is presented vnto hym so is thys onely the worshyppynge of God in spirite and trueth in or by this holy sacrament fyrste to conceyue suche a faythe in the goodnes of Christ by it as maye cause vs surely to truste both to the remission of our sinnes to the receiuynge of so moche grace and goodnesse also by the corporall eatynge and drynkynge of it as maye helpe vs to amende our lyues And then to geue ouer oure selues holly to the lawdynge and praysynge of hys name and to the folowynge of hys commaundemeÌ„tes both in the huÌ„ble receyuyng of this sacrament and in folowynge of hys other lawes ¶ The seconde argumeÌ„t wherwith the pope woulde proue that this sacrament shoulde be reserued kepte and shewed to be honoured of the people with handes and knees though they dyd not receyue it is this The Arke of promesse the Mercye seat was continually worshypped of theÌ„ in the olde tyme whiche was a sacrament And therfore sayth he we ought to do the lyke vnto this sacrament at all tymes though we do not receiue it ¶ The aunswere God dyd ordeyne this Arke and Mercie seate for theÌ„ of the olde time to put them continuallye in remembraunce that he would suerly be present amongest them to fulfyll all the promesses that he had made vnto theÌ„ The which Arke and Mercye seate bycause it shoulde continuallye put theym in remembraunce of the sure fulfyllynge of hys promysses therfore was it bothe reserued contynually and also had in all reuerence amongest the people when they wold receyue thys remembraunce at it But the breade and wyne hathe not the lorde ordeined to be reserued contynuallye or to be lyfted vp for a shewe but geuen it to be eaten and dronken at an holy souper with this sygnifycatyon as I do geue you thys breade and wyne to be eaten dronken into youre bodyes as your owne foode so shall my bodye and blode noryshe and fede your soules wyth the grace good wyl of God for to helpe you both to beleue surely in it for the remission of your sinnes and also to amende the same agayne And therfore as thys sacrament doth not ministre thys signification nether by the reseruyng of it nor by the shewyng of it after any suche meanes as the Arke dyd but onely when it is geuen vs to be eaten and dronken wyth thys remembraunce so is it then onely to be honoured when it is so receyued in the holy souper But before I speake any further of the trewe worshypping of thys sacrameÌ„t I wyll fyrst shewe howe the primatiue churche vsed to worshyp it ¶ What the fayth and vse of the primatiue church hath bene of worshyppyng thys sacrament That they of the primatiue church haue wyth al reuerence and honour mynistred handled receyued thys holy sacrament of it we fynde wytnesse ynough But that they haue worshypped it kneled downe before it wyth the lyftyng vp of handes eyes towardes it and set it forth in golde and syluer to be worshypped or borne it about in processions honouryng it wyth candles torches ryngyng and syngyng and al other melodye of that we fynde not onely no wytnesse but rather it whereout we may gather clene the contrarye For we fynde how that certayne byshoppes of Rome dyd vse to sende the sacrament to the gates Eusebius libro v. capi xxiiii for to be receyued there of other straunge byshoppes when they came to vysite them Eusebius libro vi capi xxxiiii And we fynde howe that a priest dyd geue the sacrament vnto a boye for to beare home to hys father and to geue it hym there Also we may se in the bokes of saint Cipriane Cipri in sermo de Lapsis Hiero. in Apolo pro libris aduersus Iouianum Tertuliane and Hierome how that men were wont in the tyme of those holy fathers to gyue the sacrament vnto the laye people for to beare home with them and how that the people were wont after they had so receiued it to laye it vp in theyr chistes or other speciall custodyes Ambrosius de suo fratre satiro yea some woulde hange it about theyr neckes and receyue it when they lyst them selues Out of the whych we may well gather that men in those dayes knewe nothyng of worshyppyng the sacrament at the least wayes as it was now worshypped Honorius tertius a Pope that lyued and wrytte in the yere of oure Lord. M.CC.xvi. dyd ordeyne that men shulde reserue and kepe the sacrament in a place appointed that the priestes shulde oftentymes lerne the people reuereÌ„tly to knele downe when the sacrament was lyfted vp in the masse or when it was borne vnto the sycke folke Beholde this Pope whiche lyued but .iii. hundred and .xxxii. yeares a goo ordeyned fyrste that men shoulde reserue the sacrament in a place appointed and that the priestes should lerne the people to knele downe wheÌ„ they saw the sacrament lyfted vp or borne about Where was than before those dayes the goodly pyxes canapies lampes with all the crouchinges and knelynges which we haue vsed but after the right vse of the sacramente whiche god hym selfe had commauÌ„ded to be kept was one fallen it was easye