Paule must beleue y â— god is that he is a rewarder to theÌ„ that seke hym Withoute thys faythe no manne commeth worthelye to recepue the body of our LORDE as Chrisostom saythe Let vs all that are sycke go vnto Christ with great fayth For yf all they which dyd but towch y e heÌ„me of his garmeÌ„t receyued theyr perfecte healthe howe muche more shall we be corroborated and made strong yf we haue hym whole w tin vs Therfore wheÌ„ ye syt downe to receyue the blessed body of Christe call streyght wayes to your remembraunce the death of Christ. RemeÌ„ber that his bodye was brokon for you vpon the Altare of the Crosse. Remâ—…mber that he offred hymselfe a swete smelling Sacrifice to God the father for the abolysshement of all your synnes RemeÌ„ber that his bloud was shed for the remission of your synnes RemeÌ„ber that by the effusion sheddynge of hys mooste precious bloud all your offeÌ„ses are cleane wasshed awaye you pourged from all iniquite In consideracion wherof ye nowe receyue y â— ve ry body of christ bycause ye shoulde nothynge doubte of the remission of your synnes of the fauoure of GOD toward you as Christ hym selfe witnesseth He that eateth my flesh dryncketh my bloude hathe eternal lyfe I shall rayse hym vp in the last day For my flesh is very meate my bloud is very dryncke He that eteth my flesh dryncketh my bloud dwelleth in me I in hiÌ„ But do not only call to remeÌ„braÌ„ce these aforsayd thynges but beleue faythfully also be perswaded vndoubtedly that they be true shall chauÌ„se to you according vnto your fayth So shal it come to passe that w t the receyuiÌ„g of Christes body ye shall also receyue all the benefytes gyftes and graces of Christe yf ye beleue so that not only Christ is be come altogyther yours but also al y â— euer he hath besydes is yours as S. Paule say the he that hath not spared his owne sonne but gaue hiÌ„ for vs all how is it possible that he also should not gyue vs all thinges w t him O the inestimable treasures that lye bent out in this moost holy Sacrament of the Altare for the faythefull Blyssed is he that is a faythfull geste of this celestial ta ble Blessed is he that with a pure fayth syncere charite eateth y e body of his LORDE Blessed is that maÌ„ which receiueth this moost honora ble SacrameÌ„t Christes very body bloude with an vndefyled conscience For Satan synne death hel desperacion c. shall not preuayle agenst hym Such one may be sure to dwell in Christ Christ in him Such one may be sure to haue his herte abundaÌ„tly enfarsed w t celesti all graces heaueÌ„ly gyftes Such one maye be sure to haue God y e father God y e son God y e holy Ghost dwellynge perpetually in his brest whaÌ„ ye haue done these thiÌ„ges a for sayd than drawe nygh whan tyme requirethe w t all huÌ„ble reuerent feare vnto the feaste of the LORDES bodye before y t ye receyue it into your mouth praye on this maÌ„ner ¶ A prayer to be sayde before y e receyuynge of the Sacrament O LORD I am not worthy that y u shouldest enter into me but saye the word only my soule shall be made whole Heale y u me O God and I shall be healed saue thou me I shall be saued Create in me O LORDE a cleane herte that w t true fayth perfecte charite I maye re ceyue thy moost holy body w t suche dignitie worthynes thorowe thy grace into my breste that y u mayste dwel in me I in the for euermore AMEN Thus haue I neighbours declared vnto you coÌ„pendiously how ye shal prepare your selues worthely to re ceyue at y e time of Easter the moste blyssed Sacrament of the Aâ—…re Yf ye receyue it on such maÌ„ner as I haue taughte you here tofore ye may be sure to receyue it worthely accordynge to Christes institucioÌ„ vnto y e helth of your soules EVâ—…E I praye God gyue vs grace to receyue it accordynge to youre moost godly iÌ„struccioÌ„s y t our soules maye be truly fed w t the true body of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. PHIL. But for as much as we se many departe vnreuereÌ„tly froÌ„ the LORDES table therfore wyll I in fewe wordes by your pacience declare to you after what manner ye shall go from it howe ye shall behaue your selues euer after that ye maye walke as it becommeth the chyldren of lyghte CHRI I pray you hertely let it so be ¶ Howe we ought