere singuler in any facultie to th enteÌ„t that others in hope of prefermeÌ„t might the rather be incouraged to immitate their steps If that lack of liberalitie be found in the princes of this parfet time in remune rating the vertues vvhich abounded so plentifully in the nobilitie of those obscure dayes vvherin nature vvithout the knowledge of the eternall bare the onely svvay hovv much it is to be lamented I refer to the iudgement of those that by reading may discerne the praises belonging iustly vnto the one and by present sight may beholde the defaults of the other If a greater desire to pleasure their Countrey vvas found in that people which vvere gouerned only by the instinct of nature theÌ„ there is in those vvhich novv may be directed by that pure most blessed operatioÌ„ of the spirit of God vvhat punishmeÌ„t is due to their rechelesse negligeÌ„ce let those that read the sacred Scriptures discide vvhere it is moste apparant to be seen vvith vvhat vigor God punished the vnprofitable seruaÌ„t hovv he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that euery tre vvhich brought not forth good frute shuld be hevveÌ„ dovvn and cast into the fire These threatnings if nothing els vvould moue should stir vp euery man to make some increce of those talents vvhich God hath lent him rather then through slouthfulnes to bury them in obscuritie vvithout reaping gaines to them selues or yeelding a iust account to God benefit to their countrey trevv allegeance to their prince furtherance to their childreÌ„ or pleasure to their freends to vvhome they be bound To auoid these incoÌ„ueniences to eschevv the infamy that breedeth through idelnes I thought it good to imploy my diligence in translating this small Treatise desiring rather to bee accounted a profitable Bee then to be suspected for a hurtfull Drone for though the Volume be not large nor my laboure great yet possible there is as great consolation to be found for the repentant sinner as in bigger Tomes And because I vvould signifie vnto your vvorship the good vvil I beare you and the desire I haue to acquit some parte of those curiesies vvhiche I haue receiued at your hands I haue presumed to craue your patronage to this the first frutes of my labour hoping that you vvil vouchsafe the acceptaÌ„ce thereof in suche parte as vvith good vvill I offer it And though that it scape not free froÌ„ the ceÌ„sures of some vvhose delight is to carp at euery light occasion yet if it may obtain your fauourable liking my desire is satisfied and so vvith remembraÌ„ce of my dutie I take my leue wishing helth to your persoÌ„ vvorship to your parentage and prosperoussuccesse in all your indeuours Your vvorships to commaund R. B ¶ Yues Rouspeau to the Christian Reader helth from Iesus Christe our Lord. AMongst the causes of common calamities and scourges wherwith God punisheth the world S. Paule maketh mention of the abuse and contempt of the Lords Supper sayiÌ„g for this cause many are weke and sick among you and many sléep For if we would iudge our selues we should not bée iudged Therfore we ought not to meruail that the last yéer God did so seuerely punish this poor Realme of France with plague war and famin For the contempt of the Gospel and the abuse and prophanation of the Lords holy Supper were the cause therof so that niether they that folowed the Popes faction ought to complain of God nor they likewise that make profession of the Gospel because there was a fault bothe in the one the other First touching the abuses of the Papists we are able to set down sure iudgement by the woord of God how that the Masse is wholly fraught with blasphemyes how it abolisheth the holy Supper of our Lord Iesus Christe how the remembrance of his death and passion is therin suppressed brought to nought how there is no communion and that in sted that Iesus Christe commaunded all his in generall to take eat and drink the bred wine one only taketh eateth driketh for all the rest We see there moreouer how they cause a creature tobe worshiped therin yea a morsell of bread in stede of the Creatour how they séek Christe Iesus there in earth wher as the word of God the Apostles créed the olde Canons teach vs to haue our harts lift vp on high and to séek him by faith in Heauen To be short there are to be séen many other detestable and infinit abuses whiche I now passe ouer with silence Now then séeing they haue obstinatly planted grounded theÌ„ selues in that affection yea for the maintenaÌ„ce of so vile and wicked a thing haue put to death so many good meÌ„ so many holy true martirs of our Lord Iesê° Christe Hath not God rightfully visited vs in this behalf Secondly
