A riche storehouse, or treasurie, for the sicke, full of Christian counsels holesome doctrines, comfortable persuasions, and godly meditations, meete for all Christians, both in sicknesse and in health. Wherevnto is annexed a comfort for poore prisoners, and also an exhortation to repentance. Written in Dutch, by Gaspar Huberine, and Englished by Thomas Godfrie, esquire, late ... fruits and ... at the request of his dangter Marie, wife ... Iohn French, gentleman of the Inner Temple

An instruction to teache children howe they ought to goe to the Lordes Table.

I haue herein something varied from mine Au∣thour, both because hee is not named in the booke: and also for that it did in the woordes varied something sound contrary to our Eng∣lish Churche. I thought it meete to be added, because it was bound with the former Dutch bookes, and necessary to be read to them that be in extremitie, if time will serue for it.

FIrst, you must beléeue, if you will receiue the sa∣crament of the body and bloud of Christ to your commoditie. After that must you trye or proue your selues, whether you doe worthily eate it, or take commoditie by it.

¶ Faith.

First of all you must well embrace the wordes of our louing Lord God Ie∣sus

Christ, wherein he hath appointed vnto you his body and bloud to be a te∣stament, whereby you may be assured and certeined of his grace and blessed inheritaunce for euer, and with Christ and al good Christians, to enioy their fe∣lowship in all thinges, and that you doe belong to the fellowship of Christ. For Christian faith hath in it these 2. partes, First, that by Gods grace we are made frée from all our sinnes, and miseries. A∣gaine, that we be partakers and felow woorkers of all the goodnes of God in Christ Iesus. These two partes be pro∣mised vnto vs in the Gospel, & belong to as many as beléeue the Gospel.

Howbeit, to the intent euery man should be the more sure of his faith, and better certified that it belongeth vnto him, whatsoeuer is conteyned and pro∣mised in the Gospel, Christ our Lord hath ordeined two Sacraments or out∣ward signes: So that euery man that should receiue them in a fast and perfect faith, thereby should be assured, that the two before remembred parts do belong

vnto him, which he hath bound and tyed to no time, place or person: so y^t where∣soeuer it be receiued, it is sure that the faithfull receiue those partes.

Therefore, beléeue stedfastly, that through Baptisme almightie God wor∣keth forgiuing of all sinnes, as we pray in our beliefe: I beléeue one Baptisme for the forgiuenes of sinnes. That is to say, I beléeue that through Gods mercy, by Iesus Christ, in the holy Ghost only, my sinnes altogether be forgiuen me, whereby I am assured and made safe in and by that onely Baptisme. For albeit that the outward Baptisme is but one∣ly once done and ministred: yet doeth Gods worke, that he then doeth by it a∣bide for euer and euer. This comforteth me at all times.

I beléeue also, that God by the deser∣uing of the passion and death of Christ, by the holy Ghost hath made me all one with Christ and all good Christians, and hath made me a member of the holy v∣niuersall congregation or Church: So that I haue felowship in all things with

all Gods holy children, & that whatsoe∣uer toucheth me, the same also toucheth them: and what so euer they haue, that is mine also.

And that ye shall not doubt hereof, he hath likewise giuen vnto you the sa∣crament of his body and of his bloud. When you receiue them, doubt not, but truely beleeue, that God in the power of his worde, vnder such true signes, wor∣keth in you the aboue remembred fel∣lowship, according to the contentes of his worde, where he saith, Take, eate, this is my body, which shall be giuen for you. A∣gaine, Take and drinke all, for this is the cup of the newe Testament, which shall be shead for you, and for many, for forgiuenesse of sinnes. Take holde of this worde, and comfort your selues therewith, for here doth Christ promise you, that you thro∣ugh his passion, or offering of his body, which was done vpon the crosse, shal be one body with him, and with all his: so that he in you, and you in him, and all Saintes, shall be in one fellowshippe. Therefore, saith he, his body is offered,

or giuen for you. But that you shoulde not doubt that it is giuen vnto you, he saith thus, This is my body. When you re∣ceiue it, then doubt not at all, that God by this sacrament worketh assuredly, that you shal be partaker of the aboue∣said fellowship, and that you are put in remembraunce, and assured thereof, as oft as you receiue the sacrament.

