A17659:91
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.
Hence shall it come to pass that they shall despise and condemn for idolatry, all those superstitious ceremonies, as well of the carrying forth of the sacrament in pomp & processions, as of the building up of those tabernacles wherein it is set forth to be honoured. For the promises of the lord stretch no farther, then to y• use which he committed unto us. Furthermore they shall judge the institution of the lord to be violated and broken, in that the people is robbed of the one part of the sacrament: and that it is necessary, that both parts be wholly distributed, if it should be observed aright, In fine, they shall suppose, that it is not only superfluous but also dangerous, and that it becometh not the christian religion, to use so many ceremonies, taken of the Jews, more than the simplicity wherein the apostles instructed us. They shall also judge that it is even of an ungodly frowardness, so to celebrate the supper with gestures▪ and maskers movings, that no doctrine at all may there be heard, but is rather buried, as though it were a certain kind of magical art. To conclude at the last, we ⟨image 32⟩must now come to the last of the chief parts. That is to say,1 to that contention which in our time is steered in this matter, which for as much as no doubt it was of the devils stirring upon to let, or rather to break the course of the Gospel, I would wish it to be forgotten for ever: much less can I be delighted in the rehearsing of the same.
Hense shal it come to passe that they shall dispice and condemne for ydolatrye, all those supersticiouse cerimonies, as well of the carying forth of the sacramēt in pōpe & ꝓcessiōs, as of the buyldyng vp of those tabernacles wherin it is set forth to be honoured. For the promesses of the lorde stretch no farther, then to y• vse whych he cōmitted vnto vs. Forthermore they shal iudge the instituciō of the lorde to beviolated and broken, in that the people is robbed of the one parte of the sacrament: and that it is necessarie, that bothe partes be wholy dystributed, yf it shoulde be obserued aryght, In fyne, they shal suppose, that it is not onely superfluouse but also dayngerouse, and that it becometh not the chrystian religyon, to vse so many cerimonies, takē of the Iewes, more thā the symplicitie wherin the apostles instructed vs. They shal also iudge that it is euen of an vngodly frowardnesse, so to celebrate the supper with gestures and maskers mouinges, that no doctrine at al may there be herde, but is rather buryed, as though it were a certeyne kind of magycall arte. To conclude at the laste, wee