ynough for the deuell to brynge in all suche supersticious abuses and to cause men beleue that they were to the trew honouringe of god and his holy sacramentes Now is it trewe also that in the prymatiue churche there were some that did reserue the bread which thei had remayning ouer the communioÌ„ in a secrete place tyll the next tyme that they had an vse also to shewe the breade in the holy souper For as Dionisius in the .iii. chapter De eucharistia maketh mention it was the vse in hys tyme that the priestes should first set forth vpon the alter the bread chalice couered and after they had consecrated to vncouer them and bryng them so forth into the sight of the people and theÌ„ to deale the breade by and by in peaces to geue forth the cuppe in lykemaner And in the Greke Liturgia we rede that the priest a litle before the ministringe and receyuing of the sacrameÌ„t The shewynge of the sacrament hath ben 〈…〉 â—â—ip â—â—â—ge of 〈◊〉 when it was to lifted vp was neuer vsed tyll of late dyd lyft vp a lytle the breade modicum sustolteus like as we vsed to do in our messe by and by after the pater noster But that ether the chalyce was at any tyme lyfted vp in those dayes or elles that the people fell downe vpon their knees and worshipped the bread beyng so lyfted vp of it we rede nothynge before this Pope Honorius did ordeyne it Wherby we may perceiue that al though that shewing of the bread in the holy souper be wel olde yet to fal down and worship it when it was so shewed or to lyft vp handes and eyes to it and not to receyue it as the lorde commauÌ„ded is an abuse crepte
gospell and for the vsyng of his holy commaundementes as fast prayer almose dedes so oughte this to be iudged also of all christen men that as he woulde neuer haue done this if the weaknes of oure fayth had not so required it so oughte we to obeye his commaundement in makynge of oure fayth sure that we be ledde and possessed styll of his holy spirite within by the receiuyng of this sacrament when so euer we can conueniently come vnto the same Wherefore this is the seconde honour dew vnto this sacrament that we by the receyuynge of it after the same maner ordre that he hath appointed it to be a sacrameÌ„t vnto vs do strengthen our fayth by it bothe for the remission of our synnes for the receyuyng of his heauenly body life also to amende them agayne The thyrde honour is that seyng god doth of his mere goodnes geue vnto vs such giftes in this his holy sacra as the very effecte spirituall substaunce of his owne precious body bloode as it was both in sufferyng deth for vs here as it is now makynge intercession for vs at the ryghte hande of God so is it oure bound dewtie agayne to applye our hole lyues to the vtterynge and bestowynge of these same hys gyftes so after we haue receyued them that hys moste holy wyll therby myght the better bothe in our selues and other be fulfylled and his kingdome enlarged And specially seyng he doth so louyngly yea moste charitably ioyne vs together into his owne body as fleshe of hys fleshe bone of hys bones by makyng vs partakers of the effect and substaunce of hym selfe thorow the faythful receiuyng together of thys hys mystical breade that is to saye thorow the receyuing of his godly spirite mynde and wyl in it so ought we agayne to be charitable louyng one to an other one to fede noryshe another with al our wordes dedes that we myght growe vp walke forth together in the strength of the same meat vnto the mouÌ„te of Oreb the felicite of heauen Well these .iii. kyndes of honoure then are specially due vnto this sacrameÌ„t or rather to the grace of god present in it at all such times as it shal be presented vnto vs after Christes ordinaunce And nowe that these .iii. kyndes of honouring this sacramente are so specially due vnto it wheÌ„ it is ministred accordynge to Christes ordydinaunce that without the effecte of them all .iii. together it can be had in no reuerence nor honour of vs may wel be perceyued by the honour that they of the olde tyme shoulde haue geuen to their sacrifices which were vnto them sacramentes Whom the lorde dyd greatly reproue as manifest abusers and despisers of his holy ordinauÌ„es bicause they did leaue vndone the honoure and reuerence whiche he had specyally appointed theÌ„ to do vnto hym in theÌ„ by saying thus vnto theÌ„ thorowe his holy prophet Ieremy Iere. vii Thus saieth the lorde of hostes the God of Israel put your burned offerynges other offerynges together and eate vp the fleshe For I haue not the day that I brought your fathers out of Egipte spoken vnto them nor geuen them coÌ„maundement of burned offrynges and other offrynges But thys I coÌ„mauÌ„ded them sayeng herken obeye my voyce and I shal be your God and you shal be my people Walke therfore in all the wayes that I haue coÌ„maunded you that ye may prosper But they wold not heare me nor enclyne theyr eares vnto me Beholde whiles the Iewes dyd