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.
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 great coÌ„solacion conforte of all faythfull penitent synners Therfore lette vs runne to this Sacrament as vnto a stronge Bulwarke and sure asyle Let vs flye vnto it as vnto an holy Anckere Let vs delyght in it as in an hauen of helthe Lette vs not dispayre but beleue with a sure fayth that yf we vnfaynedly repente and turne vnto God desyrynge mercys for Iesus Christes sake he wyll sure ly remitte our iniquite and take vs agayne vnto his fauour CHRI Bles sed be God for it PHIL. I haue spoken sufficiently for this tyme of Penaunce I wyll nowe declare some what of the partes therof to you For they are also necessary to be kno wen. EVSE I praye you let it be so ¶ Of Contricion PHILEMON PPenaunce consisteth in thre partes ContricioÌ„ Confession Satisfaccion or amendement of lyfe Fyrst as concernig ContricioÌ„ ye shall vnderstande that it consysteth in two speciall partes which must alwayes be coÌ„ioyned togyther caÌ„ not be disseuered THEO I praye you what are they PHIL. The fyrst is a very sorowe or mournynge of the herte for the synnes coÌ„ mytted agaynst the wyll of GOD. The seconde is a constant faythe to beleue that be the synnes neuer so great manifolde yet yf we repent aske mercye God the father wyll not for the worthynes of ony merite or worke done by vs but for y â— onlye merytes of the bloud and passion of our Sauioure Iesus Christ vndou tedly forgyue vs our synnes repute vs iustifyed of y â— noÌ„ber of his electe chyldren The contricion of suche a penitent synner pleaseth God great ly yea it is an acceptable Sacrifyce vnto hym as Dauid sayth a Sacri fyce to God is a troubled spyryte a coÌ„tryte and humble herte God wyll not despyse God saythe S. Austen wyll not the Sacryfyce of a slayne beast but of a slayne herte An herte that is humbled with the knowlege of the filthynesse abhominacion of her owne synnes slayne with the feare of God and yet trusteth in the moost confortable promyses of God the father made vnto vs in Christes moost blessed bloude thyrstynge for streÌ„gth to do the wyll of God canne none otherwyse but haue God mercyfull vnto her God fylleth theÌ„ that are huÌ„gry with good thynges sayth the mooste gloryous virgyn but he letteth go the rytch emptye God resisteth the proud but to y â— humble he gyueth grace Blessed are they that hunger thyrst after ryghteousnes for they shalbe filled Who euer hath this godly contricion in hym canne neyther presume nor yet despayre For if he be vnfaynedly coÌ„tryte and sorowfull for his synnes he must ne des graunte hym selfe to be synfull miserable voyd of all goodnes bent vnto euell prone to noughtynesse whiche thynge vtterly subdueth pre sumpcion engraffethe in the harte submission obedyence humilite of mynde Agayne yf he be trulye contryte be his synnes neuer so great innumerable yet casteth he his eyes on Gods mercy set forth to all penitent synners in Christe Iesus that wyll laye hand on it with a sure and vndouted sayth which lykewyse ma keth hym that by no meanes he can dispayre For though his synnes be great yet he knoweth that the mercy of God is greater therfore can not his synne condemne hym Why is Christe called a Phisicion but bycause he is able to heale synners If our Phisicion be wyse sayth FlugeÌ„tius than can he heale all infyrmities If our God be mercyful thaÌ„ can he forgyue all synnes For ther is no perfecte goodnes of whom al nough tynes is not ouercome There is no perfecte medicine to whome any dis ease is fouÌ„de incurable Thus se we y â— where perfecte contricion is there is neyther presumpcion nor despera cion EVSE I praye you hawe maye we come by this true perfecte contricion PHIL. Uerelye by the worde of God For fayth commeth by hearynge and hearynge by the worde of God Ye shall note that y â— holy scripture is deuyded iÌ„to two partes that is to saye the lawe the promyses the knowledge wherof is ryght necessary for the obtaynynge of true perfecte Contricion Ye knowe that a mannes face shalbe longe defyled spotted deformed before he shal per ceyue it except it be eyther told him of other or els that he him selfe seeth it euideÌ„tly iÌ„ some myrrour or glasse Semblably the soule of a christeÌ„ maÌ„ shall be spotted wyth synne a great space before he perceyueth it and be truly contryte sorye for it excepte it be eyther tolde hym of other by de clarynge the lawe of God to hym or els he hymselfe loketh in the glasse of trueth whiche is the lawe of God by that menes perceyueth his owne deformite misery and wretchednes For by the lawe coÌ„methe the knoweledge of syn The coÌ„maundement is a lanterne and the lawe is a lyght waye of the lyfe sayth SalomoÌ„ Da uid also saythe O LORDE thy worde is a lanterne to my feete a lyghte to my pathwayes So that y â— nexte waye to haue the knowledge of oure synnes whereby we shoulde be moued to be coÌ„tryte sorowfull in our hartes for our wickednesses offences to stond in feare of Gods rygh teousnes is euer to haue the lawe of God before our eyes I haue hydden thy speches in my herte saythe Dauid that I maye not offende the. CHRI Nowe I praye you how shall we do concernynge the second parte of Contricion PHIL. WhaÌ„ ye are vn faynedly stryken wyth this ContricioÌ„ so y â— your hartes do truly feare y â— iustyce of God ye abhorre synne euen to y e vttermoost of your power longynge greatly for strength to do the wyll of God that ye maye walke innocently before the eyes of the diuyne maieste than for the consolacion of youre consciences and the reioysynge of your hertes oughte ye to consyder the moost swete mooste ioyefull moost confortable promises of God made to vs frely in Christes moost precious bloud Nowe to put awaye desperacion doth conuenieÌ„t time require that ye cleue stedfastly w t all mayne to the promyses which laye forth Gods mercy before yourâ—… eyes Therfore loke where so euer ye heare or se ony confortable promyse of God in the holy scryptures that declareth mercy to peniteÌ„t synners beleue without doubtyng that that pertaineth vnfaynedly to you WhaÌ„ so euer ye heare or read that Christe is a sauyoure streyghte wayes laye hande on that beleue that he also is your sauyour Whan the Scrypture shall saye to you Iesus Christe came into y e world to saue synners euery one y t calleth on the name of the LORDE shall be saued beleue you streyghte wayes that ye are of that noÌ„ber which shal be saued by Christ. Whan the scrypture shall saye God wyll not the deth of any synner but rather that he tourne lyue beleue you
streyghtwayes that Gods plea sure is ye shoulde be saued yf ye returne to him with a coÌ„tryte fayth full herte and so lyue wyth hym for euermore in the celestiall glorye Except ye haue this fayth also annexed with your sorow verely as your con tricion is imperfecte so is it able to cast you into desperacion Agayne to haue a faythe that God wyll forgyue you your synnes not to be so ry for your offenses nor to stonde in feare of Gods indignacioÌ„ for transgressynge his moost holy law nor to hunger thyrst after righteousnes verely as your contricion is imperfecte so is it the ryghte waye to lede you to presumpcion Neyther desperacion nor presumpcion ought to be in the herte of ony chrysten maÌ„ but a peniteÌ„t sorowfull mynde erected lyfted vp wyth fayth For S. Austen sayth yf fayth be the foundacioÌ„ of penauÌ„ce wythout the whych ther is nothyng that good is verely that penance ought to be desyred whych it is euident to be grouÌ„ded on fayth For a good tree can not bryng forth euell fruytes Therfore that penaÌ„ce which procedeth not of fayth is vnprofytable For we must beleue that remedy is graunted to penaunce of our sauyour FulgeÌ„tius also sayth Iudas that betrayed Christ repented hym of his syn but he lost helth saluacion bycause he trusted not to be forgyuen He repented worthe ly in dede bycause he synned betrayenge the ryghteous bloude but he therfore loste the fruyte of his repeÌ„tauÌ„ce bycause that he dyd not trust that the syn of his betraieng should be wasshed awaye wyth his bloude whoÌ„e he betrayed Thus se you how necessary faythe is vnto a contryte herte howe that w toute that it is not possible for any peniteÌ„t siner to receyue remission of hys synnes as dyuers manifest textes Historyes of the holy scrypture do euydentlye proue shew THEO You taught vs this thynge abundantly before in y â— thyrd dysh of your BaÌ„cket neyther haue we forgotteÌ„ it PHIL. I am glad of it Therfore wyll I nowe tary no lenger about this