The Sacrament of the Lords Supper, Part 2

The Sacrament of the Lords Supper · Part 2

FOr as moche as the most holye supper of our lorde Iesu Christ hath of longe tyme ben lapped vp in manyfold and great errours and euen of late dayes wrapped in many opinions and contentions, nothynge so quiet as was besemyng: no meruayle thoughe certayue weake conscienced persones, can not wel determyne what thynge they ought chyflye to folowe, but do, wyth indeferente and suspense mynde, loke whan the seruauntes of God settinge all contention a parte shall agree amonge them selues, and brynge the matter to some concorde and vnitie. And seynge that such kynde of doubte hath no smal incommoditye annexed, and that it is a thyngee mooste dayngerouse, to hauehave no certayne determinacion of that mistrye, the knowledge wherof is so necessarye to our saluation: I hauehave thought it a thynge moste profytable, bryeflye to spake of the chiefe sume of the matter and yet playnlye to declare what thynge we oughte chyeflye to sticke vntounto therin. More ouer, certayne honeste men perceyuynge the matter to require no lesse: desyred me earnestly to take it in hande whose requeste I coulde by no meanes denye vnlesse I wolde hauehave bene slake in doynge my dutye. And that the difficultie therof may the more easely be opened it is neadfull to declare what order we intende to folowe herein.

Fyrst I shall declare for what cause, and to what ende, the Lorde hath instituted this most holye sacramente. Then what …ruite we take therof, and herein I wyll declare howe the bodye of Chryst… is geuen vsus in it.

Thyrdlye, what is the ryght vse therof. Forthlye, I shall reherse the erroures and superslicions wherby it hath ben defaced, and so wyll I declare, howe the seruauntes of God ought to differ from the papistes.

Finallye, I wyll declare the originall of that contencion, whiche hath ben so ernestlye mayntayned euen of the same men whyche in our time, hauehave applied al theyr studye to bring the gospel to lyght agayne, to replenish againe the congregatiō, and to restore the syncere and pure doctryne. As concernynge the Fyrste

When it pleased the almyghty oure God by baptisme, to chose vsus into the cōgregation, that is to saye into his house whyche he wyll nouryshe and defende: and that he hath receyued vsus, not onelyonly as houshold seruauntes, but also as his chyldren: it behoueth hym (yf he wyl playe the parte of a good father) to bringe vsus vp, ministrynge vntounto vsus all thynges necessarye to foode and clothynge.

But as concernynge the thinges that pertayne to the educacion of the bodye, bycause they be common to all men, so that as well the euyl persones as y^• good be partakers therof: they are not to be taken as for thynges appertaynyng to his houshould onelyonly. No doubt, in that he feadeth and defendeth our bodies, and whiles we be partakers of al those good thinges which he most plēteously and liberally geueth vsus, is declared a great tokē of his father…y goodnes towarde vsus. But in lyke maner as the lyfe wherin he hath regenerate vsus, is spi…ituall: so is it neadfull that the meate wherwith we should be susteyned & strēgthed, be al…o spiritual. For we muste vnderstande, y^• we are not called to possesse the celestiall inheri…aunce, in tyme to come onelyonly: but y^• throughe …ope we are in maner set in possession therof …l ready. So y^• he hath not onelyonly promised vsus lyfe, but delyueringe vsus from death, he hath al ready ledde vsus into it in very dede. And thys thinge opteyned we, whē he begate vsus a newe wyth the sede of immortalitie, y^• is to saye his worde, whiche through the holy goste he hath prynted & fastened in our hertes. That we ther fore may defende & susteyne this lyfe, we must not seke y^• caducal & corriptible meates, wherwith the bealy is fed: but we must prouide for our soules much better & more excellent foode. And the whole scripture witnesseth, y^• the selfe same wordes, wherby the lorde hath begotten vsus a new, is y^• spiritual bread wherby our soules are susteined & fedde: the reasone is this, by cause in it, Christ our onelyonly life is giuē & ministred vntounto vsus. For when god would that al abundance of lyfe, shoulde remayne in Christ to the intent y^• by hym, he myght make vsus partakars therof: he ordayned the worde also, wherby Christ & all his mercyes myght be ministred vntounto vsus. Thys sentence therfore is infallibly true, that our soules are fed & nourished, wyth none other foode then Iesu Christ.Not y^• visible signes but y^• thynges sign… …d. Wherfore the heauenly father being careful for our educacion, gaue vsus none other foode: yea rather he committed thys vntounto vsus, singularly.

And for as muche as it is sufficient ynoughe for the recreacion and sustenaunce of our soules, he wyll…d vsus to content oure selues therewith, and that our soules shoulde rest t…gether therin: bycause we maye by no meanes be with out that foode, whyche beynge taken awaye, none other can be founde. Nowe do we perceyue after what sort Christe is y^• onelyonly foode wherwyth our soules be sedd…ut bycause he is distributed vntounto vsus by the worde of y^• lorde as by the instrument appoynted for the same purpose: he is named breade and wyne. And that whyche is spoken of the worde, appertayneth also to the sacrament of the supper, wherby the Lorde leadeth vsus vntounto the partakyng of Christ. For because we be so weake and feble, that we can not (wyth vnfayned trust of mynde) receyue hym, when he is offred vntounto vsus in the bare preachyng of the doctrine: the father of mercye wyllyng to accommodate hym selfe vntounto our infimitie therin,Our infirmitie was cause of y^• sacramēt. hath ioyned vntounto the worde a signe to be sene with the eyes, whereby he myght represent vntounto vsus the very substance of his promesses, that al doubt and wauerynge taken awaye, we myght be cō fyrmed and strengthened in hym.

Seynge therfore thys misterye is hyghe and harde to attayne to: and that we can not by witte comprehende, or by studye vnderstāde howe the bodye and bloude of Christe maye be communicate vntounto vsus: and that we be so rude and ignoraunt, that we vnderstande not euen the verye leaste of the diuine matters: it was neadefull to declare and open thys misterye after suche sorte as the abilitie of oure wytte myght awaye wyth all.

And for that cause dyd the Lorde institute the supper▪ that he myght print in our consciences those promesses wherwyth he hath in the gospell promysed, to make vsus partakers of hys bodye and bloude: and that he myght establysh vsus in thys perswasion, our spiritual lyfe to be remaynynge in hym, that we, receyuyng so noble a pledge, maye conceyue a sure hope of saluation. Forthermore, that we should be exercised in acknowledgynge his great goodnes towardes vsus,Note … what ende the supper was instituted. & in celebratyng and settyng forth of the same wyth all la…de and prayse. Thyrdly, that we should be prouoked to imbrace holynesse and innoncencie,The vse of y^• Sacrament. for as much as we acknowledge oure selues to be the members of Christe, and that aboue all other, we set forth and maynteyne frendshyp and brotherly concorde, wherof we hauehave an especial cōmaundement. When we hauehave wel and diligently marked these thre causes (to whyche no doubte the Lorde had respecte when he instituted the supper) an entrye shall be opened vntounto vsus that we maye the better vnderstande what fruyte we receyue therby, and by what meane we maye vse it a ryght. We muste therfore nowe come vntounto the seconde parte, that we maye declare what holsome fruyte the supper of the Lorde bryngeth vntounto vsus: so we wyl vnderstande and gather the same. And that shall we know whē we wyll digentlye perpende oure owne greate lacke which if succurreth. No remedy we must neades be vehementlye troubled and vexed in mynde, so often as we consyder what we are our selues, and when we examyne al that is in vsus. For there is not one of vsus that can fynde so muche as one lytle crombe of iustice in hym selfe:Of our selfe, we hauehave none other thynge but sinne. but contrarye wyse, we are defyled wyth so many vices and wycked dedes, stouffed full of so greate a multitude of synnes, that there neadeth none other accuser then our owne conscience: nother neadeth it to seke for any other iudge to gyue sentence agaynste vsus. Wherof it foloweth, that the yre of God is styred agaynste vsus, and that none of vsus can be able to escape the iudgement of eternall death.

