History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin. Vol. 3 (of 8)Merle d'Aubigné, J. H. (Jean Henri)
History
History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin. Vol. 3 (of 8)
Merle d'Aubigné, J. H. (Jean Henri)
Reformation
'O earth! why openest thou not to swallow up these horrible blasphemers?
O hateful men! Is that gnawed body really the body of Jesus Christ, the
Son of God?... Would the Lord suffer Himself to be eaten by mice and
spiders? He who is the bread of angels and of all the children of God,
has been given us to feed vermin? Him, who is incorruptible, at the
right hand of God, will you make liable to worms and rottenness? Did not
David write the contrary, prophesying his own resurrection?... Wretches!
were there no other evil in all your infernal theology than the
irreverence with which you speak of the precious body of Jesus, are you
not blasphemers and heretics?... yea, the greatest and most enormous the
world has ever seen.
'Kindle, yes, kindle your faggots, but let it be to burn and roast
yourselves.... Why should you kindle them for us? Because we will not
believe in your idols, in your new Gods, in your new Christs, who let
themselves be eaten by vermin, and in you also, who are worse than
vermin.
'What mean all these games you play round your God of dough, toying with
him like a cat with a mouse? You break him into three pieces ... and
then you put on a piteous look as if you were very sorrowful; you beat
your breasts ... you call him the Lamb of God, and pray to him for
peace. St. John showed Jesus Christ ever present, ever living, living
all in one—an adorable truth! but you show your wafer divided into
pieces, and then you eat it, calling for something to drink.... What
would any man say who had never witnessed such monkey tricks?... Did St.
Paul or St. John ever eat Christ in that manner? and would they
acknowledge such mountebanks as the servants of God?
'Finally the practice of your mass is very contrary to the practice of
the Holy Supper of Jesus Christ!... Certainly, there is no marvel in
that, for there is nothing common between Christ and Belial.
'The Holy Supper of Jesus Christ reminds us of the great love with which
He loved us so that He washed us in His blood. It presents to us on the
part of the Lord the body and blood of His Son, in order that we should
communicate in the sacrifice of His death, and that Jesus should be our
everlasting food. It calls us to make protest of our faith, and of the
certain confidence we have of being saved, Jesus having ransomed us. By
giving to all of us only one bread it reminds us of the charity in which
we, being all of the same spirit, ought to live. That Holy Supper, being
thus fully understood, rejoices the believer's soul, in all humility,
and imparts to him all gentle kindness and loving charity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account