we sée also the ther were great notable abuses on their behalfe that made profession of the true woord of god How many were there which knew no more then the Papists to giue any reasoÌ„ of their faith and which presented them selues like beasts to the Lords holy Supper Some came thither as ignoraÌ„t asses other as swine leding a dissolute slanderous life I wil not speak of an infinit number of hipocrits false brethern traiters Apostates which were vnknoweÌ„ had a countenance shew of honestie Therfore is was not without cause that the wrath of god was kindled against his people that they were scourged with stripes for wittigly abusing of the knowledge of his holy name Now that this good God through his Sonne Iesus Christe may cast his pitiful and merciful eye vpon this so poore and desolate Realme it behoueth bothe the one and the other to learne hence forwarde to serue and honor God according to his woord better then they haue doon espetially that they take héede that héerafter they prophane not by any meanes the holy supper of Iesus Christe our lord To this ende and purpose they may read this little tretise wherin they shall finde the the true preparing of our selues to the Lords supper consisteth not in decking of the body fair garments pomps countenaunces and outward profession of the name of God but in clenenesse of hart and vp rightnes of conscieÌ„ce to th' end that God who is a spirit may be also serued of his in Spirit and trueth The Preface ¶ To come worthely to the holy Supper of our Lord Iesus Christe we must examine our selues according too the admonition of the Apostle Saint Paule Now the examination of our selues consisteth cheefely in foure poynts that is to say in Faith repentance giuing of thanks to God and looue towards our neighbours Of Faith. The first Article FIrst of all we must haue faith that is to say a certain infallible assurance firme perswasioÌ„ that God is a merciful father vnto vs in the name of his sonne Iesê° Christe our Lord whoÌ„e he deliuered to death for vs This faith coÌ„meth not of vs nether is it grouÌ„ded vpon vs nether vpoÌ„ any other thing the is in vs but it commeth from God and is grounded vpon God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost and vpon the promises of the gospel confirmed inwardly within vs by the working of the holy Ghost whiche cryeth in our harts Abba that is to say father Furthermore this faith is nourished confirmed and increased in vs by the holy Sacraments For in the Supper God as a good father after that hee hath once brought vs into his Church by baptisme nourisheth vs spiritually with the proper substance of his Sonne Iesus Christe applying and making proper vnto euery one of vs the merit of his death passion To this end and purpose is it that Iesus Christe him self giueth vs the bread and Wine that he commaundeth vs to eat and drink it that he saith that the Bread is his body whiche is giuen for vs and that the Wine is his Blood which is shed for the remission of our sinnes by whiche woordes he giueth him self wholly vnto vs he wil be our nourishment and spyrituall life hée will dwell in vs by his holy Spirit and wil that we abide in him by faith that through beléef we may not perish but haue eternall life wherof he is the onely heyre and giuer In like sorte the breaking of the Bread of the Supper serueth to the confirmation of our faith and sure warranting of our saluation in so much as it assureth vs and causeth vs to see with spirituall eyes that Iesus Christe was once broken with the paines of death in Ierusalem to deliuer vs from the same and to get vs eternall life Also in that that by the commaundement of Christe Iesus we take the Bread in our hands and then the Cup more ouer in that that we eate the Bread and drink the Wine whiche turn into the nourishment of our bodyes we are certyfied that by the haÌ„ds of Faith we take and embrace Iesus Christe our Lord for our onely Saueour and redéemer and that by the same Faith we eat his body spiritually and drink his blood to the hope of eternall life Now euery one of vs must liue by his owne faith according as we may make our confession in the beleef whiche is called the Apostles in that that euery man saith by him self I beleelue in God and saith not we beleeue We must not heer cast our braines or think vpon the beléeuing or vnbeleeuing vpon the worthynes or vnworthynes of an other man but vpon our owne For Saint Paule dooth not teach vs to examin other men or that other men should examine vs but he saith namely let a man examine him self Therfore let euery one of vs for his owne parte be assured in his hert that Iesus Christe the trewe Messias is come into the world to saue sinners amongst whome he ought to account and estéeme him self by the example of s. Paule the chéefest Let him beléeue that Iesus Christe came down from Heauen into Earth to lift him vp from Earth to HeaueÌ„ that he was made the Sonne of man to make him the Childe of God that he was conceiued by the holy Ghost and