Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	blood_n	life_n	lord_n	4,921	5	3.7317	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17659	A faythfull and moost godlye treatyse concernyng the most sacred Sacrament of the blessed body and bloude of our sauioure Chryst, co[m]piled by Iohn Caluyne, a man of no lesse lernyng and lytterature then godly studye, and example of liuyng. And translated into Latin by Lacius a man of lyke excellencie. And nowe last of all, translated into Englyshe by a faythfull brother, no lesse desirous to profyt the weake brotheres then to exercise the talent of the Lorde to his honoure and glorye. In declaration whereof, he hath set before this lytle booke an epistle to the reader much more effectuous then in the fyrst edicion. Whereunto the order that the churche and congregation of Christ in Denmarke doth vse at the receyuying of baptisme, the Supper of ye Lorde, and wedlocke: is added. Myles Couerdale; Petit traicté de la Saincte cene. English	Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Broke, Thomas.; Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568.; Danske folkekirke.	1548 (1548)	STC 4411; ESTC S107182	57,569	98

Iewelles the sacramentes of Christ●s body and bloude and howe he laboureth daylye in hys members the wycked papistes to wyth holde from vs the knowledge of the spiritual eating and drynkynge of Christe whiche begynneth nowe to spreade the worlde ouer all Lette vs runne therfore vnto oure present and onelye succour in thys greate daunger To Christe I saye let vs runne moste humbly besekyng him oure Sauiour and redeamer plenteouslye to poure out of his spirite of knowledge vpon vs all that we maye daylye more and more fynde out the hydde and secrete abhominacions to the vtter extirpacion and rowtyng out of the same And in the meane tyme let vs pray to gyther that it may please the Lorde to augment the nūbre of his faythful tournynge Saules in to Paules that the harde hertes may be molified by hearing the persecutours preach Christ whom they persecuted The spirite of truth be wyth you al. So be it It is the spirite that quyckeneth the fleshe profiteth nothynge at all Iohn svi FOr as moche as the most holye supper of our lorde Iesu Christ hath of longe tyme ben lapped vp in manyfold and great errours and euen of late dayes wrapped in many opinions and contentions nothynge so quiet as was besemyng no meruayle thoughe certayue weake conscienced persones can not wel determyne what thynge they ought chyflye to folowe but do wyth indeferente and suspense mynde loke whan the seruauntes of God settinge all contention a parte shall agree amonge them selues and brynge the matter to some concorde and vnitie And seynge that such kynde of doubte hath no smal incommoditye annexed and that it is a thyngee mooste dayngerouse to haue no certayne determinacion of that mistrye the knowledge wherof is so necessarye to our saluation I haue thought it a thynge moste profytable bryeflye to spake of the chiefe sume of the matter and yet playnlye to declare what thynge we oughte chyeflye to sticke vnto therin More ouer certayne honeste men perceyuynge the matter to require no lesse desyred me earnestly to take it in hande whose requeste I coulde by no meanes denye vnlesse I wolde haue bene slake in doynge my dutye And that the difficultie therof may the more easely be opened it is neadfull to declare what order we intende to folowe herein Fyrst I shall declare for what cause and to what ende the Lorde hath instituted this most holye sacramente Then what ●ruite we take therof and herein I wyll declare howe the bodye of Chryst● is geuen vs in it Thyrdlye what is the ryght vse therof Forthlye I shall reherse the erroures and superslicions wherby it hath ben defaced and so wyll I declare howe the seruauntes of God ought to differ from the papistes Finallye I wyll declare the originall of that contencion whiche hath ben so ernestlye mayntayned euen of the same men whyche in our time haue applied al theyr studye to bring the gospel to lyght agayne to replenish againe the congregatiō and to restore the syncere and pure doctryne As concernynge the Fyrste When it pleased the almyghty oure God by baptisme to chose vs into the cōgregation that is to saye into his house whyche he wyll nouryshe and defende and that he hath receyued vs not onely as houshold seruauntes but also as his chyldren it behoueth hym yf he wyl playe the parte of a good father to bringe vs vp ministrynge vnto vs all thynges necessarye to foode and clothynge But as concernynge the thinges that pertayne to the educacion of the bodye bycause they be common to all men so that as well the euyl persones as y ● good be partakers therof they are not to be taken as for thynges appertaynyng to his houshould onely No doubt in that he feadeth and defendeth our bodies and whiles we be partakers of al those good thinges which he most plēteously and liberally geueth vs is declared a great tokē of his father●y goodnes towarde vs. But in lyke maner as the lyfe wherin he hath regenerate vs is