A17659:152
A faithful and most godly treatise concerning the most sacred Sacrament of the blessed…A faythfull and moost godlye treatyse concernyng the most sacred Sacrament of the blessed…
A faithful and most godly treatise concerning the most sacred Sacrament of the blessed body and blood of our saviour Christ, co[m]piled by John Calvin, a man of no less learning and literature then godly study, and example of living. And translated into Latin by Lacius a man of like excellency. And now last of all, translated into English by a faithful brother, no less desirous to profit the weak brothers then to exercise the talent of the Lord to his honour and glory. In declaration whereof, he hath set before this little book an epistle to the reader much more effectuous then in the first edition. Whereunto the order that the church and congregation of Christ in Denmark doth use at the receiving of baptism, the Supper of the Lord, and wedlock: is added. Myles CoverdaleA faythfull and moost godlye treatyse concernyng the most sacred Sacrament of the blessed body and bloude of our sauioure Chryst, co[m]piled by Iohn Caluyne, a man of no lesse lernyng and lytterature then godly studye, and example of liuyng. And translated into Latin by Lacius a man of lyke excellencie. And nowe last of all, translated into Englyshe by a faythfull brother, no lesse desirous to profyt the weake brotheres then to exercise the talent of the Lorde to his honoure and glorye. In declaration whereof, he hath set before this lytle booke an epistle to the reader much more effectuous then in the fyrst edicion. Whereunto the order that the churche and congregation of Christ in Denmarke doth vse at the receyuying of baptisme, the Supper of ye Lorde, and wedlocke: is added. Myles Couerdale
London: printed by John Day for William Seres?, 1548
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.
¶The order taken for the due ministration of holy wedlock.
¶The ordre taken for the due ministracyon of holy wedloke.
AS touching Gods holy institution of marriage, thou shalt understand, that privy contracts are avoided as much as may be: And young folks are so well brought up in the fear of God and instruct in the knowledge of his word, that they well not lightly be enticed to run on head, and marry without y• honest consent of their parents and tutors. Again, the fathers and mothers which have young folks apt to marriage, are circumspect not suffering their sons and daughters to, go long beyond their time unmarried: but ⟨image 44⟩both for the avoiding of uncleanly conversation in their children, & also for their own discharge, they provide them honest marriages mete for them. Which thing to do, they are not only in the daily sermons that they hear, but also by the old Godly practises of such holy men as was Abraham Isaac &c. N•ther do the two young persons come together after a light or undy•cret manner, but even at their handfasting (when the knot of holy wedlock is first ••yt) there are present the father and mother of the parties or else (if they be dead or absent) their nighest kinsfolks and tutors, and so is also some honest discrete preacher or curate of theirs: who to the edifying of them, maketh a Godly collation out of Gods word for their ensample, learning & comfort in holy wedlock. So when the time approacheth that they shall be married openly in the face of the church, the curate in the presence of the whole congregation giveth warning certain days afore, and requireth that if any man know some lawful impediment to hinder the said marriage he will notify it at his monition. If no hinderance be made, then at the day appointed, the bridegroom having a company of honest men with him, and like wye the bride having an hones company of women with her, come to the sermon in the morning (which as I said afore, is every day at .vii. of the clock in Son mer, and at .viii. in winter) and after that the preaching is done & the sacrament ministered in manner afore said, they come both before the preacher: and in the mean time, the whole church in their mother tongue, do sing the, Cvi. psalme. Beati omnes qui timent dominū. &c.