matter but maâ—…e hast to the second parte of PenauÌ„ce whiche is Confession EVSE I praye you hertely let it so be ¶ Of Confession PHILEMON AFter that ye haue coÌ„ceiued in your hertes such true perfecte Contricion as I haue hytherto paynted than dothe it follow in ryght due order which is ConfessioÌ„ It is requisyte y t a chrysteÌ„ man be not only sory for his offeÌ„ces coÌ„mytted agaynst God but also that he knoweledgeth and coÌ„fessethe hys synne For the scrypture sayth that they whyche came to be baptysed of Iohn confessed theyr synnes Lykewyse read we in the Actes of y â— Apostles But in asmuch as y e scripture teacheth dyners kyndes of con fessioÌ„ therfore wyll I here somwhat towche them all Fyrste the chefe moost pryncypall Confession is the Confession of our fayth wherin we confesse vnfay nedly whatsoeuer y e holy scriptures teach of God This coÌ„fession is so necessary that wythout it no man can be saued No manacynge wordes no imprysonmeÌ„t no chenes no fetters no sweard no faggot no fyre ought to plucke vs from this Confession No tyranny ought so to be feared y e God hys trueth shoulde not be con fessed For euery one sayth Chryst y e shall confesse me before meÌ„ I shall also coÌ„fesse him before my father which is in heauen But he that shall deny me before men I shall deny hym also before my father whyche is in heauen Of this Confession S. Paule sayth w t the herte it is beleued vnto righteousnes but w t the mouth coÌ„fessioÌ„ is made to saluacion Also S. Iohn Hereby shall ye knowe the spy ryte of God For euery spyryte that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God And euery spy ryte which coÌ„fesseth not that Iesus Christe is come in the flesshe is not of god And this is that spirite of An techrist of whome ye haue herd how that he should come nowe alredy is he in the worlde But in asmuche as thys confession is not that parte of Penaunce wherof we do nowe entreate I wyll omit it at this preseÌ„t Another kynde of Confession is whiche pertayneth more nearely to our matter for to confesse our synne vnto God whome we haue offeÌ„ded wythout thys Confessyon oure PenaÌ„ce auayleth but lytle as we maye perceyue by dyuers places of y e scripture For though al thynges are opeÌ„ to the eyes of God nothyng can be hyd from hym so that he knoweth al chynges yet wyll he that we huÌ„blye confesse knowledge our synnes vn to him that by thys menes we may make hym the more mercyfull vnto vs. We read that a certayne blynde man cryed vnto Christ sayenge Iesu the sonne of Dauid haue mercye vpon me Christ dyd knowe full well wherfore he called on hym yet not w t standynge he sayde what wylte y u that I do vnto the LORDE sayde he that I may receyue my sight Christ demaunded thys thynge of hym by cause he would haue hym coÌ„fesse hys infirmite blyndnes So is it conuenieÌ„t for vs yf we wyl receyue our syght to confesse our blyndenes S. Iohn say the Yf we confesse oure synnes God is faythful righteous to forgyue vs our synnes to make vs cleane from all our vnryghteousnes If we saye we haue not synned we make hym a lyer his worde is not in vs. Dauid also saythe I haue made my trespasse knoweÌ„ vnto the myne vnrighteousnes haue I not hydden I sayde I wyll confesse my vnryghteousnes to the LORDE and thou hast forgyuen the vngodlynes of my synne This confession follow eth a true repeÌ„tant coÌ„tryte herte The Prophet Daniel confesseth his synne on thys manner we haue synned we haue done vnryghteousnes we haue wrought wickedly we haue gone awaye declined from thy coÌ„maundementes iudgementes Also Eldras I and the house of my father haue synned we were seduced w t vanite haue not kepte thy commaundementes Lykewyse Dauid whan the Prophet Nathan at y t com manndement of God rebuked hym for his adultery manslaughter coÌ„ fessed his synne sayde I haue synned vnto y e LORDE Agayne O God I haue synned to the alone euel be fore the haue I done The Publican also made his confession on this maÌ„ner O God be thou mercyfull to me a synner This kynde of Confession ought euery christen man dayly and hourly to make vnto God so ofte as he is broughte vnto the knoweledge of his synne Another kynde of CoÌ„fession is to knowledge confesse oure synnes to them whome we haue offended Of this speaketh S. Iames sayeng coÌ„ fesse your synnes one to another Al so Christ yf thou shalt offer thy gyft at the Altare there doste remeÌ„ber that thy brother haue any thyng agaynst the leaue thy gyfte
