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A69010 Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.; Institutiones theologicae. English Bucanus, Guillaume. 1606 (1606) STC 3961; ESTC S106002 729,267 922

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Christs bloud doth take away the thirst of the soule 3 As wine doth make glad the heart of man b Psal 10.15 so also the promises concerning Christ do make glad the soule 4 As wine doth heat the bodie and maketh vs more cheerefull and readie to doe our businesse so the bloud of Christ receiued by faith doth quicken the soule vnto all good motions and so the vertue of the spirit doth stirre vs vp and maketh vs more nimble vnto all good wokes 5 As wine driueth away coldnes so the bloud of Christ driueth away the coldnes of loue and charitie 6 As win● maketh vs more secure and more bold so the bloud of Christ receiued by Faith doth make vs secure and quiet before God and more constant in confession that there may be nothing at all which we ought to feare 7 As wine maketh vs wise so the bloud of Christ receiued by faith maketh vs wise in the confession and commemoration of Christs benefits 8 As wine driueth away the palenesse of the face maketh the face of man to shine as with oyle c Psal 104 15 so the bloud of Christ doth turne the colour of the soule being pale with feare of death into the verie colour of the Rose that is to say it appeaseth our consciences it maketh vs faire in the presence of God that wee may appeare before him with a fayre and ruddie face that is to say iust and accepted What if bread such as wee haue and wine be wanting in some countries with what signes is the supper to be administred With those earthly nourishments and corporall meats which all doe vse in that countrey in stead of bread and wine meate and drinke for this doth agree with the minde of Christ From hence it was granted to the Nouergian Priests as Volaterranus witnesseth necessitie requiring it that they did conscrate the mysticall cup without wine with that which they had in common seeing that wine caried into the countrey is quickly corrupted by the great force of the cold VVhat need is there now of those two signes that is to say of bread and wine seeing that the whole humanitie of Christ consisting of his parts of bodie and bloud doth liue glorious in the heauens and by reason of concomitancie that is to say a naturall ioyning together of the liuing bodie and the bloud the whole may be signified and giuen in seuerall kindes and where the quicke bodie is present there also must the bloud and soule be present and by reason of the hypostaticall vnion the diuinitie also may be there and so there may be no controuersie moued concerning those things that be equiualent but one may suffice in steed of two From whence is that Rime of Thomas Caro cibus sanguis potus manet tamen Christus totus sub vtraque specie that is to say The flesh is meate the bloud is drinke yet Christ remayneth whole vnder both kindes 1 Because the same reason of concomitancie doth belong to the Priests which notwithstanding celebrating the Masse will alwaies vse the whole sacrament 2 Because Christ Iesus who is the wisedome of the Eternall Father commending to his Church nothing superfluous ordayned those two signes and of set purpose commended the vse of the cup to all saying Drinke ye all of it to signifie the drinking of one and the same bloud shed for many common to all the faithfull without difference of Nation of sexe of estate But for mens conceipts the commaundement of God is not to bee violated who called distinctly and exactly bread the bodie not the bloud and wine the bloud not the bodie Neyther can the Church change the matter or forme 3 Because neyther for the connexion of parts in the thing signifyed is a diuulsion or diuision of the parts to be made in outward rite or ceremonie 4 Because there is not made an inclusion of Christ into the Sacramentall signes For Christ is present in the Supper not for the bread but for the man 5 Because that bodie and that bloud of Christ is not in this action represented vnto vs sacramentally as now the whole indiuided humanitie of Christ doth liue glorious but so farre forth as they were offered vnto death for vs vpon the crosse the bloud being shed out of the bodie for the words added to the signes doe plainly crie that the bodie and bloud of Christ are offered and exhibited to vs in the Supper as things separated in the sacrifice of the Crosse From whence we must conclude seeing that the concomitancie of the bodie and bloud cannot agree to the death of Christ for to be in the bodie and to be shed out of the bodie are things contrarie that that concomitancie is directly contrarie to the institution of Christ Neyther is the hypostaticall vnion of God and man therefore broken which is not broken in death although the soule and bloud be separated from the bodie Rightly therefore Beda The bread is referred to the bodie of Christ mystically the wine to the bloud And the ancient fathers spake no otherwise of this mysterie then if daily in the administration of the Lords Supper he should be slaine die and be sacrificed for vs This is in the cup saith Chrysostome which flowed out of his side and we are partakers of it But what If a man at this day be conuersant in those places where one part of the Supper is taken from the laity shall he altogether abstaine from the vse of the communion It were farre better for him to abstaine especially if hee haue learned out of the former doctrine of the Gospell that that corruption doth fight with the word of God For it is a great sin to consent to the least pollution of Christs institution against conscience Rightly therefore Ambrose He is vnworthie of the Lord which doth celebrate a mysterie otherwise then it was deliuered of him for he cannot be deuout which doth presume otherwise then it was giuen from that author What did Christ when he had taken the bread Hee instituted signes of a second kind that is the outward actions of them which do administer the Supper or rites of dispensation of the Lords Supper wherein he went before all ministers by his example What rites are they Hee gaue thanks to the father to whom he gaue all the thanks of our redemption as it were the chiefe cause thereof and in the vse as well of the Supper as of daily meat and of other things he taught vs to doe the same a Iohn 6.11 1 Tim. 4.5 by his example Moreouer also with blessing and thāksgiuing for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is blessed and gaue thanks are vsed one with another Mat. 26.26.27 concerning the Lords Supper Mark. 14.22.23 not with the signe of the Crosse as the popish Cleargie ignorantly doe thinke as though he vsed coniuring but with blessing that is with prayers vnto God he prepared he appointed and he sanctified the bread
three 1. The word of the institution or the commaundement and the ordinance of God and the promise of grace I say of grace not of any of the gifts of God either corporall or spirituall but of Iustification that is to say of the remission of sinnes and life eternall which is repeated in the Church not for consecration sake neither that any vertue might bee added to the Element but that the faithfull might heare and beleeue it 2. Of an outward signe and visible which otherwise is called an Element because in the first Sacrament that is in Baptisme the signe is the element of watet by another name by a visible forme because it is a bodily thing and sensible subiect to the sight and sense otherwise a Symbole because of the proportion and resemblance vnto the thing signified and because it is as it were a marke token of Gods promise Both which Augustine comprehendeth in this saying Let the word to wit of the institution and of the promise of grace be added to the element and there is a Sacrament 3. Of the thing signified which some call the matter of the sacrament others the inuisible grace or the wholesome gift As in Circumcision there is the apparant commaundement of the Lord Thou shalt keepe the couenant Gen. 17. and the promise is expressed I will bee thy God the God of thy seede after thee the signe the cutting off of the foreskin lastly the thing signified the Circumcision of the heart or of the old nature a Deu. 10 15 et 30.6 What is the matter of the Sacrament It is double one sensible externall or corporall subiect to the bodily sense the other intelligible internall spirituall and heauenly which is perceiued with the minde and vnderstanding I say with the minde indued with that her fit instrument to receiue it namely faith What is tho outward matter It is double both a bodily substance and not an accident as water bread wine as also a ceremoniall action or rite which is performed by men in a certaine manner as circumcision