followe one operaâion And where as is like reason there musâe followe like misterie But what so euer is signified bi the water as coÌcerninge the fayâhfull people is takeÌ spuÌallâ Therfore what so âuer is spokeÌ of the bloudâ iÌ the wine muste also nedâs betakin spuÌallie This reason is not mine but yt is made bi one bartraÌ vppoÌ a .700 yeres sins wheÌ this matt was fursâe iÌ disputacoÌ Where vppon at the instance of great Charâes the Emperourâ he made a boke êfessynge euyn the same thinge that I doo and êueth by the olde doctours and faythfull fathers that the sacrameÌt is Christes bodye in a misterie that ys âo saye a signe figure or memoriall of his bodye whiche was brokeÌ for vs and not his naturall bodye And therfore that doctrine ys newe w c otherwise teacheth and not myne w c ys not myne but the doctrine of Christe and of the olde fathers of Christes churche tyll Antichriste began to sytt and reigne in the temple of God Besydes that Cypriane sayth that the people ys annexed in the sacrameÌt thorough the miâture of water Therfor I meruell me moche that they are so coÌtentious and will not see that as the water ys the people so the wyne ys christes bloude that ys to saye in a misterye because yt representeth christes bloude as the water doth the people Furthermore Eusebius saythâ DuÌ in sacrameÌtis uino aqua miscetur christo fidelis populus incorporatur iungitur quadaÌ ei copula perfecta charitatis unitur That ys to saye whyâes in the sacrament water ys admixte w t the wyne the faithfull people ys incorporate Ioyned w t Christe aÌd ys made one w t hym w t a certâyne knott of êfayte charite Now where he sayeth that we are Ioyned and in corporate w t Christe what fondenes were yt to coÌtende syth we are there onlye in a misterye and not naturallye to contend I saye w t suche pertinacite that his naturall bodye muste be there and not rather that he ys Ioyned with vs as we are Ioyned with hym and both in a misterie bi the knott of parfayâe charyte The yonge man perceyuith well ynough that an allegorie vsed in some place is not a cause sufficient to leue the proper significations of godes worde in euery other place and seke an allegorye and forsake the playne comen sense For he confesseth that he wolde not so do saue for necessite because as he sayeth that the coÌmen lyterall sense is impossible For the thinge he sayth that is meÌte therbye can not be true That is to wite that the verye bodie of christe can be in the sacrament because the sacrameÌt ys in many diuerse places at onece and was at the maundye that ys to wite in the handes of Christe aÌd euerye of his appostellis mouthes And at that tyme yt was not glorified And then he saieth that Christes bodye not beinge glorified coulde no more be in to places at once than his awne can And yet he goth after furder and sayeth no more yt can whan yt is glorified to And that he êueth by the sayinge of S. Austen whose wordes be that the bodye with which Christ arose muste be in one place c. Hertherto hath maister More resoned reasonablie but now he beginnith to decline from the dignite of diuinite in to the dirtye dregges of vayne sophistrie For where I saye that I muste of necessite seke an allegorie because the literall sense is impossible and can not be true meaning that yt can not stoÌde w t the processe of scripture but that other textes do of necessiâe constraine me to construe yt spirituallye There caâchet he this worde can and this worde impossible and wolde make men beleue that I ment yt could not be true because reason can not reache yt but thinketh yt impossibâe And there he triumpheth beâore the victorie woldâ know what article of our faith I could assâgne in w c reason shall not dreue awaie the streÌgthe of mi pruffe â aâd make me leue the literall sense wherin my proffe shuld sâoÌd sende me to seke an allegorie that might stond w t reason and driue awayâ the faith But now deare brethern siht I speake not of the impossibilite of reason but of the impossibilite to stoÌde w t other textes of scripture ye maye see that this ryall reason is not worth a rishe Then wolde he faine knowe the place were s. AusâeÌ so saieth w c thiÌge allthought ât were harde for mâ to tell sith I haue not his bokes to loke for yt â yet I thaÌkâ god my memorie is not so bad but I can shewe him whâre he shall fiâde yt And because I thinke that he is more accustomed to the popes lawes then âo S. Ausâens workes â sith he is become the pÌlates proctoure and patrone I saye he shall not fayle but finde yt in hys lawes de coÌsecratione And where as he wolde wreste the wordes of s. Austen which saith that the bodie in w c Christe arose muste nedes be in one place sayinge that he might meane not that his bodie might not le iÌâiuerse places at onces but that yt muste be in one place that is to saie in some one place or other he speaketh sayth master more nothinge of the sacrameÌt nor saieth not his bodie w t w c he rosse muste nedes be in one place that yt can by no possibilite be in any mo This seameth to some a good lie glose aÌd yet yt shall êue but a vayne euasioÌ For yf a man wold saye that the kinges graces bodye muste be in one place and then a nother wolde expouÌde that natwtstoÌdynge his wordes hys graces bodye myght be in two places at once I thinke mân myght sone Iudge that he delicted to delaye and myght saye what nede he to determye that he muste be iÌ one plaâe except he thought in dede that he myght be in no mo but onlye onâ And though men myght so argue on other mens wordes yet of sainct AusteÌs wordes this muste nedes follow for he bryngyth them in as god wold by a contrarie antithesis sayinge Corpus in quo râsurrexit in uno loco esse oportet ueritas autem eius ubique diffusa est That ys to saye hys bodye wherin he rose muste be in one place but hys truth ys disperâed in all places Where he playnlye concludeth by the contrarye antithesis that as hys truth ys dispârsed in all places so muste hys bodye nedes be in one place onlye As by example yf a man shulde saye The kynge hys graces bodye muste nâdes be in one place but hys power ys thorough out hys Realme Where no man doubteth but that in saying one place he meaneth one place onlye And therfore though in some place that worde muste doth not signifie suche a necessite as excludeth all possibilite yet iÌ this place yt doth so signifie as the contrarye antithesis doth euidently
