Catechism for Children, Sermon 3
¶A sermon of the Communiō or the Lordes supper.
OUr Lorde Iesus Christ good children, in the .xv. chapter of Iohn speketh these wordes.
I am the true vyne / and my father is the husbande man. Euerye braunche that beareth not fruyte in me / he wyll take awaye. And euerye braunche that beareth fruyt / he wyll prune / that it maye bring forth more fruit. Now are ye cleane / thorowe the wourdes whych I hauehave spoken to you. Dwell in me / and I wyll dwel in you. As the braunche can not beare fruit of it selfe / excepte it growe in the vyne / no more can ye / excepte ye abid in me. I am the vine / ye are the braunches. He that abideth in me / & I in hym / bryngeth forthe muche fruite. For wythout me ye can do nothīg.
By these wordes our Lord Iesus Christe doeth teache vsus veraye plainlye, how we be iustified & saued before god. For as ye braunch of a vyne, brīgeth forth no fruyt, except it abyde in the vyne, so we can not be rightuous, excepte we abyd in Christ. And as ye braūche of a vine, doeth not flouriche, nor kepe lōg his sappe, but withereth away, & is cast into the fier, when it is cut from the vyne, euen so be we damned, and can not be saued, whē we forsake our master Christ
Nowe ye hauehave heard good children, howe by baptisme we are so plāted in Christ, yt by him we hauehave forgyuenes of our sinnes, and are grafted in hym, as the braunche is in the vyne. And as the braunches hauehave sappe and lyfe of the vyne, that they maye bryng forth fruyte, so we also (which beleue in Christe, and are baptised) hauehave receyued of hym the holy goste, that we maye be iustified. And yf it chaunce vsus to fall from Christe, thorowe synne or vnbelefe, or to be put out of the Christen congregation, for our open and manifest synnes, yet ye hauehave hearde, howe we are receyued agayne, in to the bosome of the churche, and ioyned to Christes bodye, by the authoritie of the Kaies and absolution. But yf we wil be iustified and saued, it is not ynoughe to be planted in Christ, but we must also abide and continue in hym. Wherfore nowe foloweth that doctrine, which teacheth vsus, how we ought to ordre our selues, that we maye styll abyde and growe in Christe, after that we are grafted in hym. And this doctrine is conteyned in the institution and receauynge of the supper of oure Lorde Iesus Christ. For as by baptisme we are borne agayne, and as by the authoritie of the Kaies and penance, we are lifted vp agayne, when we are fallen in to synne after baptisme, so by the commuinion of the holy supper of the Lorde, we are preserued and strengthened, that we maye be able stedfastly to stād & fyght, against the violent inuasiōs of sin & the power of ye deuel. Wherefore good children, forasmuche as ye be alredye planted in Christ by baptisme, learne also I praye you, howe ye maye contynually abyde and growe in Christ the whiche thing is taught you, in the vse of the Lordes supper. Ye shall therefore dilygentlye learne the wordes, by the whiche oure Lorde Iesus Christ did institute and ordeyne his supper, that ye maye repet them word for worde, and so prynt thē in your memoryes, that you may beare them away with you home to youre fathers houses, and there oftentymes reherse them. And these be the wordes of oure sauioure Christe.
Our Lorde Iesus Christ the same nyghte that he was betrayed / Mat. 26. c Mar. 14. c Luc. xxii. b Iohn. vi. and xiii, i. Cor. xi. ctoke bread / & gyuyng thākes / brake it / & gaue it to hys disciples / & saide. Take / eate / this is my bodye / whiche is gyuen for you. Do this in remembraunce of me. Lykewyse he toke the cuppe also / after he had supped / & giuyng thankes / gaue it to them / and sayd. Drynke of this al ye. This is my bloude of the new testamente / whiche is shed for you & for many / for the forgyuenes of synnes. Do this as often as ye drynke / in remembraunce of me.