in a certaine part of the bodie the externall and corporall washing eating and drinking Wherefore did God chuse such common things in the ordering of the Sacraments Least that in the vse of them being therfore ordained that they might lift vp our mindes to heauen wee should on the contrarie stick in the earthly things and admire them What is the inward matter It is the thing signified and that in like manner both the substance and the action The substance is Christ who is called the verie marowe of all the Sacraments with all his riches which he hath in himselfe and either properly is tearmed whole Christ or else by a Synecdoche a part for the whole is called the bodie of Christ deliuered vnto death or his bloode shed The action is proper to God alone and it is either iustification and washing or spirituall circumcision or the communion of the body and bloud of Christ What is the forme common to all Sacraments If wee consider the verie essence of a Sacrament his forme or at least the speciall part of the essence and the rule whereof it doth depend and hath his beeing is the ordinance or institution of God conteined in the word For Sacraments are that which God doth testifie by the word of his institution and promise that hee would haue them to bee so that that verie worde must bee as it were the verie life of the Sacrament or the cause whereby a Sacrament is that which it is But by the word vnderstand not that it which is conceiued in a certain number of syllables vttered without vnderstanding and faith hath any force to consecrate or transforme the element to giue any vertue to it For as the forme of the letters can doe nothing so neither the pronouncing or sound of the words but that which beeing vttered by God is preached and published by the Minister with a cleare voice doth cause vs to vnderstand and beleeue what the visible signe meaneth Whereupon Augustine saith not because it is spoken but because it is beleeued Furthermore the goodly Analogie or proportion of the signe with the thing signified and the mutuall reference or relation affection habit of the one to the other because the essence of a Sacrament is nothing else but to haue relation to the thing signified and Sacramented that is to say the thing signified Now the Analogie or proportion which is the agreement or conueniencie of one thing hauing relation to another is in the proportion or likenesse of the actions or effects as for example as water washeth away filth euen so the bloud of Christ washeth away sins The relation is in the institution vnto the thing signified or in the mutual respect of the one vnto the other as when together with the signe exhibited to the senses the thing signified is represented to the vnderstanding To conclude if wee respect the vse the forme of a Sacrament is an action wherein an earthly thing is lawfully and rightly administred and vsed for that end whereunto it is appointed of God or the manner of performing celebrating the Sacrament for the forme of the Action is the manner wherein it is done What manner of coniunction or vnion of the signes and the things signified is in the Sacraments Not naturall by the touching and knitting together of substances or the vnitie and vnion of the accidents and subiect to make one and the same indiuiduum or locall without distance or existing of one in the other Neither is it to bee called spirituall as if it should giue life to the signes themselues which is against diuinitie But such as hath conueniencie and relation or Sacramentall and significatiue whereby things inuisible in a fit proportion are represented by visible and in some sort are made one for the mutuall respect which they haue betweene themselues as the Scepter and the Romane Empire Such is this vnion as is betweene the true Relatiue and his Correlatiue as betweene the father and the sonne the vnion is not naturall and substantiall but of Relation which consisteth not in transubstantiation or consubstantiation not in conuerting or including but in the naturall respect affection one vnto the other So then as the father is therefore a father not because hee is either conuerted to the sonne or because hee conteineth his sonne in himselfe essentially but because hee hath relation to his sonne euen so it is a signe or Sacrament not because it is conuerted in to the thing signified or conteineth it as a sack doth corne or a cuppe of wine but because the signe and the thing signified are vnited by the vnion of relation as the sonne with the father and the seruant is ioyned with the master or else as the vnion is betweene the voice of the preaching of the Gospell and the thing promised in the Gospell not reall but intelligible and apprehended by faith But in respect
the spirit also they must be shod or booted with the preparatiō of the gospell and prepared to make great increasings in the Gospell or prepared by the knowledge of the Gospell of peace to vndertake the combats to sustaine the dangers and to auoid the occasions of falling and offences wherewith as it were with brambles thornes or serpents the feete of the godly are often wounded Further leaning vpon the spirituall staffe of the promises of Gods word they may guide their steppes in their iourney and rayse themselues being fallen whereof Psal 23.4 Thy rod and thy staffe haue comforted me 11 Also they must eate the Lambe 1. standing 2 In haste that is such as doe not tyre in the course of this mortall life doe not linger still in spirituall Aegypt or Babylon but doe with all speede renounce the kingdome of Sathan and as it becommeth holy trauellers doe with all earnestnesse desire to be gonne out of the prison of this life vnto that pompe and manner of life which shall be in the heauenly countrey 12 It must be eaten in one house that is he would haue the spirituall communion of the fulnesse in one bodie and head Christ to be ratified and preserued by this meanes 13 God would haue no bone of that Lamb to be broken mystically to shew what he wold perform in his son he hauing none of his bones broken Ioh. 19.33 might be made famous as it were by a visible mark that might proue him to be the true Passeouer Why did Christ appoint the Supper of the Lord in stead of the Sacrament of the Paschall Lambe To shew that he had fulfilled those things which were prefigured in the shadow of the Iewish Passeouer For in the olde Passeouer there was the bodie and bloud of the Pascall Lambe being a beast and in that feast was yearely iterated the remembrance of the preseruation of the first borne of Israll by the bloud and of their deliuerance out of Aegypt as a prouocation to thankfulnesse and a signe of their redemption which Christ should worke but in the new Testament the bodie of the true and onely Lambe of God being slaine and offered vpon the Altar of the Crosse and his bloud shed for remission of sinnes doth procure vnto vs farre more excellent things then was the deliuerance out of Aegypt to the people of the Iewes And the Supper of the Lord was instituted to this end that by the receiuing of the bodie and bloud of the Lambe of God there might bee made not a yearely onely but a perpetuall communication commemoration and celebration of the most chiefe and eternall benefits as of saluation purchased and other more procured by the death of Christ according to Christs commandement Doe this in remembrance of me Luk. 22.19 As also the Lord saith of the Passeouer This day shall bee vnto you for a memoriall Exod. 12.14 Furthermore as it was said touching the Passouer No stranger or vncircumcised shall eate thereof but such as be borne at home and come to yeares who had learned the mysterie by way of Catechising so also because in the supper our couenant made with God is renued it is to be communicated to none but to them that are of circumcised harts and by Baptisme are made the houshold seruants of God and partners of the couenant but at no hand to the prophane or vncleane and ignorant but onely to the faithfull being purified by faith after that they had giuen their names to Christ and haue beene instructed in the mysterie of his death And as the Paschall Lambe was eaten with giuing of thankes so ought we also to receiue the Supper of the Lord with thanksgiuing Lastly as it was a thing much to bee desired to eate the Paschall Lambe so it is a sweet thing to the beleeuers to eate the bread of the Lord. Seeing there was onely one Lambe offered as a sacrifice for the redemption of the Church why did God commaund a Lambe to be killed in euerie house as though euerie one of them should haue had their sacrifices peculiar by themselues Because although they were all deliuered from destruction by the selfesame bloud yet he would haue each family priuately admonished by speciall application that they might the more sensibly perceiue the