Lord 28. Let a man therefore examine himselfe and so let him eate of this bread and drinke of this Cup. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnatiō because he discerneth not the Lords body c. Here the Apostle sheweth vs the danger of the vnworthy receiuing the Lordes body and blood and also the meanes how we may bée worthy receiuers of the same namely by examining our selues which examinatiō consisteth chiefly in foure pointes That is to say in Faith Kepentance Giuing of thanks to God and loue towards our neighbours First we must haue Faith that is to say a certaine and infallible assurance and firme perswasion that God is a mercifull Father vnto vs in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whom he deliuered to death for vs. Yea euery sinner must apply Christ his merites particularly vnto himselfe This Faith commeth not of vs neither is it grounded vpon vs or vpon any thing that is in vs but it commeth from God and is grounded vpon God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost and vpon the promises of the Gospell confirmed inwardly within vs by the working of the holy Ghost which cryeth in our hearts Abba Rom. 8 15 Gal. 4.6 that is to say Father Furthermore this faith is nourished confirmed and increased in vs by the holy Sacraments For in the Supper God as a good father after that he had once brought vs into his Church by Baptisme nourisheth vs spiritually with the proper substance of his Sonne Iesus Christ applying and making proper vnto euery one of vs the merit of his death and passion To this ende and purpose is it that Iesus Christ himselfe giueth vs the Bread and Wine that he commandeth vs Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.21 Luke 22.19 1. Cor 11.14 to eate and drinke it that he saith that the Bread is his body which is giuen for vs and that the Wine is his blood which is shed for the remission of our sinnes by which words he giueth himselfe wholly vnto vs he will be out nourishment and spirituall life he wil dwell in vs by his holy Spirit and will that we abide in him by faith that through beliefe we may not perish but haue eternall life Iohn 3 36.18 Psal 8.7 Mat. 11. Heb. 1.2 Iohn 17.12.27 and 28. whereof he is the onely heyre and giuer In like sort the breaking of the Bread of the Supper serueth to the confirmation of our Faith and sure warranting of our saluation insomuch as it assureth vs and causeth vs to see with spirituall eyes that Iesus Christ was once broken with the paines of death in Hierusalem to deliuer vs from the same and to get vs eternall life Also in that that by the Commandement of Christ Iesus we take the Bread in our hands and then the Cup moreouer in that that we eate the Bread and drinke the Wine which turne into the nourishment of our bodies we are certified that by the hands of Faith we take and imbrace Iesus Christ our Lorde for our onely Sauiour and Redéemer and that by the same Faith we eate his body spiritually and drinke his blood to the hope of eternall life Nowe euery one of vs must liue by his owne faith according as wée may make our Confession in the Beliefe which is called the Apostles in that euery man saith by himselfe I beleeue in God and saith not Wée beléeue We must not here cast our braines or thinke vpon the beléeuing or vnbeléeuing vpon the worthynesse or vnworthynesse of an other man but vpon our owne For S. Paul doth not teach vs to examine other men or that other men should examine vs but he saith namely Let a man examine himselfe Therefore let euery one of vs for his owne part be assured in his heart that Iesus Christ the true Messias is come into the world to saue sinners amongst whom hée ought to account estéeme himselfe by the example of S. Paul the chiefest Let him beleeue that Iesus Christ came downe from Heauen into earth to lift him vp from earth to heauen that he was made the Sonne of man to make him the child of God that hée was conceyued by the holy Ghost and that he was borne of the Virgin Marie to purifie and cleanse his wicked conception and birth .. Let him perswade himselfe that the Sonne of God hath ourcome the Diuel to deliuer him from the tyranny and slauish subiection of the Diuell that he hath fulfilled all the Lawe louing God his Father with all his heart strength and might and his neighbour as himselfe to get him iustice that hée appeared before Pilate an earthly Iudge and receiued as an euill doer sentence of condemnation for this life to exempt him frō appearing before the terrible iudgement seate of Gods iustice to receiue sentence of death and euerlasting damnation for that he had offended one eternal and euerlasting God Let him assure himselfe