spi●ituall so is it neadfull that the meate wherwith we should be susteyned strēgthed be al●o spiritual For we muste vnderstande y ● we are not called to possesse the celestiall inheri●aunce in tyme to come onely but y ● throughe ●ope we are in maner set in possession therof ●l ready So y ● he hath not onely promised vs lyfe but delyueringe vs from death he hath al ready ledde vs into it in very dede And thys thinge opteyned we whē he begate vs a newe wyth the sede of immortalitie y ● is to saye his worde whiche through the holy goste he hath prynted fastened in our hertes That we ther fore may defende susteyne this lyfe we must not seke y ● caducal corriptible meates wherwith the bealy is fed but we must prouide for our soules much better more excellent foode And the whole scripture witnesseth y ● the selfe same wordes wherby the lorde hath begotten vs a new is y ● spiritual bread wherby our soules are susteined fedde the reasone is this by cause in it Christ our onely life is giuē ministred vnto vs. For when god would that al abundance of lyfe shoulde remayne in Christ to the intent y ● by hym he myght make vs partakars therof he ordayned the worde also wherby Christ all his mercyes myght be ministred vnto vs. Thys sentence therfore is infallibly true that our soules are fed nourished wyth none other foode then Iesu Christ. Wherfore the heauenly father being careful for our educacion gaue vs none other foode yea rather he committed thys vnto vs singularly And for as muche as it is sufficient ynoughe for the recreacion and sustenaunce of our soules he wyll●d vs to content oure selues therewith and that our soules shoulde rest t●gether therin bycause we maye by no meanes be with out that foode whyche beynge taken awaye none other can be founde Nowe do we perceyue after what sort Christe is y ● onely foode wherwyth our soules be sedd●●●ut bycause he is distributed vnto vs by the worde of y ● lorde as by the instrument appoynted for the same purpose he is named breade and wyne And that whyche is spoken of the worde appertayneth also to the sacrament of the supper wherby the Lorde leadeth vs vnto the partakyng of Christ. For because we be so weake and feble that we can not wyth vnfayned trust of mynde receyue hym when he is offred vnto vs in the bare preachyng of the doctrine the father of mercye wyllyng to accommodate hym selfe vnto our infimitie therin hath ioyned vnto the worde a signe to be sene with the eyes whereby he myght represent vnto vs the very substance of his promesses that al doubt and wauerynge taken awaye we myght be cōfyrmed and strengthened in hym Seynge therfore thys misterye is hyghe and harde to attayne to and that we can not by witte comprehende or by studye vnderstāde howe the bodye and bloude of Christe maye be

are to be vnderstande wherin Christe calleth his bodye breade and hys bloude wyne Whiche wordes maye easely be opened yf we kepe in memorye those principles whyche I haue before set forth that is to saye that all the fruite we seke for in the supper is brought to noughte onlesse Christe be gyuen vnto vs therin as the foundacion and substance of all the whole matter And yf we ones graunt this thynge then no doubt we shall graūt also that there is gyuen vnto vs nought els but an vnprofitable vayne Sacramēt ▪ yf we deny that in it is gyuē vnto vs the very participacion of Christ whiche thynge were execrable shame full blasphemye Forthermore yf the maner of the communion with Christ be suche that we be partakers of all the mercies and benifites which he gate for vs by his death then are we not partakers w t the spirite onely but w t y ● māboode also wherin he perfourmed perfit obedience to God the father to the intent he mighte paye oure det es Althoughe to saye the truth the one can not be wythoute the other For whē he geueth him selfe vnto vs he doth it to the intent we shoulde possese him whole And therfore as I haue sayde that his spirite is oure life euen so doth he his owne mouth declare that hys fleshe is oure foode and his bloude oure verye drynke Yf this be not spoken in vayne no remedy oure life must neades consiste in him and oure soules be nourished wyth hys fleshe and bloude as wyth theyr proper and peculyar foode Of that thynge haue we testimony in y ● supper whē it is sayd of the breade that we should take it and eate it and that it is his bodye and of the cuppe that we drynke it and that it is hys bloude here are the bodye and bloude named to the intent we should learne to seke the substāce of our spirituall lyfe therin Now yf any man woulde demande of me whether the breade be the bodye of Christ the wyne his bloud therto woulde I answer that the breade and wy●e are visib●l signes representynge vnto vs the bodye bloude of Christe and that they be called the body and bloud bycause they be as it were instrumētes wherby the lorde Iesu Christ distributeth them vnto vs. This forme of speaking agreeth very well wyth the thynge For not wythstandynge that oureeyes 〈◊〉 nor oure wyttes can not comprehende the communion that wee haue in the