oculis in â—elâ— lifting vp his eies to heaueÌ„ And Eterni Of the euerlasting Also MisteriuÌ„ Fidei The misterie of the fayeth But these are maters of smal weight thei leaue vnsaid wordes of grater importauÌ„ce which is Quod pro nobiâ— tradâ—tur aut frangitur That shal be deliuered or broken for you And meÌ„s eares are stopped with plaing one the organs descante songes When these wordes are spoken leaste they shoulde doubte in any thynge that is saide If the people remembre christes passioÌ„ at the time the priestes are not thankes worthie for they shoulde boeth remeÌ„bre the wordes of the passion and also giue thankes to God for the same but they shall not do so if the priestes can let theÌ„ It is therfore manyfest that the papistes folowe not Christes example in the supper at theyr popishe Masse yet they saye there Masse is holie wheÌ„ there is nothinge more vnhollye They bragge that saynte Iames dyd vse thys Masse at Ierusalem Saynte Marke at Alexandria and Saynte Peter at Antioche but they haue no historie toucheinge thys matter worthy credite Though they vsed our lordes supper as Christe oure mayster dyd and as S Paule also at Corinth yet they dyd not vse it as the pynishe papistes do now the Masse That Ignatius Policarpe Ireneus make mencion of is not like this popishe masse Thei confesse that Basilius Magnus IheroÌ„e Ambros vsede another order in the administracioÌ„ of our Lordes supper then is nowe vsed and that diuerse haue vsed diuerse facioÌ„s therin by ther own wordes Therfore it is manifeste that this kind of massinge is not the ordinaunce of Christe but inuented by mans wyt and policie without the worde of God And nowe I wyll declare by the testimonie of aunciente histories what popes and wheÌ„ they patchilde together this beggerlye Masse of theires ☞ Halowing of aultares and temples ¶ Felix frist pope of that name coÌ„maunded temples and aultars to be hallowed in the yere of oure Lorde God cclxix ☞ Aulters ¶ â—erâ—us firste of that name ordeined aulters and Sayntes in the yere of oure Lorde Cxxiiii ☞ Aultar clothes ¶ Boniface commauÌ„ded aultares to be couered with fyne linnen cloth in the yere of our Lord. cccx Chalices ¶ Vrban and Seuerine ordeined challices of goulde and siluer in the yere of our Lorde ccxv ☞ Albes and corporasses â–ª ¶ Siluester dyd ordayne albes and corporasses in the yere of our Lord. cccxiii ☞ Candeles and ornamentes ¶ Gregory dyd ordayne lyght at masse certaine Ornamentes in the yere of our Lord. ccccclxxxxii ☞ Procession ¶ Agabetus dyd ordayne procession on Sondayes aboute the churche in the yere of oure Lorde cccccxxxii ☞ Holly water ¶ Alexander did ordeine water to be mingled wyth wyne vnleuened breade and holly water in the yere of our Lord. cxii ☞ Confiteor and the office ¶ Pontianus ordeined CoÌ„fiteor before masse in the yere of our Lord. ccxxv And Selestinus the office in the yere of our lord ccccxxiiii ☞ Kyrie eleison Gregori dyd ordayne Kyrie eleson at Masse in the yere of oure Lorde ccccclxxxxii ⧠Gloria in excelsis Telesphorus made Gloria inexcelsis in the yere of our lord cxxix ⧠Collectes and grayle Gelasius made the Collectes Preface and graile in the yere of our Lord. CCCC lxxxx Anastasius ordeined that we shoulde stande when the Gospell is read in the yere of oure Lorde CCCCix Martine made the Crede in the yere of oure Lord cccxxxiiii ¶ The canon is patched together of many and therefore one seÌ„tence is repugnauÌ„t wyth an other many superstouse wordes are in it they call vpon certayne peculiare Sayntes in it And offer for soules in purgatorie thei blesse crosse as if greate vertue and powere were therin and reade nothinge so reuerently as this theyr clouted canon Gregory made the Offertorye Damasus gloria patri They caÌ„ not therfore saye that they minister the sacramentes of oure Lordes supper as the apostles dyd wheÌ„ their doctrine is repugnauÌ„te coÌ„trarie one to a nother Thys is sufficiente to proue that the Masse should be abhorred because it doth laye for mens consience snares of meÌ„s tradicioÌ„s Thei wil haue the priestes to be as the priestes of the olde lawe bring shadows in tyme of light stretching out the armes deuidinge the hostes and such other Ieuish customes It was therfore the dyueles deuise to brynge into the churche suche lewde lawes for the true liuing worde of God If circumcision hurteth as S. Paule witnesseth who can denye that the priesthod of AroÌ„ varietie of ornamentes and anoyntynge do nothinge auaile and profite in thys tyme of the newe law Much lesse profite is therfore receyued of mans inuentions and vayne dreames that kepe men occupied from the exercise of true godlines humilitie of minde And excite mens hertes wyth singynge and organplayng to acertayne carnall delite and pleasure rather theÌ„ to the true glory of god as dyd the groue which was by the temple of Ierusalem albeit therefore these cerimonies are glisterynge in meÌ„s eis yet they are vile and of no reputacion before Christ who requireth not the visour and shadow of a thyng but the veri thing it selfe the masse therfore which was ordiened and constituted of Antichrist and maintayned of his most best assured adherentes is an abominacion before God throughe this externe pompe and suche other thinges afore rehersed Finally they fere not to saye that Christes bodie is offered in the masse I wyll not contende and stryue wyth them if they take this word offer to signifie remembre accordinge to the sence and meanynge of Christes wordes albeit the ministers alone pronouÌ„ce and speake these wordes Yet such thaÌ„kes giuing and remembraunce belongeth not only to them alone but also to the whole congregacion We deny not that the Doctoures called the Masse an offeringe whiche is the remembrauÌ„ce of an offering once made as Sainte Augustine doeth playnely declare sayeinge in thys offering is thaÌ„kes giuing and remembraunce of Christes bodie and bloude which he offered and shede for vs But the papistes are not pleased wyth this offering for they wil haue a greater offring which is an offering represeÌ„tatiue when Christe dyed once for euer and caÌ„ die nomore They saye that these wordes do thys in my remeÌ„braunce signifie the consecracion offering and remeÌ„brauÌ„ce but this is a faulsely deuised and forgide interpretation For Christe at hys holly and Sacrete supper Tooke breade and gaue thankes brake it and gaue it to his disciples Commaundynge them to eate and in like wyse the wyne TheÌ„ he preached to them hys death and passion that they shoulde do after hys example wyth a sincere true fayth and there is not one Iotte that can proue the administracioÌ„ of this most blessed sacramente to be an offering represeÌ„tatiue of Christ his owne offering and althoughe Christ woulde haue had his bodie present bodily in this breade yet in no wise his wordes signifie the he offered him selfe
