Answer to the Devilish Detection of the Bishop of Winchester, Treatise
Wincheſters text.
THe firſt chiefe and principall point of deceite, is to make euerie man thinke of hym ſelfe, furder then is in deed in hym, by this perſwaſion that God graunteth true vnderſtandeinge and wiſedome, to hym that woulde hauehave it, hath neede of it, and axethe it in hys name. Whyche thinge is true, but not as the vnlerned take it.
In make anſwere by ſcripture to your The anſwerfirſt Chap, and ſo to enter into your boke: we are taught by oure ſauiour Chriſte (the onelyonly Authoure of all trueth) that what ſo euer we aſke the father in hys name, that ſame ſhal be geuen vsus. And Iames the holie Apoſtle and openare of his wyll towardes vsus: ſaieth. If any of you lacke wyſdome, let hym aſke of hym that geueth, euen of God whiche geueth to all men indifferent lye and caſteth no man in the teethe, and it ſhal be geuen him. But let hym a…ke in fayth and wauer not, Forhe that doubteth is lyke the waues of the ſea toſſed with the winde & caried wyth violence, neyther let that man thincke that he ſhall receiue any thinge of the Lorde, This moſte ſure fayethe and truſte that we hauehave conceiued of our Lorde and father: you go aboute, ſpedilie at the beginninge, to extinguiſh by your blinde ſophiſtrie: caſteinge this bone in our waye, that it is not ſo as we vnlerned take it. Oh Lord, ſhal not we beleue thi worde & moſt open promiſes, tyl ſome one of Antichriſtes ſchole hauehave ſet to his glo…es. If this be not wranglinge ſophiſtrie to go about to darke theſe ſo open ſcriptures: what ſhal we cal ſophiſtrie? Muſt we go ſeek ſome ſubtile doctour, to teach vsus the ſence & meaning of theſe th… plaine wordes? Yea & thā ſom biſhope to opē the meaneing of this doctour? for our ſenſes & vnderſtādeyng be captiuated vntounto thē. Nay nay (oh heauēli father) we are thi childrē and the ſhepe of thi folde▪ heareing thy voice & none other, & fulli cōtented wyth thy teacheing. Wherfore we cleane only to this thine opē worde, and ſaye with. S Iohn that we hauehave this ful truſt in it, that what ſo Iohn. v.e…er we ſhall aſke accordinge therunto, thou hearieſte vsus. And ſeinge we know that thou heareſte vsus: we know alſo that we hauehave the peticions that we hauehave aſked of the.
You ſaye we wyll aſke it out of order, as a newe miracle, as to hauehave heruelle in februarie, ſo properly can you iudge our thoughtes. We ſaye, we wyll▪ aſke it firſt and principally, by oure faieth, of God the father for the louelove of his ſonne Chriſte accordeinge to hys commaundement, knoweinge that it is the gifte of God onelyonly, and that fleſhe and bloude can not reueile thys vntounto vsus. Neuer the leſſe, we do vſe the meane & order of the ſtudining of goddes holy ſcriptures, which beinge enſpired by the holi goſte: are able to leade vsus into all trueth. We exerciſe our ſelues in the worde of God (I ſaye) wherin thys wiſedome and knowelege of God lyeth hid: ſo farre and ſo muche as we maye and dare by your cruel forbydinge vsus the ſame. Wherfore, if either part be about to driue Chriſte to a newe miracle out of order: it is you, forbydinge vsus pore men to loke on the ſcriptures, that the ſcriptures maie ſhortly be founde true, which do promiſe, that the ſtones bi miracle▪ ſhal beare witneſſe againſt you, and God wyll make perfet his praiſe bi the mouth of yong ſucklinges and babes.
We are as Hieremie was, not all together dombe and ſpeacheleſſe, al thought (partelie your wichedneſſe oppreſſinge vsus, and oure weakeneſſe puttinge vsus to ſilence) we dare do nothinge vntill the Lorde ſaye vntounto vsus as he dyd to Hieremie. Thou ſhalt go to all Hieremi. i.that I ſhall ſend the, and what ſo euer I ſhal commaunde the that ſhalt thou ſpeake. Be not a fraide of theyre faces, for I am wyth the ſaieth the Lorde. When we heare thys ſpoken in oure hertes, by the ſpirite of God who continueth wyth vsus vntounto the worldes ende: then lo with herte do we beleue to our rightuouſenes, and with our mouth do we confeſſe to our ſaluacion. Lo this is the continuall courſe and miracle without miſorder that Chriſt worketh in the hertes of his faithful, though your eies dimmed and daſeinge with popeiſhe madneſſe, can not eſpie it.
Fo…der, you ſaye that we make thys ſophiſtical reaſone. Becauſe God can alwaies worcke by miracle: therfore he wyll alwaies do it▪ But you may perceiue by this that I Howe the papiſtes do reaſon, A poſſe ad …ſſe.hauehave ſpoken: that it is none of ours, neyther did you euer here it of any of our mouthes, but yours it is, and the chiefe of your argumentes wherwyth you do (all the ſorte of you) eſtabliſhe your purpoſe. For thus do you reaſon. Nothing is impoſſible vntounto god. God can chaunge him into breade, therefore is he chaunged into breade. Oh diuelliſh ſophiſtrie and ſubtiltie of Sathan.
By thys poſſibititie you maye chaunge him into a verie vine tree, a ſtone, or a materiall dore. For you hauehave boeth the worde poſſible for you▪ and theſe plaine wordes alſo, I am a verie vyne. Ego ſ…m vitis vera. Petra fuit Chriſtus. Chriſte was the ſtone. Ego ſum o…, I am the dore. Or to go furder as ſome of your owne doctours do doore: Deus poteſt ſuppoſitari mulierem, equum, aſinum. God can chaung him ſelfe as ſubiecte into a woman, an horſe or an aſſe▪ whyche wordes of your maddeſſe, whan I dyd wrute: myn hande dyd tremble. They are ſo lewede that a reuerent herte can not heare them, that God immortal and vnchaungabel (whoſe maieſtie filleth the heauenes and the earth ſhoulde be chaunged into any vile creature, worſſe then aſſhes, yea leaſeth nothinge compared to his highneſſe.
Wyth lyke fondeneſſe do you diſpute for your Sodomiticall chaſtitie, beinge geiuen vp into mindes reprobat becauſe you Romans. i.woulde tourne the glorie of God immortall vntounto the corruptible creature. You ſaye it is poſſible for God to geue all your marke chaſtitie, and to make them Ennuches. And ſtraight waye you conclude that you hauehave the gyfte, and do ſwere that you wyll lyue wineleſſe. Thoughe all the worlde maye ſe it to be poſſible in the cauſe and impoſſible in the effecte, becauſe God doeth it not nor wyll not do it: yet in your foreign againſte the Godly man bucere, you are nothinge aſhamed, to maynetayne with much bablinge that this ſaieinge of Chriſt (Capiat qui capere poteſt) ſpoken of the gifte of chaſtitie, is to be vnderſtand, Capiat qui capere vult. Thus do you alwayes diſpute ſophiſtically your ſelfe, A potentia ad ac…ū A. poſſe, ad velle et eſſe, like a craftie ſophiſter, and cal other mē by the name that you your ſelfe are worthy to beare, as Mockus dyd when he cried, ſtoppe the theafe.
Therfore, take thys anſwere as a full ſolucion to your ſophiſtrie, ſet furth by your owne ſophiſters. A poſſe ad eſſe non eſt bona onſequencia.
Becauſe it is poſſible, to proue therfore it is ſo, is very ſlender reaſone. I pre…e you therfore (if there be any regarde of goddes dread full maieſtie lefte in your hertes) leaue thys argumente. Nothing is impoſſible vntounto god therfore is he chainged. Or becauſe it is poſſible that he wyll come downe into the chalice whan euerie whoremongar doeth calle him, therfore he doethe fo: leſte peraduenture you heare ploumen tell you that it is dyue…ſhe ſophiſtrie.
