both body and soule to be nomore vnder the banners of deathe but of lyfe and saluacion at this hys last supper whan the tokeÌ„ of this body ly delyueraunce shuld be eaten which was but the sygnificatioÌ„ of thys lambe that was nowe present amonge them by whose death al maÌ„kynd shuld be lowsed from vtter darkenes vnqueÌ„cheable fyer to satisfie this mysterye to make it euydent he toke bread after he had geueÌ„ thankes to God hys father he brake it saying Take eate math 26. Luk. xiiii this is my bodye whych shal be broken for you lykewyse he toke the cup sayinge thys is my bloud of the new testameÌ„t whiche shal be shed for many in the remissioÌ„ of theyr synnes For yf the arme of god and hys myghty power was so hyghlye estemed in the delyueraunce of theyr mortal bodyes from a mortall tyrauÌ„t that it vouchsaued him to establyshe it wyth thys sygne or token for a memoriall of hys grace towardes theÌ„ being yet not takeÌ„ out of the cheynes of darkenes than whan soeuer the deuyll assaulted them captyuating theyr wyttes with sensualitie to make theÌ„ forget the lorde that the wytnes of his benignite shulde alwayes accuse theyr ingratitude moue theÌ„ to repeÌ„t how moch more ought this signe or sacramente of the Lordes death to be hyghly reregarded amonges vs Christians whych preacheth vnto vs a thyng farre better thaÌ„ a bodyly deliueraunce from a bodely tyraunt namely the delyuerauÌ„ce from eternal dampnacion the kyngdom of darkenes thaÌ„ whansoeuer the ramping lyon Sathan seketh to deuour our soules by the entiâ—arg vnto syn and desperacion we by this holy sacrameÌ„t ar put in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce that our sauiour Christ was the promysed sede of the womaÌ„ whych shuld breake the serpentes head whych moued our father to bannisshe vs from hys syght and hath in hys death bloudsheding slayne the leuia than that had power ouer deth Wherfore as the lambe was yâ— sygne appointed to coÌ„tinue tyl the euerlastinge sauiour euen Christe our laÌ„be came to preache the deliuerauÌ„ce of theyr body froÌ„ the paynefull seruitude of the Egiptians Euen so this bread wyne is the sacrament appointed by christ to preach his most precious death our redemptioÌ„ tyl he come to iudge the quicke and yâ— dead And therfore good brethren after the immolacion of Christe Iesus our passouer laÌ„be the Israelites sygne ceassed because the innoceÌ„t lambe in very dede appoynted of god before the creation of the world to be slayne was come whome it sygnified and hath to assure vs of his death and commyng agayne left vnto vs bread and wyne as a sygne and token to confyrme vs weakelynges in fayth that he hath died for our synnes to pacifye the wrath of hys father and is rysen for ouâ— iustification thee yron bandes of death brast in sonder and he wyth triumphante victorye by the power of god hath penetrated the cloudes to geue saluacion So that the ryghtuousnes as Paule saythe that pleased Roma iii god was the redemptioÌ„ that is in christe Iesus thorough whoÌ„ the terrible vengeaunce of god is passed ouer vs and wee sealed into redeÌ„ptyon and that ye shuld not doubt but that God by hym is wonne to be our frende marke wel thys his own testimony Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo mihi bene coÌ„placui ipsum audite that is to say This math iii marke ix is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased heare hym As the lambe therefore was appoynted by Moyses theyr leader chosen of god a memoriall or sygne of goddes goodnes in that he made them fre men as touchynge theyr bodyes from pharaos yocke the nyght before it came to passe EueÌ„ so this bread and wyne was assigned a perpetual sygne by our Moyses chosen of god by hys precious bloude to leade vs from euerlasting death and dampnacion as a sygne of goddes mercy towardes vs in that he hath sent hys only begotteÌ„ sonne Iesus in the shape of synfull flesshe beyng wtout syn to coÌ„dempne syn in the fleshe to coÌ„quere death for theyr sake that of a pure loue trusted in hiÌ„ eueÌ„ yâ— nyghte before his deth now by this signe bread wyne christ to instructe hys Apostles