The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Seeing then that the ¹name & thing it self doth monish us of thanks, let us (as saint Paul saith) offer always to god, the host or sacrifice of praise by Christ, that is, the fruit of the lips which confess his name. For as David singeth: He that offereth to God ²thanks and praise, honoureth him. But how few be there of thankful persons, in comparison ³to the unthankful? Lo ten Lepers in the Gospel were healed, and but one only returned ⟨p. 409⟩to give thanks for his health. Yea happy it were, if among forty Communicants, we could see two unfeignedly give thanks. So unkind we be, so oblivious we be, so proud beggars we be, that partly we care not for our own commodity, partly we know not our duty to God, and chiefly we will not confess all that we receive. Yea, and if we be forced by Gods power to do it: yet we handle it so coldly, so dryly, that our lips praise him, but our hearts dispraise him, our tongues bless him, but our life curseth him, our words worship him, but our works dishonour him. O let us therefore learn to give God here thanks aright, and so to agnise his exceeding graces poured upon us, that they being shut up in the treasure house of our heart, may in due time and season in our life and conversation, appear to the glorifying of his holy name. Furthermore, for newness of life, it is to be noted that Saint Paul writeth: that we being many, are one bread and one body. For all be partakers of one bread. Declaring thereby, not only our Communion with Christ, but that unity also, wherein they that eat at this table, should be knit together. For by dissension, vainglory, ambition, strife, envying, contempt, hatred, or malice, they should not be dissevered: but so joined by the bond of love, in one mystical body, as the corns of that bread in one loaf. In respect of which strait knot of charity, the true Christians in the tender time of Christs Church, called this supper, love. As if they should say, none ⟨p. 410⟩ought to sit down there, that were out of love and charity, who bore grudge & vengeance in his heart, who also did not profess his kind affection by some charitable relief, for some part of the congregation. And this was their practise. O heavenly banquet then so used. O godly guests, who so esteemed this feast.