A17659:30
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.
For as much as the most holy supper of our lord Jesus Christ hath of long time ben lapped up in manifold and great errors and even of late days wrapped in many opinions and contentions, nothing so quiet as was beseeming: no marvel though certain weak conscienced persons, can not well determine what thing they ought chiefly to follow, but do, with indifferent and suspense mind, look when the servants of God setting all contention a part shall agree among them selves, and bring the matter to some concord and unity. And seeing that such kind of doubt hath no small incommodity annexed, and that it is a thing most dangerous, to have no certain determination of that mystery, the knowledge whereof is so necessary to our salvation: I have thought it a thing most profitable, briefly to spake of the chief sum of the matter and yet plainly to declare what thing we ought chiefly to stick unto therein. More over, certain honest men perceiving the matter to require no less: desired me earnestly to take it in hand whose request I could by no means deny unless I would have been slake in doing my duty. And that the difficulty thereof may the more easily be opened it is needful to declare what order we intend to follow herein.
FOr as moche as the most holye supper of our lorde Iesu Christ hath of longe tyme ben lapped vp in manyfold and great errours and euen of late dayes wrapped in many opinions and contentions, nothynge so quiet as was besemyng: no meruayle thoughe certayue weake conscienced persones, can not wel determyne what thynge they ought chyflye to folowe, but do, wyth indeferente and suspense mynde, loke whan the seruauntes of God settinge all contention a parte shall agree amonge them selues, and brynge the matter to some concorde and vnitie. And seynge that such kynde of doubte hath no smal incommoditye annexed, and that it is a thyngee mooste dayngerouse, to haue no certayne determinacion of that mistrye, the knowledge wherof is so necessarye to our saluation: I haue thought it a thynge moste profytable, bryeflye to spake of the chiefe sume of the matter and yet playnlye to declare what thynge we oughte chyeflye to sticke vnto therin. More ouer, certayne honeste men perceyuynge the matter to require no lesse: desyred me earnestly to take it in hande whose requeste I coulde by no meanes denye vnlesse I wolde haue bene slake in doynge my dutye. And that the difficultie therof may the more easely be opened it is neadfull to declare what order we intende to folowe herein.