whom he had chosen to support stedfastlie amonge the Iewes the delyueraunce of our soules froÌ„ death exhibited playnely before they eyes that that followed namely hys passion and the coÌ„forte of the same saying Take eate this is my bodye whych shal be geuen for you do this in remeÌ„braunce of me That is to saye euen as ye se this bread broken for the coÌ„fort of your outward maÌ„ and thys wyne dronke for the coÌ„solatioÌ„ of the same being so necessary yâ— wythout it your outward maÌ„ perisheth for honger and hauing it the body is defended from staruing Euen so I myne own self personally whom ye se fele know beyng the mynyster of thys whych ye do receaue eueÌ„ as surely as ye behold the brekyng hereof and know kyng hereof and know that ye haue receyued hit so sureli shal be crucified reÌ„t and brokeÌ„ for your synnes and in hit shal deserue fre remyssyon of al youre iniquyties by whose merytes thy vnryghtuous soule is made rightuous for euer yf thou forsakest synne for this was geuen for the comfort of your inward maÌ„ whom god hated for synne for to reconcyle it to thee fathers fauour agayn to defend it froÌ„ death eternal Therfore for asmoch as by necessitie we are enforced dayly to coÌ„fort our bodye with bread drinke Euen so are we dayly enforced to comfort our soule with the eternal Testamente in Christes bloude so that now whaÌ„ soeuer our sperit beginneth to faynte for hoÌ„ger that it behoueth vs to breake thys bread drynke thys wyne in the remembraunce of christes death and of hys comfortable testameÌ„te to feade our soule wtall Hoc enim est bibere de plenitudine misericordie sue that is to say For this is to drinke of the fulnes of his mercy And thys opened theyr eyes confyrmed theyr fayth to perfection to preache that whyche they afterwarde sawe come to passe accordiÌ„g as yâ— bread was brokeÌ„ Paul therfore iÌ„structed by yâ— sperit of god to vnderstaÌ„d this misterie sayde yâ— whych I receaued I deliuer vnto you o ye Corinthians The nyght before he was betrayed he toke bread brake it saying this is 1 Cori. 11 my bodye whych is broken for you also by yâ— cup he sayd thys is yâ— new testameÌ„t in my bloud as ofte as ye eate of this bread and drinke of this cup ye shall preache yâ— lordes death tyl he come Yf now the the personal bodi of christ fleshe bloud had ben ther as ye dreame than wolde not paul haue said ye shal preache the lordes death til he come But rather he wold haue sayd behold corinthes here is christ ê‘sonal bodye amoÌ„ges you but paule assuredly taught by yâ— holy ghost the this was
was stoleÌ„ awaye by hys discyples in thee night but bicause they were vnable to proue hys body to be in theyr possessioÌ„ therfore they fyed theÌ„ with largition to bleare the peoples eyes that they myght neuer se but styl staÌ„d in vnbeliefe EueÌ„ so you with might mayn haue endeuoured to saue theyr eyes from the lighte of goddes worde leste paraduenture they myght happely see condeÌ„pne your heresy for this ye thinke it no shame to set thys detestable errour as a curtayn betwen the peoples eyes the spiritual eating of this bodye wherfore vnderstand you al that labour of this phrenesy so that ye waxe wroth with the sperit of the moste hyest for speakinge truthe vnderstand I say what is meante by the eating of this spirituall bodye verely not thee tearynge wythe the teth nor dysmeÌ„bring of Christes body but only that we shulde assuredlye trust that by hys owne bloude he entered ones for all into the holy place hath found eternal redeÌ„ption also being perfect became the cause of euerlastiÌ„g saluatioÌ„ vnto al theÌ„ that obeye him by the sacrifice of hys precious bloud thorow the sperite offered without spot vnto god he hath geuen remissyon of al our synnes yf we repent hatyng vngodlynes holy trust vnto this anker of our soule sure sted fast by hoope whyche leadeth vs to take thys holde that where as our vnperfecte fleshe was vnable to do or satysfie the wyll of god the father he hathe by hys precious death crosse not only fulfylled the wyl of god appeased hys wrath and become lyfe euerlastiÌ„g to theÌ„ that trust in hym but