bodye of Christe yet is it there openlye shewed before oure eyes We haue in a lyke thynge an example verye fytte for the purpose When the lorde woulde that his spirite should appeare in the baptisme of Christe he shewed him vnder the shape of a doue ▪ Iohn the Baptyste recytyng that hystorye sayeth that he sawe the holye Gost descen dynge But yf we marke it well we shal fynde that he sawe nought els but a Doue For the substance of the holy Gooste is muisible But for that he knewe that vision to be no vayne figure but the mooste sure token of the presēce of the holy goost he doubted nothyng at all to affirme that he sawe him because he was represented vnto him vnder soche sort as he was able to abyde Euen so must we say as concernynge the communion that we haue in the bodye and bloude of Christe It is a spirituall misterye whyche can neyther be sene wyth the eyes nother comprehended with the wytte Therfore as the weakenes of oure nature requireth it is set forth wyth visible figures and signes but yet vnder such sort that it is not a bare and simple figure but ioyned vnto his verite and substance The bread therfore is not vnworthylye called the bodye for as moch as it doth not onelye r●present it vnto vs but also brynge vnto vs the same thynge I can be ryght well contente therfore ▪ to graunt that the name of the body of Christ be transferred vnto the bread because it is the sacrament and fygure therof But thys one thynge wyll I adde That the sacrametes of the Lord oughte by no meanes to be separate frome his substance and verytye And yet is it not onely mete but also very necess●ry so to set them a sunder that they be not confoūded But to deuide them so that the one shoulde be made perfyt without the other is moste vnsemley Whē we therfore do beholde the visible signe we muste consider what it representeth and who gaue it vs. For the bread is geuen to the intent that it shoulde be y ● figure of the bodye of Christ ▪ we are cōmaunded to eate it It is geuen I say of God the certayne vnchaungeable veritie Yf so be y ● God can neyther disceyue nor lye it foloweth y ● he doth in verye dede performe and fulfyll al that he doth there signifye No remedy therfore we must neades vnfaynedlye receyue the bodye and bloude of Christe in his supper for as muche as the Lorde offereth vnto vs herin the cōmunion for them both For what shoulde this meane that we should eate bread drynke wyne to the intēt that they shoud declare vnto vs that hys fleshe is oure meate and bys bloude oure drynke yf he letteynge the spirituall veritye passe shoulde gyue vs nought elles but breade and wyne had he not then instituted thys misterye faynedlye and in vayne And as we saye in the Frenche tonge vnder disceyuable signes And therfore muste we neades graunte that yf the representation whyche the Lorde gyueth in the supper be no sayned thynge that then the inwarde substaunce of the Sacramente is annexed to the visible signes and that in lyke maner as the breade is distributed in the hande so is the body of Christ cōmunicate vnto vs to the entēt that we shoulde be partakers thereof And doubtlesse yf there were no more but thys one thynge yet oughte it to satisfye vs aboundantlye for as muche as we vnderstande that in the supper Christ gyueth vnto vs the very substaunce of hys bodye and bloude that we maye wyth full tyghte possesse hym and in possessynge hym be called into the societie of al hys good thynges For in that we possesse hym all the treasures and heauenlye goodes whyche be secretelye layed vp in hym are set out vnto vs to the intent that they shoulde be oures and that we shoulde enioye them wyth hym Brefely therfore to defyne the profyte of the supper we maye saye y ● in it Iesus Christ is offered vnto vs that we may possesse hym hym selfe and in hym aboundaunce and plentye of all the mercyes and benefytes that the mynde can desyre Whiche thynge is an exceadynge great helpe vnto vs in stablishynge our consciences in that truste whyche we ought to haue in hym An other vtilitie is that by it we are more steared and admonished to acknowledge the benefytes which we haue and do day lye receyue of the Lorde Iesu Christe that we maye

thys so precious treasure is vnhalowed and wyckedlye abused Thys holy Sacrament shall for the necessarye causes nowe rehersed be to vs also a testimonye of thys presente tyme before god and the worlde that we do vtterly both in worde and dede refuse and forsake all the dis●eatfulnesse of the papistrie and that we fayth fully wyth all our hertes submitte oure selues vnder the gospel of Iesus Christe ¶ Wherfore ye dearely beloued in the Lorde for as muche as thys matter is so wayghtye euen Gods owne institution and ordinaunce yea and his cōmaūdemēt also that we shoulde do it And lykewyse seynge the necessite which shoulde cause vs to accomplishe the same is so great specially on our behalfe towardes God to whom we owe a longe Deo gratias and thankes we ought in no wyse to refrayne our selues from it neyther suffer oure selues to be kepte backe there frō but oftymes wyth repētant