me to the contrary, and taught me more obeishe to God, than to man. And I suppose of our pope that he will not be Antichrist, and reverse ’ Christ in this working, to the contrary of Christ’s wil. For if he summons against reason, by him or any of his, and pursue this unskilful summoning, he is an open Antichrist. And merciful intent exused not Peter that not Christ clepid^ him Sathan: so blind intent and wicked counsel exuses not the pope here, but if he ask of true priests that they travel more than they may, ‘tis not exused by reason of God that nor he is Antichrist. For our belief teaches us that our blessed God suffers us not to be tempted more than we may; how should a man ask such service? And therefore pray we to God for our pope Urban the Sixth, that his holy intent be not quenched by his enemies. And Christ, that may not lie, says that the enemies of a man be especially his homely emeinth, and that this is soth of men and fiends.

[obedience. This sentence points to the impaired health of the Reformer. He died two years later. called. family. truth.]

Confession of Wycliffe Concerning the Eucharist

I ACKNOWLEDGE that the sacrament of the autar is very God’s body in form of bread; but itis in another manner God’s body than it is in heaven. For.in heaven it is sene fote, in form and figure of flesh and blood: but in the sacrament, God’s body is the miracle of God in form of bread: and is he nouther of sene fote, nor in man’s figure, but as a man leeves for to think the kind of an image, whether it be of oak or of ash, and sets his thought in him in whom is the image: so much more should a man leave to think on the kind of bread but think upon Christ; for his body is the same bread that is the sacrament of the autar, and with all cleness, all devotion, and all charity that God would give him worship he Christ, and then he receives God ghostly more meedfully than the priest, that sings the mass in less charity. For the bodily eating profits not to the soul, but inasmuch as the soul is fed with charity. This sentence is proved by Christ that may not lie. Foras the Gospel says, Christ, that night that he was betrayed of Judas Iscariot, he took bread in his hands, and blessed it, brake it, and gave it to his disciples to eat. For he says, and may not lie, —” This is my body.”

[seven.? neither. ceases. 4 purity. profitably.]


← 18. VI. Letter of Wycliffe in Excuse to · Contents · 20. VIII. Confession on the Eucharist →