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
value yet costly in beyng according to their pleasures And to honoure men thus doeth euen naturall reason learne vs whyche teacheth that for asmuche as honouryng muste be a shewynge of a synguler good wyll and mynde of hauyng one in reuerence in our hertes so muste we haue a great respecte both to the dignite and to the wyll and pleasure of the persone also whome we wyll honoure either with oure bodyes or gyftes Wherupon it commeth that yf we perceyue them whome we wil honoure with gyftes to haue pleasure in huntynge we do rather geue them sweft greye hundes than good drawyng oxen Haue they pleasure in halkyng so do we soner geue thē a sparre halke than the beste syngyng byrde that can be gotten And thus doubtlesse do we in al our giftes we haue alwayes our chiefe respecte to the delyte and pleasure of him vnto whome we will shewe our selues beniuolent and thankefull Nowe seyng than that euery nature learneth vs thus to honoure euery manne accordynge to it that we holde of his dygnite and to haue a specyall respecte alwayes to the delyte and pleasure of hym whome we wyll honoure wyth gyftes or other thankfulnesses and that Christ oure sauiour is the hyghest in all degrees and therwythall of so great dygnyte that we neyther haue nor can get of oure selues it wherewyth we myghte honoure hym accordyng to hys degree and as we of dewtye are bounde so muste we specyallye in the honourynge of hym haue a greate respecte vnto it wherein he wyll be honoured of vs and what maye be to hym pleasaunte and acceptable Yf we wyll then loke vpon the holy scripture aryghte oute of the whyche onely we may be in certeine of thys so do we fynde that oure Lorde and God requireth thys honoure of vs specyallye What the true honouryng of God is and the special tokens thereof fyrste that with al our hertes mindes we geue fayth vnto al his wordes workes and secondly that we freli and to the praysynge of his name enlarging of hys kyngdome confesse and acknowledge the same fayth outwardly with the geuynge of our holelynes to the exercysynge of all his lawes and commaundementes as to the hearyng of his worde desirousely to the receyuynge of his sacramentes thankefully and to the applyenge of our selues humbly to fastyng prayer and to all the dedes of charytie that our bodyes therwith myght be kept vnder and gentelye serue both hym our neyghbour in all holynesse ryghteousnes This is the true honouryng of oure lorde God the specyall tokens thereof Vnder the whiche these tokens are also cōprehended both that we with our bodyes do shewe all humylytye and mekenes when with our soules we perceyue the grace of God to be specially present vnto thē Other tokēs of the trew honourynge of god as it is in the ministracion of hys worde and sacramentes also that we prouide his worde to haue a place tyme appointed conuenient for the honourable ministracion therof his sacramentes to haue instrumētes both honest seming And that these latter tokēs are also a kynd of the honourynge of God may wel be sene by them of the olde tyme vnto whome he gaue commaundemēt for the decent mynistratyon of his holy word and sacramētes both that there should be buylded fyrst a costly tabernacle after that a gorgyouse tēple with an alter al so that there should be prouided many instrumentes of golde syluer precyouse stone of sylke cypres such other for ornamētes of religion let it be an acceptable thynge vnto hym that they shoulde honour him wyth the fallynge downe before the Arke of promyse i. Re. ii and towardes the same as also towardes heauen to lyfte vp theyr handes and eyes for the shewynge of theyr obedience towardes hym therewyth because men shoulde the more surely know hys grace to be ryght present at the mynistracion of all suche thynges as he had ordeined hymselfe to geue forth the same by and that the ministration of them was therfore right preciouse and honourable Gal. iiii But seyng these thynges are nowe out of vse as towchynge to the expresse commaundemente of God whereby they had a sacramentall signification to wete both temple ceremonyes and also the instrumentes vsed for the same and that the lorde in the newe testament hath appoyncted neither temple nor instrument lyke as there was in the olde but dyd bothe he hym selfe and hys Apostles also after hym vse euerye commen houses at theyr assemblynges together and when they woulde yet preache the word of lyfe and admytte euen commen instrumentes for the