IF the woordes of Christ might be , as they sholde be ( louing Christians ) sufficiente to instructe vs , then is the supper of our Lorde in playne wyse set furthe , and without any ambiguitie vttered , it is without any doubte therin to be made , or any question at all to be moued , at large by our sauiour preached , pronounced , and declared : Jfvse may preuayle to confirme the truth , then haue righte skilfull men , whiche were in , and of the primitiue churche , truelye established vnto our predecessours , vnto vs , and our successours , the right sense , and true vnderstandinge , of the Comunion of the bodye , and bloud of oure redeamer Christ : If witte , na , if the grace rather of the holy ghost , can helpe to open vnto vs , the light herein of goddes woorde , & to make manifest in so high a mysterie , the will , and meaning of God , then haue we in this behalfe to approue oure doctrine , the eloquence of S. Paule , the actes of the Apostles , & in them the inspiration of Goddes spirite : Yf the learninge and grauitie of good men , of men well sene in all knowelaige , and artes , maye auayle to teache vs that which is true , to engraffe in vs what thing by Christ his laste supper is meante , to shewe howe , and why , we haue , doe , & sholde dayly receaue it , then haue we touching the same , the sermones of such as were singuler , the exposicion of men that were skilful , & the necessarie notes of those that were notable : to be briefe , if the death & persecution of constante , mieke , and holye martyres , may doe no smale good , to testifie the truthe in Christen doctrine , to expresse a certentie in true religion , & specialy to confirme ( for of that we now treate ) the faith & belefe , which al the faithfull shold haue , & holde concerning this sacramente , then haue wee in good writing , and the same approued by indifferente testimonie , howe a numbre haue died , we are creadeblie enformed , how , when , & wher , an infinite sorte haue suffered their blood to be sheade , their bodyes to bee toarne , their limmes to bee reant , & their carcasses to be bournt , & that for the testimonie of the same . what shall I therefore be able at this tyme to doe ? what thing worthie the hearing , shall I be able to bring into lighte ? my exercyse is nothing , my witte is smale , my learning is sclendere , myne experience is litle . What can I haue then here to vtter , that maye further this cause , or that maye to anye purposse extoll thys misterie ? what is in me that may make to youre instruction , to persuade , to exhorte you ? yea , weyghing the power of satan , the eloquence of his Orators , the might of his monarches , the practises of his proctors , the subteltie of his seruauntes , & the decepte of hys Doctors : what maketh me this bolde ? why am I so earnestlye moued to warre againste him ? to hinder his enterprises ? to abate his courage ? to beate downe his banner ? to conquiere his armye ? in dede of my selfe ouer weake thereunto I am , farre vnable I knowelaige my selfe to be , yet my good will , your good meaninges , and speciallye the woorde of God , beinge the verye bulwarke of faithe , the onelye fortresse of Christianitie , and the most singuler shielde of true religion , can doe it . Wherfore as it behoueth hym , whiche feighteth for hys Prince , and in the defence of equitie , and a rightfull cause , not to stagger , but to stande stedfast , not to quauer , but to be constante , not in his prince his sight to geue backe , but to aduenture him selfe , to be bolde , not to feare but to shewe furthe his courage : so shall I at this presente , rather shewe the wante of power , then of will , the wante rather of abilitie , then of a bolde harte and good meaning . But can hee at anye tyme wante , whose will is to defende the truethe ? can hee at all lacke , whiche taketh the parte , I saye not of one , or of an earthely prince , but of the prince of al princes , of his lord , of his Creator , of God ? what , where , or who again are they , that can withstande the power of the almighty ? that may resist his force , or that may glorie with anye wished successe against him ? Herode was richely , & royally cloathed , Acts 12 he sat with grete maiestie in his seate of iudgemente , his people were all about him , he made so pleasante an Oration vnto them , as the same amongst other things moued thē to say , that it was the voyce of god , & not of man . But yet marke howe God dealte withe him : Ibidem . Confestim percussit eum angelus domini , by and by the angel of the Lorde strake him . and why ? Eo quod non dedisset gloriam Deo , Because he gaue not the glorie vnto God . And what futher came of him ? Ibidem . Erosus a vermibus expirauit , Hee died being deuoured with wormes . Yf this thē be the ende of all suche as striue against god , why