The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

When a man hath by due Examination found himself unworthy, and unworthy in respect of himself, then is he to be transformed. And here note a thing contrary to our common diet. Though in our ordinary food our meat is changed into us, and becometh of our substance, not we are changed into it: here in this meat, I say, it is contrary, we are transformed into it, not it into us; so that we may say of this spiritual food, as of the nature of the leaven. The leaven is not unleavened and changed into the meal, though it¹ •eth hid in the meal, but the meal is transformed into it, and leavened by the leaven. So may we say of this sacramental food, we are transformed into it. Wherefore seeing the Apostle saith, Le• a man examine himself, and so let him eat; our examination must end in eating and drinking, and not in abstaining. They then, that thought they honoured the Sacrament with abstinence, they by this rule plainly dishonour it: for it is said, Let him examine himself, and so eat: not so let him abstain. And the Sacrament is abused, as well by forbearing, having examined our selves, as by receiving it unworthily.

When a man hath by due Examination found himselfe vnworthie, and vnworthy in respect of himselfe, then is hee to be transformed. And here note a thing contrarie to our common diet. Though in our ordinary foode our meate is changed into vs, and becommeth of our substance, not we are changed into it: here in this meate, I say, it is contrarie, we are transformed into it, not it into vs; so that we may say of this spirituall food, as of the nature of the leauen. The leauen is not vnleauened and changed into the meale, though it¹ •eth hid in the meale, but the meale is transformed into it, and leauened by the leauen. So may we say of this sacramentall food, we are trāsformed into it. Wherfore seeing the Apostle saith, Le• a man examine himselfe, and so let him eate; our examination must end in eating and drinking, and not in abstaining. They then, that thought they honoured the Sacrament with abstinence, they by this rule plainely dishonour it: for it is saide, Let him examine himselfe, and so eate: not so let him abstaine. And the Sacrament is abused, as well by forbearing, hauing examined our selues, as by receiuing it vnworthily.