Psal 22.1 that the same Iesus Christ went downe to Hell for him that is to say that hée suffered the sorrowes and terrours of the second death and of the sincere wrath of God to deliuer him that hée died a death accursed of God in that hée was hanged on the Crosse to purchase him life and blessing before God that hée rose againe for a gage and assurance of his resurrection that he ascended into Heauen for a certaine token that hée also shall ascend thither that hée sitteth on the right hand of God his Father to be for him an euerlasting Priest Teacher King defender reconciler and aduocate to be short that he shall come at his last comming for his comfort and full redemption We must also euery one of vs for his owne part make proper vnto our selues yea and make ours all the goodnesse and all the riches that is in Iesus Christ because that in giuing himselfe to vs he giueth vs also his benefits So then in that that Iesus Christ is God it is to make vs partakers of his Diuinitie in that that he is heyre and Lord of the world it is to make vs partakers of his Lordship and inheritance and that we recouer in him the gouernment of all things which we lost in Adam in that that he is well beloued of his Father it is that we may be acceptable vnto him in that that he is rich it is to make vs partakers of his riches in that that he hath all power against the Diuel Sinne Hell Antichrist the Worlde and all our enemies it is to defend and shield vs in that that he is iust and good it is to iustifie vs and make vs good in that that he is happy and immortall it is to make vs partakers of his blessednesse and immortalitie When we shall thus particularly apply all the actions and benefites of Iesus Christ our Lord and also all his essentiall qualities vnto our selues putting our whole trust in him and in his promises and distrusting
Iesus in the supper in that we are made flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones in that we liue by his holy spirit ought not this vpon good cause to exhort vs to conforme our selues to the Image and likenesse of the holines of our Lord Iesus Christ Can he dwel in vs nourish vs with his own substance quicken vs with his holy spirit ioyne vs vnto himself by the bond of Faith yet so that he his holy spirit and faith bring not forth in vs good holy works Moreouer for so much as he doth not giue himselfe vnto vs halfemeale and destitute of his qualities and riches accompanied with all spirituall giftes and blessings adorned with righteousnesse and perfection accompanied with innocencie sanctification how can we receiue Iesus Christ enriched with all his graces that the righteousnesse of our head may not shine in vs which are members yea shine in all our parts as well inward as outward Must it needs be that the two partes of our soule that is to say our mind and heart which ought to apprehende and take hold of the promises of God which ought to receiue by faith the body and blood of our lord Iesus Christ that is to say whole Iesus Christ true God equal in euery respect to God his father and true man made of humane body and soule that this minde heart I say must be applyed to the meditation and loue of worldly and wicked things being destitute of the knowledge and loue of God and of the loue of our neighbour Doth it behoue our body which is the temple of God to be prophaned That our eares which were created of God to heare his voice shuld be stopped against it and be opened to vanities wanton talke vnchast worldly songes Doth it behooue our tongue which is bound by the right of creation to sing the praises of God and by the right of redemption to shew forth the Lords death till he come h That this tongue which is so proper an instrument of the glory of God should be mute to goodnesse incessantly occupied in backbiting slaundering blaspheming or at the least in speaking idle words whereof one day wée shal yéeld an account before the throne of the Maiesty of God i Mat. 12.36 Doeth it behoue our mouth which ought to receiue the blessed signe of the body and blood of our Lord Iesus to suppresse the benefit of our redemption and to haue adders poyson in it Doeth it behooue our hands which ought to take at the supper the assured gage of the loue of God the infallible pledges of his league with vs the earnest penny of our saluation to be voide of goodnesse beside that be giuen to extortion theft murther oppression violence Doth it behooue our féete which ought to runne and make hast to goodnesse to be ready and light to runne to mischiefe No surely but as he which calleth vs is holy so likewise must we also be wholy holy as he hath brought vs by holy Baptisme into