whyle y e moost confortable wordes of Absolucion are rehersed vnto him by the prest EVSE I praye you what is that ab solucion PHIL. Uerely a free deliue rauuce from all youre synnes thorow Christes bloud How saye you is here any thynge to be condēned in Auriculare Confession CHRI No verely alll thinges y t you haue rehearsed are rather worthy hygh prayse commendacion PHIL. It is atributed giuen vs euen of na ture to cōmunicate vnto other the secretes of our hertes concerninge mūdane woridly thīges whither they be of ioye or sadnesse and tyll we haue so done we are neuer ī rest EVSE You saye trueth PHIL. Whye shoulde we than not be redye to do so likewyse in spirituall affayres thinges pertaynynge vnto the saluacion of our soules excepte per ad uēture we be enemies of our owne helth What is sweter more pleasaunt saythe Cicero than to haue such one with whome thou darest be bold so to speake al thīges as w t thy selfe A man hauyng a learned wyse descrete silent close faythe full ghostly father which louethe y e penitent no lesse than a natural fa ther doth his childe why should he feare to declare vnto him the secretes of hts herte which is redy to cō forte to instructe to counsayle to tech and to do all thinges y t should make vnto his cōsolacion helth The Prophet Malachy sayth the lyppes of a preste kepe knoweledge and men shall seake the lawe at his mouthe For he is a messanger of y e LORDE of hoostes If this ought to be done at all tymes whan haue we a more cōueniēt fit tyme to do it than in the tyme of Confession whan we maye freely talke to our spirituall fathers what soeuer ple seth vs EVSE It is trueth that ye saye But what if such a ghostly fa ther doth not chastse as ye haue dis cribed hertofore PHIL. Uerely ye ought alwaye to resorte to the best learned mē to seke for suche ghost ly fathers as both wyll and can in structe and teache you the lawe of God But let it so be that your Cu rate be not of y e gretest learned mē yet is he to muche simple yf he can bringe oute of his treasurehouse thinges neyther newe nor olde seinge that the holy scriptures are so plenteously sette forth in oure Englysh tonge that euen y e very ydiot maye nowe become learned in the kyngdom of God At the leest this commoditie shall ye enioye at hys hande euen the benefyte of Absolucion Therfore to make fewe wor des concernynge this matter disdayne ye not to go to confession at the tymes appoynted accordynge to the ordinaunce of y e holy chyrch and the Acte of our moost excellent kinge yea and that with all hūble reuerence Declare the diseases of your soules vnfaynedly that ye maye be healed with y e moost swete and confortable salue of Absoluciō Followe the godly wholesome ad monicions of youre ghostly father Go vnto him wyth such an hatred detestacion of synne that ye may returne from hym wyth hertes all togither enflamed with the perfyt loue of vertu innocēcy true godlynes beyng full fixed neuer to returne vnto youre olde vomyte and wallowynge in the myre And whā he shal rehearse vnto you the moost swete confortable wordes of Absolucion gyue earnest faythe vnto them beynge vndoutedly perswaded that your synnes at y t tyme be assuredly forgyuen you as though God him selfe had spoken them accordynge to this sayenge of Christ He that heareth you heareth me Agayne Whose sinnes ye forgyue are forgiuen them This haue I spoken concerning Auriculare confession THEO Uery godly forsothe EVSE What remayneth nowe CHRI Ye promised con sequently to entreate of Satisfaccion or amendement of lyfe PHIL. Ye saye trueth Of that mat ter therfore wyll I now intreate ¶ Of Satisfaccion or amēd ment of lyfe AS towchīg this word Satisfaccion whiche hath so longe bene retayned in the Chyrche of Christ we must gra unt beleue vndoubtedly y ◠christ alone is the omnisufficiēt satysfaccion for all oure synnes vnto God the father by the sprynkelyng and effusiō of his moost precious bloud which abydeth lasteth for euer so perfect that he is able at all times to saue them that are sanctified w t that one omnisufficient oblaciō Sacrifice of his moost blessed