A17659:46
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.
Now enter we into that question, which hath been so greatly tossed both in time paste and in these our days also: how those words are to be understand, wherein Christ calleth his body bread, and his blood wine. Which words may easily be opened, if we keep in memory those principles which I have before set forth: that is to say, that all the fruit we seek for in the supper, is brought to nought, onlesse Christ be given unto us therein, as the foundation and substance of all the whole matter. And if we ones grant this thing, then no doubt we shall grant also, that there is given unto us nought else but an unprofitable & vain Sacrament▪ if we deny that in it is given unto us the very participation of ⟨image 17⟩Christ: which thing were execrable & shame full blasphemy. Furthermore, if the manner of the communion with Christ be such that we be partakers of all the mercies and benefits which he gate for us by his death: then are we not partakers with the spirit only but with y• man boode also: wherein he performed perfect obedience to God the father, to the intent he might pay our debt es. Although, to say the truth the one can not be without the other. For when he giveth him self unto us, he doth it to the intent we should possess him whole. And therefore, as I have said, that his spirit is our life: even so doth he his own mouth declare that his flesh is our food,1 and his blood our very drink. If this be not spoken in vain, no remedy our life must needs consist in him, and our souls be nourished with his flesh and blood, as with their proper and peculiar food. Of that thing have we testimony in y• supper, when it is said of the bread that we should take it and eat it and that it is his body: and of the cup, that we drink it and that it is his blood here are the body and blood named, to the intent we should learn to seek the substance of our spiritual life therein. Now if any man would demand of me whether the bread be the body of Christ, & the wine his blood: thereto would I answer, that the bread and wy•e are visib•l signs, representing unto us the body & blood of Christ, and that they be called the body and blood because they be as it were instruments whereby the lord Jesus Christ distributeth them unto us. This form of speaking agreeth very well with the thing