Babington - Houston-Packer Collection BV4655 .B23 1615

14 QuefIions and AnCTJeres i. Commando fit downe to cote, but, either the good man of the houfe. or he that was Primaritt inmenfa, that is the chicle man at the Table, did take either the bread or the cup in hand, and fo holding it, prayed vnto the Lord, that he would youchfafe to bleffe them and thofe his good gifts, which then they were about to receiue at his mer- Luk rz,TO, cifull hand. Likewjfe after meats they gave him thanks for it. Hence commeth the mention of taking the cup twife by our Saviour Chrifi in Luke, the former ta- king was this laying of grace and giuing of thankes which I fpeake of; the other r4, rg, Mark.e, a t, was the celebration of his Supper. How euen of purpofe alfo doth the ,Euangelift Mark.14.16. mention this fame prattife Rill in Chrift , fometimes faying when they had lung a Pfalme, fometimes when he had giuen thanks, &c. alto to teach vs,that every fuch precept and pratlife lhall condemne vs, if we doe not the like.. And truelyif then and women would looke into their hearts, and not flatter themfeluesin dangerousfecuritie, and would euen fay to themfelues, why doe I notfay grace , or caufe it to be faid in that place where I am chiefe, and ought to doe it,what thinkeyouwould theyfinde to be the true caufe indecde? Certainly nothing but fhame and bafhfulneffe, becaufe it bath not beene vied. But 0 feare- full fhame, that fhameth to doe Gods Commaundemt nts, and confequently ma- . kethvseate our owne damnation ,the creatures being notfanótified vnto vs, And O damnable following of our wicked cuftome , and leaning the cuftome of Chrift and his children. GO D in mercie awake vs. For affuredly wee little RÓr .s6. know what wee doe , when wee pretermit and fhame to doe this duetic to the Lord. Qefl. 7ou haue well fatisfied mee touching thenecefsitie ofthis dutie, and now aske you another quefiion , whether wee may not alfogiue thankes to men, but, whatfoeoeer they fay ordoeto vs, yea if they drtnke but to vs at the Table, wee muß fay, 1 thank_ - GOD? e/1nfw. Truly to be perfwaded that any kindneffe or good can come to vs by men and from men, ' whereof our mercifull GOD is not the fender andgiver, working by thofe inftruments , were very wicked and horrible : but for the phrafe of fpeech, my heart knowing GOD to be the Author, I may well and lawfully vfe it to the inftrument no doubt, and fay, I thanke you, at any time or vpon any occafion,, when I reape the benefit oftheir'loue, and by name vpon fuch occaton as you named. And this I take to be warranted by the praóiifc of Paul, who no doubt in heart knew GOD to be Author of all his good, and yet arc his words direéted to the inllrcmeuts. greet Pri[cilla and Aquila, faith hee, my f llowhelpers in Chriff le(iu. Which home for mylifc lad downetheirneeke ,onte' whom not oneyI aisle thank!, but alfoall theChurches ofthe Gentiles. `lueft. e4syouhauefäidofthe other duties, foI take itin this alfo : namely, that what- faeuerisrontrarieoragasnftst, is as wellforbidden vs by thisfrrftcommaundement, esthisiss commanded. Anfw. It is very true. Both the pretermiffion of thankes for any goodneffe vp- onbodie or mind,our felues or ours, temporall or eternall beftowed by the Lord, as an the afcribing ofit to our felues, our wit, our ftrength, policies friends, or any thing, it is horrible,and a breach of this Commaundement,Thou fbalt haue none other Gods but me. íq elf. Thus reft I inferu/tedmore than I was touching this commandment, the farfl' s ofall the ten. And only I could waft, :fyou might, that you would /bewme fame way bow profitably to examine mine ovine heart touching this Law, and how.wuh my fel fe I might meditate %pon it fruitefully, and withfeeling. Anf. Indeede your requeft bath greate profit init, and that courfeorpra /hife yeenow delire; (hall any man or woman finde veriefruitefull, if they docvfe it. For euen as in earthlymatters our affe &ion and loue cleaueth fafleft to them, and in greateft extremities haue brought vs helpe and cafe, and as there is nothing that

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