hertes to seke this our soules medicine cōfort of our cōsciēce beleuinge what Christ sayth to vs herin doing as ●e cōmaūdeth vs ¶ And as for those that seke no suche repentant hertes fayth and comfort herein but lyue in open blasphemy continuynge in synne and wycked lyfe They shall knowe that they are vnworthy of thys holy supper and shal be excomunicate tyll they amende ¶ But to the intent that the vnrepētant may thorow the grace of god be lightened and that we our selues may frutefully enioye this supper to the amēdmēt of our liues also that all Chrystendome generally maye be the beter and be edified Therfore let vs hertelye make our prayer to god the father of al mercye beleuyng assuredly that he wyl graciously here vs thorow our Lord Iesus Christ who cōmaunded vs to praye and promised vs saynge Aske and ye shall haue seke ye shall fynd knocke ▪ and it shalbe opened to you ¶ Wherfore in consideracion of the same conmaundement and promes lyft vp your hertes and saye thus wyth me in youre prayer O Lord god our father in heauē we thy miserable childrē vpon earth beseche the that thou wyll mercifully loke on vs lend vs thy grace ¶ That thy holy name maye be sanctifyed among vs and in all the world thorow the pure and syncere teachynge of thy worde through ernest charite in our daylye lyuynge and oure conuersacion Se●lude thou graciously al fals doctrine and euell lyuinge wherby thy worthi name myght be blasphemed and slaundred ¶ O let thy kyngdome come and be greate All synfull blynd people and suche as are holden captyue of the deuell in hys kyngdome ▪ those bryng thou to the knowledge of the true fayth in Iesus Christe thy sonne ¶ Strength vs Lorde wyth thy spiryte to do and to suffre thy wil both in life and death in well and woo that our wyll maye all waye be broken offred vp and mortified ¶ And geue vs oure dayly bread Preserue vs from couetous desire and carefulnes of the bealy that of the we may be assured to haue abundaunce of al good thynges ¶ Forgeue vs oure trespace as we forgeue them whyche offende vs that oure hert maye haue a sure and glad conscience and that wee neuer feare nor be afrayed for any synne ¶ Leade vs not into tentacyon but helpe vs through thy spirite to subdue the flesh to despise the worlde with his vanities and to ouercome the deuel wyth all hys craftie assaultes And finally delyuer thou vs frō all euell both bodely and gostly temporal eternall Amen ¶ They that ernestly desyre al thys let them say Amē beleuyng without any doubte y ● it is graūted hearde in heauē according as Christ ꝓmised vs saying whē ye pray beleue assuredly y ● ye shal haue it it shal come to passe Amē ¶ Then reherseth he the wordes of the holye supper out of thre Euāgelistes Mathewe Marke and Luke and also out of S. Paule Cor. xi saying THe lorde Iesus the same night wherin he was betrayed toke bread gyuynge thākes brake it sayed Take ye eate this is my body whiche shall be gyuen for you Thys do in the remembraunce of me In lyke maner when supper was done he toke the cuppe also saying This cup is the new testamēt in my bloud As of●e as ye drinke this do it in remembraūc● of me This done the whole churche in maner aboue sayd do syng a psalme or two of thākes gyuing for this blessed Sacramēt And in the meane saeson they y ● are appoynted thē to suppe with the Lorde and come soberly and wyth greate reuerence one after another the men fyrste and then the women to the table of the Lorde where they knelynge one I saye after another receyue at the hande of one of the priest●s the Sacramente in fourme of breade And then goeth he wyth lyke reuerence to the other ende of the table and at the hande of an other of the priestes which stādeth there ready for the same purpose he kn●leth downe and receyueth it also in the fourme of wyne and all the other folowe reuerently and do the same Yf one of the priestes or both be disposed lykewise as thē to suppe with the lorde he kneleth downe his companion ●erueth hym And euen so doth he also to his felowe in lyke maner and reuerence ¶ Yf the cōmunicantes and they that receyue then the Sacramente be many they synge the moe Psalmes of thankes gyuyng elles synge they the fewer ¶ When thys holy supper is done the partakers therof y ● were appointed therto serued one of the ministers stādeth vp exhorteth the people to gyue earnest thankes to God wyth thys or suche a lyke prayer ¶ O almyghty God moste mercifull father thou that openest thy gracious hande wherby al thinges lyuyng haue theyr foode in due season we gyue honoure prayse and thankes vnto the for all thy benefites both gostly and bodely which thou hast rychely poured vpon vs wythout any of our deseruynge but specially we thanke the for thys worthy memoriall of our redemption wherin thou haste nouryshed and fedde our soules with the body and bloud of thy deare sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ blessed for euer Amen ¶ An other O Lorde Iesu Christe oure redeme● honour and prayse be all waye geuen vnto the for feady●g our soules w t this spiritual and heauenly foode And we besech the for thy tender mertye that as thou hast geuē it vs for a sacramente of continuall thankfulnesse of daylye remembraūce and of charitable vnyte Euēso most merciful sauiour lend vs al way thy grace to be thankful vnto the for it and not onely by it to be continually myndeful of our redēption purchaced thorow thy death bludsheding but also in cōsideraciō therof to increace in loue towarde the and al mankynd for thy sake An other O Lorde God allmyghtye we thanke the wyth all oure hertes that thou hast fed our soules wyth the bodye and bloude of thy moste deare sonne And we

