A17659:168
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.
Nevertheless all this evil doth not the devil think sufficient, he can not here withal be content, but he entereth in also among them that profess the name of Christ, y• are called brethren & disciples, that pretend to love and favour his truth: And among them, look who is mete for his purpose, most inconstant, and leas• regardeth Christs word in his heart, of him he maketh either an whoremonger, and deceiver of his neighbour, or a follower of other vices of his own carnal lusts, robbing ⟨image 47⟩him utterly of that most holy, most steadfast and living faith that Christ taught, & also of those worthy fruits of y• spirit of god repentance & works of light, which y• scripture speaketh of. By the means whereof, & because he bareth the name of a Christen brother, there fore even as he behaveth him self now, and as he liveth, so must we be reputed of the ungodly and such livers must we be called. If he be a breaker of peace, a maker of sedition, a drunkard, a false buyer and seller, a follower of filthy lusts, a bringer up of sects (as God ever suffereth them to be deceived that will not abide the order of his word) Then must we also be called breakers of common order, railers. makers of insurrection, drunkards, false dealers with our neighbours, Heretics, followers of a fleshly and carnal liberty: Yea though all our teaching, writing, talking and living be to the contrary. Yet bear we the blame, so blind is this wicked world in judgement, & so unthankful in their living are a great number of them that are called Christen men (as I understand) on the other side.
Neuerthelesse al thys euyll doth not the deuyll thynke sufficient, he can not here withall be cōtent, but he entreth in also amonge them that professe the name of Christe, y• are called brethren & disciples, that pretende to loue and fauour his truth: And amonge them, loke who is mete for his purpose, moste inconstant, and leas• regardeth Christes worde in his herte, of hym he maketh eyther an whoremonger, and disceyuer of his neyghbour, or a folower of other vyces of his owne carnal lustes, robbyng ⟨image 47⟩him vtterly of that moste holy, moste stedfaste and lyuynge fayth that Chryst taught, & also of those worthy fruites of y• spirite of god repētance & workes of light, whiche y• scripture speaketh of. By the meanes wherof, & because he bareth the name of a Chrysten brother, ther fore euen as he behaueth hym selfe nowe, and as he lyueth, so must we be reputed of the vngodly and such lyuers must we be called. Yf he be a breaker of peace, a maker of sediciō, a drō karde, a false byer and seller, a folower of fylthy lustes, a brynger vp of s•ctes (as God euer suffrethe them to be disceaued that wyl not abyde the ordre of hys worde) Then muste we also be called breakers of comē ordre, raylers. makers of insurrectiō, droūkardes, false dealers wyth oure neyghboures, Heretikes, folowers of a fleshlye and carnall lyberte: Yea though all oure teachynge, wrytynge, talking and lyuing be to the cōtrary. Yet beare we the blame, so blynd is thys wyckede world in iudgement, & so vnthankfull in theyr lyuynge are a great nombre of them that are called Chrysten men (as I vnderstand) on the other syde.
¶Wherefore to you dearly beloved in God, elect and chosen to an high vocation in Jesus Christ (even to be flesh of his flesh & bone of his bones, to be citizens with the saints and of the household of God) to you I make this my mo•e afore rehearsed, trusting, that though nether the world, nor those false brethren (which because they were not of us, are gone from among us .i. Ihoā .ii. & are fallen in love with this world after the ensample of Demas .ii. Ti .ii though nether of them both (I say) will hearken to y• voice of God, while it is called. To day ⟨image 48⟩but still harden their hearts against Gods trueth My trust is (as I said afore) that ye will hold your hand still on the plough, that ye will walk honestly now while the mercy of God lendeth you day light. Ye know that our Lord said The night shall come, in the which no man shall be able to work. Ye see how our adversary the devil goeth about like a roaring Lyon, seeking whom he may devour Ye see what a number of great men on the one side, have girded their sw•rdes about them and stand even in complete harness, to fight against the manifest word of God: Yea what swearing, what blaspheming of gods name, what pride, what excess, what filthiness of body and idleness, is used, practised & daily maintained in their houses: Ye see, how they can not abide the hearing of gods word, but blast and blow against it, persecute it, as much as in them lieth. On the other side, ye see what a number of hypocrites, Antichrists, false prophets and flattering chaplains are not only about great. men, but every where, in manner, roar and cry and stamp against our Lords doctrine keep the people still in blindness and fed them with draff & dregs in stead of Gods word. Thirdly, ye see what a number here be in the world, which pretending to love Gods word, by their outward hearing reading, and talking of it, live clean contrary against it, bring not forth the worthy fruits of repentance, are as great swea•ers as filthy, as idle, as covetous, as deceitful in bargaining, as unapt to all good works, as they were afore they knew the trueth: And by this means is it come to pass y• through such ⟨image 48⟩unchristen living, the good word of god is more supperest than other through y cruelty of tyrant tes, or flattering lies of hypocrites.