It pleaſeth God to ſhewe vsus ouer muche of your liueinge to be blynded▪ any longer with you. We reade in the goſpel, that God heareth no ſinnars. Howe ſhamles in al parriſhes they lyue whyche ar… the onelyonly God makers: all the worlde ſeth, and crieth out thereupon. Suche whordome hath not ben harde of. Such drūckenes hath not bene ſene Al are drowned in couetouſenes, from the biſhope to the pariſhepriſte. And that fele we por… peopel being polled and pilled bi your p…s and pro…tomes, and haueing nothing of your landes for al our ſwere and labours but a bl…de heape of dōbe ceremonies. God (as al thinge is poſſible vntounto hym) can make …o… God ſhepeherdes. But yet I dare not rou… ude that he hath done it. Neithere what he wyll do dare Ia…e, you are ſo linked wyth Antichriſte. Whoſe pride intollerable to boaſte hym ſelfe to hauehave powre in heauen, in earth, and in the thred place (I not where) I nede not confute. Thys holye mother church is aſhamed of hi… children and brain…e …encious, thoughe ſhe durſt neuer in al hir pride, make any …o articles of the faith then. xii. all grounded vponupon ſcriptures. But nowe your …itle biſhop church, or rather cō nētikle of. xii. or. xiiii. biſhops muſt be ſo highly enhaūced, that it may encreaſe other. vi. or rather …o which we dayly loke for, in preiudice to other contries, whyche ſhalbe more ſtrongely eſtabliſhed wyth the ſwerde, and more ſore puniſhed by fire (if they be violated) than any of the commaundements of God: vſeinge ſuch proude bragges, racking and burninge, that no man dare ſaye but it is trwe howe ſo euer it pleaſe you biſhopes to gloſe the ſcriptures and make uewe articles, and new faieth anewe for to be beleued in paine of death and burneinge. Suche authoritie vſe you ouer the ſcripture as your father did before youe, whoe dyd firſte deuiſe thys your diuelliſhe lawe, that no man ſhoulde be ſo bolde to interpretate the ſcripture any otherwiſe thē he and his doctours had authoriſed and aſſingned. Where coutrariwiſe, Paule wylleth that in the congregaciō or church of Chriſt: ii. or▪ iii. prophets ſhoulde ſpeake and the reſidew ſhould iudg Then if any thynge were reueiled or diſcloſed to him that ſitteth: the firſt ſhoulde hold his peace, that all might prophecie one after an other, that al might learne, that al might take conforte, and that the ſpirites of the prophetes might be ſubiecte vntounto the prophetes. If this mildeneſſe were a monge vsus: that one of vsus might and woulde heare an other then ſhoulde Chriſtes doctrine and religion flouriſhe, whilſe we were redie▪ to geue anſwere euerie one▪ of the faieth that we hauehave conceiued, accordeinge to the cōmaundement of Peter. Where nowe there is nothing but, theſe heretickes are proude and arrogant, Wyncheſter.they hauehave no leruinge, they hauehave not ſtudied for knowlege. And we do anſwere again (as we maye iuſtely) that we hauehave laboured for knoweledge, as diligentlie and with as hum ble hertes as you hauehave done. God hath indu…ed vsus wyth the knoweledge of the latine, greke, and hebrue & al other ſciēces, far, abou that you had when you were in the ſcholes
This can you not denie for ſhame. Why than maye it not be, that he hath ſent theſe godlie giftes, hys worthy inſtrumentes: for to reueile, open & declare, the hid miſteries of his worde which he ſaied ſhoulde flowe like a water ſtreame in theſe later daies, that thei ſhoulde knowe hym from the loweſte to the higheſt. Do not you ſe by the courſe of tyme that god openeth many thinges of the pope, pardons, pilgrimages, and ſuch like Idolatrouſe vſages: Hath ther bene no blindeneſſe in the worlde theſe thouſande yeres, that the deuell hath ben lewſe (becauſe you do ſo much accompte the wickedneſſe of this time) or coulde the pope (who is the vndoubted an tichriſte) reigne ſo longe in mens hertes and cōſciences, and leaue no poiſon behind hym? Naye rather we muſt call into queſtion and examinacion, all ſuch thinges as he lefte behinde him, becauſe he being the verie wicked mā, we maie be ſure he would ſowe no good corne, but darnell and wede. Then, what was the greateſte powre he had, wherebi he wroght, in heauē, in erth and purgatorie: but the maſſe, and thys holie ſacrament of ou…e redempcion ſo abuſed, that he myght by the bodie of Chriſt, ſacrified vponupon the aultare: open the waye to heauen, and ſpar the waye The prieſte can not ſacrifice any more.to hell, as ſurely he, or any of you myght do if he coulde ſacrifice Chriſt againe, for chriſt oure ſauiour did come downe from heauen to do ſacrifice for this purpoſe, and all the ſacrifices of the olde lawe d…d ſewe in ſhadowes, that the ſacrifice of Chriſte, ſhoulde take awaie ſinne, the vnſpotted lambe ſhould deliuer from the helli fornaice of Egipt and optaine paſſage to the contrey promiſed, So that if either pope, byſhop or prieſt, can proue that the verie bodie of Chriſte, is really preſent in hys ſacrifice of the maſſe, and ther offerred vp to the father for a ſacrifice (as you hauehave cauſed Sharton to confeſſe) ſurely you maye conclude (as you do, and as your father and foūder of this article did before) that the maſſe taketh awaye ſinnes▪ and profiteth the quicke and the deade. So ſhall you build your pardones againe for the maſſe of ſcala celi, and all your abbaies praieinge for their foundars, that the noble kynge Henrie the eight (whom ſurely God appoynted to beat downe poperie and Idolatrie, long preſerued him from your manifolde treaſones, and at the length nowe whan hys good wyll was? hath taken hym to hys mercies) maye he thought the greateſt malafactour vpō earth and (as ſome of you hauehave rayled moſte vilauouſly the greate turke, and verie Antichriſt cauſeinge the daily ſacrifice to ceaſe, deſtroieynge ſo many holy maſſes and hindering ſo manie ſoules, that ſhoulde by them hauehave reliefe and ſuccour. But that thys bodie of Chriſte our lambe vnſpotted, can be no more ſacrified, boeth in the defence of Chriſt from theyr blaſphemies, & our nobel prince frō rai huge tonges: I deſier all Chriſten hertes to marcke what Paule writeth to the Hebrues whyche I ſhall truly reporte wythout any gloſes or far fetched argumētes. The whole Epiſtle doeth ſhewe that all ſacrifices dyd ceaſe, that thys oure onelyonly byſhope myght make one ſacrifice for all. The prieſthode, ſayeth Paule, appointed by God, onelyonly to do ſacrifice: ceaſed. And in the. vii. Chap he ſayeth, that oure biſhoppe abydeth for euer, haueinge and euerlaſtinge prieſthode, wherby he maye fully make ſaulfe them that go vntounto God by hym, liueinge for euer that he maye praie for them. And againe, Haueinge no nede (as other byſhopes hauehave) to offer for hys owne ſinnes, and then for the ſynnes of the people, for he hath done that once, whan he offerred him ſelfe. Againe, in the. ix. Chap By hys owne bloude wente he in once into …he holie place, euerlaſteinge redemption op…ained. The whiche euerlaſteinge redemption, if we hauehave optained al redie in that he offerred hym ſelfe by ſpirite euerlaſteinge) as Paule ſayeth) without ſpot vntounto God, and ſo hath purified oure conſcience from deade workes: what neade we an other pope, Byſhope or prieſte to offer hym agayne? Hath he not ſufficiently, and aboundantly offered hym ſelfe for the ſinnes of the whole world? Howe can the prieſt then offer hym to take a wa…e ſinnes, or profite quicke and deade? For thoſe ſelfe ſame ſinnes wer taken away before by Chriſt, or elſe ſhal they neuer be taken waie by the p…iſtes. Therfore is this but vaine iug linge for money and for the maintenaunce of your dignities. Againe, Chriſte is gone into heauen, that he maye appeare nowe in the ſight of God for vsus, not that he may oft offer hym ſelf (what authorite than I pray you hath the prieſt oft to offer hym) for than muſte he oft hauehave ſuffered ſith the world was made. But now once at the later ende of the worlde for to driue awaye ſinne, dyd he appeare, by the offeringe of hym ſelf.