offre vp theyr sacrifices whych were such holy ceremonies as God had coÌ„mauÌ„ded him self to be offred vnto him wtout repeÌ„tauÌ„ce had before for theyr former sinnes wtout the strengthening againe of their faith in christ for the same not geuiÌ„g eare to this his minde and meanyng in them for the which they were chiefly ordeyned he sayde vnto them they shulde but put their offeringes together and eate vp the fleshe of them them selues for he had geuen them no commaundement of them As to wete that they shuld offre them so vnto hym in puttyng theyr hole truste of honouryng hym or of doyng hym seruice in the outward doyng of them without the receyuing of repeÌ„tauÌ„ce faith purpose of amendemeÌ„t by the fre presenting of his grace good wil in theÌ„ before And in lyke wyse when the Iewes wolde lyue out of charitie with their neyghbours or requyt euel for euel without coÌ„passion taking in al thinges and thynke yet to please the lorde with the outwarde doyng of such ceremonies sacrifices as he had coÌ„mauÌ„ded the lord sayd thus vnto theÌ„ by the prophet Amos Amos. v I wyll haue mercymeat and no sacrifice By the whych sayeng he dyd not yet forbid â—hem to do that thynge with al reueâ—ence which he had ones coÌ„mauÌ„ded â—ut he wylled them not to do it in â—ruste to honour or please hym any â—hynge therby wythout they had coÌ„â—eyued before such a fayth and trust â—n the fre remission of theyr synnes â—horow Christ by the institutyng of â—hese sacrifices as had made them of â—ynde to folowe and obey all hys â—ommaundementes but specially in â—hewing of mercy vnto al meÌ„ like as â—e had shewed it frely vnto theym Thorow Esaye the prophete the â—orde sayd also that such offerynges â—nd sacrifices as he had yet hyghly â—oÌ„maunded hym selfe to be offered Esay i. â—ere abhomination vnto hym and â—hat he coulde not ones abyde them â—ote here good reader thys wytâ—esseth God of the seruice whyche â—â—e people woulde yet seme to do â—nto hym selfe and not to anye straunge Goddes and that in suche thynges as were not coÌ„maunded to be done by man but as touchynge to the doyng of theym in forme and maner outwardly as they were commaunded by God hym selfe Onely bicause they would nedes do him seruyce in theym withoute the conceyuynge before of suche a faythe and truste in the free remyssyon of theyr synnes by the merites of Christe as had brought theym in mynde bothe to repent them of their synnes and also to amende theyr lyues Nowe if the vsyng of the sacramentes were thus abhominable to him ones that he coulde not abyde the syght of theÌ„ when they had not their true honour gyuen vnto them howe dwely so euer they wer obserued and honored outwardely what wyll he say then iâ— we do now vse his holy sacrameÌ„tes whiche be of no lesse strength vertue than were theyrs in olde tym but rather of more wythout these iii. thynges be surely grounded in oure myndes before wherefore it is manyfest that neyther oure golde nor other goodes neyther our bowyng downe nor knelynge before them neyther yet oure often vsynge of theÌ„ outwardely can be any thing to the honouryng of the holy sacramentes or to the grace of God present in theym excepte we do fyrste wyth harty repentaunce cal to mind the greate nede that we haue of the fre grace presented in them thorowe Christe for oure
A treatyse of the ryght honourynge and wourshyppyng of our sauiour Iesus Christe in the sacramēt of breade and wyne when it is ministred wyth thankes geuing at the holy supper sette forth by Rycharde Bonner priest in the yeare of our lord god M. ccccc xlviii and the .xii. of Nouember Iohn .iiii. The houre cometh is nowe when trwe worshippers shal worship the father in spirit veryte for the father seketh suche that may worshyp hym DIEV ET MON DROYT VICTORIA IVSTITIA PRVDENTIA To the ryght reuerende father in God / Thomas archebysshop of Canterbury and of all Englande Metropolitane Rycharde Bōner wyssheth grace and peace in our sauiour Iesu Christ wyth the encrease of all godly knowledge IN asmuch ryght vertuous father as god hath not onely called you for longe as many men haue wel perceiued to suche a knowledge of hys moost holy worde as dyd styrre vp in you both a great reuerence towardes the same and cause you ryght earnestly to desyre to haue it trewly taught set forth to the glory of god in al places but specially amongest vs hys people of thys your natiue coūtrey but hath also after it hath now pleased hym to offre the same frely vnto vs called you to haue the ouersight therof I haue thought it not onely mete but therwythal my boūde dew tye to present thys my poore worke vnto your faythful dyscretion And not bycause I dyd eyther iudge any thynge to be in it whych I wolde declare vnto you as yf you were ignoraūt of the same or els that I feard you wolde not prouyde as much as in you laye the trewth in al thynges to be knowen and set forth wythout the vtteryng of my rude and