A short and faythful instruction, gathered out of holy Scripture composed in questions and answeres, for the edifyeng and comfort of the symple Christianes, whych intende worthely to receyue the holy supper of the Lorde. Claer bewiis, van het recht gebruyck des nachtmaels Christi Micronius, Marten, d. 1559. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A07480 of text S104495 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 17864). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 23 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 10 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A07480 STC 17864 ESTC S104495 99840232 99840232 4711 2240862990

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A07480) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 4711) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 854:03) A short and faythful instruction, gathered out of holy Scripture composed in questions and answeres, for the edifyeng and comfort of the symple Christianes, whych intende worthely to receyue the holy supper of the Lorde. Claer bewiis, van het recht gebruyck des nachtmaels Christi Micronius, Marten, d. 1559. Cranmer, Thomas, 1489-1556, attrib. trans. [16] p. E. van der Erve, [Emden : 1556?] A translation, by T.C. [i.e. Thomas Cranmer?], of: Micron, Marten. Een claer bewijs, van het recht gebruyck des nachtmaels Christi. Caption title. Imprint from STC. Signatures: A. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng Lord's Supper -- Early works to 1800. eebo A short and faythful instruction, gathered out of holy Scripture, composed in questions and answeres, for the edifyeng and comfort of the symple Chris Micronius, Marten, 1556 20 3881 6 0 0 0 0 0 15.46 C The rate of 15.46 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2004-11 Assigned for keying and markup 2004-12 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-01 Sampled and proofread 2005-01 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
A short and faythful Instruction , gathered out of holy Scripture , composed in Questions and Answeres , for the edifyeng and comfort of the symple Christianes ; whych intende worthely to receyue the holy Supper of the Lorde . 1. Corin. xi . Who so euer shall eate of thys Bread & drinke of the Cuppe of the Lorde vnworthely , Shal be gylty of the body and bloud of the Lorde . 2. Corin. 4.

I beleue , and therfore I speake .

To the faythful congregacion of the Dutch Churche at London . Grace and peace from God the father , and from our Lorde Jesus Christe .

FOrasmuche as our Lorde Jesus Christ hath commaunded all true Christians to obserue , holde and vse hys holy Supper in remembraunce of hym tyl his commyng agayne : & seyng also that al they whiche accordyng to the rule of holy scripture neither do examyn , trye nor proue them selues ryghtly before the recept of the sayd holy supper , neither yet do truly iudge & discerne the difference of it from other prophane bankettes , are gyltie of the body & bloude of Christ : and seyng also that no man can accordyngly other trye & proue hymselfe , or ryghtly iudge & discerne the body of the Lorde , except he first knowe and vnderstande the foundacion & grounde of the christen fayth and religion : Therfore haue we ( as they whych are carefull for the health of your soules ) wrytten this brefe & shorte summary of the moste nedefull and principall partes of the christen religion , to your moste profytable instruction & comforte to th entent that no man other through ignoraunce shulde despise that commaundement of Christ : or els thorough stubburnes shuld 〈◊〉 not regarde the recepte of that holy ●upper , or in any wyse slaunderously or vnworthely abuse it . In consideracion wherof we humbly beseche you of charitie and for Christ Jesus sake , that you wyll thankfully take thys my labour , and wyth all diligence imbrace it , to the furtheraunce of your owne saluacion , and our ioye in the daye of the Lorde . Gyuen in London by your welwyllyng Minister . Marten Micron . 8. Decemb. 1552.

Question . Welbeloued brother or syster N. seyng that thou intendest to receaue with vs the holy Supper of the Lorde Jesus Christe , so before all thynges ( yf otherwyse thou wylt not make thy selfe gyltie of hys bodye and bloud ) thou muste be a christian : therfore we aske of thee .

Wherby knowest thou , that thou arte a Christian.

Answere , Rom. 8. 2. Cor. 1. Two maner of wayes : Fyrste bycause the holy ghost by the witnesse of fayth certifieth me in myne herte & sealeth my conscience , that I am the chylde of God alonly through the merite of Jesus Christe . Secondarely , because that I thorowe the same spirite ( as touching the inwarde man ) am moued wyllyngly and gladly to the due obedience of goddes holy commaundementes .