his holy house which is his Church the Cōmunion of Saints Euen so likewise must we lead therein a good holy conuersation as he hath washed vs from our sinnes by the precious blood of his sonne Iesus Christ so must we dye to them liue in righteousnesse as he hath called vs to the the incorruptible hope of the blessed resurrection eternal life so must we lift vp our harts on high and not be buried like Moles in this fraile and transitorie earth To be short séeing that the grace of God is set before vs euery day and his holy word soundeth in our eares l Tit. 2.11 12.13.14 to this onely end that it may be saluation vnto vs and that renouncing all vngodlinesse worldly desires we should liue soberly iustly and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ We must pray vnto this good God that he would giue vs grace so to behaue our selues towardes him in liuing godly so towards our neighbours in liuing iustly so towards the poore in reléeuing them charitably so towards our selues in liuing soberly that we may be found at the day irreprehensible by the meanes of that his wel beloued Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ 3 Thirdly Of thankes giuing we must giue thanks to this good God for the benefit of our redemption for this cause it is that the Auncients called the holy supper Eucharistia that is to say gratefulnesse good grace giuing of thankes For if so be that our ordinary food and daily bread which GOD giueth vs for the nourishmēt of our bodies ought to be sanctified by the word receiued with thankesgiuing ought we not much more to thanke God for the heauenly bread for the nourishment of our soules which is offered vnto vs really giuen vs in the holy Supper of Iesus Christ And we sée also how Iesus Christ himselfe sheweth vs an example hereof For when he tooke the bread of the Supper S Matthewe and S. Marke say that Iesus Christ blessed And S. Luke expoundeth this word to blesse when he saith that he gaue thankes Now then séeing that we sée that Iesus Christ when he tooke the bread of the supper gaue thankes to God his father as he did also when he tooke the cup that for the redemption of mākind it is our duty to do the like And that we may be the better moued to giue thanks to God we haue to consider the greatnesse of the benefit of our redemption and the excellency of the gift which God giueth vs at his holy table which cannot bée done vnlesse we consider our miserable condition which was before figured by the temporall captiuitie of Egypt We see there how Pharaoh was strong and mighty how he knew not the generall how he went about to kill all the séede of the Israelites Exe 1.3 by the suppression and death of their men children we sée also how excessiuely he caused the Israelites to worke without any hope of wages how he would not suffer them by any meanes to sacrifice to the Lord nor to goe forth of the land of Egypt Which thing continued not for one yeare or two but for the space of foure hundred and thirtie f Exo. 12.30 yeares Here may we liuely beholde a draught of our misery We were all lost and destroyed in Adam Wee were holden captiues in the helly Egypt vnder the Tyranny of a spirituall Pharaoh which is the Diuell This Tyrant was strong and mighty hee suffered vs not to serue our GOD. He made vs to labour incessantly in slauish and vnfruitfull workes of sinne to the establishment of his owne kingdome He slew not onely our men children but he led vs all indifferently to vtter ruine and destruction And this Tyranny had not onely continued for a certaine time but had béene eternall and
how to decke and set out themselues with fine apparel with swéete smelles with daunces and other like allurements The which to doe is no better then to wrest the heauenly light of the minde which was made to beholde God to the obedience of a most wicked bond-slaue and to make the minde being withdrawne from heauenly exercises to be subiect vnto the appetites of a most abiect hand-maide 8 Therefore whoredome is a great and intollerable tyranny ouer the minde of man And no lesse is that tyranny of Ambition For behold and see what a heauie yoke ambition layeth vpon his bondmen commanding them that al their words and workes bée wholly imployed as nets and snares to get the common praise and fame of men and it compelleth them also to creepe as it were vpon the ground and to flye through the ayre For man at the commandement of Ambition séeketh to climbe higher then all men to bée subiect to none to rule al men and yet sometime when occasion serueth he prostrateth himselfe and humbleth himselfe to al men Thus the miserable man being contrary to himselfe and deuided in himselfe