that thing wher in they were offended By this wearke you shall espye their blasphemies the venemous tonges wher w t they sâlaunder not onlye them that publyshe the truthe but euyn the truth yt seelfe They shame not to saye that we affyrme yt to be onlye bred and nothinge els And we saye not so but we saye that besyde the substance of bred yt is the sacrament of Christes bodye and bloud As the yuye hangyng before the tauerne doore ys more then bare yuye For beside the substance of yuye yt ys a signe and signifyeth that there is wyne to be sould And this sacrament signifyeth vnto vs and poynteth oute before oure eyes that as verely as that bred is broken so verely was christes bodye broken for our synnes And as that bred is distributed vnto vs so is hys bodie and fructe of hys passyon distributed vnto all hys faythfull And as the bred comforteth the bodie so doth the fayth in Christes deth coÌforte oure soules And as surelye as we haue that bred and eate yt wyth oure mouth and teth and knowe by our senses that we haue yt w t in vs and are partakers therof no more nede we to doubte of hys bodye and bloud but that thorough fayth we are as sure of theÌ as we are sure of that bred As yt is sufficientlye declared in my boke Agayne you maye perceyue how wyckydlye they report on vs w c affyrme that we dishonoure yt w c geue yt the right honoure that yt ought to haue And you do playnlye dishonoure yt w c geue vnto yt the honoure that is onlye dew vnto god We geue yt the same honoure that we geue vnto the holye scripture worde of god because yt expresseth vnto our senses the deth of our sauyoure and doth more dypelye prent yt w t in vs. And therfore we calle yt an holye sacrament as we calle goddes worde holye scripture And we receyue this sacrament w t great reuerence euyn as we reuerrentlye reade or heare preached the holye worde of God w c conteyneth the helth of our soules And we graunt that hys bodye ys present with the bred as yt ys w t thâ word and with both yt ys verelye receyued and eaten thorough fayth But yf we shuld knele downe and praye vnto the holye scrypture men might count vs soles and might lawfullye saye that we do not honoure the sâripture by that meanes but rather dishonoure yt For the right honoure of a thinge ys to vse yt âor that entent that yt was institute of god And he âhat abuseth yt to any other purpose doth in dede dishonoure yt And lykewise yt is in the sacâameÌt w c was institute to kepe in memorye âhe dâth of christ wcâf we do any other wise honoure then we do the holye scripture vnto the w c we maye in no wise make our prayers I saye that then we shulde vâterâie dishonoure yt Auoyde therfore this poynt of Idolatrye and all ys saffe Finallye we saye that they speakâ well and faythfullye w c saye that they goo âo the bodie receue the bodye of Christ and that they speake vilynously wickedlye w c saye that tâey onlye receyue bred or the signe of his bodye for in so sayinge they declare theyr inside lyâe For the faythfull wyll reakyn that he is euyll reported of and reputed âor a traytoure and a nother Iudas yf meâ shuld saye of hym that he did onlye receyue the sacrameÌt and not also the thynge which the sacrameÌt doth signifye For albe it he onlie eateâh the bred sacrameÌt w t his mouth and teth yet w t his harte and fayth iâwardlye he eatethe the very thinge yt sellfe w t the sacrament owtwardlye dothe represent And of this springe the maner of speakinges that the old fathers do somtyme vse w c at the âirst sight mought seame coÌtrarie to our sentense But yf they be will poÌdered yt maâe sone be senâ âow they shuld be taken For many tymes when they speake of the sacrament outward eatyng they applye vnto the sacrament owtward eatinge the frute and coÌditions of the inwarde eatinge and thinge yt sâllfe â because that in a âaythfull man they are so Ioynâtâye Ioyned that the one is neuer w t oute the other As by âxaÌple Marye is named the mother of god and yet she is not the mother of hys godhed by the w c parte onlye he is called god but because she is hys mother as touchinge his manhode and the godhed is so annexed w t the maÌâed that they both make but one person therfore ys she called the mother of god w c in dede yf yâ bâ wyselye weyed shaâbe founde to be âbused speache And yet neuerthelesse yt may very will be vsyd yf men vnderstond what ys ment therbye but yf thorough the vse of thys speache men shuld falâ in to suche an erroure that wold affyrme oure ladye to be in dede the mother of hys godhed then necessyte shuld compell vs to make a dystynctyon betwâne the nature of hys godhed and the nature of hys manhod and so to expound the mater vnto them and bringe them home agayne in to the ryght vnderstondynge As we are now consârayned to do in thys sacrament because you misâconstrue the sayinges of the scrypture and Doctoures