The Catechisme in meter for the easier learnyng, and better remembryng of those prinples [sic] of our faithe, whiche wee ought moste familiarly to be acquainted withall / for the proofe of those thynges, which I have not quoted, I referre you to the vsuall catechisme ; onely in the margent I haue quoted those thynges which I haue added for plainnesse ; the verse will agree with moste of the tunes of the Psalmes of David, and it is deuided into partes, that eche parte maie be song by it self.

The fourth parte.

OF this my faith by preachyng bredd by preachyng still I haue Encrease, and by the Sacraments, whiche Christ as earnest gaue Vnto his Churche, whereby he bindes hymself to raunsome me: And I by takyng binde my self, his seruaunt for to be. These are but twoo: in Baptisme first the water is our signe: And in the Supper of the Lorde, we haue the bread aud wine: The water serues to teache that as, it washeth cleane our skinne: So Christ his death doeth cleanse my soule, from guilt, and plague of sinne. So I and all are Baptizde, whiche with Christ to sinne are dead: And rais d with hym in righteousnesse, a better life to lead. The bread and wine doe teache, that as without the naturall food Our thirst and hunger none can swage: so nought but Christ his blood, And suffryngs can refre she the settle, with sinne opprest and pinde:

Whiche still doeth runne into dispaire, till Christ doe come to minde. But when with liuely stedfast faithe, my Christ on crosse I see: And all his hellishe wofull paines, that he endured for mee: Then is his fleshe my meate in deede, his blood then doe I drinke: If that my soule refreshed be, when on his death I thinke. What thyng can then this foode of soule, more liuely represent, Then foode of body bread and wine: and so a Sacrament It is in deede, in nature not transformde, but vse alone: Not fleshe of Christ, but signifiyng, that fleshe we feede vpon: For if the bread be turnd to Christ, in Godhead, fleshe, and bone, By force of consecratyng wordes, then Christ, whiche is but one. Shalbe so many Christes,(c) as crummes were euer consecrated: And of the substaunce of the bread, Christes Godhead is created.

His manhood subiect to no sense, no fleshe, or bone shalbee: So bothe his natures ouerthrowen, by this wee plainly see. To eate this foode I must prepare, my soule by greef for sume: And true desire in holinesse, a newe life to be ginne. Next, faithe must teache me that my sinns, in Christ haue full release: And I with all men, euen my foes, in harte must be at peace.

Notes

• Sacramentes.
• 2. Sacramentes, Baptisme and the Lordes Sup∣per.
• Baptisme.
• The Lords Sup∣per.
• Math 11.28.
• Ioh. 6.40.
• Ioh. 6.47.54.
• 1. Cor. 8.6.
• (c)

  The last coūsell of Trens affirmeth, that in euery peece of the conse∣crated host, is whole Christ God and man, and curseth all that denye it. Cano. 3 de. Saca∣mento Euch.
• Luc. 24.39.40.