you with a Christmasse that is to say an heauenly Bancket in the whiche I proponed brought for the vnto you foure dysshes I am sure ye remeÌ„ber it right well EVSE Ye forsoth brother Philemon PHIL. Although I doubte not but that ye retayne them all in youre memorye right wel yet by your pacieÌ„ce I wyl now reherse theÌ„ agayne to you iÌ„ few wordes CHRI I praye you let it be so PHIL. In y e fyrst dysh y t was set be fore you ye tasted of y e fal of our fore father AdaÌ„ In that ye learned how y t by the synne of Adam we all were not only depryued of immortalite all goodnes but also daÌ„ned so y t we became very fleshe without the spyryte of God vtterly estrauÌ„ged from all feare of God borne the sonnes of wrath in asmuch y t we beyng left to our selues could neuer haue bene delyuered from that miserable capti uite into the which Satan had cast vs thorowe the traÌ„sgression of goddes coÌ„maundement but dayly more more we must nedes haue precipytated cast our selues headlonge in to an hell of euels Therefore because ye shoulde not dispayre I broughte forth to you your second dysh wher in I declared proued vnto you by the holy scrypture and the auncient Doctors that whaâ—… we were in this miserable piteous case God of hys great mercies w tout our merytes or deseruynges had pytie on vs promysed to saue vs thorowe his intierly beloued SoÌ„ne our LORDE and sauiour Iesus Christ. Which thyng accordig to his promyse at the tyme predefyned afore appoynted came vndoub tedly to passe Than in your thyrde dyshe dyd I expresse to you by what meanes ye myght come by obtayn these so large so bounteous benefy tes of God the father thorow Iesus Christ. I sayd vnto you that y e next the moost redy waye to gette thys kyndenes at the hande of God is to repent beleue that is to saye to be sory for the synnes commytted and to beleue to haue remission of our sin nes of God the father for Chrystes sake In your fourth dysh I declared vnto you that after we haue repented vs of our synnes and beleued to haue forgyuenesse of them thorowe Christe it remayneth that we than sheweour selues newe men in our coÌ„ uersacion medle no more with the vnsruytfull workes of darknes but rather reproue theÌ„ For excepte our repentaunce faythe worke in vs a new lyfe they profyt nothyng at al. Brynge forth fruyies saythe â—…aynt Iohn worthye of repentaunce For euery tree that bryngeth not forth good fruyte shall be cut downe and cast into y â— fyre And as concerninge fayth S. Iames sayth as the body w tout the spirite is dead so is fayth w toâ—…t workes dead Therfore I decla red vnto you in that youre fourthe dysh that as withoute good workes your repentance fayth auayle nothyng I speake of them which haue oportunite to worke yet wyll not so lykewyse to them that exercyse no good workes but remayne in theyr olde synfull lyuynge is Christ no sauiour but remayneth styll vnto theÌ„ a feacre LORDE a cruell Iudge For Christ wyll not knowe them at the daye of iudgement to be his people that are vnfruytfull trees in this world bryng forth no good wor kes yea he wyll saye vnto them departe from me ye workers of iniquite The virgines that haue not only lampes but also oyle shall enter in with the Brydegrome vnto the mariages the other shal be sparred out Not the ydle lubbers but the faythfull workers in the vyneyearde shall haue y e peny at night Not the sonne which sayd to his father y t he would worke in his vyneyearde dyd not shall be his fathers heyre but y e soÌ„ne whiche wroughte in it in dede The fruytefull Olyue tree shall dwell in the house of the LORDE but the vnfruytfull fygge tree glystereth it ne uer so pleasantly with grene leaues shall be cursed coÌ„mytted vnto hell fyre In consideracion wherof I exhorted you at that tyme vnto the di ligent operacion of good workes y t ye myght be founde worthy y t kynge dome which youre heauenly father hathe prepared for them that fulfyll his wyll from the begynnyng of the worlde Theise such other thynges not vnworthy the hearinge I rehearsed to you at that Christmasse BaÌ„cket Neither haue ye forgotten them I am sure THEO No verely neighbour PhilemoÌ„ EVSE We haue since y t time ful oft called them to our remeÌ„brauÌ„ ce coÌ„muned of theÌ„ togither PHIL. In so doynge ye haue done wel For not they that heare the law are righ teous before God but they that expresse the lawe in theyr dedes shal be counted righteous He y t loketh on y e perfecte lawe which is the lawe of ly berte so that he is no forgetfull hearer but a doer of the worke he shall be blessed in his dede CHRI GOD giue vs grace to do y t alwaye which he requireth of vs. PHIL. Your fruytes syns that tyme haue manifestly declared the nouyte and chaunge of your lyfe wherof I very muche reioyse gyue God herty thanckes de sirynge