A13257:192
A confession of faith made by common consent of divers reformed churches beyond the…A confession of fayth made by common consent of diuers reformed churches beyonde the…
A confession of faith made by common consent of divers reformed churches beyond the seas: with an exhortation to the reformation of the Church. Perused and allowed according to the Queens Majesties injunctions.A confession of fayth made by common consent of diuers reformed churches beyonde the seas: with an exhortation to the reformation of the Churche. Perused and allowed accordinge to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by Henry Wykes for Lucas Harrison, 1568
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.
The bread, which I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world: Also the flesh, that is corporally eaten, profiteth nothing. It is the spirit that quickeneth: and the words which I speak unto you, are spirit and life. Now as we must in eating, swallow down the meat into our stomachs, that it may inwardly work, & show his strength in us, whereas being put without our ⟨p. 77⟩bodies, it doeth us no good: Even so is it necessary, that we receive Christ by faith, that he may be made ours, and he live in us, and we in him. For he sayeth, I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth in me, shall never thirst: And again, he that shall eat me, he shall also live through me, and abide in me, and I in him. By this it is manifest, that we understand not, by spiritual meat, I know not what manner of imagined meat, but the self 1same body of the Lord, which was crucified for us, which notwithstanding is received of the faithful, not bodily, but spiritually by faith. And in this matter we follow in all points, the doctrine of our saviour Jesus Christ, which he taught. This eating 2of the flesh, and drinking of the blood of the Lord, is so necessary to salvation, that without it, no man can be saved. We may also eat and drink 3spiritually, the body and blood of Christ, although we receive not the supper of the Lord, as oft as we believe ⟨image 123⟩in Christ. To this end perhaps belongeth that saying of Augustine: 4Why preparest thou thy teeth & belly? Believe and thou haste eaten.
The bread, which I wil giue, is my flesh, which I wil giue for the life of the worlde: Also the flesh, that is corporallie eaten, profiteth nothing. It is the spirit that quickeneth: and the wordes whiche I speake vnto you, are spirite and life. Now as wée muste in eatyng, swallowe doune the meate into our stomackes, that it may inwardlie worke, & shewe his strength in vs, wheras beyng put without our