outwardly preferreth humilitie and in heart pride 9 Furthermore the lawes of this most cruel tyrant are such that if a man doe receiue a litle reproache or detriment eyther by right or by wrong he thinketh that he is vtterly disgraced if hée doe not presently reuenge it and if by no other meanes then to prouoke his enemie to some singular combat and so rather to loose his soule and body then to hazard the least part of his dignitie 10 I omit the tyranny of couetousnes and of other vices which are innumerable affirming with the Prophet Dauid that all the seruants of sinne do sit in darknes and in the shadowe of death fast bound in miserie and iron For what greater blindnesse can be imagined then that man should not know himselfe that he should not know God that he should not know wherefore he liueth and seeth not his bondes his miseries his perils and his harmes 11 And what greater miserie can there be then that miserable man should haue an infinite sort of desires as it were an infinite sort of mouthes stomacks which alwayes barke alwayes craue alwayes hunger and is not able to satisfie and fill so much as one of them 12 But now let vs sée what reward sin giueth vnto her seruants for so great labors Let vs harken to the Apostle and he wil tell vs The wages of sinne saith he is death that is to say both the first and the second death For what gall is to the lips a Cockatrice to the eyes a dead carcasse to the nose and Alowes to the taste the same and more is sin to the soule of man 23 Therefore let the bond-slaues of sin and wickednes go and serue their masters let them run into all dangers let them not spare for cost nor labors let them watch day night least peraduenture they be beguiled of so great a stipend O fooles which for the wages of eternal death will willingly beare so heauie a yoke when as with much lesse labour ye might serue righteousnesse who rewardeth her seruants with eternall liâ—e in the kingdome of heauen Wicked men labor and good men labour also both suffer both sweate both delue and digge but good and godly men till that ground likewise husbandmen which is firme sound fruitfull that is to say they exercise themselues in good workes and in sound vertues whereby they rearpe in the ende euerlasting life but wicked and vngodly men plow in the sand and sowe in the flesh and of the same shall receiue the wages of sinne eternal death 14 Therefore whether yée consider the wickednesses by themselues or the wages of the same the seruice of sin must néeds be horrible and wofull But yet there is nothing which doth so much set foorth the miserie of seruitude and the excellency of libertie as the manner of our setting at liberty and the passion of the Deliuerer For God which made the world without labour and as it were with a becke onelie at his will that he might deliuer vs from bondage slauery thought it good to be borne in a stable and was content to die in sorowes and paines But what manner of sorrowes Verilie such that the onely cogitation expectation of them might haue bin able to haue brought him into a bitter agonie to sweate water and bloud plentifullie The suffering of them made the most hard stones to rent the earth to tremble and heauen it selfe to be abashed 15 If God made so great a reckoning of thy libertie that hee vouchsafed to take vpon him the forme of a seruaunt and to liue thrée and thirtie yeares in hunger and thirst in colde in nakednes in fastings in watchings in iorneys in persecutions and in the end to shead forth his most precious heart bloud vppon the Crosse rather then hée would suffer this precious gemme to be taken from out of his handes let vs then acknowledge that excéeding glorie of the sonnes of God wherevnto wée are called which is the mother of all good things which alone is able to giue true peace perfite ioye blessed rest and tranquilitie If the heathen Romains of olde time for a false and fading libertie suffered great perils and death it selfe as Quintus Mutius Scaeuola thrust into the fire his right hand the Decii vowed themselues to the death that their legions of souldiers might bée preserued and get the victory Curtius being armed at all points and mounted vpon a horse threwe himselfe willingly into a gulphe of the earth that the Cittie of Rome might be deliuered from the pestilence for so had the Oracle giuen answere that the wrath of the gods would cease if that which the Romains estéemed best were throwne into that gulph Brutus also for the preseruation of the libertie of his Countrey did not sticke to slay his owne children If the heathen I say estéemed thus of their liberty which is in no point comparable to ours how much ought