A68658:20
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 hitherto without all doubt, God is my witness, I say so far as I do know, there is no controversy among them that be learned, in the church of England (concerning the matter of this sacrament) but all do agree, whether they be new or old: and to speak plain, and as some of them do odiously call either other: whether they be protestants, papists, Pharisees, or gospellers. And as all do agree hitherto, in the aforesaid doctrine, so all do detest, abhor & con den the wicked heresy of the Messalonianes, ⟨image 7⟩which other wise be called Euticheres, which said, that the holy Sacrament can neither do good nor harm. Al do all so condemn those wicked Anabaptists, which put no difference between the Lords table and the lords meat, & their own. And because charity would, that we should, (if it be possible, and so far as we may with the safeguard of good conscience, & maintenance of the truth) agree with all men: therefore me thinks, it is not charitably done to burden any man (either new or old, as they call them) further, than such do declare them selves, to dissent from that we are persuaded to be truth, or pretend thereto to be controversies, where as non suche are in deed: and so to multiply the debate, the which the more it doth increase, the further it doth depart from the unity, that the true christian should desire.
Thus hitherto without all doubt, God is my witnesse, I saye so farre as I doo knowe, ther is no controuersie among them that be learned, in the churche of Englande (concerning the mater of this sacrament) but all doo agree, whether they be newe or olde: and to speake playne, and as som of them doo odiously call either other: whether they be protestauntes, papistes, Pharisees, or gospellers. And as al doo agree hitherto, in ye aforesayed doctrine, so al do deteste, abhorre & cō dēne ye wicked heresie of ye Messalonianes, ⟨image 7⟩which other wise be called Euticheres, which said, yt ye holy Sacramēt cā nother do good nor harme. Al do al so cōdēne those wicked Anabaptistes, which put no difference betwene the Lordes table and the lordes meate, & their owne. And bicause charitie wolde, that we should, (if it be possible, and so farre as we maye with the sauegarde of good cōscience, & mayntenaunce of the truthe) agree with all men: therfore me thinkes, it is not charitably done to burthen any man (either newe or olde, as they cal them) further, than such doo declare them selues, to dissent from that we are persuaded to be truthe, or pretende therto to be controuersies, wher as non suche are in dede: and so to multiplye the debate, the which the more it dothe encreace, the further it dothe departe from the vnitie, that the true christian should desyre.