And where as all men once muſt die: and after receyue iudgment: ſo alſo Chriſte is once offerred vp that he maye take awaye the ſinnes of manye. Agayne in the. x. wee are made holie by the offeringe of the bod… of Chriſte once done. What it is that yo… prieſtes do offer ſo ofte, I ſhal tel you ano…
Euerie prieſt (ſayeth Paule) ſtandeth daie▪ ly doinge ſacrifice and offerringe the ſa… oblacions often tymes, which neuer can take awaye ſinne. Which wordes, …houghe thei … ſpoken onelyonly of the prieſtes of the olde lawe yet cōparynge that which foloweth, it ſhalbe proued true in you of the newe lawe. For Chriſte after one offeringe offerred for ſinnes: …tteth for euer at the right hande of god. A gaine. By one onelyonly offerringe, hath he made pe…fecte for euer, ſo many as are made holie. I… he hauehave made vsus perfect by one only offeringe: wherto ſerue the prieſtes▪ that we maye conclude as Paulle doeth. Where ther is remiſſion of and forgeueneſſe of ſinnes (be … in the olde teſtament or the newe) …h…re remaineth no farther oblacion or offerringe for them. Contrariwiſe (as Paulle reaſone the with them, ſo maie we reaſone with you) if thys offeringe myght take a waye ſinne, or make thē perfecte that vſe it: woulde they not hauehave leſte of the offerringe of it for them ſelfe, their foundars, and all ſuche as they vſed it for? Becauſe nowe they ſhoulde hauehave had no conſcience of their ſinnes which hade thus ſacrified and bene once purged. Therfore (ſayeth Paule) in the ſacrifices of The prieſte muſt do thys in the remembraunce of Chriſte.the olde lawe (whyche were not done wyth out bloude) was onelyonly the commemoracion and remembraunce yerely of ſinnes. And Chriſte hym ſelfe ſayeth of thys oure ſacrament. Do thys in the remembraunce of me. Lyke as in the paſſouer (whyche was the figure Exod. xii.of oure deliueraunce by Chriſte the vn ſpotted lambe) yerely remembraunce was commaunded to be done.
Though by the open word of god (who is able to chaunge what lyketh hym, whoſe powre no man euer doubted of, that had but the gifte of reaſone) the ceremonie of oure redemption, which they had but in ſhadowe and we hauehave in trueth (and therfore it ceaſed whan the bodye, that is Chriſte, did come and offer the true paſſeouer lambe) thoughe, I ſaye, thys ceremonie of the Iewes, be by theſe open wordes of God thus named. Thys is the paſſouer of the Lorde: yet was ther neuer any of the Iewes prieſtes ſo mad to ſaye that God chaunged any ſubſtaunce The verbe eſt, hath no powre to chaunge ſubſtaunceby thys worde (is) yet were they all baptiſed by Moyſes (as Paule witneſſeth) in the cloude▪ and in the ſea. And they all did eate the ſame ſpiritual meate and drinke the ſame ſpirituall drinck, for they dyd drinke of the ſpirituall drinke whiche folowed them. The ſtone was Chriſte. But we more groſſe and carnall by much, in all oure doeinges, blowe inges and bl…ſſ…i…ges then were …he phariſies (though Chriſte ſ…ke ſuch worſhipers as ſhall worſh…e hym in ſpirite) not contented wy…h the ſpirituall fode of the ſoule wherwi… onelyonly he feadeth the ſoule: becauſe it is alſo a ſpirit, and therfore taketh no fode, but onelyonly Chriſte and hys worde ſpiritually miniſtred, whyche are ſpirite and life, where as …he fleſhe profiteth nothinge, …oeth as we reade in the ſixt of I…h…, and the manifeſte example of the olde byſhopes haueinge hym carnally preſent amonge them▪ (and as you will hauehave it) Iudas and all the wicked, do carnally and fleſhely eate hym, and yet do not abyde, in hym, but hauehave damnacio… contrarie to the ſainge of Chriſt. He that eateth Iohn. vi.my fleſhe and d…h my bloude hath euerlaſtinge life, and I ſhall raiſe hym vp at the la…e daye. And againe. He that eateth mi fleſhe and drincketh my▪ bloude abydeth in me and I in hym.
And as Iohn ſayth in hys firſte Epiſtle. God hath geuen vsus euerlaſtinge lyfe, and thys lyfe is in hys ſonne. He that hath the ſonne, hath life, and he that hath not the ſōne of God hath not lyfe. All whiche, ſcriptures, …oeth they that teach vsus that Chriſte can no more nether neadeth againe in bodye to be offerred and ſacrificed: and therfore compell vsus to graunt that theſe wordes (thys is bodie which ſhalbe geuen for you were neuer ment ſo carnally, that euerie prieſte … blinge theſe wordes in a ſtrange language with breathing and bloweing: ſhoulde cauſe Chriſte to come downe from the right hand of the father to be chaunged into bread, that he myght ſacrifice hym newe againe to take awaye ſinnes.
In lyke maner do thoſe ſcriptures that teach all ſacrifices to be perpetuall commemoracions and remembraunces of the ſpirituall eateinge of Chriſte amonge the fathers of the olde teſtamēt: and that Chriſt likwiſe wyll hauehave thys ſacrament miniſtred in the Matxxviremembraunce of hym in the newe teſtamēt, wher as the ſpeache maye feme verie idle to ſaye, make me in the remembraūce of me, althought it ſo were that it myght be ſo ſayed without intolerable arrogancie, as it can not in any wiſe, whether you ſaie you make him by hys worde or no, as ſhall appeare afterwarde. Thoſe ſcriptures alſo whyche teach that we hauehave life euerlaſteinge, ſo …y of vsus as eate h…s fleſhe and drinke hys bloude yea that we ſhall neuer be hongrie or …hirſtie Iohn. vi.agayne, ſo many of vsus▪ as once do ta…e of thys bread comming from heauen. Finally, alſcriotures that teach how and after what ſort Chriſt is profitable vntounto vsus, for they are the chiefe eſtablyſhementes of oure fayeth, that were not preſent with him at ſuche time as he was budilie vponupon the earth.
That is to ſaye, that the fleſh profiteth no thinge. The wordes that I ſpeake, are ſpirit and lyfe Wher vponupon Peter ſaied. Lord, why ther ſ…hal we goo…thou haſt the words of euerlaſting life. And theſe are the waters that Chriſte wyll geue, after the whiche no man ſhall euer thurſte. But the water whiche I Iohn. iiii.ſhall geue h…m (ſaieth Chriſte) ſhalbe made in hym a fountaine of water, ſpringeinge into ly…e euerlaſteing.
Bleſſed be they that heare the worde of God and kepe it, whiche was ſharpely anſwered agaynſte them which dyd ſo highlie aduaunce to knowe God in the fleſhe. Againſt whom alſo Paule ſayth, we know none ii. Corhi. v.after the fleſhe. etc.
Moreouer (ſaieth he) though we hauehave knowne Chriſt after the fleſhe: yet nowe do we not knowe hym ſo any longer. But he that is in Chriſte muſte be a newe creature in the Iohn. iii.ſpirite, accordeinge to the ſaieinge of Chriſte to him N…codemus. Excepte a man be borne a newe from aboue from heauen, euen of the ſpirite the can not enter the kingdōe of heanē
That whych is borne of the fleſhe is fleſh, and that which is borne of the ſpirit, is ſpirit
Againe, it is profitable that I go from you, Iohn. xvi.for it I go not, the ſpirite of confort ſhal not come vntounto you but if I go I wyl ſende hym vntounto you, & he ſhal leade you into al truthe. Therefore ſhould you reioyce becauſe I ſaie that I go vntounto my father. Thys profite of Iohn. xv.the bodilie departeing to hauehave the confort of the ſpirite, dyd appeare manifeſtelie in Petre and the other Apoſtles, who deniynge and forſakeinge theyr maiſter whome they hade bodily preſent: dyd nothing doubt to die for hym, whan he was in bodie abſent. Beſides that, thys bodilie preſens in euerie corner to take awaye ſinne: is preiudicial to the liuely fealeing of oure faith.