hym to fynysshe that in you prosperously which he hath beguÌ„ne godly And this is y e cause neighbou res y t I haue ben so bold to caul you agayne nowe to a Potacion or dryn kynge trustynge that if you marke those thinges well that shall at this tyme be spoken ye shall feale no lesse swetenes in them than ye dyd in the Bancket For ye knowe that this is a tyme not for the bodye but for the soule not for the belly but for y e spyryte not for the mouthe but for the mynde This tyme requireth a modelt sobriete not luxurious royot This tyme requirethe a penitent sorowfull herte not a mynde set al on pleasure This tyme requirethe abstinence and not delicate welfare This tyme requirethe sober prayer not vayne iestynges This tyme requireth lamentacion for our synnes not a pleasure to remayne in them Therfore haue I nowe prepared for you a godlye Potacion worthy this tyme that ye may go home agayne from me not with mouthes but with myndes not with bellyes but with soules 〈◊〉 and eâ—… farsed with celestiall meace I wyll nowe declare vnto you what youre Potacion shall be I pray you heare me diligently EVSE Brother Philemon we thancke you for your godly kyndenes towarde vs What so euer it shall be youre pleasure to saye we shal not only be diligent to heare it but also to beare it awaye do ther after so nere as God shall gyue vs grace PHIL. For as much as y e moost confortable Sacrament of PenaÌ„ce is in this holye tyme of Lente more vsually exercised towarde penitent synners than at ony other tyme tho rowe oute all the
whyle y e moost confortable wordes of Absolucion are rehersed vnto him by the prest EVSE I praye you what is that ab solucion PHIL. Uerely a free deliue rauuce from all youre synnes thorow Christes bloud How saye you is here any thynge to be condēned in Auriculare Confession CHRI No verely alll thinges y t you haue rehearsed are rather worthy hygh prayse commendacion PHIL. It is atributed giuen vs euen of na ture to cōmunicate vnto other the secretes of our hertes concerninge mūdane woridly thīges whither they be of ioye or sadnesse and tyll we haue so done we are neuer ī rest EVSE You saye trueth PHIL. Whye shoulde we than not be redye to do so likewyse in spirituall affayres thinges pertaynynge vnto the saluacion of our soules excepte per ad uēture we be enemies of our owne helth What is sweter more pleasaunt saythe Cicero than to haue such one with whome thou darest be bold so to speake al thīges as w t thy selfe A man hauyng a learned wyse descrete silent close faythe full ghostly father which louethe y e penitent no lesse than a natural fa ther doth his childe why should he feare to declare vnto him the secretes of hts herte which is redy to cō forte to instructe to counsayle to tech and to do all thinges y t should make vnto his cōsolacion helth The Prophet Malachy sayth the lyppes of a preste kepe knoweledge and men shall seake the lawe at his mouthe For he is a messanger of y e LORDE of hoostes If this ought to be done at all tymes whan haue we a more cōueniēt fit tyme to do it than in the tyme of Confession whan we maye freely talke to our spirituall fathers what soeuer ple seth vs EVSE It is trueth that ye saye But what if such a ghostly fa ther doth not chastse as ye haue dis cribed hertofore PHIL. Uerely ye ought alwaye to resorte to the best learned mē to seke for suche ghost ly fathers as both wyll and can in structe and teache you the lawe of God But let it so be that your Cu rate be not of y e gretest learned mē yet is he to muche simple yf he can bringe oute of his treasurehouse thinges neyther newe nor olde seinge that the holy scriptures are so plenteously sette forth in oure Englysh tonge that euen y e very ydiot maye nowe become learned in the kyngdom of God At the leest this commoditie shall ye enioye at hys hande euen the benefyte of Absolucion Therfore to make fewe wor des concernynge this matter disdayne ye not to go to confession at the tymes appoynted accordynge to the ordinaunce of y e holy chyrch and the Acte of our moost excellent kinge yea and that with all hūble reuerence Declare the diseases of your soules vnfaynedly that ye maye be healed with y e moost swete and confortable salue of Absoluciō Followe the godly wholesome ad monicions of youre ghostly father Go vnto him wyth such an hatred detestacion of synne that ye may returne from hym wyth hertes all togither enflamed with the perfyt loue of vertu innocēcy true godlynes beyng full fixed neuer to returne vnto youre olde vomyte and wallowynge in the myre And whā he shal rehearse vnto you the moost swete confortable wordes of Absolucion gyue earnest faythe vnto them beynge vndoutedly perswaded that your synnes at y t tyme be assuredly forgyuen you as though God him selfe had spoken them