Whych notwythsâondyng yf a man vnderââond them saye verye well And many suche maner of speaches are contaâned in the scripture As where christ saâeth Ioan 3. there shall no man ascend in to heuin but he that disceÌdeth froÌ heueÌ the sone of maÌ w c ys in heuin Thys text doth saye thaâ the sonne of maÌ was theÌ in heueÌ wheÌ he âpake thes wordâs vnto nâcodemus here oâ yerâh w c thinge all wise meÌ coÌsent to be vnderstond propter unitatem personae That is to saye for the vnite of the person For albe it his godhed was in euerie place at that tyme yet was not his maÌhod by the w c he was called the sonne of man in heuin at that tyme. And yet christ sayd that yt was in heuen for the vnite of his êson For his godhed was in heuen aÌd because the godhed aÌd manhode made one êson therfore yt was ascrybed vnto the manhod w t was onâye vereâied vppon the godhed as saint Auâten ad Dardanum doth delygentlye declare And lyke wise in the sacrameÌt oâ baptime because the inward workinge of the holye gosâ is euer aÌnexed in the faythfull vnto the outward ceremonye therfore somtyme the frute of the inward baptyme ys ascrybed onto the outward warke And so the scripture vseth to speake of the outward baptâme as though yt were the inward that is to saye the spryt of god And therfore s. Paule sayeth that we are buried w t christe thorough baptime And yet as s. Austene expoundeth yt the outeward baptime dothe but signifie this buriall And agayne paule sayeth as manye as are baptised haue put christ vppoÌ theÌ And yet in
A boke made by Iohn Frith prisoner in the tower of London answeringe vnto M mores lettur which he wrote agenst the first litle treatyse that IohnÌ Frith made concerninge the sacramente of the body and bloude of christ vnto which boke are added in the ende the articles of his examinacion before the bishoppes of London winchestur and lincolne in Paules church at London for which Iohn Frith was condempned aÌd after bureÌt in smith felde with out newgate the fourth daye of Iuli Anno. 1533. ¶ Mortui resurgent ¶ The preface of this bokeâ GRace and encreaâe of knowelege from God the fader thorow oure lord Iesus criste be with the christen reader and with all that love the lorde vnfaynedly Amen I chauÌced bâing in these parties to be in coÌpanie with A christen broder wiche for hys commendable coÌuersation And sobre behavour myght better be a bishop theÌ many that weare myters yf the reule of s. Paule were regarded in ther election Thys broder after moche communication desyrid to knowe my mynde as touchynge the sacrrament of the body and blode of oure savioure Christ. Whiche thynge I opened vnto hym accordynge to the gist that god had gevyn me Firste I proved vnto hym that yt was non article of oure fayth necessarie to be beleved vnder payne of daÌnacioÌ TheÌ I declared that christ had a naturall bodie evyn as myne ys savyng synne and that yt cowde no more be in two places at once then myne can Thyrdly I shewyd hym that it was not necessarie that the wordes shulde so be vnderstonde as they sounde But that yt myght be a phrase of scripture as ther ar innumerable After that I shewyd hym certen suche phrases and maâer of speakyng And that yt was well vsed in oure englishe tong aÌd finally I recyted after what mauer they myght receyve yt accordynge to christes institutyon not fearyng the froward alteracyon that the prestes vse contrarie to the firste forme and institution When I had sufficiently published my mynde he desired me to entitie the sâme of my wordes aÌd write them for hym be cause they semed ouerâonge to be well râteigned in memorie And aâbeit I was loth to take the mater in hande yet to fullfyll hys instant intercession I toke vppon me to touche this terrible tragedie and wrote a treatise whyche be side my paynfull impresonmeÌt ys lyke to purchase me moste cruell deth which I am redie and glade to receyve w t the sprite and inward man allthough the fleshe be frayle when so ever yt shall please god to lay yt vppon me Notwithsâondinge to say the truthe I wrote yt not to the intent that yt shuld haue byn published For theÌ I wolde haue toucheâ the mater more ernestly and haue writyn as well of the spirituall eatynge and drynkynge whiche ys of necessite as I dâde of the carnall whiche ys not so necessarie for the treatise that I made was âot expedient for all men albeit yt weare sufficieât for them whom I toke in hande to ensâructe For they knewe the spirituall and necessarie eatynge and drynâynge of his bodie and bloode which ys not receyvyd with the teth and belye but with the âares and fayth and only neâed instrucâyon in the ouâward eatynge whiche thynge I therfore only declared But now yt ys commen a brode and in many mens mowthes in so moche that master more w c of late hathe busted hym sellfe to medle in all soche materes of what zele I wyll not defyne hath sore labored to coÌfute yt but some men thinke that he ys ashamed of his ête and for that cause doth so diligently suppresse the worke w c he prynted For I my sellfe saw the worke in prent in my lorde of wynchesters howse vppon S. Stephyns day last paste But nether I nether all the fryndes I cowâ make mighte attayne any copie but only one wrytyn copie which as yt semed was drawyn oute in great haste natwithstondinge I can not well Iudge what the cause shulde be that hys boke ys kept so secrette But this I am right sure of that he neuer touched the fouÌdacioÌ that my treatise was buylded vppon And therfore syth my foundacion stondith so sure and invincible for els I thynke verely he wolde sore have labored to haue vndermined yt I wyl ther vppon buylde a