And let this suffice also for answer to these slanderers, who cry out, that we transform this holy mystery into an imaginary ghost or conceit, in that we do attribute all this wholly to our minds & faith:1 for if they do truly conclude this against us, what remaineth then but that we affirm likewise the baptism of christians to be a certain vain fantasy or apparition, and their salvation also to be §1§2in imagination, and not in truth,2 who die before they can come to be present at, or partakers of the Lords supper? Now if natural understanding it self and apprehension ⟨p. 124⟩§1be so powerful and effectual, that we being holpen by these faculties become skilful in so many things, shall not faith that excellent gift of the Holy ghost, work this in us, that we shall through faith truly and in deed apprehend & take hold of that very thing, which God offereth us, to be received by faith, though it §2be never so far removed from us? And sith by the heat of the sun, though it be never so far distant from us, the whole world is after a sort quickened and made lively and strong, shall not Christ be able, though his flesh and his blood remain in heaven, so to become in deed our mystical head, that he may pour into us the juice of eternal life?3 But of these matters we have spoken thus far. My purpose was (brethren) largely to discourse of these points, because of the slanders of certain ill-willers, that so by this means, the true and sound doctrine of our churches, being made known, none of them that repair to this church should refuse our assemblies, specially the holy supper which we mind God willing, within few days to administer, but rather that we should every one of us religiously celebrate this holy banquet, ⟨p. 125⟩earnestly entreating the Lord to restrain troublesome spirits, to confirm right believers,4 and (to be short) to grant us all this grace, that being of one mind in him, we may in this world lead an innocent and unblamable life, and at the last be received into eternal life and blessedness, by our Lord Jesus Christ: to whom with the Father, and the Holy ghost, be all praise, and glory for ever and ever: So be it.
And let this suffice also for answer to these slanderers, who crie out, that wee transforme this holie mysterie into an imaginarie ghost or conceit, in that we do attribute all this wholie to our mindes & faith:1 for if they doo trulie conclude this against vs, what remaineth then but that we affirme likewise the baptisme of christians to be a certeine vaine fantasie or apparition, and their saluation also to be §1§2in imagination, and not in truth,2 who die before they can come to be present at, or partakers of the Lords supper? Now if naturall vnderstanding it selfe and apprehension ⟨p. 124⟩§1be so powerfull and effectuall, that we being holpē by these faculties become skilfull in so manie things, shall not faith that excellent gift of the Holie ghost, worke this in vs, that wee shall through faith trulie and in deed apprehend & take hold of that verie thing, which God offereth vs, to be receiued by faith, though it §2be neuer so far remooued from vs? And sith by the heat of the sun, though it be neuer so far distant from vs, the whole world is after a sort quickened and made liuelie and strong, shall not Christ be able, though his flesh and his bloud remaine in heauen, so to become in deed our mysticall head, that he may powre into vs the iuice of eternall life?3 But of these matters wee haue spoken thus far. My purpose was (brethren) largelie to discourse of these points, because of the slanders of certeine ilwillers, that so by this meanes, the true and sound doctrine of our churches, being made knowne, none of them that repaire to this church shuld refuse our assemblies, speciallie the holie supper which we mind God willing, within few daies to administer, but rather that we should euery one of vs religiouslie celebrate this holie banket, ⟨p. 125⟩earnestlie intreating the Lord to restreine troublesome spirits, to confirme right beleeuers,4 and (to be short) to grant vs all this grace, that being of one minde in him, we may in this world lead an innocent and vnblamable life, and at the last be receiued into eternall life and blessednesse, by our Lord Iesus Christ: to whom with the Father, and the Holie ghost, be all praise, and glorie for euer and euer: So be it.
- 1If the adversaries conclusion be true, then there will ensue thereupon two gross errors.If the aduersaries conclusion be true, then there will insue therevpon two grosse errors.
- 2Two similitudes containing in them arguments from the less to the more.Two similitudes conteining in them arguments from the lesse to the more.
- 3The conclusion of all.
- 4A godly prayer.A godlie praier.