to behaue oure selues after that we haue receyued the moost blessed SacrameÌ„t of the Altare PHILEMON NOwe moost dere brothers after y â— ye haue receyued the body of our LORDE Iesus Christ and w t that same moost glorious bodye tasted also his most precious bloud which as Chrisostome sayth is the helth of our soules wassheth garni sheth enflameth our soules maketh our mynde more shynynge thaÌ„ the fyre more clere than the gould is y e sufficient price of y e hole world it is conuenieÌ„t that ye shewe your sel ues thanckefull agayne to God for these his iestimable benefites whiche he at that tyme hath frely gyueÌ„ vnto you euen y e very body bloud of his welbeloued soÌ„ne our LORD Iesus Christ w t all the other incom parable treasures which pertayne vnto hym For all theyse thynges hath he moost bounteously gyuen you in this moost holy SacrameÌ„t It is therfore I say coÌ„uenieÌ„t y â— ye shewe your selues agayne thanckefull to hym by renderynge harty immortall thaÌ„ckes For this moost holy mysterye is called Sacramentum Eucharistiae that is y â— Sacrament of thanckes gyuynge bycause y t whaÌ„ eyther we our selues receyue it or els be preseÌ„t whaÌ„ other do receyue it we should gyue God precordiall thaÌ„ckes for his bounty kyndnes shewed to vs thorow Iesus Christ. Who commeth to the table of onye man departeth without thaÌ„ckes gyuynge To approche therfore to sytte downe at the table of y e moost hygh redoubted kynge where no terrestriall corruptible meate is eaten but euen the very bodye of y e pure immaculate Lambe Iesus Christ to departe from so heaueÌ„ly a table w t vnthanckefull hertes certes it were a thyng to much for to be detested It shal therfore be ve ry conuenient after ye haue receyued that moost blyssed SacrameÌ„t not to depart out of y e chirch before ye haue gyueÌ„ God harty thanckes for his manifold benignite toward you ye maye do it on this manner ¶ ThaÌ„ckes gyuynge after y e receyuynge of the Sacrament VUe thancke the moost gentle mercyfull father that thou hast vouchedsafe this day of thyne own goodnes to fede vs w t an heueÌ„ ly meate euen y â— very body bloud of thy moost
yeare therfore am I nowe determined to talke somewhat with you in this matter This thynge once done I wyll teach you the true Christen faste that youre fast maye be pleasaunt to God profitable to youre soules helthe After warde I wyll declare vnto you the significacion of certayne ceremonyes that be vsed in the Chyrche thys tyme of Lent Last of al I wyl shew you howe ye shall prepare youre selues to receyue worthely at the tyme of Easter the moost blessed Sacrament of 〈◊〉 â—…e Christes very body bloud For as all these thynges are godly so are they very necessary to be knowen of all Christen menne Which thynge moued me to call you hyther at this tyme y t you hauynge knowledge of them maye the more godly behaue your selues this holye tyme of Lent both before God maÌ„ CHRI This your beneficence towardes vs vndoubtedly procedeth from an harte stuffed with true ChristeÌ„ charyte seyng that ye desyre no lesse the saluacion of oure soules than of your owne PHIL. That affecte and mynde ought to be in euery christen man that was in Christ Iesus God forbydde therfore that I or ony maÌ„ shoulde hyde vp the talent ground whiche God hathe gyuen vs but rather employe it to the vtilitie profyt of other Therfore whyle I lyue shal I be redy at al tymes by y e helpe of GOD gladly to impart to other what so euer God hath vouched safe to gyue to me eyther in goodes spirituall or corporall But I pray you marke dilygentely for nowe begynneth our PotacioÌ„ CHRI Our LORD GOD mought gyue vs vnderstandynge in all thynges and so at this tyme watch vpon his worde that it maye not returne agayne in vayne but prosper bryng forth fruyte in vs rytchly to the glory of his name the consolacion of all oure soules EVSE Amen THEO LORDE let it so come to passe ¶ Of Penaunce and the partes of it PHILEMON THis Latin worde Peni tentia called in y e Greke toÌ„ge metanonia which some turne RepeÌ„tasice some Penaunce is as Chrisostome sayth not only to cease from the olde euelles but also to followe better offices For it is sayde Declyne from euell do good Neyther is it ynoughe for vs vnto helth sayth he