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

Thus hast thou heard, of what sort or sect soever thou be, wherein doth stand the principal state and chief point of all the controversies, which do properly pertain unto the nature of this Sacrament. As for the use thereof I grant there be many other things, whereof here I have spoken nothing at all. And now lest thou justly mightest complain, and say, that I have in opening of this matter done nothing else, but digged a pit, and have not shut it up again: or broken a gap, and have not made it up again: or opened the book, and have not closed it again: or else to call me what thou listest, as neutral dissembler, or what soever else thy lust and learning shall serve thee to name me worse: Therefore here now I will (by Gods grace) not only shortly, but so clearly and plainly as I can make thee to know, whether of the aforesaid two answers to the former principal state and chief point doth like me best: yea and also I will hold all those accursed, which in this matter that now so troubleth the Church of Christ have of God received the keep of knowledge, and yet go about to shut up the doors so that they themselves will not enter in nor suffer other that would. And as for mine own part, I consider but of late what charge and cure of soul hath bin committed unto me, whereof God knoweth, how soon I shall be called to give account: and also now in this world what peril and danger of the laws concerning my life I am now in at this present time. What folly were it then for me, ⟨p. 9⟩now to dissemble with God, of whom assuredly I look and hope by Christ to have everlasting life? Seeing that such charge and danger both before God and man, do compass me in round about on every side: therefore God willing I will frankly and freely utter my mind, and though my body be captive, yet my tongue and my pen as long as I may shall freely set forth, that which undoubtedly I am persuaded to be the trueth of God's Word. And yet I will do it under this protestation, call me Protestant who lusteth, I pass not thereof. My protestation shall be thus: that my mind is and ever shall be (God willing) to set forth sincerely the true sense and meaning (to the best of my understanding) of God's most holy word, and not to decline from the same, either for fear of worldly danger, or else for hope of gain.

Thus hast thou heard, of what sort or sect soeuer thou be, wherin dooth stand the principall state and cheef poynte of all the controuersies, which doo properly pertain vnto the nature of this Sacrament. As for the vse therof I graunt there be many other thinges, wherof heer I haue spoken nothing at all. And nowe leaste thou iustely mightest complain, and say, that I haue in openinge of this matter doon nothing els, but digged a pitte, and haue not shut it vp again: or broken a gap, and haue not made it vp again: or opened the booke, and haue not closed it again: or els to call me what thou listest, as neuterall dissembler, or what soeuer els thy lust and learning shall serue thee to name me woorsse: Therfore heer now I wil (by Gods grace) not only shortly, but so cleerely and plainly as I can make thee to knowe, whether of the aforesaid two answers to the former principall state and cheef poynt dooth like me best: yea and also I will holde all those accursed, whiche in this matter that now so troubleth the Church of Christ haue of God receiued the kepe of knowledge, and yet go about to shut up the doores so that they themselues will not enter in nor suffer other that woulde. And as for mine owne parte, I consider but of late what charge and cure of soule hath bin committed vnto me, wherof God knoweth, how soon I shal be called to giue accounte: and also now in this worlde what perill and danger of the lawes concerning my life I am now in at this present time. What folly were it then for me,