grace bestowed vpon them As at this day the selfe same thing is Baptisme vnto vs whereby we are in common ingrafted into the bodie of Christ yet euery one hath his owne Baptisme performed to him to the end that they might more certainly know that they are partakers of the adoption and so the members of the Church Why is Iesus Christ called the Lamb slain euen from the beginning of the world Apoc. 13.8 seeing Paule saith Now once in the latter end of the world was he made manifest to abolish sin by offering vp of himselfe Heb. 9.26 1 Because of the effect of his death whereunto although there was a certaine time prefixed yet the merit and efficacie thereof did no lesse benefit the fathers in old time and was applied vnto their Iustification and Sanctification then now it benefits vs and is applied to vs. 2 Because he is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world and by his oblation hath consecrated for euer those that be sanctified Hebr. 10.14 3 Because he was slaine for sinne which was committed euen from the beginning of the world 4 Because euen presently from the verie foundations of the world he was appointed to be slaine 5 Because there is not saluation in any other whatsoeuer Act. 4.12 6 Because Iesus Christ is the same to day yesterday and for euer Heb. 11.1 7 Because that which was not as yet in the order of nature neuerthelesse was extant euer by the vertue and efficacie of faith For faith is that which maketh those things to be present which are hoped for and doth demonstrate those thinges which are not seene Heb. 11.1 8 Because as the same Christ is the head of the whole vniuersall Church so also he is the Author of Election in him of all the faithfull both of the old and new Testament of their vocation Iustification sanctifycation and glorifycation VVhy was not the bloud of the Paschall Lambe drunken or eaten but onely the posts were besprinkled with it Because it was abhomination to eate or drinke the bloud not onely of man but of any liuing creature from Noes time a Gen. 9.4 The vse whereof was granted by the comming of Christ although for the infirmitie and weakenesse of the brethren forbidden for a time b Act. 15.20 29 VVere there no moe Sacraments of the old Testament Yes indeed there were as the Sabbaths the Arke of the Couenant washings and such like yet they are rather to be called Types then Sacraments if we will speake properly because they are neuer compared with the Sacraments of the new Couenant But especially because they serued rather to illustrate the promise of grace then to seale
repentance c Marc. 1.4 whilest he taught these whom hee was about to baptise out of which places the Anabaptists impugne childrens baptisme it is not precisely to be tyed to the order of words but to be distinctly applied to those which may be taught or their children which are strangers from the couenant who must be first instructed before they be baptised but it is to be applied otherwise to children that are within the couenant who though they cannot heare the Gospell yet can and ought to be baptised for that they are both borne in and belong vnto the Church before they can be taught and then it is time enough to teach them when they are capable of learning howbeit in the Church of God the word is not there separated from childrens baptisme Likewise also this He that beleeueth is baptised shall be saued but he that beleeueth not although hee be baptised shall be condemned belongeth not to the children of the faithfull but to those whiche may heare the Gospell As likewise that of the Apostle 2. Thess 3 10. He that laboureth not let him not eate which being spoken vnto men of yeares ought not to bee inferred vpon all indifferently Nor followeth it simply that because all beleeuers are to be baptised therfore all that are baptised ought to beleeue or because a vniuersall affimatiue is not simply conuerted neyther are these termes conuertible to be baptised and beleeuing but to bee baptised and to be acknowledged for the members of the Church 8 For that Paule 1. Cor. 10.2 witnesseth that all the Israelites which passed through the red sea were baptised among whom seeing no doubt there were many children among so many thousands no doubt they likewise receiued the type and figure of our baptisme It is therefore false which our aduersaries obiect that no place of Scripture testifieth the baptism of Infants Likewise though we read not that the Apostles baptised any Infants by name yet they baptised whole families whereof children are not the smallest portion a Act. 16.15 18 8. 1 Cor. 1.6 neither need we to vse figures when the words are plaine Neyther can there from these speeches be collected any reason of such a Synecdoche by which wee must vnderstand portions of yeares onely and exclude children 9 Because ancient writers testifie that the custome of baptising children hath continued from the verie Apostles times till now Origen faith In 6. ad ad Rom. de Peccatorum meritis et remis l. 3 c. 6. et Contra Donat l. 4. c. 13 The Church receiued a tradition from the Apostles to giue baptisme euen to Infantes And Augustine saith of the baptisme of children That which the Vniuersall Church holdeth and vvas neuer decreed by Councils but alwaies hath beene helde it may be verse vvell beleeued that it was deliuered no otherwise but by Apostolicke authoritie Therefore it is false which the Papistes saie That Baptisme of children proceeded not so much from any apparant commaundement of the scripture or from example as from the decree of the Church Then because to whomsoeuer the promise appertaineth to them also belongeth the signe as therefore Baptisme is bestowed vpon Infants is likewise the Supper of the Lord to be administred vnto them Certaine of the fathers haue thought so as Cyprian serm 5. de lapsis and Augustin lib. de Eccle. dogmat c. 52. being mooued by these words Iohn 6.53 Except ye shall eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud you shall haue no life in you But we denie the consequent For this place speaketh not of a sacramentall eating but of a spiritual eating or of faith by which the faithfull are quickened which are annexed vnto Christ who offered his bodie and shed his bloud for vs. And by this meanes the flesh of Christ is made vnto vs meat indeed and his bloud drink indeed Secondly that To whomsoeuer the promise appertaineth to them also belongeth the signe is true but according to the diuine determination appropriated to euerie sacrament to wit so that the Sacrament of Ingrafting be bestowed aswell vpon Infants as those of yeares but vpon male children onely that not before the eight day in the old Testament but in the new both to the male and female without any prefixed time But the Sacrament of nourishment to them of yeares onely and that for a certaine peculiar end and the diuersitie of the circumstance of the action So the Eucharist hath his proper end that the death of the Lord should bee declared in the publicke congregation in the vsing thereof It is also commaunded that euery one which commeth to the Lords Supper should examine himselfe yea and peculiar actions belong to the externall rite to wit to eate and to drinke which are not fit for little children So vnder the old Testament circumcision was appointed for infants but the Passouer to them onely which by reason of their age were able to aske of the signification thereof a Exod. 12 62 Heereupon came those vulgar verses Ebrius infamis erroneus atque furentes Cum pueris Domini non debent sumere corpus To drunkards and thinfamous sort to men misled and mad To children Christs body to giue it were an action bad Why would Christ be baptised at the age of thirtie yeares Luke 3.23 seeing he needed neither remission of sinnes nor regeneration Christ himselfe answereth it at what time Iohn refused to baptise him Mat. 3.15 Let it be so now for so it behooueth vs to fulfill all righteousnesse Which is to be vnderstood distributiuely to wit thou in thy office and I in mine But whereas he would at that time be subiect to that Ministerie he did it for diuers causes First to shew that he did approoue of the doctrine baptisme and ministerie of Iohn and commend vnto vs the vse of the Sacraments by his owne example Secondly that he might sanctifie in his owne bodie our baptisme hauing the same common with vs as a most firme bond of vnion and fellowship which he vouchsafed to enter with vs at a time most fit namely whē he would giue a beginning to his own preaching to the new Testament And also to testifie that the same things are inuisibly in our baptisme which were visibly in his whē the heauens were opened the spirit of God came downe Thirdly to signifye that he was therfore sent to be baptised namely to be drenched in death and to wash away our sinnes with his bloud Luke 12.50 I must be baptised with another baptisme and how am I grieued till it be perfected Fourthly that the truth might answere the type or figure for as when the high Priest was consecrated first his whole bodie was washed with water then he was set before the people clothed with the priestly garments and then the trumpets sounded whilest oyle was powred vpon his head b Exod. 29 4.5.6 Num. 10.3 which was also done at the kings Installing
