The substance of Christian religion soundly set forth in two bookes, by definitions and partitions, framed according to the rules of a naturall method, by Amandus Polanus professor of diuinitie. The first booke concerneth faith. The second concerneth good workes. The principall pointes whereof are contained in a short table hereunto annexed. Translated out of Latin into English by E.W.

Concerning the trying of a mans selfe be∣fore the vse of the Supper of the Lord.

The trying or examining of a mans selfe consisteth in two things: first whether thou be in the faith, whether thou vnderstand the articles of fayth, the promise of the Gospell, and doctrine of the Sacraments. In this case the Creede of the Apostles, or doctrine of the Gospell is the touchstone. Here is to be taken from the people that opinion wherwith ma∣ny are possessed, who (these three words being taken hold of, THIS IS MY BODY) sup∣pose that it is not necessarie to search more diligently the nature of the Sacraments they wil beleeue simply: but this is not to beleeue, but to erre, and indeed to erre obstinately, if thou hast purposed that thou wilt not learne any thing. If thou wilt rightly beleeue, it be∣hooueth thee to haue vnderstanding: for faith is a sure knowledge. For what fruite shall they receiue by the vse of the Sacramēts, vvho neuer haue rightly learned the vse of them?

The other part consisteth in examining ones life. In this case the ten commandements is a touchstone, that is to say, wee must trye how we haue led our life, how farre it is from the lawe of God, what it ought to be: whe∣ther thou hast performed those things which thou hast promised to God in baptisme: whether thou loue God aboue all things, and thy neighbour as thy selfe, that is to say, whe∣ther thou doest, and hereafter wilt doe those thinges which God commaundeth: and whether thou eschewest and wilt eschewe those thinges which God forbiddeth: whe∣ther thou hast a setled purpose to amende thy life, and to frame the same according to the worde of God. If there be any who feele such an inclination in themselues, they are to be exhorted to goe to the holy Sup∣per; the rest, who neither vnderstand the do∣ctrine of the promise of the Gospell and Sa∣craments: neither desire to amend their life, but haue a mind to continue in their faultes, they are to be disswaded, not to goe to the hol•• Supper, least they eate iudgement to themselues.