And vnlesse we wyll be verye dreamars and blockeheades no remedy we shal, through this horrible cogitacion, be ve…ed and troubled, as it were wyth a continuall hel fyre. For we can not remember the iudgmente of God, but incōtinent oure owne damnation is before oure else. We are therfore al redy swalowed vp by the deuouring sincke of death, were it not that almightie God delyuereth vsus. And what hope of resurrection may we hauehave whē we cōsyder oure owne fleshe, so rotton and full of all corruption? And therfore whether we consyder body or soule, nothynge can be more miserable then we are, so longe as we shall consyder but oure selues onelyonly: and whylse we perceyue so great miseries, no remedye we must neades be miserably tormēted, and affected with extreme heauynesse. That the heauenly father therfore myght succure thys oure calamitie, he gaue vntounto vsus the supper, as a glasse wherin we myght beholde Christe crucifyed and raysed agayne. Crucified, that our sinnes might be forgynen. Raysed agayne, that we delyuered from corruption and deathe, myghte be restored to the heauenly immortalitie.Folowe thys guyde. Thys singular consolacion take we of the lordes supper, that it directeth and leadeth vsus vntounto the crosse and resurrection of Christe: that we maye knowe for certentye, that we (although we be wycked and vncleane) be acknowledged and receyued of the lorde, yea and taken for iust: and that by hym we are restored to lyfe notwithstandynge that we be hedged in W^tin al kindnes of death: and that we be replenished wyth all kynde of felicitye, notwythstandyng that we be miserable and ful of calamitie. Or to make the thyng more playne. When there is no goodnesse at all remaynyng in vsus, neyther any one thynge, of those thynges whiche shoulde helpe to the op…aynynge of saluacion: the supper doth abundauntly wytnesse vntounto vsus, that we hauehave …ptayned all thinges profitable and holsome, in that we be partakers of the death and passion of Chist, Wherfore we maye affirme, that whiles the lorde admitteth vsus in to the felowshyppe of the goodes and richesses of Christe, he opene…h the treasorye of hys mercyes. Let vsus remember therefore that in the supper is geuen vntounto vsus,The carnall ate can not see these thynges in this glasse. as it were a glasse, wherin we may beholde Christe, crucifyed, to delyuer vsus from death and dampnacion and reysed vp agayne to iustifye vsus, and gyue vsus lyfe euerlastyng And all be it that the same mer…cye is geuen vntounto vsus in the Gospel: yet, for that in the supper, we hauehave more certentie and fuller frui…yon, we can do no lesse but acknowledge that we receyue thys profyte therof.

But for bycause the merytes of Christe appertayne nothynge vntounto vsus, vnlesse he him selfe be ou…s before: it is mooste expedyente that in the Supper he be geuen vntounto vsus, that those thynges whereof we hauehave spoken, may in verye dede,Not y^• naturall substancd as …pysters do fa…e. be perfourmed in vsus. And therfore hauehave I vsed to saye. That Christe is the mattire and substaunce of the Sacramentes and that the mercies and benefytes which we gette by him, are the efficacie and strength therof. To cōclude, the hole strength and energye of the supper consisteth in this thinge, to confirme the reconciliacion wyth God, made by the death and passion of Christe. To certifye vsus that our soules be washed in his bloude, … that we be made iust throughe his obedience. And …o conclude. To prynt surely in our myndes, that hope of saluacion which we hauehave in all those thynges that he hath done for vsus.

Upon this must we necessarilye conclude, that there is a substance annexed vntounto this vertue: otherwyse shoulde we hauehave no stydfastnesse or certentie therin, we must therfore conclude, that in the supper are geuē vntounto vsus two thynges,As we receiue hym so ys he geuē vntounto vsus. y^• is spiritually that is to saye Christ, as fountayne, origyn and mattier of all good thynges: and the fruite and efficacie of his death and passion, whiche thynge, euen the verie wordes y^• be spokē in the supper do a bundaūtly declare For when he bedde vsus eate his body & drynke his bloude: he addeth, that his body was geuē for vsus and his bloude shedde for the remission of oure synnes, wherin he doth fyrste declare that his bodye, and bloud are not simply with out any other consideracion, communicate vntounto vsus: but that we must also cōsider the fruite that cōmeth vntounto vsus by his death and passion. In fine. Howe maye we be able to come to the fru…cion of so excedynge good thynges, onlesse we be partakers of the bodye and bloude of him that hath produced these thynges, and gyuen them vntounto vsus.

Nowe entre we into that question, whiche hath bene so greatly tossed both in tyme paste and in these oure dayes also: howe those wordes are to be vnderstande, wherin Christe calleth his bodye breade, and hys bloude wyne. Whiche wordes maye easely be opened, yf we kepe in memorye those principles whyche I hauehave before set forth: that is to saye, that all the fruite we seke for in the supper, is brought to noughte, onlesse Christe be gyuen vntounto vsus therin, as the foundacion and substance of all the whole matter. And yf we ones graunt this thynge, then no doubt we shall graūt also, that there is gyuen vntounto vsus nought els but an vnprofitable & vayne Sacramēt▪ yf we deny that in it is gyuē vntounto vsus the very participacion of Christ: whiche thynge were execrable & shame full blasphemye. Forthermore, yf the maner of the communion with Christ be suche that we be partakers of all the mercies and benifites which he gate for vsus by his death: then are we not partakers w^t the spirite onelyonly but w^t y^• mā boode also: wherin he perfourmed perfit obedience to God the father, to the intent he mighte paye oure det es. Althoughe, to saye the truth the one can not be wythoute the other. For whē he geueth him selfe vntounto vsus, he doth it to the intent we shoulde possese him whole. And therfore, as I hauehave sayde, that his spirite is oure life: euen so doth he his owne mouth declare that hys fleshe is oure foode,The mouthe of the soule (y^• receiueth this fode) is fayth. and his bloude oure verye drynke. Yf this be not spoken in vayne, no remedy oure life must neades consiste in him, and oure soules be nourished wyth hys fleshe and bloude, as wyth theyr proper and peculyar foode. Of that thynge hauehave we testimony in y^• supper, whē it is sayd of the breade that we should take it and eate it and that it is his bodye: and of the cuppe, that we drynke it and that it is hys bloude here are the bodye and bloude named, to the intent we should learne to seke the substāce of our spirituall lyfe therin. Now yf any man woulde demande of me whether the breade be the bodye of Christ, & the wyne his bloud: therto woulde I answer, that the breade and wy…e are visib…l signes, representynge vntounto vsus the bodye & bloude of Christe, and that they be called the body and bloud bycause they be as it were instrumētes wherby the lorde Iesu Christ distributeth them vntounto vsus. This forme of speaking agreeth very well wyth the thynge

For not wythstandynge that oureeyes, … nor oure wyttes can not comprehende the communion that wee hauehave in the bodye of Christe yet is it there openlye shewed before oure eyes. We hauehave, in a lyke thynge, an example verye fytte for the purpose. When the lorde woulde that his spirite should appeare in the baptisme of Christe, he shewed him vnderunder the shape of a doue▪ Iohn the Baptyste recytyng that hystorye sayeth that he sawe the holye Gost descen dynge. But yf we marke it well, we shal fynde that he sawe nought els but a Doue. For the substance of the holy Gooste is muisible.

But for that he knewe that vision to be no vayne figure, but the mooste sure token of the presēce of the holy goost: he doubted nothyng at all to affirme that he sawe him: because he was represented vntounto him vnderunder soche sort as he was able to abyde. Euen so must we say as concernynge the communion that we hauehave in the bodye and bloude of Christe. It is a spirituall misterye, whyche can neyther be sene wyth the eyes, nother comprehended with the wytte. Therfore, as the weakenes of oure nature requireth, it is set forth wyth visible figures and signes: but yet vnderunder such sort that it is not a bare and simple figure, but ioyned vntounto his verite and substance. The bread therfore is not vnworthylye called the bodye: for as moch as it doth not onelye r…present it vntounto vsus, but also brynge vntounto vsus the same thynge. I can be ryght well contente therfore▪ to graunt: that the name of the body of Christ be transferred vntounto the bread because it is the sacrament and fygure therof.

But thys one thynge wyll I adde.The substāce of a sacramēt is y^• free merciemercy ther…n p… mised. That the sacrametes of the Lord oughte by no meanes to be separate frome his substance and verytye And yet is it not onelyonly mete, but also very necess…ry: so to set them a sunder, that they be not confoūded. But to deuide them so, that the one shoulde be made perfyt without the other is moste vnsemley. Whē we therfore, do beholde the visible signe: we muste consider what it representeth, and who gaue it vsus. For the bread is geuen to the intent that it shoulde be y^• figure of the bodye of Christ▪ & we are cō maunded to eate it. It is geuen I say, of God the certayne & vnchaungeable veritie. Yf so be y^• God can neyther disceyue nor lye: it foloweth y^• he doth in verye dede performe, and fulfyll, al that he doth there signifye. No remedy therfore,It is fayth y^• mouth of the soule, that receyueth this body & bloud we must neades vnfaynedlye receyue the bodye and bloude of Christe in his supper for as muche as the Lorde offereth vntounto vsus herin, the cōmunion for them both. For what shoulde this meane, that we should eate bread & drynke wyne, to the intēt that they shoud declare vntounto vsus that hys fleshe is oure meate and bys bloude oure drynke, yf he letteynge the spirituall veritye passe, shoulde gyue vsus nought elles but breade and wyne? had he not then instituted thys misterye faynedlye and in vayne? And as we saye in the Frenche tonge, vnderunder disceyuable signes? And therfore muste we neades graunte, that yf the representation whyche the Lorde gyueth in the supper be no sayned thynge,Only the faitheful receiue this substāce. that then the inwarde substaunce of the Sacramente is annexed to the visible signes: and that in lyke maner as the breade is distributed in the hande, so is the body of Christ cōmunicate vntounto vsus, to the entēt that we shoulde be partakers thereof. And doubtlesse yf there were no more but thys one thynge, yet oughte it to satisfye vsus aboundantlye, for as muche as we vnderstande that in the supper. Christ gyueth vntounto vsus the very substaunce of hys bodye and bloude: that we maye wyth full tyghte possesse hym, and in possessynge hym, be called into the societie of al hys good thynges. For in that we possesse hym, all the treasures and heauenlye goodes, whyche be secretelye layed vp in hym, are set out vntounto vsus, to the intent that they shoulde be oures, and that we shoulde enioye them wyth hym. Brefely therfore to defyne the profyte of the supper: we maye saye y^• in it Iesus Christ is offered vntounto vsus: that we may possesse hym, hym selfe, and in hym aboundaunce and plentye of all the mercyes and benefytes that the mynde can desyre. Whiche thynge is an exceadynge great helpe vntounto vsus in stablishynge our consciences in that truste whyche we ought to hauehave in hym. An other vtilitie is, that by it we are more steared and admonished to acknowledge the benefytes which we hauehave and do day lye receyue of the Lorde Iesu Christe that we maye gyue vntounto hym honoure and glorye: and that (as mete is) we celebrate hys moste holye name wyth continuall prayses. For by nature we are very negligent, and in remembraūce of the goodnes of our god, neyther do we thynke there on at any tyme, onlesse he do awake our slougyshnesse and prouoke vsus to our dutye.

