Christ washed the Apostles feet, and gave them an express commandment to do the same,1 with these most plain words, If I that am your Master and Lord have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one an others feet. For I have given you an example, that as I have done, you do so likewise. Which commandment of Christ according to the outward letter, verily bindeth no less, then these words: Drink ye all of this: yet this commandment is not kept, but clean grown out of use. Though it appear by S. Bernard who calleth it Magnum Sacramentum, 2A great Sacrament, and long before, by report of S. Cyprian, that Christ did not only wash his Apostles feet, but commanded also by solemn request, and ordained that the Apostles afterward should do the same.3 Whether this ordinance of Christ hath been abolished, for that it should not be thought a rebaptization, as it may be gathered of S. Augustine,4 or for any other cause, it forceth not greatly. But this is much to be marvelled at, that this so earnestly commanded, is so quietly, and with such silence suffered undone, and in the ministration of the Sacrament, the use of the cup so factiously, and with so much crying out required. Neither in many other rites and ceremonies, we do not as Christ did. Christ celebrated this Sacrament after that he had supped: we do it in the morning, and fasting. Christ sate at the table with his xij. Apostles: neither sit we at a table, neither think we it necessary to observe such number. Christ brake the bread: we think it not necessary to break the host, that is to be delivered to the faithful participants. Here is to be noted, that S. Cyprian rebuking them, which thought sprinkling or pouring of water not to be sufficient for Baptism, declareth, that the Sacraments be not to be esteemed according to their extreme and rigorous observation, or administration of all the extern elements: but rather according to the integrity and soundness of faith of the giver, and of the receiver: and that divine things used in a compendious sort, confer, and give nevertheless to the right believers their whole virtue. lib. 4. Epist. 7. Many other commandments of God concerning outward things might here be rehearsed: which notwithstanding by little and little in the Church have ben omitted:
Christe washed the Apostles feete, and gaue them an expresse commaundement to doo the same,1 with these moste plaine woordes, If I that am your Maister and Lorde haue vvashed your feete, you also ought to vvashe one an others feete. For I haue geuen you an example, that as I haue doone, you doo so likevvise. Whiche commaundement of Christe accordinge to the outwarde letter, verely bindeth no lesse, then these woordes: Drinke ye al of this: yet this commaundement is not keapt, but cleane growen out of vse. Though it appeare by S. Bernarde who calleth it Magnum Sacramentum, 2A greate Sacrament, and longe before, by reporte of S. Cyprian, that Christe did not onely wasshe his Apostles feete, but commaunded also by solemne request, and ordeined that the Apostles afterwarde should doo the same.3 VVhether this ordinance of Christe hath been abolisshed, for that it should not be thought a rebaptization, as it may be geathered of S. Augustine,4 or for any other cause, it forceth not greatly. But this is muche to be marueled at, that this so earnes•ly commaunded, is so quietly, and with such silence suffred vndoone, and in the ministration of the Sacrament, the vse of the cuppe so factiously, and with so muche crieing out required. Neither in many other rites and ceremonies, wee doo not as Christe did. Christe celebrated this Sacrament after that he had supped: wee doo it in the morning, and fastinge. Christe sate at the table with his xij. Apostles: neither sitte wee at a table, neither thinke wee it necessarie to obserue suche number. Christe brake the breade: wee thinke it not necessarie to breake the hoste, that is to be deliuered to the faithful participantes. Here is to be noted, that S. Cyprian rebukinge them, which thought sprinklinge or powring of water not to be sufficient for Baptisme, declareth, that the Sacramentes be not to be esteemed according to their extreme and rigorous obseruation, or administration of al the externe elementes: but rather accordinge to the integritie and soundenesse of faithe of the geuer, and of the receiuer: and that diuine thinges vsed in a compendious sorte, conferre, and geue neuerthelesse to the right beleuers their whole vertue. lib. 4. Epist. 7. Many other commaundementes of God concerninge outwarde thinges might here be rehearsed: whiche notwithstandinge by litle and litle in the Churche haue ben omitted:
- 1Joan. 13.Ioan. 13.
- 2In Serm. de Caena Domini.
- 3In Serm. de unctione Chrismatis.In Serm. de vnctione Chrismatis.
- 4Ad Januarium ca. 18.Ad Ianuarium ca. 18.
