Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

VVhat is the punishment of them which eate vnworthily?

As there are diuers degrees of vnworthinesse, so the punish∣ment or iudgement is vnlike, the cheefe degree of vnworthines precisely so called, is to come to the mysteries of faith, without faith or any repentance, which is the vse of vnbeleeuers, casta∣waies, hypocrites, and wicked men.

They therefore which so come, are guiltie of the bodie and bloud of the Lord, the imputation of his death is laide vnto

them, that is, the death of Christ, it returneth vnto death not vn∣to life to them, and as Basill speaketh, They doe beare the offence of Christ crucified, euen as they who through vnbeleef crucified him corporally. For these men doe esteeme the bloud of Christ pro∣fane, and they haue him in no other account, then as an hainous offendera 1.1: concerning these men it is said, he that beleeueth not, shall bee condemned. Mar. 16.16. These therefore doe vn∣dergoe the iudgement of condemnation vnto euerlasting tor∣mentsa 1.2.

Another degree of vnworthinesse, taken more moderately, is of the beleeuers: which doe not discerne or iudge of the Lords bodie, that is, which although they are not altogether voide of faith, yet they haue a faith as it were faint and weake, and there∣fore not, as it were, effectuall by charitie and repentance: neither doe they discerne the mysticall bread of the Lord from common bread, but handle it vnreuerently, nor in that manner as the Lord appointed it. To these iudgement is threatned, Paul. 1. Cor. 11.29 saying, Hee which eateth and drinketh vnworthily, eateth and drin∣keth his owne damnation, that is, by eating and drinking, he drin∣keth it and calleth for it.

But this iudgement is not of eternall damnation, but of tem∣porall punishment, which the Lord doth inflict in this worlde, euen vpon his owne faithfull ones, which doe sinne: as it is ma∣nifest out of the words following of the Apostle, wherein hee doth rehearse examples of this iudgement, diseases, and the death of the bodie, For this cause many are weak, & sick among, you & ma∣ny sleepe, and especially out of verse. 32. where hee saith, That we are therefore iudged, ihat wee should not bee condemned with the wic∣ked, but that wee should be chastised of the Lord. And this iudgement is of correction and discipline.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Heb. 10 29
• a 1.2

  1 Cor. 11.32