ought to be offred no more For Christes death is so perfect a sacrifice that by the one offering we are made cleane from sinne for euer And touchinge his bodie he is no more in thys worlde There is to be noted that Saynt Paule sayeth that Christe is once offered The papistes saye often He saieth all thinges are cōsummate made perfecte by one sacrifice The papistes wil haue moneie masses Note also that Christe offered hym selfe and so dyd not the churche byshopes nor priestes and thys worde cōsummate or made perfecte doeth blanke them that they haue nothing to answere for the holy gost confuteth theyr sophistrie and cauilacions wyth so manifeste and playne argumentes as can not be denied Note also thys worde euerlastinge Christe is an euerlastynge prieste for he made satisfaction for all the synne of the whole worlde and this sacrifice hath a continuall efficacitie and vertue in all thē that beleue in it and shew it forth wyth thākes giuinge for the same It is truely a great vnthākfulnes to say it is necessarie to offer christ againe an other waye for the sinnes of the worlde They seke manye euations to defende their often offring One is thys they say Christ offreth hym selfe Sacramentally thei are but ministres But thei declare not this worde sacrament what thyng it is leste they should vtter the truth The sacrament is no nother thynge then a token for vs to remembre that Christ being an only sacrifice toke awaye oure synnes once on the crosse If they woulde declare it after thys sorte we shoulde sone agre But when no man doeth resiste them herein they maye doo wyth there Masse what so euer pleaseth them They rule fortune at theyr owne pleasure Victorie in battaile is optained bi their Masse satisfaction for sinne what thinge is it that the Masse cannot do And they make theyr bostes that they deserue by this holi worke what thing so euer is needful But whē they are put to there answer thē thei fly to this euaciō afore reherssed Christe offereth hym selfe therin we are nothynge elles but ministers theyr cannon which they magnifie and extoll aboue the gospell doeth manifestlie opē and detecte theire vngodlines and blasphemi for before they come to the consecracion thei saye I offre presente and gyue to God an holye and vndefiled sacrifice for the peace of the whole congregacion of holly churche when as it is nothynge but breade and wyne And it is named the sacrament And albeit they beliue that it is not then oure Lordes bodye yet they offer it fore all the world This must nedes be plaine Idolatrie to gyue to breade and wyne the honour and glorie of Christe who gaue hymselfe for the church to reconsile and make hys father atone wyth vs. Howe can Christe offer offre himselfe in the sacrament before he is ther I thinke men maye nowe easlye perceyue howe muche their lies and answere differ frōe their dedes and masses What an heinouse offence is thys to offre a peice of breade a litle wine for the onely Sacrifice of Christe the highe prieste And shal the bread and wyne be of lyke efficacitye and power to redeme synne with the bloud of Iesus Christe But they are muche more blasphemouse after the consecracion sayng that the bread and wyne are tourned into the naturall bodye and bloude of Christ for they saye we offre to thy holly maiestye an holly offeringe holy breade of lyfe euerlasting and cup of euerlastynge health whiche we praye the vochsafe to regarde and loke vpon wyth thy moste merciful eies and cherful countenaūce and let them be as acceptable to the as the reward of rightuouse Able sacrifice of our father Abrahā Make thē an hollye cleane sacrifice that thei may be brought to thin altar by the handes of the angel These are the wordes of the cānon If they speake of Christe as they cōmōly vnderstād it how cā their Imaginacion take place where they saye that Christe offred hym selfe in the sacramente For they praie for Christe and desire of god that he maye be in suche fauoure wyth God as Abel and Abraham and that the Angell maye brynge hym to the aultar of god For they cā not take bread of eternal life to signifie the people although christ were in the breade bodelye yet he shoulde not be offered to God for that were great derogaciō to the honour of hys priesthod Great in conuenience doeth folowe to saye that the Masse is a sacrifice for sinnes For saynt Paule sayeth forgiuenes of synnes is not without sheddinge of bloude Howe is Christ then offered in the Masse when there is no offeringe wythout bloude for if there be any sacrifice that suffereth not and is without bloude Saynt Paules Argumētes are folishe and of no strength or vertue saying Christ offreth hymselfe no more or elles he muste necessarily dye once agayne and must haue died oftentymes sens the begininge of the worlde But vndoubtly S Paul doeth knowe the true sence and meaneinge of holly scripture better thē any of al the papistes For a sacrifice for sinne is neuer offred without bloud This saying therfore that some thing was offered in the olde lawe as breade wythout bloude maketh nothinge for there purpose For when the bodyes of lyuinge creatures are slayne and sacrifice is offered for sinnes bloude must be shed Thei cannot therefore proue by scripture that Christes bloude is offered in the Masse otherwyse then in remembraunce and thankes giuing And thys is done both of the ministers and receiuours For as prayer so thankes giuing also belongeth to al men He that geueth thankes sayeth not I offer any thing more than a thanfull herte and prayse to God If the people were taught thys doctrine They woulde not bestowe somuch monie on masses and vpō the foūdacions of chauntries and fraternities as they haue done throughe persuacion that remission of synnes is obtayned in the Masse not by grace promised to them that beleue but by offering of Christe the sonne of God and by prayeinge for hym Phie I am ashamed to rehersse thys abominable balasphemie of theirs in maters of God The papistes in as muche as in them lyeth kill and crucifie Christe agayne in there sacrifice of the Masse doinge no other wyse then if Christe as yet were not ascended into heauen to hys father he that doeth thys maketh Christe subiecte to death and crucifieth hym agayne For Christe entred not nor entreth in to the hollye place of heauen but by his bloud Let vs labour that Christ maye dwell in oure hertes They obeicte the if it be derogacion to Christes honour and dignitie and that the merite of hys passion be not perfecte because we offer Christe agayne fayeth Baptisme and kepinge of godes commaundementes maye diminishe the dignitie of Christe and full merites of his passion and therefore it should not nede to do any good workes This is a folish and an vnmete comparisiō The offeringe verely of