lytle more and allso declare that his ordinance ys to slender to breake yt downe all though yt were sett vppon a wors foundacyon ¶ The fondacion of that lytle treatise was that yt ys non article of our fayth necessarye to be belevyd vnder payne of dampnacion that the sacrament shuld be the naturall bodie of christe which thynge ys proved on this maner FIrste we muste all aknowelege that yt ys non article af our fayth which can save vs nor which we are bounde to beleve vnder the payne of eternall damnacion For yf I shulde beleve that hys verey naturall bodye bothe fleshe and bloode were naturaly in the brede wyne that shulde not save me seinge many beleve that and receyve yt to ther dampnacyon for yt ys not hys prsense in the brede that âan save me but hys presence in my herte thorough fayth in hys blode w c hathe washed oute my synnes and pacyfied the faders wrathe toward me And agayne yf I do not beleve his bodely presence in the brede wine that shall not dampne me but the absence out of my harte thorough vnbeleffe Now yf they wolde here obiecte that though yt be truth that the absence oute of the brede coulde not dampne vs yet are we bounde to belâve yt be cause of goddes worde whiche who belevyth not as moche as in hym lyeth makythe god al lyer And therfore of anÌ obstinat mynde not to beleve hys worde may be an occasioÌ of daÌpnacioÌ To thys we may answer that we beleve goddes worde and knowelege that yt ys trewe but in this we dissent whether yt be trewe in the sense that we take yt in or in the sence that ye take yt in And we say agayne that thought ye haue as yt apereth vnto yow the evideÌt wordes of christe aÌd therfore coÌsiste in the barke of the letter yet are we coÌpelled by conferringe of the scryptures to gether within the letter to serche oute the minde of our sauiour w c spake the wordes And we saye therdly that we do it not of an obstinate miÌde For he that defendeth a cause obstinatly whether yt be true or false ys euer to be repÌhended But we do yt to satiâfie our coÌsciences whiche are coÌpelled by other placys of scripture reasons and doctours so to Iudge of yt And evyn so ought yow to Iudge of youre partie and to defende youre sentense not of obstinatie but by the reason of scriptures which cause yow so to take yt aÌd so ought nether partie to dispyse other for eche sekyth the glorie of god and the trew vnderstondynge of the scripture This was the
they muâte nedes haue a signe token sacrament or comen badge by the w c they may knowe eche other And ther ys no defference betwene a signe or a badge and a sacrameÌt but that the sacrament sygnifyeth anÌ holy thinge and a signe or a badge dothe signyâie a wordly thinge as s. AusteÌâayeth signes wheÌ they are referred to holy thiÌges are called sacrameÌtes The secoÌde cause of their institucyon ys that they may be a meane to brynge vs vnto hys fayth and to enprent yt the deê in vs for yt doth costomably the more move a man to beleve wheÌ he êceyvyth the thynge expressed to diuerse senses at once as by exaÌple yf I promise a man to mete hym at a day apoynted he wyll somwhat truste my worde Notwtstondynge he trustyth not so moche vnto yt as yf I did both promise hym with my worde allso clape handes w t hym or holde vp my fynger for he counteth that this promiseys strong more faythefull then ys the bare worde because yt moveth mo senses For the worde doth but only certifie the thynge vnto a man by the sense of herynge but wheÌ w t my promise immediatly after I holde vp my fynger then do I not only certifye hym by the sense of hearynge But allso bâ hys sight he perceyvyth that that facte confyrmeth my worde And in the clapynge of handes he perceyvyth both by hys sight and fealyng be side the word that I wyll fullfyll my promise And lykewise yt ys in this sacramente Christ promised them that he wolde geve hys bodye to be slayne for their synnes And for to establishe the faythe of this promise in them he did institute the sacrameÌt w c he called hys bodye to th entent that the very name yt selfe might put them in remâmbraÌce what was ment by yt he brake the brode before them signifying vnto theÌ outwardly evyn the same thynge that he by his wordes hade before êtested evyn as his wordes hade enformed theÌ by their hearynge that he entended so to do so the brekynge of that brede enformed their ye sight that he wolde fullfyll hys promise Then he dide distribute yt amonge theÌ to enprynt the mater more depely in them signifinig therbye that evyn as that brede was devidid amonge them so should hys bodie and frute of his passyon be distributed vnto as manye as beleved his wordes Finaly he caused them âo eate yt that nothynge shoulde be lackynge to coÌfyrme that necessarye poynt of faythe in theÌ signifyinge therbye that as verely as they fellte that brede wtin them so sure should they be of hys bodye thorough fayth And that evyn as that brede doth norishe tâe bodye so dothe the fayth in hys bodye breakynge norishe the soule vnto ever lastynge lyffe This did our mercyfull saviour w c knowyth our fraylte weakenes to establishe aÌd strenghth their faâth in hys bodye breakynge blode shedynge w c ys our shoteanker and laste refuge w t oute w c we shoulde all perishe The thârd cause the instâtucyon profit that comythe of yt ys this They that haue receyved thes blessyd tidynges and worde of helth do love to publishe this felicite vnto other men And to geve thaÌkys before the face of the congregacyoÌ vnto their bountteons benefactour and as moche as in them ys to drawe all people to the praisinge of God with them which thinge though yt be partly doÌ by the prechynge