that he was borne of the Virgin mary to purifie and clense his wicked conception birth Let him perswade him self that the Sonne of God hath ouercome the Deuil to deliuer him from the tiranny and slauish subiection of the deuil that he hath fulfilled all the Law loouing God his father with all his hart streÌ„gth and might and his neighbour as him self to get him iustice that he appéered before Pilat an earthly Iudge and receiued as euil dooer sentence of condemnation for this life to exempt him from appering before the terrible iudgement seat of Gods iustice to receiue sentence of death euer lasting damnation for that he had offended one eternall and euer lasting god Let him assure him self that the same Iesu Christe went down to hel for him that is to say that he suffred the sorrows and terrours of the second death and of the sincere wrath of God to deliuer him that he dyed a death accursed of God in that hée was hanged on the Crosse to purchase him life blessing before God that he rose again for a gage and assurance of his resurrection that he assended into Heauen for a certain token that he also shal assend thither that he sitteth on the right hand of God his Father to bée for him an euerlasting Préest teacher king defender reconciler and aduorate tobe short the he shall come at his last comming for his comfort ful redemption We must also euery one of vs for his owne parte make proper
also how excessiuely he caused the Israelites to woork without any hope of wages how he wold not suffer them by any meanes to sacrifice to the Lord nor to go foorth of the land of Egipt Which thing continued not for one yéer or two but for the space of foure hundred thirty yéeres Heer may we liuely beholde a draught of our misery We were all lost and destroyed in Adam We were holden captiues in the helly Egipt vnder the tiranny of a spirituall Pharaoh which is the Deuil This tirant was strong and mightie he suffred vs not to serue our god He made vs to labour incessantly in slauish and vnfrutefull woorks of sin to the establishment of his owne kingdome He flew not onely our men Children but he led vs all indiferently to vtter ruin and destrustion And this tiranny bad not onely cōtinued for a certain time but had béen eternall and for euer parmanent if the mercy and power of our God had not plucked vs out of it by the ministery of the true Moyses which is our Lord Iesus Christe who is the true Lamb whiche the heauenly Father hath deliuered to death to deliuer vs from it and purchase vs eternal life As it is said that God so looued the world that he hath giuē his only begotten sonne that who soeuer beléeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Now then seeing this good God hath doon in vs so great a pleasure as to frée vs from the tiranny of the Deuil of sinne of death of hel séeing the his looue was so great that he deliuered his onely Sonne to the cruel and ignominious death of the crosse for vs which were the seruants and bond slaues of Sathan his welbelooued for vs whiche were his enemies the iust and the Lamb without spot for vs which were sinners and corrupt the onely heir of Paradise for vs which were worthely heires of hel ought we not tobe rauished with admiration of this great and vnspeakable looue of God towards vs and our tungs tobe for euer displayed to publish with loud voice the praise of the benefit of our redēption It is very resonable and therfore we sée that Iesus Christe admonisheth vs of our duty in this behalf speaking of the selebration of the holy Supper Doo this in remembrance of me And S. Paule expresseth what remembrāce this is whē he aduertiseth vs that as often as we shall eat this bread drink this cup we shew the Lords death til he come Seeing then the God requireth of vs a true acknowledging of his benefits whiche we receiue at his hands boūtifulnes by the menes of our Lord Iesus Christ let vs take héed that we be not spotted with the fault of in gratitude especially if we will not incur the wrathfull displeasure of God and acknowledge him for Iudge whome we would not acknowledge for a gentle and merciful father as S. Paule also to this purpose thretneth the ingrate and forgetful when he saith whosoeuer shall eate this bread and drinck the cup of the Lord vnworthely eateth and drinketh his owne damnation And rightfully is the vengeance of God displayed against them which wickedly suppresse the glory of God in that that concerneth their owne saluation For if so be that a murderer redy to be hanged for his wicked déeds casting away reiecting his Princes gratious pardon not vouchsauing to thank him for it deserueth worthely the gallous or if a Childe deserue the rod for not giuing once I thank you to his father when he hath receiued at his hands great and singuler benefits much more we whiche for our sinful and wicked déeds