birth of baptisme some are admitted who discharge the office of Midwife and instructor in things belonging vnto faith and a Christian life but yet such witnesses are to be chosen as both know sufficiently and can probably performe that which they promise for the childs holy education if neede require VVhy haue children names giuen them in baptisme Because it was also the manner in Circumcision a secondly that we may know that we then obtaine name and fame at Gods hands when we are borne againe and are become new men namely the sonnes of God renouncing our former name wherby we were named the children of wrath Thirdly that as often as we remember our name we should likewise call to minde Gods couenant and promise our Baptisme and what it meaneth and further our dutie who being baptised into the death of Christ we may likewise die with him vnto sinne and rise againe to newnesse of life and lastly that being entertained into Christs seruice we may fight valiantly vnder his Banner against his enemies VVhat manner off names ought we to giue They were first giuē either vpō the euent of things as Isaack Iacob or of the Prophetical instinct to note some secret work of God or in remēbrance of some thing past as Adam Israell or somthing to come as Eua Abrahā Iohn Now although it be in so great plenty of names a thing of it selfe indifferent what name a man haue giuen him seeing the name furthereth not a mans saluation at all yet no man will denie but that the faithfull may make a profitable choyce in this case in omitting such as belong nothing to their profession and dutie prophane and vnknowne names and calling them by proper vsuall knowne and holy names such as may bring with them some instruction and admonition as namely such whose godlinesse is published it the Scriptures and so stirre vp in vs an Imitation of them or else of our ancestors or others whose names haue not beene polluted through Idolatrie but may put vs in minde of godlinesse of innocencie and vprightnesse of life or of Gods benefits and may not recall into our mindes the remenbrance of any euill example or such as are taken from wicked and bloudy men which ought rather to be forgotten amongest all godly men a Luk. 1.54 Psal 16.4 then thus reuiued Is the Office of preaching the Gospell greater then his that baptiseth Yea For Christ whose office was to teach neuer baptised b Ioh. 4.2 and Paule baptised verie fewe For the Lord sent mee not saith hee to baptise to wit peculiarly and fully but to preach the Gospell 1. Cor. 1.10 And Peter baptised not Cornelius his family whilest hee was there present but gaue order to haue it done afterward A●ct 10.48 Though therefore the Sacraments bee most holy yet it is no wisedome to attribute too much vnto them Wherein doe baptisme and the Lords Supper agree and wherein doe they differ First they differ both in the signes in the action and in their neerest ends For in Baptisme water is vsed and the spinckling thereof outwardly and the inward sprinckling of the bloud of Christ inwardly Also the neerest principall end therof is the washing from sin ct adoption to be the sons of God or the ingrafting into Christ into his Church but in the Supper is vsed bread which we break eat inwardly there is a pertaking of the body of Christ likewise there is a cup vsed out of which wee drinke and also a communion of the bloud of Christ lastly the end of the Lords supper is the spirituall foode of the inner man this is a manifest differēce between Baptisme the Lords Svpper Secondly they differ in vse for Baptisme is not to bee iterated whereas the often and religious vse of the Lords Supper ought to serue for a Commemoration of the Lords death Thirdly they differ in subiect for Baptisme properly belōgeth to children though the vse thereof pertaine properly to those of age whereas the Lords supper doth only belong to them that are of yeares But in these things they both agree they haue both one genus both one Author both consist of two parts the one earthly the other heauenly both one generall end both one signification for both doe signifie the Communion of Christ both are seales of the Couenant and of the promise of grace the dignitie of both is equall and alike for of baptisme Paule testifieth that we are ingrafted into Christ and doe put on Christ a Rom. 6.75 Gal. 3.27 but the one propoundeth Christ our lauer vnder the signe of water the other our foode vnder the signes of bread and wine Is not one of these Sacraments better and more worthy than the other No not in being that is not because in baptisme we receiue only the gifts or graces of Christ but not Christ himselfe but in the Supper the body and bloud of Christ although al doe not receiue his graces as our aduersaries wil haue it because they haue both one end to wit our consociation and coniunction with Christ which as the forme also of both is sealed both in Baptisme the Lords Supper But they differ onely in some respect both of our originall beginning in Christ and also of our encrease and conseruation in the same For by how much it is somewhat more to be begotten then to be nourished by so much the Sacrament of regeneration is to be preferred before the Sacrament of our norishmēt which is the Lords Supper but by how much it is a more excellent thing to bee nourished and cherished to eternall life that so thou maiest neuer faile to bee a man regenerate in this respect the Supper is to be preferred before baptisme But seeing that the dignitie of both of them dependeth vpon the thing signified namely vpon our Communion with Christ although Baptisme doth commend the same vnder the forme of a Lauer and the Supper vnder the forme of food yet it is better to moderate this comparison and so shall nothing bee derogated from either of them For the water of Baptisme in the Sacramentall vse is the bloud of Christ no lesse than the wine in the Super a 1 Pet. 1 2 nor is it any thing lesse in Baptisme to bee ingrafted into Christ to be crucified dead buried and rise againe with him and to put on Christ than to eate his flesh and drinke his bloud in the Supper And to conclude Christ is propounded vnto vs in Baptisme as a bath as an entrance into the house of the Lord and as a garment And in the Supper as meat and drinke to be entertained more and more by faith What are the ends of Baptisme There are two 1. That it may stand our faith in steede before God the latter that it may manifest our confession before men and that first because it setteth forth Christs death buriall and resurrection teaching the remission of sins and confirming the
who for daily sins brought in daily baptisme 10. The sinne of them which though they knowe the trueth of the Gospell yet deliuer their children to be baptized of false Pastors in the Papacie The eight and fortieth common place Of the Supper of the Lord. How is the other Sacrament of the New Testament called THE Supper of our Lord Iesus Christs 1. Cor. 11.20 In respect both of the time wherein it was first instituted namely in the euening or night going before that day wherein Christ was crucified and also of the thing it selfe for which it was instituted because it is a holy banquet not of the belly but of the minde instituted by the Lord. And it is called the Lords from the author or also from the end for it is both ordained of the Lord and it is celebrated in remembrance of him or also from the time because it was wont to bee celebrated vpon the Lords daies Act. 20 9.7 2. The breaking of bread Act. 2.42.46 and chap. 20.7 1. Cor. 10.16 But it is so called by an excellencie of speech and by way of specialtie for elswhere it is taken in general for common food Luk. 24.33 where Christ was knowne of the two Disciples in breaking of bread Ast. 27.35 Paul in the shippe brake bread and eate it And in giuing of almes Esay 58.7 Breake thy bread to the hungry Be cause it was the manner of the Iewes which did vse bread not so thick as we but broad and lesse grosse to begin their meals not with cutting of bread but breaking of it 3. By a Metonimie of the effect it is called the Communion of the bodie and bloud of Christ 1. Cor. 10.16 The cuppe of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the Communion of the bodie of Christ Because as saith Damascen in his fourth booke of the Orthodoxall or right Faith chap. 14. By it wee doe communicate with Christ and by it we do communicate and are vnited or knit one to another 4. The Lords Table 1. Cor. 10.21 by a Metonimie of the Subiect for meate and drinke which are set vpon the table Wherby it appeareth that the Apostles in celebrating the Supper of the Lord vsed not an Altar but a Table Act. 6.2 It is not meet that wee should leaue the word of God to serue the tables not Altars 5. Of the old Fathers it is called a gathering together by reason of the assembly of people which was to celebrate the Supper of the Lord because it ought to serue for the ioyning together not the diuiding of the faithfull For it is a publicke Supper of many gathered into one not a priuate Supper of one Priest 1. Cor. 11.20 21. 