And wyth sharper prickes cā we not be pricked, then in that he compelleth vsus (as it were) to se wyth oure eyes, and to handle wyth oure handes, yea openly to knowe and perceyue, the greatnesse of the inestimable benefyt in that he feadeth, and refresheth vsus with his owne proper substance, which thing he would should be declared & made open vntounto vsus, in y^• he byddeth vsus declare his death tyll he come. If so be that it be a thing so necessary to saluation, not to be vnmindful of the mercies & benefites that god hath shewed vntounto vsus, but rather diligently to call them a gaine to memorie, and to extolle thē greatly to other men, that we maye by mutual admoniciōs be stered vp: we se therin a singulare cōmoditie of the supper,Use this commoditie. whiche calleth vsus back frō the vice of vnthankfulnes, & suffreth vsus not to forget y^• great benefite which Christ shewed vsus whan he died for our sakes: but it bryngeth vsus to this passe, that wee geue thankes vntounto him, and do (as it were) with an open testimonie, confesse how moch we are bounde vntounto him. The thrid kynd of vtiliti… consisteth in this thing, that we be therby more vehemētlie stered vp, to sanctimonie and puritie of lyfe and are with more force of persuasions, dryuē chieflye and before all other, to kepe charitie & frēdship amōg ourselues. For, seing that we be made the members of Christe, beynge gra…ted into his bodye, and are ioyned to gether with him, as with oure head: it is but mete, that we chiefly be facioned after his puritie, & …nnocencie, & that ther be especially such cōcord among vsus, as ought to be among the membres of one bodye. Although to hauehave y^• true vnderstādyng of this vtilite, we ought not to thinke, that the lorde doth only exhorte and stere vsus vp, other inflame vsus with an external signe. For this is the chiefe thynge that he with his spirite worketh intierlye in vsus,God worketh by his sacramentes as the Geometriciā doth by his de…o…stracion. to adde force and efficacye as his ordinaunce whiche he hath appoynted as it were an instrument seruynge hym to this purpose, that he might accomplysh and finishe his worke in vsus, therfore, because the power of the holy goste is coupled with the sacramentes, whan they be receyued so as they oughte to be: we ought to hope and truste, that they be an helpe vntounto vsus that we maye go forward in holynesse of lyfe and especyally in charitie.

Nowe muste we come to the thyrde of the chiefe partes whyche we hauehave purposed in the begynnynge of thys lytle boke, that is to saye to the ryght vse, that we maye reuerentlye obserue the institution of the Lorde. For who so euer cometh vntounto thys sacrament, wyth a certayne comtempte, negligentlye or wythout regarde, nothynge carefull to holde hys purpose, and to perseuer in that where in the Lorde hath called hym: he dothe frowardlye abuse it, and in abusynge fylthyly contaminate it.

But to contaminate and pollute the thynge that god hath so holyly consecrated, is a great and intollerable sacriledge. Neyther is it in vayne that Paule declareth so greuouse and cruell dampnation to all them that receyue it vnworthelye. For yf there be nothinge, either in heauen, eyther in earh, that is more worthy then the bodye and bloude of the Lord: it is no smal faute to dispice it,Note what it is to receyue a Sacrament vnworthyly. and to receyue it wythout consyderation, and to come thyther not well and diligentlye prepared. Forthermore, he dothe aduertise vsus to proue our selues, that we maye vse it euen as the thynge requyreth. Yf so be that we vnderstande what probation that oughte to be: we shall also perceyue what vse that is whych we loke for, but great and wyse circumspection muste be had in this thynge. For as we can not be to diligent in examinynge our selues, as the Lorde hath commaunded: euen so dyd the sophihical doctours (whyl…e they requyred I canne not tell what kinde of probation,These, loode the consciences of men. and diligēce in examinyng of a mans selfe, suche as neuer man coulde be able to performe, holde the miserable consciences to muche pe…plexe, casting them into wonderfull daungerouse anxietie, yea rather into horrible tormentes. And to be delyuered from these inrollynges of perturbacions, we muste (as I hauehave sayde before) reduce all thynges to the institution of the Lorde, as to the rule, whiche yf we folowe, wee shall neyther slyde nor erre. And folowynge it we ought to consyder whether we fele in our selues vnfayned repentaunce and fayth. Whyche two are so ioyned betwene them selues, that it is not possible that the one can by any meanes con…yste wythout the other. For yf we do suppose that our lyfe remayneth in Christe: then muste wee acknowledge that in our selues we are deade.

Yf we seke oure force and strength in hym: then must we vnderstande that we destituted of all strength, do faynte. Yf we put all oure felicitie in his mercy: we must neades perceiue howe great our misery is, whē that is a way. Yf our quietnesse & tranquilite be reposed in him: thē must we feele nought els in our selues but vnquietnes, troublesome eares, and solicitudes. And such affection can not be in vsus but it wil ingender in vsus a cartayne displeasaunce of our whole lyfe, besydes the care…ulnes and feare, & at the laste, the louelove & desire of iustice. For he that knoweth the filthines of his sinne and the m…serie of his estate whilse he is exiled from God, is so gr…a…ly a bashed, that he is cō strayned, to be out of conceyt with him selfe to condemne hym selfe, and for very dolour of hert to weepe and syghe. To these thynges, is the iudgement of. God obiected incon…mente, whiche thrutcheth the conscience of the synner in wonderfull straites, whan he perceiueth y^• he can by no meanes escape, and that there is no place of defence remayning. Whan we acknowledginge oure owne misery after suche sorte are able to taste of the goodnesse of God then do wee desire to directe all the order of oure lyfe vntounto his wyll, that (abiectinge the thynges whiche we folowed before (we maye in him be made a new creature. Yf wee, therfore wyll hauehave that communyon, whiche is be seming for vsus to hauehave, the communion of the mooste holye supper of the Lorde: Let vsus with a frime cōfidence of mynde take Christe for our iustice,He y^• trusteth not in Christ only, hath no parte w^t him. lyfe and health: let vsus embrace his promesses supposynge them be to certayne and cōstant: let vsus renounce al succours to the contrarie, whiche striue therwith, and all confidence of the same: that we distrustynge oure selues and al other creatures maye be quiet in him onelie, and content oure selues with his onelyonly merciemercy which thing bicause it can not be done, vnlesse we know how moche neade we hauehave of helpe and succure: no remedy we must neades be moste sharpely pricked and digged as it were w^t a goade, through that fealing of our misery: that we as mē half… famished, may desprously loke for him. For howe fonde a thynge were it to seke for meate wythout any maner of appetit: And to gette an appetite to meate, the nexte way is to hauehave an emptye stomake, but in suche takynge that it maye admitte meate Of this it foloweth y^• it behoueth our soules to be hungry, and seruentlye to desyre meate, that they maye in the supper of the Lorde fynde theyr nu…rimente. Forthermore, it is to be noted that we can not desyre Christe vnlesse we do aspire to y^• iustice of god: which consisteth in the denyall of oure selues,… and the obedience that ought to be giuē vntounto hym. For it can by no meanes agree, that we should be of the bodye of Christ. … uyng in the meane … f…lthily, volt…ptuously, and without …ule Sc…ge that in Christe is nought elles but all puritye, contin…nce, gentl…nesse, sobrietie, veritye, humblenesse and other lyke vertu…s: it behoueth vsus (yf we wyll be membres of his body) to be cleare frō al voluptuousnesse & riotte from arrogancy, intempetance, vanitie, pryde, and other vices. For we can not mingle those wyth him wythout great shame and reproche. It behoueth vsus all waye to rem…mbre, that there is no more concorde betwene him and iniquitie, then is betwene lyght and darkenesse. The ima…e of repentaunce.Lo by what meanes wee maye come to perfyt repentaunce: by appoyntynge our iourney so, that oure lyfe be fashioned after the example of Christe. But, although thys thynge be commune to all partes of the lyfe: yet take they place chieflye in charitye: which in thys Sacrament is singulerlye commended vntounto vsus.

