A17659:92
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.
But because I do perceive very many godly minds: which know not whither to turn them selves: I will briefly say the thing that I shall think necessary to declare how they may deliver them selves.
But bycause I do perceyue very many godly myndes: which know not whyther to turne them selues: I wyll briefely say the thyng that I shall thynke necessarye to declare howe they maye delyuer them selues.
First I desire and beseech all faithful persons even for the names sake of the living God, that they be not greatly offended, because this controversy is moved among them that were the chief captains, in restoring and bringing in again of the doctrine of the gospel. For it is no new thing for the lord to suffer his servants to be ignorant in some things: and suffer them to contend among them selves: not that he would suffer them to err continually, but for a time:1 to the intent he might make them more humble. And no doubt if all things had chanced prosperously to this day, and had flowed according to our will, perchance men would have forgotten them selves: other else the mercy of god should not have ben so much known as it ought to be. And therefore the lords will was to take away from men all occasion of glorying: that glory might be given unto him only.
Fyrste I desyre and beseche al faythfull persones euen for the names sake of the lyuynge God, that they be not greatly offended, bicause thys controuersy is moued amonge them that were the chiefe capiteynes, in restorynge and brynging in agayne of the doctrine of the gospel. For it is no new thinge for the lorde to suffer his seruaūtes to be ignorant in some thinges: and suffer them to contende amonge them selues: not that he woulde suffer them to erre continuallye, but for a tyme:1 to the intente he myght make them more humble. And no doubt yf all thynges had chaunced prosperoussye to thys daye, and had flowed accordynge to oure wyll, perchaunce men woulde haue forgotten them selues: other els the mercy of god shoulde not haue ben so muche knowen as it ought to be. And therfore the lordes wyll was to take awaye from men aloccasyon of gloriynge: that glory myght be gyuen vnto hym onely.