6. The Euchariste because of thanksgiuing without which the Supper cannot be celebrated 7 Charitie for because among the Communicants mutuall loue is required Although this brotherly word may signifie the feasts of the Church assembly which also is called brotherly fellowship 1. Pet. 2.17 and 1. Pet. 5.9 So called Iud. vers 12. because they were prepared according to the gifts bestowed giuing liberally to the vses of the poore did giue a certain testimony of their brotherly loue to which some refer that saying A. 2.46 Breaking bread at home u Or from house to house to which feasts they had wont to adde or annex the holy Supper of the Lord as it appeareth out of Act. 6.2 1. Cor. 11.21 and of Tertullian in his Apologetico chap. 39. 8. It is called an offering because of the offering of the brethrens bread cup to him that was present also for the gatherings or liberal gifts which were made to the vses of the poore also because the Supper was offered not to God but to the cōmunicants as Iustinus teacheth in his second Apologie for the Christians or because the chiefe of the brethren doth send vp praise and glorie to the Father of all saith Iustine in the same place which oblation is most acceptable to him but he saith not that the sonne is offered to the Father by the Priest 9. A Sacrifice an Host and a burnt Sacrifice but in a little more large and broad signification and that because of the praiers and commemoration of the sacrifice of Christ once offered for vs vpon the crosse but figuratiuely because it is a remembrance of that Holocaust and onely sacrifice whereby God is pacified with vs as Christ called his bodie the sacrament of his body Otherwise Christ bidding his Disciples to take but not to offer instituted not a Sacrifice but a Sacrament 10 It is called of Cyprian a sacrament finishing and perfecting all things because it put an end to the legal ceremonies whereof the chiefe was the vse of the pascall Lamb In his tra●tate of the Lords supper and containeth the mysterie of our perfection in Christ But that the word Masse should be taken for the supper it selfe of the Lord hath beene vnknowne to the Scripture and to the Apostolique Church Whereas some doe drawe it from the Hebrew word Missath which signifieth tribute or oblation it is not likely because the Hebrew words came not to the Latin Church but by the Greek Deut. 16.10 But wee reade no where this word vsed of the Greeke Fathers But the Greeke Church called the Supper of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say a holy Function because it is said in Act. chap. 13 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as they ministred Others and more likely doe deriue it from the Latine word Missio that is to say leaue to depart as the ancient fathers said remissing of sinnes for remission as Tertullian So in stead of Mission they said Misse 4 Booke against Marcion from whence sprung that saying Ite Missa est as in time past the ancient Romanes hauing ended their sacrifices did bid these words to bee pronounced licet Missa est as in olde time among the Grecians the Priest hauing ended his seruice did thus signifie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a dimission to the people as though he should dismisse or send the people away Apul. booke 11. Metamorph. But othersome will haue it called the Masse as it were trans-missed or sent ouer that is to say the Oblation by the Priest vnto GOD. Seing then the Masse which the Popish Clergie doe faigne to bee a Sacrifice belonging peculiarly to the Priests for remission of sinnes both of the quicke and also of the dead doth euery kind of way differ from the Supper of the Lord as it is instituted of Christ is stuffed with horrible Idolatrous madnesse it is an vnworthy thing that the Supper of the Lord should be deformed with the name of the Masse as neither doth it accord that it should be called the Sacrament of the Altar What is the Supper of the Lord It is the other Euangelical Sacrament in the Christian
Church ordained of Christ being euen now about to die for them which are full growne being alreadie baptized and examining themselues wherein by outward breaking of bread and powring out of wine into the cup is represented and as it were is set before the eyes of the faithfull the crucifying of the bodie and shedding of the bloud of Christ for vs and by giuing taking and vsing of those Elements the forgiuenesse of our sins gotten by the death of Christ the inward raking and spirituall enioying of his bodie bloud moreouer communion with Christ ful nourishmēt in Christ viuification and fellowship together with the rest of his liuely members is signified confirmed sealed to the faithful the memorie of so great benefits giuing of thanks is celebrated for the commendable vse of the faithfull assembled together that they may increase in faith and loue For as by baptisme we are borne againe so being borne again wee are fed and nourished by the Supper of the Lord and in Christ wee are as it were nourished and brought vp to life eternall Therfore when as Baptisme may once onely be administred the Supper of the Lord is to be vsed often because in it Christ is giuen vnto vs after the manner of meate but because meat and drinke doe goe away into nourishment they are often in our life time to be taken of vs. Furthermore the first example or patterne of that definition is the historie of the first Supper of the Lord expounded by Paul and of the rest of the Euangelists 1. Cor. 11.23 Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 Luk. 22.19 What is the efficient principall cause of the Lords Supper The Lord himselfe who is the onely testator of the new Testament and the Authour of the Couenant of Grace and GOD the Redeemer in whome alone it haht pleased the Father to gather together all things Ephe. 1.10 And who is the way the trueth and the life Ioh. 14.6 the high priest Heb. 3.1 and the eternall King of the Church Psal 2 6. concerning whom alone the father cryed from heauen heare him Mat. 17.5 from whom it is called the Lords Supper therfore faithfully to be deliuered of the ministers reuerently to be handled neither is it to be depraued by adding minishing changing For Paul saith 1. Cor. 11.23 I haue receiued of the Lord that which I also haue deliuered vnto you namely by the reuelation of Iesus Christ Gal. 1.12 When hee was taken vp into paradise or the third heauen although this letteth not but that hee knewe very many peculiar sayings doings of Christ both from Ananias and also from other disciples of Christ which were eye witnesses and from Luke himselfe At what time was it instituted 1 Cor 1.23 In the yeare of the world 3995. of the age of Christ 33. of March 24. day which was Thursday in the euening surely that night wherein he was betrayed by Iudas vnto the Iewes was the Supper of the Lord instituted 1. First of all because of the figure going before that is to say of the eating of the Pascall Lambe or the legall solemne and Sacramentall Supper in place wherof Christ substituted the Supper Euāgelical Lu. 22.14.19 where that being performed a new institution of this in expresse words is put in the stead therof so the Apostle teacheth 1. Cor. 5.7 Christ our passeouer is sacrificed for vs. From whence it followeth that the Supper of the Lord is our Passouer For the same thing in both is signified namely Christ the true and immaculate sacrifice for the sins of the world there promised here exhibited The remembrance of the like benefite there of the deliuerance out of the bondage of Aegypt and of induction into the promised land here of freedome from the cruell slauerie of Sathan and of introduction into eternall life 2. Secondly because of his passion and death neate approching Dan 9.24 27 the remembrance of which benefit therein performed vnto vs he would set forth in this Supper 3 Thirdly that he might plainely shew a consummation and taking away of al Sacraments and Sacrifices of the Old Testamēt and manner of the Paschall lambe it selfe which he had eaten before with the Disciples 4. Forthly that he might signifie or giue to vnderstand that he came in the