also is become the entrye of the eternal kyngdom of endles tranquillitie the place dayly receaued of theÌ„ that ar santified in him for here on staÌ„deth the lawe thee prophetes Wherfore whaÌ„ soeuer ye breake thys bread eate it wherwyth ye assure your coÌ„sciens the being turned into your substaunce it norysheth your bodye so at the breaking hereof ye must assure your conscience that yf ye forsake synne vnfaynedly beleue that thee breakynge of hys body hath pourged away our syn by the whych we haue possessed all the merytes of his precious bodye namely remyssyon of al our synnes and life euerlastiÌ„g He is turned into the immortal incorruptyble and impassyble substaunce of soche a faythfull soule and wythout dout continually norysheth it QuicuÌ„que ergo paneÌ„ hunc coÌ„mederit ex nouo testamento in sanguine suo saÌ„ctificatio hoc exhanserit morte noÌ„ morietur sed viuent in aeternum That is to saye Who soeuer therfore shal eate thys bread shal drynke of thys newe testameÌ„t sanctifyed in hys bloud yâ— same shal not dye the death but shal lyue for euer For whan he sayth whoso eateth my flesshe drinke my bloud hath life euerlasting And whoso beleueth in me hath lyfe euerlastiÌ„g What dullard is ther that perteyneth not the eatyng of thys bodye fayth in hys bloud shediÌ„g to be both one except he wold moost wickedly appoynt vs. ii wayes vnto saluacyon one by eatyng of the Sacramente another by fayth but yf by eatynge alone the dyscyples shulde haue had lyfe euerlasting assone as they hadde receaued thys body at yâ— supper what hadde the crosse and death of Christe auayled But god forbyd that the myndes of godly men shuld at any tyme be entankeled wyth soche strauÌ„ge lerninge comberous doctryne which I feare me wolde sone come to passe yf yâ— wordes of our redemer shulde carnally according to the letter be vnderstand but Christ calleth hym selfe both helth lyfe to al theÌ„ that trust in the coÌ„summate sacrifice of hys body ones offered for al synne vnto them wil Hebre. ix apeare agayn without syn vnto saluation sendinge vnto theÌ„ by hys bouÌ„tuous grace the only most beautiful ambacetor of peace the importible crowne of euerlasting glory which with a sure hope dylygentely loke for the aperaunce of hys most gloryous face Who wil drawe vs with him to the immutable kyngdoÌ„ of hys father wyth whoÌ„ we shal with ioye inexplicable liue eternally for he hath sayd thys worde whyche retourneth not vnto hym emptye Vbi ego sum ibi erit minister meus That is to saye Where I am there shall my mynister be for he enioyeth glory and lyueth for euer and so shall we do that trust in hym for thys is the wyl of God As Iohan sayth Vt qui vidit filium et credit în eum habeat vitam aeternam Christes resuscitabit euÌ„ in nouissimo die That is to say That he that seeth the sonne beleueth in hym maye haue eternall lyfe and christ shal rayse hym in the last day Christes flesshe therfore that it was deliuered vnto death for oure fredom is called the meat of oure soule hys bloud forasmoche as it was shedde vpoÌ„ the crosse is called therfore thee dryncke most helthful and necessarie of our soule wtout whoÌ„ our soule could not haue bene saued but in this doctryne of the sperit of truth is fouÌ„d no traÌ„substaÌ„ciation into bread nor wyne nether yet a personal body therfore ye must nedes graÌ„t al though it before agaiÌ„st your wylles that your Imaginacion cometh of your selues and not of god therfore it must be vntrue NaÌ„ oiÌ„s homo mendax deus verus est in cuius labiis nuÌ„cquaÌ„ inventus erat dolus That is to say For euery man is a lyar but God is true in whose lippes was neuer found deceit Good brethreÌ„ yet ones agayn pacieÌ„tly suffer me to aske you a litle questioÌ„ yâ— knowlege of whoÌ„ caÌ„ by no meanes hinder you ê“ffer you it may to discerne your grief be healed by the gospel Haue ye forgotteÌ„ good brethreÌ„ how that our sauiour christe in his perigrinacioÌ„ in yâ— erth to certify his faithful disciples of yâ— wil of his father of his fauour towardes theÌ„ in that he had sent yâ— ê“mised saluacioÌ„ to al theÌ„ yâ— wold receaue hiÌ„ beleue iÌ„ his