w many be there, think ye, which regard this supper of
the Lord as much as a testoon? But very few, no doubt of it: and I will
prove that they regard it not so much. If there were a proclamation made
in this town, that whosoever would come unto the church at such an hour,
and there go to the communion with the curate, should have a testoon;
when such a proclamation were made, I think, truly, all the town would
come and celebrate the communion to get a testoon: but they will not come
to receive the body and blood of Christ, the food and nourishment of
their souls, to the augmentation and strength of their faith! Do they
not more regard now a testoon than Christ? But the cause which letteth
us from celebrating of the Lord's Supper, is this: we have no mind nor
purpose to leave sin and wickedness, which maketh us not to come to this
supper, because we be not ready nor meet to receive it. But I require
you in God's behalf; leave your wickedness, that ye may receive it
worthily, according to his institution. For this supper is ordained, as
I told you before, for our sake, to our profits and commodities: for if
we were perfect, we should not need this outward sacrament; but our
Saviour, knowing our weakness and forgetfulness, ordained this supper to
the augmentation of our faith, and to put us in remembrance of his
benefits. But we will not come: there come no more at once, but such as
give the holy loaves from house to house; which follow rather the custom
than any thing else. Our Saviour Christ saith in the gospel of St. John,
_Ego sum panis virus, qui de coelo descendi_; "I am the living bread
which came down from heaven." Therefore whosoever feedeth of our Saviour
Christ, he shall not perish; death shall not prevail against him: his
soul shall depart out of his body, yet death shall not get the victory
over him; he shall not be damned. He that cometh to that marriage, to
that banquet, death shall be unto him but an entrance or a door to
everlasting life. _Panis quem ego dabo caro mea est_; "The bread that I
will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." As
many as will feed upon him, shall attain to everlasting life: they shall
never die; they shall prevail against death; death shall not hurt them,
because he hath lost his strength. If we would consider this, no doubt
we would be more desirous to come to the communion than we be; we would
not be so cold; we would be content to leave our nau