disobedient children that wyll take counsayle wythout me and wyll take asecerete aduise and not out of my spirite therefore adde they sinne vnto sinne and Christ saith Math. vi in vaine do they serue me teachinge the doctrines and preceptes of men the proude herted Iewes did stande so well in there owne conceite for their tradicions and inuentions that for loue thei had to them they dispised hated and at last killide oure maister Christ Iohn xxi our aduersaris dare saye that Christ and the apostles taught manye thynges whyche are not wryten in the scripture and that Christe sayed hys Disciples coulde not beare awaie al that he had taught thys cauil repungnauÌ„t to the true vnderstandinge of the scripture maye be an occasion and cause of greate errours for there wyth all lyes and herisies maye be confirmed they will saye albeit it is not written yet the appostles taught it by worde of mouth and also the scriptures of God shoulde be an vnperfecte doctrine which thyng to offâ—râ—ne is blasphemie agaynste the holy gost considering that theÌ„ all the doctrine of our fayth should be put in question Therefore surly so muche is contayned in holye scripture as is necessary vnto saluacion to eueri one that beleueth They saye coulde the churche erre so longe time as it hath If youre doctrnie be true the true churche hath not errede whiche hath the word of god only The church verely must be tried by the worde of God and not the worde of god by the churche whether the churche that beleueth be of manye or of fewe for the churche is knoweÌ„ by the frutes and not because it coÌ„sisteth of many and hath her begynynge of the worde of God and her frutes are tried by the worde whether the true christan churche brought them forth or no if it be the true christen churche Iohn â— she heareth no nother voice but Christes her shepherde and brydgrome whiche the appostles preached to the church and if an angel came out of heauen teaching any other doctrine then thys let hym Gala. i. be accurssed if we loue and folow the doctrine that Christe taught and beinge hys disciples we shal not be excluded frome the true churche so longe as we kepe wyth vs the worde of God But he is puffed vp wyth pryde and doeth i. Timo. vi knowe nothinge at al that wil not obey the word of God he therfore which doth knowe nothinge can not teache vs religion and the true worshippinge of god if the Masse be vsede as it hath ben hitherto it can in no wyse agree wyth the worde of God but is so muche repugnaunt as what thing is most The Masse therfore is a diuilishe Idolatrie and detestable abominacion against God and the maynteners therof shal incurre his displeasure for euer thys thyng we wil proue two waies first because the popishe Masse is vsed in nothinge lyke the supper that Christ ordeined and differeth nolesse froÌ„ it then blacke to white they synne therefore so griuouslye as dyd Achas the made an aultar at Ierusalem iii. ReguÌ„ xvi lyke that which was at DamascoÌ„ and caste the aultare of god out of the temple so they haue lest the true vse of oure Lordes supper And in stede of it haue instituted and ordeinede the Masse of theyr owne folishe deuise and oppinion which is a great and blasphemouse abominacioÌ„ before god Moreouer we wyll proue by ther erroures and abusinge of the masse whyche they call an offeringe for the quicke and deade that it is an horible abominacion for if the Masse were ordeined of Christe which is faulse yet by there abusinge of it they woulde make it a blasphemouse heinous abominacion before god vndoubtedly we ought to folowe truely and sencelye that thynge whiche is absolutly Deut. vi sufficient of it selfe alredie Firste let vs consyder and expende the maner and order that Christe vsed at the institucion of thys holly and sacrete supper and then we wyll confer the abuse with the truth But we ought to learne all these thynges of the Euangelistes and of Saynte Paule and of none other Verely the true Masse which is worthy al kindes of praieses is the Masse which Christe ordeyned at hys laste supper before he shoulde suffere Luk xxii for when the houre was come he sate downe and the twelue appostles wyth hym and he sayed vnto theÌ„ I haue inwardly desired to eate thys passeouer wyth you before that I suffer for I say vnto you hence furth I wil not eate of it any more vntyll it be fulfilled in the kingdome of God and he toke the cup and gaue thaÌ„kes and saied take this and deuid it amonge you for I saye vnto you â— will not drinke of the frut of the vine vntyll the kingdom of god come and he toke breade and when he hadde giuen thankes he brake it and gaue it vnto theÌ„ saying this is my bodye whiche is giuen for you thys do in remembrauÌ„ce of me Like wyse also wheÌ„ he had supped he toke the cup sayinge thys cupe is the newe testament in my bloude whiche is shed for you These wordes Sainte Luke Luk. xxii Math. xxvi writeth the other euangelestes wrytte the same but they differ in some wordes as Math sayed Drinke all of thys for thys is my bloude whiche is the newe testamente that is shed for manie for Mat. xiiii the remission of synnes and saint Marke sayth they al dranke of it meaninge the cup. Saint Paule doth expounde Christes wordes sayinge thys doo as ofte as you drinke it in remembraunce of me for as often tymes as you shall eate thys breade and drinke thys cup ye shall shewe furth the Lordes death tell he come but let a man examyne him selfe and so let hym eate of the breade and drinke of the cup Saint Iohn doeth not declare the ordinaunce of thys sacrament But he teacheth from the .xiii. Iohn .xiii. xiiâ—â— xv xvii xviii Cap. to the .xviii. how Christ did vse his supper and what he did at it he washed hys disciples fete he preached to theÌ„ and commaunded them to be in charitie he exhorted them to pacience he strengthend confirmed and establyshed their fayth towarde god and praied for them to hys father but especially he rebuked Iudas the traitor S. Paule sayth we beinge many are one breade and one bodye in Cor. â— so muche we all are partetakers of one breade and the Euangelistes reporte that Christe dyd finishe hys holy supper wyth thankes geueyng The some and grounde of the hole matter proponed coÌ„sisteth in the sentences of scripture nowe rehersed but because Christ sayth serch the scripture we therfore Iohn v. wil are counsaile of the word of God in other plases and debate howe the Lordes supper ought to be vsede let vs first deuide thes questions into foure partes firste some thinges are common both to the ministre and receiuour of the Sacrament moreouer some thinges