symple mynde in it but onely bycause I knowyng the slendernesse of my lernyng and beyng yet constrayned to wryte of thys so weyghty a matter feared that there might be sumwhat wrytten of me in it that shoulde not fully agree with the veryte of goddes worde which is now so greatly desired almost of al mē to be sincerely declared that it semeth they wold euen deuoure the same yf they myght but ones spye it out I haue therfore hūbly gyue this poore worke vnto you inspecially that it myght rather be corrected by your godly iudgement and dyscrete ouersyght thē thought worthy to be thankefully receyued And lesse the rudenesse therof might yet let you from the reading of it for the same I haue here also in a brefe summe set forth the special matters of it whych are these Fyrst in declaryng how our Lorde Iesu Christe myght be honoured a ryght in thys sacrament when it is mynistred at an holy souper I haue shewed what God gyueth vs by his holy worde and sacramentes specially what he gyueth vs by this most holy sacramente of hys bodye and blode by the whiche I haue sayde that our lorde Christe though thorowe his heauenly spirite also offereth and presenteth vnto vs hys very body and blode as it was both in sufferynge death for vs here and as it is also at the ryghte hande of God for vs nowe that is to saye as his very bodily Passion trew Resurrection and Ascensyon was and is continually the onelye meanes that purchaseth vs the grace and good wyll of God for the remyssion of all our synnes and presenteth the same freely vnto vs by hys mooste mighty spirite by this his holy sacramente for to helpe vs bothe to a sure fayth and trust in the same free remyssyon and for to woorke in vs also all the hole strength and vertue of his very body and blode as the very same mekenesse loue and charyte with al the holynes ryghtuousnesse and purite that hath alwayes bene and is in it These .ii. thynges chiefely doth our lorde Iesus Christ offer and freely present vnto vs by hys myghtye and mooste heauenly spirite and by thys holy sacrament to thentente that we myghte so receyue by the vertue of hys bodelye passyon whyche he suffered yet but once for all the free remission of our synnes at all tymes and by his trew resurrectyon and ascensyon our full iustificatyon lyke as he hathe dyed for the one aswell as for the other By meanes wherof I haue sayd also that thys sacrament is called the bodye and blode of Christe and the very testament or promyse of theym beyng present with it thus at al such times as it is ministred according to his institutiō Wherupō I haue in lykewyse further declared that forasmuche as there is present thus the bodye and blode of Christ so muste this nedes be the honoure and worshyppe specially dew vnto it when it is ministred That we do fyrste and before we wyll receyue it beyng the treasure of all heauenly vertues cōceyue suche a fayth and trust in hys bodyly passyon and trew resurrectyon thorow this his free and vndeserued callynge of vs to the better remembraunce of it by thys sacrament of hys owne instituting for the same purpose as maye cause vs both to laye awaye all the vyces within our corrupt bodyes with suche a repentaunce as feleth vs sumwhat to haue nede of the greate vertues offered in it and to beleue also that we shall the more assuredly receyue then the full remyssyon of all oure synnes thorow the worthines of the same passion and resurrectyon And secondly that we do forth with vp on thys callyng of vs vnto faith by thys sacrament receyue it externally also accordyng to hys ordinance for the strengthenyng confyrmyng of the same fayth the more assuredly in vs and for our better encreasyng in his most godly vertues And thirdly that we from thence forth do geue ouer oure selues holly to the rest of hys lawes but specyally to the charitable and louyng expressing of his mekenesse and pacience to oure neyghboures agayne lyke as he hathe moste gentely dealte with vs in geuyng theym vnto vs freely before These .iii. thinges repentance faith and amendemente towardes oure neyghboure are the special honours dwe vnto thys sacrament at all such tymes as it is ministred accordynge to his ordinance wherwith we must honour it in spirite verite And yet do not these kindes of honouring it let that we shold not at al such times as we wyll receyue it humbly honoure it with all the powers and membres of our bodyes also yf some necessitie do not debarre the same as with the vncoueryng of our headdes wyth the knelyng and bowyng downe of our bodyes and with the praysyng of hys goodnes therein with oure tounges but the honouring of it in spirite and veryte doeth seclude all other tokens to be done vnto it but when we can so wourshyppe it before As to wete we can neuer honoure thys sacramente a ryght with handes and knees but when we can fyrst conceiue such a fayth and trust in the bodylye passyon and trew resurrectyon of Christe for the remyssyon of our synnes by hys free callyng of vs vnto it thorow the
