A68658:52
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.
The Greek authors are Origene, Chrysostom, and Theodoret. The Latin are, Tertullian, S. Augustine and Gelasius. I know there can be nothing spoken so plainly, but the crafty wit furnished with eloquence, can darken it, and wrest it quite from the true meaning to a contrary sense. And I know also, the eloquence, craft, and finesse of wit hath gone about to ⟨image 26⟩blear mens eyes, & to stop their ears in thaforenamed writers, that men should neither hear nor see, what those authors both write and teach so plainly, that except men should be made both stark blind and deaf, they can not but of necessity, if they will read, and weigh them indifferently, both hear and see, what they do mean, when eloquence, craft, and finesse of wit have done all that they can. Now let us hear the old writers of the Greek church.
The Greke autors are Origene, Chrisostome, and Theodoret. The Latyne are, Tertulliane, S. Augustine and Gelasius. I knowe ther can be nothing spoken so playnly, but ye craftye witte furnished with eloquence, can darken it, and wraste it quite frō ye true meaning to a cōtrary sēse. And I knowe also, ye eloquēce, crafte, and fynesse of wytte hathe gone about to ⟨image 26⟩bleare mennes eies, & to stoppe their eares in thaforenamed writours, that men should nother heare nor see, what those autors both wryte and teache so playnlye, that except men shoulde be made bothe starke blynde and deafe, they can not but of necessitie, yf they will reade, and weye them indifferētly, bothe heare and see, what they doo meane, whan eloquēce, crafte, and fynesse of wytte haue done all that they can. Nowe let vs heare the olde wrytours of the Greke churche.
1Origene, which lived about .1250. years ago: a man for the excellency of his learning so highly esteemed in Christs church,2 that he was counted & judged the singular teacher in his time of Christs religion, the confounder of heresies, the schoolmaster of many godly matters, & an opener of the high mysteries in scripture. He writing up on the .15. chap. of S. Matthew's gospel, sayeth thus: But if any thing enter into the mouth, it goeth away into the belly, & is avoided into the draught. Yea & that meat which is sanctified by the word of God & prayer, concerning the matter thereof, it goeth away into the belly, & is avoided into the draught. But for the prayer which is added unto it, for the