Firſte for that he is verie man in al thinges, haueing a naturall bodye as we hauehave, ſufficiently paiyng oure ra…ſome to hys father vponupon the croſſe.
Secōdly, it may cauſe vsus to doubt whether we ſhall ſaye that he hath aſcended into heauen and there ſitteth at the right hand of the father, and frō thence ſhal come to iudge the quicke and the deade: other elſe ſaie with you, that the prieſte muſte dayly offer hym a ſacrifice here vponupon earth for vsus, and that he muſte kepe him heare ſtyl in a boxe, to ware mouldie and muſtie and then chaunge hym for a newe Chriſte beinge infinitly created. Who ſhall at the daye of dome, ſtarte forth of all theſe boxes at once (into a newe ſhape I trow…) to iudge all the e…h, or elfe muſte you …des confeſſe, that they ſhall al be iudged and …ned where they lye in their boxes. The ſcripture I ſaye, the liuely ſ…a…eing of my fayeth grounded onelyonly vponupon the ſpirite of Chriſt… and your owne madneſſe, that I hauehave reade in your owne bokes, and no pride or arroganci…, what ſo euer you ſaye I take god to recorde, ca…ſe me that I dare not, ſo carnally and groſſely vnderſtād the wordes of Chriſte, as you do. And I da…e maintaine … I hauehave many of your owne doc tours, whoſe teſtimonie either in thys poynt or any other (vn…es they bringe open ſcripture w…h them) I do not greately regarde, but to your confution. Yet hauehave I the better parte of them whiche do ſpiritually vnderſtande and interprete thys ſcripture wyth me▪ How be it I knowe we ſhall neuer make a… ende … we bringe doctour vponupon doctoure To anſwere therfore to thys text (this is my bodye) whyche is your onelyonly ſho…eaukere. And to … a… your wode wordes & taūtes that flowe frome your eloquet mouth as ſmoke doeth from a lake of brimſtone.
But firſte I wyll bringe forth the whole texte of Mathewe, Marke and Luke. And by the open worde of God, I truſte I ſhall declare the true ſence and meaneing to him that wyth a ſpirituall eie ſhall iudge therof.
Chriſt in the xxvi. of Mathewe, when he was together wyth hys Apoſtles, eateinge the paſſouer (whyche was the moſt liue lyke figure in the olde lawe, nowe makeing an ende in Chriſte the lambe wythout all ſpo…e and blemiſhe) did ordeine this godly ſacrament, for the remembraunce of hym ſelfe to the worlde folowinge: and that hys death myght be ſhewed and publiſhed vntounto the worldes and, like as in the paſſouer was cotinually mencioned and declared, to the poſteritie foloweinge, the benifite of God in the deliueraunce from Egipt. And as that ceremonie (the eateinge of the lambe) was called the paſſouer, and he hym ſelfe called the lambe of god ſo like wiſe calleth he thys hight miſterie and ſacrament, hys bodie, and a newe teſtament in hys bloude. That as truely as the Iſraelites were deliuered forth of Egipte the angel paſſing by not hurting the people of that houſe (the dore poſts wherof were ſprinkled wyth the bloude of that lambe) ſo verily ſhoulde Chriſte delyuer vsus out of the Egipt of ſinne, and perfourme the thynge before figured. For thys cauſe ſaieth Iohn, beholde the lambe of God, whych taketh awaye the ſinnes of the worlde. And Luk. xxii.Chriſte ſayeth. Thys is my bodye whyche is gyuen for you. And thys cup is the newe teſtament in my bloude, whiche is ſhede for you. By the which wordes it maye appeare that Chriſte dyd meane no chaunge of natures, or traunſſubſtancion, but onelyonly that where the bloude of the lambe in the olde teſtament was ſprenkled on the poſtes to ſaue frome the aduengeinge angell ſo many as ſhoulde be ſaued: ſo lykewiſe thys bloude of Chriſt in the newe teſtament ſhould be ſhede to ſaue vsus, ſo mani as hauehave our ſoules ſprink led wyth the bloude of thys lambe Chriſte Ieſ…. Therfore, in lyke maner as the fathers of the olde lawe dranke of the ſpirituall ſton that folowed them▪ (whiche was Chriſte) euen ſo are we all commaunded to drinke of thys bloude, none other wyſe then the chyldren of Iſraell were commaunded, that the bloude of the lambe ſhoulde be theire token in all the houſes wher they were. Ther was … man ſo mad to ſaye that theſe wordes (this cup is …he newe teſtamēt in my bloud) dyd chaunge the ſubſtaunce of the cup into the newe teſtament. And yet are thei chriſtes owne wordes who can not lye, If you therfore, be driuen to your▪ gloſes tropes and figures, in the wordes ſpoken of thys ſacrament: why ſhould we be cōdemned to death becauſe we can not vnderſtande youre carnal gloſes▪ You muſt neades hauehave one gloſe to declare what is mēt by the cup. Whether the wi…e the bloude, or the cup it ſelfe: either elſe a ſigne and ſacrament of the newe teſtament or a performeinge of the ſame in the bloude of Chriſte, as Luke teacheth, you to ſpeake, and as Mathew and Marcke boeth do wittneſſe. This is my bloud of the newe teſtament whyche is ſhed for many to the remiſſion of their ſinnes. Thus were the Apoſtles nothinge curiouſe in wordes, as they ought to hauehave bene if the wordes had made the cup or the wine God, chaunging the ſubſtaunce therof ſo ſone as they had… …e… ſpoken.
Thus you (haueinge but one texte thorough out al the Bible, that maketh for your purpoſe) do ſwareue frome that, and put ther vntounto your gloſes, whyche do alſo driue you frome the firſte texte (this is my bodye) when you write that it is in fourme of bread and vnderunder the accidentes and qualites of breade. For Chriſte dyd not ſaye in thys is my bodie, or vnderunder this is mi bodie. But this is my bodie. Wherfore, nowe …, …e you ſhoulde ſlaunder vsus no more wyth denieing of the ſcripture, for we denie but your gloſes. It is ſcripture that we ſtriue for. It is ſcripture that we deſier. It is ſcripture that you denie vsus, vnderunder the degre of gētile men. Wherein doubleſſe, if we boeth had our ſen… diligently occupied and ex…ſed ſpiritually▪ n… doubte, not onelyonly thys text but al the miſterie of redempcion ſhoulde be ſo well knowne, that we woulde no longer ſeke our redemer vponupon e…er here nor ther, but onelyonly at the right hande of hys father, from wh…e ſendeing… his ſpirite, he maxe ſaue vsus at the f…ll ſo many as by hym wyll go to God. We do beleue wyth oure herte, and muſt playnely and ſimplye cōfeſſe with oure mouth, that thys is the bodie of Chriſt thys is the bloude of Chriſt, thys cup is the newe teſtament, that the fleſhe of Chriſte is verie mea…e and hys bloude verie drinke. That Chriſt is the waye, the trueth and the li…, the do…e & the good ſhepeherde. Chriſte is the verie true vine, and we the brauncheſe That all we are one breade and one verie bodie ſo mani as be partakers of one breade. And al theſe thynges I do beleue more ſurely then if I dyd ſe them wyth mine eyes or perceiue them with any other ſenſe, …ecauſe the knowledge of the ſpirite farre paſſeth all other knowledge, and the heauenly thynges are ſure, when the other are but dec…euable ſhadowes. It is neither Manna that fed the fathers, neither any other thinge or name vnderunder heauen, but onelyonly the breade comminge downe from heauen, that is the verie true mea…e geueinge lyfe to the worlde.