argumētes and reasons as they appeared outwardly but also certayne places and ensamples of the scripture for the same And so thus he sayd for to proue that we shoulde continuallye honoure thys sacrament wyth handes and knees whether we dyd inwardly worshyppe it or no. ¶ In thys sacrament there is presente the bodye and bloude of Christe and therfore oughte we to wourshyppe it wyth handes and knees whether we do strengthē our fayth by the corporall receyuynge of it or no. ¶ The aunswere Christe sayth that he and the father wil be so present with them that kepe hys commaundementes Iohn .xiiii. that they wyll both come and dwell with thē And Saint Paul saith also that the lorde Christ dwelleth thorow faith in the hertes of the elected Eph. iii. And yet it doth not folow of this that we shuld fall downe vpon our knees before godly and deuout people as though we could receyue Christ presently by the honouringe of him so in theym The lorde in dede geueth effectually hys very body and blode in this sacrament when it is ministred accordyng to hys ordynaunce and yet we can not receyue it with the worshyppynge of it wyth handes and knees onely But specyally we muste fyrst wourshyppe it wyth the handes and knees of our fayth lyke as we do onely receyue and fele him presente there with the mouthe of oure fayth The presence of Christes bodye and blode in this sacramente is an heauenly worke that is to saye it is wrought into vs by the spryte of God onely and thorow the declarynge of the goodnes and merytes of Christes passyon and is no work of thys worlde that he is present to be geuen vs there And therfore whē we wyll ether receyue or worshyppe it there By the sacramēt we muste syng sursum corda we muste fyrste synge thus with the church Sursum corda et non huc corda That is to saye we muste fyrst lyfte vp oure hertes aboue al that cā be felt or sene in it thorow faith lay hand vpon the goodnes of Christ in cōsidering this sacra to be a plain promyse which doth moste certeynly witnes shew his passiō to haue pacified so that wrath of God for our sinnes that it doth cōtinualli purchase vs both the remission of them al frely offre and present vnto vs also the grace and good wyll of god no lesse for to helpe vs to beleue surely in it than to amende thē againe when so euer it is mynistred vnto vs. The whiche faith as no mā can haue that entendeth not to receyue it when so euer it is ministred vnto hym euen so can there no man worshyppe this sacrament a ryght with handes and knees that dothe not receyue it also Wherefore although trew faith bryngeth well to passe What outward worshyp true faith bringeth forth that we by this most holy ministracion do oftentymes fal downe vpon out knees and lyft vp oure handes ether when we heare these most holsome wordes of the lorde take eate this is my body whiche shall be geuen for you take drynke ye all out of this this cuppe is the new testamente in my bloude cetera or when we do receyue the moste comfortable meat and drinke at the ministration of the sacrament in the holy souper yet that we shuld therfore take it for an acceptable honourynge or worshippyng of oure Lorde Christ to fal downe vpō our knees before this sacrament eyther when it is shewed hanged vp or borne about or to do it any kynde of reuerence when it is lyfted vp yet not to receyue it accordyng to Christes ordynaunce that doutlesse can not only be gathered out of no word of God but is also playne agaynste the same where it sayeth take eate c. take and drynke For what we muste forthwyth as it is mynistred vnto vs eate and drynke corporally to the strengthenyng of oure fayth and to the styrryng vp of all godlynesse in vs that maye we not thynke to receyue by the seyng of it when it is lyfted vp or caryed aboute wherfore it can not be the trewe honouryng of Christ in this sacramēt but rather a despysyng of his goodnes to go aboute to amende and chaunge his ordynaunce in it after our blynde reason in saying we wyl honoure him in it when we wyll not receyue it And therfore to knele down before the sacrament lyftyng vp handes eyes towardes it ether when it is in ministrynge or otherwyse shewed of the whiche kynde of honoringe it ether Christe nor his apostles hath any thing taught and yet not to receiue it according to his ordinaūce a thing whiche the lorde commaunded to be done with all diligēce can be nothing elles than a vayne worshipping of him in it with the doctrine of man as I shall plainly proue by this argument It is all a vayne worshyppinge of Christ in this his holy sacrament when we wyll not humbly and with all faythfull obedyence receyue the gyft and benefyte whiche he offereth vs by the mynistracion of these wordes in it take eate take and drinke But they do not worshyppe Christe a right with the humble receyuinge of the benefyte whiche he presenteth vnto