mynistration of ryghte holy sacramentes we maye well gather therby both that he wyll be aswell present with vs nowe beyng gathered together in his name eyther to heare hys moste lyuely worde or to vse hys moste holy sacramentes or to do any other Godly exercyse els as he was before in what place so euer it be and wyth what kynde of instrument so euer his holy religion be vsed or sette forth and also that the grace geuen vs by hys holy worde and sacramentes nowe doth chiefly call vs to the dispisinge of al pleasaunt worldly thynges and wyll vs to remembre onely thynges heauenly permanent Out of the whiche it doeth also folow that seing he hath nether geuē cōmaūdement nor shewed exāple him selfe nor none of his apostles after him that we should shewe vs to worshyp hym or hys relygyon with the buyldyng of gorgious temples or with the preparyng of goldē instrumentes for the ministratyon of hys holy sacramentes so can ther no man saye that the buyldynge of gorgyouse tēples or the preparinge of goodly instrumentes shoulde be any of the special tokens of the true honouryng of God or of hys holy relygyon more than euen very symple and playne And in lykewyse seing that he hath nether geuen commaundement nor shewed any ensample that we should now ether lift vp handes or eies or knele down to his holy sacramētes lyke as they did in the olde testamente but did hold the most deyntye feast of hys holy supper with his disciples as they were sytting at the table according to their accustomed maner so can there no man appoynte these thynges to apperteyne specyally to the honouring of god in his most holy sacramētes Yet seyng God is euen of the same spirite and mynde towardes mankynde nowe that he was then in the olde time Hebrue xiii and that he doth geue vs euen the same thing now by his holy word and sacramentes i. cor x. that he then gaue forth vnto thē yea and that so much the larger doeth he geue them vnto vs now as Christ hath opened al thynges more plainly by his commyng into our nature corporally it must nedes therfore be a tokē also of hauing him in honor reuerēce now aswel as it was thē both to prepare an honest place instrumētes cōueniēt for the better vsing of his
word sacrameÌ„tes also with haÌ„des knees applyed to the huÌ„ble mekenes of the spirite to receyue the same with all reuerence when so euer they shall be mynistred vnto vs. But bycause the humble mekenesse of the spirite onelye must appoint in euery man wheÌ„ and howe farre forth these thynges shall be tokens of the trew honourynge of God in his holy word and sacramentes and not bycause they belonge vnto it specyally of them selues so wyl I fyrst declare what thinges God geueth vs nowe by hys holy worde and sacramentes that the special honour due vnto the same myghte the better be knowen as the only meanes which may cause these other kyndes to haue place wyth theym also What tyme as oure sauyour Christe shoulde offer vp hys blessed body vpon the crosse for the redemption of mankynde i. Io. ii Ephe. v he dyd it with so muche mekenesse loue and charitie that the heauenly father was fullye therwith content and pacified right thankefully accepting the same into his diuine nature as a meane most sufficiente fullye able for the workyng in all men not onely of a sure fayth trust in the remyssyon of all theyr synnes i. Ti. ii Heb. ix but for the workyng also of all holynes righteousnes in theÌ„ For fyrst in that it was the blessed bodye of hys derely beloued sonne whiche was so offered vp vpon the crosse he sawe it to be able ynoughe for the workynge of a sure fayth in all men and to cause theym to truste vnto the worthynes of it for the full remyssyon of their synnes how sore so euer thei had offeÌ„ded or how long so euer they had lyen therin And agayne in that it was done with so muche mekenesse loue and charite as dyd excede all other in plentifulnes he sawe it able ynough to make all men partakers of those his heauenly vertues both for the stablysshing of theÌ„ in the same faith against al such sinne as deth the deuel might laye agaynst them afterwarde for to be as a sure earnest vnto theÌ„ also whiles they wer yet in this world of that godli life which thei might hope to receiue more fully in another world Mooste thankefully therefore dyd the infynite goodnesse of God accepte and take the meke passyon and louyng death of oure sauyour Iesu Christe Ephes i. Hebre. ix that man thereby myght not onely be iustyfied but also be holly reconsylled and brought agayne vnto