Thus are we fully taught in the text of Iohn, where we maye moſt playnely ſe this ſp…ual eatinge, whereof onelyonly: all confort, lyfe and fode of the ſoule, do ariſe and ſtowe forth. In that Chap, we learne, that the people (folowinge Chriſt for the hope of meate, becauſe he had fed them a little before, were by him called (according to the whole courſe of the ſcriptures, as maye appeare ſpecially to hym that hath bene diligently exerciſed in the miſteries of the prophetes) from the ſenſible and outwarde bodily thynges, to thynges inwarde and ſpirituall. For the beautie of thys kinges daughter (as Dauid ſaieth) is inwarde. And therefore doeth our ſauiour admoniſhe them that ſought hym for meate that before all thynges they ſhoulde worcke the meate that neuer periſheth.
Thus goeth he frome the meate that nouriſheth the bodie: vntounto the meate of hys heauenly worde that nouriſheth the ſoule. This meate he calleth the heauenly meate that geueth lyfe vntounto the worlde, and that ſo abundantly, that who ſo eateth it ſhall neuer be hungri agayne. Thys meate, as the maner of the Hebrues is to call all kinde of meate, …: foreign ſo doothe he ſame tyme call it breade, … meate. When they hearinge thys, dyd imagine bodily meate, as Manna that Moſes gaue, he openeth thys meate ſayinge. I am the breade of lyfe. He that cometh to …e, ſhall not be hungrie, and he that beleueth in me ſhall neuer be thirſtie. By the whyche wordes, he meaueth none other thynge, but that thoſe that come vntounto hym, that is to ſaye beleue in hym (for ſo are the wordes folowinge, they can none other wayes be wraſted) Qui veuit ad me non eſuriet, et qui credit in me, non ſitiet vnquam.
They ſhall ſeke none other foode but onelyonly thys verie breade that cometh downe from heauen. The Iewes, aſtonied that he called hym ſelfe the breade comming downe from heauen, and the liuely meate: ſayed. Is not thys the ſonne of Ioſeph: But Chriſte admoniſhed them againe, byddinge them not grudge at thys, for it ſtandeth not in the capacite Eſai. liuf. Hiere. xxxiof man, but by the inſpiracion of the ſpirite, as the prophet ſaied. They ſhalbe al taught of God. Wherfore, it is not poſſible for any mā to beleue that Chriſte was borne from heauen (the meate of the ſoule) excepte the father drawe hym. Then goeth he farther to ſhewe howe he is the meate of the ſoule, and howe he ſhoulde be eaten. For the firſte, he ſaieth thus. Verilie I ſaie vntounto you He that beleueth in me hath euerlaſting life. I am the breade of life, whiche came downe from heauen, that men might eate of thys breade and not dye. But to tell the wattier plaine. Thys breade that I wyll geue you is my fleſhe, which I wyll geue for the lyfe of the worlde. Thys offeringe of my ſelfe for you: ſhall reconcile the worlde vntounto my father, and therby geue it life. This therfore is it that I hauehave ſpoken ſo longe vntounto you, whan I ſhal be offerred vp for the worlde, and dye for the ſinnes therof: than ſhall I be the meate of ſoules, wherby they liue aſcerteined of the merciemercy of God, who nowe can denie nothinge vntounto man ſeinge he hath geuen his owne ſonne for him. Thus therfore is my fleſhe the meate of the ſoule, beinge flaine for the deade that thei might liue. Not as you thinke, geueing it vntounto you as I am counerſant amonge you (for that whyche is engendred of the fleſhe, is fleſhe, and therfore my fleſhe carnally eaten, can bring furth nothing but fleſhe) but contrariewiſe, the fleſhe of Chriſte …ge for vsus, maketh vsus ſpiritua…, … and therfore the childrē … of God. On thys ſorte it is verie mea…e and verie drinke. But the Iewes coulde not perceiue thys, but ſayed againe. Howe can he geue vsus his fleſh to eate… vntounto … Chriſt ſayeth, againe excepte … the fleſhe of the ſonne of man and drinke his bloude you ſhal no… hauehave lyfe in you. What Lorde, hath no man lyfe but that denoureth the wy…h hys te…h, and ſwaloweth the downe hys throte? Or hath euerie ſuche euerlaſtynge lyfe, as doeth eate the carnally and bod…e, euen the ſame bodie wherein thou liuedeſt, whē thou ſaideſt. He that eateth my fleſhe and drinketh my bloude, hath euerlaſtinge lyfe, and I wil raiſe him at the laſte daye? Naye ſurely. For than euerie. Idolatour and whor…onger (who can hauehave no parte in thy kingdome) myght make them ſelfe ſure of life by their owne worcke. For they ſaye they eate the carnally and bodily, fleſhe, bloude and bones. But, o men, ouer muche carnall and fleſhlye, and yet not once vnderſtādinge what ſhould folowe of the cōmone iudgment of the ſenſes. B…t as Iudas prop…ecied vponupon you, euê in ſuche thinges as you hauehave the knowledge of by the courſe of nature, commune wyth brute beaſtes, in the ſame you are corrupted. Ipraie you therfore, ſuffer me to reaſōe with you accordeinge to your owne, groſſenes.
Howe dare you for ſhame name this chriſtes Note.bodie that you do eate and ſaie that you eate it bodily? May any thing be called a bodie but that may be perceyued bi ſome of our outwarde ſences? For by thē onelyonly (as by corporall inſtruments, appointed of God to the ſame purpoſe) maye we iudge what ſo euer is a bodie. Seinge then our ſenſes and bodilie inſtrumen…es, perceiue no ſuche bodie, the worcke beinge inwarde by the ſpirite: what neade we to ſpeake groſſely and carnallie of the bodie, or wha… profite can come by that ſtrange doctringe: Seinge then that Chriſte is not the meate of the ſoule that waye; it is to muche ſhame thus to contrefaite a Chriſt in the breade good for nothinge. But we (beleueinge that Chriſte hath died for vsus) hauehave all the conforte that maye be, continuallie refreſhed wyth the body and bloude whyche are the onelyonly foode of the ſoule.
For of thys ſpirituall eateinge the ſpirite encreaſeth, like as of the carnal eateing, fleſh onelie can be cheriſhed and encreaſed. For this worde muſt euer ſtād true. That which is borne of the fleſh is fleſh and that whiche is borne of the ſpirit: is ſpirite. And for this cauſe doeth Chriſte vnderſtand a ſpiritual eateinge. But howe I praye you: That … maye be eaten carnally and bodily? Then ſhal it be al one thinge to eate hym bodily … ſpiritually, which (euen by your ſophiſtrie) you muſt nedes iudge impoſſible. If the ea…ng of Chriſt be ſpiritual▪ why do you ſay that you eate hym bodilye: If it be bodilie: what other thyng can it confort butthe bodi Chriſt ſai…h that except we eat his fleſh (that is beleue that he died and ſhed his bloud for vsus) we cannot hauehave lyfe in vsus. Agayn, if we … his fleſh (that is beleue that it was ſlaine for vsus) and drinke his bloude) that is, beleue ſhed that his bloud is ſhed for vsus (than is Chriſt in vsus and we in him. But is Chriſt in any man corporally and bodilie: Naye ve rily. What neadeth it vsus than to make any …o doubtes of cateinge hym bodily, for thā do we eate hys bodie when we beleue that it was ſlaine for vsus. It is fayth therfore, and …e other eateinge, wher of Chriſt ſpeaketh for man conſiſteth of two partes, bodie, and ſoule. The bodie nether can nor dare by any meanes eate him, becauſe it is horrible and a gainſte nature. No thoughe it coulde and woulde eate hym: it ſhoulde auaile hym no more then the bodilie kiſſe of Iudas and the handeling of the Iewes auailed them. It remaineth therfore, that the ſoule ſhal eate him Lerne to eate the fleſhe and bloude of Chriſte.which can be none other wayes but by liuely faieth in the bodie and bloude▪ offerred for vsus vntounto hys father. The ſoule hath no teth, and therfore none other maner of eateinge.
