A10233:184
Two very learned sermons of M. Beza, together with a short sum of the…Two very lerned sermons of M. Beza, togither with a short sum of the…
Two very learned sermons of M. Beza, together with a short sum of the sacrament of the Lords Supper: Whereunto is added a treatise of the substance of the Lords Supper, wherein is briefly and soundly discussed the p[r]incipall points in controversy, concerning that question. By T.W.Two very lerned sermons of M. Beza, togither with a short sum of the sacrament of the Lordes Supper: Wherevnto is added a treatise of the substance of the Lords Supper, wherin is breflie and soundlie discussed the p[r]incipall points in controuersie, concerning that question. By T.W.
London: printed by Robert Walde-grave for T. Man, 1588London: printed by Robert Walde-graue for T. Man, 1588
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
1 The first place objected is these words of our saviour, in the gospel after John: Except ye eat the flesh of the son of man, 1and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whereunto I answer: first that neither these words. neither the rest of the chapter, can in any probability or show of reason, properly be understood of ⟨p. 193⟩the Lords supper. And if we had no more for it but this, yet were this sufficient, because at that time, the supper it self was not instituted and ordained, but a long while after, as in the evangelists writings doth plainly appear: but must rather be referred to our spiritual communicating or partaking with Christ, by the means of a lively and steadfast faith, apprehending the word generally, and applying particularly unto our selves, all the gracious and sweet promises that the Lord hath made and offered unto us therein, which may plainly appear to be most true, partly because he persisteth by a continual thread of speech (as it were) in the metaphor of bread or meat, mentioned before vers. 26.27. using also for that purpose, as every man may easily perceive, sundry borrowed speeches, agreeing well to the circumstance of the matter wherein he was to deal, which he would not, or needed not to have done, if he had mean so grossly or carnally, as these men fantasy: and partly because he speaketh so often, not of eating only, but also of believing, as verse. 35.40. which can not be properly attributed to any outward ⟨p. 194⟩or material thing, such as the body and flesh of Christ then was and is, but to inward and spiritual matters, which as it may be gathered by sundry places of holy scripture,2 the apostle affirming, that hope that is seen is no hope: for how can a man hope for that which he seeth? 3and that we walk by faith, and not by sight, 4yea and that faith it self is the ground of things which are hoped for, and the evidence of things which are not seen: so also may it be proved even by the very nature of faith, which being a spiritual and inward quality given us of God,