A potacio[n] or dry[n]king for this holy time of le[n]t very co[m]fortable for all…A potacio[n] or dri[n]kynge for this holi time of le[n]t very co[m]fortable for all…
A potacio[n] or dry[n]king for this holy time of le[n]t very co[m]fortable for all penitent sinners, newly prepared by Theodore Basil.A potacio[n] or dri[n]kynge for this holi time of le[n]t very co[m]fortable for all penitent synners, newly prepared by Theodore Basille.
Thomas Becon 1512–1567printed for Joha, 1542printed for Ioha, 1542
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
PHIL. The children which sing, betoken the faithful christen men in this world, which ought to be simple & humble in heart, as a child is, as Christ saith, 1verily I say unto you, except ye be converted & become as a child, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Who so ever therefore humbleth himself as this child, he it is that is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⟨image 70⟩Also S. Paul, Brothers, be 2
not children, in understanding how be it, as concerning maliciousness, be children, but in understanding be perfect. Now as concerning the singing & casting down of cakes & flowers, ye shall hear now three things. The first is
giving of glory & praise to Christ for his innumerable benefits showed unto us, which is signified by the singing of the children. For it is convenient that we be not forgetful of God's goodness toward us, but that we be thankful again for it, and sing perpetual praises to his most blessed name. For this is the reward and amends that he desireth, as he himself saith, the Sacrifice of praise shall
through Christ, which we lost in Adam, & are now become christen men, we ought not only to be thankful to God for his benefits, but all so lead an honest & pure life, that by this means also God's glory may be set forth by us, as Christ saith, Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works, & glorify your father which is in heaven. We are set with out fear, & delivered from the power of our enemies, saith Zachary the priest father of S. John Baptiste, that we should serve God all the day
are dearly bought. Glorify GOD now therefore in your body & in your spirit, which are Goddes. Also in another place, If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The third is mercy toward the poor
people, which is signified by the ca sting down of the cakes.
PHIL. The chyldrē which sig, betokē ye faithful christen men in this worlde, whiche ought to be simple & hūble in hert, as a chylde is, as Christ sayth, vere 1ly I saye vnto you, excepte ye be cō uerted & become as a chylde, ye shal not enter into the kingdome of heuen. Who so euer therfore hūblethe himselfe as this chylde, he it is that is greatest in the kyngdome of heauen. ⟨image 70⟩Also S. Paule, Brothers, be 2not chyldren, in vnderstandynge howe be it, as concernynge maliciousnes, be chyldren, but in vnderstandynge be perfecte. Nowe as cō cernynge the syngynge & castynge downe of cakes & floures, ye shall heare now thre thiges. The fyrst is 3geuyng of glorye & prayse to Christ for his innumerable benefites shewed vnto vs, which is signifyed by the syngyng of the chyldren. For it is conueniente that we be not forgetfull of Goddes goodnes toward vs, but that we be thanckefull agayne for it, and synge perpetuall prayses to his moost blyssed name. For this is the rewarde and amendes that he desireth, as he himselfe sayth, the Sacrifice of prayse shall 4honouor me. Also ye Psalmograph sayth: O•ier to God the Sacrifice of prayse. The seconde is an honest conuersacion, & the continuall ⟨image 71⟩5exercyse of godly vertues, which is signified by the floures, that ye chyl dren east do•ne. For seing that we are restored vnto oure olde liberte 6thorowe Christe, whiche we lost in Adam, & are nowe become christen mē, we ought not only to be thākeful to God for his benefites, but al so leade an honest & pure lyfe, that by this meanes also Goddes glory maye be set forth by vs, as Christe sayth, Let youre lyght so shyne before 7men, that they maye se youre good workes, & glorify your father which is in heauen. We are set wt oute feare, & delyuered frō ye power of our enemies, sayth Zacharye ye preste father of S. Iohn Baptiste, that we should serue God all ye day 8es of our lyfe, in holynes & ryghteousnes. We are the workemanshyp of god, sayth S. Paule, created in 9Iesus Christe vnto good workes, which God hath prepared that we ⟨image 71⟩shoulde walke in them. Agayne, ye 10are derely bought. Glorify GOD now therfore ī your body & ī your spiryte, which are Goddes. Also in another place, If any manne be in Christe, he is a newe creature. The thyrde is mercy towarde the poore 11people, which is signifyed by the ca stynge downe of the cakes.
1•at xviii
2[…]. Cor: […]〈…〉. Cor: 〈…〉
3What the singing of […] children sig nyfy•,What the syngyng of 〈…〉 chyldren sig nyfy•,
This 1mercy toward the needy members of Christ, ought diligently to be exercised of all christen men, which have the goods of the world in their possession, or else they show them selves unworthy the benefits of GOD. For by mercy & faith are since purged, saith the wise man. To 2do mercy & judgement pleaseth the LORD more then Sacrifice. Give 3alms, saith christ, & behold all things are clean unto you. Thus see you, what is signified by the singing of the children, & by the casting down of the flowers and of ⟨image 72⟩the cakes. Whereof ye learn, what is your duty to do again unto 4God for his exceeding & incomparable benefits toward you, verily to be thankful, to lead a godly life, & to be merciful to y• poor members of Christ.