fulnesse of time Mat. 11.13 Gal. 3.24 Gal. 4.4 5. That hee might so much the more commend his Supper which being now about to dye he so earnestly commended vnto his Seeing that Christ hauing Supped distributed the Supper to the Disciples in the euening whether is it lawfull for vs to giue it in the morning and to them which are fasting It is lawfull because circumstances of time as both of sitting downe of apparrel and of a certaine number of Communicants doe not appertaine to any mysterie neither are they substantiall p●rt● of the Sacrament neither haue they expres commandement from God because Christ said not This doe yee hauing supped or sitting or standing or so many in number for Christ first did eate the Passeouer because he would after old things institute new But the Eucharist is more conueniently distributed in the morning 1. Because it is an easier thing at that time to haue a holy meeting together forasmuch as in the day time much businesse doth happen wherby men are lead away from holy things 2. Because at that time we are more sober and wee haue a more apt and attentiue minde to perceiue excellent thing Yet notwithstanding the ancient fathers in time of a fast beecause they did spend the whole day in prayers in Sermons and in holy hymnes did giue the Supper of the Lord a little before night And in the time of Augustine in many Churches of Africa as he reporteth the thursday before Easter that the action of Christ might bee the more resembled the Eucharist was giuen to the fathfull in the night and after Supper But this custome was taken away by the sixt Synod or generall Councill which was held at Constantinople Seing that Christ being about to celebrate the Supper abased himselfe to wash the Disciples feete and said vnto them I haue giuing you an example that ye should doe euen as I haue done to you Whether are we being about to communicate tyed to this precept concerning washing of feete Not a whit because Christ did not therfore washe the feet of the Disciples that they should alwaies imitate that fact in kind but that he might driue from them the dreame of a ciuill kingdome of the Messias whereabout they did striue and that hee might shewe in himselfe a perfect example of humilitie like as elswhere hee commaunded that they should shake off the Dust from their feete that they should not beare a staffe nor scrip with them by the way that they should salute no man by the way that they which fast should annoint their head Not that they should drawe these things to a strait obseruation of words but that by this
meanes they might be brought back to a more high thought and vnderstanding neither doe we read that the Apostles obserued that washing of feete but that these parts of washing of feet in those hot countries wherein they goe not so well shod as wee appertained to women rather then to men 1. Tim. 5.9.10 VVho are the fellow helpers or administers or seruice able causes of the Supper of the Lord Only the ministers of the word lawfully called to whom the keyes of the Church are giuen whiles that they do rightly execute their office in the administration dispensation of the word of the holy Supper for no man taketh this honour vnto himsef 1 Cor. 3.9 ●● 1 Math. 28.19 but he that is called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5.4 But the son of God who is present at hand with his Church not with a bodily presence but yet with a spiritual wholsom presēce for vs as being the master of the feast doth so celebrate the same by the meanes of his ministers that he alone doth as truly exhibite vnto vs bread and drink of life that is to say himselfe to be enioyed by faith as he doth euidently exhibit vnto vs by the hand of his seruants the signes therof that is to say bread to be chewed in the mouth and wine to be drunk Ioh 6.51 the bread that I will giue is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the world For whom is the the Supper of the Lord instituted Ioh 16.7 Not for all confusedly mixt one with another without exception for Mat. 7.6 he forbiddeth that which is holy to be giuen to the profane to dogs and to strangers from Christ but to thē which are borne again of water of the spirit that is to the disciples of Christ a Math. 26 26. Luke 22.14 1 Cor. 11.23 because he promised to these only as also he doth giue the sustenance of his quickning flesh and of his bloud And the Sacrament doth belong vnto them to whom the promise doth belong from whence in time past they which were comming on and learned the Catechisme which were not yet baptized they which were accursed out of the Church and the penitentiaries the Sermon being ended were commanded to goe out the Deacon crying let the Catechumeni that is such as learned the Chatechisme and the excommunicated goe out from thence was said the Masse that is the dimission of the Catechumeni And the Grecians did say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say holy things for holy men like as Apulcius in his second booke doth report that the Priest was wont when he was about to begin the Sacrifices to say thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is who is here to whom answere was made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if it should be said honest good men when as the polluted and vnworthy went away Of how many parts doth the institution of the Lords Supper consist Of three 1. Of the institution of Christ whereby he ordained the outward matter of this Sacrament 2. Of his words both preceptiue and also determinatiue annexed to the institution wherby he doth declare the inward matter and forme moreouer the end 3. Both of a lawful administration also of the receiuing of the Lords Supper it selfe What did Christ when he instituted his Supper He sat downe at the table with the disciples but stoode not at the Altar because he instituted a holy banquet not a sacrifice b Mat. 26 20 Mark 14 18 Luk. 22.14 wherupon againe it ought not to be tearmed the Sacrament of the Altar but the Lords Supper or the Lords Table euen as it is named by Paule 1. Cor. 11. Moreouer hee tooke and instituted the matter namely outward signes two only no more nor fewer that is to say bread the cup or wine in the cup. In like manner he added thereunto holy ceremoniall actions For as he was about both signes 1. He gaue thanks to the Father 2 Hauing taken the bread he brake it 3. He gaue it to the Disciples so also he gaue the cup or wine I● not the holy Supper a double Sacrament seing that the signe thereof is double No. 1. Because euery signe seuerally by it selfe is not a Sacramēt but both of them ioyned together 2 Because amongest vs it is one banquet alone not diuers where notwithstanding many meats and drinkes are set on For those two signes doe declare one action of Christ that is to say our whole spirituall nourishment For that is said to be one not onely which is simple and indiuisible or continuall but that which is perfect that is one in perfection to whose integritie all things doe concurre which are required to the end of the same as one man consisting of the essentiall parts Therefore this Sacrament is many things materially but one thing formally and perfectly in as much as in them one refection is perfected saith Thomas Part. 3. qu. 73. Artic. 20. But why would Christ haue vs vse a twofold Signe That by distinct symboles or signes he might as it were set before our eyes and imprint in our mindes his cruell and bloudie death and truly note out both the giuing of his bodie seuerally and the shedding of his bloud out of his bodie for our sinnes For as Bellarmine doth confesse in his booke of the Sacrament of the Eucharist 4. booke chap. 22. The forme alone of bread doth not exactly represent Christ as dead vnlesse the bloud also be seene on the other part as shed and the forme of wine alone doth not sufficiētly represēt Christ as offered in sacrifice for bloud alone is not a sacrifice 2 Like as in this life as Augustine saith in the 26. Tractate vpon Iohn the whole refreshing or nourishing of bodies doth consist of meate which is a due nourishment and of drinke which is a moist nourishment so let vs know that Christ is set forth vnto vs in the Eucharist distinctly as meate and drinke neyther let vs thinke any thing to be wanting vnto vs which may appertaine to our whole spirituall sustenance or nourishment and so let vs by faith apply vnto our selues the bodie and bloud of Christ and the benefit obtained by the deliuerie of his bodie and shedding of his bloud and so as it were by faith let vs eate and drinke Christ himselfe whole Iohn 6.55 My flesh is meat indeed and my bloud is drinke indeed Therefote they doe scarce leaue vnto vs halfe full satisfaction for our sinnes but a lame or halfed matter of nourishment in Christ and do take away the integritie or perfection of this Sacrament whosoeuer doe sunder the cup from the Eucharisticall bread against the precept Math. 19.6 That which God hath coupled together let no man put asunder Whether therefore doe they sinne which take away the cup from the Eucharisticall bread Yea greatly because they goe from the ordinance of Christ and do