we to estéeme of that most true liberty wherby we are deliuered from sinne from sathan from death and from the wrath of GOD. They sought humaine praise a thing doubtlesse vnconstant and of small force as appeareth by the saying of the Poet Virgill concerning Brutus His Countries loue him driues and greedie lust of endlesse same But our ende is to approue our selues vnto God whose iudgment cannot be deceiued and to get the prize of the kingdome of heauen and the fellowship of Angels which is set before vs as the ende of our libertie which we séeke to attaine by this Pilgrimage CHAP. X. Concerning the Imitation of Christ THe true and sound perfection of a Christian man coÌ„sisteth in this to imitate Christ so neere as possibly he can for he is the head we are his members he is the captaine we his souldiers he is the Doctor we are his disciples It is said
and seruice let vs not grow secure forgetting our duties vnto him in regard of so vnspeakable a blessing least he come shortly remoue our candlestick from vs. Apoc. 2. For he hath no lesse cause to execute this iudgement against vs now then he had of old time against the obstinate and vnthankful Iewes of whome he complayneth thus What shall I doe vnto thee 2. Esdr 1. O Iacob thou Iuda wouldest not obay I will turne me to other nations and to those will I giue my name For hee entreateth vs continually as a father doth his sonnes as a mother her daughters and as her nourse her young babes that we would be his people and loe by our disobedience wée refuse It is therefore to be feared that the kingdome of God shall be taken from vs and giuen to a nation Math. 21. which will bring forth fruites of the same For I am verily perswaded there is nothing that will more spéedily depriue vs of Gods fauour and that will sooner bring vppon vs his heauy iudgements then our vnthankfulnes in abusing his word and ministerie 14 It fareth with vs as it did with the Israelites after their mighty deliuerance out of Egypt in the wildernesse who at the first when Manna was strange vnto them liked it wonderfully so that they would runne out euen on the sabboth although they were forbiddeÌ„ to gather it but soone after waxed weary of it Euen so in the beginning of Quéene Elizabeth most happy raigne we al as meÌ„ almost hunger-starued for lack of the spirituall food of Gods word the Manna of our soule were right glad by what occasion or from what maner of persoÌ„ soeuer we might heare that Angelical tidings as it were from heaueÌ„ of our saluation in Christ of our iustification through faith in him yea how ioyful were we then to heare God serued in our vulgar tongue with that same forme of praier now vsed in the Church which some nice wantons at this day condemne saying Nauseat anima nostra wée loath this wée wil haue a better forme wee wil set vp a Temple in Gerezin in stead of that in Hierusalem 15 Through this fulnes some are growen so lasie and vnlusty towards the spiritual Manna that they wil no more goe seeke it abroad as in former time of néed but they wil haue it brought home to their houses and so make the publick minister a parlor preacher as if it were now a time of persecutioÌ„ wheras Ely hath his open place by one of the pillers of the Temple wher any man may find him which is desirous of knowledge For they which desired to be instructed by Christ asked him Rabbi vbi habitas Maister wher dwellest thou He answered Come and see And they came to him not he to them he himselfe commanding it should be so If any man thirst let him come to me 16 And as touching Religion many be of Gallios mind that it is nothing but a question of names or of Pharaos minde that it is but a vaine thing or at most of king Agrippas minde to be halfe Christians But Nazianzene to the Arrians saith Aut totum honora aut totum abijce Either honor Christ wholely or cast Christ wholly away 17 There be also many which deale with Gods word his religion as doth the Butter-flye with the swéet flowers and that is euen to dye their wings with them that they may séem to be of a fair painted cullor These thinke that holines consisteth in often much hearing how litle soeuer they practise They can endure the sowing of a Gomer although thy reape but an Epha To these it may bée said as Phocion said sometime to the Athenian haÌ„ds O quam multos duces quam pauces milites more teachers then followers 18 And as for the ministerie it serueth for nothing now adaies but euen for a whetstone to set the peoples tongs on edge withal Come say they let vs smite Ieremy with the toÌ„ng giue no héede vnto his words Gods Ministers haue cause to coÌ„plaine as Ezech. in his time that they be iudged condemned at