Finding me self unable in all respects (reverend Father) to requite the least benefit received at your Lordships hands, I have long intended to present your Lordship with some thing, whereby you might at the least perceive my grateful mind, in accepting your undeserved goodness often unto me showed. And finding nothing which might pleasure your Lordship, being no less skilful in learning, than godly in life, (for as Solomon saith:1 He that is full, abhorreth an honey comb.) I thought I could not better please you, which are no less careful for the Christian Congregation, than is the Father for ⟨image 3⟩his children, than by taking in hand some such matter, whereby I me self might be well occupied, the Christian common Wealth edified, and God glorified. For this cause, that the unlearned, not only of your Diocese, but also of all places else in England, which are destitute of painful Preachers of Gods word, (for who knoweth not, that the labourers in Gods Vineyard be very few?) might be instructed, at the least by reading, in the true profession of Jesus Christ, I have presumed to translate forth of French, a Sermon of the Lords Supper, made by the learned and grave Father, master Henry Bullinger. Neither did I perceive, whereby I might more profit all men, than by handling the Lords Supper, which yearly and often ought to be received of all men, nor wherein I ⟨image 3⟩might better serve my carnal and transitory country, than in setting forth that food, whereby we are fed to out spiritual and everlasting country. For if we ought to travail painfully for the food of the body, (according to the admonition of the Apostle Saint Paul: 2That if any would not work, the same should not eat:) which although we have in abundance, maintaineth us not always, being by sin made subject to death, how much more painful ought we to be for the achieving of the food of the soul, Christ Jesus, which is the bread of life, whereof if we eat by faith, we shall not die, being by grace made partakers of everlasting life?
FInding mee self vnable in all respects (reuerend Father) to requite the least benefit receiued at your Lordships hands, I haue long intended to present your Lordship with some thing, whereby you might at the leaste perceyue my grateful mynd, in accepting your vndeserued goodnesse often vnto me shewed. And finding nothing which might pleasure your Lordship, being no lesse skilful in learnyng, than godly in life, (for as Salomon saith:1 He that is ful, abhorreth an hony combe.) I thought I coulde not better please you, which are no lesse carefull for the Christian Congregation, than is the Father for ⟨image 3⟩his children, than by taking in hande some such matter, wherby I mee selfe might be well occupied, the Christian common Wealth edified, and God glorified. For this cause, that the vnlearned, not onely of your Diocesse, but also of all places els in England, which are destitute of painfull Preachers of Gods woord, (for who knoweth not, that the labourers in Gods Vineyarde be verye fewe?) might be instructed, at the leaste by reading, in the true profession of Iesus Christ, I haue presumed to translate foorth of Frenche, a Sermon of the Lordes Supper, made by the learned and graue Father, mayster Henry Bullinger. Neither dyd I perceyue, whereby I might more profit all mē, than by handelyng the Lordes Supper, which yerely and often ought to be receyued of al men, nor wherein I ⟨image 3⟩might better serue my carnall and transitory countrey, than in setting foorth that foode, whereby we are fed to out spirituall and euerlasting countrey. For if we ought to trauaile painefully for the foode of the body, (according to the admonition of the Apostle Saint Paul: 2That if any would not worke, the same should not eate:) whiche although we haue in abundance, mainteyneth vs not alwayes, being by syn made subiect to death, howe much more painefull ought we to be for the atchieuing of the foode of the soule, Christe Iesus, which is the bread of life, wherof if we eate by faith, we shall not die, being by grace made partakers of euerlasting life?
- 1Prou. 27.7.
- 22. Thess. 3.10.