remembraunce An other signe to declare thys misterye by Thys cuppe of wyne is but one body and yet is it made of many grapes and so are you but one bodye althoughe you be manye so longe as you be ioyned together by fayth It comforteth the herte and the lyuely spirites of the bodye and so doth my bloude shed on the crosse comforte the soule By thys action haue I declared vnto you the misterie of the paticipation you haue in me by fayth Use you the same that thys your delyueraunce by me may neuer slippe out of your mynde We haue eaten the lambe whyche putteth vs in remembraunce of the wonderfull delyueraūce out of the captiuitie in Egypte whyche was done more then a thousande yeares paste So shall you eat thys bread and drynke this cuppe in remembruance of your redemption and deliueraūce our of the spiritual Egipte and from the spiritual Pharao the dyuell And when you shalbe demaunded what you meane by this eatynge drynkynge you shall saye We where through the synne and transgression of the fyrst man Adā made bonde mē and captynes to the dyuel out of whyche bondage we could by no meanes be delyuered tyll it had pleased God the father to sende hys onelye begotten sonne to take oure nature vpon hym that he myght dye and be an acceptable sacryfyce to pacyfye the fathers wrathe Wherfore the night before he suffered he declared vnto vs by these visyble sygnes what cōmunyon we haue in hym of all that euer he deserued for vs. And then he cōmaūded vs to vse the same bycause we shoulde be alwayes put in remembraunce of that our redemption and delyueraunce none other wyse them Moyses dyd to the Israelytes the nighte before he dyd by the wonderfull myght of God brynge them out of the greate captiuytie wher in they were holden in Egypt The wordes of saynt Paule to the corhinthians do teach no lesse them I haue here wrytten For he sayeth so often as you eate thys breade and drynke this cup you shal declare the death of the lorde tyll he come And therfore who so euer eateth of thys bread or drynketh of thys cup vnworthely doth eate and drynke hys owne dampnation Here is a playne declaration of the ende purpose of Christ when he instituted this most sacred sacramēt Forsoth to kepe in remēbrāce hys mooste dolorouse death preciouse bloude moste plēteously shed vpō the crosse And who so euer eateth drinketh it vnworthly that is to saye for any other purpose thē for the same it was ordeined for the same eateth drinketh hys owne dāpnation I thynke not contrarie but y ● moste men wyl thynke this a straūge interpretation of this place for as moche as the moste auncient yea all y e doctours that make any mencion of this place and Caluine hym selfe in this boke whyche I haue translated do applye the vnworthynesse in receyuynge of thys Sacrament to the vnpenitent hert of the persone whiche receyueth it And in very dede such one is farre vnworthy to receyue so worthy a Sacrament for as much as he is not the membre nor seruaunt of Christ but a membre of the deuyll and seruaunt to synne And thys interpretation is no lesse godly then fruitfull For therby are the membres of Christe put in feare to presume to come to the table of the lorde vnlesse they haue fyrst examined found them selues the trewe membres of Christe indued and adorned with perfyt faith hope and charitie But yf we wyl go to the natyue sence of the text we shal perceyue that in this place Paule speaketh of the small regarde the Corhinthians had to thys mooste sacred Sacrament not vsyng it wyth so much reuerence as they ought to do For he addeth these wordes Puttynge no difference of the Lordes body As he shoulde haue sayed esteamyng it nothing better then the cōmune bread wherwyth they fedde theyr bodyes The phrase of speakyng gyueth this interpretation for yf I say This man was not worthely enterteyned I meane not that the partie whiche enterteyned him was not worthye to enterteyne so noble a man but that he was not vsed as was beseamyng for such a mā to be vsed So that to receyue the Sacramēt vnworthely is to receyue it otherwyse or for an other purpose then it oughte to be receyned for y ● is after any other forme or for any other purpose then y ● wordes of y ● first institutiō do declare For whē y e vse of good thinges is altred frō y ● purpose ende they were fyrste ordeyned for then are they vnworthely handled Al they therfore whyche do priuately receyue the Sacramēt eyther to merite them selues or other other that do make it a sacrifyce for the redemption of