A17659:56
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.
By reason whereof, it is also called the bond thereof. For as the bread, which for the use of all men, is there sanctified, is made of man•• grayn•s, so compact to gyther that one can not be separate and discerned from the other: even after the same rate ought we to be joined together with the indissoluble bond of friendship. And so do we all receive one body of Christ, to the end we may be his members.1 But if we be full of discords and di• cencions:: we do as much as in us lieth, tear Christ and pole him in sunder neither shall we be guilty of smaller sacrilege, then if we had done the thing in deed, Let us not therefore ⟨image 21⟩be bold to come thither, if any hatred or evil will towards any man, and chiefly a christian and joined to the unity of the church• do remain in us. We must also (for the keeping and following of the order of the Lord) bring with us an other affection: that is to say, that we confess with mouth and declare in very deed how much we are bound to our Saviour: and that we may give thanks unto him: not only that we may give glory to his name, but that we may also instruct one an other, and that our neighbours may, through our example, learn what they ought to do.
By reason whereof, it is also called the bonde therof. For as the bread, whyche for the vse of all men, is there sanc•ifyed, is made of man•• grayn•s, so compacte to gyther that one can not be seperate and discerned from the other: euen after the same rate oughte wee to be ioyned togyther wyth the indissoluble bonde of frendshyppe. And so do we all receyue one bodye of Christ, to the ende we may be his m•mbres.1 But yf we be full of discordes and di• cencions:: we do as muche as in vs lyeth, teare Christ and poule hym in sunder neyther shall we be gyltye of smaller sacrilege, then yf we had done the thynge in dede, Let vs not therfore