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
vtter darknesse not because he had wickedly spent his Maisters Talent but because he vsed it not nor imployed it F. It is therfore requisit that euery one according to the talent which he hath receiued of God doo glorify him in that vocation wherunto he is called C. Yea. If we wil enter as the good seruant into the ioy of our Maister F. To doo this goodnes must we not haue knoweledge C. Yes F. By what meanes C. By the law of God and generally by all the holy Scriptures whiche shew vnto vs what the good woorks are whiche God requireth of vs. F. Are we not exhorted to the Supper to liue wel C. Yes that we are For in that that we are made one with Iesê° Christe made flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones further more in that that we are partakers of his holinesse and innocency it is to this end that we should be holy as he is holy F. What more C. In that also that we méet and agrée in the holy Church which is the communion of Saints in that that by the opperation and woork of the holy Ghost we call vpon one father which is holy to be short in that that we hear his holy woord and receine his holy Sacraments it ought also to mooue vs to holynesse F. This holynesse which God requireth of vs is it perfit in this world C. No. As the examples of the Saincts shew vs And moreouer vnto the last breth of our life we shall haue alwaies need to aske of God that he would forgiue vs our sinnes through his Sonne Iesus Christe F. And this holynesse which is not perfit can it please God which is parfit C. Yea. For so much as by the operation of the holy Ghost and by faith we obey the commaundements of God by Iesus Christ whiche couereth with the Cloke of his righteousnesse all our wants and imperfections F. Let vs come to the third parte of our duty towards God. C. We haue said that it consisteth in an acknowledging F. What acknowledging C. Of all the benefits which we haue receiued and receiue daily at the hand of God and espetially of the benefit of redemption by Iesus Christe F. Is it not for this cause that the auncients called the holy Supper Eucharistia that is to say gratefulnesse good grace gining of thanks C. It is so F. Is this acknowledging necessary for all them the are partakers of the Lordê table C. Yea. As Iesus Christe hath she wed vs an example and moreouer hath commaunded vs to celebrate the Supper in remembrance of him F. What are the conditions of this acknowledging C. There are foure principall F. Which are the two first C. First it ought tobe giuen to one onely God by his only Sonne Iesus Christe Se condly it ought not tobe giuen not onely by mouth but also by hart F. Dooth it folowe héereby that all they which call vpon Saints giue not thanks for their saluation to one onely God by his Sonne Iesus Christe are gilty C. Yea. And they also erre which are Hipocrits praying in an vnknowen tung honouring God onely with their lips and not with their harts F Tel me the two last conditions of the acknowledging C. That is it ought to bee doon at all times that is to say aswel in aduersitie as in prosperitie To be short it ought to be practised not onely priuately but also publiquely and in the middest of the congregation of the faithful F. Seeing that we haue spoken inough of our duty towards God let vs now speak of our duty towards our neighbour C. It consisteth in true Charitie and brotherly vnitie whiche doo necessarily folowe faith and the true seruice of God. F. What is the true forme rule of charity C. That we looue our neighbours as our selues or that we looue one an other euen as Christe looued vs. F. How did Christe looue vs C. He looued vs when wee were his enemyes and when we were wicked and abominable before God. F. Haue we not héerein an example to looue our enemies although they be wicked and naught C. Yes For in this part we must be agréeable to the image of our hed Iesus Christe F. And this looue wherewithall Christe looued vs was it fained or did it continue but for a time C. No for he looued vs not in word only but in déed He looued vs not only for a time but euen to the end vnto death euen to the sheding of his pretious blood for vs. F. And ought we not to folow him héerin C. Yes To eschew all dissembling inconstancy wheÌ„ soeuer we debate of loouing our brethren and shewing our loue by déed F. Beside the example of Christe are we not exhorted to this true looue in the Super C. Yes F. By what reasons C. First in that that we doo all communicate togither at the