belonge only to the ministers thyrdly some thynges perteyne to the receyuer onely and finally some thinges must be obserued in the sacramente alone First let vs expende and consider what is the dutes of the ministers and laitie together at this holly supper Christ was the minister and the .xii. aposteles were the receyuers laitie Luke .xxii. for S Luke sayth wheÌ„ the houre was come Christ and the .xii. apostles i. Co. xiiii sate downe to be an exaÌ„ple to vs to do all thynges in the coÌ„gregacion wyth comlynes and order For we se that Christ obserued boeth tyme place but yet those ought not to be vnderstanded that we shall leaue the true meanynge and folowe the bare letter the tyme and place was most myte for hym to go about that godly worke and thankes giuinge boeth because the easter lamb ought to be eaten in the euening the night of Christs passion was at haÌ„d but it is most mete to vs to minister that sacrameÌ„t before dinner that the laitie shall receyue it standyng and not sittyng also that it be broken in two pieces before the administracioÌ„ to the laitie not when it is ministred for the euangelistes commaunded and decrered nothynge in these externe thynge but an honeste order for it is vnpossible that we shoulde do and obserue the selfe same order of receyueinge the sacramente that the apostles dyd for theÌ„ no mo then xii should receyue it at once And hat of one minister it should also be recyued in the euening Moreouer Christ did eate the easter lambe with his disciples and refused that bodily meat and drinke saying he would eate nomore of that vntyl it were Luke xxii fulfilled in the kingdome of God nor dryncke of the fruite of the vine vntyl the kingedome of God come that we after hys example shoulde neythere seke for a carnall supper to fyll the belly nor be addicte giuen to the obseruauÌ„ce of the Iuishe cerimonies and shadowes of the truth but that with an vnfayned fayth we shoulde which thankes giuing receyue the spirituall fode in the worde and promisses of God Also both the minestres and receiuers ought to come to the Lordes table in charitie proteste true mutuall loue one to an other for Saint Iohn sayeth Christe dyd ernestly preache charite Iohn xxiii xiiii xv xvi xvii to his disciples and loued theÌ„ to the ende for we beinge one congregacion are membres of one body bretherne in dede by Christ For as saint Paule sayth though i. Cor. x. we be manie yet are we one bodie when we are partakers of one breade finally it is mete that one tarie for anothere excepte some matter of greate importaunce let vs and that we coÌ„tinue in praier to th ende Iudas alone departied awaye before the other to his own destruction Saint Paule saieth bretherne wheÌ„ you come together â— Cor xi to eate let one tarie for annother and if any man be huÌ„grie let hym Math. xxvi Marâ— xiiii eate at home Saynte Mathewe and Saint Marke saye that after they had sayed grace thei weÌ„t vp into the hyll of Oliues Nowe let vs learne what is the function and office of the minister and stuard of the misteries of God thys we are taught of Christ him selfe in the administracion of the sacrameÌ„t to hys disciples wherein dyuers and suÌ„dri thinges are to be diligeÌ„tly noted obserued First howe he dyd gyue hym selfe to al hys disciples and ministers and in especially to the preachers beinge an example in washinge of theyr fete that they should do the same and be prompte and redy at all tymes to minister and do seruice to eueri man Moreouer here is to be noted that Christe dyd willingelye and of purpose shone and abhorre al externe and outwarde pompes and soleÌ„ne sightes that he might printe in oure hertes thynges of greater importaunce also wheÌ„ he had washed theire feete he went agayne to the table and put on Iohn xiii hys accustomed rament teaching hys disciples â–ª by thys example to go about suche thinges as ought to be most chifflye regarded for he then ernestly preached the Gospell admonished and rebuked Iudas the teaytoure and taught his disciples to be in charitie pacience and hope of thynges to come so Iohn xvi plainely manifestlie that they sayd you speake not nowe in parables Note also that Christe gaue Math. xvi thankes to God the father before he gaue the sacrament to hys disciples exhortynge them to remeÌ„bre i. Cor xii and shewe furth thereby hys passion vntill he come Finally he callyd vpon hys father wyth a feruent Iohn xvii desire and prayed for all theÌ„ that beliue Nowe touchinge the Iohn xvii receyuers of oure Lordes supper they gaue greate attendaunce to the word doctrine of Christ and wyth obedience receyued the sacrament of the body and bloude of Christe Saynt Marke sayeth they al dyd drinke by hys sayinge no man is excepted Finally let vs expende consider of what thing Marâ— xiiii the sacramente is made vndoubtedly it is made of breade wyne the worde for there cannot be the sacrament of oure Lordes supper where any of these lacketh Christ verely toke materiall breade and wyne chosinge them for the vse of the sacrament we reade not that he toke water grapes or any such other thynge and he sayede these wordes Thys is my bodie which shal be gyuè for you and thys cup Luke xxii is the newe testamente in my blould whiche shal be shed for you by these wordes the bread wyne are made the sacrameÌ„t holly tokeÌ„s of Christes body bloud these wordes offer to vs the promesses of the Ioyful Gospel which if we receiue with a true faith we eate spiritually in spirit the fleshe bloud of christ therby obtain life eternal The sacrament is like a writen Testament that promiseth great gyftes and is sealed wyth two seales that ought to be kepte hole vnbrokeÌ„ if all these thynges afore rehersed were obserued and kepte then the Lordes supper should be truely vsed the Masse as they cal it should perfectlie be holy for god praised therin would regard it we should receyue of it great frutes goodnes for therebye we are enstructed to beleue in god loue oure neighboure excludinge all sedicion and disobedieÌ„ce that peace pacience and concorde may take place and rule againste thys doctrine nothinge can be proued and debated by the holy scripture for it is grounded on moste sure principles and fundacion referringe all thynges to fayeth and â— Ti. i. Iohn i. â—i iii. iiii v. charitie by the which two al thinges ought to be tried paraduenture they wyll answere that noman can finde faulte wyth oure sayeinge but yet it is expediente to Ioyne other ceremonies wyth the approued vse in the administracion of thys sacrament of our Lordes supper as haue been vsed hitherto and so the hollye thynge