body on the Altare of the Crosse and that not onlye from the faute but also from the payne due and belon gynge vnto the faute Behold that lambe of God sayth S Iohn Bap tist which taketh awaye the synne of the worlde S. Iohn the Euangeliographe sayth also The bloud of Iesus Christ Gods owne sonne makethe vs cleane from all synne Agayne yf any mā synne we haue an aduocate wyth God the father Iesus Christ that ryghteous one And he is the satisfaccion for oure synnes not for our sīnes only but also for all the whole worlde By y ◠death of Christe are we reconcyled to the father Christ is our wisdom sanctificacion ryghteousnes redemcion Christe is oure peace By the bloud of Christ haue we remission of oure synnes By Christ are all thynges recōcyled to God and by Christes bloude are all thynges pacifyed set at a stay both in heauen in earth Christe was broken for oure synnes Christe bare oure synnes on his body vpon the tree by whose stripes we are made hole Oure synnes are forgyuen vs for Christes name All the Prophetes beare wytnesse that thorowe the name of Christ euery one that bele ueth on him shall receyue remissiō of his sines Thus se we that there is no satisfacciō perfecte sufficiēt to God the father for oure synnes but only the death of Christ so that we maye well say with the Apostle God forbyd y t we should reioyse in ony thyng but in the death of our LORDE Iesus Christe Who so euer repenteth him of his synnes from the very herte is sorye for thē lamenteth his miserye hongreth for strength to do y e wyl of God know ledgeth his offenses labourethe w t all mayne to walke in a newe lyfe nedeth not to doubte but y ◠Christ by his death hath abūdantly satisfyed to God the father for his synnes CHRI Is ther no more behind concernynge satisfaccion PHIL. Yies verelye After ye haue repented you of your wickednes ye must thā amend your lyfe bryng forth fruytes worthy of Penaūce as the scripture commaundeth Ye muste practyse in your lyuyng all godlynesse innocency Factynge prayer and almes must dilygently be exer cysed of you in your dayly conuersaciō Ye must go frō vertue to ver tue frō faith to faith As ye haue walked before in darknes so must ye walke now in light Your whole lyfe must nowe be nothing els thā a perfecte meditaciō of purite and innocencye Excepte ye
worme of them that shall be there dye at ony tyme as y e Pro phette sayth Thus se you that ye haue no great cause to boste glory of worldly goodes nor yet to auaūce your selues aboue other mē for youre possessions sake no more than a greate mans seruaunt hath to whome his LORDE and mayster hath cōmytted his goodes for a cer tayne space to kepe the seruaunte lookynge at euery houre whan his mayster wyl require them agayne He is a very thefe robber say the Basilius Magnus which maketh that thyng his owne that he hath receyued to distribute and gyue abrode For the bread sayth he that thou retaynest kepeste is y e bread of the hungry the garment which thou kepest in thy chest is the garment of the naked the shoo that is moulde with the is the shoo of him that is vnwod the mony whiche thou hydest in the grounde is the mony of the nedy Moreouer thou doste iniury playne wronge to so many as thou forsakeste whē thou arte able to helpe them Hytherto pertayneth the sayenge of the wyse man the bread of the nedy is y e lyfe of y e poore he that d◅fraudeth hym of it is a manstear Thus se you in howe great iopardy the ritch men are that be vnmercyefull vnto the poore people how lytle theyr fast pleaseth God in theyr vnmercifulnes seynge they do not annoynte theyr head that is showe no mercy to the poore mēbers of Christ God teachynge the true manner of fastynge by his Prophet amonge all other thiges sayth breke thy bread to the hungry Marke y e he say the breke thy bread to the hungry Cer tayne Doctors wryte on this tert says y t thou breakeste thy breade thā to y ◠hūgrye whan y ◠so fastest y t thou sparest from thyne owne bellye to gyue it to the poore hungrye man For a Christen manne ought to be no lesse carefull for the poore than for hymselfe so that prouisiō once made for his familye he muste also shewe mercye to the nedye Thou therfore doste breake thy bread vnto the hungrye whā thou gyueste hym that whiche thou thy selfe necessarelye