By reason whereof, it is also called the bonde therof. For as the bread, whyche for the vse of all men, is there sanc…ifyed, is made of man… grayn…s, so compacte to gyther that one can not be seperate and discerned from the other: euen after the same rate oughte wee to be ioyned togyther wyth the indissoluble bonde of frendshyppe. And so do we all receyue one bodye of Christ, to the ende we may be his m…mbres.Discorde destroyethe that concorde hath buylded. But yf we be full of discordes and di… cencions:: we do as muche as in vsus lyeth, teare Christ and poule hym in sunder neyther shall we be gyltye of smaller sacrilege, then yf we had done the thynge in dede, Let vsus not therfore bee bolde to come thyther, yf anye hatred or euyll wyll towardes any man, and chiefly a christiā and ioyned to the vnitie of the church… do remayne in vsus. We muste also (for the kepyng and folowyng of the order of the Lorde) brynge wyth vsus an other affection: that is to saye, that we confesse wyth mouth and declare in verye dede howe muche we are bounde to our Sauiour: and that we may gyue thankes vntounto hym: not onelye that wee maye gyue glorye to hys name, but that we maye also instructe one an other, and that our neyghbours maye, through oure example, learne what they ought to do.

But for that there can no man be founde, that hath so profited in fayth and sanctitie of lyfe, but that he lacketh yet verye muche: it were daunger leste verye many godlye consciences shoulde be troubled wyth those wordes that I hauehave spoken, vnlesse I would retourne myttigatynge those preceptes whiche I hauehaveBeleue & dispeare n…t gyuen of fayth and repentaunce.

For that kynde of teachynge is very daungerouse, wherin some men, leauynge the perfyte truste and repentaunce of the mynde, wyl that all men whyche be not indued wyth such thynges, be excluded. For so shoulde all men, be excluded, not one man excepted.

And to proue that thynge to be trew, who can boste that he hath no poynte of diffidence in hym? and that he is depraued wyth no spot of mynde, or wyth no kynde of weakenesse?A necessarie prayer Certes the chyldren of God hauehave suche fayth that it is neadful for thē alwaies to pray vntounto the lorde that he be present and helpe theyr incredulitie. For thys disease is so faste rooted in vsus, that we can by no meanes be healed, before we be delyuered out of the boūdes of this body. Yea the holinesse of our life is such, that we muste neades praye dayly to gette remission of synnes, and grace to amende.

And, although some be more imperfyte then some, yet is there no men but he falleth in many thynges. And therfore, yf that integr…tye of fayth and lyfe be requyred, wherein wanteth no…hynge at all: the supper shoulde not be onelyonly vnprofitable vntounto all men,So the Diuel would hauehave it but also very hurtful, which thinge, no doubt, is most wyde from the mynde & purpose of the Lorde which gaue vntounto his congregacion, nothynge more wholesome then that. When we therfore, shal fele in oure selues a fayth not yet perfyte, and shall not be indued wyth so pure a conscience but that it accuse vsus of many vices: that ought not to let vsus for comynge to the Lordes sacred table: so be that we, voyed of al hypocri…y and simulation, do in y^• weakenesse trust for health in Christ, wyllyng to directe our lyfe after the rule of y^• gospell. But namely I say that there be none Hypocrisy:This hypocriis daughter …o c…re shryfte. bicause very many do disceyue thē selues wyth vayne flat crynges, persuaring them selues that it is sufficient if they condemne theyr vices although… th…y do nourishe the same: or els it sufficeth if they absteine frō them for a tyme and intende to retourne to the same agayne incontinent. But the true repentaunce is firme and constant. And therfore it bryngeth to passe that wee stryue agaynste the euyll that wee oure selues carye wyth vsus, nor for a fewe dayes or monethes but through all the tyme of oure lyfe: wythout any maner intermission. When we fel… that vices do s… displease vsus, and that the vnf…in…d hatred for th…m protedyng from the feare of god, is graffed in vsus, and that we be also led wyth the desyre to lyue well and holylye: wee are apte and mete to receiue the supper of y^• Lord: although there be yet remayning in vsus very many fragmentes of infirmities. Yea vnlesse we were weake,None hath made of medicine but the sicke subiect to diffidence, & vnperfecte lyfe: the sacramente were vnprofitable for vsus, and the institution therof had not ben necessarye. Seynge therfore it is the remedye wherwyth God would succure our weaknes, strēghthen oure faythe, increase our charite and set vsus forwarde in sanctitie of lyfe: we oughte so moche the rather to vse it, how moch more greuously we feele our selues oppressed wyth the magnytude of y^• disease. Moch lesse ought it to be an impedimēt vntounto vsus. For if we do lay for excuse that we be yet weake in fayth, and not of lyfe perfyte ynoughe, to the intente we maye with drawe oure selu…s frome the vse of the supper it were euen lyke as yf a man would abstayne from physyke because he were sycke.

The weaknesse therfore of fayth & the vyces of our lyfe ought to admonishe vsus to come to the supper, as to the chyefe remedye, that they myght bee amended and corrected.

So that we come not, voyde of all faythe and repentance. Wherof the fyrst is hyd in y^e mind and therfore our conscience must beare vsus witnesse before God. The later is declared in action and worke: and therfore it is requisyte y^• it appeare in our lyfe.

As concernynge the tyme of celebratynge the supper, it may not bee apoynted and prescribed vntounto all men. For there is no man but he shall sometyme hauehave suche pryuate impedyment…s, as maye excuse a man thoughe he abstayne. Besydes that wee hauehave no precepte. wherby all men be compelled to vse it so ofte as it maye be offered vn…o them, but yet yf we hauehave respecte vntounto the ende where vntounto the Lorde leadeth vsus:Once in aye…e is to lit…e of conscience. we shall knowe that the vse therof oughte to be muche more common thn it is commonlye amonge many men. For, loke how moch more we be …pressed w^t weakenes so moch the more often ought wee to be exercy sed in it, because it maye and ought to bee profytable vntounto vsus, both for the confirmacyon of our fayth, and also for the settynge for warde of the holynesse of lyfe. Wherfore in all congr…gacyōs wel ordered, ought to be such custō that the supper be celebrate so ofte as maye be and so much as y^• people shalbe able to receyue And euerye priuate persone ought, so much as in hym lyeth, to be ready to receyue it so often as it shall be celebrate in a common assemble: vnlesse he be by verye vrgent causes constrayned to absteyne. For, all be it, that the tyme is not assigned nor the daye expressed by any precepte or cōmaundement: yet ought this thinge to suffice, that wee knowe it to be the Lordes wyl we should vse this Sacramēt of y^• times. Otherwyse we knowe not the profite that comethThese be the suggestiōs of the deuill vntounto vsus therby. The excuses that some men lay, are voyed and vayne. Some say they are not worthye: and by that pretexte they absteyne all the yere. Other do not onelye consyder howe vnworthy they be: But they do also laye for them, that they can not communicate wyth suche as they see come thyther vnprepared. Also, other suppose that the ofte vse of it is superfluous: neyther do they thynke that it ought to be so often iterated and repeted, after that we hauehave once receyued Christe. I aske of those fyrste, whyche laye for them selues theyr owne vnworthynesse: howe theyr conscience can susteyne so greate miserye more then an yere, & dare not call vpō the lorde accordyngly. For they wyl graunt it to be a poynte of rashnesse, to call vponupon god as a father, vnlesse wee be the membres of Christ. Whyche thynge can not be done vnlesse the substaunce and veritie of the supper be fulfylled in vsus.

And yf wee hauehave the veritie it self▪ we are wyth muche better reason, mete to receyue the signe.

Wherby we perteyue, that they whyche woulde exempte them selues from the supper as vnworthye, do robbe them selues of that great commoditie of inuocatyng and prayinge to god. But I woulde not cōpell them whose consciences be troubled and feared by anye religion, to the intente they shoulde intermingle them selues rashlye: But rather I counsayle them to tarye for a season, vntyll the lorde shal voultsafe to delyuer them from that anxietie. In lyke maner yf there be anye other cause I do not deny but it is lawfull to deferre.

I do onelye purpose to declare, that no man ought to continewe longe in thys thynge that he maye absteyne for vnworthynesse.

For so is the congregacion robbed of the communion:Christ is … health. wherin all oure health consisteth.

Let hym rather indeuoure to fyghte agaynste all the impedimentes wyche the deuyl casteth agaynste hym, leste he be excluded frō so greate a good thynge, and consequently robbed of all the benefytes to gyther.

