hanging upon the cross didst say, "It is finished," thereby giving us a most excellent example of perseverance, make us, O Lord, in the service we have undertaken, to serve Thee, that we may say with Thine Apostle, "We have kept the faith;" and with holy Job, "We will not depart from innocency whilst we live ;" and with David, "Thou, O Lord, hast kept us from our youth up, forsake us not in our age," but, good Lord, continue with us unto the end, and at the end. Amen. UNTO A CHAPTER LXVIII. FRUITFUL RECEIVING THE HOLY SACRAMENT, THREE THINGS ARE REQUIRED. 1. Purity of mind. I. THAT thou be sorry for sins past, and intend to abstain from such and such sins hereafter. 2. That thou lay aside all hatred, for it is a Sacrament of love. 3. That thou remember who hath said it, "Be ye holy, as I am holy"." n Leviticus xix. 2. Q 2. A right intention that thou communicate, 1. Not of custom only. 2. Not to please men. 3. Not to appear outwardly holy. 3. Actual devotion. 1. That thou endeavour to pray unto God without distraction. 2. That thou be spiritually affected towards Christ's Holy Institution. 3. That thou come with all humility and devout reverence. After receiving the Holy Communion. 1. Give thanks to Christ, that He hath vouchsafed to come under thy roof. 2. Be careful more and more to worship Him. 3. Beseech Him never to depart from thee, pray Him to continue with thee always, even unto the end. So be it. CHAPTER LXIX. AN ADMONITION TO THE GODLY READER CONCERN ING THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE HOLY EUCHARIST, AGAINST SUNDRY REASONS OF CARDINAL BELLARMINE. WHEREAS every question, in a case of faith, godly and devout reader, ought to stand forth at the tribunal of Holy Writ, and there to be judged: let it not seem strange unto any, if as once St. Paul appealed unto Cæsar, so we by a course allowable in law, do (evermore due respect had unto the authority of the ancient Fathers) in the first place, and that by good right, make our appeals in cases of controversy unto the Holy Scriptures. For why? In these we not only find the truth safe and sound, notwithstanding all the devices of evil men endeavouring to corrupt the same, yet ever the same, and so confirmed by the consent of the Church, but also the means of seeking out the same truth; which if we follow as the best guide, we cannot slip, err, or be deceived. 2. Now the means of seeking out the truth may seem by that of the Prophet Jeremiah, or by Him in whom the Prophet spake, to be thus laid forth : "Ask or inquire for the old way, it is the good way, walk in it." Our Lord and Saviour in the Gospel, in His reply to the Pharisees tempting Him, Why did Moses give them a bill of divorce? answereth, "Moses did it for the hardness of your hearts, but from the beginning it was not so P." Whence it appeareth, that by the old way we come unto the good way, by observing the first institution we find out the true institution; all that are in doubt, all that err, may by this means more easily come to attain and enjoy the same. When Almighty God promised unto the people of Israel, by the before-named Moses, a form of framing the tabernacle and the appurtenances thereof, "Look," saith He unto them, "that thou make it after the fashion that was shewed thee in the mountain a.” The Prophet Isaiah, to withdraw the people from their diviners and soothsayers, cries out, "To the law and to the testimony." When Christ casteth buyers and sellers out of the temple', He citeth the Prophet Jeremiah, "My house is the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thievest." The Apostle St. Paul, setting down unto them the true manner of celebrating the Lord's Supper, saith, "Jeremiah vi. 16. Isaiah viii. 20. P Matthew xix. 7, 8. q Exod. xxv. 40. Jeremiah vii. 11. "For I have received of the Lord that which also I have delivered unto you "." If at any time the Fathers were in doubt concerning points appertaining to faith, by-and-by they repaired to the oracle of the Scripture; so St. Ambrose, "Let the Scripture be asked;" so St. Augustine, "Let us ask St. Peter and St. Paul." By this we see the means of seeking out the truth; which is, how that the Fathers look back to the Apostles, the Apostles to Christ, Christ to the Prophets, the Prophets to the Law, the Law to the first pattern upon the mount. 3. Now of long time, yea, too, too long, O Holy Christ, have we Christians contended about Thy Holy Institution; from the Fathers to Thy Apostles: yea, O Blessed Saviour, we come with all reverence, and let us come hand in hand, to consider the first pattern instituted by Thyself. And here first, let the devout Christian call to mind, that He that said of the wine, "This is My Blood," and of the bread, "This is My Body," said also of St. John the Baptist, "This is that Elias," and of Himself, "I am the door," "the true vine," &c. These "Receive My covenant in your flesh;" "By Baptism we are buried with Him;" "Being "I Cor. xi. 23. * Matt. xxvi. 17. Mark xiv. 12. Luke xxii. 11. |