Theophilus. Now forasmuch as the faith is the life of the soul, it must be that every one do live of his own, and we must not say I believe: as my maybe believeth. But it must be that I my self do believe, and that I 1do know and understand that which I believe. Furthermore, sith that the word of God, the preaching of the Gospel, the administration of the sacraments are means by which God nourisheth, keepeth, augement•th, and confirmeth the faith in us, as the life, the body, by the means of bread, and other meats, we ought to understand, that as there is no man that can take food and nourishment for me, if I my self do not take it, so cannot he hear the Gospel, nor receive the Sacraments, for me: But it is necessary that I do them my self in proper person. If I will have the profit, yea, though I were an Emperor. Now if tho living cannot do it for the living, what can they do for the dead? In like 2manner, as touching the general supper which is made among all the people, how do the Priests handle ⟨image 194⟩yours? It was not enough for them to have usurped the Sacrament for them alone, a great time, but that they must yet defraud you of the moiety, the same days that 3you would communicate. For they do not give you to drink of that same wine the which they do drink, but have established and concluded, by their councils that it sufficeth the lay people to communicate under one kind only, that is to say, of the bread: and that there should be none but they, which should communicate under both kinds of the bread and wine. And the same 4was determined in the council of Constance, holden in the year 1415. the xb, day of June, in the 13. Sessions against the authority not only of the word of God, but of all the ancient Doctors, and also of their decrees and Canons. Wherefore it is easily to judge of what spirit those were lead that were there assisting, and which have made such determination, & have judged John Hus and Hierome of Prague to be burned, who upheld the doctrine of the ancient Church. At the least they could not deny but that they were constrained to condemn either that council, or the same of Basel, which afterwards ordained that it was permitted to the Bohemians to communicate under doth kinds:
Theophilus. Nowe for asmuch as the fayth is the life of the soule, it must be that euery one doe lyue of his owne, and wée must not say I beléeue: as my maybe beléeueth. But it must bée that I my selfe doe beléeue, and that I 1doe knowe and vnderstande that which I beleeue. Furthermore, sith that the woorde of God, the preachinge of the Gospell, the administration of the sacramentes are meanes by which God nourisheth, keepeth, augement•th, and confirmeth the fatith in vs, as the lyfe, the body, by the meanes of bread, and other meates, wée ought to vnderstande, that as there is no man that can take foode and nourishment for mée, if I my selfe doe not take it, so cannot hée heare the Gospell, nor receyue the Sacraments, for mee: But it is necessary that I doe them my selfe in proper person. If I wyll haue the profite, yea, thoughe I were an Emperour. Nowe if tho liuinge cannot doe it for the liuing, what can they doe for the dead? In lyke 2manner, as touchinge the generall supper which is made amonge all the people, howe doe the Priestes handle ⟨image 194⟩yors? It was not inoughe for them to haue vsurped the Sacrament for them alone, a great tyme, but that they must yet defrande you of the moytie, the same daies that 3you would communicate. For they doe not gyue you to drinke of that same wine the which they doe drinke, but haue establyshed and concluded, by theire counsells that it sufficeth the laye people to communicate vnder one kinde onely, that is to saye, of the bread: and that there should bée none but they, whiche shoulde communicate vnder both kindes of the bread and wine. And the same 4was determined in the counsell of Constance, holden in the yeare 1415. the xb, daye of Iune, in the 13. Sessions agaynst the authoritie not onelye of the worde of God, but of all the aucinet Doctors, and also of their decrées and Canons. Wherefore it is easely to iudge of what spirite those were lead that were ther assisting, and which haue made such determination, & haue iudged Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prague to bee burned, who vphelde the doctrine of the auncient Church. At the least they could not deuye but that they were constrayned to condempne eyther that counsell, or the same of Basle, whiche afterwardes ordayned that it was permitted to the Bobemians to communciate vnder doth kindes:
- 1Abac. 2. a. 4 Rom 1. b. 1• Gala. 3. b. 11
- 2The supper for the common people.
- 3The moiety of the supper taken away from the peopleThe moytie of the supper taken avvay from the people
- 4The Councel of Constance & of Basil.The Councel of Constance & of Basile.