Question . Whych are the commaundementes ?

Answere . Those whych God hymselfe commaunded , & Moses in the .xx. Cha. of Exo. wrote , in maner and forme folowyng .

The. ten commaundementes .

I Am the Lorde thy God , which brought the out of the lande of Egypte out of the house of bondage : Thou shalte haue none other Goddes but me .

Thou shalt not make vnto thy selfe any grauen ymage , nor the lykenesse of any thinge that is in heauen aboue , or in the earth beneth , nor in the water vnder the earth , thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them : For I the Lorde thy God am a gelouse God , and viset the sinnes of the fathers vpon the chyldren vnto the thyrd & fourth generacion of them that hate me , & shewe mercy vnto thousandes in them that loue me and kepe my commaundementes .

Thou shalte not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vayne . For the Lorde wyll not holde hym gyltlesse that taketh hys name in vayne .

Remember that thou kepe holy the Sabboth daye . Sixe dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou haste to do , but-the seuenth daye is the sabboth of the Lorde thy God . In it thou shalt do no maner of worke , thou and thy sonne , & thy doughter , thy man seruaunt and thy mayd seruaunt , thy cattel , and the straunger that is wythin thy gates , for in syxe dayes the Lorde made heauen and earthe , the Sea and all that in them is , and rested the seuenth daye . Wherfore the Lorde blessed the seuenth daye , and halowed it .

Honour thy father & thy mother , that thy dayes maye be longe in the lande , whych the Lorde thy God gyueth the.

Thou shalt do no murther .

Thou shalt not committe adultery .

Thou shalt not steale .

Thou shalt not beare false wytnesse agaynst thy neyghbour .

Thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours house , thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours wyfe , nor hys seruaunt , nor hys mayde , nor hys Oxe , nor his Asse , nor any thing that is hys .

Question . Howe are these commaundementes deuyded ?

Answere . Ex. 23. 34 Into two tables , wherof the first pertayneth to God , Deute. 9. and the other to oure neyghbour .

Question . What learnest thou in the foure fyrst commaundementes whyche belonge alonly vnto God ?

Answere . Esa. 44. That I shall set my fayth , truste and confidence vpon no creature , Psal. 115. but vp on God alone . Mat. 15. And hym , Exo. 25. not wyth ymage seruice or any other counterfayt worshippyng , 1. Reg. 15. but alone in spirite and truthe shall worship and serue , Ioh. 4. & shall also daylye prayse hys holye uame , Esa. 48● . and exercyse my selfe diligently not onely in hearyng hys holy worde , Ephe. 5. but also in the vse of his Sacramentes , Luk. 8. 10.

Question . What learnest thou in the sixe commaundementes folowynge , whyche belonge to our neyghbour ?

Answere . That I shal be obedient vnto them , whome God hathe set ouer me , and that I shal by no maner of meanes be hurtfull to my neyghbour in hys body , wyfe famylie , goodes , honour , name , fame , or estimacion , no not so muche as with any euel luit , but in al godly and honest thinges shal be to hym an helpe & furtherance .

Question . Haste thou these commaundementes in all pointes so perfytlye fulfylled , that thou art able to stande in the iudgement ?

Answere . Och naye : for seyng that the lawe is spiritual , and I am carnal , I can not but confesse my selfe in many thynges agaynst that holy lawe to haue offended , not onlye in leauyng vndone that that is therin commaunded , but also-in doynge that , Deute. 27. that is therin forbydden .

Question . Gala. 3. Seyng that man because of one synne by the sentence of the lawe is condemned and excluded out of the kyngdome of God , Iaco. 2. howe shalt thou then be saued , for asmuche as in many thynges thou haste synned , and because that no man can entre into Goddes kyngdom vnlesse he be cleane from all synne ?