Nowe ye shall dilygentlye laboure, not onelyonly to say without boke these wordes of our sauiour Christe, but also to vnderstande, what oure Lorde Iesus Christe mente by the same, that ye maye make answer, when ye be asked any question herein, and that also in tyme to come, ye may be able to teache your children, as ye youre selfes are now instructed. For what greater dishonestye can ther be, eyther in the sighte of God or man, then to professe youre selues to be Christian people, and to receaue the sacramētes & yet not to know, what Christes sacramētes be, & wherfore they wer ordeyned? For saint Paul sayth, yt he whiche eateth and drynketh the supper of the Lorde vnworthely, doth eate and drynke his awne damnation.
Nowe therfore good children, that ye may truely vnderstāde the wordes of the lordes holy supper, and that ye receyue not this sacramente to youre owne damnation, learne here dylygentlye, that the true vnderstandyng and vse of ye Lordes supper, standeth in two thynges. The fyrste is, to do that whiche our lord himself hath commaunded.
The seconde is, to beleue yt which he hath promysed. Of these two I wil speake in order, wherto I pray you gyue good eare.
First our sauiour Christ taketh breade in his hand, he giueth thā kes, he breaketh it and gyueth it to his dysciples, and sayeth. Take, eate. Lykewyse he taketh the cup, and sayeth. Take, drynke. Wherfore we ought to obey those wordes & to do that, which our Lord commaundeth vsus. For although Christ prescribeth no certen tyme, when we ought to come together to his supper, althoughe also he appoynte no certen noumber of dayes, howe often in the yeare we ought to receaue this supper, yet this is his holy & godly wyl, that at some tyme we shoulde receaue this sacrament. And this to do, is for oure great commoditie & profite, for elles our Lorde wolde not hauehave commaunded vsus so to do, who knoweth better thē we, what helpe and comforte we hauehave nede of. Wherfore if we wil be christes trew disciples, then we must do as he himselfe commaundeth his discyples to do. Let vsus therefore go to this godly supper, let vsus eate & drinke therof, & let vsus not absteine frō the same, wtout a great cause. Secondarily Christ saieth of the breade, this is my bodye, and of ye cuppe he sayeth, this is my bloud. Wherefore we ought to beleue, yt in the sacrament we receyue trewly the bodye and bloud of Christ. For God is almyghtye (as ye hearde in the Crede). He is able therefore, to do all thynges what he wil. And as saint Paul writeth he calleth those thinges whiche be not, as yf they were. Wherefore when Christe taketh breade, and saieth. Take, eate, this is my body we ought not to doute but we eat his veray bodye. And when he taketh the cuppe, and sayeth. Take, drynke, this is my blod, we ought to thynke assuredly, yt we drynke his veray blode. And this we must beleue, yf we wil be counted Christē mē. And wher as in this perellous tyme, certayne deceitful persons be founde in manye places, who of very frowardnes, wil not graunt, that there is the body and bloude of Christe, but denye the same, for none other cause, but that they cannot cōpasse by mans blynde reason, howe this thinge shoulde be broughte to passe, ye good children, shall with all dilygence beware of suche persons, that ye suffer not your selues, to be deceaued by them. For suche men surely are not trew Christyans, nether as yet hauehave thei lerned the first article of ye Crede, whych teacheth, that God is almightye, whiche ye good children hauehave alredy perfectely lerned. Wherfore eschewe such erroneous opinions, and beleue the wordes of our lord Iesus, that you eate and drynke his veray body & blode although mans reason can not comprehend how and after what maner ye same is ther present. For the wysedome of reason, must be subdued to the obedience of Christ, as the apostle Paule teacheth.