them by the mynistracion of these wordes that wyl not take eate and drynke this sacrament after his ordynaunce when he commaundeth them to do it And therefore all the worshypping of Christ in the sacrament without the humble and faithfull receyuing of it also after his ordynaunce is but a vayne worshypping of him in it and the doctrine of man Besides this to worship Christ in the sacramente with handes and knees and yet not to receyue it after his ordinaunce what other thynge maye it shewe elles than that we wyll enclose Christ our lorde in the bread comprehensyblye byndynge hym so vnto it and bring him therwith into an earthely liuing and being again To worshyppe Christe a ryght in thys sacrament what it is where we shoulde yet lift vp our selues by and by as it is presented frō the vysyble sygne to the inuysyblye grace whiche it dothe sygnifye and from the earthely ministracion of it to the heauēly goodnes of hym that ordeyned it to be ministred and so worshyp in it Christe oure lorde in spirite and truth that is to say most inwardely and hartely remembryng then the goodnes of our sauiour Iesu Christ whiche woulde shewe vs by it that his passion had so pacyfyed the wrathe of god for oure synnes that it dyd continually purchase vs the remyssion of them all and frely offre and presente vnto vs therfore by this sacramente the grace and good wyll of god for to helpe vs both to beleue surely in it also to amende our liues again The which faith as I haue said as no can haue truly which is not by by readye to receyue after Christes ordynaunce hys holy sacramēt that with al humble reuerence bothe of bodye and mynde as soone as it
the church of Christ to descrybe some godlye forme and manner of geuynge instructions vnto the people before they come vnto the receyuynge of so hyghe a mysterye The churche that is to saye the deuoute people both of the Magistrates and clergye in euerye countre shall prouyde for them selues that all thynges be done after a decent ordre and of rendryng thankes vnto god for it after they haue receyued it Wherefore this is the hole authoritie and power that the church hath in the worde and sacramentes and other of goddes ordynaunces that they maye thus and shall with all their diligence bothe aswel the Prynces and Magistrates thē selues as the ministers of the worde ordre and dyspose them so in tyme place measure and maner that the people therby myght not only haue the more deuocion to vse them with al feare and reuerēce but also come the better to the same ende and purpose of them that they were ordeyned for of god The churche hath no authoritie to take away any of the sacramentes no more thā it can forbidde vs to fast or pray But to chaūge them vnto any other fashyon as this sacrament was chaunged from the corporal receiuing of it into a lokinge glasse or to leaue them vtterly vndone lyke as men had left the receiuyng of the cuppe in the holy souper that authorite hath no man tyll Christ whiche is the ende that they lead vs vnto come hym selfe For it can be called no right orderynge or dysposynge of the sacramētes to the encreasing of any godlinesse amōgest the people for to take thē cleane away no more than it can be called a right ordering of our prayers to say we wyll praye trewly with our hertes though we do wylfully leaue out the praier of the mouthe also Wherfore it must nedes be an abuse to receiue the sacramēt in one kinde only other wise than god hath ordeyned it Moreouer that we ought to receyue thys sacrament in both kyndes maye well be perceyued in that the lorde hym selfe after he had takē the cuppe into his hādes geuen thākes reached it vnto his disciples dyd that with great feruentnesse and wyth more playne and comfortable wordes expresse our redemtiō and cōmunion in him by the cuppe then he dyd by the breade or by any other sacrament For at baptyme he cōmaunded no more to be said then I baptise the in the name of the father the sonne and the holy goost And at the ministryng of the breade of thankes geuyng no more then take eate thys is my bodye whyche shal be geuen for you But at the ministring of the cuppe he sayd commaunded other in his name to saye take drynke thys cuppe is the new testament in my blode whych shal be shedde for you and for many vnto the remission of synnes Beholde good reader howe comfortable a gospell our sauiour Christe hathe ordeyned thys sacrament of wyne to expresse Wherfore it maye well be called the moste holy and comfortablest sacrament of all other The cup is the most cōfortable sacrament For seyng it is the worde when it is mynistred by the creature that maketh the creature to be a sacrament so doth it doutlesse folowe that so muche the more comfortable as the wordes are when they are ministred so muche the greater is the sacramēt that ministreth them And therfore no christē man yea no aungell from heauē oughte to haue taken awaye from the weake synfull flocke