of goddes worde fructefull exhortacyons yet dothe that visible token sacramente yf a man vnderstond what ys ment therbye more effectuously worke in them both fayth and thankisgeuynge then doth the bare worde but yf a man wot not what yt meaneth and seketh helthe in the sacrament and outeward signe then may he well be lykened vnto a fonde fellow which when he ys very drye and an honest man shewe hym an alepole tell hym that ther ys good ale ynough wolde goo and sucke the ale pole trustynge to get drynke oute of yt and so to quenche hys thurste Now a wise man wyll tell hym that he playeth the fole for the ale pole doth but signifie that ther ys good ale in the howse where the alepole stondyth and wyll tell hym that he must goo nere the howse and there he shall fynde the drynke not stond suckynge the alepole in vayne For yt shall not ease hym but rather make hym more drie for the ale pole doth signifie good ale yet the ale pole yt sellfe ys no good ale nother ys there ony good ale in the alepole And lykewise yt ys in all sacramentes For yf we vndersâond not what they meane and seke helth in the outeward signe then we sucke the alepole labour in vayne But yf we do vnderstond the meanynge of them than shall we seke what they signifye and go to the signyficacions ther shall we fynde vndoubted helth As to oure purpose in thys sacrament wherof we speake we muste note what yt signyfyeth and ther shall we fynde oure redempcyon It signifyeth that Christys bodye was broken vppon the crosse to redeme vs from the thrauldom of the deuell and that hys blode was shed for vs to washe oure synnes Therfore we mâste ruÌne thider yf we wyll be eased For yf we thynke to haue our synnes forgeuyn for eatynge of the sacrament or for seinge the sacrament onece a day or for prayinge vnto yt then suerly we sucke the alepole And of thys yow may perceyue what profyt comyth of thes sacramentes the which ether haue no signyficacyons put vnto them or els when ther sygnifycacions ar loste and forgotten For then no doubt they are not commended of God but are rather abhomynable for whan we knowe not what they meane then seke we helth in the outward dede and so are iniuryous vnto Christe and hys blode As by example the sacrifices of the Iewys were well alowed accepted of God as longe as they vsed them aryght and vnderstode by them the deth of Chryste the shedynge of hys bloude that holy oblacyon offered on the crosse once for euer But when they begon to forgett thys significacion aÌd sought there helthe rightwisnes in the bodely worke in the sacrifice ytsellfe theÌ were they abhominable in the sight of God and then he cryed oute of theÌ bothe by the êphet Dauid and Isaye And likewise yt ys w t our sacrameÌtes let vs therfore seke vp the significacioÌs and goo to the very thinge w c the sacrament ys set to presânt vnto vs. And ther shall we synde suchâ frutefull foode as shall never fayle vs but comâort our soules in to lyff euerlastynge Now wyll I in order answer to master moâes boke and as I fynde occasion gevyn me I shaâl indevoure my sellfe to supply that thynge w c lacked in the fyrste treatise I trust I shall shâwe suche lyght that all men whose eyes the prence of thys worlde hath not blynded shall êceyve the truthe of the
this ys my bodye callâng the sacrameÌt signe tokeÌ and memoriall of so great a thinge euyn w t the name of the verye thinge yt sellfe thus doth s. Ambrose choke our sophisters Neuerthelesse I will allege one place more oute of s. ambrose where he sayth Dicit sacerdos fac nobis haÌc oblationeÌ scriptaÌ rationabileÌ qd est figura corporis DnÌi nostri resu xpi That ys the prest saith make vs this oblacioÌ acceptable c. For yt is a figure of the bodie of our lorde Iesu christ Here he caulleth yt playnly a figure of christes bodie w c thinge you can not auoyde Therfore geue prayse vnto God aÌd âett his trouth sprede w c ys so playnlye testified bi theis holye fathers How lett vs se what s. Hierom sayth Saincte Hierom writynge vppon Ecclesiaste sayth on thys maner Caro DOMINI uerus cibus est sanguis eius uerus potus est hoc solum habemus in praesenti saeculo bonum si uescamur carne eius cruoreque potemur non solum in misterio sed etiaÌ in scripturaruÌ lectione verus emÌ cibus est potus q ex uerbo dei sumitur scientia scripturaruÌ That ys to saye the fleshe of the lorde ys verye meate and his bloude ys verye drynke This ys onlye the pleassure or profite that we haue iÌ this wordle that we maye eate his fleshe aÌd drinke his bloude not only in a misterry but allso in the readinge of scriptures âor yt is very meate and drinke â w c ys taken oute of Goddes worde by the knowelege of scriptures Here maye ye se s. Hieroms mânde in fewe wordes For furste he sayth that we eate his fleshe and drinke his bloudâ in a misterye w c ys the sacrameÌt of his râmâmbraunce and memoryall of his passion And aâter he addeth that we eate hys fleshe drinke his bloude in the redinge aÌd knowelâge of scriptures and calleth that very meate very driâke And yet I am sure ye are not so grosse as to thinke that the letters w c you reade are torned in to naturall fleshe bloude And likewise yt ys not necessarie that the bred should be torned in to his bodye no more than the letters in scripture are tournâd in to his fleshe And neuerthelesse thorough fayth we may as well âate his bodie in recâyuinge of the sacrameÌt as eate his fleshe in readinge of the letters oâ the scripture Besides that s. Hierom cauâeth the vnderstondinge oâ the scripture verye mâate and very drinke w c you muste nedes vnderstond in a misterie and spuÌall sense for yt ys nother