Thirdly he sayeth, that his body was gyuē to death for vsus, & that his blod was shed for vsus. Wherfore we muste beleue and confesse this thing, that all we are conceaued and borne in syn, as we hauehave learned in the ten commaundemē tes, and chiefely in the two last. We are therefore by nature the childrē of gods wrath, & shoulde be damned for euer yf Christ had not redemed vsus by his holy passiō For he was made mā for vsus, and dyd all thinges for vsus, whiche we were bound to do, and coulde not do, that is to saye, he fulfylled the lawe for vsus, and toke vponupon hym all that crosse whiche we moste rightuously had deserued, for our iniquities and offenses, and he shed his bloude for vsus, that oure synnes might be forgyuen vsus. All these thinges we oughte stedfastly to beleue. Wherfore they be in a great errore, whiche wyll make satisfaction for their synnes, with fastyng, prayer, almes dedes, and suche lyke good workes. For althoughe we are boūde to do these good workes, yet they be not a sufficient price, raunsome or satisfaction for oure synnes, but onelyonly the death and bloude of our sauyoure Christ, was a sufficient and worthy sacrifice, to take away our synnes, and to obteyne for vsus forgyuenes of oure offenses, as it is written in the seconde chapter of saincte Iohn his firste epystle. Christ is that sacryfice that pacyfyeth Gods dyspleasure, & obteyneth pardon for oure synnes, and not for our synnes onelyonly, but also for the synnes of all the worlde.
Fourthly Christ sayeth, do this in the remembraunce of me. Here also it is oure dutye to obey the worde of Christ, and to do yt thing, which he hath cōmaūded vsus to do. Wherefore (good children) doubt not, but ther is the bodye & bloud of our Lorde, which we receaue in the lordes supper. For he hath sayed so, and by the power of his worde hath caused it so to be. Wherefore seyng Christ saieth, do this as often as ye do it, in remē braunce of me, it is euident herby, that Christe causeth, euen at thys tyme, his bodye and bloude to be in the sacrament, after that maner and fashion, as it was at that tyme, when he made his maundye with his disciples. For elles we coulde not do that thyng, whiche his disciples dyd. But Christ hath commaunded vsus, to do the selfe same thing that his disciples dyd, and to do it in the remembraunce of him, that is to saye, to receaue his bodye and bloude, euen so as he himselfe did gyue it to his dysciples. And let not the foulyshe talke of vnbeleuers moue you, who are wont to aske this question. Howe can the pryest or minister make the bodie and bloude of Christ? To the whiche I answer, that the minister doth not this of himself. But Christ himselfe doth gyue vntounto vsus his fleshe & blode, as his wordes dothe euydētly declare. Nether let their argumētes or reasons perswade you, whiche say, yt the sacramēt ought not to be receaued vnderunder both kyndes, but vndre one kynde only. For Christ gaue to his disciples both kindes and hath bydde vsus, that we also shoulde do the same. And when he gaue the cuppe to his dysciples, he added therto this commaundemēt, in these expresse & plaine wordes, saying. Drinke ye al of this. Now we ought to obey god, more then men. We ought therefore to receaue the sacrament vnderunder both kyndes, as Christe commaunded vsus. And regarde not the gageling of theim that speake againste the vse of the sacramētes vnderunder both kyndes, sayinge. It maketh no great matier, whether ye receaue it vndre both kyndes, or one alone, & yt it perteineth not to saluation, to receiue it vnderunder both kindes. But what shal I dispute long in this matier. Take this for a cō clusion, that it is only laudable & good, to do that thinge, whiche Christ hathe commaunded, and not to swarue from the same.
So we ought to receaue this blessed sacrament, in the remembraunce of Christ, as saint Paule saieth,i Cor. xi.i. that is to saye, we ought to preache his death, vntil he come againe. For he wil suerely come againe, and iudge bothe the quicke and ye deade, as ye hauehave lerned in your Crede. In the meane season, we ought to remembre and preach his death, that he hath redemed vsus, with his death and sheding of his most precious bloude, & purchased for vsus forgyuenes of oure synnes. And this we ought euer to hauehave in oure remembraunce, that in no wyse we forget this his exceding great benefyte, and that we seke not for remyssion of synnes, by any other wayes or meanes, then by fayth in Christe.