accordynge to this sayenge of Christ He that heareth you heareth me Agayne Whose sinnes ye forgyue are forgiuen them This haue I spoken concerning Auriculare confession THEO Uery godly forsothe EVSE What remayneth nowe CHRI Ye promised con sequently to entreate of Satisfaccion or amendement of lyfe PHIL. Ye saye trueth Of that mat ter therfore wyll I now intreate ¶ Of Satisfaccion or amēd ment of lyfe AS towchīg this word Satisfaccion whiche hath so longe bene retayned in the Chyrche of Christ we must gra unt beleue vndoubtedly y ◠christ alone is the omnisufficiēt satysfaccion for all oure synnes vnto God the father by the sprynkelyng and effusiō of his moost precious bloud which abydeth lasteth for euer so perfect that he is able at all times to saue them that are sanctified w t that one omnisufficient oblaciō Sacrifice of his moost blessed body on the Altare of the Crosse and that not onlye from the faute but also from the payne due and belon gynge vnto the faute Behold that lambe of God sayth S Iohn Bap tist which taketh awaye the synne of the worlde S. Iohn the Euangeliographe sayth also The bloud of Iesus Christ Gods owne sonne makethe vs cleane from all synne Agayne yf any mā synne we haue an aduocate wyth God the father Iesus Christ that ryghteous one And he is the satisfaccion for oure synnes not for our sīnes only but also for all the whole worlde By y ◠death of Christe are we reconcyled to the father Christ is our wisdom sanctificacion ryghteousnes redemcion Christe is oure peace By the bloud of Christ haue we remission of oure synnes By Christ are all thynges recōcyled to God and by Christes bloude are all thynges pacifyed set at a stay both in heauen in earth Christe was broken for oure synnes Christe bare oure synnes on his body vpon the tree by whose stripes we are made hole Oure synnes are forgyuen vs for Christes name All the Prophetes beare wytnesse that thorowe the name of Christ euery one that bele ueth on him shall receyue remissiō of his sines Thus se we that there is no satisfacciō perfecte sufficiēt to God the father for oure synnes but only the death of Christ so that we maye well say with the Apostle God forbyd y t we should reioyse in ony thyng but in the death of our LORDE Iesus Christe Who so euer repenteth him of his synnes from the very herte is sorye for thē lamenteth his miserye hongreth for strength to do y e wyl of God know ledgeth his offenses labourethe w t all mayne to walke in a newe lyfe nedeth not to doubte but y ◠Christ by his death hath abūdantly satisfyed to God the father for his synnes CHRI Is ther no more behind concernynge satisfaccion PHIL. Yies verelye After ye haue repented you of your wickednes ye must thā amend your lyfe bryng forth fruytes worthy of Penaūce as the scripture commaundeth Ye muste practyse in your lyuyng all godlynesse innocency Factynge prayer and almes must dilygently be exer cysed of you in your dayly conuersaciō Ye must go frō vertue to ver tue frō faith to faith As ye haue walked before in darknes so must ye walke now in light Your whole lyfe must nowe be nothing els thā a perfecte meditaciō of purite and innocencye Excepte ye
ly he shoulde abstayne from synne For there be many which would neuer cease to do euell as theyr daylye conuersaciō proueth if they dyd not more fere y e punishmēt of this world the mooste greuous paynes of hell fyre than they desyre or couyt the fa uour of God the glorye of heauen PHIL. Trueth it is y ◠ye saye Such haue not in them the true Penaūce THEO What is thā to be done How maye we come by get such penaūce that maye set such a brennynge loue in our hertes towardes vertu that for the very loue of it we maye frely hate vyce cease to do euell PHIL. It is harde for a naturall man whiche vnderstandeth not those thynges y ◠pertayne to the Spiryte of God to do this of his owne strengthe power For true Penaunce is the gifte of God Euery good gifte and euery perfecte gifte commeth from aboue descendyng from the father of light S. Ambrose saythe Those are good teares which wash away the faute Moreouer they whome God beholdeth lament theyr offence Peter denied fyrst and he wepte not For the the LORDE had not loked vpon hym He denyed the second tyme wepte not For the LORDE dyd not yet loke vpon him He denyed the thyrd tyme Iesus looked vpon hym he wepte verye bytterlye Let them reade the Gospell se that the LORDE Iesus was than within whē he was heard of the hygh Prestes and that y e Apo stle Peter was without beneth in the haull sometyme syttynge sometyme stondynge at the fyre with the seruauntes as it is declared with a verye true concordant tellynge of the Euangelistes In consideracion wherof it can not be sayde that the LORDE dyd loke on hym with his cor porall eyes by admonysshynge