materiall meate nor driÌke that ys receiuyd w t the mouth and teth but yt is spnÌall meate drinke and ys so called for a similitude and propertie be cause that as meate drinke comforte the bodye and outward man so doth the readinge and knowelege of sâripture coÌforte the soule and inward man And likewise yt ys of christes bodye w c ys caulled verye meate and very drinke w c you muste nedes vnderstond in a mysterie or spuÌall sense as s. Hierom called yt for his bodye is no materiall meate nor drinke that ys receyued w t the mouth or teth but yt is spirituall meate drinke and so called for a similitude êpertiâ because that as meate and drinke coÌforte the bodye so doth the fayth in his bodye breakinge bloudsheding refreshe the soule vnto liffâ euerâasting We vse yt cuÌstomablye in our daylye speache to saye when a chylde setteth all hys mynde and delyght on sport and playe It ys meate aÌd drinke to this childe to plaie And allso we saye by a man that loueth well hawkinge huntyng It ys meate and drinke to this maÌ to hawke hunte Where no man doubteth but yt ys a figuratiue speache And therfore I woÌdâr that they are so blinde in this one poynt of Christes bodye And can not allso take the wordes figuratiuelye as thesse olde doctours did Agayne s. Hierom sayth Postquam mystiâum pascha fuerat impletuÌ agni carnes cuÌ apostolis comederaâ assumit paneÌ qui coÌfortat cor hominis ad ueruÌ paschae transgreditur sacramentuÌ quomodo in praefiguratione eius Melchisedech uinuÌ paneÌ pro ferens fecerat ipse quoque ueritatem corporis repraesentaret That ys to saye after the misticall ester lambe fullfylled and that Christe had eaten the lambes fleshe w t the apostles he toke brede w c coÌforteth the herte of maÌ and passeth to the true sacrameÌt of the easter lambe that as Melchisedech brought for the bred and wyne figuring hiÌ so might he likewise repÌsent y â trueth of his bodie Here doth s. Hiârom speake after the maner that tertulliaÌ did before that âhrist w t brede and wine did represent the truth oâ his bodie For âxcept he had had a ârue bodie he could not lâaue a figure of yt nor repÌsent yt vâto vs. âor a vayne thinge or phaÌtasâe can haue no figure nor caÌ not be repÌsented as by exaÌple how shoulde a maÌ make a figure of his drâame or repÌsent yt vnâo our memorie Buâ christ hath leât vs a figure aÌd repÌsentacioÌ of his bodie in bred and wine therfore yt folowyth thaâ he had a true bodye And that this was s. Hieroms mââde doth maââfeastlye apere by the wordââ ãâã ââda w c doth more copiousâiâ sett out this sayinge of Hierâm For he writeth on this maner Fiâitis paschae ueterisso lennijs q in coÌmemorationeÌ antiquae de aegypto liberatioÌis agebant traÌsit ad nouuÌ qd in suae redemptionis memoriaÌ ecclesia frequentare desidârat ut uidelicet pro carne agni uel sanguine suo carnis sanguinisque sacramentuÌ in panis ac uini figuâa substituens iâsum se esse moâsââaâet cui iurauit DnÌs Tu es sacerdos in aeterâuÌ seâunduÌ ordineÌ Melchisedech ârangit auteÌ ipse panem queÌ porrigit ut osâendat corporis sui fractioneÌ non sine sua sponte futuram Similiter calicem posiq ãâã nauit dedit eis Quia ergo panis carnem confirmat uiâum uero sanguinem operatur in carne hic ad corpus Christi mystice illud refertur ad sanguinem That ys to saye After the solemnite of âhe olde âaster âambe was fynished which was âl sârued in the râmembraunce of âhe olde delyueraunce oute of Egypt he goth vnto the newe whiche the churche gladlye obseruith in the remembrauÌce of hys râdâmptyon that he in the sâede of the flâiche aÌd bloude of the lambe myght institute and ordeyne the sacrament of his fleshe bâoude in the fygure of brede and wyne and so decâare hym sellf to be the âame vnto whom the lorde sware thou arte a perpetuall prest after the order of Melchisedech And he hym sellf brake the brede which he gaue â to shewe that the breakynge of hys bodye shuld not be don with out hys owyn wyll And lâkewise he gaue them the cuppe after âe
in dede then is he neuer the nere his purpose but moche the furder from yt And thys yâ euyn yt that I sayd before that yt was not possible to stonde w t the processe of the scripture w c we haue receiued And now his mastership hath graunted yt himsellf which you maye be sure he wold not doo yf he coulde otherwise auoyde ytâ And here you maye se howe sore I haue ouer sene my sellfe God forbid that any man shuld be the more prone readye to beleue thys yonge maÌ in this great mater because he sayeth in the begynyng that he wyll brynge all men to a concord and aquietnes of conscience For he bryngeth men to the worst kinde of quietnes that may be deuised when he telleth vs as he doth that euery maÌ in this mater maye w t oute parell beleue whyche waye he lyste Euery man maye in euerye mater w t oute any counsell sone set hym sellfe at reaste yf he lyste to take that waye and to beleue as he list hym sellfe and care not how But and yf that waye had byn sure S. Paule wolde neuer haue shewed that manie were in parell of sekenes and deth to For lacke of discernynge reuerently the bodye of our lorde in that sacrameÌt when they came to receyue hym When Christe shulde departe this worlde goo to his father he gaue his disciples a commaundemeÌt that they shuld loue eche other sayinge by this shall all men knowe that ye are my disciples yf ye loue eche other as I haue loued you This rule of charite wold I not haue broken w c notwtstondyng ys often in Ieopardie amoÌge faythfull folke for this sacrameÌt of vnite This thynge conâââered I thought necessarye to aduertise both partyes to saue thys rule of charite and proued in the fyrste