The other mens reasone is more aparaunt: bycause they vse this reasone. That is to say, yf it be not leaful to eate commune bread with them that name them selues brethrens, and dooe, yet neuerthelesse▪ lyue fylthyly and lycen cioussye: moche lesse that breade, whych is consecrated for this intent, that it maye represent and geue vntounto vsus the bodye of the Lorde.

But it is no harde thynge to make answere to these also, that it perteyneth not to eueryevery priuate person, to iudge and decerne, who ought to be admit…ed, and who to bee depelled: but to the whole congregacion, other else the shepe he…de and elders, whose helpe he oughte to vse in the orderyng and gouernyng of the congregacion. For sayncte Paule cōmaundeth vsus not to examyne other, but oure selues

It is our dutie, to admonish them that lyue viciouslye: and if they wyll not here vsus to make relacion to the shepeherde: that he maye finishe the matter by the authoritie of y^• congregaciō. But we maye not so wythdrawe oure selueswe may not do iuel for a good intent. frome the cōpanie and assemble of the wycked that we forsake the communion of the congregacion. Bysydes these thynges, it shall ofte tymes chaunce, that the crimes be not so magnifest, that it maye beleaful to procede to excō municacion. For, although the shepeherde shal in his mynde iudge any man to be vnworthy: yet may he not pronounce him to be such a one or prohibite hym the supper: vnlesse he hauehave cō uicted hym by the iugemente of the congregacion, whyche thynge whan it chaunceth, there remayneth none other remedie, but that we desyre god that he wyll delyuer his church from al offences: in this meane tyme whylse we loke for the daye of indgement, wherin the chaffe shall be seuered from the good grayne. The thyrde, hauehave no kynde at all of the lyklinesse of the truthe. For this spirituall bread is not gyuen vntounto vsus, to the intēt we should be glutted incontinent, but rather, that tastyng the swetnesse therof,A good thyng can not be to often vsed. we shoulde hunger the more after it, and vse it as often as it shoulde be profered vntounto vsus. This is the thing that I hauehave expoū ded before: that Iesus Christ is neuer so communicate vntounto vsus (so longe as we be in thys mortall lyffe) that oure soules maye be saciate with hym, but that he maye be an acustomed nouryshement vntounto them.

To come to the fourth parte. Whan the deuyll perceyued that the lorde lefte to the congregacion, nothyng more profitable than thys sacramēt: he dyd (after his accustomed maner) employe hym selfe (euen incontine…t vponupon the fyrst institucion) to cōtaminate it with diuersSathans olde practiese. errours and supersticions, to y^• intēt he might corrupte and distroy the fruite therof: neither dide he sease to labour hys purpos, vntyll he had put away the institucion of the lorde, and tourned it into a lye and vanite. It pertaineth not to my purpose to assygne in what tyme eueryevery disceyte and erroure had hys begynnyyg. It shall be sufficient for me articularly to note the erroures y^• the deuyl hath inuented, which we muste beware of yf we wyll hauehave the supper of the Lorde vncorrupted. Fyrst therfore whā the lorde gaue the supper vntounto vsus, to the intent it shoulde be distributed among vsus, that it might represēt vntounto vsus the cōmunion which we hauehave in his bodye, and also that we myght be partakers of that sacrifice, whyche he offered vntounto his father, to purge oure sinnes: men hauehave on the contrarie, by theyr owne wyttes commented, that it is a sacrifyce wherby we obtayne of god remission of sinnes. Whyche thynge is detestable sacr…lege, and not to bee suffered by any meanes. For vnlesse we acknoledge, and beleue stedfastlye that the death of the lorde Iesu Christe is the onelyonly sacrifice, wherby he reconciled vsus to god the father, puttynge away al the sinnes wherof we were giltye in hys iudgement: we ouerthrowe and distroye hys force and efficacie. Unlesse we graūt that Christe is the onelyonly pryest by whose inte…cession we are comen agayne into fauour with his fath…r: we robbe hym of hys honoure, and do him great iniurie. Seing therfore, that, that opinion whiche fayneth that the supper of the lorde is a sacrifice wherby we gette & obtayn… remission of synnes, fyghteth agaynste the same, it muste be taken awaye & condemned as diuyllyshe. That it repugneth is most. certaine For how cā these thynges agree? That Christ in dyinge, offered sacrifice to y^• father: wherby once for all he optayned pardon and remission of all oure sinnes: & that we muste sacrifyce agayne daylye, that we may obtayne that thing whyche is to be sowght in hys onelyonly death?

Thys erroure was not at the higheste incontinentEuerye pope put to his por…ion vponupon the begynnyng, but increasynge by lytle and lytle, it was at length brought to this point. It is manifest y^• the fathers of olde time called the supper a sacrifice. But they showe a reason why, because the death of Christ is represented there in. Theyr saying therfore, is to this purpose, that because the supper is the memorie of that onlye sacrifice, wherin we ought vtterlye to content oure selues, therfore is that name attributed. Neyther can I blame the custome of the olde congregacion, because they did in theyr gesture & riete figurate a certaine ymage of a sacrifice, w^t the same cerimonies in maner, that were in vse vnderunder y^• olde law: this one thynge excepted, y^• in steade of a …east, they vsed bread for theyr sacr…fice. Whyche thinge for that it pricketh to nere the Iewyshe marke and is not agreable to the institution of the Lorde, I do not alowe it.

For in the olde testament (the tyme of figures) the lorde instituted such ceremonies, to be obserued, vntyll that sacrifyce were celebrated in the fleshe of his moste deare beloued sonne, whyche was the truth of them all.

Seynge therfore, all thys is finished, there remayneth no more but that we vse the communion therof. It is therfore superfluous, to declare that thynge, wyth figures. Therfore, by the instruction of Christ, we are not commaū ded to offer or sacrifyce:Then is the masse the popes sacrifice. but to take and eate the thinge that is al ready offered and sacrificed. And although the aūcientes, dyd somwhat offende in that obseruation: yet was not the impietie so great as that which dyd afterward crepe in. For the thynge that was proper and peculiar to the death of Christe, was vtterlye transposed to the masse: that it myght satisfye to god for our offences, & that we myght be reconcyled by it. Besydes these thynges, that office whyche was Christes, was attributed vntounto them which called them selues priestes that they myghte sacrifyce vntounto god, and that they myght praye before hym wyth theyr sacrifices to optayne pardone and remission of oure sinnes. I wyl not dissēble in these soluciōs which the enemyes of y^• truth do brynge in this matter. That the masse is no newe sacrifyce,The Diuels solusion. but the applicacyon of that onelye sacrifyce wherof I hauehave spoken. Althoughe they go aboute to couer theyr abhominacion wyth some maner colour: Yet doth it manifestlye apeare to be a mere cauillacion. For it is not onelyonly sayd that the sacrifice of Christe is but one: but also that it oughte not to be iterate, s…ynge that the force and efficacie therof is perpetual. It is not sayd that Christe was ones offered vp to the father, that other shoulde afterwarde v…e the same oblacion: that they myght applye vntounto vsus the force of his intercessyon: but that he is entred into the sanctuarye of heauen, and that he apperethe there to the intente he may make the father mercyfull vntounto vsus, throughe hys intercession. As concernynge the applycacyon of the merites of his death, that we may feele the fruite therof: that is done, not after suche sort as they of the popyshe churche thynke it to be done: but when we receyue the tydynges of the Gospell,The heareing of the gospell applieth Christes merites vntounto vsus. euen such as the ministers whom God hath ordeyned as embasatours, dooe in theyr preachynge proteste: yea such as he hath sealed wyth sacramentes as wyth seales. All, aswel teachers as pastours hauehave alowed this opinion of the commone people wherin they supposed, that mā to deserue mercye and iustifcacion (euen for the workes sake) which woulde heare or bye a masse.

But I saye, that yf we wyll take any profyte of the supper, we muste bring thether nothing of our owne, to the intent to deserue the thing that we loke for: but that we muste onelye receyue wyth fayth, the mercye that is in it offered vntounto vsus.Measure al y^• is spoken of y^• sacrament: by this sentence. And yet doth not that mercye remayne in the sacramēt: but as it commeth frō the crosse of Christ, euen so it sendeth vsus back agayne to the same. Nothyng therfore, is so contrary to the true vnderstanding of the supper, as to make therof a sacrifice. For it wyll not fuffer vsus to acknowledge the deathe of Christe to be the onelyonly sacrifice, whiche shall continewe for euer. These thynges well vnderstande, it shall be euident, that al those masses wherin is no suche communion of the supper as the Lorde instituted, are nought else but verie abominacyon. For the Lorde dyd not ordayne that the prist only should seuerally satisfie him selfe after he had fynished his sacrifice: but his wyl was y^• this sacramēt shoulde be distributed in an open assēble, like vntounto the first supper which he celebrated with his apostles. But after y^• this detestable opinion was inuented, this vnhappie custome proceded out of it as out of an hell mouthe, wherin the people contenting them selues with being present at the action, as though they should therby optayne some great merite, do in the meane time abstaine from the cōmunion: because the prest bosteth that he offereth sacrifice for all and chieflie for them that be present. I let passe the disceytes and illucions wherin▪ is so moche vnseamelynesse, that they are not to be spoken of: as to attribute to eueri little saynt his appropriate masse: and to transferre vntounto …atte and wyll (as we saye in the French prouerbe) the thynge that is spoken of the supper of the lord. Also to make marchaūdise therof. With the other puddell of filthynesses which hauehave spronge of thys name sacrifice. An other errowre foloweth whych the deuyll hath sowen to the intente to corrupte thys hyghe mistcrie that is to saye, in that he commented the trāssubstanciacion of the bread into the bodyeand of the wyne into the bloude of Christ,Herin resteth y^• whole mattier. after the wordes should be pronounsed wyth the intente to consecrate.