Thus do we conclude, that the ſoule beinge a ſpirite and the meate ſpirituall: no mā ought to ſeke for to eate Chriſte in this ſacrament, bodilie, really, and carnally, but onelyonly ſpiritually, as hys worde is ſpirite and lyfe.
But ſtil you wyl vſe your eloquence and ſaye. Thys is ſpoken by intollerable arroyancie, deuilliſhe ſophiſtrie, carnall reaſones Wincheſters eloquence.deceitfull expoſitions, croked argumentes, contrefaite contradictions, by the ſpirite of the deuell, it is lies, erroure and blindneſſe. Captiue your wittes vntounto vsus of the cleargie Chriſte ſpeaketh ſtill in the prieſt at the aultare, and ſaieth. This is my bodie. And therfore it is his natural bodie.
Thys is it that you hauehave to ſaye. Oh, howe full of Chriſtes holy worde and the conforte of the ſcriptures, is thys bleſſed byſhoppe? Theſe are the bleſſeinges that flowe from thê ſo ſone as they wagge theire pope holye membres. I wyll not raile againe to your worthyneſſe. But as I hauehave begoue I Iacob. iij.wyll anſwere wyth ſcriptures.
The tonge is a worlde of wickedneſſe. So is thetonge ſet in our membres, that▪ it defyleth the whole bodie, and ſetteth on fire, all that we hauehave of nature, and is it ſelfe ſet onfire, euen of hel. Therwith do we bleſſe god and curſe men made to hys owne Image. Out of one mouth procedeth bleſſeinge and curſeinge where it is contrarie by courſe of nature, that one fountayne ſhoulde bringe fourth both ſwete and bitter water. If any man be wyſe and endued wythknowledge amonge you: let him ſhewe hys worckes out of hys good conuerſaſion wyth mekeneſſe and wiſedome. But if you hauehave bitter enuie and ſtriffe in y our herte: reioyce not, neither be ye lyars agaynſt the trueth. For ſuch wiſe dome deſceudeth not frō a boue: but is erthly, naturall, and deuelliſhe. For where enuie ann ſtrife are: ther is vnſtableneſſe and all maner of iuell workes. But the wyſdome I woulde wiſhe my Lorde this wiſdomethat is from aboue: is firſt pure, than peaceable, gentile and eaſye to be entreated, Full of merciemercy and good fruites, wythout iudgeing wythout ſimulacion. Yea and the fruitte of rightuouſnes is ſownein peace, to them that maintaine peace,
But to go forth with our purpoſe, No arrogancie, no deuelliſhe ſpirite or ſophiſtrie, can hauehave the whole courſe of ſcriptures, thus to maintayne their cauſe. To proue farther therfore, that we be taught the ſpiritual worſhip onelyonly and not the ſ…eſhely and carnall that periſheth and conſumeth by tyme: marke the ſcriptures. Firſt, howe Chriſt con maundeth to worcke the meate, not that periſheth: but that remaueth into lyfe euerlaſtinge, whiche the ſonne of man ſhal geue you Nowe Chriſt did geue vsus none other meate (wherbye we lyue for euer) but thys goſpell Mark what meate Chriſt geueth vsus.a…d glade tidinges, that he freely hath ſufferred death for vsus. Againe, this is the worke of God. To beleue in him whom he hath ſent. Lo the plain wordes of chriſt. Fayeth in him whom the father hath ſet: worketh the meate that neuer periſhe. It is fayeth therfore in Chriſt crucified, that maketh vsus▪ bleſſed: and not to eate the bodie carnally, bodilie and naturally. For then ſhould we hauehave two waies The waye t… lyfe is but one.to lyfe. The one by fayth, and the other by this bodilie eateinge, which no man I trowe wyll graunte.
Againe, Chriſte ſayeth that it is the true breade that cometh downe from heauen, and geueth lyfe vntounto the worlde. So that Chriſt is the liuely fode, as he is God and geueth lyfe vntounto the world, as he is God the ſonne of God, not as he is fleſhe. For if the bodily meate that we do eate, be but a burthen vntounto …s, tyll, it be chaunged i…to ſpirite and altered from the groſſe ſubſtaunce to nouriſh the liuely ſpirites and ſpirituall partes what do we ſo groſſely thyncke that the fleſh of chriſt ſwalowed into oure bealies ſhall do vsus ſo muche good▪ Thys opinion is verie groſſe. Therfore ſayeth Chriſte to the Capernites in the ſame blindeneſſe. What if you ſhal ſee the ſōne of man go vp where he was before? It is the ſpirite that geueth lyfe, the fleſhe profiteh nothing. The wordes that I ſpeake vntounto you, are ſpirite and lyfe. Thus doeth Iohn. vi.he call from the earth to heauen, from the fleſhe to the ſpirite, lyke as in all hys other preacheinges and ſcripturs: ſo heare he calleth to the heauenly …ateinge, wherby we hauehave lyfe, and at once ſtoppeth the mouth of carnal iudgmēts. How you do examine this texte, it ſhall be opened when we come to the place. In the meane ceaſon, we wyl take this text (the fleſhe auaileth nothynge) wyth out any contencion, onelyonly to driue awaie the groſſe opinion of the Capernits and all ſuch as ſtyke to muche to the fleſhe and can not Be not Capernites any longer.lyfte vp their heades to the miſteries of the ſpirite, for the whiche purpoſe theſe wordes were ſpoken by Chriſte: and not to thincke that Chriſte (whoſe worckes were al wayes profitable) woulde teache any ſuche wayes, or do any ſuche deades as were nothynge profitable vntounto man. For no man (I dare well ſaye) is able to proue any more profite by the fleſhe bodily eaten in the ſacramente: than wee hauehave in ſcripture graunted vntounto vsus, whiche do worſhipe hym and eate hym, in ſpirite and trueth
Let vsus therfore conſider the greate goodneſſe of our ſauiour Chriſt in thys ſacramēt Take thys profit of the ſacrament.Who beinge the verie lambe that taketh awaye the …es of the worlde: cauſed al the Iewes ceremonies to ceaſe, and their paſſeouer to hauehave an ende, and therfore ſaieth that he hath greatly diſired to eat thys paſſeouer that the promiſes of God the father (concerne…ge thys newe teſtame…t) might be fullfilled. Namely, that the ſede of the woman, ſhoulde breake the heade of the ſerpent.
That by thys ſede all the nacions of the earth ſhalbe bleſſed. That the ſaluacion and ſauiour of the worlde, ſhoulde be declared, the light of the heathen and the glorie of Iſraell publiſhed, Al theſe thinges were fulfilled in hys paſſion and ſuffereinge, accordinge to hys owne ſaieinge. Whan I ſhalbe exalted from the earth, I ſhall drawe all vntounto my ſelfe. And when he had dronken that bitter drinke vponupon the croſe: he ſaied that all was finiſhed and fulfilled. All theſe thinges together do we receiue in the ſupper of the Lorde, whiche he dyd therfore celebrate and make, the nyght before he ſuffred, for to enſtructe hys Apoſtles more deapelie in theſe great miſteries of the ſaluacion of the whoſe worlde by hys death, wherin he would geue him ſelfe frely vntounto them, and therefore dyd he teſtifie vntounto them the ſelfe ſame thinge be fore hande in thys holie ſacrament. And becauſe the life of the rightuouſe ſtandeth here in, that they beleue in the ſame: he geueth charge that they hauehave hys death in remembraunce, ſai…inge. Thys is my bodie whiche is geuen for you do thys in the remēbraunce Luke. xxii.of me. Likewyſe the cup after he had ſupped ſ…einge. This cup is the newe teſtament in my bloude, which is ſhed for you. That like as by thys ſenſible meate & corporall lambe, whiche they had eaten in theyre ſupper, their bodies was nouriſhed, cheriſhed and ſtreghned▪ ſo by this ſpiritual lambe and heauenly meate bi this bleſſed memorie▪ I ſaie wherby we knowe that oure ſauiour and redemer Chriſt Ie… died for vsus, that we might liue) are our ſoules certified, that the ſame oure ſauiour dyd ſo clearely take awaye our treſpaſſes, that hys father wyll nowe take vsus for his children and heires, and geue vsus frely euerlaſteinge lyffe. Wyth thys therfore, we maye continually fede oure ſoules, that they encreaſeinge in full fayeth of goddes merciemercy (whiche is the lyfe of the rightuouſe) myght be nouriſhed, growe and encreaſe, to the full age of a perfect man in Chriſte Ieſu. If you marke the wordes of Chriſte wyth a ſinguler eye: you ſhalbe cōpelled to graūte theſe two thynges onelyonly to be taught therin. That Chriſt gaue hys bodie for vsus: and eō maunded vsus to do thys thinge. That is, to take and to eate thys.