sholde I feare to striue against the vngodlye ? againste dreames ? against horrible opiniones ? againste heresie ? why sholde I feare the frowninges of men ? why shold I dreade the manacing hartes of the hawtye ? why sholde I regarde thee secrete hatred , the enuious har te , or grudginge stomacke of anye ? it is hard , it is not for mans ease , to kicke againste the spurre , the trueth wil not be shadowed with the subteltie of men , it is not for man to foster vs anye lengre in blindenes , to nousel vs further in feare , & that , in the feare of bugges , of white sheetes , of counterfaicte voyces , of false tales , of feyned glosys , of sinister exposicions , of fonde autorities , of incredible assertions , of lieng legendes , of seely sengle fryare sermons , or of any iugling , or legier de mayn dealing . We are born , we knowe , to proffite our countrey , to please our parentes , & to benifite our frendes , but aboue all we doe owe a more speciall obedience vnto god , it is meeter that we heare rather him thē man , & that we feare him before father , frend , or any of our familiars , for ( as Cicerosaith ) Religio , Cice ofsic . li . 3. & fides anteponantur amicitiae , religion , and faith must be preferred before frendshippe . but shall we beginne , & see concerning the supper of our Lord , the state of the question , betwene the Bushop of Rome & vs , that is , betwene the Pope , & the Gospell ? the knowelaige of it , is not onelye easy , but also most proffitable . Ytis easy , for by the onely , & holy scripture ( which thing by Goddes helpe we here meane now to doe ) it may be proued , the righte sense maye be shewed , the meaning may be cleare , why , when , & howe the same was instituted it maye appeare . Proffitable it is , for as without the due , and perfecte iudgemente therein , wee shall stande , howesoeuer we esteme oure selues , but in the state of outecastes , & abiectes : so by the worthy receauing , and true esteaming of the same , we shall not fayle of a moste excellente felicitie , of the benefite of the bodye , & bloud of our sauiour Christe , of heauen , & euerlalasting saluation . Manye as I haue sayde , there are , who were learned , wise & godly , that haue some at large , and some in briefer wyse , treated , and set furthe theire iudgementes concerning this holye sacramente . But as vpon one platte , or piece of grounde , a numbre doe oftentimes buylde diuerse buildinges , & the same varieng in shewe , and proportion , the one from the other , all yet tending to good endes , and vses , as to defende vs from the iniurie of the weather , and suche lyke , so vpon one place of hollye Scripture , vpon the worde of god , sundrie good , and Godlye men haue written diuerselye : diuerselye , I saye , in that some vsed one example , and some an other , all yet ( of the godlie I speake ) tending to augmente deuotion , to banishe superstition , and to extoll true pietie , and perfecte religion . I will therefore at this presente , omitte the buildinges of others , thoughe the same be proffitable , fayre , pleasante , and necessarie : and I will endeuour vpon these woordes of oure sauiour Christe . ( This is my bodie , Lue 22. that is giuen for you ) to frame , and set vp suche a smale and simple cotage , as , though yt seme not worthye of buyldinge , in comparason of the estatelie frames , and char geable workes of others , shall yet aswell declare my good wil , as also peraduenture defende , and succour some one in so peryllous a tyme , at the lest from parte of the raginge stoarmes , and tempestes that raygne , from the myste , & blindenes that men bee in , and from thee abuse , which of so long a tyme hathe creapte in amongst vs , concerning the order & vse of the Lords supper . And as of white , & blacke being ioyned together , the difference , & varietie in collour is sone tryed , so shall I at this myne entrye into this treatise , set furth , & shewe here nowe before youe , the blacke clouds , & darkenes of Satan , wherewithe he wolde diminishe the lighte of holie Scriptures , & altogether ouerthrowe the righte sense , and clere vnderstandinge of the same . Christ ( saythe S. Luke . ) Luc 22. Tooke bread , and when he had giuen thankes , he brake it , and gaue it vnto his disciples , willinge them in his remembraunce to doe in like maner the same . And here ( whiche thing youe shall see anonne proued very euidentlie out of the woorde of God ) by the sacramente of bread and wine , by these holye signes , throughe faythe they receaued spirituallye , the bodye , and Bloud of oure redeamer Christe , the benefite ( O compfortable Supper ! ) of his birthe , passion , and resurrection . This is the doctrine of oure sauiour , this haue the Apostles professed , this doethe hollye Scripture confirme , & thys meane I to sett furthe vnto youe . But