hym visibly And therfore as concerning that which is written there y e LORD dyd looke vpon hym it was done inwardly it was done in the mynde it was done in the wyll The LORDE dyd helpe hym with his mercy secret ly He toweched the herte He called agayne the memorye He visited Peter with his inwarde grace He moued brought forthe the affecte of y ◠inwarde man euen vnto outewarde teares Beholde howe God is presēt helpethe oure wylles dedes Beholde how he worketh in vs both the wyll and the dede That true Penaunce is y ◠gyfte of God it is also manifeste by theise wordes of the Apostle it becommeth the seruaunte of the LORDE not to stryue but to be peasable vnto al mē and apte to teache one that canne suffer the euell in mekenes can informe them that resyst yf that God at ony tyme wyll gyue them repentance for to knowe the trueth that they maye come to thēselues againe out of the snare of the dyuell which are taken of him at his owne wyll CHRI Seynge than that the true vnfayned Penaunce is the gyfte of God howe is it possible for vs to obtayne it EVSE This is a necessary thynge to be knowen PHIL. Uerely by feruent continnall prayer may ye easely obtayne this thyng at the hand of God Aske haue saythe he Seke ye shall fynd Knocke and it shalbe opened vnto you God vndou tedly wyll not fayle to gyue them a good spirite that aske it of him that the y maye vnfaynedly repente loue righteousnes and hate vnrighteous nes Praye with the Prophet Ieremye Turne me O LORDE I shall be turned For thou arte the LORDE my God after thou haste turned me I repented Agayne heale thou me O LORDE I shalbe healed saue thou me I shalbe safe for thou art my prayse If we wyll praye thus God vndoubtedly wyll graunte vs our peticions and gyue vs all good thinges If we wyll caull he is redy to come Yea he stondeth knocketh at the dore so that yf ony man wyll opē the gate he wyll enter into him and suppe with him and he w t hym What woulde we haue more If we therfore perysh the faulte is in oure selues not in God which wylleth all men to be saued to come to the knowlege of the trueth THEO God gyue vs all grace to praye aryghte truly to repent feruētly to loue ver tue that vnfaynedly we maye hate vyce EVSE So be it CHRI LORDE let it so come to passe PHIL. I haue nowe taught you what Penaunce is how it ought to be done of whom we should alke grace truly to repēt howe it maye be obtayned EVSE We remēber all these thynges right well PHIL. what nede I declare vnto you of what vertue puissaunce strēgth power efficacy this moost holy Sacrament of penaunce is seinge y ◠I haue alredy spokē of it suffi ciently in the thyrd dysh of my Bācket THEO I remember well that ye taught vs there y ◠there is no synne in the worlde y ◠doth not gyue place to the vertue of Penaunce PHIL. Ye saye trueth EVSE Yet I haue herd that some men nowe of late haue ry sen vp which denye this thynge and affyrme playnely that such as faull into synne agayne after they be bap tised haue put on Christ can by no meanes be forgyuen neyther dothe this Sacrament of penasice auayle ony thynge to the remission of theyr synnes THEO O detestable heresye PHIL. Yea O thryse detestable heresy This is no newe heresy For it be gan about the yeare of oure LORDE CC. xlix was fyrst broughte vp of two famous Heretykes called Nouatus Catharus For at y ◠tyme dyd the holye martyre S. Cypriane wryte agaynste the Nouatians as we maye se in his workes Ambrose also which lyued in the yeare of our LORD CCClxxx dyd wryte agaynst the fauourers of that secte So lyke wyse dyd Fulgentius whiche lyued in the yeare of our LORDE vC besydes diuers other Of these two Nouatus Catarus ensued no smal swarmes of Heretykes whiche syns that tyme haue mayntayned this abhominable Heresye and in theise oure dayes the Catabaptistes renued it agayne to the great perturbaciō of the Christē publyque weale much hynderaunce of Christes Gospell THEO God forbyd y ◠any man should assent to this theyr wycked opinion seyng it doth not only fyll hell wyth the soules of them that mayntayne this abhominacion but also manyfestly fight w t gods moost holy word PHIL. Ye saye truethe Although yf I had leasure it were but a tryfle to confute this theyr wycked heresy w t all the other that they mayntayne yette wyll I for the confyrmacion of youre consciences rehearse certayne Scriptures which shall vtterly refell theyr wycked opinion of denyēg remission forayuenes of synnes to synners God sayth by his Prophet these wordes If the wycked shall repente hym turne from all his synnes whiche he hath wrought shall kepe all my preceptes and do iudgement righteousnesse he shall lyue and