Accipite et manducate. The wordes are plaine do thys in the remembraunce &c. For by what ſcripture maye it be foūde true that you do gloſe ſaieinge? God dyd conſecrate hym ſelfe into accidētes & qualites of breade And that you ſhoulde make God in the remembraunce of God, in mine opinion is agaynſt reaſone. I maye ſaye and raile not, it is a made hereſie.
Chriſte ſayeth. Take and eate. He geueth Go no farther thē your commiſſion.no prieſte powre to conſecrate and to make his bodie, neither with his worde nor by his worde And thys whiche is the chiefe pointe of your newe beldame (whyche you eſtabliſhe wyth the fire) we require you for the louelove of Chriſte (if you …eale any thynge of hys mercies) either to proue it by ſome ſcripturs (whiche I knowe is impoſſible for you) or elſe to call backe your tiranye. You hauehave duplicate page duplicate page no worde of God) wher vp on onelyonly, fayeth maye be g…ownded (that commaundeth you once to repe…e theſe wordes agayne (Thys is mi bodie) much leſſe are you able to proue that theſe wordes at any tyme repeted and reherſed by any one of you: ſhoulde chaung the nature of thynges, and not onelyonly worke in creatures, but alſo in the creatoure and maker of all (God and man) whoſe maieſtie ought rather to be praiſed and had in admiracion, than thus vnreuerenly to be taingled wyth your tranſſubſtanciacion, whyche is muche after the arte of magike, thus by preſcript wordes to worcke wonders. God hath appoynted hys holy worde to be preache… to vsus reaſonnable creaturs, and that moſte eſpecially in this ſacrament, as the moſt ſure token of our ſaluacion. As it is plaine by the wordes of Paule. So ofte as you ſhal eate …. Corin. xi.thys breade (ſayeth he) and drinke of thys The receiueyng of the ſacramēt, is the preacheing of the death of Chriſte.cup: you ſhall ſhewe, forthe the death of the Lorde vntounto that he come. So that it is ouer muche ſhame to vſe Chriſtes worde as an enchauntmēt ouer deade creaturs to chaung them (no man can tell howe) to call downe Chriſte into breade, to bringe hym into the chalice. Where he, beinge a whyle bleſſed and blowene wyth your ſtinkeinge breathes ſhall ta…ie ſo longe a god, as it ſhall pleaſe man yea and that ſcant an honeſt man ſometymes. Surely, it maketh vsus leude people, to thinke that you do not take him as a God when we ſe you ſo vnreuerently, breathe oa him, make him…eape about the chalice, break hym …nd that nothinge after the inſtitucion wherin we ſhoulde all together be partetakers of the breade and cup of Chriſte for the foode of oure ſoules. And where as the ſtength of your ſophiſtrie lieth in the blinde worde conſecracion (whych you do not le…ne here of Chriſt, but you thinke you maie hauehave ſome cloke becauſe it is reade that Ieſus when he dyd take the breade in hande, bleſſed Chriſte …yd not …rate the ….and breake it) you ſhal hea… an anſwere, I truſte, that maye ſatiſfie any herte that is not bent vponupon contencion.
In al places wher Chriſt dyd take breade in hys handes: he bleſſed and gaue thankes, as it appeareth Iohn. vi. and Luke. ix. where as we reade the ſame wordes that he hath at thys ſupper (as the treade of hys commone vſage) wherby we ſhall lerne to bleſſe, renowme & praiſe god alwayes, & to geue him humble thankes whē ſo euer we do vſe any of hys benifites. That this bleſſeinge is nothynge but a thankes geueinge to God the father and no ſuche cōſecracion as you do mataine: Mathewe and Luke maye ſatiſfie you. Whoe hauehave, foreign, that is, geueinge thankes. Wheras Mark hath foreign. And agayne, when he ſpake of the cu… he hath foreign. So that foreign, And foreign, to bleſſe and to geue thankes: are all one. Wherfore ſuche couſecracion as you make (when you ſaye God conſecrateth hym ſelfe) can not be grounded here. But you blinde the people wyth your darcke termes, to blinde vsus ſtyl captiues vn, der your tirannie.
The worde of thys heauenly ſupper, maye clearely driue awaie al dreames, if they were deapely conſidered wythout your gloſes. Wherfore I wyll reherſe them out of the euangeliſtes and the Apoſtle Paule, the wonderfull opener of goddes ſecretes.
Firſte Chriſte (when the Apoſtles were Math. xxvi,eateinge) dyd take the breade, and when he had geuen thākes, he dyd breake it, and gaue it to hys diſciples and ſayed. Take, eate, this is my bodie. And when he toke the cup alſo he did geue thankes and gaue it vntounto them ſaieing drinke al of this. This is my bloude whyche is of the newe teſtament, whyche is ſhed for many in the remiſſion of ſynnes. I ſaye vntounto yon, I wyll not after thys tyme drinke of the fruite of the vyne, vntounto that daye that I ſhall drinke it newe wyth you… the kyngedome of my father.Mar. xiiii.
Agayne, As they dyd eate (ſayeth Marke) Ieſus toke the breade, gaue thankes, & brake it and ſayed. Take, eate, thos is my bodie. And he toke the cup, thanked, and gaue it them, and they dyd all drinke therof. And he ſayed vntounto them, thys is my bloude of the newe teſtament, whyche ſhalbe ſhed for many. Verely I ſaye vntounto you that from heuſe fourth, I wyll not drinke of the fruite of the vine, vntounto the daye that I drinke it newe in the kingedome of God.
In Luke, thus we reade. I hauehave with great Luke. xxii.deſier deſired to eate this paſſouer with you be fore I ſuffer. For I ſaye vntounto you, that heuſe forth I wyll no more eate therof, tyll it be fulfilled in the kingdome of God. And he toke the cup, gaue thāges and ſaied. Take thys and deuide it amonges you. For I ſaye vntounto you, I wyll not drinke of the fruite of the vyne: vntounto the kingedome of God do come. And he toke the breade, and gaue thankes, and brake it, and gaue it vntounto them and ſaiede. This is my bodie whiche ſhalbe geuē for you. This do ye in the remembraunce of me. Lykewiſe the cup after they had ſupped and ſayed. Thys cup is the newe teſtament in my bloude, whyche ſhalbe ſhed for you.