only to haue plucked out the shafte except we also lay medicines to the wounde Of these wordes of the holy Doc tor S. Iohn Chrysostome is it euydente who trulye repentethe and who not If not onlye a cessasion froÌ„ the sinne but also a diligent exercise of the vertue followeth the PenaÌ„ce than is it true vnfayned But yf there be proued a coÌ„tynuaÌ„ce 〈◊〉 y â— syn and no correccion or amendment of lyfe thaÌ„ is it manifest that such one had neuer no true repeÌ„tance in his herte For S. Austen sayth what other thynge is it to repente or to do Penaunce than to be sorye for the synnes paste from henseforthe to abstayne from those thynges which he hath coÌ„mytted Agayne he sayth the fruyte worthy of penaunce is to lament the synnes beynge past and not to do theÌ„ agayne as it is writteÌ„ caste not synne vpon synne Be ye wasshed sayth y e LORDE by the Prophet Esaye be ye cleane He therfore is wasshed and is cleane which both lamenteth the thynges paste doth not coÌ„myt agayne those thynges that are worthye to be lameÌ„ted Paule descrybeth the true PenauÌ„ce in these wordes Put of saith he the olde man with his actes put ye on the newe man Here he appoyntethe vs not onlye to put of the olde man but also to putte on the newe man Agayne he sayth fasshyon not your selues lyke vnto the manner of this worlde but be ye chaundged by the renuynge of youre mynde wherby we are made a newe creature walking in the newnes of life Doth not our Baptysme also preach vnto vs this thynge We are buryed togyther saythe Paule with Christe by Baptisme vnto deth that as Christ is rysen agayne from the dead so we lykewyse shoulde walke in the newenes of lyfe Thus haue we learned both by y â— holy scryptures the auÌ„cient Doctors what the true penaunce is CRHI We haue learned of these your wordes that to do trulye penaunce is not only to abstayne froÌ„ y e synne but also to amplecte enhalse y e ver tue contrary to the synne PHIL. Ye saye trueth And this is it that the Prophet sayth cease to do euell and learne to do well EVSE So farre as I remember ye taught vs the very same or els not much vnlyke iÌ„ your Christmasse Banckette THEO Yea forsothe in the thyrde dyshe PHIL. It is trueth that ye all saye Therfore nede I nowe to make the fewer wordes concernynge this matter if ye retayne those thinges in your me mory which at that tyme I taught you CHRI We remember all those thinges wel PHIL. I am very glad But this must ye note in youre Penaunce that it oughte rather to be done for the loue of vertue than for the hate detestacion of vyce as the Psalmographe sayth thou haste loued ryghteousnes hated vnryghteousnes Here ye se that the loue of ryghteousnes goethe before the hatred of vnrighteousnes The scrip ture saith of Mary Magdalene ma ny synnes are forgyuen her bycause she loued muche The loue that she had to chastitie and purenes of lyfe made her to abhorre vtterlye despyse all vnclennes whiche before she had vsed Therfore was y e great mul titude of her synnes remytted forgyuen her A christen mannes herte ought so to be enflamed with y e loue of vertu that euen for the only loue of that he shoulde vtterlye deteste abhorre all vyce noughtynes as the Poet sayth Oderunt peccare boni uirtutis a more Oderunt peccare mali formidine penâ—… That is to saye they that are good hate syn for the loue that they haue to vertue But they that are euell hate synne for feare of payne And S. AusteÌ„ sayth Euery man hateth synne so muche as he loueth ryghteousnes Agayne He is an enemye of ryghteousnes whiche synne the not for feare of payne But he shall be a frend yf he synneth not for the loue of it Hereto pertayneth the sayenge of S. Ambrose it is no true PenaÌ„ce saythe he excepte feare doth succede come after loue And not of feare but of the loue of ryghteousnesse begynneth the Penaunce of the intencion feruentnes of loue dothe the more feruente hate of synne followe EVSE Seynge than that it is necessary fyrst intierly to loue vertu before we can vnfaynedlye hate the vyce I besech the Author of al good nes to engraffe in vs this loue that we enhalsynge vertue maye y e more easely eschew vyce CHRI Me thinke it is an hard thynge for a maÌ„ to loue vertu so that for the loue of that on