therefore he offered breade and wyne vndoubtedly Melchsedech was the figure of Christe but Saynt Paule manifestly declareth in what thynges he was the figure of Christ In the rehersinge of the honours and dignitye of Melchisedech whiche is that he was an eternall prieste and kynge of peace and ryghtuousnes Ther is not one worde of the offeringe of bread and wyne They cānot finde in the boke of Genesis that Melchisedech dyd sacrifice to God but that he offered breade and wyne to Abrahame for sustenaūce of his people as Christe offered to vs hys worde Melchisedeche broughte breade and wyne and Abrahame payed hym tythes Christe after the same sorte gaue vs the sacrament of his bodye and bloude but he dyd not offer it to God The scripture shewith forth Melechisedech vnder the figure of an eternal an only prieste But the papistes appointe othere priestes to be Christes viccars after his ascēciō in to heauē If a mā shoulde agre wyth them the Christe offered to God breade and wyne yet they cannot proue that he killed hym selfe in sacrifice vnder bread and wyne Also if Christ offered nothyng but breade wine the priestes of the olde lawe dyd muche better in kyllinge of liuing creatures to offer them in sacrifice The papistes cannot tell what to saye and whan they brynge authoritie of scripture it maketh agaynste them and are confuted wyth there owne sayinges as one that is slayne with his owne weapon Moreouer they brynge suche places of scripture as speake of mele and vnleuened breade as of the breade that was euer stādinge one the table of the vnleuened bread and two loues of the first fruites Also where they are iudged holye because they offer to the Lorde an host of bread chiefeli thei make great bragges of the sayinge of Malachias a cleane host is offered to my name in all places for my name is magnified among the gentiles And in what place so euer they fynde the offering of breade and wyne they apply it to signifie the bodely offeringe of Christe in the Masse They beleue that they cannot er and that these dreames are confirmed by the law prophesiyng therby as they did of purgatorie that wher soeuer they sound this word fiere written in the byble they applyed it to signifie purgatory as they do in thys mater when they can bring no probable reason that Christes bodye ought to be offerd in the Masse And whē they find any mencion of bloude and other sacrifices they wraste thē to Christes bodie takynge witnesse of the olde doctours when thei no better vnderstande them then they doo the byble Nowe we wyll briefely make answer to theyr allegations and declare the true maintenaūce of such places as they alledge to make for theyr purpose And firste we wyl declare the saiyng of Malachias whereby it maie be perceiued what the other places signifie He rebuked the I wishe priestes who gaue them selues all together to couetuousnes when they shoulde haue occupied them selues to offer a pure people to the Lorde and to fassion there maners after gods commaundementes as the Chapiter folowinge doeth testifye They oughte to haue taught the people godlines and all kyndes of vertue but they fed the people with foleshe and vayne tradicons of men offered to the Lord an vngodly people folishe herted Here is named the filthye breade the blind lame and broken sacrifice They maye perceiue that the vncleane bread can not signifie the pure bodie of Christ that breade and sacrifice therfore doeth signifie the people as saynt Paule sayeth we are one breade and one bodye and that he doeth seruice to God in preachinge the Gospell to make the Gentiles an acceptable sacrifice to God Whē the priestes therefore made an vngodlye and sinfull people by there doctrine and euill example God rebuked them and thretneth that he woulde ordeyne other priestes in theyr stead that shoulde offer a pure Sacrifice not only amonge the Iewes but also a monges the gentiles that is to saye they should enstructe the people wyth true godlines and wyth true honoure and worship of god He therfore dyd prophesy of the priestes whiche shoulde come to offer sacrifice of iustice that is to say the holye apostles and all other faythful ministers of gods word And therfore the people of God whiche is Christes spiritual bodie is brough and offered by their doctrine to God as S. Paule sayeth I haue spoused the Corinthi to Christe meaning no other thinge by these words but that by his preaching and miracles he hath brought and offered in sacrifice to god the Gentiles whiche were before carnal and fleshly mynded And therfore Ro. xii be exorteth the Romains thorowe the mercie of God to gyue theyr bodies to be aliuely facrifice Iohn iiii holly and acceptable to God The people of God is spirituallye the meate which Christe desired most and are the twelue loues of swete breade whiche beinge conuerted by the preachinge of the twelue apostles doeth continually appere before the face of God These are the true preistes And the they maye bringe to effecte there enterprice it is mete that they be holly that is ▪ That they absteine frome all thynges that pluckethe them frō the true worshipping of god This breade is called somtyme vndefiled For christē mē ought to walke in the trueth wythout Hypocrisie and fayned lies and to be anoynted with oyle that is to saye wyth the grace of the hollye goste true charitie and mercie this is the true sence and meaninge of thys texte of scripture declared and proued by other plases of scripture But the papistes thoughe they alledge the doctors yet they can proue the meaning vnderstanding of this text by no place of al the scripture Beade in the scripture betokneth the word of God For Christ saith man doth not lyue onely by bread but euery word that procedeth from the mouth of god The priests ought sincerly to minister this breade to the people and in thys significacion the spirituall bread is not a sacrifice but the administracion of the word of the ministres of god This is the true manna angelles fode which was giuen to men frō heauē to be their sustenaūce By these thynges a man may easly perceiue what offeringe the Apostles and true priestes made Vndoubtly a faithful people whō they brought to god with holsome doctrine but they offered not the natural bodie of Christ after the opinion of these fleshly minded papistes for that were done to crucify christ againe Thei beleue Daniel his saying maketh muche for there purpose where he sayth that their daylie sacrifice called in 〈…〉 ▪ shoulde cease for aliene by this they vnderstand their Dayly sacrifice The Masse that nowe beginneth to cease this application is falsely deuised For the sacrifice that Daniel speake of was offered eueri day at two seueral Exod xxix times which was in the morning and euening that sacrifice with other I wyshe sacrifices ceassed when Christ the