Nowe when we preache the death of the Lord, and shewe that he hathe redemed vsus thereby, we ought also to call this to our remembraunce, that he dyed not for vsus onelyonly, but for all men that beleue in him. And forasmuche as Christe loued al men so entierely, that he dyed for theym, we ought for Christes sake to louelove our neyghbours, for whom Christe hathe dyed. For Christ sayeth.Ioh. xiii. …
All men shall knowe by thys token, that ye be my disciples,i. Ioh. ii … and .iii. b if one of you louelove another. And this is it, that saincte Paule sayeth. All we that be pertakers of one breade,i Corin. x. are one bodye and one breade.
As often therefore good children, as you shal come to the Lordes table (whiche ye shall vse to do, when ye shall come to further yeares of discretion) you shal seke the comforte of your consciences, and do as sainct Paule saieth in these wordes. Let a man examine himselfe, and so let him eat of the breade and drynke of the cuppe. For he that eateth or drinketh vnworthely, eateth and drinketh his awne damnation, because he maketh no dyfference of the Lordes bodye. And when ye shal hauehave examined your selues, ye shal fynde that ye are synners, and that ye hauehave nede, that Christ should giuegive his bodye for you, and shede hys bloude for you. And this to do, is truly to examine and trye youre selues. For sainct Paule saieth. Yf we wold iudge our selues, we should not be iudged of the Lord. But when we are iudged of the Lorde, we are chasticed, that we should not be dampned, with the worlde. For him that doth not acknowlege his faute, God doeth iudge and chastice with dyuerse afflictions, that at the length he maye cause him therby to confesse his fautes, and repent him, that his synnes may be forgyuen him. Ye shal also examine yourselues, whether ye be able to do, yt Christ commaundeth, and to beleue, that Christ saith. Furthermore ye shal make an inquirie in your conscyences, whether you be gladde in youre harte, to forgyue youre neyghboure his offences against you and to louelove him hartely and vnfaynedly for Christes sake. For when ye do thus, then ye worthely receaue the body and bloud of Christ. And he that so receaueth it, receaueth euerlastyng lyfe. For he doth not only, with his bodyly mouthe receaue the bodye and bloude of Christ, but he doth also beleue the wordes of Christ, wherby he is assured, that Christes bodye was gyuen to death for vsus, & that his bloude was shed for vsus. And he yt this beleueth, eateth and drynketh the bodye and bloude of Christ spiritually. Of this Christ speaketh, when he sayeth. He that eateth my fleshe and drynketh my bloud,Iohn. vi. abydeth in me and I in him. And when we be planted in Christ, then we maye come to this holy supper as often as we wyll, that by this gostlye fode, we may dayly more and more waxe stronger in our faith, that Christe was gyuen to be the raunsome for our synnes, and that he dwelleth in vsus, and we in him. For seyng that we are planted in Christ by baptisme, and are bound to grow and increase in him, and to be made lyke vntounto him, it is not conueniēt, that we shoulde onelyonly hauehave a waueryng opinion, that we dwell in Christe, and growe in faith & charitie, but we muste hauehave a sure worde and worke of God, to the whiche we maye leane in all temptations, & therby be assured, that we do spiritually growe and increase in Christe. And this worde and worke of God, is set before our eyes in the Lordes supper.
For seyng oure sauioure Christ doth gyue vsus his bodye to be oure meate, and his bloude, to be our drynke, and thereby doth declare, that he wil effectually dwel in vsus, strengthen and preserue vsus to euerlastyng lyfe, we may stedfastly beleue, that Christ doth worke in vsus, and that he wil giuegive vsus gostly strength and stedfastnes, that we lyke grene braunches maye continew in the vyne, and so be full of sappe and bryng forth good fruit.