chapter of my treatisâe that yt was none article of the fayth necessarie to be beleued vnder payne of daÌpnacion and thârfore that they were to blame that wolde be contencious for the mater For sith yt ys non article of the fayth they maye lawfullye dissent w t oute all Ieoperdye nede not to breake the rule of charite but rather to receyue eche other like weake brethern As by exaÌple some thiÌke that the mariage betwene our moste redoubtâd prince aÌd quen kateryn is lawfull and maye stonde w t the lawes of god and some thinke that yt is vnlawfull ought to be disanulled Now if we shuld for this maâer breake the rule of charitâ and euery maÌâ haâe his neighboure that wolde not thynke as he doth then were we greatly to blame in Ieoperdie of coÌâempnacion This I saye I proued in the fyrst chapter againste w c more maketh no busines and improueâh yt not Wherbye you maye sone gather that yt is verye true For els sith hys mastership so laboureth in thesse other poyntâs he wold not haue lefte that vntouched you maye be sure This is the concord that I wolde bringe theÌ vnto And as touchynge quietnes of conscience I haue knowen manye that haue sore byn coÌbured w t it And amoÌge all a certayne master of arte which dyed in oxforth confessed vppon his deth bed that he had wept lying in hys bed an hundreth nyghtes with in one yere space because he coulde not beleue yt Now yf he had knowen yt had byn no necessarye article what comfort quyetnes shuld yt haue byn vnto him Furthermore euery man can not so quyet hymsellf as master more Imageneth For there are many that thynke theÌ sellfes no smalle foles w c whaÌ they haue receyued some folishe superstitioÌ ether bi ther owyn ImaginacyoÌ or by bâleuinge ther gosshepes gospell olde wyffes tales by bye thynke the contrarye to be dedly synne and vâterly for bydden by chrystes gospell As by exaÌple I knowe an house of relegyoÌ wherin is a person that thynketh yt dedly synne to goo ouer astrawe yf it ley acrosse And yf ther be on the pauemeÌt any paynted picture or any Image graueÌ on a deed maÌs graue he wyl not trede vppon yt although he shuld goo a forelonge aboute What ys thys but vayne supersticyon wherew t the coÌscience ys combred corrupted May not this be weded oute with the worde of god shewyng him that it ys none article of the fayth so to thinke and then to tell hym that yt ys not forboden by the scripture and that yt is no synne Now albeit hys coÌscieÌce be so caÌkerd that the ruste wyll not be rubbed oute yet with godes grace some other whom he hath enfecte with the same maye come agayne to godes worde and be âured full well w c shuld neuer haue byn able to quiete themsellffes And lyke wise there are some which beleue as your suppersticious hartes haue informed them and these can not quiet them selues because they beleue that you haue âet your doctryne out of scrypture But wheÌ yt ys proued to theÌ they theÌselues êâeyue that scripture sayeth not so theÌ caÌ they be coÌtent to thinke the coÌtrarye Iudge yt no synne at all And as touchyng S. Paule suerelye ye take hym wrong For I wyll shew you what êcesse he taketh howe he his to be vnderstoÌd But because yt is not possible to fynyshe it in fewe wordes I shall deferre it vnto the bokes ende aÌd theÌ I shall declare hym at large And what a facioÌ ys this to saye that we maye beleue yf we list that there ys the verye bodye of our lorde in dede and theÌ to tell vs for a trouth that suche a fayth ys impossâble to betrue For god hym sellfe can neuer brynge yt abought to make hys bodye be there Yf a maÌ take the bare wordes of christe of simplicite be deceyued aÌd thinke that his veriâ bodye be in the sacrament present to their teth that âate yt I dare not saye that he sinneth therin but will referre tâe matter vnto godes IudgemeÌt yet w t oute doubt I dare saye he ys deceyued As by example yf a maÌ deceyued bi the leterall sense wold thynge that men shuld preache to fyshes as S. FrauÌces did because christ bade his disciples goo preache to all creatures yet wolde not I thynke that he synned therin But wyll referre hym vnto goddes IndgemeÌt But yet I wene euerye woman that hath any wyte wyll saye that he was deceyued I am verye sure that the olde holye doctours w c beleued christes bodye aÌd bloode to be there aÌd so taught other to beleue as by ther bokes playnlye doth apere Yf they had thought ether that it could not be there or that yt was not there in dede they wold not for all the good in this worlde haue wryten as they haue done For wold thosse holye men wene you haue taught that meÌ be bouÌd to beleue that the verye bodie and bloude of christe ys there yf them sellfe thought they were not bounde there to wolde they make meÌ honoure
I dare saye that yt is printed and publyshed to our princes great dishonore For what lârnâd maÌ maye in time to come truste to hys graces saffe coÌâuyte or come at his graces instaÌce or requeste sith not onlye the spuÌallye w c of ther professioÌ resyââe hys prerogatiue but also a laye man êmoted to suche êminence by hys graces goodnes dare presume so to depresse hys prerogatyue not onlye to saye but also to publishe yt in preÌt that notwtstondyng hys graces saffe conduyte they myght lawfullye haue burnte hym But here he wold saye vnto me as he dethe in his boke that he had forfayted his saffe coÌduyte aÌd therbye was fallyn in to his enemyes handes Where vnto I answer that this your sayinge is but a vayne glose For I my sellfe did reade the saffe coÌduyte that came vnto hym w c had but onlye thys one conditioÌ annexed vnto yt that if he came before the feaste of christmas theÌ next insuynig