name left if sacrameÌ„tes to preache his pÌ„cious deth yâ— lauacre of our soules by whoÌ„ alone we were purged froÌ„ syns nameli baptyme yâ— sacrameÌ„t of his body for this case only yâ— we alwayes shuld haue before our eyes and firmely print in our hartes his deth passioÌ„ by whom we were sealed into redeÌ„ption noo more vnder the daÌ„ger of yâ— law whych offered vnto our coÌ„scieÌ„s for traÌ„sgressioÌ„ nothing but daÌ„pnatyoÌ„ but vnder libertie grace leste paradueÌ„ture yâ— raÌ„ping lyoÌ„ whiche buseli seketh our destructioÌ„ shuld at any tyme snatche this christ out of our remeÌ„brauÌ„ce as he is alwaies redi by sondry inchynes that he leyeth to snare oure myndes wherebye they myghte forget theyr saluacion therfore of ii necessarie thiÌ„ges he made theÌ„ of whoÌ„ we haue in this our mortal lyfe soch necessarie vse yâ— wtout theÌ„ we cannot susteyne our mortal bodies nameli water bread whereby he shewed vs that as oft as we soughte by this outward
thiÌ„ges to coÌ„fort our body to maynteyn life yâ— vital sperites therof eueÌ„ sowe ought by seing of this to preche vnto our soules the most glorious deth passioÌ„ of christ our sauiour which susteyneth coÌ„forteth coÌ„tinualli causeth it to lyue Wherfore for asmoch as he before his deth istituted thes ii sacrameÌ„ts I demaÌ„d of you whiche of theÌ„ ye thiÌ„ke most honorable or metest to be preferred before thother paraduenture ye wold saye the sacrameÌ„t of the bodye is moost hiest to be estemed but yf ye stand to that ye ar lyke to haue a sodayn fall for the scripture affyrmeth theÌ„ to be equall in this wise saying theyr endes are one and the promes annexed vnto them bothe is one and therfore the sacramentes ar of equall forse that they ar of one strenght the scripture proueth in thys wyse saying Quicunâ— credit baptizatus fuerit saluus erit That is to saye He that beleued and shal be baptised shal be Iohan. 6 safe Agayn Qui manducauerit carnem meam bibit meum sanguinem habebit vitam eternaÌ„ That is to saye He that shall eate my flesshe and drynke my bloud shall haue euerlastynge lyfe Now ye see yâ— lyfe euerlastyng is the ende of them bothe therfore they are of one strength and differ no iote as touching theyr end Yf ye graÌ„t them both to geue one gyfte to preache one thyng whereby accordyng to the doctryne of yâ— scripture to be equal thaÌ„ I demauÌ„de of you why bit staÌ„deth not wyth truth to cal the water bloud aswell as the bread thee bodye but that ye iudge to be farre out of frame and very absurde to be spoken and no meruel at al though ye so iudge forasmoche as ye vnderstande the one and not the other for yf ye vnderstode yâ— breaking of bread to be thee sygne that preacheth to our conscience the breakyng of hys body as ye vnderstand the water to be a sygne that we ar washed in christes bloud then wold ye not thus ymagine but because ye wil not admyt the sacrament of yâ— body to be a signe or tokeÌ„ of the crucified body of christ but rather the very body it self makyng the signe to be yâ— thing signified therfore yâ— mysvnderstaÌ„ding of thys word sacrameÌ„t is yâ— cause of this youre forged lesynge fauoure not so moch your enemy whyche more deliteth at your death thaÌ„ to so you lyue enioye good dayes suffer him not thus to corrupte both your grouÌ„d yâ— good sede offered thervnto with his most pestileÌ„t infectuous tares of vnbeliefe his treasure that furnissheth the stynkiÌ„g gulffe of hel hys inheritaunce lest ye at the coming of the husbandmaÌ„ whose enteÌ„t is to purge hys corne gather it together into the garnard be with chaffe weed burned in vnqueÌ„cheable fyer Receyue the lyghte that ye maye walke therein for he that walkethe in darkenes knoweth not wyther to goo S. Austyne hath geuen you thys glasse to plucke oute yâ— moote out of youre eyes thaâ— causeth you to wynke at truth thus craftely to shut it vppe in hoodymocke because the perel shuld not so ouergrow your eyes that whan shame compelleth you to see ye cannot see so moch is thys godly father and auncieÌ„t wryter your frend saying SacrameÌ„tuÌ„ est visibile sign um inuisibilis gratiae That is to say A sacrameÌ„t