A brief declaration of the Lords Supper with some other determinations and disputations concerning…

And again this is true, that trueth neither needeth nor will be ¹maintained with lies. It is also a true proverb, That it is even sin to lye upon the Devil. For though by thy lye thou dost never so much speak against the Devil, yet in that thou liest in deed thou workest the Devils work, thou dost him service, and takest the Devils part. Now whether then they do godly and charitably, which either by their Pen in Writing, or by their Words in Preaching, do bear the simple people in hand, that those which thus do teach and believe, do go about to make the holy Sacrament (ordained by Christ himself) a thing no better then a piece of common Bread: or that do say, that such do make the holy Sacrament of the blessed body and blood of Christ, nothing else but a bare sign or a figure, to represent Christ none otherwise, then the Ivy bush doth represent the Wine in a Tavern, or as a vile person gorgeously apparelled, may represent a King or a Prince in a play. Alas let men leave lying, and speak trueth every one, not only to his neighbour: but also of his neighbour, for we are members one of an other saith Saint Paul. The controversy (no doubt) which at this day troubleth the Church (wherein any mean learned man, either old or new, doth stand in) is not, whether the holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, is no better then a piece of common bread or no: or whether the Lords Table is no more to be regarded, then the Table of any earthly man or no: or whether it is but a bare sign or figure of Christ and nothing else or no. For all do grant, that S. Pauls words do require, that the bread which we break, is the partaking of the body of Christ, and also do grant him that eateth of that bread, or drinketh of that cup unworthily, to be guilty of the ⟨p. 6⟩Lords death, and to eat and drink his own damnation, because be esteemeth not the Lords body. All do grant, that these words of S. Paul, (when he saith: If we eat. it advantageth us nothing: or if we eat not, we want nothing thereby) are not spoken of the Lords Table, but of other common meats.

And again this is true, that trueth nother needeth nor wil be ¹maintained with lies. It is also a true prouerb, That it is euen sinne to lye vpon the Deuil. For though by thy lye thou doost neuer so much speak against the Deuil, yet in that thou liest in deed thou woorkest the Deuils woorke, thou doost him seruice, and takest the Deuils part. Now whether then they doo godlye and charitablye, which either by their Pen in Writing, or by their Woordes in Preaching, doo beare the simple people in hand, that those which thus doo teach and beleue, doo go about to make the holye Sacrament (ordeined by Christe himselfe) a thing no better then a peece of common Bread: or that doo saye, that such doo make the holye Sacrament of the blessed bodye and blood of Christe, nothing els but a bare signe or a figure, to represent Christe none otherwise, then the Ivye bushe doth represent the Wine in a Tauern, or as a vile person gorgiouslye apparalled, maye represent a King or a Prince in a playe. Alas let men leaue lying, and speak trueth everye one, not only to his neighbour: but also of his neighboure, for wee are members one of an other saith Saint Paule. The controuersie (no doubt) which at this daye troubleth the Church (wherin any mean learned man, either olde or newe, dooth stand in) is not, whether the holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christe, is no better then a peece of common breade or no: or whether the Lords Table is no more to be regarded, then the Table of any earthly man or no: or whether it is but a bare signe or figure of Christe and nothing else or no. For all do graunt, that S. Paules woordes doo require, that the bread which we break, is the partaking of the body of Christe, and also doo graunte him that eateth of that bread, or drinketh of that cup vnwoorthely, to be gilty of the