All which three sorts of enemies, because they are not of us, but without, therefore will I have the less to do with the. But of you (dearly beloved) I will be bold to exhort you, for the tender mercy of god, y• (in consideration of the premises) ye will walk godly & worthily in this wicked world continuing (as I trust ye do) in stead fastness of the christen faith, in ferventness of love toward god, & toward your very enemies for his sake, in looking assuredly for his promises, being patient & joyful in trouble, earnest in prayer at all times, ready into true obedience, to keep all good order, to be exercised in all good works, every man according to the state y• god hath called him unto. As many of you as are called to office & common authority, to bear rule, or to give judgement in causes of the common wealth, be diligent in your office. Romit. xii punish the evil & maintain the good .i. Pet .ii. Roma .xiii. Accept no person in judg•ment, allow no false accusa•n, shed no innocent blood, Exod .xxiii. and hear the small as well as the great. D•utr• .i.
All whiche thresortes of enem•es, bicause they are not of vs, but wtout, therfore wyll I haue the lesse to do wt the. But of you (dearely beloued) I wyll be bolde to exhorte you, for the tēder mercy of god, y• (in cōsidera•ion of the premesses) ye wyl walke godly & worthely in this wicked worlde cōtinuing (as I truste ye do) in stead fastnes of the christē fayth, in feruētnes of loue towarde god, & toward your very enemies for his sake, in lokyng assuredly for his promises, beyng pacient & ioyful in trouble, earnest in prayer at al times, ready into true obediēce, to kepe al good ordre, to be e•ercised in al good workes, euerye mā according to the state y• god hath called him vnto. As many of you as are called to office & comō au•horitie, to beare rule, or to giue iudgemēt in causes of the comō wealth, be diligent in your office. Romit. xii punish the euyl & maynteyne the good .
¶As many of you as are called to the office of preaching, follow the apostles counsel: take heed unto your selves, & to all the f•ocke, in the which the holy ghost hath appointed you to be overseers, to feed the congregation of god &c. Act .xx. Feed Christs flock which is among you, and take the oversight of them, not as though ye were compelled, but willingly not for the desire of filthy lucre but of a god mind: not as Lords over the parishes, but to be an ensample unto the flock .i. P•tri .V. To caste ⟨image 49⟩alway ungodly & old wyuysh fables, to be unto them y• believe, an ensample, in their word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in pureness: To give attendance unto reading to exhortation, to doctrine .i. Timo .iiii. Study to show your selves to god, laudable workmen, which need not to be ashamed .ii. Timo .ii. All other estates among you I heartily exhort & require, every one to do their duty. As subjects to be obedient & true to their princes and higher powers. Ro .xiii. i Pet .ii. Tit .iii. Men to love their wives heartily, as they are taught .i. Pet. iii. i. Thessal .iiii. Ephe .v. wives so to behave them selves, as it becometh women that profess godliness through good works .i. Tim .ii. that their chaste conversation may win the wicked
¶And if we thus behave our selves, every one in his calling, then shall it come to pass, that even they which now blaspheme us as evil doers, shall at last be ashamed of their part, & convert from their own evil ways, to the true faith & living, which is taught in the word of god. To whom for his infinite grace and gifts thereof, be honour & praise now & ever. Amen.
¶And yf we thus behaue oure selues, euerye one in his calling, thē shal it come to passe, that euē they which now blaspheme vs as euyl doers, shal at last be ashamed of theyr parte, & cō uert from theyr owne euyl wayes, to the true fayth & lyuing, which is taught in the word of god. To whō for his infinite grace and gyftes therof, be honour & prayse nowe & euer. Amen.
FINIS.
Set forth by Myles Coverdale.
Set forth by Myles Couerdale.
