Seeing then that the 1name & thing it self doth monish us of thanks, let us (as saint Paul saith) offer always to god, the host or sacrifice of praise by Christ, that is, the fruit of the lips which confess his name. For as David singeth: He that offereth to God 2thanks and praise, honoureth him. But how few be there of thankful persons, in comparison 3to the unthankful? Lo ten Lepers in the Gospel were healed, and but one only returned ⟨p. 409⟩to give thanks for his health. Yea happy it were, if among forty Communicants, we could see two unfeignedly give thanks. So unkind we be, so oblivious we be, so proud beggars we be, that partly we care not for our own commodity, partly we know not our duty to God, and chiefly we will not confess all that we receive. Yea, and if we be forced by Gods power to do it: yet we handle it so coldly, so dryly, that our lips praise him, but our hearts dispraise him, our tongues bless him, but our life curseth him, our words worship him, but our works dishonour him. O let us therefore learn to give God here thanks aright, and so to agnise his exceeding graces poured upon us, that they being shut up in the treasure house of our heart, may in due time and season in our life and conversation, appear to the glorifying of his holy name. Furthermore, for newness of life, it is to be noted that Saint Paul writeth: that we being many, are one bread and one body. For all be partakers of one bread. Declaring thereby, not only our Communion with Christ, but that unity also, wherein they that eat at this table, should be knit together. For by dissension, vainglory, ambition, strife, envying, contempt, hatred, or malice, they should not be dissevered: but so joined by the bond of love, in one mystical body, as the corns of that bread in one loaf. In respect of which strait knot of charity, the true Christians in the tender time of Christs Church, called this supper, love. As if they should say, none ⟨p. 410⟩ought to sit down there, that were out of love and charity, who bore grudge & vengeance in his heart, who also did not profess his kind affection by some charitable relief, for some part of the congregation. And this was their practise. O heavenly banquet then so used. O godly guests, who so esteemed this feast.
Seeyng then that the 1name & thing it selfe doth monishe vs of thanks, let vs (as saint Paul sayth) offer alwayes to god, the hoste or sacrifice of prayse by Christe, that is, the fruite of the lippes which confesse his name. For as Dauid singeth: He that offereth to God 2thankes and prayse, honoureth hym. But howe fewe be there of thankfull personnes, in comparison 3to the vnthankfull? Loe ten Lepers in the Gospell were healed, and but one only returned ⟨p. 409⟩to geue thankes for his health. Yea happye it were, yf among fourtie Communicantes, we coulde see two vnfaignedly geue thankes. So vnkinde we be, so obliuious we be, so proude beggers we be, that partly we care not for our owne commoditie, partlye we knowe not our duetie to God, and chiefely we wyll not confesse all that we receaue. Yea, and yf we be forced by Gods power to do it: yet we handle it so coldely, so drylye, that our lippes prayse him, but our heartes disprayse hym, our tongues blesse hym, but our lyfe curseth hym, our wordes worshippe hym, but our workes dishonour him. O let vs therfore learne to geue God here thankes aright, and so to agnise his exceeding graces powred vppon vs, that they beyng shutte vp in the treasure house of our heart, maye in due tyme and season in our lyfe and conuersation, appeare to the glorifying of his holye name. Furthermore, for newenesse of lyfe, it is to be noted that Saint Paul wryteth: that we beyng many, are one bread and one body. For all be partakers of one bread. Declaring thereby, not onlye our Communion with Christ, but that vnitie also, wherin they that eate at this table, shoulde be knitte together. For by discention, vaineglory, ambition, strise, enuying, contempt, hatred, or malyce, they shoulde not be disseuered: but so ioyned by the bonde of loue, in one mysticall bodye, as the cornes of that bread in one lofe. In respecte of which strait knot of charitie, the true Christians in the tender tyme of Christes Churche, called this supper, loue. As yf they shoulde saye, none ⟨p. 410⟩ought to sit downe there, that were out of loue and charitie, who bore grudge & vengeaunce in his heart, who also dyd not professe his kynd affection by some charitable reliefe, for some parte of ye congregation. And this was their practise. O heauēly •anket then so vsed. O godly ghestes, who so estemed this feast.
- 1Heb. xxiii
- 2Psalm. l.
- 3Luke. xvii