the dores of mens houses or as christ and his apostles by the fire side and as Iohn Baptist that they receiue their iudgement at the tablecloth or carpet not from any iudiciall seat 19 Do we think that God wil suffer stil this coÌ„tempt of his word ministery vnpunished he hath already looked a long time for our amending hath long borne with our euil doing And although it is truly said of God in respect of his long sufferaÌ„ce that he hath leaâ—â—â— feete so as truly it may be said in respect of his any iudgemeÌ„ts following the same that he hath yron hands Hée commeth against vs slowly but when he comes he payeth home surely 20 For these forty and sixe yeares past who hath ledde the life of delights but wee What nation vnder heauen hath bene happy but our English nation Our God hath long loued vs Our God hath long suffered vs and with his chéerfull countenance hath most louingly looked vpon vs But euen as the Troians when their citie was beaten downe flat to the ground saide thus Troia fuit there was a Troy or we had a Troy so the time may come wherein we may say God was in this place and we wist it not we had once Gods fauour we acknowledged it not 21 Lt vs then in time recall our selues to a better consideration and let vs constantly and thankfully imbrace the word of God and perseuer in the way of godlinesse It was king Hezechias singular commendation that he did cleaue vnto the Lord and departed not from him And it was a Christian resolution of Policarpe to the Léefetenant of Anthony who incited him to deliuer himselfe from imprisonment and bonds by blaspheming Christ to whom he made this answer These eighty sixe yeares haue I serued him and yet did he neuer hurt me and sure Gal. 3. I will not forsake him now Euen so let vs resolue that for so much as we haue begun our pilgrimage in the spirit neuer to ende it in the fleshe And that if all the worlde would fall away from God and his word yet wée and ours will serue the Lorde Iosua 24. would admonish thee to enter into the Court of Conscience and examine thy selfe especially in these foure points following THE COVRT OF CONSCIENCE Wherein euery Sinner may examine and trie himselfe whether he be fitly prepared to receiue the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper DEarely beloued in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ If we will be worthy receiuers of the holy Supper of our most blessed Sauiour and Redéemer it is necessarie that we hearken vnto the holy Apostle S. Paule in his first Epistle to the Corinthians Chapter 11. verse 27. Where he saith thus Whosoeuer shall eate this bread and drinke the Cuppe of the Lord vnworthyly shall be guiltie of the body and blood of the
sée also that the Wine is made of many clusters of grapes yet after it is made is but one onely wine in like sort must the Christians which are many in themselues bée ioyned together throught loue into one body which is the Church whereof Iesus Christ ought to bée the onely head and leader But wée must note that this loue whereunto we are exhorted by so many reasons of the Supper cannot bee where there is enuie brawling contentions rancour debate and diuision and therefore before wée come to the Supper which is a witnes of our agréement as well with Christ as with his congregation if wee haue had any strife and contention with our brethren wée must louinglie reconcile our selues vnto them If any man haue offended vs wée must franckely and fréely forgiue our brethren h Mat. 5.23.44 yea our enemies as wée would that our good GOD should pardon vs and as wée sée how IESVS CHRIST our Lorde hath left vs an example of his loue when he praied to GOD his Father for his enemies which put him to death i Luke 23.34 as wée read also that Saint Stephen did the same k Acts. 7.60 Againe wée must also marke that this loue ought to bee practised in all estates Kings must loue their subiects they must be Nurces l Esai 49.23 of the Churche of GOD louers of common peace they must vse their people with all moderation and clemencie So likewise must the people honor the King m 1. Pet. 2.13 14.15 Ro. 13.2.3 they must pay him their tribute faithfullie they must be obedient to all his Lieftenants and Officers The Pastour must loue his flocke n Acts. 20.28.31 1. Pet. 5.2.3 hée must watch take paines and pray incessantly for it o. Sa. 12.13 So likewise must the shéepe loue their Pastour the fathers their children the children their fathers and mothers the wife the husband and the husband the wife the maisters their seruantes and the seruants their maisters and euery one in his calling must endeuour to exercise loue in that vocation wherevnto God hath called him