shall not dy I wyll not remember all his iniquities which he hath wrought In his righteousnes whiche he hathe wroughte shall he lyue Is it my wyll sayth y â— LORDE God that the wycked should dye not ra ther that he shoulde turne from his wayes lyue Agayne in that same Chapter turne repent ye from all your iniquities your iÌ„iquite shall worke you no displesure Cast away froÌ„ you al your wickednesses wheriÌ„ ye haue offended make you a newe hart a new spiryte wherfore wyl ye dye O ye house of Israell For I wyll not that any man shoulde dye sayth the LORDE god Returne and lyue Also by another Prophette he sayth Returne O thou rebell Israell sayth the LORDE and I wyll not turne awaye my face from you for I am holy saythe the LORDE and I wyll not be angrye for euermore Agayne in another place the Prophet sayth turne to the LORD your God for he is gentle mercyfull pa cient of much gentlenes redy to forgyue his malyce Do not all these seÌ„teÌ„ces proue manifestli y â— gods mer cy lyeth bent out for all maÌ„ner of siners at all tymes yf they repent turne CHRI I meruayle howe they coulde fynde in theyr hertes to establysh such hereticall doctryne seyng they fyght so euidently wyth the dy uyne scriptures EVSE They refuse the authorite of the olde TestameÌ„t onlye cleaue to the newe PHIL. I knowe that ryght well yet is y â— olde Testament of neuer the lesse authorite therfore THEO They gather theyr sinistrall opinion as I heare saye of S. Paule to the Hebrues wher he sayth it is not possible that theyâ—… whiche were once lyghtened haue tasted the heauenly gyfte and were pertakers of the holye Ghoste haue tasted the good word of God the vertues of the worlde to come yf they do faull could be renued ageÌ„ by Penaunce Agayne yf we synne wyllyngely after we haue receyued the knoweledge of the trueth there remayneth no more sacrifyce for syn nes but a fearfull lokyng for iudgemeÌ„t violeÌ„t fyre which shall destroy y â— aduersaries PHIL These textes sta blysshe nothynge theyr opinion but rather manifestly condemne it As touchynge y â— fyrst sentence of Paule S. Ambrose vnderstaÌ„deth it not of Penaunce but of Baptisme The renouacioÌ„ or renuynge sayth he by the fonntayne of holy Baptisme can not be made the second tyme. To be renued he sayde that is to be made newe For it is the offyce of holy bap tisme to make a man newe And a ly tle after he saythe as Christe dyed once on the crosse as concernynge y â— flesh so do we dye once in Baptisme not in flessh but in synne And as he can not dye agayne so can not we be baptised agayne excepte peraduenture with the teares of Penaunce not wyth the regeneracion of y â— foun tayne What than wylte thou saye is there no Penaunce There is Pe naunce verely but not another bap tisme There is vndoutedly PenaÌ„ce it hath much vertu and strength yea euen for hym also that is verye much drowned in synne Thus se you that they that sinne after Baptisme can not be made a newe by Baptisme for y â— is no more reiterated yet is not here PenauÌ„ce denied vnto them but synne they ne uer so greatly yet yf they repente turne to our LORDE God they shall surely fynde mercy and be saued And as concernynge the seconde texte saynt Ambrose vpon the same place sayth that Christ dyed once for our synnes shall no more for them be offered For w t one oblacion hathe he made them perfecte for euermore that are sanctifyed Thou art made cleane thou arte free from synnes y â— arte made the sonne of God If thou returnest to thy fyrste vomite another iudgement taryethe for the excepte thou be renued by Penaunce Therfore lette euerye one whyle he hath tyme flye vnto the medicine of Penaunce vnlesse he be commytted vnto euerlastynge fyre These wordes declare opeÌ„ly that so ofte as we repent and turne so ofte shall we be forgyueÌ„ Only we ought not to loke for another Sacrifyce For Christe alredy hath suffered once for all Do ye not perceyue nowe howe greatly both the olde Heretykes also these theyr newe Apes be deceyued EVSE Yies verely THEO It is easy to per ceyue for hym that lokethe vpon the textes with a syngle eye wyth an vncorrupted herte But I pray you rehearse some textes of the newe Te stament that maye euidently shewe y t they which synne after Baptisme maye be renued by the holy Sacrament of PenauÌ„ce that gods mercy is redy for them whaÌ„ so euer they repent turne PHIL. That synners maye receyue remission of theyr syn nes though they syn after they haue knowen the trueth are baptysed it is manifeste by diuers places of y â— newe Testament who doubteth but that Peter was bothe baptysed and knewe the trueth when he confessed Christ to be the sonne of the lyuynge God THEO No maÌ„ For Christ sayde vnto hym thou arte blessed SymoÌ„ Flessh bloud haue not shewed this vnto the but my father whiche is in heauen PHIL. Uery well Yet dyd he faull agayne after that when he denyed Christe EVSE Ye saye trueth PHIL. Dyd not he