Supper that we eat of the self same meate that we call vpon one self same Father that we haue one self same hed Iesus Christe that we are all quickened by his holy spirit it ought to stir vs vp to true looue and Brotherly charitie F. What more C. The making of the bread and wine of the Supper ought to exhort vs also vnto it F. How so C. Because that euen as the Bread is made of many cornes which are vnite to gither in one lump of Bread and as the Wine is made of many clusters of grapes which are afterwarde put togither in one licour so must the Christians whiche are many in them selues be ioyned togither by looue in one self same body whiche is the churche of God. F. This looue which we are exhorted vn to by so many reasons in the Supper can it be in them whiche bere malice and batred one against an other C. No. And therfore we must forget all iniuryes and reconcile our selues to them which haue offended vs and forgiue them with all our hart euen as wee would that God should forgiue vs. F. May we conclude by all that hath béen héertofore spoken that such as doo not their duty aswel towarde God as towarde their neighbour ought not to be receyued to the Supper C. Yea and therfore the true minister of Iesus Christe must take good héed that hée giue not that that is holy to such as are open ly knowen tobe Dogs and Swine F. The father of all mercy defend vs in such sort through his holy spirit with faith and repentance that we may publish his praises with a sincere affection and looue our neighbours as Iesus Christe hath looued vs that we come not to his holy Table to our damnation as Infidels and impenitents doo but rather to our saluation béeing assured that we inioy as truely eternall life with all riches and treasures which are in Iesus Christe as we inioy the Elements whiche he appointed vs for infallible witnesses of euerlasting life in the same his welbelooued Sonne Iesus Christe our LORD C. So be it FINIS Luc. 21.48 Iohn 4.24 1. Cor. 11.28 1 Esa. 35.5 6.7 Ioh. 3.16 2 Mat. 16.17 Ro. 7.18 1. cor 2.14 3 Math 11.25.26.27 Ioh. 1.13 6.26 (4) Ro. 8 15 Gal. 4.6 5 Math. 26.26 Mat 14.21 Luc. 22.19 1. Cor. 11.14 6 Ioh. 1.36.28 7 Psal 8.7 Math. 11 Heb. 1.2 Ioh. 17 12 27. 28.18 8 Aba 2 4. Ro. 1.17 Gal. 3 11. Heb. 10.38 9 1. Cor 11.28 10 Mat. 11.28 9.13 Mar. 2.17 Luc. 2.11 Ioh. 3.17 Act. 4.12 5.35 11 1. Tim. 1.15 12 Ioh. 3.13 13 Mat. 1.1 Iohn 1.14 Ro. 1.3 14 Mat. 1.20 Luc. 1 31. 15 Esa. 7 14. Mat. 1.25 Luc 1.31 16 Mat. 4.1 Mar. 1.12 Luc 4 1. 17 Mat. 5.17 Luc. 16 27 Ro. 10.4 18 Mar. 27.11 Mar. 15.2 Luc. 23.3 Ioh. 18.33 19 Psa 22.1 Mat. 27.46 Mar. 15.14 20 Deu. 21.23 Gala. 3.13 21 Mat. 28.6 Mar. 16.16 Ioh 20.14 Act. 2.24 22 Mar. 16.19 Luc. 24.58 Act. 2.9 23 Gen. 17.12 24 Een 12.18 25 Ec. 20.2 26 1. Reg. 18.20 27 Deut. 13.1 17.5 28 1 Cor. 10.16 29 1. Cor. 10.21 30 Apo. 18.4 31 Apo. 14.9.10.11 32 Apo. 21.8 1 Psa 51.1 2 Mar. 26.75 Mat. 14.72 Luc. 22.61 3 Act. 9.5 1. Tim. 1 13 4 Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14 21. Luc. 22.19 Act. 2 42. 20.7 1. Cor. 11.14 5 Ep. 53.3 6 Mat. 27.4.51 7 Gen. 3.6 Psal. 39. 15. 8 1. Cor. 11. 9 Mat. 12.36 10 Luc. 11.44 19.25 20.7 Luc. 1.75 1. Pet. 1.38 11 Tit. 2 11 12.13.14 1 1. Tim. 4. 5. 2 Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 3 Luc. 22.19 4 Mar. 26.27 Mar. 14.23 Luc. 21.17 5 Ex. 1. 2. 3. 6 Ex. 12.20 7 Iohn 3.16 8 Luc. 22.19 1. Cor. 11.24 9 1. Cor. 11.26 10 1. Ti. 1.17 11 Psal. 103.1 12 Luc. 1.46 13 Esa. 29.13 Mat. 15.8 14 Psa 34.1 15 1. thess. 5 18. 16 Gen. 25.38 17 Psal. 116.12 13.14 18 Psal. 10.9.10 1 Ioh 13.35 2 Ioh. 15.12.13.14 3 Ioh. 13.12.13.14 15. 4 1. Cor. 13.4 5 1. Cor. 11.35 6 Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.21 Luc. 22.19 1. Cor. 11.14 7 Math. 12. Ioh. 11.17 1. Tim. 2 1. Iohn 2. 8 Mat. 5.23.44 9 Luc 23.34 10 Act. 7.60 11 Esa. 49.23 12 1. Peter 2.13.14.15 Ro. 13.2.3 13 Act. 20.28.31 1. Pet. 5.2.3 14 1. Sa 12.13 1 Mat. 3.12 2 Mat. 13.24 3 Mat. 13.47 4 Mat. 10. 5 Mat. 1.25 6 Ro. 7.23 8.6.7 Gal. 5.1.1 Pe. 5.8 1 Mat. 22.7 Luc. 14.22 1 Psal. 1 1. 2 Mat. 7.6 3 Psal. 50.16 4 Ephe. 5.5 Psal. 15. Iohn 1. Iohn 17. Rom 10. Rom. 8. Gala. 4. 1. Cor. 11. Colo. 3. Math. 28. Math. 18. Iohn 12. Ict. 3.21 Aug. 2. Psal. 54. Hab. 2. Rom. 1. Gala. 3. Hev 10. Psal. 32. â— Lut. 18. Math. 3. 5 Mat. 25. Math. 26. Mark. 14. Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 11. Imprinted at London by Iohn Allde for Lucas Harison
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
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
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