of Christ this moste comfortable sacrament specially seyng the lorde hymselfe cōmaunded it to be vsed also wyth so great feruentnesse Wherfore he that wolde wyth holde thys sacrament of wyne from the people in the holy souper shulde as much as in him lyeth kepe from theym the ministration of this holy ghospell that Christe hathe shedde hys moste precyous blode for them For althoughe we do in dede receiue euen the same thynge before by the breade when it doeth ministre vnto vs the bodye of Christe that we do afterwarde when we receyue the cup whiche ministreth vnto vs his blod yet as he that loseth the profyte of them bothe agayne whiche wyll not for all thys geue hymselfe wyth all dylygence vnto faste prayer almosse dedes and all other Godlye exercyses but wylfully foloweth the workes of the fleshe so doeth he lose the profyte that he had receyued before by the breade whiche ministred vnto him the bodye of Christe that wylfullye wyll refuse to receyue the wyne whiche shoulde also mynister vnto him his blode Wherefore yf it be an abuse to neglecte gods commaundementes when oportunite serueth vs to obey the same than muste it nedes be a great abuse to refuse the receyuyng of the holy cuppe of thankes geuyng whē it is ministred in the holy souper But bycause mē shuld not so greatly passe vpon the trew receyuing of this holy sacrament of the body and blod of Christ ether in one kynde or in both the pope was wont to bring in this argument chiefly ¶ This sacrament of the bodye and blode of Christe sayeth he maye aswel be receyued spiritually by callynge to remembraunce that Christ hath dyed for vs when we do but loke vpon it as it maye be outwardely though we shoulde receyue it ones in the yere outwardely also ¶ The aunswere To saye that the sacrament may aswell be receyued spiritually as it maye be corporallye or outwardlye muste nedes be a wonderful saying For turne it what waye ye wyll and it shal be yet holly agaynst Christ his manifest cōmaundement For yf ye vnderstande by the spirituall receyuynge of this sacrament that it muste be receyued in trew fayth The sacrament was instituted to be receyued both corporally and spiritually but yet corporally also then is that the onely receyuyng of it accordyng to goddes spirituall ordinaunce and none other But yf you vnderstande your saying of suche a spirituall receyuyng of thys sacra as is wyth out the corporall receyuyng of it also so can not that be the receyuyng of it according to goddes spiritual ordinaunce For he gaue the bread vnto hys disciples and commaunded them to take and eate it that corporally also and in like maner gaue he them the cuppe to drynke And therfore as it is manyfestly agaynst the cōmaūdement of Christ to make a gasynge stocke of the sacrament not to receiue it in saying thou canst call asmuche to mynde when thou doest but se it as the Lorde hath ordeyned to put into thy minde by the corporall receyuyng of it after hys moste louyng and spirituall institution so is there no spirituall receyuyng of this sacrament but to take it corporally with suche a spirit and fayth as styrreth vs both to repentaunce for our synnes past To receyue the spirit of god in the sacramēt whē we receyue it corporally what it is and also to amende them agayne by the humble folowyng of hys lawes And yet for the mayntenaunce of a spirituall receyuyng
be peceyued For howe shoulde they eyther haue gathered a sure fayth in Christe by seynge the sacrament as it was thought to be to be lyfted vp when they knew no thing whether it was Christes wyll and mynde to haue it so shewed vnto theym or no wythoute the sure knoweledge of the whyche there can no manne gather a sure faythe Or howe shoulde they haue gathered any trewe repentaunce by the hearyng of a priest say masse before them when they hearde hym speake neuer a worde agaynst them that brake the lawes of God wherout the trew knowledge of syn and repentaunce for the same doeth alwayes sprynge seyng he spake in such a language as they vnderstode nothyng at all And therfore it dyd rather coÌ„forte them in theyr synnes then moue them from them so longe as it dyd not bryng them trewly vnto these .ii. thynges Well we haue declared thus both these .ii. thynges to wete fyrst that there ought no masse to be said wherin the souper of the Lorde is handled wythout coÌ„municantes And secoÌ„dly that there ought no mo masses to be sayde in a churche then one at ones yf the people may al together coÌ„ueniently heare one priest And so there resteth to declare nowe whether it be worthy reprofe punishement for a trewe christen man to be present at the souper of the lorde and not to receyue the sacrament The worde of god is doutlesse manyfest ynough in this whyche to all them indifferently that are present at the souper is spokeÌ„ thus in the name of the lorde Christe take eate thys is my bodye take drynke thys is my blode Now to be present at the speakyng