afterwarde when he repented obtayne mercye at the hande of God CHRI No man wyll de ny that I am sure PHIL. Uery well Hereof doth it followe that remissioÌ„ of sinnes is not denyed vnto siners yf they repent beleue Agayne dyd not one amonge the Corinthians af ter he was baptised commytte a gre uous and detestable offence in as muche that he was excoÌ„municate put oute of the christen congregacion and yet when he repented was he not receyued agayne among the faythfull If his synne hadde bene irremissible could not haue ben for gyuen by no meanes would Saynt Paule haue coÌ„maunded y t he should haue bene taken agayne into the coÌ„pany of the Christianes EVSE It is to be thoughte naye PHIL. Ye maye be sure he woulde not S. Iohn also sayth my lytle chyldreÌ„ these thinges haue I wrytten to you that ye shoulde not synne But yf ony man shall synne we haue an aduocate w t God the father Iesus Christ y â— rygh teous one Is not the loste sonne receyued whan he repenteth knowled geth his faulte commethe home agayne Is not the wandrynge shepe fetched home agayne vpoÌ„ shulders Is not the wouÌ„ded man cured and made whole Dothe not Christ day ly crye come vnto me all ye that labour are ladeÌ„ I shal refresh you Came not Christe to call synners to repentance Is not Christ a ê‘petuall sauiour THEO O moost swete confortable sayenges PHIL. Theyse authorities vtterly coÌ„deÌ„ne the opinion of the aforesayde Heretykes set for the hyghly the blessed Sacrament of PenauÌ„ce vnto
the great coÌ„solacion conforte of all faythfull penitent synners Therfore lette vs runne to this Sacrament as vnto a stronge Bulwarke and sure asyle Let vs flye vnto it as vnto an holy Anckere Let vs delyght in it as in an hauen of helthe Lette vs not dispayre but beleue with a sure fayth that yf we vnfaynedly repente and turne vnto God desyrynge mercys for Iesus Christes sake he wyll sure ly remitte our iniquite and take vs agayne vnto his fauour CHRI Bles sed be God for it PHIL. I haue spoken sufficiently for this tyme of Penaunce I wyll nowe declare some what of the partes therof to you For they are also necessary to be kno wen. EVSE I praye you let it be so ¶ Of Contricion PHILEMON PPenaunce consisteth in thre partes ContricioÌ„ Confession Satisfaccion or amendement of lyfe Fyrst as concernig ContricioÌ„ ye shall vnderstande that it consysteth in two speciall partes which must alwayes be coÌ„ioyned togyther caÌ„ not be disseuered THEO I praye you what are they PHIL. The fyrst is a very sorowe or mournynge of the herte for the synnes coÌ„ mytted agaynst the wyll of GOD. The seconde is a constant faythe to beleue that be the synnes neuer so great manifolde yet yf we repent aske mercye God the father wyll not for the worthynes of ony merite or worke done by vs but for y â— onlye merytes of the bloud and passion of our Sauioure Iesus Christ vndou tedly forgyue vs our synnes repute vs iustifyed of y â— noÌ„ber of his electe chyldren The contricion of suche a penitent synner pleaseth God great ly yea it is an acceptable Sacrifyce vnto hym as Dauid sayth a Sacri fyce to God is a troubled spyryte a coÌ„tryte and humble herte God wyll not despyse God saythe S. Austen wyll not the Sacryfyce of a slayne beast but of a slayne herte An herte that is humbled with the knowlege of the filthynesse abhominacion of her owne synnes slayne with the feare of God and yet trusteth in the moost confortable promyses of God the father made vnto vs in Christes moost blessed bloude thyrstynge for streÌ„gth to do the wyll of God canne none otherwyse but haue God mercyfull vnto her God fylleth theÌ„ that are huÌ„gry with good thynges sayth the mooste gloryous virgyn but he letteth go the rytch emptye God resisteth the proud but to y â— humble he gyueth grace Blessed are they that hunger thyrst after ryghteousnes for they shalbe filled Who euer hath this godly contricion in hym canne neyther presume nor yet despayre For if he be vnfaynedly coÌ„tryte and sorowfull for his synnes he must ne des graunte hym selfe to be synfull miserable voyd of all goodnes bent vnto euell prone to noughtynesse whiche thynge vtterly subdueth pre sumpcion engraffethe in the harte submission obedyence humilite of mynde Agayne yf he be trulye contryte be his synnes neuer so great innumerable yet casteth he his eyes on Gods mercy set forth to all penitent synners in Christe Iesus that wyll laye hand on it with a sure and vndouted sayth which lykewyse ma keth hym that by no meanes he can dispayre For though his synnes be great yet he knoweth that the mercy of God is greater therfore can not his synne condemne hym Why is Christe called a Phisicion but bycause he is able to heale synners If our Phisicion be wyse sayth FlugeÌ„tius than can he heale all infyrmities If our God be