Answere . My saluacion dependeth onely of mere mercy and grace thorow Jesus Christ , whyche wythout al my deseruing hath taken and accepted me for one of hys members , & also hath made me partaker of all hys gracious merites & good dedes , because wyth a repentaunt herte I beleue vndoutedly to be saued thorow hym .

Question , Seyng the grounde of thy fayth is set alone vpon Jesus Christe , wylt thou shortlye declare , what thou beleuest on Christe ? Rom. 1. 9.

Answere . Ioh. 1. 3. I beleue that Jesus Christ in one persone is very God of God : 1. Ioh. 2 , & very man of man : 1. Tim. 2. and also that he is my only mediatour , Heb. 7. 8. aduocate , intercessour , hyghe Preest , Deute. 18. Kynge and Prophete , whyche hath taken vpon hym my curse and condempnacion , Act. 3. 7. and hath to me agayne re-restored frely hys holynes and righteousnes , Gala. 3. as it is moste briefly comprysed in the chiefe articles of our Christen fayth . Roma. 8.

Question . Whyche are the chief articles of the Christen fayth ?

Answere . I beleue in God the father almyghty , maker of heauen and earth . &c.

Question . What vnderstandest thou by that worde ( I beleue ) as thou confessest sayeng : I beleue in God the Father : I beleue in God the Sonne : I beleue in God the holy Ghost .

Answere . I meane thys , that I set all my fayth , truste and confidence in God the Father , who hathe made me and all the worlde : In God the Sonne , who hathe redemed me and all mankynde : and in God the holy Ghost , who sanctifieth me and all the chosen people of God .

Question . Beleuest thou then , that God the father , the sonne , and the holy Ghost are one true God ?

Answere . Yea moste surely , for so all the holy scripture teacheth vs , and therof are we admonyshed in our baptyme wherin we are baptysed in the name of the father and of the sonne , and of the holy Ghoste .

Question . Hathe Christe ordened no sure outward exercises and certaine markes and tokens wherby hys congregacion maye be knowen and discerned from all other churches and sectes ?

Answere , Yes doutles , and that because of oure weaknesse , that we thorowe them maye be exercysed and strengthened in a sure fayth , & also by the due administracion of them may so muche the better be styrred vp to the due obedience of the forsayd commaundementes of God .

Sure markes and tokens of Christes true Churche .

Question . What are the sure exercises , markes & tokens , of the true church of Christ ?

Answere . The fyrst is , the syncere preachyng of Goddes holy worde .

The seconde is , the ryght vse of the Sacramentes instituted and ordeyned of Christe .

And the thyrde is , the christen correccion of the congregacion . In whych thre thinges all true christianes ordenarely with all diligence and obedience ought to exercyse them selues , wherby also they are seperated & disseuered from al other sectes .

Question . Wherin standeth the syncere preachyng of the holy worde of God .

Answere . In the ryght declarynge of the lawe , and of the holy gospel , wherof hytherto I haue made my confession .

Of the Sacramentes .

Question . What are the Sacramentes ?

Answere . They are holy exercises , seales & effectuall tokens of remembraunce , ordeyned of the Lorde him selfe for the comforte of his congregacion . In whych exercyses the free forgeuenesse of synnes in and by Christ Jesus , before our eyes , and that moste clearly and euidentlye is set out and sealed . And besyde that , we are therby admonyshed of our duty both towardes God , and to our neyghbour .

Question . Howe many suche Sacramentes are there ?

Answere . Two , that is : Baptyme . And the holy Supper of the Lorde .

Of Baptyme .

Question . What is Baptyme ?

Answere . It is an holy ordinaunce of Christ in the recept wherof all the membres of hys congregacion ( in whych yonge children are conteyned also ) are baptysed which water in the name of the Father , and of the Sonne , and of the holy Ghost .

Question . What comforte hast thou of thy Baptyme ?

Answere . Great conforte . For albeit of nature I am vncleane & the child of wrath , yet neuerthelesse by fayth in the promyses of mercy am I fully persuaded , ●ala . 3. that thorowe Jesus Christe I am assuredly & certeynlye accepted and taken into the grace and fauour of God , as my body in the recept of baptyme is besprenkled and wasshed wyth water .