Fyrst that cōment hath no foundacion at al in the scripture, neyther hath it any testemonie of the olde congregation: and therfore can it by no meanes agree or stande with the wordes of the lorde. Is not suche an interpretacion to violent and to muche wrasted? To saye, that when Christ shewynge bread, calleth it his bodye, the substance of the bread is cōs…med, and that the bodye of Christe succedeth in the place thereof? But it neadeth not to call the matter into question, seinge that the bryght & splendiferouse veritie is of it selfe able to confute so absurde a vanitie. I let passe infinite testimonyes both of the scripture and of the fathers also, wherin the sacramente is called breade. I saye this onelyonly, that the nature of the Sacramēt requireth: that the material bread remayne for the visible signe of the body For it is a generall rule amonge y^• sacramētes: that the signes whiche we se in them, ought to hauehave some similitude wyth the spirituall thinge that they represent. As we are therfore in baptisme, certifyed that oure soules be inwardlye washed, whē the water, y^• washeth the fylth of the body, is powred vpō vsus to declare y^• same thing: euen so must there neades be in the supper materiall breade, that it may be declared vntounto vsus that the bodye of Christe is oure foode. For what declaracyon were it, yf the qualitie wytnes shoulde represent vntounto vsus that body. We knowe therfore manifestlye, that vnlesse the substance of bread do there remayne, al the representacion, whiche the lorde (wyllynge to accommodate hym selfe to oure infirmitie) gaue vntounto vsus: doth vtterly decaye and peryshe.

For the wordes which the lorde spake soūde no lesse then yf one woulde saye.Let ne what these wordes this is my body, do signifi. In lyke maner as mans body is nouryshed and susteyned wyth bread: so is my fleshe the spiritual foode wherwyth the soules be quyckened. Besydes these thynges. For what purpose doth Paule propone that similitude? as one lofe is made of many graynes, mingled and ioyned to gether one wyth an other: euen so wee (for as muche as we take parte al of one bread) ought to be faste ioyned togyther one with an other. And yf the whytnesse onelye shoulde remayne wythout the substance, were it not a thyng to be laughed at to here a man speake as Paule doth? Wherfore wythout any doubtyng at al I conclude that thys transsubstanciacion is the deuylles interpretation, to depraue y^• truth of the supper.

Many dotynge castes hauehave folowed of this lye: & woulde God they had not ben more then doting castes, & that they had not ben also horrible abhominaciōs. For mē (imagining, I can not tell what maner of placelye presence) hauehave taught y^• bothe the diuinity & the humanitye of Christ are fastned vntounto y^• whitenes, nothinge cōsyderyng what incōueniēses folowed vponupon the same. Although the olde doctours of Sorbone hauehave reasoned very subtllly,Oxforde and Cambridg be not all voyde of thes doctoures. how the body & bloud be ioyned with the signes: yet can it not be denyed, but that in the popyshe church, was receyued both of high and lowe, and is at this day with fyre, sworde, murder, & al kynde of tormentes cruelly defended and holden, this opinion: that Christe is conteyned vnderunder these signes and that we ought to seke hym there.

Whiche opinion yf they wyll maynteyne: no remedy they must also graūt, that the bodye of Christ (as a thinge infinite) is conteyned in no place, other elles that it is in diuers places at once. And in the affirmynge hereof, they come at length to this passe, that it differeth nothing at all frome a fantasticall apparicion. To appoyn…e therfore suche kynde of presence inclosed in a place,Mar…ians here…ie. wherein the bodye of Christe shoulde be included in, or as they saye locallye ioyned to the signe… is not onelye a thynge foly she, but also an execrable errour diminishing the glory of Christ… vtterly destroying al that ought to be bel…ued as cōcerninge his humane nature. For y^• scripture teacheth in eueryevery place that lyke as in earth Christ toke our humanitie, euen so, he pluckynge the same out of thys mortall estate, and yet nothynge chaungynge the na…ure therof, caryed it vp into heauē. And for thys cause oughte we when we speake of the humanitie of Christ, to consider two thinges. The fyrste, that we diminishe nothinge of the veritie of his nature. The other, that we derogate nothynge of his glorious estate. And to do thys thynge in his kynde, we muste lefte vp our myndes into heauen, that we may seke out redeamer there. For yf we wyll caste hym frome vsus vnderunder the corruptible Elementes of thys worlde:Breade and wyne are corruptible. we shall both destroye those thinges whiche the scriptures do wytnes as concerning his humane nature: and also bringe to nought his moste glorious ascension. But bycause many mē hauehave abundantly handled this matter: I had rather let it passe then to wade, further therin. My mynde was to note, by the waye, thys thynge onelyonly. That to thynke that Christ is shutte vp vnderunder the bread and wine, other els to ioyne thē so togither, y^• our mynde cleaue fast there and is not erected into heauē: is a diuelyshe dottage, whyche thynge I shall also toutche in an other place. And when thys peruerse opinion was once receyued, it ingendred many other supersticions. Fyrst that carnall adoracion, which is none other thyng but mere idolatry. For yf a man woulde prostrate him selfe before the breade, and honour Christ there, as yf he were there presente, conteyned therin: were not that the setting vp of an idole in steade of the Sacrament? For we were not cōmaunded to honour, but to eate. We ought not therfore so rashely to attempt that thinge. Forthermore thys was an obseruation in the olde congregacion, to admonishe the people before the supper shoulde be celebrated, that they lyfte vp theyr hertes, to the intent they shoulde vnderstande, that they oughte not to styke in the visible signe,Understande this cōiunction aright. yf they would honour Christ a right. But we shal not long contende as cō cernynge thys article: yf the presence and coniunction of the veritie wyth the signe be well vnderstande: wherof I hauehave all readye spoken and wyl hereafter declare at large. Out of the same fountayne are sprongen the residewe of the supersticiouse ceremonies: as to carye the Sacramēt thorow the stretes once in the yere▪ as it were in a pompe, an other season to set vp a taberancle for it, and to kepe it al the yere longe shutte vp in a pire or case, that the people maye giuegive hede there vntounto as vntounto god, which shynges bycause they are all not onelyonly inuented by mans wytie without the worde of god, but also playne repugnante to the institucion of the supper: they ought of all Christians vtterly to be reiected.

I hauehave declared whēse thys calamity of the papisticall churche, that the people doth all the yeare longe absteyne from the communion of the supper, had hys begynnynge: bycause it is counted as a sacrifice whyche one man muste offer vp in the name of the whole multitude. But although we maye vse it but once euerye yere, yet it is then miserably pulled in sunder, & as it were torne in pieces. For where as the sacrament of the bloude ought to be distributed to the people, as it apeareth by the expresse cō maundement of the Lorde: they decree that the people ought to be cōtented with the one halfe parte.Yea and that is half marde in y^e dressinge. So are the miserable christians, by most wycked gyle robbed of the benefyte that God gaue thē neither is it any smal benefyt to hauehave the cōmunion of the bloude of the lorde to nouryshe vsus wyth all: and it is to muche crueltye to take that thynge violently from them vntounto whom it belongeth of ryght.

Wherin we maye easelye perceyue, wyth what foole hardinesse and frowardnesse the pope hath exercised tyranny agaynst the cōgregacion of God, after tyme that he onelyonly helde the impery, when the lorde had cōmaunded his disciples to eate the breade that was sanctifyed in his body: and then comynge to the cuppe he sayed not onelyonly drynke ye, but he added exprestely, al. Woulde we hauehave a thynge spoken more openly? he byddeth vsus eate the breade vsynge no vniuersall worde therin. But of the cuppe he byddeth vsus all drynke. Whense cometh thys difference: but that he entended ther by to preuent thys malyce and subtyl crafte of the dyuell? Neuerthelesse, the pope is of suche arrogancye and pryde: that he dare be bolde to cōmaunde to the contrarye: loke that ye do not all drynke. And that he maye declare hym selfe to be wyser then God:The pope seeeth y^t Christe▪ sawe not he sayth it is right and agreable to reasone, that the priestes hauehave some prerogatyue more then the people, to the ende that the dignitie of a priest should be honoured. As though the Lorde had not bene of discrecion nor had consyde…ed after what sort the one ought to be knowne from the other. Besydes thys he obiecteth the daungers that myght befal yf the cuppe shoulde be gyuen cō monly vntounto al mē. Some drope forsoth, might chaunce to be shedde as though the Lorde hadnot forsene that thynge.