Here be al the wordes of the Euangeliſtes concerning the laſt ſupper of the Lord, wherin you do not heare one word, that the prieſt by reherſeinge of theſe wordes ſhall make God, either that Chriſte is materially and bodily tourned into a fourme of breade: or that God doeth tourne hym ſelfe and conſecrate hym (as you cal it) into the quantities of breade neither any other of thoſe blaphemies that you defende ſo with tirany. That the lewde man ſhoulde receiue it but in one kind, vponupon paine of death, though you hauehave No maruell thoughe the …ple ſaiede … whē thei …e mē bur… for ſayng yea.pertily excuſed the matier, ſaie…ge that wee …ewde ſoles wyll not hauehave it, Ah ſhall we ſuffer you thus to captiue vsus ſtill: We are captiues in deede? For we muſt ranſome ful largely, if we either ſpeake, writte or kept aany boke of chriſtian religion contrarie to your popeiſhe doctrine. But as you tender the helth of your ſoules (deare brethern) who ſo euer ſhall reade thys: ſpeede you to the ſcriptures of God, and make them iudges, boeth of thoſe mens gloſes & my writtinges Whan they woulde iuggle with this worde Learne to re… ſophſtrieconſecrate: remēbre▪ the wordes of the Euan geliſt, that he bleſſed or gaue thankes, for all is one thinge, as it is proued. Whā they wil ſaye no more but, thys is my bodie, and leue out the chiefe purpoſe and conforte ſet furth in thys ſupper, that is, whyche is geuen for you: then ſaye. We wyll eate heare the bodie that was geuen for vsus vntounto death, which Mari Magdalen might not touche, whiche is gone into heauen and (as you ſaye your ſelfe) is not come downe agayne, But ther ſitteth at the right hande of the father (as the ſcripture recordeth and fayth beleueth) from whence he ſhal come to iudge the quicke and the deade▪ In whoſe remembraunce we muſt do thys, ſheweinge forth his death (as Paule ſaieth tyll he come. The whiche wordes (vntyll In theſe., i…. wordes lieth the whole matter.he come, and doe…ge it in the remembraunce of Chriſte) maye plainely declare what is ment by all to gether.
Beſides this, whē it is named bread, wine and the fruite of the grape, after that Chriſt had bleſſed: why ſhall one ſet Chriſte to the ſchole and tell hym he lieth: But if he come into Englande a monge the popeiſhe prelates: they wyll teache him to lerne it other wyſe. Heare is no ſophiſtrie: but eternal tiranie Marke therefore, the ende, intent & purpoſe of theſe Chriſtes wordes and doeinges and thē ſhal eueri thing be eaſie and plain vn to vsus. Thys maye be ſhewed by theſe wordes in boeh the par…es of the miſteries, plainly added, which was geuen for you. Which ſhalbe ſhed for the remiſſion of ſinnes. Bi the whyche wordes we can not denie, but that Chriſte taught that he woulde die for vsus. And where he addeth (as the ende of altogether) doe thys in the remēbraunce of me this is the cup of the newe teſtamēt in my bloud what other thing can we lerne, but that this is the newe teſtamēt and couenaunt of grace bitwen God and vsus, that he wil hauehave merciemercy vponupon his, for the bloud of his ſōne▪ And that we ought to kepe thys in perpetual remembraunce. Nowe ſe…ge that theſe wordes do leade vsus vntounto theſe thinges: hys deads muſt of good congruence, worke theſame. And Two maner of teachinges By wordes, and biſiguestherfore doeth the breake breade and geue it to be eaten commaundeinge the cuppe to be drunken. Whyche deades dyd in maner repreſent before the eyes of the diſciples: the thynges that he had ſpoken, euen in lyke maner as we ſe it generally vſed in all contractes and couenauntes of greate wayght and valewe, which are made without warde ſignes as repreſētations of the ſame to the eyes of all men and cleare teſtimonies for remembraunce of couenauntes to be performed.
Nowe where as they wyll not ſpeke al the text, but ſticke in theſe. iiii. wordes oneli (this is my bodie) anſwere thou againe, that thou beleueſt it to be the verie bodie, euen as thou beleueſt the cuppe to be the newe teſtament. But for as muche as the chaunge of any of theſe creaturs can not be taught …i any ſcriptures: thou canſt in no caſe beleue it. For thy faith aſketh the word of god. Wherfore, ſaye thou I wyl ſtick to the worde of Chriſt that the fleſhe profiteth nothinge thought it were eaten euerie mēbre after other, But the ſpirite giueth life. Who leadeth vsus to the fode that bringeth lyfe euerlaſteinge. And thus by the ſpirite (whiche onelyonly isprofitable) we vnderunder ſtande theſe wordes. Take and eate, thys is my bodie which is giuen for you. That like as I geue the bread to be eaten wyth the bodilie This ſimilitude deeſareth all the mattier.tethe: ſo do I geue mi bodie to be eaten bi faith, and that of the ſpirite. For nowe ſhal it be geuen vntounto the death: that you maye hauehave lyfe. And thus is my fleſhe verie meate and my bodie, breade and fode, whiche maye be taken and receiued onelyonly ſpiritually and not carnally, bodilie or really. In lyke maner therfore, as you do bodilie take this brad at my hande, eate it wyth your mouth, and ſo receiue it into your ſtomake and bodie for the fode and ſuſtentacion of your naturall lyfe: ſo muſte▪ you by fayth (the onelyonly meane wherby ye maye eate or hauehave me preſent vponupon erth) receiue my body, beleueing that my bodie is geuen for you, that where you were deade frome God by your ſynnes, I hauehave brought youfurth to leue in good workes vntounto my father, who compteth you nowe a… children an he…ers prepared to euerlaſteing… lyfe, ſo many as belieue & truſte in my death…
Thus doeth Chriſte geue the breade to b… eaten bodily with the mouth, but hys bodi… to be eaten ſpiritually in the ſpirite by faith. And thys is it that good byſhop Auguſtine ſayeth. What doeſt thou prepare thy teeth and thy beali… Beleue and thou haſte eaten. It is fleſhe (as I hauehave ſaied before) what ſo euer bringeh not lyfe, and therfore it profiteth nothing: ſo ar al things that ar don without faith, wherfore if chriſt might be eaten with the mouth, as he might be in dede, if he were bodilie in the breade (which boeth fayethfull and vnfaythful do eate) then myght Chriſte be eaten wythout fruite, whiche is contrarie to the manifeſte worde of God, which affirmeth, Chriſt cannot he eaten with out fru…te▪that who ſo euer eateth him hath euerlaſteinge lyfe.
We do conclude therefore, that there is but one onelyonly eateinge of the bodie of Chriſt whyche is perceiued of the faythfull onelyonly: none otherwyſe, then theſe wordes (whyche is geuen for you, and, whyche is ſhed for the remiſſion of ſinnes) are proper and peculiar vntounto them onelyonly. And to tell you ſomewhat of your ſophiſtrie. Whā you reaſone in this Sophiſtrie.wyſe. Thys is the bodie of Chriſte, therfore … is naturally, really, and bodily hys bodie. It is a fallax or deceiueable argument of ſophiſtrie, affirminge that ſimpliciter, quod eſt modo aliqu…. Thys c…n euerie ſophiſte of Cambridge tell you. And we knowe that it is ſmall reaſone, to conclude that Iohn baptiſt was th… ſame Elias that was dead many hundred yeres before hys tyme, becauſe Chriſte ſa…ed that he was Elias: except we ſhoulde be of the opinion of the fonde Phyloſophers, who helde that the ſoules of men Pithagarasdeparted went into other newe bodies, and ſo cōtinued ſtil immortal. In like maner, whā Ioſephe ſaieth, that the. vii. fatte oxen are. vii. good yeres, and the. vii leane one …, vii. yuell yeres▪ we maye not cōclude, that ox… or …iē a… natural yeres. More ouer, whē Chriſt ſaieth that the worde of God is a ſede: it is but a ſlender argument to ſaye therfore it is a bodylye ſede. An hundred ſuche places maye be brought. And yet, if thei can bring but one place, where God hath ſayed, This is ſuch a thynge, and woulde hauehave at corporally ſo to be: I wyll gladly geue place vntounto them, thoughe it be ſo that the thynge do not appeare to be as God hath ſayed it is. But I do know …m certaine in my beliefe: that al the workes of the Lorde be trueth. And as he hath ſayed that they be: ſo ſhall they be and are in dede, either in ſpirite, or elſe in the ſight of all men bodilie.