Non possums que audivimus, et vidimu• non loqui. Act• .iii▪
Non possums que audiuimus, et vidimu• non loqui. Act• .iii▪
¶Wherfore to you dearlye beloued in God, electe and chosen to an hye vocacion in Iesus Christ (euē to be flesh of his flesh & bone of his bones, to be citezens wyth the sayntes and of the housholde of God) to you I make this my mo•e afore rehearced, trusting, that though nether the world, nor those false brethren (which because they were not of vs, are gone frome among vs .i. Ihoā .ii. & are fallen in loue wyth this world after the ēsāple of Demas .ii. Ti .ii though nether of them both (I saie) wyll harkē to y• voyce of God, whyle it is called. To daye ⟨image 48⟩but styll harden theyr hertes agaynste Godds trueth My trust is (as I sayd afore) that ye wyl hold your hand styl on the plough, that ye wyll walke honestly now whyle the mercy of God lendeth you day light. Ye know that our Lord sayd The night shal come, in the whych no man shalbe able to worke. Ye se howe oure aduersarye the deuel goeth aboute lyke a roaryng Lyon, sekyng whom he may deuoure Ye se what a nōbre of great men on the one syde, haue gyrded theyr sw•rdes aboute them and stande euen in complete harnesse, to fyght agaynst the manifest worde of God: Yea what swering, what blasphemyng of gods name, what pryde, what excesse, what fylthynes of bodye and ydylnesse, is vsed, practised & daylye maynteined in theyr houses: Ye se, howe they can not abide the hearing of gods worde, but blast and blowe agaynste it, persecute it, as much as in them lyeth. On the other side, ye se what a nōbre of hypocrites, Antichristes, false prophetes and flatterrynge chaplens are not onely aboute greate. men, but euery where, in maner, roare and crye and stampe agaynst our Lordes doctrine kepe the peoble stil in blynesse and fedde them wyth draffe & dregges in stead of Gods word. Thyrdly, ye se what a nomber here be in the worlde, whyche pretendynge to loue Gods worde, by theyr outwarde hearyng readyng, and talkynge of it, lyue cleane contrary agaynste it, brynge not forth the worthye frutes of repentaunce, are as greate swea•ers as fylthy, as ydle, as couetous, as disceatfull in bargaining, as vnapt to al good workes, as they were afore they knew the trueth: And by this meanes is it come to passe y• thorow such ⟨image 48⟩vnchristē lyuing, the good word of god is more supprest thē other thorow y• crueltye of tyraū tes, or flattering lyes of hipocrites.
¶As manye of you as are called to the office of preaching, folow the apostles coūsayle: take hede vnto your selues, & to all the f•ocke, in the which the holy goste hath appointed you to be ouersears, to feade the cōgregacion of god &c. Act .xx. Fead Christes flocke which is amonge you, and take the ouersyghte of them, not as though ye were cōpelled, but willyngly not for the desyre of fylthy lucre but of a god mynde: not as Lordes ouer the paryshes, but to be an ensample vnto the flocke .i. P•tri .V. To caste ⟨image 49⟩alway vngodly & olde wyuysh fables, to be vnto them y• beleue, an ensāple, in theyr worde, in cōuersaciō, in loue, in spirite, in fayth, in purenesse: To gyue attēdaūce vnto readynge to exhortacion, to doctrine .i. Timo .iiii. Studye to shew your selues to god, laudable workemen, which neade not to be ashamed .ii. Timo .ii. All other estates amonge you I hertely exhort & require, euery one to do theyr duty. As subiectes to be obediēt & true to theyr princes and higher powers. Ro .xiii. i Pet .ii. Tit .iii. Men to loue theyr wiues hertely, as they are taught .i. Pet. iii. i. Thessal .iiii. Ephe .v. wyues so to behaue thē selues, as it becōmeth womē that professe godlynes thorow good workes .i. Tim .ii. that theyr chaist cōuersaciō may wynne the wicked i. Pet.iii. Men to deale gently wyth theyr seruauntes. Ephe .vi. Colo .iii. to brynge vp theyr childrē in the nurtoure & doctrine of the Lorde. Ephe .vi. Deut .iiii. Seruaūtes to be faithful, true & obediē • to theyr maisters. Ephe .vi. Col .iii. i. Pet .ii. that they may do worshyppe to the worde of God in all thinges .i. Tim .vi. Tit .ii.