the Bushop of Rome , he on the contrarie syde laboureth most earnestly , to ouershadowe this teachinge of Christe , & to bring in a newe doctrine , a carnall eatinge , a Cauphernaites murmuring , a fleashlie meaning . And yet as euery vntruth , may not abyde any diligent triall , as all absurdities will at the leanght in their own hewe appeare , & be seene , so shal you nowe see , into what inconueniences , yea , into what blasphemies , the Bushop of Rome falleth , whiles he together with his , wolde defende in this behalfe their owne dreames , and false doctrine . I wil not trouble you with many of his graue fathers , one that hath in him greate grauitie , J will bring for them to speake . I will not fayne any thing by him spoken , his owne speache is thys : Nescio an in Deum panis , an Deus conuertatur in panem , Valla de myster : Eucharistiae . I can not tell ( sayth he ) whether the breade be tourned into God , or God be turned into bread . O doubtes to be banished from Christen eares ! O vyle , and blasphemous teachinge ! O lewde , and monstrous writinge ! Yf the bread be turned into god , then haue we our creator , to become a creature , we haue our maker to bee him self made . And wherof ? of bread , of a very simple , and base substance . O Christen men , who can abyde this ? who will not abhorre to heare of suche a tourning ? this , this is it , to tourne from God , to treade crooked pathes , to wander in selfe will windinges , and to trace deceiptefull strange tourninges . Agayne , If god be turned into bread , then is our creator , become nowe a creature , he is become of a substance withoute bodye , to be corporall , of God not to be man , but to be breade . Oh , beware suche false teachinge , detest suche intollerable dowbtes , auoyde such carnal , & damnable meaning . here we see , what it is to forsake the scriptures , to leaue the perfecte waye , to enter into such dangerous steappes , to deale so carnallie , to folowe fooles , to beleue fryars , and to putte all affiance so fondlye in the Pope . Js not this then sufficient to admonishe vs ? may we not perceaue by this , what doctrine they holde , what errours they haue , what heresyes they be in ? yea , will you see , howe treating of this sacramente , they flattelye doe doubte the incarnation of Christe ? Yf this may nowe appeare , and that withoute yffes , and ands , without anye circumstances , you must nedes then abhorre thē , you must , if you be not partiall , perceaue their absurdities . Weygh their own wordes they be these : Filius Dei in mundum veniens , sumpsit ex intemeratissimo virginis Corpore , nescio an dicam carnem : I can not tell ( saythe hee ) wether I maye saye , that the sonne of God cominge into thys worlde , tooke fleash of the moste vndefiled bodye of the virgin . Can not youe tell ? We can tell , to God we thanke for it , and wee beleue it . See good Christians , see Christ his incarnacion doubted of , see the ende of their studies , see here , whiles they wold defende his very fleash to bee in the sacramente , howe they doubte whether he verelye tooke fleashe of the virgin , yea ( for so they afterwardes alleage ) how they denye yt . But was thys onelye the opinion of one ? or was it not preached in Christendome ? was yt not imprinted , and published , as a sounde doctrine to instructe men in ? is it not in wryting , and in a maner euerye where to be sene ? O poore Protestantes , if this had passed your penne , if but one of youe had preached suche doc trine , the world had nowe soone found it , but because the Pope doeth so , al is wel , it is no matter , he may denie Christ his in carnation , he may renounce Christianitie , hee maye doe what him lysteth , such is his autoritie . J haue here marked vnto you the by pathe that leadeth to perdicion : set therefore a side all wilfull partialitie , put on indifferencie , iudge , J aske no more , but vprightlie : is it not an enemie vnto Christe his incarnacion ? doeth it not bende altogether from holines ? doeth it not resiste true religion ? is it not a foe vnto oure faith , vnto the profession of al good christians ? be not astoyned , stand not stil bound in blindnes , let your eares heare , let your eyes see , thinke yea , or no . But if you belieue , as J know you doe , that our sauiour was incarnate , thē defie suche , who though otherwise they be to carnal , doe yet here doubte , & denie his incarnacion . For of these it is , that in s . Paul the holy ghost saith : Act. 20 Ex vobis ipsis exorientur viri , loquentes peruersa , vt abducant Discipulos post se , euon from amongst youre selues shall men aryse , speakinge peruerse thinges , to drawe disciples after them . From amongst vs ( dere Christians ) hathe the Bushop of Rome rysen , speaking peruerse , and blasphemous things , to drawe Disciples , to allure foolishe vnlearned Fryars , to leade mumming Munkes , to persuade simple Priestes , to entise the learned , to compell the ignorante , to compasse with his loolling that the most part of Christendome sholde come after him , and to worke with his vayn blessing , that a numbre of Christians might not in dede be blessed . But to leaue these men , ( & J wold we leafte them betyme , for they are ouer carnall , they doubte of Christ his incarnation , they denie that he was incarnate ) Let vs with the helpe of holy Scripture set furth , & we will doe it playnlie , the beliefe of the Apostles , & the meaning of Christ concerning his laste Supper . Luc 22. Mat . 