A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…

Of the communion of saints, & how the church entereth into the same by mean of the ministry of the Gospel.

Of the cōmunion of saincts, & hovve the church entreth into the same by meane of the ministerie of the Gospell.

M. I Do well remember that when we speak of that communion, thou hast set me and put me again upon this point, to declare unto me the rest, the which thou hast not yet expounded unto me.

M. I Do well remember that when wée speake of that communion, thou hast sette me and put me againe vppon thys pointe, to declare vnto me the reste, the whiche thou hast not yet expounded vnto me.

P. According to that which we have already said, the Church doth not only obtain this remission of sins, whereof we now speak, but also the victory against sin, death, hell, and the Devil, and likewise eternal life, the which Jesus Christ hath won for it, because that she is the spouse of him, and that she entereth into communion of all his goods with him, by mean of this spiritual marriage, by the which she is conjoined to him as a chaste virgin by the virtue of faith in him.

P. According to that whiche we haue already sayd, the Churche doth not only obtaine this remission of sinnes, whereof we nowe speake, but also the victorye against sinne, death, hell, and the Deuill, and likewise eternall life, the whiche Iesus Christ hath wonne for it, bycause that she is the spouse of him, and that she entreth into communion of all his goodes with him, by meane of this spirituall mariage, by the whiche she is conioyned to him as a chast virgin by ye vertue of faith in him.

M. Seeing it is so, the ministry of the gospel is then a mean by the which ⟨p. 287⟩this holy alliance of marriage is made, that is between Jesus Christ & his church, for the which cause there is such communion between Jesus Christ the husband & the Church his espouse.

M. Seing it is so, ye ministerie of the gospel is then a meane by the which ⟨p. 287⟩this holy aliance of marriage is made, that is betwéen Iesus Christ & his church, for the which cause there is such cōmunion betwene Iesus Christ the husbande & the Church his espouse.

P. Thou concludest very well. For the Lord useth the same means in this spiritual marriage, that men have accustomed to use in their ordinary marriages.

P. Thou concludest very wel. For the Lord vseth ye same meanes in this spirituall mariage, yt men haue accustomed to vse in their ordinarie mariages.

M. Which be those means?

M. Which be those meanes?

P. Thou doest first well understand that no marriage can be made except the husband and the wife do give the faith of marriage the one to the other, the which importeth all that which belongeth to true marriage.

P. Thou doest firste wel vnderstand yt no mariage can be made except the husband and the wife do giue the faith of mariage ye one to the other, ye which emporteth all that which belongeth to true mariage.

M It must needs be so. For the true foundation of marriage lieth in the faith which the husband & the wife do give one to the other. And therefore men say that they which have so given their faith, are assured by promise.

M It must néedes be so. For the true foundatiō of mariage lyeth in ye faith which ye husbād & the wife do giue one to ye other. And therefore men say that they whiche haue so giuen their faith, are assured by promesse.

P. Now thou sayest that the husband & the wife cannot so give their faith the one to the other, but that there is promise on both parts, the which cannot be done but by words by the which the husband and the wife declare their will and consent.

P. Now thou sayest that ye husband & the wife cannot so giue their faith the one to the other, but that there is promesse on both partes, the which cānot be done but by wordes by the whiche the husbande and the wife declare their will and consente.

Matthew. Albeit that the promise be sufficient for the assurance ⟨p. 288⟩and confirmation of the marriage, notwithstanding, the custom is yet that the husband giveth ordinarily to his wife some gift, for more assurance and confirmation of their marriage, and also of the mutual obligation that they have made the one to the other.

Mathevve. Albeit that the promesse be sufficiente for ye assurāce ⟨p. 288⟩and confirmation of the marriage, notwithstanding, the custome is yet that the husbande giueth ordinarilye to his wyfe some gift, for more assurance and confirmation of their marriage, and also of the mutuall obligation that they haue made the one to the other.

P. Even the like is done by the ministry of the Gospel between Jesus Christ and his Church. For there is the promise which Jesus Christ made unto her: and then that is there also: whereby the Church accepteth that promise of her husband, and by the which she giveth her self to him, even as he hath given himself to her: And then the sacraments are as rings and jewels and such other gifts, which the husbands are accustomed to give to their wives for the more confirmation and approving of their marriage.

P. Euen the lyke is done by the ministerie of the Gospell betwéene Iesus Christe and his Churche. For there is the promise whyche Iesus Chryst made vnto hir: and then that is there also: wherby the Churche accepteth that promise of hir husbande, and by the which she giueth hir selfe to him, euen as he hath giuen himselfe to hir: And then the sacraments are as rings and iewels and such other gifts, which the husbands are accustomed to giue to their wyues for the more cōfirmation and approuing of their mariage.

M. Seeing then that it is so, the ministers of the Church are in manner like, touching the spiritual marriage, to those which make the assurance between the husband and the wife, and do declare unto them the promises, by the which they ought to bind themselves the one to the other, and giving them to ⟨p. 289⟩drink or some other such like token in the name of marriage.

M. Séeing then that it is so, the ministers of the Church are in maner like, touching the spiritual mariage, to those whiche make the assurance betwéene the husbande and the wyfe, and do declare vnto them the promises, by the which they ought to bynd themselues the one to the other, and giuing them to ⟨p. 289⟩drinke or some other suche like token in the name of mariage.

P. Thou doest not take it amiss, and therefore Saint John which was sent by God to bring to Jesus Christ by the mean of his ministry, the Church his espouse, is called the friend of the bridegroom.¹ And Saint Paul hath written to the Corinthians to the same effect: I am jealous of you, with a godly jealousy, for I have joined you to an husband, to present you a chaste virgin to Christ.

P. Thou doest not take it amisse, and therefore Sainct Iohn which was sent by God to bring to Iesus Christ by the meane of his ministerie, the Churche his espouse, is called the friende of ye bridegrome.¹ And Sainct Paule hath written to the Corinthes to the same effecte: I am iealous of you, with a godly iealousye, for I haue ioyned you to an husband, to presente you a chast virgine to Christ.

1. 1John. 3. d. 1. Cor. 11. a.Iohn. 3. d. 1. Cor. 11. a.