Thys 1mercy towarde the nedy mēbers of Christ, ought diligently to be exer cised of all christē men, which haue the goodes of ye world in theyr possession, or els they shewe thē selues vnworthy the benefites of GOD. For by mercye & faythe are synnes pourged, saythe the wyse man. To 2do mercy & iudgement pleaseth the LORDE more then Sacrifice. Giue 3almes, sayth christ, & behold all thiges are cleane vnto you. Thus se you, what is signifyed by the syngynge of the chyldren, & by the castynge downe of the floures and of ⟨image 72⟩the cakes. Wherof ye learne, what is youre dutye to do agayne vnto 4God for his excedynge & incomparable benefytes towarde you, verely to be thanckefull, to lede a godly lyfe, & to be mercyfull to y• poore mēbers of Christ.
1What the ca sting dow• of the Casignifye.What the ca styng dow• of the Casignifye.
PHIL. This preacheth unto us, ye they, which give praise unto God & practise an honest con uersacion, and show mercy to the poor people, should not do it for 1vain glory nor for the praise of men, but only for the glory of God, setting their minds, seeing they are come to Christ, no more upon ⟨image 72⟩earthly things, but upon things celestial & heavenly. In token whereof they ascend and go up into such an high place from the earth. And this is it, that S. Paul wry 2teth, if ye be risen again with christ seek for those things that are above, where christ is sitting on y• right hand of God. Seek for those things that are above, & not that are upon y• earth. For you are dead, & your life is hid with Christ in God.
PHIL. This preacheth vnto vs, ye they, which gyue prayse vnto God & practyse an honest con uersacion, and shewe mercye to the poore poople, shoulde not do it for 1vayne glorye nor for the prayse of men, but only for the glory of God, settynge theyr myndes, seyng they are come to Christe, no more vpon ⟨image 72⟩earthlye thynges, but vpon thynges celestiall & heauenly. In token wherof they ascend and go vp into such an hygh place from the earth. And this is it, that S. Paule wry 2teth, yf ye be rysen agayne wt christ seake for those thynges that are aboue, where christ is syttynge on y• ryght hāde of God. Seke for those thynges that are aboue, & not that are vpō y• earth. For you are dead, & your lyfe is hydde with Christ in God.
PHI. These things once done than goeth the Procession forth, until they come to y• church door, which, when they come unto it, is sparred, & certain children in the church singing. The song being once done, the priest taketh y• cross in his hand, & putteth the door from ⟨image 73⟩him with it, & so openeth it, and entereth 1in with all the other people after him.
PHI. Theyse thinges once done thā goeth the Processiō forth, vntyll they come to y• chyrche dore, whiche, whan they come vnto it, is sparred, & certayne chyldren in the chyrch syngynge. The songe beyng once done, the preste taketh y• crosse in his hande, & putteth the dore frō ⟨image 73⟩him with it, & so openeth it, and entreth 1in with al the other people after hym.
1What the sperynge of the Church door signifieth.What the sperynge of the Chyrche dore signi fyeth.
PHIL. The spearing of the church door signifieth, that heaven gates were speared 1against us for the sin of our first father Adam, in whom all we have offended, so that no man could once enter by his own virtue, power, merits & good deeds into heaven, 2as Christ witnesseth, no man goeth up into heaven, but he that came down from heaven. That is to say, no man by his own strength & virtue ascendeth into heaven, but Christ, which descended from heaven, & toke flesh of the most glorious 3& pure virgin Marye. Therefore every one that goeth up into heaven, goeth up by Christ, as he himself witnesseth, I am y• way, 4the trueth & the life, no man cometh unto the father, but by me. ⟨image 73⟩Therefore to declare that our ingress & entering into heaven, come meth only by Christ & by Christs death, therefore the priest openeth the door with the cross. For ye know right well, that none of all the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Kings, and other godly fathers of the old Testament did enter into the glory of heaven, until Christ had suffered & payed our ransom by his most precious blood
PHIL. The spearynge of the chyrch dore signifyeth, that heauē gates were speared 1agaynst vs for the synne of our fyrst father Adam, in whom all we haue offended, so that no mā could once enter by his owne vertue, power, merites & good dedes into heuen, 2as Christ witnesseth, no man goeth vp into heauen, but he that came downe from heauen. That is to say, no man by his owne strēgth & vertue ascendeth into heauē, but Christ, whiche descended from heauen, & toke flesh of the moost glorious 3& pure virgyn Marye. Therfore euery one that goethe vp into heauen, goeth vp by Christe, as he hymselfe witnesseth, I am y• waye, 4the trueth & the lyfe, no man commethe vnto the father, but by me. ⟨image 73⟩Therfore to declare that oure ingresse & entrynge into heauen, com meth only by Christe & by Christes death, therfore the preste openethe the dore wt the crosse. For ye knowe right well, that none of all the holy Patriarches, Prophetes, Kynges, and other godly fathers of the olde Testamēt dyd enter into the glory of heauen, vntyll Christ had suffered & payed oure raunsome by hys moost precious bloud
PHIL. This declareth therefore manifestly, ye by Christ alone we have free passage into eternal glory, as S. Paul saith, everlasting 1life is the gift of God, tho row Christ Jesus our LORD.
PHIL. This declareth therfore manifestely, ye by Christe alone we haue free passage into eternall glorye, as S. Paule sayth, euerlastynge 1lyfe is the gyfte of God, tho row Christ Iesus our LORD.
1Rom. v•, What the children signify, which sing with in the churchRom. v•, What the chyldren sig nifye, which synge with in the chyrch