Likewise, when our Lord Iesus saith, This is my bloud, &c. beléeue stedfastly, without all manner of doubting, that Christes bloud is shed for you, and your sinnes thereby forgiuen. But that you should be throughly persuaded and safe that it is don for you, you haue a pledge or a sacrament. As oft as you take it, re∣member your selfe, and thinke on our Lord Iesus Christe, that euen God by this sacrament worketh those things in you, namely, that Christes bloud maketh you cleane from all your sinnes. O what great comforte is in this sacrament, therefore ought we very earnestly to receiue it.

Further, deare childe, when you wil

receiue this sacrament, thinke well vp∣pon the abouesaid wordes of Christ, and stedfastly beléeue that God worketh in you that which the words do promise, & say, Therefore doe I come vnto the sa∣crament, bicause I beléeue, that his bo∣dy was giuen for me, and bicause his bloud was shedde for me, whereby I am losed from all my sinnes, and am one body with him, in a full and per∣fect fellowship of all his goods, as a bro∣ther.

And bicause it is very hard to beleue such high things, specially that it shall auaile and profite me, being a poore sin∣ner and wretched caytife, therfore do I take with Christes word the outwarde pledge, for the assuring and strengthe∣ning of my beléefe, that I may be sure, that it is done in déede for me.

¶ Prouing.

But howe a man shall prepare or make him selfe ready to this Sacra∣ment, Sainte Paule doth teache vs in his first Epistle to the Corinthians, the

11.* 1.1 Chapter, where he saith, Let a man try him selfe, and then eate of this bread, and drinke of this cuppe, &c. that is, You shall not account nor reckon your selfe to be holy, not condemne other men, not des∣pise other men, not be quarelling, but diligently looke about, howe néedie and miserable you your selfe be, howe déepe you sticke in sinne, howe muche faith and other ghostly giftes you lacke, howe much you are bound and indebted vnto God, for many things, whereof you are not able to pay the least.

Thinke vpon, and remember these and suche like pointes, howe you may haue remedy, and be holpen. And séeing that Christ in this sacrament, hath pro∣mised you all these thinges, it behoueth you with earnest desire to séeke there. Here is the best proofe & preparatiō vnto this sacrament, that a man with all ear∣nestnes behold his own miserie, griefe, sinne, temptation, trouble, and begge∣rie, &c. whereby he might lay downe his Peacockes taile, and humble him selfe, and be as hungrie and gréedie after the

helpe and grace of God, as a man is de∣sirous to eate after sower lettice. This is the right hunger to this meate. Oh that we knewe in what daunger we stand, what lacke we haue, howe déepe we sticke, then would we be desirous to this sacrament, and make as much haste therevnto, as the thirstie Hart maketh to the waters.

For what cause a man ought to goe to the Sacrament.

NOt for custome sake, because at Easter euery man goeth vnto it, not at y^e commaundement of the Pope, or any other man: Not for our owne worthines, or because we haue prepa∣red our selues: Not because we shall make a good woorke of it, or make Gods seruice thereof: but onely because that therby, in the power of Gods word, and pledge of Christ, I may receiue y^e inhe∣ritance which my Lord Christ Iesus by his deth hath purchased for me, & beque∣thed me in his testament, specially that

I should be frée from all my sinnes, that I might be a brother and inheritour with Christ, and with Christe and all Christians be a church and communal∣tie: wherein, I shall haue felowshippe with all Sainctes: so that, whatsoeuer Christ with al Christians haue, is mine. And againe, to be short, that Christe is mine, and I am his, and that I shal not depart from him, but still abide where he is, and that I haue him with me, and by me, whether that I be in wealth or in woe: whether I be in prosperitie or in aduersitie. And besides this, he neuer forsaketh me, whether I be in néede, or in any other temptation, and that I shal beside, enioy what other fruite soeuer belongeth to this Sacrament.

When or howe often a man ought to goe to the Sacrament.