mercyful thaÌ„ can he forgyue all synnes For ther is no perfecte goodnes of whom al nough tynes is not ouercome There is no perfecte medicine to whome any dis ease is fouÌ„de incurable Thus se we y â— where perfecte contricion is there is neyther presumpcion nor despera cion EVSE I praye you hawe maye we come by this true perfecte contricion PHIL. Uerelye by the worde of God For fayth commeth by hearynge and hearynge by the worde of God Ye shall note that y â— holy scripture is deuyded iÌ„to two partes that is to saye the lawe the promyses the knowledge wherof is ryght necessary for the obtaynynge of true perfecte Contricion Ye knowe that a mannes face shalbe longe defyled spotted deformed before he shal per ceyue it except it be eyther told him of other or els that he him selfe seeth it euideÌ„tly iÌ„ some myrrour or glasse Semblably the soule of a christeÌ„ maÌ„ shall be spotted wyth synne a great space before he perceyueth it and be truly contryte sorye for it excepte it be eyther tolde hym of other by de clarynge the lawe of God to hym or els he hymselfe loketh in the glasse of trueth whiche is the lawe of God by that menes perceyueth his owne deformite misery and wretchednes For by the lawe coÌ„methe the knoweledge of syn The coÌ„maundement is a lanterne and the lawe is a lyght waye of the lyfe sayth SalomoÌ„ Da uid also saythe O LORDE thy worde is a lanterne to my feete a lyghte to my pathwayes So that y â— nexte waye to haue the knowledge of oure synnes whereby we shoulde be moued to be coÌ„tryte sorowfull in our hartes for our wickednesses offences to stond in feare of Gods rygh teousnes is euer to haue the lawe of God before our eyes I haue hydden thy speches in my herte saythe Dauid that I maye not offende the. CHRI Nowe I praye you how shall we do concernynge the second parte of Contricion PHIL. WhaÌ„ ye are vn faynedly stryken wyth this ContricioÌ„ so y â— your hartes do truly feare y â— iustyce of God ye abhorre synne euen to y e vttermoost of your power longynge greatly for strength to do the wyll of God that ye maye walke innocently before the eyes of the diuyne maieste than for the consolacion of youre consciences and the reioysynge of your hertes oughte ye to consyder the moost swete mooste ioyefull moost confortable promises of God made to vs frely in Christes moost precious bloud Nowe to put awaye desperacion doth conuenieÌ„t time require that ye cleue stedfastly w t all mayne to the promyses which laye forth Gods mercy before yourâ—… eyes Therfore loke where so euer ye heare or se ony confortable promyse of God in the holy scryptures that declareth mercy to peniteÌ„t synners beleue without doubtyng that that pertaineth vnfaynedly to you WhaÌ„ so euer ye heare or read that Christe is a sauyoure streyghte wayes laye hande on that beleue that he also is your sauyour Whan the Scrypture shall saye to you Iesus Christe came into y e world to saue synners euery one y t calleth on the name of the LORDE shall be saued beleue you streyghte wayes that ye are of that noÌ„ber which shal be saued by Christ. Whan the scrypture shall saye God wyll not the deth of any synner but rather that he tourne lyue beleue you
Paule must beleue y â— god is that he is a rewarder to theÌ„ that seke hym Withoute thys faythe no manne commeth worthelye to recepue the body of our LORDE as Chrisostom saythe Let vs all that are sycke go vnto Christ with great fayth For yf all they which dyd but towch y e heÌ„me of his garmeÌ„t receyued theyr perfecte healthe howe muche more shall we be corroborated and made strong yf we haue hym whole w tin vs Therfore wheÌ„ ye syt downe to receyue the blessed body of Christe call streyght wayes to your remembraunce the death of Christ. RemeÌ„ber that his bodye was brokon for you vpon the Altare of the Crosse. Remâ—…mber that he offred hymselfe a swete smelling Sacrifice to God the father for the abolysshement of all your synnes RemeÌ„ber that his bloud was shed for the remission of your synnes RemeÌ„ber that by the effusion sheddynge of hys mooste precious bloud all your offeÌ„ses are cleane wasshed awaye you pourged from all iniquite In consideracion wherof ye nowe receyue y â— ve ry body of christ bycause ye shoulde nothynge doubte of the remission of your synnes of the fauoure of GOD toward you as Christ hym selfe witnesseth He that eateth my flesh dryncketh my bloude hathe eternal lyfe I shall rayse hym vp in the last day For my flesh is very meate my bloud is very dryncke He that eteth my flesh dryncketh my bloud dwelleth in me I in hiÌ„ But do not only call to remeÌ„braÌ„ce these aforsayd thynges but beleue faythfully also be perswaded vndoubtedly that they be true shall chauÌ„se to you according vnto your fayth So shal it come to passe that w t the receyuiÌ„g