And this is the meanynge and playne vnderstandynge, of the wordes of the Lordes supper. Wherefore learne them dilygently I pray you, yt when ye be asked, what is ye Cōmuniō or the lordes supper? ye maye answer. It is the trew body and true bloude of our Lorde Iesus Christe, whiche was ordeyned by Christ him selfe, to be eaten and dronken of vsus Christen people, vnderunder the forme of breade and wine. Furthermore yf any mā wil aske ye, wher is this writen? ye shall answer. These be the wordes which the holy Euangelistes Mathewe, Marke, Luke, and the Apostle Paule do writ. Our Lorde Iesus Christ the same nyght that he was betrayed, toke breade, and gyuyng thankes brake it, & gaue it to his disciples, and said. Take, eate. This is my bodye, whiche is giuen for you. Do this in remembraunce of me. Lykewyse he toke the cup, after he had supped, and giuynge thankes gaue it to them, and sayed. Drynke of this all ye. This is my bloude of the new testament, which is shed for you and for manye, for the forgyuenes of synnes. Do this as often as ye drincke, in remembraunce of me. Furthermore yf any man aske ye, what auayleth it, thus to eate and drynke? ye shall answer. These wordes do declare what profit we receaue thereby, my bodye whych is giuen for you, my bloud which is shed for you, for the forgiuenes of synnes. By the whiche wordes Christe declareth, that by this sacramente and wordes of promyse, are gyuen to vsus, remission of synnes, lyfe and saluation. For where as forgyuenes of synne is ther is also lyfe and saluation. Againe yf a man wyl go further with you, & aske you. How can bodily eatyng and drynkynge hauehave so greate strength and operation? ye shall answer. To eate and to drynke, doth not worke so great thynges, but this worde & promyse of God, my bodye whiche was gyuen for you, my bloude whiche was shede for you, for ye remyssion of sinnes. This worde of God is added to the outwarde sygnes, as the chief thing in this sacramente. He that beleueth these wordes, he hathe that thinge, whiche the wordes do promyse, that is to saye, forgyuenes of his synnes.
Besyde this, yf a man aske of you, who be they, that do worthely receaue this sacrament? ye shal answere. That fastyng, abstinence and suche other lyke, do perteyne and are profitable for an outward discypline or chasticement of ye body. But he receaueth the sacramēt worthely, that hath faith to beleue these wordes. My bodye whiche was gyuen for you, my bloude whiche was shed for you, for the remission of synnes. But he that beleueth not these wordes, or doubteth of thē, he receaueth the lordes supper vnworthely. For this worde, giuen for you, doth require a faithful and beleuyng harte.
So good children, ye hauehave the trew vnderstanding of ye wordes of Christe, and the trew vse of the holy supper of the Lorde. Learne al these lessons dilygently (I pray you) that ye also in tyme to come, maye worthely receaue this sacrament, and from daye to daye sticke and cleaue more stedfastlye to the wordes of our Lord Iesus Christ, and so cōtinuyng in Christe, maye bryng forthe good fruyt. And yf you do so, then youre heauenly father wil purge and prune you (as the husbande man dothe the braū ches of his vyne) that ye may daily floryshe more and more, & bring forth fruit more plenteouslye, that God may be glorified by you, and your fruyt maye abyde contynually. And so at the length, ye shall receaue lyfe and euerlastynge saluation and glorie, with oure sauiour Iesus Christ, the which God graunt vsus all. Amen.
FINIS.
¶The contentes of this boke.
The preface.
THe first cōmaūdement. fo. ix.
The .ii. cōmaūdement. fo. xx.
The .iii. commaūdement. fo. xxxi.
The .iiii. cōmaundement. fo. xxxix
The .v. cōmaundement. fo. liiii.
The .vi. cōmaundement. fo. lxiiii.
The .vii. cōmaundemēt. fo. lxxiii.
The .viii. cōmaūdemēt. fo. lxxxiii.
The .ix. commaundement. fo. xcii.
The .x. commaundement. fo. xcix.
End of the text · Archishop Thomas Cranmer, Catechism for Children (1548)