is a vilible signe of an inuisible grace that is a sacrameÌ„t is visyble a signe of an inuisible grace in another place he calleth it SignuÌ„ sancti rei That is to saye A sygne of an holy thyng the sygne of an holy thyng As for an example water is a visible thyng subiected to the senses of man to see fele and taste whose propertie is to mundify and scoure the corruption and froth that hangeth vpon our visyble fleshe to make pure oure outward maÌ„ so yâ— our eye beyng iudge thereof is certifyed that it is cleane with oute spotte which water for these natiue qualities being a thing sene with our eye is instituted of god to be a sacrament or sygne to preach an inuisible grace not sene with our bodely eyes nameli yâ— propertie of christes precious bloudshed for our redeÌ„ption saluacioÌ„ yâ— only lauacre of our soule by whoÌ„ it is escoured froÌ„ syn that so hath festered it to deth our only hyloe which hath clensed our leprosy that had so enfebled our weake sperit so yâ— we ar now regenerate into the lyuely hope of lyfe euerlastyng by the bloud of this vndefiled laÌ„be in soch sort now that yf the deuyl wold lay assault vnto our coÌ„scieÌ„ce with his instrumeÌ„tes of disperacion to make oure hope faynte yâ— we haue brokeÌ„ the lawe therfore must of force be coÌ„deÌ„pned or that god is vnable to remyt our iniquities yf we repeÌ„t neuer so sore we haue to vaÌ„quishe hys tyrannous persuacioÌ„s this ê“myses annexed vnto these visyble sygnes or sacrameÌ„tes which ar only sene with yâ— eyes of our faith tasted with soule nameli that Roma x â–ª christ is yâ— fulfilling of yâ— law to iustify al yâ— beleue agayn christ hath put out yâ— handwryting yâ— was agaynst vs coÌ„ceaued in yâ— lawe writteÌ„ that hath he takeÌ„ out of the way hath fastened it to yâ— crosse hath spoyled rule Câ—lâ— ii power hathe triuÌ„phed ouer theÌ„ in his own person And last of al paul sayth that we ar Roma vi not now vnder the law but vnder grace for it is wrytteÌ„ to the only consolatioÌ„ comfort of al afflicted coÌ„scieÌ„ces that willingly repeÌ„t theÌ„ of theyr wickednes That christ for no other purpose i Timo. i came into thys world but to saue synners For he hath coÌ„fessed hym self to be soch a god so mercyful so kynd louinge to theÌ„ that repent theyr wickednes that he wyl not remeÌ„bre theyr iniquities which they haue wroughte but they shal lyue because of yâ— ryghtuousnesse that he hathe wroughte And therfore thus wryteth Ezechiel the prophet of of him euen in hys own person speaking As truly as I liue I Ezech 33 haue no pleasure in the deth of a synner but moch rather yâ— yâ— wicked turne froÌ„ his way lyue to declare his mercy how it lusteth to see al meÌ„ saued beholde how frendely he speaketh vnto Ierem. â— Israel saying Returne o thou rebel froÌ„ syn I wyl not turne my face from the for I wyl not theÌ„ be angry wyth the for euer Thus ye se good brethreÌ„ howe mercifully yâ— almyghtyest hath wrought wyth vs mortal creatures â–ª beyng but dust asshes that it hath pleased his diuyne maiestie so moch to teÌ„der oure weake sperites coÌ„passed about wythe the pryson infectuous dongion of flesshe and bloude that in the receyte of thys vysyble sygnes we haue wherwyth to comfort strengtheÌ„ augmeÌ„t augmeÌ„t our hope to saluacion namely yâ— promises of his most sacred worde which neuer fayleth yâ— faythful yâ— assuredly trusteth therin for
not yâ— body but the sacrameÌ„t of yâ— body therfore he sayd as oft as ye eate drynke of this bread wyne ye shal preache his deth whych is exalted aboue yâ— cloudes tyl he come agayn for he is departed hens to be oure attorney before the trone of Maiestye of the of the which departure the scripture beareth vs wytnes spokeÌ„ by hys own mouth saying Vado ad patrem paraturus vobis locum that is to saye I go to my father to prepare you a place And agayn VeritateÌ„ dico expedit vobis vt abeam Si non abiero coÌ„solator ille non veniet ad vos Sin abiero mitta ad vos that is to saye I say for truth It is nedeful that I go hence yf I goo not hence that comforter shall not come vnto you but yf I go hence I wil send him vnto you Whyche