as also the wine to an holy vse For although the word Benedicere that is to blesse be vsed 1. Concerning God blessing the creatures eyther by a generall action as Gen. 1.28 Or blessing the Church by a speciall action as Numb 6.24 For Benefacere that is to doe well vnto because God in saying doth bring to passe giueth good things eyther corporall or spirituall or moreouer concerning men eyther towards God as Blessed be the Lord God of Israell Luke 1.68 For to thanke and praise God or towards other men for to pray for Math. 5.44 as Blesse them that curse you and to gratulate b Luk. 1.42 yet notwithstanding oftentimes it signifieth the same which is to dedicate or consecrate that is to separate from profane vse to appoint an holy vse according to Gods ordinance as Gen. 2.3 God blessed the seuenth day and sanctified it From whence Ecumenius saith that the Cup of blessing which we blesse is all one thing as if it should be said which we reuerence with praiers giuing of thanks From hence commeth consecration or sanctification and blessing whereby not with a meere Historical reading of the text of the Epistle to the Corinthians or of the Gospell but with praiers with giuing of thanks with a plaine faithful repetition of the words of the Institution and of the promise of Christ alwaies effectual with a liuely significatiue exposition moreouer with all that Lyturgy or holy action which Christ commāded vs to performe as he himself did wherin God is effectual those which were vulgar common helps of nourishing the body are made sacramēts of the body bloud of Christ appointed set out for quickning meat drink so are translated from common natural meat to holy and spirituall meate forasmuch as they are appointed to this vse and office that it may be the bodie and bloud of Christ not of it owne nature but by diuine institution which ought to be rehearsed against Faustus booke 20 Ch. 13 and declared that faith may haue what to embrace both in the word and in the Elements Augustine saith Noster panis calix certa consecratione mysticus fit nobis non nascitur That is Our bread and cup by a certaine consecration is made but not borne mysticall vnto vs. Therefore they are deceiued which referre the consecration onely to those words This is my bodie and this is my bloud and they which doe interpret the consecration concerning the hid vertue of those words which they call operatorie whereby the substance of the bread is changed and an inclusion made of the bodie and bloud of Christ For the Lord did not speake to the bread but to the Apostles when he saith concerning the bread Take Booke 7 Epist 63 Apologie 2 book 1. Epist 1 booke 4. Ch. 57 Booke 4. of the Sacram. Chap. 4 and eate this is my bodie c. And Gregorie saith that The Apostles added the Lords prayer to consecration Iustinus saith that the Eucharist was performed with prayer Cyprian saith with inuocation of the highest God Irenaeus saith with giuing of thanks which is the thing which the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we blesse Ambrose saith with the words and speech of the Lord Iesus And what those words are he declareth chap. 5. reciting the words of institution and Augustine saith The word commeth to the Element and so is made the Sacrament But for the Canon of the Masse without which the Popish Cleargie doe denie that eyther consecration or participation can be made no scripture doth teach that it was taught by Christ and his Apostles but it is a pontificiall ordinance sowen together like vnto pieces of many authors and diuers times and stuffed with many blasphemies against Christ What did Christ after the blessing The bread being taken he brake it and he brake it not only because hee would deuide it but because of representing his death Is the breaking or cutting of bread an indifferent ceremony It is not but essentiall and Sacramentall wholy belonging to the end or scope and moreouer to the forme of the holy Supper as also the powring in of wine into the cup forasmuch as by it the faithfull do behold with the eyes of their mind Christ not onely bestowing himselfe for vs but as it were torne in peeces beaten to peeces broken in peeces with vnspeakeable torments of minde and body and torne a sunder euen to the most violent separation of the soule from the bodie and according to his humane nature butchered as it were into two parts and trickling downe drops of bloud for our saluation Not that his bodie was broken in verie deed For not a bone in it ought to be brokē as was shadowed out by t●e Paschal Lamb a Ioh. 19.33 36 Exod. 124. but we cal it broken because then it was pulled a sunder his side opened his hands and feete pierced at length also the bodie separated from the soule which also is the cause why the Apostle by a Sacramentall Metotonymie and chaunge of names doth attribute to the bodie it selfe of the Lord that which was done in that bread and ought also now to be done when as hee saith that the Lord spake this concerning the bread This is my bodie which is broken for you 1. Cor. 11 24. And from the same custome of breaking of bread the Eucharist is called breaking of bread a Acts. 2.42 20.7 And that the custome of breaking was vsuall in the Churches in Paules time it plainely appeareth by his owne words when he saith The bread which wee breake 1. Cor. 10. and this custome the Church long obserued But the manner of the Hoste 6. That is of giuing those round small little morsels the Church of Rome instituted VVhat did the Lord concerning the bread broken and the wine powred forth Hee gaue to the Disciples or hee deliuered and distributed them into the hands of the Disciples and by the selfe samse thing he taught that the faithful ought to consider with a faithfull mind the same Christ in the distribution of that bread and of that wine euen as if they did see him giuing himselfe with eternal life with his owne hand to bee vsed and enioyed which thing also he doth in verie deed by the inward vertue of his holy Spirit VVhat words did Christ ioyne to his action Three sorts some commaunding in which he commaunded what he would haue his disciples to do in celebrating of the Supper and wherein he expressed the outward forme of the Supper signified the inward some are Indicatiue Sacramentall or words of promise which for declaration sake Christ ioyned to the signs wherein he declared the inward matter or thing signified finallie some are exegeticall wherein he set forth the end of this holy action What doth he commaund his to do in the supper 1 What the ministers themselues or disposers of the supper ought to doe
vnderstand the solemne profession of the Christian faith or finally the giuing of thankes and bestowing of almes What is it to Take Amongst the Euangelists it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is properly vndrestoode of the hand from whence also euery thing whereby a thing is taken as the handle of a cuppe the eare of a pot the hilt of a weapon is called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Neither is it like to be true neither can it be gathered out of the historie of the institution of the Lords Supper nor by the maner of the sitting of Christ and of his Apostles at meat that Christ in the first Supper put bread into euery Apostles mouth For Io. 13 23. Iohn is said in the last Supper to haue leaned of Iesus bosome namely according to the manner of feasts of that time wherein in taking of meate they being stretched forth did leane vpon the ground or in an high chamber trimmed with beds as wee may reade Luk. 22.12 so that they did make as it were a certaine circle and the next did as it were leane vpon the former their heades alwaies within and their feete stretched out without 3. Moreouer the manner of taking both of me ate and drinke with the mouth not with the hand agreeth not to those of age and to the great ones that is to those which haue their wits exercised to discerne both good and euill a Heb. 5.14 such as it behoueth all them to bee as much as may be which are commaunded to examine themselues before they come to the Lords table but to Infants yet crying and which cannot discerne betweene their right hand and their left b Ionah 4.11 4. Furthermore that the word of Taking is to be vnderstood of the taking by the hand it is euident because otherwise there should bee a manifest Tautologie in the words of Christ when the taking of the mouth is necessarily vnderstoode out of the wordes by themselues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Eate