good a countenaunce with as like fauour as Christ him self for there is like state of the hed and other membres For whoe dare eyther accuse or condemne them that God hath chosen them that god hath promysed iust and for whome Christe is medyator and intercessour They are clothed with Christe and all his garmentes wherfore as Iaacob pleased his father in Esau his steade hauīg on Esau his clothes Semblably wyll take vs for no true sonnes clothed with the righteousnesse of Christ and wyl geue vs the enheritaunce of his heauenlye kingdome with Iesu Christ hys sonne to whome be all honor and glory for euer and euer Amen Finis ¶ To the right worshipfull and his singuler good Master Siluester Butler George Bancrafte Wishethe prosperitye and healthe boeth of bodye and soule WHen I considered wyth my selfe the greate daūgerous abuses in the administracion of such sacramentes as our sauiour Iesus Christe left to his misticall bodie the churche of the fayethfull to be externe signes and tokens of suche giftes as God hath and doth dailie worcke in vs to his own glorie and saluacion of oure soules ▪ I can fynde perceiue and proue none to be somuche abused as the holy and sacret supper of our Lord. For wher as he ordined that holy sacramēt of his bodie and bloud to be eaten and dronken in remembraunce of his passion whose frute they taste therin which haue ther stedfaste fayth in hym And thereby shewe furth the Lordes death vntyll he come and as brede is made of many graines wyne of many grapes so the membres of the congregacion of Christes churche Haueinge one God one fayeth and one Baptisme are put in remēbraūce in eateinge and drinkinge that they are one bodie whereof Christe is the hed The beally bishopes of Babilon the Romishe Antichrist haue anullyd extripate cleane abolished the ordinaunce of Christ and vse of thappostelles in the administracion therof And haue of their owne brayne excogitated deuised and brought in to the churche a newe and straynge ordinaunce for the same whiche is as cōtrarie to christes wil and purpose touching that blessed supper as heauē to earth lyght to darknes lyfe to death and they call it the blessyd Masse but it maye be truely callyd a diluesh Masking for menes eies are masked there with that thei cannot se the trueth but through that detestable abominacion haue bene brought to moste miserable perdiciō for they applie it to souldyoures in war for faire weather and rayne for the plage pockes and suche other diseases for beastes sicke of the morren for preseruacion of health and for remissiō of synnes boeth for the quicke and deade I wyl not speake how God is mocked therin and Christe had in derision they pley booe pepe wyth seste me or seste me not My pene abhoreth to write what duckinge knellenge lickinge kissing or Crossing and breathing these diuilles apes haue deuised in thys whorishe Masse ther desguisinge In apparell at Masse hath picked manye a pore mannes purs and hath robbid theire soules of the true frutes of the spirite for al suche somes of monie that men shoulde haue bestowed on theire poure parentes childrē and nedie neighbours was to litle for their vestimētes albes stoles chalices corporaces aulter clothes Massbockes and suche other wherein Christe hath no delite for Christe and the Appostelles vsede none suche disguisynge in the admininistracion of thys blessid Sacrament of Christes bodie and bloud but were contendid with such ramente as they were accustomed daylye to were so these shameles Idolaters shewing them selues of what generacion they are dare so bouldlye face out such manifeste lyes agaynste gods glorye the plaine truth and ordinaunce of christ What shal I speake of these holi mumers I would haue saied holy Masse mongers that whan they here of any rich manes death they flocke together lyke rauennes to a dead Carrē Not to conforte them that mourne for the deade wyth hope of the resurrection of the fleshe not to gyue thankes to God for them that are departed in the fayeth of Christe nor to praye that we departinge in the same fayeth maye wyth them receyue like rewarde but to get money with Requiem eternā and pro quorum memoria corpus Christi sumitur with censing dashing of holy water such other lyke Iuglinges so that the ryght vse of it is cleane altered as thought christ had neuer ordeined it in remembraunce of his death and passion and for as much as in thys treatise folowinge the true vse of the Lordes supper and also the deuelishe patchinge of the popishe Masse is in fewe wordes liuely declared I haue thought it good to trāslate the same into the englishe tonge to the edifinge of my dere bretherne in Christ praiinge God the father of oure sauiour Iesus Christ that these thinges may shortlie be reformed that the pore flocke of Christ be nomore deceyuede wyth suche craftye conueiaunce to kepe them in cōtenual blinded for lucres sake to the great daunger of their soules and pernicious derogaciō of gods glorie to whome be honour and glorye for euer AMEN FOr asmuche as God hath commaunded vs by his Appostle i. Pet. iii. Peter Oh ye fathers of oure countrie in wysdome grauitie and godlines to be readie at all tymes to gyue an answere to euery mā that asketh vs a reson of oure fayth it is mete that we should more gladly answere to a questiō proponed beinge requirede of you oure moste Soueraigne Magistrates to whome we knowe also what is oure dutie in other thinges We haue affirmed and vpon sure grounde and reason proued in oure publike sermons that the popishe Masse is not an offering for the quicke and dead but a moste detestable abominaciō before god And therfore a man wyll not belyue how glad we are which loue the truthe that you oure moste prudent senatours require of vs an answer to thys question for we conceyue greate hope that God whyche moueth you to desire to atteine the knowledge of the light and truth wil of his infinite mercye encrese hys grace in you that after the example of the godlye kinges Ezechias and Iolias when the trueth diligently serched out and truly knowen you wyl take awaye abolishe and vtterlye distroye all such tradicions of man as are repugnante to the worde of God And al suche thynges as are taught and set fourth contrarie to the ordinaūce of god and holsome doctrine of Christe whiche thinges stire vp the anger and griuouse displeasure for God agaynste vs miserable creatures for in so doinge you shall norishe confirme and establishe peace vnitie and concorde in thys noble citie of Basell and bringe your subiectes to a sincere godly fourme of lyuinge that at the daie of Iudgement the bloud and condempnacion of moste detestable sinners shall not be required at your handes being oure Magistrates and gouerners but rather you shal be rewarded of God and receyue in thys worlde prayse and
