A17659:39
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.
And for as much as it is sufficient enough for the recreation and sustenance of our souls, he wyll•d us to content our selves therewith, and that our souls should rest together therein: because we may by no means be with out that food, which being taken away, none other can be found. Now do we perceive after what sort Christ is y• only food wherewith our souls be sedd•••ut because he is distributed unto us by the word of y• lord as by the instrument appointed for the same ⟨image 14⟩purpose: he is named bread and wine. And that which is spoken of the word, appertaineth also to the sacrament of the supper, whereby the Lord leadeth us unto the partaking of Christ. For because we be so weak and feeble, that we can not (with unfeigned trust of mind) receive him, when he is offered unto us in the bare preaching of the doctrine: the father of mercy willing to accommodate him self unto our infirmity therein,1 hath joined unto the word a sign to be seen with the eyes, whereby he might represent unto us the very substance of his promises, that all doubt and wavering taken away, we might be con firmed and strengthened in him.
And for as muche as it is sufficient ynoughe for the recreacion and sustenaunce of our soules, he wyll•d vs to content oure selues therewith, and that our soules shoulde rest t•gether therin: bycause we maye by no meanes be with out that foode, whyche beynge taken awaye, none other can be founde. Nowe do we perceyue after what sort Christe is y• onely foode wherwyth our soules be sedd•••ut bycause he is distributed vnto vs by the worde of y• lorde as by the instrument appoynted for the same ⟨image 14⟩purpose: he is named breade and wyne. And that whyche is spoken of the worde, appertayneth also to the sacrament of the supper, wherby the Lorde leadeth vs vnto the partakyng of Christ. For because we be so weake and feble, that we can not (wyth vnfayned trust of mynde) receyue hym, when he is offred vnto vs in the bare preachyng of the doctrine: the father of mercye wyllyng to accommodate hym selfe vnto our infimitie therin,