the moost blessed Sacrament of the Altare it shal be necessarey that ye obserue certayne thynges Fyrst y ◠ye labour with all mayne to erecte lyft vp your selues from your old synfull lyuynge where w t in tymes past ye haue bene miserably detayned before ye approch vnto this ce lestial table For yf it were not law ful for y e vncircūcysed in y e fleshe to eate of y e figuratiue Paschal Lābe how much more thā is it vnlawful for y e vncircūcysed in the hart y ◠is for the synfull vnclene person to taste of the true Paschall Lambe which was offered slayne for our sake Pourge out the olde leuen sayth S. Paule y e ye may be newe dowe lyke as ye are swete bread For christ is offered a Paschal lābe for vs. Here he sheweth y e yf we wyl worthely celebrate our Easter we must put awaye our olde synfull lyuynge But before all thynges in this expurgacion of vice ye muste earnestly labour that ye come not to receyue the body of oure LORDE w t a malicious hatefull vncharitable harte For this is a Sacrament of peace of vnite of concord of vnfayned loue Therfore ther ought to be mutuall reconciliaciō on al partes before ony come vnto this celestiall feast as saynt Iohn Chrisostom sayth let no Hypocrite approche let no man with a cloked mynde once be so bolde as for to drawe nygh vnto so great mysteries vnlesse he be condēned deserue the sētēce suffer y ◠whiche Iudas suffered For after the communion of the table the dyuell entred into hym Let no Iudas therfore be at the table This Sacrifice is a spiri tuall meate For as corporal meate whan it fyndeth a bellye occupyed w t aduerse corrupt humors doth both hurte the more noye y ◠more helpeth nothynge at all so this spi ritual meate lykewyse yf it fīdeth ony manne polluted w t malignite euel shal destroy hī the more not of the owne nature of it but thorowe the faute of hym that receyueth it Let y e mynd therfore the thought be pure in al thynges for y e Sacrifice is pure Let vs prepare an holy soole Let vs hold fast y e holye kisse which associateth the soules recōcy leth y e myndes maketh one body For we all seme to take vpō vs one bodye Therfore let vs myxte oure selues inone body not w t the cōmix tion of bodies but beynge bounde with the charite of soules y ◠by this meanes we maye be associated to y ◠fruytes of the diuine table For amōge al vices this table of y e LORD detesteth none so muche as y ◠synne of malyce seynge that it mooste of all alienateth mennes myndes frō the worthy receyuyng of this holy rōmuniō Therfore prouyde aboue all thynges that no kynd of disple sure be in youre myndes but that ye be of that affeccion towarde all mē that Christ Iesus was toward you which disdayned not for your saluaciō to suffer his moost blyssed body to be broken his moost preci ous bloude to be shed vpon the Altare of the crosse EVSE We wyll em ploye all our endeuour to come vnto this moost holy Bancket wythe pure myndes charitable hartes PHIL. God graunt it Secondely knowe that it is not ynoughe vnto the condigne worthy preparaciō of your selues vnto this mooste heauenlye table to expourge put synne oute of you except ye also garnysh your myndes with godly vertues Is it ynough for a man agaynste the commynge of his frend only to make clene his house Is it not also conuenient y ◠he adourne garnysh it so pleasaūt ly as he can deuyse THEO Reason requireth so PHIL. It is a thousād tymes more conuenient that whā we shal receyue the LORD of al LORDES Kyng of all Kynges into our hertes we than do not onlye make cleane the house of our soules but also garnysh it with the moost odoriferous redolēt floures of diuine vertues CHRI verely ye say truth PHIL. Remember howe greuously that manne was punysshed which presumed to come vnto the mariages not hauynge the nuptiall garment EVSE We remember it well PHIL. Take hede than y t ye do not onlye prouyde for the expurgacion of vice but also for the adourment of vertues vnlesse a lyke thynge chaūse vnto you Blessed is he that watcheth sayth God kepeth his clothes that he walke not naked men se his fylthines Thyrdely it is requisite y ◠whā ye haue thus garnysshed youre selues ye trust not ī your owne good workes or in your owne preparacion as though ye had made youre selues worthy ynough to come vnto