A68658:18
A brief declaration of the Lords Supper, writtenA brief declaracion of the Lordes Supper, written
A brief declaration of the Lords Supper, written by the singular learned man, and most constant martyr of Jesus Christ, Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London prisoner in Oxford, a little before he suffered death for the true testimony of ChristA brief declaracion of the Lordes Supper, written by the syngular learned man, and most constaunt martir of Iesus Christ, Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London prisoner in Oxforde, a litel before he suffred deathe for the true testimonie of Christ
Emden: printed by E. van der Erve, 1555
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.
Thus the Evangelists & S. Paul have rehearsed the words & work of Christ, whereby he did institute & ordain this holy sacrament of his body & blood, to be a perpetual remembrance unto his coming again of him self (I say) that is of his body given for us, & of his blood shed for the remission of since. But this remembrance which is thus ordained, as the author thereof is Christ (both God and man) so by the almighty power of God, it far passeth all kinds of remembrances, that any other man is able to make either of him self or of any other thing. For who so ever receiveth this holy Sacrament thus ordained in remembrance of Christ, he receiveth there ⟨image 6⟩with either death or life. In this (I trust) we do all agree. For S. Paul sayeth of the godly receivers in the 10. chap. of his first epistle unto the Corinthians: The cup of blessing, which we bless, is it not the partaking or fellowship of Christs blood? And also he sayeth. The bread which we break (& meaneth at the Lords table) is it not the partaking or fellowship of Christs body? Now the partaking of Christs body and of his blood unto the faithful and godly, is the partaking or fellowship of life & immortality. And again of the bad and ungodly receivers, S. Paul as plainly sayeth thus: He that eateth of this bread, and drinketh of this cup unworthily: is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. O how necessary than it is,1 if we love life, & would eschew death, to try and examine our selves, before we eat of this bread, and drink of this cup: for else assuredly, he that eateth and drinketh thereof unworthily, eateth & drinketh his own damnation, because he esteemeth not the Lords body: that is, he reverenceth not the Lords body with the honour that is due unto him.
Thus the Euangelistes & S. Paule haue rehearced the wordes & worke of Christ, wherby he did institute & ordayne this holy sacramēt of his body & blood, to be a perpetuall remēbraū ce vnto his cōmyng again of him self (I saye) yt is of his body geuē for vs, & of his blood shedde for ye remission of synnes. But this remēbraunce which is thus ordayned, as ye autor therof is Christ (bothe God and man) so by the almightie power of God, it farre passeth all kyndes of remembraunces, that any other man is able to make eyther of hym selfe or of any other thing. For who so euer receaueth this holy Sacramēt thus ordayned in remēbraūce of Christ, he receaueth ther