them that he held no other doctrine than that was true, seeing they then neither spake nor wrote against him, nor brought him to any examination. Besides that, some merry fellows will think, that they ought first to have sent to him, to wit, whether he would have revoked, ere they had so despitefully burned the dead body, that could not answer for itself, nor interpret his words, how he meant them, namely, the man being of so worshipful and ancient a blood. But here will I make an end, desiring the reader to look on this thing with indifferent eyes, and judge whether I have expounded the words of this Testament as they should seem to signify or not; judge also whether the maker thereof seem not by his work both virtuous and godly, which if it so be, think not that he was the worse, because the dead body was burnt to ashes, but rather learn to know the great desire that hypocrites have to find one craft or other to dash the truth with, and cause it to be counted for heresy of the simple and unlearned people, which are so ignorant they cannot spy their subtlety. It must needs be heresy that toucheth any thing their rotten bile, they will have it so whosoever say nay: only the eternal God must be prayed to night and day, to amend them in whose power it only lieth, who also grant them once earnestly to thirst his true doctrine contained in the sweet and pure fountains of his Scriptures, and in his paths to direct their ways. Amen. The end of all M. William Tyndale's Works, newly imprinted, according to his first copies, which he himself set forth. God's name be blessed for ever. Amen. 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. Anno 1533, the 5th day of April. VOL. IV. THE SUPPER OF THE LORD. AFTER THE TRUE MEANING OF THE VI. OF JOHN AND 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 them. Wherefore Jesus answered, saying, Even this is the work of God, to believe and trust in him whom were blind and ignorant, and understood not the words of Christ. |