sperite is not sente to cloke our wyckednes or to suffer vs to dwel in darkenes and in errour but as Iohan sayth to reproue the worlde of syn of vnryghtuousnes and of iudgement De peccato quia non credidit Ioh viii in me De iustitia quia ad patrem vado post hac non videbitis me De iudicio quia princeps huius mundi iam iudicatus est That is to saye Of syn because it beleued not in me Of iustice because I go to my father after thys you shall not see me Of iudgemeÌ„t because the prince of this world is now iudged And therfore sayth christ I haue manye thynges to tell you but ye are as yet vnable to beare them awaye But I go vnto my father whych hath sent me that according to my promes I may send you the sperit of truth which shal without doubte leade you into all truthe to do the wyll of my father The sperite receaued Paule whan his eyes were opened Whyche moued hym to testyfye in thys wyse of our mediator saying Christ is the bishop of our soules which wyth an oblation of hys owne Hebre. 10 precious body hath offered vp hym selfe ones for all on the altare of yâ— crosse wheron he hath made theÌ„ perfecte for euer whoÌ„ he hath sanctified beyng soche an hygh byshoppe whych hath gone thorowe the heauens and sytteth on the right hand of the trone of Maiestie there beyng the admynystrator of the euerlasting tabernacle whom god hath made and not maÌ„ Whose sperite hath taught paule thys doctrine that so farre differeth from yours Did not the sperit of god whom christe promysed to lede al his in al truth Who taught you then this doctryne that thus rebellethe agaynste truthe the contrarye vnto thee truth Which is a lye of whom the deuyll is father as wytnesseth the scripture Come hether all ye â–ª that so stoutlye stande in this Lutherian errour and reproue as ye are shameles thee sperit of truth which speaketh in Paule Debate the matter with him Trye your selues as ye most fondely endeuor to be more wyser than the sperite of God which hath manifest sayd that christ sytteth on the ryght hande of the trone of maiestie to be an aduocate for mannes imperfection you saye that his bodye is in the sacrament vnder forme of breade flesshe and bloud euen as he was borne of the byrgyn Marye O good brethren hit wolde pytye anye Christian hart to see how with out shame ye goo about wythe your deuylyshe sophistrye and deceauable dreames to dysorder the workes of thee lyuynge god who hath coÌ„maunded hys sonne to sytte vpon hys ryghthand according to the testimonies of the prophet Dauid sayinge Dixit dominê° domino meo sede a dextris meis donec posuero inimicos tuos scabellum pedum tuorum that is to say The lord sayd vnto my Lorde syt at my ryght hande vntyl I shal make thyne enemies thy fote stole Alas what meane you thus willinglye to reioyse in darkenes syns gods word beyng yâ— lyght of our feete hath opeÌ„ly shewed vs that no iote of the law or testymonyes of yâ— ê“phetes shuld escape vndone in christ the end mathe v of the lawe prophetes whose mouthes were not open to speake thinges in vayne wherfore syns theyr testimonies ar true whych of necessytie must be fulfylled by Christ for asmoch as god had so ordeyned hit howe dare ye agayne saye the sperite of truth whych affyrmeth hym not only to be ther personallye on the right hand of his father but also hathe appoynted hym to come agayn in the confyrmation of the hole worlde euen in the same from that he departed to gather the corne into the barne burne the chaffe wyth vnquencheable fyere and yet saye you that he is here in the sacrament horribly wyth your lyes blasphemyng the sacred Testament sanctifyinge in the bloud of thee lambe beynge the lawe in dede whom he hath delyuered vnto his people to directe them in theyr waye to perfectioÌ„ nomore wrytten in the table of stone but in hys beloued teÌ„ple the symple hartes of the faythfull as he hym selfe affyrmeth sayinge I wyl geue my lawes Hebre 8 in theyr mynde in theyr hertes wyl I wryte them I wylbe theyr god and they shall be my people euen this law vnadvisedly as I suppose ye despyce and frowardly deny this truth whom the sperit of truth hathe therin