Doth he not laye negligence to the Lordes charge, that sayth he cōfoūdeth the order that he shoulde obserue, and that he hath caste hys people into thys daunger wythout any maner of reasone? And that they maye declare that there ensue…h no great incōmoditie vponupon thys chaunge, they saye that the whole is cōprehended vnderunder one kynde, bicause the body can not be separated from the bloude. As thoughe the lorde had disc…uered thē, the one frō the other. For yf the one part maye be lefte as superfluous: it had bene folyshe and vayne for both to be distinctly, & seuerally gyuen vntounto vsus. But some of the popes bande, perceyuyng that this so greate abhominacion coulde not otherwyse be defēded then impudentlye, went aboute to couer it by some other meanes. They say,Thē he spake not to oure pristes. that when Christe instituted this Sacramente, he spake vntounto his apostles onelye whō he had as then promoted to the order of priesthode. But what answer wyl they make to Paule, which sayeth, that he hath taught the christen people the thing that he learned of the lorde, that eueryevery one should eate of the bread & drynke of the cuppe? But who hath reueyled vntounto these men that Christe gaue the supper vntounto his apostles as vntounto priestes? The wordes soūde to the cō trarye in that he doth afterwarde cōmaunde, that they folowing his example, shoulde do the same. He prescribeth therfore a rule whiche he woulde shoulde continewe in his churche for euer. And thys rule was in the auncient tyme obserued: vntounto suche time as Antichrist ruling alone, auaunced him selfe, and stretched vp his hornes agaynste God vertitie, to the intent to destroy it vtterly. We se therfore that it is intollerable frowardnes, so to deuide and teare this Sacramēt y^• those partes should be disceuered which god hath ioyned. That I may cō clude the more briefely: I wyll comprehende in one chapter, the thynge that elles myghte hauehave ben deuided. That is to saye, y^• the deuil, hath (without any doctrine of the supper) brought in thys maner of celebratyng,And yet must all …e holie. setting vp in the steade of the doctrine, ceremonies, some fylthy some vnprofitable, some also noysome & daungerouse: whereof hauehave ensued verye manye euylles. In so much y^• the masse which is vsed in y^• popish church in steade of the supper, if I shoulde define it a righte, is none other thinge, then a mere apishe emulation & disguised masking. I cal it an apishe emulacion, bicause that like as apes do play the wātons in imitatyng, rudely & without reason, the workes of men: euē so do they imitate the Lordes holy supper in suche wyse, y^• with theyr prepesterous inuē tions, they corrupte the hole truth therof. And to declare this to be true, is not thys the chiefe thynge hat the Lorde lefte with vsus, that we shoude celebrate this mistery with perfyte and true vnderstandyng?Then is it y^• doctrine that nourisheth. where vponupon it foloweth that the substance therof cōsisteth in doctrine.

And that once taken awaye, there remayneth noughte els but a ceremonye, coulde and without vertue or strength. Not onelyonly scriptures are wytnesses of this thyng, but also the popes owne lawes: wherein there is a sētence alleged, in whiche Augustine asketh what other thynge baptisme shoulde bee wythout the worde, then a corruptible Element. Wy…h the worde, as he addeth incontinent, not in that it is pronunced, but bicause it is vnderstande &c. Wherby he declareth that the sacramentes do take theyr force and energy of the word of the lorde: when it is preached after suche sorte as it maye be vnderstanded. The residewe, is not worthy the name of a sacramente. But in the masse, it is so farre vnlyke that any doctrine should be intelligibly harde, that cōtrary wyse al the whole mistery is thought to be prophaned vnlesse all thinges be sayd and done priuily & couertly to the intent nothing may be perceyued or vnderstande. So, that theyr cōsecration differeth nothinge frō a kynde of inchaūtmēt. For after the maner of an inchaūter, they thynke that wyth whysperynges & diuers gestures, they brynge Christe out of heauen into theyr handes: Whereby we perceyue, that the masse so ordeined,The true definicion of the masse. is rather a manifest and opē prophanacion of the supper, then the obseruation therof: and that the peculier and chief substance of the supper wanteth: which consisteth in thys thynge, that the mistery be truely opened to the people, and the promesses rehersed wyth open voyce: not that the priest: wyth out other reason or vnderstandyng, shoulde stylly whysper out an hummyng that can not be vnderstande. I call it a play or maskyng, bycause there is nought els sene but the folyshnes and gestures of players, which thinges woulde become a playe muche better then the sacred supper of the lorde. No doubt, the sacrifices of the olde testament were celebrated with diuers ornamentes & ceremonies. But bicause they had a good significacion, and were all ordeyned to instructe and exersice the people in godlynesse: they were far vnlike vntounto these, which serue for none other purpose at all, but that wythout any maner profite they maye occupye and holde suspense, the mynd of the people. To cō clude, because these masse mōgers (yf I maye so call them) do allege thys example of the olde testamēt, for the defence of their ceremonies, it shal be good to note what difference is betwen that whyche they do, and that whych was by god commaunded to the Iewysshe people.

For yf I laye for me this one thyng, what so euer was then doone was founded on the commaundement of God: and that theyr foolyshe tryfles hane none other foundacion than on mans inuencion: were not there a great difference? But I hauehave thynges to disproue thē wyth, that be moch greater then these be. For it was not for naught that the lord prescribed such a forme for a tyme, to the intent that at y^• length it should hauehave an ende and be abrogate No doubt because he had not as then declared hys doctrine so playnly, he woulde so moche y^• rather y^• his people shold be exercised in figuers: that the thynge whych wanted in that testament, myght be repared in the other. But sense that Christ apeared in the fleshe: loke by howe moche more the doctrine is lyghtened, so moch more are the figures diminished. Seyng therfore we hauehave the bodye▪ we must leaue the shadowes. For yf we wyll replenisshe the abolyshed cerimonies: we shal patche agayne that vaile▪ that Christ brake in sonder by his death and so shall we obscure and darken the lyght of the Gospel. Thus do we perceyue, that this multitude of cerimones, whych is sene in the masse, is the forme of the Iewyshe law, vtterly contrarie to the christiā relygyon. I am not of that mind that I would disproue al cerimonies, whyche do serue to honestie and a publyke order, wherby the more reuerence is geuen to the sacrament: so that they do well agree to the purpose,Honest ceremonies ar not to be despised and be sober. But that immensurable laborynthe, maye by no meanes be sufferred: for as moche as it hath ingendred infite supersticiōs, & made the people as it were am… sed wyth out any maner edificacion. By thys it may easily be perceyued wherin those, vntounto whom god hath opened the vnderstandyng of his truthe, oughte to deffer from the papistes▪ First, thei shal be out of doubt y^• it is abominable sacreledge, to compt y^• masse as a sacrifice, wherby remission of synnes may be obtayned other to repu…e y^• priest for a mediatoure, whiche may applie the merites of Christes passion vntounto thē y^• bye masses, or be presēt at y^• doyng of them, or do wyth deuocion worshippe them. But they shal rather beleue that the death and passion of Christe,Thē ar masse pense loste. is the only sacryfice wherby the ire of god is pacified, and perpetuall iustice gotē vntounto vsus. And by sydes these thynges that the lorde Iesus is entered into the celestial sāctuarie: that he may there show him selfe for vsus, and by the vertue of his sacrifice, praye for vsus. But yet they shal esealy graūt, that the fruite of his death is communicate vntounto vsus in the supper, not bi the merite of the worke, but for the promesses that are made vntounto vsus therin, so that we imbrace them wyth fa…th. Forthermore they ought in no case to graunte that the bread is transsubstanciated (as they say) into the bodye of Chryst, or the wyne into bloud: but they must in that thyng constantly beleue, that the visible sygnes do retayne his substaunce, that hey may represent vntounto vsus, that spiritual veritie wherof I hauehave spoken before. Thyrdlye▪ although they ought to be surely persuaded w^t themselues that the lorde doth in veri dede geue the same thyng that he doth represent: and so that wee do vnfaynedlye receyue the bodye and bloude of Christe:Lerne to seke Christe. yet shal they not seke if as included vnderunder y^• breade, or fastned (as they say) locally vntounto the visible sygne: moche lesse oughte they to hono…re the sacrament, but to stretch vp the minde into heauē, that they may there receyue and honour Christe.

