This S. Paul, that the Corinthians might the better understand, that they had unreverently ⟨image 125⟩missensed the Lords supper, & be the more willing to redress the same▪ laid Christs first institution before their eyes, as a true pattern whereby the sooner they might redress it. Looks (aith he) what thing I received of the Lord, the same thing I delivered cuer faithfully unto you. I gave you not any phansy, or devise of mine own, but that thing only that Christ had before delivered me. This rule is infallible. Hereby your doings may best be tried? This, I judge, to be the very true meaning of these words of S. Paul. Now for as much as in this last age of the world, the▪ same holy sacrament or mystery of Christs last supper hath ben likewise stained with diverse foul abuses, & specially for that, notwithstanding it hath pleased almighty ⟨p. 123⟩God of his great mercy, in these our days to remove away all such deformities, and to restore again the same h•ly mysteries to the first original: yet there be divers that wilfully remain in ignorance and not only, be unthankful unto almighty God for his great benefits, but also take pleasure in the errors, wherein they have of long time ben trained. And that not only the pore & ignorant, but also the rich, & such as should be learned, & know god. I have thought it good therefore, at this time, to stand the longer upon the same words of S. Paul: that we may the more clearly see the first institution of the holy sacrament, & how far in these latter days we have strayed from it. It was to be •oyed, for as much ⟨image 126⟩•s the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ is now so mightily an• so far spread abroad, that no m• would lightly miss his way, (as afore in the time of darkness) and perish wilfully.
This S. Paule, that the Corinthians might the better vnderstand, that they had vnreuerently ⟨image 125⟩missensed the Lords supper, & be the more willynge to redresse the same▪ laied Christes first institutiō before theyr eyes, as a true patern whereby the sooner they might redresse it. Lokes (aith he) what thig I receiued of the Lorde, the same thing I delyuered cuer faithfully vnto you. I gaue you not any phāsy, or deuise of mine own, but that thing only that Christ had before deliuered me. This rule is infallible. Hereby your doings may best be tryed? This, I iudge, to be the very true meaning of these words of S. Paule. Nowe for as muche as in this laste age of the worlde, the▪ same holy sacrament or misterie of Christes last supper hath ben lykewyse stayned wt diuerse foule abuses, & speciallie for that, notwithstandinge it hath pleased almighty ⟨p. 123⟩God of his great mercye, in these our daies to remoue away all suche deformities, and to restore agayn the same h•ly misteries to the first original: yet there be diuers that wilfully remain in ignoraunce and not only, be vnthankfull vnto almighty God for his great benefites, but also take pleasure in the erroures, wherin they haue of long tyme ben trayned. And that not only the pore & ignorant, but also the riche, & such as should be learned, & know god. I haue thought it good therfore, at this tyme, to stande the longer vpon the same words of S. Paul: that we may the more clearly see the firste institution of the holye sacramente, & how far in these latter dayes we haue straied from it. It was to be •oyed, for as muche ⟨image 126⟩•s the glorius light of the Gospell of Christ is nowe so mightely an• so farre spread abrode, that no m• would lightly misse his way, (as afore in the time of darknes) and perishe wilfully.