wrytten beyng sealed with the precious blood of christ Iesus but it is manyfeste in thee scripture that he whych dispyseth Moyses lawe dyeth without mercye vnder twoo or thre wytnesses Of how moch more sorer punyshment suppose ye shal he be counted worthy whyche treadeth vnder fote the sonne of god counteth the bloud Hebre 10. of the newe testament whereby we are sanctified and vngodly thing and doth dishonour the sperit of grace Alas what dishonour can ther be more to the most hiest that of mercy and of faythfulnes hathe sende vnto vs selye wretches his holy sperite to guide the starne of oure sences yâ— at no tyme they shuld fal vpon the daÌ„gerous rockes of erroure and false doctryne than lytle regardyng his mercyful kindnes not only to speake manyfeste heresye agaynste this truth but also moost arrogantly to iudge our weake sperite able to confounde the wysedom of God mynistered vnto vs by hys blessed worde and mooste stoutlye dysdayne to be ruled thereby â–ª Coulde a shyppe beynge tossed hether and hether thether in the teÌ„pestuous sea ready of yâ— vnmercyfull water to be ouerwhelmed be scotfre froÌ„ danger yf yâ— rude and vnlerned marynors shuld agayn say the wysdom of theyr pilate vnto whoÌ„ god hath reueled the craft polycye through his gracious ayde to leade her from perels No truly Verely nomore is your wysdoÌ„ able in these troubelous opynyons or disceatfull gynnes of Sathan where wyth he purposethe to ouerthrowe the shyppe of youre vnderstaÌ„ding to rule her dangerles yf ye agayn say the wisdom of your lodesmaÌ„ or sterer whom God by hys almyghtye power hath instructed to leade you froÌ„ errour to knowledge from
for as moch as he hath so vnreuerentlye handeled thys bodye not according vnto hys worthines but vnkyndly robbed hym of hys honour whych is his as natiuelye as the bryghtenes is the son and as daungerous to be disceuered Quia ipse est glorie Hebre i spleÌ„dor figura substancia patris That is to saye For he is thee bryghtnes of the glory and the Image of the fathers substaÌ„ce What is he therfore that wyll say Christes body to be inglorious lyns he is the brightnes of his fathers glorie for in the scripture it is called yâ— glorious day starre and therfore Peter knowing assuredly glory to belonge vnto thys body sayd Gloria 2. Pet. 3. Christo nunc in dieÌ„ eternitatis That is to saye Glorye be to Christ now and euer Agayne Iohan not entending to wythdrawe any thynge froÌ„ thys body sayd Gloriam honorem virtutem dignus es accipere insecula apoca 4. seculoruÌ„ That is to say Thou art worthy to haue glorye honoure power for euer Christ also hath sayd by the mouth of hys Euangelyste that who so honoureth not the sonne the same honourethe not thee father for thys cause verely hath god geuen al iudgement to hys son mathe 11 luke 10 Iohan. 5. that all men might honour the son euen as they honoured the father Syns then yâ— ye dreame christes natural body to be here presently â—n the SacrameÌ„t why shal we not then fall down and worshyp it For yf at the name of Iesus al knyes shal bowe as sayth the scripture both in heaueÌ„ and in yearth how moch more ought they to bowe yf they se hys body as ye say in the sacrament for thys we se euen amoÌ„g vs mortal creatures dayly in experience that whan the name of a prynce or emperour in any ciuile matters apperteyning to a coÌ„moÌ„ weale is named amoÌ„g his subiectes they al vncouet theyr heades But whan the person or body of the kyng is presente they fall down vpoÌ„ theyr knies and honoure him Howe moche more oughte we yf it were true as ye saye Whych as is a very lye in dede to fall downe worshyppe the euerlasting prynce immortal body of Christ Iesus But Luther hym selfe hath forbid the worshippyng of this body ergo he must of force eyther deny the bodely presens of christ not to be in the sacrameÌ„t or elles robbed the bodye of hys nature and dishonour the sperit of grace for glorye doth wyllingly folowe thys symple and innocent body of Christ because he humbled hym self to death for the sauegarde of hys as it becometh a good shepeherd wherof yâ— wysemaÌ„ hath thus testified saying