AS often as you be troubled & temp∣ted through your sinns in your con∣science, cumbred thorough the feare of death, or of hell, troubled by weakenes,

either of body or of soule, or that you be faint harted in faith, or that you be bur∣thened with any weakenes or féeblenes whatsoeuer it be, wherewith the diuel, the world, or the flesh wil hinder you in your inheritance or blessednesse, séeke here comfort in the word and signe gi∣uen in this sacrament by Christ, which he hath at his last supper left vnto you, where vppon he died, and haue no doubt at all, but that God in temptation wor∣keth whatsoeuer the word and token, or signe do promise or bring. Herein let no mans fantasie or imaginatiō make you forsake the right way.

What beleeue you of this sacrament?

J Beléeue, that there is, according to y^e word of Christe, giuen vnto me the body and bloud of Christe, (though in such sorte as reason can not perceiue:) So that God almightie worketh in me, and towards me, in the receiuing ther∣of, all that which my Lorde Iesus hath there promised, as specially that his bo∣dy

maketh me cleane, and maketh my body to be in fellowshippe with Christ, and with all Christians, and that his bloud doth washe away all my sinnes. Therefore I doubt nothing at all, but that I doe receiue there the body & bloud of Christe, albeit that by reason I can not perceiue how, or by what manner, and way, neyther is it necessarie for me to knowe. It was sufficient to Christes Apostles, that they knewe that Christe was risen from death, albeit they could not tell nor perceiue how he came vn∣to them, the doores being shut in.

What is Christes Supper, or Gods boord.

IT is nothing else, but the Testament of Iesus Christe our Lorde, which he made and ordeined before his passion and death, for all them that beléeue vp∣on him, and for them that in their bap∣tisme through the deseruing of his death and resurrection, be made frée from the power and kingdome of the diuell, and

chosen to be Gods children, or inheri∣tours of the kingdome of heauen. To them hath he promised, and giueth in this sacrament truely, his body and his bloud for their comfort, wherby they be fully assured, & made certeine by faith in their consciences, that he will giue vnto them all the goodnesse of God, and make them coheires with him, & with the whole Christian congregation, in a perfect fellowship of all Saints. For in as much as Christe hath promised and giuen vnto them his body and his bloud, why can he not giue vnto them al other good things that he hath, either in heauē or in earth? Herevpon shal his body and his bloud certenly be receiued, to assure vs, that our louing Lord Christ wil not betray vs, but make vs with him to be Lordes and inheritours of all the good∣nesse of God.

Whosoeuer will receiue the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ, ought to know how to answere to the fiue questions folowing.

The first Question.

1 WHerefore receiue you this Sa∣crament?

Aunswere.

Therefore, bicause I may be a co∣heire with Christe, and haue fellowship with him, with all holy Saintes, and with all good Christians, with them to suffer and to dye.

Question.

2 What doe you beléeue, or what doe you confesse is in this sacrament?

Answere.

When I receiue the Sacrament, I beleeue, that vnder breade and wine, I receiue the body and bloud of Christe: but it is not sufficient that I know, but also I must beléeue, that my lord Christ hath giuen me them for a perfect signe and token, seale and testament.

Question.

3 What be the wordes of this Testa∣ment, which our Lord Iesus did vse?

Answere.

Thus said the Lord to his Apostles, when he gaue vnto them this breade,

Take ye, and eate ye, This is my body, which shall be giuen for you. And when he gaue them the cup, he saide, Drinke you all of this, This is my bloude of the newe Testa∣ment, whiche shall be shead for you, and for many, for the forgiuenesse of sinnes. Do this in the remembrance of me.

Question.

4 Wherefore do you take that token or signe, séeing that faith is sufficient?

Answere.

I receiue the signes and tokens ther∣fore, bicause I may strengthen my faith, not bicause I doubt in my beléefe: but bicause God hath giuen me the signe, with the word, of his tender grace and mercy. Therefore I will not despise to vse and acquaint my selfe with them.

Question.

5 How will you vse the Sacrament?

Answere.

I will eate and drinke, and beléeue this word, which he spake vnto his Apo∣stles, when he gaue them this sacramēt. We ought to take these comfortable promises, with a faithfull heart.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••. Cor. 11.