of Christes body ye shall also receyue all the benefytes gyftes and graces of Christe yf ye beleue so that not only Christ is be come altogyther yours but also al y â— euer he hath besydes is yours as S. Paule say the he that hath not spared his owne sonne but gaue hiÌ„ for vs all how is it possible that he also should not gyue vs all thinges w t him O the inestimable treasures that lye bent out in this moost holy Sacrament of the Altare for the faythefull Blyssed is he that is a faythfull geste of this celestial ta ble Blessed is he that with a pure fayth syncere charite eateth y e body of his LORDE Blessed is that maÌ„ which receiueth this moost honora ble SacrameÌ„t Christes very body bloude with an vndefyled conscience For Satan synne death hel desperacion c. shall not preuayle agenst hym Such one may be sure to dwell in Christ Christ in him Such one may be sure to haue his herte abundaÌ„tly enfarsed w t celesti all graces heaueÌ„ly gyftes Such one maye be sure to haue God y e father God y e son God y e holy Ghost dwellynge perpetually in his brest whaÌ„ ye haue done these thiÌ„ges a for sayd than drawe nygh whan tyme requirethe w t all huÌ„ble reuerent feare vnto the feaste of the LORDES bodye before y t ye receyue it into your mouth praye on this maÌ„ner ¶ A prayer to be sayde before y e receyuynge of the Sacrament O LORD I am not worthy that y u shouldest enter into me but saye the word only my soule shall be made whole Heale y u me O God and I shall be healed saue thou me I shall be saued Create in me O LORDE a cleane herte that w t true fayth perfecte charite I maye re ceyue thy moost holy body w t suche dignitie worthynes thorowe thy grace into my breste that y u mayste dwel in me I in the for euermore AMEN Thus haue I neighbours declared vnto you coÌ„pendiously how ye shal prepare your selues worthely to re ceyue at y e time of Easter the moste blyssed Sacrament of the Aâ—…re Yf ye receyue it on such maÌ„ner as I haue taughte you here tofore ye may be sure to receyue it worthely accordynge to Christes institucioÌ„ vnto y e helth of your soules EVâ—…E I praye God gyue vs grace to receyue it accordynge to youre moost godly iÌ„struccioÌ„s y t our soules maye be truly fed w t the true body of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. PHIL. But for as much as we se many departe vnreuereÌ„tly froÌ„ the LORDES table therfore wyll I in fewe wordes by your pacience declare to you after what manner ye shall go from it howe ye shall behaue your selues euer after that ye maye walke as it becommeth the chyldren of lyghte CHRI I pray you hertely let it so be ¶ Howe we ought to behaue oure selues after that we haue receyued the moost blessed SacrameÌ„t of the Altare PHILEMON NOwe moost dere brothers after y â— ye haue receyued the body of our LORDE Iesus Christ and w t that same moost glorious bodye tasted also his most precious bloud which as Chrisostome sayth is the helth of our soules wassheth garni sheth enflameth our soules maketh our mynde more shynynge thaÌ„ the fyre more clere than the gould is y e sufficient price of y e hole world it is conuenieÌ„t that ye shewe your sel ues thanckefull agayne to God for these his iestimable benefites whiche he at that tyme hath frely gyueÌ„ vnto you euen y e very body bloud of his welbeloued soÌ„ne our LORD Iesus Christ w t all the other incom parable treasures which pertayne vnto hym For all theyse thynges hath he moost bounteously gyuen you in this moost holy SacrameÌ„t It is therfore I say coÌ„uenieÌ„t y â— ye shewe your selues agayne thanckefull to hym by renderynge harty immortall thaÌ„ckes For this moost holy mysterye is called Sacramentum Eucharistiae that is y â— Sacrament of thanckes gyuynge bycause y t whaÌ„ eyther we our selues receyue it or els be preseÌ„t whaÌ„ other do receyue it we should gyue God precordiall thaÌ„ckes for his bounty kyndnes shewed to vs thorow Iesus Christ. Who commeth to the table of onye man departeth without thaÌ„ckes gyuynge To approche therfore to sytte downe at the table of y e moost hygh redoubted kynge where no terrestriall corruptible meate is eaten but euen the very bodye of y e pure immaculate Lambe Iesus Christ to departe from so heaueÌ„ly a table w t vnthanckefull hertes certes it were a thyng to much for to be detested It shal therfore be ve ry conuenient after ye haue receyued that moost blyssed SacrameÌ„t not to depart out of y e chirch before ye haue gyueÌ„ God harty thanckes for his manifold benignite toward you ye maye do it on this manner ¶ ThaÌ„ckes gyuynge after y e receyuynge of the Sacrament VUe thancke the moost gentle mercyfull father that thou hast vouchedsafe this day of thyne own goodnes to fede vs w t an heueÌ„ ly meate euen y â— very body bloud of thy moost