GloriaÌ„ precedet humilitas That Proue-15 is to saye Humilitie goeth before glyrye Towhom subscribeth the prophet in thys wyse saying Gloria dominum magna est quia Psa xviii Prou-15 excelsus dominus That is to saye â–ª Thee glorye of the Lorde is great because he is high â–ª For hys body now is a glorified body reuereÌ„tly to be worshypped of Christians Therfore to conclude it were very absurde and out of frame to saye that there is his bodi and deny him that that his body hath deserued of vs vnto whom belongeth thee kyngdom power and glory for euer and euer Amen Agayne Luther wold haue the letter to be symplye vnderstande wythout any interpretacion or troope that because Christe sayde Hocest corpus meum That is to say Thys is my body Therfore it is hys body Surely yf the wyl of God had refuced the interpretacion of hys worde than was he moch to blame to send hys hooly sperit to mynyster soch gyftes vnto men But who is he that accuseth the maiestie of god or reproueth hym in hys doyinges therfore they are not al fautlesse that reproueth the interpretacion whych agreeth wyth the wyll of God For yf ye stand vpon thys narowe ebbe that otherwyse than the letter there shulde be no interpretacion ye shuld not only accuse christ him self whych to hys discyples mystically speaking many thinges very hard for them to vnderstande accordiÌ„g to yâ— letter to make it playn vnto theÌ„ dyuerse times and oft expounded vnto them But also yâ— sperit of truthe for we rede that where as Mathew Marke the Euangelistes haue wrytten of thys Sacrament in this wyse Drynke hereof al thys is my bloud of the newe testameÌ„t Luke and Paule are so bold by the same sperit to enterpret and make playner the same wordes saying this is the new testameÌ„t in my bloude not that the sense differeth but too interpret thee wordes more playner to yâ— fleshe bloud which alwayes not led by yâ— speryt of God by false iudgemeÌ„t is a stoÌ„bling stock to hir self If thou by the same speryt hath manifestly declared the same body beyng now in glorye wyth hys eternal father not to he in the sacrameÌ„t but hathe by hys chosen mynister paul interpreted the wordes of the euaÌ„gelistes saying as ofte as ye eate of thys bread drynke of thys cup preache ye yâ— lordes death tyl he come why rebelleth Luther hys adhereÌ„tes agaynst yâ— wil of god or why preferre they theyr ImaginacioÌ„s before the the purpose of our heauenly father seyng that he vnsealed Paules lippes for this cause to preche this sayinge vnto the rude corinthiaÌ„s the therby thei might vnderstaÌ„d for what coÌ„sideracioÌ„ this visible signe bread wyne was instituted of christ our sauiour namelye to preache thys inuisyble grace yâ— the breaking of Christes body shedinge of hys precious bloud hath pacified yâ— vengeance of hys father which was deuised agaynst Adam Iohan. â— â–ª his of spryng cleÌ„sed vs froÌ„ our synnes so the to theÌ„ the with assured affiance wtout waueriÌ„g are planted in thys hys bodye Rom viii ther remayneth no daÌ„natioÌ„ for he came to seke and saue that was loste that all that beleued â—uke ix in him shuld haue lyfe euerlastynge accordynge to the testy Iohan. 3. to the testymony of the prophet Oseas Thy dampnation o Israel came of thi self â–ª but thy saluacion of our lord Iesus christ Yf the letter good brethreÌ„ shulde be symple vnderstand Alas what shuld our carnal wysedoÌ„ and dulle sences make of christ our mercy seate and lyuing sauiour whych dayly noryssheth vs wyth hys aboundant grace hath he not called hym selfe in the letter a dore a vyne and awaye wyth soche lyke phrases in the scripture ye truly I pray the theÌ„ good congregation Answere me Wherfore hathe he thus called hym self Because thou shuldest iudge him a material dore a vyne or waye no truelye wherfore than doubtlesse Osee 14 because thy mortal eye perceaueth that the propertie of a dore is to opeÌ„ the waye into the mansyon place wythoute the dore nomaÌ„ can enter dangerles Euen so it vouchsaued Christe by hys holy sperit to instructe the immortall eye of thy soule namely thy fayth that christ is the onelye dore that leadeth vs vnto