incorporate to him by charitie and excoÌ„municate curse and suspen de them for not obseruyng some of theire vaine ceremonies wherein they breake charitie whiche ought chifely to remayne amonge them that are pertakers of the Lordes supper There is no true christen churche where charitie is not al that churche therefore wyth the Masse is obominable before god The praires of that congregacion are not harde of God whiche fereth not to coÌ„e to the coÌ„munioÌ„ of Esai i. Christes bodie bloud wyth hertes ful of enuye malice hatered and with haÌ„des ful of bloud finally if any thyng be abominable before god it is the masse for it oppresseth the christeÌ„ liberte it hath brough in a greate multitude of Iueshe Gala. iiii v. cereimonies and hath no regarde to christen charitie s Paule speakeing of the consciens exhorteth vs to persiste in libertie and suffer not oure selues to be leade vnder the yoke of boÌ„dage Also he teacheth vs that oure workes are vnprofitable without charitie Now let vs declare and opeÌ„ the abuses of the ministers we frely knoledg and confesse that al thoughe manye ministers of the sacramente be vnmete and reprouide of god throughe theyr abominable and vicious liuing yet the sacrameÌ„ts remayne sacramentes throughe the ministracion of the worde but thys we affirme that the vertue and efficacie of the sacramentes is not like neither the holy gost worketh like effect wheÌ„ a maÌ„ receiueth the sacramentes of an vngodlye and impudente sinner and when he receyueth them of agodlye and true christen man for albeit the sacramente is present yet ther is in it neither grace nor vertue for both the sinner he that coÌ„seÌ„tth are equallie punished as both the byeres and sellers of Doues were driuen out of the temple so both the minister of the sacrament and the receyuer shal be gyltie of Christes Luke xviiii bodye and bloude These minister is giltye because he doth minister vnwortheylye for truly i. Co. ii hys seruice is abominable before god for if ther were no worse thinges then the lyuynge of the ministers to make the Masse and an bominacion before God yet theire impuritie of lyfe is inoughe to make it vnpure and filthy before the face of God By what place of scripture can they proue that the Masse is holy accepted of god and a profitable worke for the quicke and deade of what ministrie so euer it be saied In dede by non for how can the deade helpe the dead eithere a synner make a synner rightouse euery man knowynge that synne pleaseth not god maye perceyue what theye can do with God for what so euer is not of fayeth is sinne Their Masse therfore â—om xiiii is synne and abominable before God Nowe let vs consider what fuÌ„ction and office Christe throughe hys owne exaÌ„ple coÌ„mitted to the ministres stewardes of the sacrament wheÌ„ he washed his disciples fete it was done to teach the ministers of goddes worde that they shoulde not exaulte them selues as Lordes and maisters ouer the laytye for Saynte Peter sayeth thelders ought to be an example and mirrour to the flocke of Christ for pride is a greate abominacion before God Christe iruly can not be pleased wyth seruauntes that are puffed vppe wyth pryde But where is ther any humilitie amoÌ„ges them none at all I wyll not speake of there shaueÌ„ crownes miters siluer staues byshoppes ringes or other such costlye and riche robes and ornamentes In deede thei are much more precious then Christes poure simple garmentes but truely the remembraunce of Christes passioÌ„ cannot be shewed furth after the ryght waye in such more theÌ„ princelie aparell For nother goulde nor siluer was sene at Christes death albeit they by this riche rayment haue inueÌ„ted and deuised a glisteringe pretence of misticall vnderstanding Saynt i. Pe. ii Peter coulde not suffre excesse of apparrile in gentylwomen much lesse in the administracion of our Lorddes Supper and in them that should be an example to al othere in Godly conuersacion and lyuynge theire prydde can not be hyd for they beleue and laboure to perswadde other that by the Byshoppes anoynetynge â–ª a marke is printed in their soules whereby they are made of greater authoritie theÌ„ angels or s Marye the virgin yea and this marke theÌ„ say they can by no meanes be put awaie They extole therfore them silues aboue al men and set them selues at libertye frome all burdenes and bondage that other meÌ„ are charged wyth all their wyl is to be Lordes ouer all meÌ„ all seruice due to theÌ„ Thei magnifi extolle ther prayers in there holly Masse and set the popes name before the kynges in theyr canon if a man yea a good and godly maÌ„ touche the Chalice nor the sacrament by chaunce it is a Capitall offence they iudge it an heinouse abominacion to ministre the sacrament to the laitie vnder boeth kindes And why because they are not anointede and made popishe priestes Their prid also is opened and shewed furth nothynge more then in their offring and sacrifice for they are fully perswaded that they offre to god his sonne Iesus Christe for remission of synnes boeth for quicke and deade This presuÌ„ptuouse arogancie must nedes be an abomination before god a maÌ„ cannot find in these proud papistes neither liberalitie in doinge of good dedes or seruice to other where vnto they are chiffelie chosine But it is theire propertie to serue dame Aueris and their owne bealis If rewarde be promised they are redye to synge Masse but if no reward come theÌ„ wyll they nother synge nor saye For no peny no pater noster Vndoubtedlye Eph. vi euerie couetouse man is an Idolater For where couetousenes reigneth as Saynte Paule sayeth there is Idolatrie which is abominacion before god These couetuouse popishe priests are therefore abominable before god And another sorte of these papistes wyll synge Masse not for monie but for feare of losing their fate promocions But what great synne is thys to do these thynges against their conscience For they do it fearinge leaste other wyse they shoulde wante a liuing Oh what mistrust haue they in God who fedeth and clotheth birdes and other liuinge creatures and thus haue they made a banket of the moste holly supper of our lord for fylthy lucre and gaynes If aman shoulde desier one of the laytie which is a good and godly maÌ„ to receiue the sacrament and he should haue for his laboure a couple of grotes or a testarne he wold not onely refuse it but greuously taking the mater that any maÌ„ should haue suche an opinion in hym NotwithstaÌ„dinge these Masse mongers thynke it greate honestie to receyue money for their Masskinge when it is to their greate shame and rebuke Thys saing of Saint Paule he that serueth the aulter muste lyue also therof doth not make for them for S. Paulle i. Cor. ix doth teach nothynge elses by thys sainge but that the preachers of the Gospel may