he shuld haue fre lyberte to deperte at his pleasure And this coÌdicyoÌ I knâwe was fullfylled How shulde he than forfayte hys saufe conduyte But master more hath lerned of hys masters our pÌlates whose procture he ys to depresse oure princes pÌrogatiue that men ought not to kepe any promisse w t heretyckes And so his saâfe coÌduyte cold not saue hym As though the kynges grace myght not admitte any maÌ to goo and come frelye in to hys graces realme but that he muste haue leue of our pÌlates For els they myght laye heresye agaynst the parson and so âley hym coÌtrarye to the kynges salfe coÌduyte w c thynge all wyse meÌ do knowe to be preiudiciall to his graces prerogatiue roâall And yet I am sure that of all the tyme of hys beynge here you can not accuse hym of one cryme albeit vnto your shame you saye that he had forfayted his salfe conduyte These wordes hade be very extreme and worthy to haue byn âoked vppon allthough they had byn wretyn by som presumptuoÌs prelate But that a laye man so heighlye promoted by hys prynâe shuld speake them and also cause them openlye to be publyshed amonge hys graces comes to deâecte the estymacyon of hys royall power doth in my minde deserue âorrection Natwithstondynge I leue the iudgemânt and determinacyon vnto the discrecyon of hys graces honorable counsell And as for that holy prayer that this deuoute yoÌgmaÌ as a new christe teacheth to make at the receiuiÌge of this blessed sacrameÌt all his coÌgregacioÌ I wold not geue the pariÌge of a pare for hys praier though yt were better theÌ yt is pullynge awaye the true fayth therfro as he doth How be yt hys prayer there ys so dyuised peÌned and paynted w t laysure studye that I truste eueri good christeÌ womaÌ maketh a moche better prayer at the tyme of hyr howsell by faythfull affectyoÌ aÌd by goddes good inspiracioÌ sodeÌlye Fryth ys an vnmete master to teache vs what we shuld praie at the receyuiÌge of the blessed sacrameÌt when he will not knowelege it as it is but take christes blessed bodie for nothing but bare bred so lytle esteme the receyuyng of the blessed sacrameÌt that he forsyth lytle whether yt be blessed or not Where he discoÌmendyth my prayer sayeth that I am an vnmete master to teache meÌ to praye seyng I take awaye the true fayth from yt and sayeth that euery woman caÌ make a better wheÌ she receyuyth the sacrameÌt I wolde to god that euery womaÌ were so wyll lerned that they coulde teache vs both And sureli I inteÌded not to prescrybe to all men that prayer onlye but hoped to help the ignorant that they might ether speake those wordes or els takyng occasion at theÌ to saye some other to the lawde aÌd prayse of god And as for your fayth w c you call the true fayth musâe I nedes improue For yt wyll not stonde w t the true text of scripture as yt playnââ apereth But to the fayth in christesâ bloude I exhorte all meÌ and teach theÌ to eate hys bodye w t fayeth and not w t teth w c is by hauynge his deth in contynuall remembraunce And degestynge yt in to the bowels of the soule And because yow so sore improue mi prayer to conclude my answer agaynst you I wyll wryte agayne And lett al meÌ Iudge betewne vs. Blessed be thou moste deare mercifull father w c of thy teÌder fauour benignite not wtstoÌding our greuous enormytis coÌmitted agaynst the wouchsauedst to send thyn owine onlie deare sone to suffre moste vile deth for our redeÌptioÌ Blessed be thou Christ Iesu our lorde sauiour w c of thine abundaÌt petye coÌsidering oure miserable estate willyngly tokest vppon the to haue thy moste innoceÌt bodie brokin bloude shed to purge vs aÌd washe vs w c are ladyn w t iniquite And to certifie vs therof hast left vs not only thy worde w c maye enstruce our hartes But allso a visible token to certifie eueÌ our outward sences of this great benefyte that we shuld not doubt but that the bodie and frute of thy passyon are oures thorough fayth as surelye as the brede which by our senses we knowe that we haue with in vs. Blessed be also that spirite of verite which ys sent from god our father thorough our sauiour Christ Iesu to lyghten our darke ignoraunce And leade vs thorough fayth in to the knowelege of hym which ys all verite Strengthe we beseche the our frayle nature and encrease our fayth that we maye prayse god our moste mercifull father and Christe his sonne our sauiour and redemer AMEN The paschal lambe and oure sacrament are here compared to gether NOw we shall shortly expresse the pith of our mater and borow the figure of the paschall lambe Which is in all poiÌtes so lyke That the offeringe of the pascall lambe did signyfye the offerynge of Christes bodye is playne by Paule which sayeth Christe our paschall lambe ys offered vp for vs When the childern of Israell were very sad and heuye for theyr sore appressyon vnder the power of Pharrao for the mo myracles were shewed the worse were they handeled God sent vnto them by âoyses that euâry howsâold shuld kyl a lambe to be a sacrifyce vnto GOD and that they shuld eate hym with their staues in their handes ther loynes gyrded and showes on their feeâe euin as men that were going an hastye Iorney Thys lambe muste they eate hastelye and make a merye maundye Now because thây shuld not saye that they could not be meryeâ For ther oppressyon and what coulde the lambe help them he added glad tydynges vnto yt and sayd thys ys the passing bye of the lorde Whiche thys nyght shall passe by you and ââe all the fyrste begotton with in the Londâ of Egipt and shall delyuer you oute of your bondage and brynge you in to the lond that he hath promissed vnto your fathers Marke the processe