28 Mar 14 Our sauiour eating with his Disciples the easter Lambe , as they satte at supper , tooke breade , and after he had gyuen thankes , he brake it , and gaue it vnto them saying : this is my bodie , whiche is giuen for you , doe you this in the remenbrance of me . He tooke likewyse after Supper the cup , & sayd : This cup is the new testament in my bloud , whiche is shead for youe . This is that hollye pleadge , whiche hee a litle before his death dyd institute to be with them a remembraunce of his bodye cruciefied , and giuen on the Crosse , of hys bloud at hys Passion shead for them , of him selfe the onelye raunsome to redeme them from sinne : these are those hollye signes , vnder whiche throughe faithe , they were spirituallye fead , with the bodie , & bloud of Christ , vnder which throughe beliefe , they were made one with our sauiour , and assured by his Passion , and resurrection ( what wold they more ? ) of eternal rest , & saluacion . For as in the sacramente of Baptisme , the infante is fully released from Adams offence , which is not doone by water alone , but by the grace of the almightye , who vseth his creatures as meanes to woorke , and to shewe his glorie in . The example whereof we haue when our sauiour , in healing the man that was blinde from his natiuitie , Ioan . 9. vsed claye tempered with spittell , further commaunding that hee sholde goe washe him self in the poole , or well of Syloe . So likewise wee are commaunded to receaue breade , and to take the cup , by those as meanes ( for such was Christ his will ) to be partakers of his bodye , and bloud , to be healed from sinne , to feede neyther by rashe reason , nor yet by carnall vnderstanding , but by faithefull beliefe on him . And as it had bene a verye lewde thing , for that blinde man , to impute his healing , & the receapte of his sight , vnto the onelie clay and water , which hee knewe to be mere creatures : so sholde we doe a thing very absurde , and wicked , yf wee dyd attribute vnto the bare bread , the benefite of our feading , or vnto the creatures the compfort , which we haue by oure creator . For the vertue was in our sauiour that healed the blynd man , the vertue is in heauen that feedeth vs , from thence we receaue the bodye and bloud of our redemer Christ . And as the claye , and water , being mere creatures , were to be had in estimacion , for that the Lorde vsed them as meanes to heale the bodye : So these hollye signes , this breade and wyne are muche rather to be regarded , seynge it pleased oure sauioure to vse them as meanes to establishe oure faithe , to further oure beliefe , to feede oure soules . We see that a Prince commaunding by worde of mouthe thys , or that thinge to be donne , hys commaundemente furthewithe is fulfylled , and why ? yt is trowe yee , for any vertue that is in the worde spoken ? or is it not rather for the autoritie and power , which still remayneth in the Prince ? is it not eyther for feare of his further displeasure , & indignacion , or to performe the duetie , which they owe vnto his calling , & personne , orels in hope by contenting hys will , to attayn credite , fauour , or some other commoditie ? so likewyse , Mat . 3. whereas oure sauiour willed the lame to goe , the leapres to be cleansed , & the blinde to see : shal we thinke , that by the vertue in the words vttered they were healed ? or shal we not belieue that the power was permanente in Christ , & that by their faith in him they were cured ? we see then that neither the bare words vttered by the minister at the communion , can haue in , & of them selues any suche power , nor yet that the very creatures of bread , & wine , can haue in them conteigned any suche force , or vertue . Whiche thing being , as it is , very playne , we must graunte that from aboue it is , that the vertue proceadeth , & that as the Apostles receaued the one of the other , and that vnder bread , and wyne , by faithe the bodie of Christ spirituallie : so we receauing in the communion at the Ministers handes , thys sacramente of bread , and wyne , we receaue of the Lord by our faithe in him , the benefite of his deathe , and resurrection , we receaue the bodye of Christ , we receiue his bloud . But how ? carnalias the Caupernaites dyd thinke ? no wee receaue them spirituallie , and that we so doe , the wordes of Christ doe the testifie . Ioan . 