A17659:85
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.
Doth he not lay negligence to the Lords charge, that saith he confoundeth the order that he should observe, and that he hath caste his people into this danger without any manner of reason? And that they may declare that there ensueth no great incommodity upon this change, they say that the whole is comprehended under one kind, because the body can not be separated from the blood. As though the lord had discovered them, the one from the other. For if the one part may be left as superfluous: it had been foolish and vain for both to be distinctly, & severally given unto us. But some of the popes band, perceiving that this so great abomination could not otherwise be defended then impudently, went about to cover it by some other means. They say,1 that when Christ instituted this Sacrament, he spake unto his apostles only whom he had as then promoted to the order of priesthood. But what answer will they make to Paul, which sayeth, that he hath taught the christen people the thing that he learned of the lord, that every one should eat of the bread & drink of the cup? But who hath revealed unto these men that Christ gave the supper unto his apostles as unto priests? The words sound to the contrary in that he doth afterward command, that they following his example, should do the same. He prescribeth therefore a rule which he ⟨image 30⟩would should continue in his church for ever. And this rule was in the ancient time observed: unto such time as Antichrist ruling alone, advanced him self, and stretched up his horns against God verity, to the intent to destroy it utterly. We see therefore that it is intolerable frowardness, so to divide and tear this Sacrament y• those parts should be dissevered which god hath joined. That I may conclude the more briefly: I will comprehend in one chapter, the thing that else might have ben divided. That is to say, y• the devil, hath (without any doctrine of the supper) brought in this manner of celebrating,2 setting up in the stead of the doctrine, ceremonies, some filthy some unprofitable, some also noisome & dangerous: whereof have ensued very many evils. In so much y• the mass which is used in y• popish church in stead of the supper, if I should define it a right, is none other thing, then a mere apish emulation & disguised masking.