synne or to pacify goddes wrathe in any cōdition or after any other forme or for any other purpose thē is declared in the wordes of the fyrst institution do receyue it to theyr dampnation putting no difference of the Lordes bodye but vsynge it as a matter of marchaundyse or occupacion to get theyr lyuynge vpon They onely receyue it worthely which receiue it as a most worthy Sacrament and signe representynge vnto vs the cōmunion and partipacion we haue in all that euer Christe dyd or purchased for vs by taking our nature sufferyng therin al maner of moste miserable afflicions finally by hys mooste cruel and dolorouse death Therfore to hoyse it ouer theyr heades to daunce it ouer the cuppe to cary it in the stretes wyth a great pompe and glorye to bowe theyr knees and to knocke theyr breastes before it and to locke it vp in a pire to haue it ready to serue at al houres all suche chapmen as shall cal for it is but a polytyke caste of the marchauntes whyche displeye and set abrode to be sene suche marchaundyse as they woulde faynest sel As they do offende whiche neglecte and contemne thys moste holy mistery esteaming it no better then the comon breade wherewyth ou●e bodyes be fedde so do they also offende whiche honoure it wyth diuine honoure makynge it therby an ydol of all other moste to be abhorred both for that as they vse it it is a playne Antichriste spoylynge Christe of his victorye atchyued by the ones offeryng of hym felfe for all and al●o for that it pulleth the beleauers theron from the true adoracion of God the father and maketh them to ho●our for the inuisible immēse and eternall god that visible mensueable and corruptible breade wyne Yea as they vse it it is not the communion of Christes body and bloude at all but a fonde inuencion of theyr owne For Christe dyd not make so manye crossynges and blessinges and then eate it vp all him selfe But we must beleue that they recey●● it for vs and in all oure names We must beleue that theyr receauynge of it is the application of Christes merites to vs. We must beleue that they can therby releue y ● soules in y

haue of helpe and succure no remedy we must neades be moste sharpely pricked and digged as it were w t a goade through that fealing of our misery that we as mē half● famished may desprously loke for him For howe fonde a thynge were it to seke for meate wythout any maner of appetit And to gette an appetite to meate the nexte way is to haue an emptye stomake but in suche takynge that it maye admitte meate Of this it foloweth y ● it behoueth our soules to be hungry and seruentlye to desyre meate that they maye in the supper of the Lorde fynde theyr nu●rimente Forthermore it is to be noted that we can not desyre Christe vnlesse we do aspire to y ● iustice of god which consisteth in the denyall of oure selues and the obedience that ought to be giuē vnto hym For it can by no meanes agree that we should be of the bodye of Christ. 〈◊〉 uyng in the meane 〈◊〉 f●lthily volt●ptuously and without ●ule Sc●●ge that in Christe is nought elles but all puritye contin●nce gentl●nesse sobrietie veritye humblenesse and other lyke vertu●s it behoueth vs yf we wyll be membres of his body to be cleare frō al voluptuousnesse riotte from arrogancy intempetance vanitie pryde and other vices For we can not mingle those wyth him wythout great shame and reproche It behoueth vs all waye to rem●mbre that there is no more concorde betwene him and iniquitie then is betwene lyght and darkenesse Lo by what meanes wee maye come to perfyt repentaunce by appoyntynge our iourney so that oure lyfe be fashioned after the example of Christe But although thys thynge be commune to all partes of the lyfe yet take they place chieflye in charitye which in thys Sacrament is singulerlye commended vnto vs. By reason whereof it is also called the bonde therof For as the bread whyche for the vse of all men is there sanc●ifyed is made of man●● grayn●s so compacte to gyther that one can not be seperate and discerned from the other euen after the same rate oughte wee to be ioyned togyther wyth the indissoluble bonde of frendshyppe And so do we all receyue one bodye of Christ to the ende we may be his m●mbres But yf we be full of discordes and di●cencions we do as muche as in vs lyeth teare Christ and poule hym in sunder neyther shall we be gyltye of smaller sacrilege then yf we had done the thynge in dede Let vs not therfore bee bolde to come thyther yf anye hatred or euyll wyll towardes any man and chiefly a christiā and ioyned to the vnitie of the church● do remayne in vs. We muste also for the kepyng and folowyng of the order of the Lorde brynge wyth vs an other affection that is to saye that we confesse wyth mouth and declare in verye dede howe muche we are bounde to our Sauiour and that we may gyue thankes vnto hym not onelye that wee maye gyue glorye to hys name but that we maye also instructe one an other and that our neyghbours maye through oure example learne what they ought to do But for that there can no man be founde that hath so profited in fayth and sanctitie of