deserue tobe hanged in hel if we contemne the grace of God our souerain prince and make no count of this euerlasting benefits which our heuenly father presenteth vs withall in Iesus Christe who is offered to vs in the Supper by good right reason we are worthy to perish for our vnkindenes and vnthankfulnes But héer must we diligently mark the points that folowe First this acknowledging must be made to one only God by his only sonne Iesus Christ For euen as God by his onely sonne hath created vs redéemed vs frō euerlasting death so wil he that to him alone by him alone in whome he is wel pleased we render thanks for all his benefits As we sée how S. Paule setteth this foorth vnto vs in many places and precisely in the Epistle to the Ephesians where he saith Blessed be God euen the father of our Lord Iesus Christe whiche hath blessed vs with all his spirituall blessing in Heaueuly things in Christe as he hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world but they which call vpon Saints and put their trust in them or in their merits they also whiche make them patrons and aduocates to God warde and like wise they whiche trust in their owne strength in their owne frée will or good woorks rob God of his glory and can not giue him true thanks for the benefit of redemption For we cannot giue to any creature the least iot that may be in the matter of our saluation but wee commit sacriledge against God the creator And therfore renouncing our selues and euery liuing creature let vs say with the Apostle vnto the King euerlasting immortall inuisible vnto God only wise be honor and glory for euer and euer Amen Secondly thanks must be giuen not with the mouth only but with the hart also For séeing that God is a spirit he riquireth a seruice of vs that is agréeable to his nature that is to say he wil be serued of vs in spirit and trueth And therfore when that praising of God for the benefit of redemption cōmeth in question we must haue our harts lift vp on hye and there must be a consent and mutuall agréement betwéen our inwarde affections and our tungs as we sée how Dauid exhorteth himself to the same when he saith My soule praise thou the Lord all the is within me praise his holy nāe My soule I say praise thou the Lord forget not all his benefits And the blessed Virgin singeth the self same in her song saying My soule magnifieth the Lord and my spirit reioyceth in God my Saueour now all hipocrits and wicked persons also they that sing praise in an vnknowen tung are héer reprooued For where there is no vnderstanding ther is no affection nor wil and consequently no Faith without which what soeuer we doo be it neuer so faire and glorious before men it is but sinne and abhomination before god Let vs take héed therfore the in this be half we wander not and go astray lest we be condemned with the Ievvish people whiche honored and serued God in vain in so muche as they came néer vnto him onely with their mouthes and honoured him with their lips but not with their harts Thirdly it must be doon at all
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
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
ryot other worldly vanities which is asmuch as if we wold haue lodged God the father the sonne and the holy ghost in a moste stinking and filthy priuy We must therfore be sory for our wicked life passed vsing a true and seuere examining of our selues which may bring forth in vs a displeasantnesse and horrour of our fore passed renting and breaking by all maner of menes of the law of God to folow the wil of the Deuil of the world and of the flesh Now the breking of the bread of the Supper which is omitted in the paosure of the Papistê should cause vs to acknowledge and detest our wickednesse that is to say whatsoeuer is fouÌ„d in vs contrary repugnaunt to the pure and holy law of god For in that that the bread is brokeÌ„ for vs or rather in the that we breke the bread of the Supper our of Lord Iesê° Christe it signifieth vnto vs that indéed it is we that it is our sinnes and iniquityes which haue crucified put to death the Lord of life who is the very same Iesus Christe our lord So that we must not doo as in times passed the Infidels did which made great lamentatioÌ„s and inuectiues against the Iewes Pontius Pilate Herod Iudas and them that had executed and put Christ to death and in the mene season flattered theÌ„ selues vaunting of their owne merits and deserts and did not narowly consider that Iudas Pontious Pilate and Herod were but executers and ministers of their impietyes and sinnes Let vs therefore consider in the breaking of the bread that our sinnes yea the sinnes of euery one of vs seuerally crucified the sonne of God brake him with the sorowes of the first and second death as namely the woords of the Supper doo shew that the body of Iesus Christ was broken for vs his blood was shed for the remission of our sinnes And our heauenly father witnesseth the same speaking of the death of his sonne for the sinnes of my people haue I smitten him TheÌ„ if it be so that our sinnes beeing way in the balaunce of the Iustice of God were found to be so weightie and of so great importaunce that his wrath could neuer haue béen appeased towards vs but by the death of his onely Sonne which maketh ful satisfaction I say by the cruel and ignominious death of the crosse How should not we hence forwarde detest abhorre our sin as that which is the cruel bloody murtherer of the onely sonne of God Beholde the Sun the Moon behold the element beholde the vale of the Temple beholde the stones Rocks which were mooued at the death of Iesus Christe which shewed foorth tokens of sorow and we which bere within our selues the cause of his death shall not we haue in horrour and detestation this cursed enemy sin that is lodged within vs Shall we suffer him to rule dwell in vs as before that it may bring home death vnto vs Not so but we must detest it as that that before time seperated vs from God our chéefest happinesse as that that caused vs to loose the Image and similitude of God according to which we were created at the beginning by god It is that that hath wholly destroyed vs that hath depriued vs of holinesse and righteousnes that hath banished vs out of paradise that hath made vs flaues to the tiranny of the deuil the hath made vs subiect to so many miseryes and diseases and tobe short bothe to the first and second death it is that which after it had set a bar deuision betwéen God and vs caused vs to sée our owne filthines purchased vnto vs shameful vilanous infamy made vs to tremble at the voice of our God which was before moste pleasant loouing vnto vs It is that wherby the wrath of God is heaped vpon men that maketh the Earth to become barrain and to bring foorth thornes and thistles that causeth women to bring foorth in sorow and that men eat their bread in the sweat and labour of their bodyes Séeing then that sin bringeth foorth and procureth vnto vs dayly so many miseries it foloweth the we ought to withdraw our selues from it if we wil not be wilful enemies of our owne happines saluation Now theÌ„ I cite héer all disordered and flaunderous persons which notwithstaÌ„ding are so impudent to present them selues to the Lords holy table I aske them what it is that they promised to God and his church in baptisme They wil answer me that they promised God to renounce the Deuil and all his works But one of the chéef and principall works of the deuil is sin Why doo they not then abstain from it Why are they traytours disobedient to God and his Church Why haue they conspired with the deuil the world and the flesh against their owne saluation How dare they present them selues béefore God to aske him pardon and remission of their sinnes séeing that more and more they hepe sin vpon sin and crucifie kil again as much as in them lyeth the sonne of God or at the least make a scorne scoffe of the purging of his blood which was applyed vnto them in Baptisme Put the case that a wicked man poor and destitute of all help were fallen into a mire wheÌ„ce out he could by no menes raise vp him self and that some yung Prince passing that way took the paines to draw him out of this ditch to make him clene to clad him with gorgeous and pretious apparel if this wicked man poor miserable caitif fall again into this mire beray bothe him self and his apparel béeing moreouer in great daunger of his life would not one think that this man were maruelously vnkinde and a contemner of that princely bounty and goodnesse and on the other side a wilful sworne enemy of his owne helth worthy tobe lost cast away with out any help or assistance Euen so soundeth our cause with Iesus Christe We fel all into the pudle of sin in the person of Adam we are all wicked dooers and worthy of an hundreth thousand gibbetê before God we can by no meanes get out of our selues and out of the ditch of destruction wherinto we are al fallen of our owne fault Beholde the Sonne of God the king of kings the Lord of Lords which commeth to draw vs out of this pudle which commeth to wash vs with his pretious blood whiche vouchsafeth to clad vs with the proper Cloke of his righteousnes innocency If we coÌ„e again to wallow our selnes in the puddle of sin if we plese our selues in it if we defile be durt the robe of innoceÌ„cy which he hath giueÌ„ vs in baptisme are we not manifest contemners of the inestimable looue gift of Iesus Christe are moreouer worthy to rot a thousand times in our filthynes or rather to gnash our téeh euerlastingly with the deuilê in hel It is euident
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
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