A17659:24
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.
A man that hath so much ghostly knowledge as the grain of a mustard seed, would not fail to say that Christ meant rather that the Apostles and priests should distribute the bread and ⟨image 9⟩wine among the faithful people, wishing them to certify them selves thereby that they are partakers of the body and blood of Christ. For what saith the text? So oft as you shall do this: ye shall do it in the remembrance of me. But what was it that they should do in the remembrance of him? For soeth divide bread and wine amongest them. The private receiving of the bread and wine therefore: can by no means stand with the institution of Christ: which was, that according to his example, we should by the dividing of bread and wine amongest us: certify our selves that we are all partakers with Christ in his redemption through the ransom that he paid for us on the cross. Howe standeth this with our hearing of mass (to the intent to speed the better thereby) when we go about our worldly businesses, be they honest or unhonest, godly or ungodly? Forsoeth (I suppose) even as much as the carrying of bread in mans purse (in the night time, or in a tempest) ser•eth to keep him from blasting with evil airs. So that I dare be bold to affirm, that this hearing of mass is no better then me•e superstition, and the mass it self, so far from the institution of Christ: that it seameth not to be any part of the commemoration of Christs passion: But a mere invention of man, ••epte into the church by the subtle suggestion of our most cruel and malicious enemy the devil, who hath always endeavoured to poison all the wholesome food of mans soul, as it appeareth right well by the great abuse that this most sacred Sacrament is given unto. This was and ought to be so necessary a food to the soul: that without it no christian ⟨image 9⟩can •arie in Christ, neither have Christ tarry ing in him, whereby it is plain that without this food no soul, hath any life in it. For Christ is the life that is in the christian soul. No less necessary therefore is this food to the souls of the congregation: than sinews be to the body to hold the joints together.
A mā that hathe so moche gostely knowledge as the grayne of a mustarde seed, woulde not faile to saye that Christ ment rather that the Apostles and priestes shoulde distribute the breade and