the eatynge of thys inestimable treasure but let youre whole affiaunce be in the mercye of God and whan ye haue done all that ye are able to do graunt youre selues vnprofitable seruātes desyre more more continually valeaunce and strength to do the wyll of God besechynge hym of hys infinite good nes to supplye that which lacketh ī you bycause y ◠ye may receyue y ◠more grace strengthe to walke in the pathwaies of the LORD ye now come w t all reuerence vnto y e moost heauenly meate wherwyth you beynge saciated maye valeauntly en arme your selues maynely fyght agaynst Satā his wicked army Fourthly ye must gyue serious diligēce that ye come vnto this table of y ◠LORD w t a feruent desyre w t an hongry stomake with a gredye mynd with a famelyke soule For this Sacramēt hateth a stomacke that is alredy saturated fylled It proponeth and setteth forth all kynde of celestiall deynties to the hungrye soule as the moost blessed virgyne saythe he hathe fylled the hungry with good thynges but y ◠rytch hath he let go empty Blessed are they that hunger thyrst righ teousnes for they shall be fylled Al ye that are a thyrste saythe Christ come vnto the waters ye y t haue no mony make haste bye and eate Come bye w tout mony wythout ony marchaundyse wyne mylke Agayne I wyll gyue to hym that thyrstethe of the well of the water of lyfe frely And he that is a thyrst let him come he that wyl let him take the water of lyfe freelye The fat Pharise the belyed Hypocrite the porkelynge Iusticiarie whiche trust in theyr owne righteousnes are no fytte G◅stes for this mooste delicious table but the hūble synner which knoweth his infirmite confesseth his imbecillite desyreth valeaunce h◅ngreth thyrsteth for strength to do the wyll of GOD. THEO God sende vs this hunger thyrst euermore PHIL. Fyftely ye maye not onlye come vnto this celestial table with hongry stomackes to obtayne these inestimable treasures but also beleue vnfaynedly that ye shall haue all good thynges that ye wysshe or longe for accordyng to your desyre fayth For he that commeth vnto God sayth S.
intierly beloued soÌ„ne our LORDE sauiour Iesus Christ Graunt we besech the y â— we by this celestiall feaste engraffed yea incor porated i his moost holy body may so infixe in oure brestes hys moost bytter death y e we by remembryng the same maye dayly dye vnto syn and so encrease thorow thy diuine grace in al vertues that thy name maye be perpetually sanctifyed in vs thy wyll accomplysshed among vs here in earth as it is in heaueÌ„ our christen brothers loued vnfay nedly socoured mercifully vnto y â— immortall prayse of thy moost holy blyssed name to whome be all honour glory for euer euer EVSE Amen THEO So he it CHRI LORD let it so come to passe PHIL. After y â— ye departe froÌ„ y â— table of our Lorde God caull vnto youre remeÌ„brauÌ„ce what ye haue done what ye haue professed Fyrste remeÌ„ber y â— ye haue receyued the very body of our lord Iesus Christ of al treasures moost precious Secondely remeÌ„ber that by the receyuynge of that ye haue professed youre selues to be the sonnes of God the members of Christ the mayntayners of true godlines the studious followers of Goddes wyll the feruent louers of our chri sten brothers the extreme enemies of Satan his army so long as euer ye lyue All theyse thynges do ye professe whaÌ„ ye syt at the moost heauenly table Loke therfore that ye do not dallye nor mocke w t God vnlesse worser thynges chaunse vn to you Let vs departe from that table sayth Chrisostome as LyoÌ„s that breath fyre y t we maye be terri ble to the diuel Therfore that this thynge may come to passe remeÌ„ber that ye are now engraffed in christ become meÌ„bers of Christes body Howe vnsyttynge than were it to faull agayne from Christe to adioyne your selues vnto vnclennes RemeÌ„ber that ye are wasshed from youre synnes sanctifyed by Christes bloude iustifyed by the name of the LORDE Iesus Were it not than very vnsemely to pollute and defyle your selues agayne w t youre olde fylthynes RemeÌ„ber that god hath now delyuered you out of the londe of Egipte froÌ„ your moost cru ell enemy Pharao the diuel hath broughte you into the londe of promyss Haue not than a pleasure to returne into that lond of captiuite RemeÌ„ber that