in thys holie supper for he woulde haue gyuen hys bodie to thē reallie not in the sacramente It is not inoughe for these piuishe papistes to offer christes bodie to God except they offer it also for remission of synne for health of the bodie and for hope of eternal life For other wise it shuld not be so highly estemed If they continewe still in these errours against the plaine trueth they will The belefe of a true christian Ro. iiii deny Christ For he that knoweth Christe is certainely assured that he is god and man the sauiour of the worlde that in hym as in the true sede of Dauid al nacions are blessed and that no mā can come to the father but by him For the father Ga. iii. Iohn xi doth so loue him that for hys sake his angre toward vs is pacified for he is our rightuousnes holines and redempcion that nomā Cor. i. is saued but bi his name only that he alone fulfilled the worke of our Act. iiii redempcion with out any helper And finally that he did sufficiētly satisfie Esae lxiii for our sinnes on the crosse if we beliue truely on him This is the Heb. x. ground of our christen faith wher on christes church is builded And Math. xvi he that denieth Christe to be hys perfecte and sufficient redemer by once sufferinge death on the crosse maketh him an vnsufficient priest and vnable redemer And therfore they deny Christ in that they deni his ful power and vertue in our redemptiō These Maskinge Masse priestes in their often offeringe of Christe denye that we are Iustified by fayth only ascribinge part of oure iustificacion to good workes cōtrarie to the playne scriptures of Eph ii God for we are saued by grace and not of workes And they magnifie and extolle the Masse aboue all other good workes makeinge them sēlues fellowe priestes wyth Christ wherin they shew of what generacion they be euen as they sprynge of Lucifer the father of pride nowe let vs expende and cōsider whether Christe commaunded his disciples to make an offeringe of the sacrament of his holy supper or whether he offered hym selfe therein or no. Vndoubtedly Christes wordes diligently obserued and noted we maye perceyue easlye the Christ offred no sacrifice therein To take and breake bread doth not signifye to offre To geue thankes is not to do sacrifice for elles he hadde done sacrifice in fedynge fyue thousand with the fewe barlye loues to gyue his disciples to eate And to say do this in remēbraunce of me in shewynge furth the Lordes death vntyll he come is not an offering To belyue that Christ was giuen vs the he gaue his bodie to death for vs that he shed his bloud not at the supper but on the crosse to redeme vs frō syn is not an offering Finally to proue the testamēt the beleue on the which was cōmaunded in the testament doth not signifie to offre How wyl you nowe proue your offerynge in the Masse We come to the Lordes table we take and eate trusteinge in Christes promesses howe do we thē gyue to him againe If a king shoulde gyue a ringe to a pore mā for a gage not that he shoulde be heire of hys landes and goods but that it should helpe hym and that he thereby shoulde remember his liberalitye mercye and the people myght cōmende and prayse hym for that facte the pore man receyueth it to giue it agayne to the king thynkinge to do hym a great pleasure to make hym riche wyth hys own gift wer not this a mad mā So may al such be Iudged as offere to Christ agayne the whych he gaue vs for our owne vse and profite and that thereby we shoulde kepe in remembraūce his loue and mercye towarde vs. Christ did not lifte vp the sacramēt ouer his head as these proude papistes do They obiecte and saye that God cā giue some thynges and receyue them agayne as the sacrifices of tholde lawe Thoughe they were the giftes Psal x of God Yet they were gyuen to hym agayne and thoughe a cōtrite herte is the gyfte of god yet it is a sacrifice to God If we were cōmaunded to offer sacrifice as they were then theire obiection shoulde be of some strēgth and efficacie But wee haue no suche commaundemente neyther the scriptures make mencion of these popishe sacrifices For Christ is of greater power and reputaciō then that these proude popish prelates other can or oughte to offer hym to hys father Christe sitteth on the fathers ryght hande and once satisfied for the synnes of the Atc. vii true Christen church with a most sufficient and perfecte sacrifice Dare we then moste miserable wretches enterprise to do thys thynge agayne He that doth offre vp sacrifice is better thē the sacrifice They therefore are better thē Christe their sacrifice he offred vs a sacrifice to God and do we goo about to offer hym He that offerreth vp sacrifice ought to be as pure as the sacrifice Oh howe pure they make Christ nowe He as a testament maker gaue his disciples the sacramēt in his supper none other wise thē as a writtē testamēt wherin by fayth in Christ we receiue Christes bodie bloude the vertue and frutes of the same If wee gyue hym hys testamente agayne as if he required it of vs should not we haue the testament maker in a contempt And should Aba xi not the promise in the testamente be of effecte Who ahboreth not thys kynde of blasphemie whē we consider the hyghnes of Christes priesthod and what this worde sacrifice contayneth in it we maye easlye perceyue what Iniury we do to thynke that we offer Christes bodye as the papistes do S. Paule declareth vnto vs the pristhod of christ saiing it is mete the we Hebru vii haue suche a godly and vndefiled byshop made higher then heaues whych nedeth not to offre dayly First for hys owne sinnes and thē for the synnes of the people as the byshop of the olde lawe for Christ dyd thys once in offeringe vp hys owne bodye and in an other place he sayth Christe beinge the hyghe priest of the good thinges to come came by a greater and more perfecte Tabernacle whiche was not made wyth handes that is to saye was not of thys kynde of bulding Neither came he by the bloud of gotes and calues but by hys owne bloude he entred once into thys holly place and founde eternall redempcion for we are made hollie bi godes fre mercie through the offering of christes bodie done once for all For Christe verely beinge one sacrifice offred vp for our sinnes sitteth on his fathers right hand lokeing for the thing that remayneh vntil his enemise be made his fotestole for wyth one offring he made perfecte those that are sātified Saynt Paule teacheth vs by Melchisedech That Christ is king of peace rightuousnes By these places of scripture it is Manifest that Christ