hys fyrst state of innocencie that is to saye that he myght not onely be loosed and quit froÌ„ hys synnes committed thorow fayth conceyued in the worthy acceptyng of hys passyon but receyue thorow the same fayth also suche a parte of hys ful and aboundant mekenesse loue and charite as myghte both reconsyle and brynge hym agayne to the ryght expressyng of this his Godly ymage vnto other and also put him in a sure hope whyles he were yet in thys lyfe of the full receyuynge of these heuenly vertues in another lyfe And althoughe oure moste mercyfull sauyour of hys omnipotente wysedome knewe well ynoughe his meke passyon and louynge deathe shoulde ryghte thankefully thus be accepted and taken into the dyuine nature of hys heauenly father as a thynge moste sufficiente and fullye able to be the onely meanes of mannes saluation and that man therfore shoulde fynally be saued Bycause of oure weaknesse were the sacrameÌ„tes ordeyned yet forbycause he sawe the weakenesse of manne to be suche that he would be verye slacke in geuynge faythe to thys gladde tydynges of the worthye acceptynge of hys passyon eyther for the contynuall remyssyon of hys synnes or for the receyuyng of hys aboundauÌ„t grace to amende them alwayes againe yf the effecte of the same hys passyon and onely meanes shoulde alwayes be brought and presented vnto him only thorowe the secrete inspiration of God so dyd he moste mercyfullye therfore institute and ordeyne before he shoulde suffer certayne sygnes and tokens to cause al them vnto whome he shoulde peculyarly and more than to all other nations sende or geue the same to truste so muche the better vnto his passyon contynually both for the remyssyon of theyr synnes for the receyuyng of his heauenly grace and goodnes also to amende them agayne Yea and that these sygnes myght the better for our capacytie do thys thing he ordeyned theym of suche of hys good creatures as myght by theyr naturall proprytyes whiche he had geuen vnto theim to do seruyce vnto oure bodies partely declare what goodnesse he woulde nowe shewe by them also vnto oure soules As fyrste Rom. v. forbycause the nature of man was by deriuation holy defiled and brought with it such a vycyous and corrupt infection as coulde not lye styll but continually â—â—â—uoke vs to all kynde of syn◠〈…〉 â—â—â—â—mall instinction or 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—shement thereof 〈…〉 â—efore hys good creaâ—◠〈…〉 â—or that it had thys naturall â—â—â—rytte with it to washe awaye the fylth of the bodie when it was powred on to certifye vs that our soules were inwardly washed frome the fylth of synne and we admitted into his flocke thorowe the merytes of hys passyon when this water was powred vpon vs after his commaundement in token of the same And further leste man shoulde thynke the strengthe and vertue of thys wasshyng away of the fylth of our soules geueÌ„ vs at our baptime myght yet decaye and not be sufficient for vs at all tymes yf by fraylty we fell vnto synne agayne afterwardes and so fell also from the fayth trust in the fauour of God whyche we had ones conceyued by our baptyme he ordeyned the coÌ„mune preachynge and famyliar declaryng of hys comfortable passion and louing death bycause the familiar talking which one of vs hath wyth an other doth often times coÌ„fort such greatly as are in any aduersitie or heuines to certifye vs that he wolde renewe vs vnto the same fauour of God agayne whych we had ones coÌ„ceyued at the fyrst and take awaye our synnes by the meanes of hys passion when so euer hys passion and death was preached and declared vnto vs after hys commaundement in token of the same And thyrdly to thintent we shuld doute nothyng of thys our renewyng vnto the grace and fauoure of God agayne and vnto the clene takyng away of our synnes after our fall when we were called to the trustyng vnto it by the preachyng and famyliar declaryng of his meke passion and louyng death for that the mynistration therof was a thynge done in commune and to a great nuÌ„bre at ones wherof some of them myght paraduenture feare whether the wordes of it did specially belong vnto them or no he dyd ordeyne his good creatures bread and wyne bycause they had thys natural propertie wyth them of norysshyng the bodye to certifye vs by the gyuynge of a sygne of the same vnto euerye manne as it were into hys owne hande that hys bodye breakynge and bloude shedynge shoulde at all tymes nourysshe and feade
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