God hath deliuered yon from the fylthy abhominable Sodomites Prouyde therfore y t ye loke not backe agen vnto theyr pernicious manners Remember that God hath delyuered you from the babylonicall captiuite hath brought you vnto the newe celestial Ierusalem so that now ye are no more Gestes straungers but CytyseÌ„ses wyth the Sayntes and of the houshold of God Were it not than a thynge of much ignominye for you to fall from so great an honour what shal I make many wor des w t you Ye pertayne now al to gyther vnto God Loke therfore y â— ye lose not the fauour gentlenes of so bounteous a LORDE Moreouer ye haue professed day ly to dye vnto synne to walke in a new lyfe Loke that ye aunswere faythfully to this your promyse Agayne ye haue professed that ye wyll loue your christen brothers do for theÌ„ to the vttermooste what so euer lyeth iÌ„ your power Al these thynges haue ye promised to do by the receyuynge of this moost blyssed SacrameÌ„t Loke therfore that ye be not necligent in the accoÌ„plish mente of the premisses vnlesse the wrath of God falleth vpoÌ„ you For it is not ynough to begyn well excepte ye go forth in your enterprises He that coÌ„tinueth vnto y â— ende shall be safe saythe Christ. Agayne be thou faythful vnto death and I shall gyue the y â— crowne of lyfe No man that putteth hys hand to the plowgh and loketh backewarde is mete vnto y â— kyngdome of heauen Therfore neghbours do as ve haue professed Cast away your olde wic ked lyuynge Continue in the body of Christe thorowe a newe lyfe Remayne for euermore in the seruyse of God Seke the kingdome of god the righteousnes therof aboue al thynges Procure the furtherauÌ„ce of his moost holy worde so not on ly loue but also lyue y e Gospel that ye maye be couÌ„ted both before God man true earneste followers of Goddes worde Furthermore loue your christeÌ„ brothers w t a true per fecte vnfayned loue lette youre loue brynge forth good workes y t it may appeare to be w tout dissimula cion or faynynge Aboue all thiÌ„ges as I haue euer exorted you be obedient to y â— Kynges graces maieste yea and that not only for feare but muche more for conscience sake in all thynges as it becommeth fayth full subiectes The other publique magistrates also spirituall or teÌ„porall haue in perpetuall reuerence honour To be shorte be so affected towarde all menne euen as Iesus christ was toward you in al your wordes dedes lette your lyght so shyne before men that they may se your good workes glorifye youre father which is in heaueÌ„ to whom be all honour glory for euermore AmeÌ„ Thus endeth your PotacioÌ„ THEO Praysed by God for it EVSE Bothe nowe euer CHRI For he alone is worthy all honour glorye PHIL. Thus haue I neighbours ac cordynge to my promyse in the begynnynge of our Potacion perfor med all thynges concernynge the holy Sacrament of Penaunce w t the partes therof Of fastyng of ce remonies of the moost honorable Sacramente of the 〈◊〉 I haue also taughte you many godlye and goodly thynges worthye to be imprynted in the hartes of all christâ—… men Now brothers I moost instaÌ„t ly desyre you by the great mercyes of God the precious bloud of our sauiour Christ to repose these thin ges in your memory and not to for get theÌ„ but w t al diligence maynly to prosecute followe them yea to expresse them natiuely in youre quotidiane dayly coÌ„uersacioÌ„ For the seruaunt ' which knowethe his maysters wyll doth it not shalbe beateÌ„ wyth many strypes If ye do theyse thynges knowe that in thys world ye shal haue God the father a mercifull father vnto you God y â— sonne a swete Sauiour vnto you God the holy Ghoste a ioyfull coÌ„fortour vnto you after this lyfe ye maye be sure to enioye the moost blyssed glorious syght of the holy Trinite Amen THEO Neyghbour Philemon for this your Potacion we thancke you we trust that yâ—… shall se suche fruytes procede from vs that ye shall reioyse to haue cal led vs vnto this your moost godly Potacion PHIL. So doynge neygh boures knowe me to be altogither youres Well seynge this spirituall Potacion is so fortunately ended I praye you followe me y â— we maye also refresshe oure bodies with cor porall norysshement so wyth one mynd prayse GOD for all thynges EVSE We follow Blessed be God for this