Here followeth a short and pithy treatise touching the Lord's Supper, compiled, as some do gather, by M. William Tyndale, because the method and phrase agree with his, and the time of writing are concurrent, which for thy further instruction and learning, gentle reader, I have annexed to his works, lest the Church of God should want any of the painful travels of that godly man, whose only care and endeavour was to advance the glory of God, and to further the salvation of Christ's flock committed to their charge. THE SUPPER OF THE LORD. AFTER THE TRUE MEANING OF THE VI. OF JOHN AND THE XI. OF THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. AND INCIDENTLY IN THE EXPOSITION OF THE SUPPER IS CONFUTED THE LETTER OF MASTER MORE AGAINST JOHN FRITH. THE SUPPER OF THE LORD. AFTER THE TRUE MEANING OF THE VI. OF JOHN AND THE XI. OF THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. AND INCIDENTLY IN THE EXPOSITION OF THE SUPPER IS CONFUTED THE LETTER OF MASTER MORE AGAINST JOHN FRITH. WHEN Christ saw those gluttons seeking their bellies flocking so fast unto him, after his wonted manner, (the occasion taken to teach and preach unto them of the things now moved,) he said, Verily, verily, I say John vi. unto you, ye seek me not because ye have seen my miracles, but because ye have eaten of the loaves and were well filled. But as for me, I am not come into this world only to fill men's bellies, but to feed and satisfy their souls. Ye take great pains to follow me for the meat of your bellies; but oh, sluggards, work, take pains, and labour rather to get that meat that shall never perish. For this meat that ye have sought of me hitherto, perisheth with your bellies; but the meat that I shall give you, is spiritual, and may not perish, but abideth for ever, giving life everlasting. For my Father hath consigned and confirmed me with his assured testimony, to be that assured saving health and earnest-penny of everlasting life. When the Jews understood not what Christ The Jews meant, bidding them to work and labour for that meat that should never perish, they asked him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? supposing that he had spoken of some outward work required of words of them. Wherefore Jesus answered, saying, Even this is the work of God, to believe and trust in him whom were blind and igno rant, and understood not the Christ. The true work that is accept God. the Father hath sent. Lo, here may ye see that work of God which he requireth of us, even to believe in able before Christ. Also consider again what this meat is, which he bade them here prepare and seek for, saying, Work, take pains and seek for that meat, &c. and thou shalt see it none other meat than the belief in Christ: wherefore he concludeth, that this meat so often mentioned, Habak. ii. is faith of the which meat (saith the Prophet) the just liveth. Faith in him is therefore the meat which Christ prepareth and dresseth so purely; pouldering and spicing it with spiritual allegories in all this chapter following, to give us everlasting life through it. The Jews desire a sign or token whereby they might be lieve that he was Christ. Then said the Jews unto him, What token doest thou whereby we might know that we should believe in thee? Do somewhat that we might believe in thee: what thing workest thou that we might know thee to be God? Thou knowest well enough that our fathers did eat bread or manna in the desert, as it is written, He gave them bread from above. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave ye not that bread from heaven; for though it fell down from the air, yet was it not heavenly food, for it did but feed the belly; but this bread of God that is descended from heaven (whom my Father giveth,) refresheth the soul so abundantly, that it giveth life unto the world. When the Jews understood not this saying, which was nought else than the declaring of the Gospel (for by the eating of this bread, he meant that belief of this his Gospel,) they said, Sir, give us this bread evermore. Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life, and whoso cometh to me shall not hunger; and whoso believeth in me shall never thirst. When the Jews heard Christ say, the bread that descended from heaven should give life to the world; they desired to have this bread given them for ever. And Jesus perceiving that they understood eth himself not the sense of this Gospel, he expounded unto them who was this so lively bread that giveth life to all the Christ required of the Jews to have faith and trust him. Christ explaineth and show to the Jews. |