Hense shal it come to passe that they shall dispice and condemne for ydolatrye, all those supersticiouse cerimonies, as well of the carying forth of the sacramēt in pōpe & ꝓcessiōs, as of the buyldyng vp of those tabernacles wherin it is set forth to be honoured. For the promesses of the lorde stretch no farther, then to y^• vse whych he cōmitted vntounto vsus. Forthermore they shal iudge the instituciō of the lorde to beviolated and broken, in that the people is robbed of the one parte of the sacrament: and that it is necessarie, that bothe partes be wholy dystributed, yf it shoulde be obserued aryght, In fyne, they shal suppose, that it is not onelyonly superfluouse but also dayngerouse, and that it becometh not the chrystian religyon, to vse so many cerimonies, takē of the Iewes, more thā the symplicitie wherin the apostles instructed vsus. They shal also iudge that it is euen of an vngodly frowardnesse, so to celebrate the supper with gestures▪ and maskers mouinges, that no doctrine at al may there be herde, but is rather buryed, as though it were a certeyne kind of magycall arte. To conclude at the laste, wee must now come to the last of the chiefe partes. That is to saye,Yet by thys was y^• trueth tried out. to that contencion whyche in oure tyme is steared in this matter, whiche for as much as no doubt it was of the deuils stearyng vponupon to let, or rather to breake the course of the Gospell, I woulde wyshe it to be forgoten for euer: much lesse can I be delyted in the rehersynge of the same.

But bycause I do perceyue very many godly myndes: which know not whyther to turne them selues: I wyll briefely say the thyng that I shall thynke necessarye to declare howe they maye delyuer them selues.

Fyrste I desyre and beseche al faythfull persones euen for the names sake of the lyuynge God, that they be not greatly offended, bicause thys controuersy is moued amonge them that were the chiefe capiteynes, in restorynge and brynging in agayne of the doctrine of the gospel. For it is no new thinge for the lorde to suffer his seruaūtes to be ignorant in some thinges: and suffer them to contende amonge them selues: not that he woulde suffer them to erre continuallye, but for a tyme:The apostles varyed in some thinges to the intente he myght make them more humble. And no doubt yf all thynges had chaunced prosperoussye to thys daye, and had flowed accordynge to oure wyll, perchaunce men woulde hauehave forgotten them selues: other els the mercy of god shoulde not hauehave ben so muche knowen as it ought to be. And therfore the lordes wyll was to take awaye from men aloccasyon of gloriynge: that glory myght be gyuen vntounto hym onelyonly.

Forthermore, yf we consyder wyth howe greate darkenesse the worlde was beset, when they whiche moued this controuersy, beganne to leade vsus backe againe to the light of the veritie: in dede we wyll merueyle nothynge at all though they knewe no… all thynges euen from the begynnynge. It is rather a notable miracle of god, that they, in so litle space of time, were so illumined, that they them selues myghte escape & leade other out of that synke of errours wherin we had ben so longe tyme drowned.

But there is no better waye, then to reherse the matter it selfe euen as it was done. For therby it shal apeare, that there is not so much matter of offence in thys behalfe, as is cōmonlye supposed to be.

When Luther beganne to teache, he handeled the matter of the supper so, that as concernynge the corporall presence of Christe, he seamed to leaue it suche, as all men dyd then conceyue. For condemnynge transsubstanciaon, he sayed that the breade was the bodye of Christe, bycause it was ioyned togyther wyth hym. Besydes thys, he added certeyne harde and grosse similitudes. But that he dyd by cō pulsion, bycause he coulde not otherwyse declare his mynde. For it is an harde thynge to expounde so harde a matter: and not to vse some thynges, not all of the fittest for the purpose. After this dyd zuinglius, and Ecolampadius begynne to growe. Whyche when they consydered the gyle and disceyt that the deuyll bad brought in, inestablishing that carnall presence: whyche had ben taught and beleued. v…. hundreth yeres before: they supposed it wyckednesse to dissemble a matter of so greate importaunce. And chiefely bycause there was annxed vntounto thys erro…te,To honoure a creature as God is idolatry. an e…ecrable ydolatrye, that Christe shoulde be worshypped as included vnderunder a piece of breade. But bycause it was verye harde, to pull backe thys opinion, whiche had ben longe & deaplie roted in the hertes of men, they applyed all the force of there wytte, to impugne the same, teachynge that it was a most grose and absurde …rroure not to acknowledge those thinges whiche be throughout the whole scripture, testified of the ascencion of Chryste. That he, in the nature of man, is receiued in to heauē, and that he shal tari… there vntyll he descende to iudge the world. But whylse they were very moche bente vntounto this purpose: they omited to declare what presence of Chryste in the supper we ought to beleue, & what communiō of his body and bloud is ther receiued. In so moch y^• Luther suposed thē willing to leaue nought else but y^• bare signes voyde of y^• spiritual substāce. And therfor he began to resyst opēly: in so moch y^• he declared thē worthy to be cōpted for heretikes. And after the cōtēciō wared ones hotte, in ꝓgresse of tyme it was so increased & inflamed, y^• it was to fiersely stered to & fro, about a: …v. yers to gether, duringe whiche tyme, neyther partie would, w^t indifferēt and quyete mynde here other. For althoughe they did once conferre betwene thē selues: yet was there so great ali…nacion of myndes, y^• they departed the purpose not brought to passe. For when they shoulde hauehave come to some cōcorde, they recoyled more and more: myndyng nought els but to defende theyr opinion and to confute the contrary, we perceyue therfore in what thing Luther erred and also wherin zinglius and Ecolampadius dyd erre: It was Luthers duetie: at the beginnyng to admonish that it was not his purpose to stablyshe suche a locall presence as the papistes do dreame. Also, to proteste y^• he soughte not in thys place,Learne here the truth. to hauehave the Sacrament honoured as God. Thyrdlye to absteyne from those rude similitudes, most hard to be vnderstanded: or els to vse them moderatlye, and to interprete them so, that they myghte not hauehave ben cause of any offence. To conclude, sence that contention was moued, he passed al measure both in declarynge his opinion, and also in rebukynge other, wyth to much… rigoure of wordes. For whē he should hauehave expoūded his mynde so, that it myght hauehave ben receyued: accordynge to his accustomed vehemency, to the intent to impugne them that helde the contrarye, he vsed incredible fourmes of speakynge: whiche coulde not well be suffered of them whose mindes were but sklenderly appoynted to gyue credence to him. The other also, offended in that they did sticke so styefely in the impugnynge of that supersticiouse and fantasticall opinion of the papistes, as concernyng the placely presence and the adoratiō that folowed thereof, employinge their diligence to the rooting out of vices, rather thē to the establishing of y^• thing which was profitable to be knowē.

For notwythstanding that they denyed not the veritie: yet dyd not they teache it openly as was beseamyng. This do I vnderstande, that whylse they gaue them selues studiouslye and diligentlye, to affirme that the bread and wy…e were called the body & bloud of Christ bicause they be y^e signes therof: they thought not that they ought in the meane time to do this thinge also, to adde to that they are the signes after such sorte that the veritie is neuerthelesse ioyned vntounto thē.This veritie is the …remercie promised therin. Neyther dyd they declare y^• they wente not about to deface the true cōmunion, which the lorde gyueth vsus in his body & bloud.

Of truth neyther of them was vnworthy blame, for as muche as they dyd not susteyne to here one an other, that all affection layed aparte, they myght folowe the veritie, on which syde so euer it shoulde appeare. But yet ought not we therefore, to lette passe oure duetie towardes them, least we forget the mercyes and benefytes whiche God gaue vntounto them, and distributed vntounto vsus by their hādes For onlesse we be vnthankefull, and vnmyndeful of those thynges which we owe vntounto them: absteyning from all reproche and euyll report, we shall easyly forgeue these and moche greater thynges. To conclude, seyng that we knowe they were both of Godly conuersacion and excellent doctrine, and that they also whiche at this daye be on lyue, be no lesse: we oughte neyther to speake nor iudge of them, otherwyse thē with greate modestie and reuerence.

And chieflye because it hath pleased oure lorde God so, that after he had by this meanes instructed them to humilitie, he made an ende of thys vnlucky contencion, or at the leste qualifyed it for the tyme, so that in the meane seasō it myght be fynished. This hauehave I spoken because ther is as yet no order published, wherin that concorde is appoynted: whiche thynge were verye nessarie. But thys thynge shall be when God wyll that all they whyche shoulde set an order in these thynges,Hys wyll bee doene. do agre in one. In the meane tyme thys ought to suffice you that there be a brotherlye frenshyppe and con…unction betwene the congregacion: as belongeth to the Christian communion. Wyth one voyce therfore we wyl confesse, that when we do accordynge to the institution of the Lorde receyu… the Sacrament with fayth, we are vndoubtedlye made partakers of the substaunce of the body and bloude of Christe Howe thys thynge shoulde be done, some men can better define and more playnly expounde, then other. But thys thynge is chiefely to be remembred, that we exclude all carnall imagination, & that the mynde ought to be erected into heauē, and that we thynke not our Lorde Iesu Christe to be so vyle that he may be conteyned in corruptible elementes. Agayne, leste the force of thys most sacred mistery, shoulde be diminished, we must thynke that it is wrought by the secrete and wonderful power of God: and that his spirite is the bonde of thys partaking: whiche is for that cause called spirituall.

Finis.