lyfe but that he lacketh yet verye muche it were daunger leste verye many godlye consciences shoulde be troubled wyth those wordes that I haue spoken vnlesse I would retourne myttigatynge those preceptes whiche I haue gyuen of fayth and repentaunce For that kynde of teachynge is very daungerouse wherin some men leauynge the perfyte truste and repentaunce of the mynde wyl that all men whyche be not indued wyth such thynges be excluded For so shoulde all men be excluded not one man excepted And to proue that thynge to be trew who can boste that he hath no poynte of diffidence in hym and that he is depraued wyth no spot of mynde or wyth no kynde of weakenesse Certes the chyldren of God haue suche fayth that it is neadful for thē alwaies to pray vnto the lorde that he be present and helpe theyr incredulitie For thys disease is so faste rooted in vs that we can by no meanes be healed before we be delyuered out of the boūdes of this body Yea the holinesse of our life is such that we muste neades praye dayly to gette remission of synnes and grace to amende And although some be more imperfyte then some yet is there no men but he falleth in many thynges And therfore yf that integr●tye of fayth and lyfe be requyred wherein wanteth no●hynge at all the supper shoulde not be onely vnprofitable vnto all men but also very hurtful which thinge no doubt is most wyde from the mynde purpose of the Lorde which gaue vnto his congregacion nothynge more wholesome then that When we therfore shal fele in oure selues a fayth not yet perfyte and shall not be indued wyth so pure a conscience but that it accuse vs of many vices that ought not to let vs for comynge to the Lordes sacred table so be that we voyed of al hypocri●y and simulation do in y ● weakenesse trust for health in Christ wyllyng to directe our lyfe after the rule of y ● gospell But namely I say that there be none Hypocrisy bicause very many do disceyue thē selues wyth vayne flat crynges persuaring them selues that it is sufficient if they condemne theyr vices although● th●y do nourishe the same or els it sufficeth if they absteine frō them for a tyme and intende to retourne to the same agayne incontinent But the true repentaunce is firme and constant And therfore it bryngeth to passe that wee stryue agaynste the euyll that wee oure selues carye wyth vs nor for a fewe dayes or monethes but through all the tyme of oure lyfe wythout any maner intermission When we fel● that vices do s● displease vs and that the vnf●in●d hatred for th●m protedyng from the feare of god is graffed in vs and that we be also led wyth the desyre to lyue well and holylye wee are apte and mete to receiue the supper of y ● Lord although there be yet remayning in vs very many fragmentes of infirmities Yea vnlesse we were weake subiect to diffidence vnperfecte lyfe the sacramente were vnprofitable for vs and the institution therof had not ben necessarye Seynge therfore it is the remedye wherwyth God would succure our weaknes strēghthen oure faythe increase our charite and set vs forwarde in sanctitie of lyfe we oughte so moche the rather to vse it how moch more greuously we feele our selues oppressed wyth the magnytude of y ● disease Moch lesse ought it to be an impedimēt vnto vs. For if we do lay for excuse that we be yet weake in fayth and not of lyfe perfyte ynoughe to the intente we maye with drawe oure selu●s frome the vse of the supper it were euen lyke as yf a man would abstayne from physyke because he were sycke The weaknesse therfore of fayth the vyces of our lyfe

ought to admonishe vs to come to the supper as to the chyefe remedye that they myght bee amended and corrected So that we come not voyde of all faythe and repentance Wherof the fyrst is hyd in y e mind and therfore our conscience must beare vs witnesse before God The later is declared in action and worke and therfore it is requisyte y ● it appeare in our lyfe As concernynge the tyme of celebratynge the supper it may not bee apoynted and prescribed vnto all men For there is no man but he shall sometyme haue suche pryuate impedyment●s as maye excuse a man thoughe he abstayne Besydes that wee haue no precepte wherby all men be compelled to vse it so ofte as it maye be offered vn●o them but yet yf we haue respecte vnto the ende where vnto the Lorde leadeth vs we shall knowe that the vse therof oughte to be muche more common thn it is commonlye amonge many men For loke how moch more we be ●●pressed w t weakenes so moch the more often ought wee to be exercy sed in it because it maye and ought to bee profytable vnto vs both for the confirmacyon of our fayth and also for the settynge for warde of the holynesse of lyfe Wherfore in all congr●gacyōs wel ordered ought to be such custō that the supper be celebrate so ofte as maye be and so much as y ● people shalbe able to receyue And euerye priuate persone ought so much as in hym lyeth to be ready to receyue it so often as it shall be celebrate in a common assemble vnlesse he be by verye vrgent causes constrayned to absteyne For all be it that the tyme is not