shouldest haue eaten And this is to annoynte thy head aryght verely euen to breake thy bread to the hungry THEO Would God that all rytche mē dyd knowe this much would followe it For many thyncke that they do God an hyghe Sacrifyce yea y e they be good almes men yf whan they haue once pāpred theyr owne bellyes with all kynde of deynties they than at the laste gyue or sende to the hūgry a few scrappes which they wyl scasely vouchsafe to giue to theyr dogges PHIL. I pray God giue vs all grace to do oure dutye Nowe haue ye herde what it is to annoynte youre heade I wyll also speake somwhat of wasshyng your face although I maye seme abundantly to haue spoken of the very effect of it in y ◠diffiniciō of fasting If we wyll fast aryghte we are not only commaūded to annoynte oure head that is to saye to shewe mexcy to the poore people but also to wasshe our face that is to make our hertes cleane from all synne y ◠we maye haue a pure conscience For it is not ynough to be benefici al to other except we also be benefi cial to our selues This shall come to passe yf we labour w t all mayne to haue a mynde pure cleane frō all carnall affectes a body voyde of wicked dedes What was y e cause that God dyd cast away the fastes solemne feastes which the Iewes celebrated kepte holy ī his name but onlye y t they wasshed not theyr face that is they went not aboute to put of theyr olde conuersacion to become newe men I hate abhorre sayth God your sacrifiices youre solemne feastes your fastes why so For your handes sayth he are full of bloud Youre hertes are full of vengeaunce your consciences are spotted and defyled withal kynde of sinnes ye haue no feare of God before your eies What is thā to be done Be ye wasshed sayth he be ye cleane take awaye the euell of your thoughtes from myne eies Cease to do euell learne to do well seke iudgement helpe the poore oppressed be fauourable to the cōfortles defende the widowe c. GOD hateth those prayers those fastes those good dedes as they cal them which come from a defyled body a corrupt hert a fylthy mynd a blou dy conscience a spotted and pocky soule as a certayne man sayth It profyt a mā nothynge at all to fast pray to do other good thīges of deuocion excepte the mynde be refrayned from vngodlynes and the tonge from backebytinges For God hath euer a principall respect to the herte of the doer of y ◠worke If the herte be pure cleane fayth full than dothe God approne that worke But if it be spotted w t syn God casteth it away appeare it ne uer so glisteryng excellent in the sight of y ◠worlde Offer not sayth the wyse manne wycked giftes for God wyll not receyue them CHRI It is euident thā that so many as chaung not theyr wicked lyfe cast away theyr Hypocrisy make clene theyr hartes put out of theyr myn des al rācoure malyce enuy grudge c. and to study aboue all thyn ges to lead a pure innocent lyfe can by no menes please God PHIL. No forsoth Therfore yf ye entende to fast aryght to make your faste acceptable to God prouide earnest ly that youre faste procede from a pure cleane herte voyde of al car nall affectes stuffed full of fayth charite and altogither studious of true innocency vnfayned godlynes So shall it come to passe that not only your fast but al that euer ye do besydes accordynge to Gods word shall very greatly please god THEO I besech God gyue vs grace to do all thynges accordyng to his moost godly wyll pleasure PHIL. Labour God wyll helpe I haue declared two thynges that are necessary to the true vse of fastynge There remayneth nowe the thyrde to be brought forth which is so expedient and necessary for that pur pose also y e y ◠other two w tout this profiteth nothynge EVSE I praye you let vs heare it PHIL. We are not only cōma◅ded in oure fastyng to annoynt our head to wash our face but also to fast in secret THEO What is it I praye you to faste in secret PHIL. Uerely to fast in secret is not to kepe you close frō y e sight of men so to abstayne from your meates in preuye corners but not to hunt hawke after vayneglory nor prayse of men for your fasting nor to seke to be sene of men whyle ye fast that they maye commend prayse you We are counted before God than to faste in secrete whan we fast with such
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