For otherwise it wil be impossible for vs to doe our dueties faithfully aswel towards God as towards men if the rule of loue doe not guide and gouerne vs in all our doings Other necessarie obseruations for them that will come to the Lordes Table IN the foure Articles aforesaid consisteth the true examining of our selues notwithstanding we must take good héede to these poynts and notes which follow First wée haue to note that wée must not cast our heads and bende our braines to examine curiously another mās life as many do which stretch out and scanne so narrowly the blemishes of their brethren that they forget their owne It is to be wished and wée must procure it as much as lyeth in vs that the Church of God may be maintained in purity without shew of offence But forsomuch as in this world corne shall alwaies be mixed with chaffe wéedes with wheate Mat. 3.12 Mat. 13 24 Mat. 13.47 Mat 10. Mat. 25. good fishe with bad Iudas with true Apostles foolishe Virgins with wise yet none of vs must be affended therefore And moreouer let euery man indeuour to finde that perfection in himselfe which he desireth to bring into an other Secondly we must not thinke that faith repentance giuing of thankes and loue and other vertues which GOD requireth of vs can be perfect here in this worlde for there will be alwaies in vs what regenerate and newe borne soeuer wée be some remnantes of sinne of incredulitie of lacke of repentance of vnthankfulnesse selfe loue which is directly contrary and opposite to the true loue of our neighbour As long as we liue the flesh will fight against the Spirit Rom. 7.23.8.6.7 Galat. 5.1 1. Pet. 5.8 the Diuel and the worlde will make warre against vs as the life of the Patriarches Prophettes and Apostles doe sufficiently witnesse vnto vs so that euen to the last breath of our life we shall haue néede to craue of our God that he would forgiue vs our sinnes through his sonne Iesus Christ Notwithstanding so farre it is that the imperfections which are in vs should cause vs to drawe backe from God and from this holy banquet that rather so that we are displeased with our selues for them they ought to cause vs to come the sooner to the intent that as poore famished creatures we might more gréedily with greater desire receiue Iesus Christ which is the true shepheard of our soules Thirdly although it be not required of the worthy comming to the Supper to haue a perfect faith perfect repentance perfect giuing of thanks perfect Loue yet must they be notwithstanding true and procéede from the heart and from the spirit Our faith must not be feigned our repentance must not bée counterfeit and painted as that of hipocrites the thanks which we giue to GOD must not come onely from the mouth neither must we loue our brethren in word onely and not in déede but let the whole profession of our faith and Christian life aboue all things bée farre from ostentation and hypocrisie so that we take more paines to be good Christians in déede and before God then to be so counted and taken before men Of those that refuse wilfully BVt as there are many which do amisse in presenting themselues vnworthily to the Communion so there are manie which doe amisse on the contrary side in that they wil by no meanes come nor present themselues to this holie banket for feare of communicating as they say vnwoorthily and so consequently to be culpable of the body and blood of Iesus Christ But let them that abstaine of set purpose from the Lordes holy table knowe that it is no lesse faulte vpon an vnthankfulnesse and contempte to abstaine from the holie and sacred meates which God presenteth to vs at the Supper then to receiue it vnworthily as we see that a Patient which being very sicke maketh no account of the receyte and dyet which the Phisitian hath prescribed is no lesse faultie then hee which abuseth or vseth it not competently as the Phisitian hath appointed Therefore let not this sorte of people flatter themselees as though by this meanes they could be excused doth before God men seeing that it is a most certaine truthe that so hainous an ingratitude is in no wise to be admitted or worthy excuse For first of all such men doe willingly contemne the commandement of Iesus Christ which saith to all his Do this take yee eate yee Secondlie they contemne the blessed remembraunce of the death and Passion of the Sonne of GOD who commaundeth all the faithfull to celebrate the Supper in remembraunce of him Thirdly they contemne the price of their redemption that is to say the precious body and blood of Iesus Christ which are giuen distributed to all faithfull Christians in the Supper according as it is saide This is my body