assigned nor the daye expressed by any precepte or cōmaundement yet ought this thinge to suffice that wee knowe it to be the Lordes wyl we should vse this Sacramēt of y ● times Otherwyse we knowe not the profite that cometh vnto vs therby The excuses that some men lay are voyed and vayne Some say they are not worthye and by that pretexte they absteyne all the yere Other do not onelye consyder howe vnworthy they be But they do also laye for them that they can not communicate wyth suche as they see come thyther vnprepared Also other suppose that the ofte vse of it is superfluous neyther do they thynke that it ought to be so often iterated and repeted after that we haue once receyued Christe I aske of those fyrste whyche laye for them selues theyr owne vnworthynesse howe theyr conscience can susteyne so greate miserye more then an yere dare not call vpō the lorde accordyngly For they wyl graunt it to be a poynte of rashnesse to call vpon god as a father vnlesse wee be the membres of Christ. Whyche thynge can not be done vnlesse the substaunce and veritie of the supper be fulfylled in vs. And yf wee haue the veritie it self ▪ we are wyth muche better reason mete to receyue the signe Wherby we perteyue that they whyche woulde exempte them selues from the supper as vnworthye do robbe them selues of that great commoditie of inuocatyng and prayinge to god But I woulde not cōpell them whose consciences be troubled and feared by anye religion to the intente they shoulde intermingle them selues rashlye But rather I counsayle them to tarye for a season vntyll the lorde shal voultsafe to delyuer them from that anxietie In lyke maner yf there be anye other cause I do not deny but it is lawfull to deferre I do onelye purpose to declare that no man ought to continewe longe in thys thynge that he maye absteyne for vnworthynesse For so is the congregacion robbed of the communion wherin all oure health consisteth Let hym rather indeuoure to fyghte agaynste all the impedimentes wyche the deuyl casteth agaynste hym leste he be excluded frō so greate a good thynge and consequently robbed of all the benefytes to gyther The other mens reasone is more aparaunt bycause they vse this reasone That is to say yf it be not leaful to eate commune bread with them that name them selues brethrens and dooe yet neuerthelesse ▪ lyue fylthyly and lycen cioussye moche lesse that breade whych is consecrated for this intent that it maye represent and geue vnto vs the bodye of the Lorde But it is no harde thynge to make answere to these also that it perteyneth not to euery priuate person to iudge and decerne who ought to be admit●ed and who to bee depelled but to the whole congregacion other else the shepe he●de and elders whose helpe he oughte to vse in the orderyng and gouernyng of the congregacion For sayncte Paule cōmaundeth vs not to examyne other but oure selues It is our dutie to admonish them that lyue viciouslye and if they wyll not here vs to make relacion to the shepeherde that he maye finishe the matter by the authoritie of y ● congregaciō But we maye not so wythdrawe oure selues frome the cōpanie and assemble of the wycked that we forsake the communion of the congregacion Bysydes these thynges it shall ofte tymes chaunce that the crimes be not so magnifest that it maye beleaful to procede to excōmunicacion For although the shepeherde shal in his mynde iudge any man to be vnworthy yet may he not pronounce him to be such a one or prohibite hym the supper vnlesse he haue cōuicted hym by the iugemente of the congregacion whyche thynge whan it chaunceth there remayneth none other remedie but that we desyre god that he wyll delyuer his church from al offences in this meane tyme whylse we loke for the daye of indgement wherin the chaffe shall be seuered from the good grayne The thyrde haue no kynde at all of the lyklinesse of the truthe For this spirituall bread is not gyuen vnto vs to the intēt we should be glutted incontinent but rather that tastyng the swetnesse therof we shoulde hunger the more after it and vse it as often as it shoulde be profered vnto vs. This is the thing that I haue expoūded before that Iesus Christ is neuer so communicate vnto vs so longe as we be in thys mortall lyffe that oure soules maye be saciate with hym but that he maye be an acustomed nouryshement vnto them To come to the fourth parte Whan the deuyll perceyued that the lorde lefte to the congregacion nothyng more profitable than thys sacramēt he dyd after his accustomed maner employe hym selfe euen incontine●t vpon the fyrst institucion to cōtaminate it with diuers errours and supersticions to y ● intēt he might corrupte and distroy the fruite therof neither dide he sease to labour hys purpos vntyll he had put away the institucion of the lorde and tourned it into a lye and vanite It pertaineth not to my purpose to assygne in what tyme euery disceyte and erroure had hys begynnyyg It shall be sufficient for me articularly to note the erroures y ● the deuyl hath inuented which we muste beware of yf we wyll haue the supper of the