A68658:42
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.
But I have tarried longer in setting forth the form of Christs words upon the Lords cup, written by Paul and Luke, than I did intend to do. And yet in speaking of the form of Christs words, spoken upon his cup,1 cometh now to my remembrance the form of words used in the latin Mass, upon the Lords cup. Whereof I do not a little marvel, what should be the cause seeing the latin ⟨image 20⟩Mass agreeth with the evangelists and Paul, in the form of words said upon the bread: why in the words said upon the Lords cup, it differeth from them all, yea and addeth to the words of Christ spoken upon the cup, these words, Misterium fidei, that is, the mystery of faith, which are not read to be attributed unto the sacrament of Christs blood, neither in the evangelists nor in Paul, nor so far as I know, in any other place of holy scripture? yea and if it may have some good exposition, yet why it should not be aswell added unto the words of Christ upon his bread, as upon his cup, surely I do not see the mystery. And because I see in the use of the latin mass the sacrament of the blood abused, when it is denied unto the lay people, clean contrary unto God's most certain word: for why, I do beseech thee, should the sacrament of Christs blood be denied unto the lay christian, more than to the priest? Did not Christ shed his blood aswell for the lay godly man, as for the godly priest? If thou wilt say, yeas that he did so. ⟨image 20⟩But yet the sacrament of the blood is not to be received without the offering up & sacrificing thereof unto God the father, both for the quick and for the dead: and no man may make oblation of Christs blood unto God, but a priest, and therefore the priest alone (& that but in his Mass only) may receive the sacrament of the blood. And call you this (Maisters) Misterium fidei? Alas alas, I fear me this is before God Misterium iniquitatis, the mystery of iniquity, such as S. Paul speaketh of, in his epistle to the Thessalonians.2 The Lord be merciful unto us, and bless us, lighten his countenance upon us, and be merciful unto us. That we may know thy way upon earth, and among all people thy salvation.
But I haue taried longer in setting furthe ye forme of Christes wordes vpon the Lordes cuppe, written by Paule and Luke, than I did intēde to do. And yet in speaking of the forme of Christes wordes, spoken vpon his cuppe,