6. For the spirite it is , ( sayth he ) that quickeneth , the fleash proffiteth nothing . And as nowe a numbre , so then many of his Disciples , hearinge hym to preache vnto them , that they must eate his fleash , and drinke his bloud , they sayd : Jbidem . Durus est hic sermo , this is a harde saing . But what sayd Christe agaynste their murmuring ? Jbidem . Verba quę ego loquor vobis , spiritus , & vita sunt , the words that I speake vnto you are spirite , and lyfe . Hoc vos offendit . Jbidem . doth thys offende youe ? They thought to haue eaten hym carnallie : Jbidem . but he sayd : Quid &c , what if you see the sonne of man to ascende thither , where he before was ? where is then the cause of their murmuring ? howe shold they then thinke , to haue eaten him carnalie ? why shold not they , why shold not we , beleue that wee eate him spiritualye ? S. Mathew , S. Mark & S. Luk doe together , & in manifest wordes expresse , that Christe tooke breade , & gaue it vnto his Disciples , yea , & that they dyd also eate bread , ( for this is the question ) S. 1. Cor 11 Paulin play ne wise doeth testifie . Quotiescunque enim commederitis panem hunc , & de poculo biberitis , mortem Domini anunciatis donec venerit . As ofte as youe shall eate this bread , and drinke of this cup , youe shew the Lords deathe vntill he come . And again he sayth . Jbidem . Probet autem homo seipsum , & sic de pane illo edat . Let a man examine himself , & so eate of that bread . Therfore ( for J maye cutt of all circunstances ) it is bread . Wee haue likewyse in the Actes of the Apostles euidente testimonies to approue the same : Acto . 2. Erant autem perseuerantes in Doctrina Apostolorum , & communicatione , & fractione panis , & precationibus . And they contineued in the doctrine of the Apostles , in communication , breakinge of breade , and in prayers . Et frangentes persingulas domos panem , Jbidem . breaking breade in euerye howse . This is playne , it is Bread , it can not be denyed . Wel futher : Act. 2● Cum conuenissent Discipuli ad frangendum panem , when the Disciples had commen together to breake breade . Beholde howe the Scriptures are full to confirme this Doctrine , see howe withoute circunstances the sense is euidente . Yea S. Jbidem . Paule in the nighte before he tooke his iourney to Asson , doeth declare what it is , that we se . Cum ascendisset autem , fregisset{que}ue panem . when he came vp agayn , & had broken bread . Thus haue you places ynough of holye Scripture , to proue that to bee bread , which you see , you haue it sufficientlie shewed youe , that in this Sacramente of bread , & wine , youe receaue by faithe the bodie , & bloud of Christe spirituallie . Take hede therefore , that nonne of you be those , of whom it is thus written : God hath giuen thē the spirite of vnquietenes : eies that they shold not see , Esay . 6. & eares that they shold not heare , euon vntil this daye . God hath giuen vs eies , let vs vse them , he hath gyuen vs eares , let vs not abuse them . Trueth is trueth , dreames are dreames , the Gospell is perfecte , & godlye , mens expositions are mayme , they are weake , they are without certaynetie . This muche at this present maye suffice : to me it doeth , for that J see the truth , to you it may , seing you doe , or may see it . For if youe belieue that our sauiour was incarnate , thē away with foolish obstinate carnalitie , yfwe thinke that the spirite quickeneth , consider that we receiue Christ spiritually , if we haue afiance in the worde of God , in the Scripture , thē let vs renounce Munkishe dreames , and all Cauphernaites murmure , if wee belieue that God is God , then awaye with vngodlynes , auoyde al Popishe heathines , beware of Antechrist , stande stedfaste in faith , be Christians , and that you , that J , that we all may so be , Christ graunte it : Amen .

SOME doe alleage that the breade is turned into Crist his bodye , the wyne into his bloud , & the water into nothing . But som doe denye that there is any suche turning , & therfore they say : Fit autem conuersio rerum secundum quosdam .

Some doe say , that the wine , & the water are turned into bloud : But some others saye , that the water is tourned into waterishe humoures .

Some others also there are which affirme , that the wine and water are turned , non vt duo , not as twoe thinges , sed vnum compactum , but being one compacte thing .

Some saye that the former substance of bread , & wyne , is becomme the fleash , & bloud of Christ : But some others doe holde that the substance of breade , & wyne , doeth there ceasse to be , & that it is become to be nothing .