Question . What more comforte haste thou of Baptyme ?

Answere . Forsoth thys : that I may all my lyfe longe haue a continuall forgeuenes of my synnes , into the whych thorow the deuels temptacion & myne owne weaknes and fraylnes I maye chaunce to fall : whensoeuer I wyth a repentant hert in spirite and fayth thorow Jesus Christ do praye and aske pardon and forgeuenesse of the same .

Question . Wherof moreouer arte thou admonished in thy baptyme ?

Answere . Truly , that I shal al my lyfe longe forsake the deuell , the worlde , and all the fylthy lustes of my fleshe , and wyth al diligence continually walke in a new and godly lyfe .

Of Christes holy Supper .

Question . What is the holy Supper of the Lorde ?

Answere . It is an holy soule banket , Math. 26. ordened of Jesus Christe , 1. Cor. 10. for an effectuall remembraunce of hys death , He. 7. 10. especially that he vpon the crosse once for all offered vp hys innocent bodye , and there also shed hys moste precious bloude for the forgeuenes of synnes .

Question . Wherfore intendest thou to receyne the holy Supper of our Lorde Jesus Christe ?

Auswere . Math. 28. Because my Lorde and Maister Jesus Christe hath wylled , Mar. 14. ordeined and commaunded it to be receyued in remembraunce of hys death , 1. Cor. 11. for the synguler conforte , profyt and commoditie of me , and of all the worthy receyuers of it .

Question . What profyt and comforte fyndest thou in the due and worthye recepte therof .

Answere . Truely , in the ryght ministracion therof , it is lyuely and effectually set out to me myserable synner as it were before myne eyes , beaten into my remembraunce , yea wytnessed and sealed to my feble conscience through the holy Ghost , that Christ hath once for al vpon the crosse made an euerlastyng full and parfyte oblacion and sacrifice for my synnes , Heb. 7. 10. and that I also beleuynge in hym haue thorough hys death and oblacion once made , forgyuenes of my synnes wyth comfort and full truste of euerlastynge lyfe as verely , truly and certeinlye as I at hys table eate of the breade broken and drinke of the cuppe of the Lorde , whyche ( after the vse of holy scripture & maner of Sacramentes ) he calleth his body & bloude .

Question . What fourme , maner , and propertie of speakyng vseth the holy scripture in all Sacramentes ?

Answere . Uerely , that the outwarde partes or matter of the Sacramentes in the holy scripture are decked , bewtifyed and adourned wyth the names of the mysteries and hyd thynges , whych they signifye : to th entent it myght be knowen wher vnto they were properly ordeined , & wherfore they shulde be receyued . Gen. 17. As circumcision is called the Couenaunt of God : Exo. 12. the Paschlambe is intitled the Passeouer or passe by : Tit. 3. Baptyme is named the wasshing awaye of synne or bath of the new byrth . Actu. 22. Euen so the holy Supper is called the body of Christ broken for vs , 1. Pet. 3. and his bloud shedde for vs . 1. Cot. 10. and , 11.

Questi . Is the very natural body & bloud of Christ necessarely present here vpon erth , so that in the supper it may be eaten & dronken .

Answere . Nay truely : For fyrst it were vtterly contrary to the nature & propertie of al Sacramentes . 1. Syxe reasons agaynst the 2 corporal presens of Christ in the supper 1 , Cor. 10. Againe , the opinion of corporal presence obscureth the spiritual eating & drinkyng of the body and bloud of Christ , whych al the old fathers ( as S. Paul sayeth ) dyd : whych spiritual eatyng and drynkyug alone in holy scripture is required vnto saluacion . Besyde that , it defaceth and in a maner blotteth out the verye true nature & propertie of Christes body , whyche was made of the substance of the virgine Mary hys mother , and not of breade . Further it maketh the preestly office of Christe of none effecte , or at the least vnsufficient . For in that office he once for all offred hys body and shed hys bloud for our redempcion , and doth not yet dayly seperate & diuide his bloud from his glorified body again Moreouer , thys corporal presence is contrary to the article of hys ascencion , and our continuall lokynge for hys returne at the laste daye . Finally , this fond ymaginacion of Christes bodely presence setteth out & describeth to vs suche a Christ as in the wrytynges of the prophetes & apostles is vtterly vnknowen .