of these wordes to geue no credence that Christ doth offre preseÌ„t vnto vs in them together wyth the sacra the very meat drinke of euerlasting life It is a playne token of vnfaythfulnesse and dysobedyence to be preseÌ„t at the souper not to receiue the sacra is surely worthy to be reproued in a christeÌ„ maÌ„ But it is not possible that we shoulde beleue thys trewly yet not be obedieÌ„t vnto the lorde in receyuyng at hys haÌ„des with all thankefulnesse deuotion suche meate and drynke as may geue hym euerlastyng lyfe when it is frely offred hym And therfore yf not to beleue that Christe doth offre vs here his bodye and blode as the meate of euerlastinge lyfe be worthy reproffe so must it also be worthy reproffe not to take it wheÌ„ it is frely offered And yf thou sayest thou art not at all tymes worthy to receyue it when thou art at it so do I aunswer that againe that thou art not worthy theÌ„ to be present at it neither For it is also worthy reprofe for a maÌ„ to geue him selfe vnto any godly exercise To the souper perteyne they onely that wyll receyue to the which he findeth himselfe not mete or worthy but specially to be preseÌ„t at the exercysing of the godly souper For it is manifest that Christ hylde this his holye souper with such disciples only as wer worthy as it appered outwardly according to the which we must iudge as vnto al the whiche he gaue his bodye and blode coÌ„mauÌ„ded al that same to take eate it Therfore can no maÌ„ be present or is mete to be at this godly exercise which knoweth not that he maye receyue the h. sacra to hys saluation and so be a disciple Christ For he that hath not geuen hym selfe so farre in to the doctrine of Christ that he wil abyde in the lorde desyre the lorde to abyde in hym he is not mete to heare these wordes spokeÌ„ vnto him take eat this is my body c. The holy fathers woulde suffer no man to be preseÌ„t at the holy souper whome they thought not mete to receiue Wherfore the h. fathers of olde tyme haue kepte thys vse very strongely earnestly that they after the coÌ„mune prayer sermone was made before they begaÌ„ to holde the h. souê‘ wolde put out of the christeÌ„ coÌ„gregatioÌ„ beyng assembled together in the churche not onely suche as were yet learners of theyr fayth not christened whome they called Cathecumeni and such as were possessed with euel sprites were not wel by theÌ„ selues or by the sprit of christ whoÌ„ thei called Euergumeni with them also that dyd coÌ„tinue in any open crimes or manifest vngodlines but theÌ„ also which stode yet in doiÌ„g of the penaunce whiche had ben layde vpon them for theyr great offences wherwith they had offended the christen congregation openly and were not yet reconsyled vnto Christe by satysfyenge of his faithfull people whome they had offended that they would amende nor absolued of theÌ„ for the same All these they woulde put out of the churche when they woulde holde the holy souper of the lorde as men vnworthye to be present at it Whiche thinge they dyd not wtout a good cause For seyinge Christ as I haue sayde dyd holde this his holy feast with those dysciples only to all the whiche he gaue his body and blode and al the which dyd rceiue eate the same and seyng he hath commaunded vs to do euen the same thinge in his holy souper that he dyd hym selfe so is it doutlesse ryghte semyng that we shoulde holde this holy feast but in the presence of such dysciples only so farre forth as we can iudge them by theyr workes as are both mete worthye and desirous to receyue the holy sacrament For as it is very vnmete worthye great reprofe as holy Chrisostome saieth to be called of a right gracyouse lorde for to come vnto a costly and precyous feast and yet when thou commest vnto it not to proue of the meate and drynke that is set before the so muste it nedes be worthy great reprofe to be called of thy lorde and sauiour and that to the feastfull eatynge of his most precyous body and blode and yet not to proue ones of it And bicause of this the holy fathers haue acknowledged all them to be vnworthye also to be present at the holy souper and to beholde the godly ministracion therof that are not worthye and mete to receyue the holy sacrament also Whiche vnmetenesse vnfaithfulnesse and despysyng of the heauenly meate and drynke holye Chrisostome doeth sore speake agaynst in wrytyng thus of it Who so abydeth and standeth present at the holy souper doth not wyth other receyue the sacramente he standeth there stubburnly and wythout all shame For sayeth he as by the table of a lorde whych is but a man the seruauntes shall not be present that haue made angrye or offended theyr maister euen so shall there be done also by the holy souper where there is brought forth the kylled offeryng the Lorde Christ the lambe of God Therfore men do bydde them go theyr waye that are in synne Now when this is done and they that knowe them selues in synne do not go theyr waye