But then they would call to remembrance God's goodness, and his passion that he suffered for us, wherein they comforted much their faith. Other came after ward and sets up all these kinds of massing, all these kinds of iniquity.1 What an abomination is it? the foulest that ever was, to attribute to mans work our salvation. God be thanked that we have this blessed communion set forth so now, that we may comfort, increase, and fortify our faith at that blessed celebration. If he be guilty of the body of Christ, that takes it unworthily, he fetcheth great comfort at it, that eats it worthily, He doth eat it worthily, that doeth eat it in faith. In faith? ⟨image 219⟩in what faith? Not long a go a great man, said in an audience. They babble much of faith,2 I will go lye with my whore all night, and have as good a faith, as the best of them all. I think he never knew other, but the whoremongers faith. It is no such faith that will serve. It is no bribing Judges, or justices faith, no retreasers faith, no whoremongers faith, no lease mongers faith, no seller of benefices faith, but the faith in the passion of our Saviour Christ.3 We must believe that our Saviour Christ hath taken us again to his favour, that he hath delivered us his own body and blood to plead with the devil and by merit of his own passion, of ⟨image 220⟩his own mere liberality. This is the faith I tell you, that we must come to the communion with, & not the whoremongers faith? Look where remission of sin is, there is acknowledging of sin also.4 Faith is a noble duchess, she hath ever her gentleman usher going before her, the confessing of since, she hath a train after her, the fruits of good works, the walking in the commandments of God. He that believeth, will not be idle, he will walk he will do his business, have ever the gentleman usher with you. So if ye will try faith,5 remember this rule, consider whether the train be waiting upon her. If you have another faith then this, a whoremongers faith, you are like to go to the ⟨image 220⟩Scalding house, & there you shall have two dishes, weeping & gnashing of teeth, much good do it you, you see your fare. If ye will believe and acknowledge your since, you shall come to the blessed communion of the bitter passion of Christ, worthily, and so attain to everlasting life, to the which the father of heaven bring you and me AMEN.
But then they woulde call to remembrance goddes goodnes, and his passion that he suffered for vs, wherein they comforted much theyr fayth. Other came after warde and settes vp all these kyndes of massynge, all these kyndes of iniquite.1 What an abhominacion is it? the foulest that euer was, to atribute to mans worke oure saluatyon. God be thanked that we haue thys blessed cōmunion set forth so nowe, that we maye comfort, encrease, and fortify oure fayth at that blessed celebracyon. Yf he be gyltye of the bodye of Christ, that takes it vnworthely, he fetcheth greate comforte at it, that eates it worthely, He doothe eate it worthelye, that doeth eate it in fayth. In fayth? ⟨image 219⟩in what fayth? Not longe a go a greate man, sayed in an audyence. They bable much of faith,2 I wyll go lye wyth my whore al nyghte, and haue as good a fayth, as the best of them al. I thynke he neuer knewe other, but the whoremongers fayth. It is no suche fayth that wyll serue. It is no brybynge Iudges, or iustices fayth, no retreasers fayth, no whoremongers fayth, no lease mongers fayeth, no seller of benefices fayeth, but the fayth in the passyon of oure Sauioure Christ.3 We must beleue that our Sauioure Christ hath taken vs agayne to hys fauoure, that he hath delyuered vs hys owne bodye and bloude to plead wyth the dyuel and by merite of hys oune passyon, of ⟨image 220⟩his owne mere liberalitie. This is the fayth I tell you, that we must come to the cōmuniō with, & not the whoremongers faith? Loke where remission of syn is, ther is acknowledging of sin also.4 Fayth is a noble dutches, she hath euer her gentleman vsher going before her, the confessyng of synnes, she hath a trayne after her, the frutes of good workes, the walking in the cōmaundementes of God. He that beleueth, wil not be idle, he wil walk he wil do his busines, haue euer the gentelman vsher wyth you. So yf ye wyl trye fayth,5 remember thys rule, consyder whether the trayne be waytynge vpon her. Yf you haue another fayth then thys, a whoremongers fayth, you are lyke to go to the ⟨image 220⟩
- 1Massing was the foulest abomination that ever was.Massyng was the foulest abhomination that euer was.
- 2The great man that never know other them the whore mongers faith.The great man that neuer knowe other them the whore mongers fayth.
- 3What faith will serve.What fayth wyll serue.
- 4Faith is a noble woman she is at her gentleman usher going before her, & her train after her.Fayth ys a noble womā she is at her gentleman vsher goyng before her, & her traine after her.
- 5The true trial of faithThe true tryal of faith