Question . Wherof els art thou admonished in the vse of Christes holy Supper ?

Answere . Truly , that I with all myne herte shall thanke my Lorde Jesus Christ for thys great benefite of my redempcion . And thys thankefulnesse by hys gracious fauoure , wyth pacience , loue , mortificacion of carnall desyres , sobernesse of lyfe and conuersacion , and finally wyth a continual and free confession of hys holy name , shal I signifye and declare vnto my lyues ende .

Of Christen correccion .

Question . Where is the correccion of the Churche commaunded of Christ ?

Answere . Uerely in the .18 . tha . of S. Mat. gospel vnder these wordes : Math. 18. yf thy brother trespase against the. Go & tel him hys faut betwene hym & thee alone . Yf he heare the , thou hast wonne thy brother . But yf he heare the not , then take yet with thee one or two , that in the mouthe of two or thre wytnesses euery matter may be stablyshed . Yf he heare not them : tel it vnto the congregracion . Yf he heare not the congregacion , let hym be vnto the as an heathen man , & as a publican . Uerely I say vnto you : what so euer ye bynd on earth shal be bounde in heauen : and what so euer , ye lose on earth , shal be losed in heauen . Thys ordinaunce of Christ S. Paul also confirmeth & putteth in vse as appeareth in the .i. epistle vnto the Corinthes . 1. Cor. 5.

Question . What is the correccion of the Churche of Christ .

Answere . Math. 18. It is an ordinaunce of Christ , through which euery christian is bound orderly after the worde of God , Luke . 17. louingly to admonishe hys brother of hys faute : Rom. 15. & also agayne willingly & gladly to receiue and take admonicion , Collo. 3. warnyng & charitable rebukes for the same . Heb. 3. 12. Or els yf he refuse and vtterly despyse all suche godly admonicions and warnynges ( so that accordynge vnto Christes rule they be orderly done ) then by the authoritie of goddes worde he ought to be excommunicated & put out of the congregacion & delyuered to sathan : Iaco. 5. and as an heythen & publican to be estemed , 1. Cor. 5. reputed & taken , 1. Thes. 5. vnto such a tyme he returne , amende & reconcile himselfe agayne vnto the congregacion .

Question . 1. Petri. 5. Seyng that subtile sathan seketh alwayes & meanes to pluck awaye man from hys fayth and obedience to Jesus Christ , how shalt thou then be able to stande in thy profession ?

Answere . Mar. 13. By the only grace of God & such meanes as he hath ordeined , Ephe. 6. which are : watchyng , Iaco. 4. resistyng and prayeng . &c.

Question . To whom prayest thou ? & howe ?

Answere . To God onely thorowe Jesus Christ , in spirite and truthe .

Question . For what thynge prayest thou ?

Answere . I praye fyrste for those thynges that are to the preferrement and aduancement of goddes glory & our owne soules health . And then for suche thinges as are profytable and necessary for the susteynyng of thys lyfe , but so as they agre and stande wyth the wyl and pleasure of God : And finally , that it may please god to delyuer and defende vs from all thynges that are to the hynderaunce of his glorye & to the decay of the health of our soules . Al whych thynges are comprised in the praier which Christ taught his disciples : which is : Our father which art in he . &c.

Question . Wylt thou accordyng to this confession of thy fayth lyue : And wyth al diligence obserue the discipline of the church , and bond of charitie : & also ( al enuie , malice & hatred of herte set aparte ) wilt thou reconcile thy selfe & be at one withal men wyth whome thou arte at variaunce ?

Answere . Yea by the grace of God , so farre as is possible to thys myne infirmitie & weaknes , the whych I shal earnestly pray vnto God to strengthen me dayly more and more . Amen .

Translated out of Dutch into Englyshe , By T. C.
Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
Notes for div A07480-e10