and Drinke 5. The practise also and vse of the ancient Church doth shewe the same whose example is extant in the wor●s of Ambrose to Theodosius the great Emperour How wilt thou stretch out the hands from which innocent bloude doth yet drop How wilt thou take the holy body of the Lord with such hands Theodore● hist Ec●lesiasticall b● 5 Chap. 8 with what rashnesse wilt thou take in thy mouth the cup of the pretious bloud since that by the furie of thy words so much bloud is vniustly shed Therefore it is a superstitious thing to forbid the communicants to take Eucharisticall bread or cup for the inner mouth is no more holie then the lips and hands Wherefore they which put in whole little morsels into the mouth not into the hands of the receiuers I cānot tel with what reason they can deny that they are papisticall and do cherish the spawne of superstition amongst their people What is declared by this receiuing of bread and wine into the hands As true a spiritual sealing within vs by the instrument of faith both of Christ himselfe and also of his benefits necessarie to our saluation as there is a true and certaine receiuing of these signes into the hands of the takers What doth the bodilie eating and drinking of this bread and this wine and moreouer the conueying of it into our body signifie That Iesus Christ receiued by the instrument of faith by a Diuine vertue through the Couenant of a new league is so farre made ours that hee doth passe as it were into vs by an incomprehensible mysterie to seale vp spirituall life in vs and wee in like manner passe into him yet with this difference that in naturall eating and nourishment those things which we eate and drinke by the strength of naturall heate are changed into our substance that there may be a renewing of that which began to be consumed but in spiritual nourishing the bodie and bloud of Christ doe so nourish and renewe vs and make vs one bodie with Christ that they doe change vs but are not changed in vs because wee had neede and must bee conformed to Christ and made like to his Image Rom. 8.29 Phil. 3.10 Is the giuing of the signes and eating them with the mouth and the giuing and eating of the things signified one and the same in number and kinde No in no wise 1 For as there are two persons administring the Lords supper on of the pastor performing that which is done outwardly and without an other of Christ effecting by his holy spirit that which is done inwardly 2 And as the whole action of the Lords supper doth consist of two things one earthly corporall and to be perceiued by the senses themselues Another heauenly spiritual and to be vnderstood by a faithfull minde 3 And as there are two parts of a man whereof one is the body the other the soule so there are two diuerse giuings one to the body which is done by the minister and another to the minde performed by Christ And so many eatings that is to say one outward corporall orall naturall and sensible namely of sensible signes which also is called Sacramental which is done by the instrumēt of the mouth the other inwarde supernaturall of the things signified and to be perceiued with the eyes of faith which is called spirituall That first was instituted by Christ that it might be an expresse image of this spirituall eating and drinking This twofold eating Augustine acknowledged He which eateth within not without he which eateth in heart not which presseth with his tooth Tractat. 36. vppon Iohn b. 4. dist 1.9 And Lombard As there are two things of the sacrament so there are two waies of eating one sacramentall whereby the good and bad doe eat the other spirituall whereby onely the good doe eat For looke what those earthly gifts are to mans body the instruments thereof that are heauenly giftes to the soule the most excellent instrument thereof which is faith But earthly signes are laid hold vpon with the body and the instruments thereof that is to say sensibly and corporally therfore the celestial good things are receiued onely with the soule and with the instrumēt thereof that is to say by faith spirituallie and intellectuallie a Ioh. 6.35 frō whence also that may be gathered that the word manducandi that is of eating is taken concerning the partaking of the signes properly but concerning the participation of the bodie of Christ in a borrowed sence Seeing that the flesh of Christ is corporall is not the eating of it in the Supper also corporall Truely the flesh of Christ is corporall in respect that it is a bodie but it is not corporall by speaking properly in respect that it is meat for as much as our bodie is nourished neither with his flesh nor bloud as if it were foode for this corporall
of the Sonne of man and drinke his bloud yee haue no life in you Whosoeuer eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life And my flesh is meat indeede and my bloud is drinke indeed Concerning which eating Hierom saith Quando audimus verbum Dei tunc caro Christi sanguis eius in aures nostras funditur that is vpō psalm 147. When wee heare the word of God then the flesh of Christ and his bloud is powred into our eares Finally there is another Spirituall and Sacramentall together in the lawfull vse of the Lords Supper that is to say of them which in the Lords Supper do eate both the signe of the bodie of Christ with the mouth of their bodie and also the bodie of Christ with the mouth of the soule it selfe that is they receiue it by true faith and are truely partakers of it by the working of the holy Ghost eating not only panem Domini the bread of the Lord but also panem Dominum the bread the Lord as Augustine somtimes said Although it is the same not a twofold receiuing of the same and one Christ that is to say spirituall by faith whether it be giuen to our minde to bee taken in the bare word or Sacramentall signes beeing added thereunto And therefore it is not to bee denyed that those words Ioh. 6. doe belong to the spirituall eating which is done in the Supper For although Christ then spake not of the signes themselues yet he spake of the matter of the Sacrament For which cause the Fathers in their Homilies especially to the people applyed that place to the Sacrament of the Euchariste But as for a carnall or orall eating whereby the bodie of Christ may bee receiued with the mouth and conueyed into the stomack there is none because it cannot stand with a spiritual eating with his ascention a Iohn 6. verse 62 And because carnal eating is not only vnprofitable but Capernaiticall but the spirituall quickneth as it is in the same place b Verse 63. But whereas Bellarmine goeth about to prooue that the words of Christ Iohn 6. are properly to be vnderstoode of the corporall eating of the flesh of Christ which may bee done in the Eucharist Book 2. of the sacrament Enchir. Chapter 5● which hee calleth Sacramentall because Christ confirmed with an oathe verilie verily which is not lawfull to adde but in most plaine sentences and which cannot be wrested to another sense least a gappe bee thus opened to periuries It is easily confuted because Christ Iohn 3 3 vsed the same oath in one figuratiue sentence and taken of Nichodemus to another sense verily verily I say vnto thee except a man be borne againe hee cannot see the Kingdome of GOD. And to make it a proper speaking a most absurd consequence should followe that euerie one comming neuer so vnworthilie shall haue eternall life for all such should eate the flesh of Christ vpon Psal 〈◊〉 97 But contrariwise Augustine speaking of those words of Christ saith Hast thou vnderstode spiritually They are spirit and life Hast thou vnderstoode carnally so also they are spirite and life but they are not to thee vnderstand spiritually those things which I haue spoken Yee shall not eate this bodie which yee see and drinke that bloud which they who shall crucifie mee shall shed I haue commended vnto you a certaine Sacrament beeing spiritually vnderstoode it shall quicken you but the flesh profiteth nothing And in his Tract vpon Iohn To beleeue in Christ This is to eate the liuing breade And hee saith that those words Except yee eate the flesh of the sonne of man doe signifie nothing else De Do et Chr stum Book 3 Chapter 16 but that wee must communicate with the Lords passion and sweetely thinke in our mindes that the flesh of Christ was crucified for vs. And hee saith Vt quid paras dentem ventrem Crede manducasti that is Why doest thou prepare thy tooth and thy belly beleeue and thou hast eaten in which words truely hee granteth that the flesh of Christ is eaten figuratiuely whether we regard the essence or the manner of corporall eating Which are the Sacramentall or definitiue words or the words of promise which the Lord added to the signes Namely those which doe shewe as it were the kernell or inward matter or the thing signifyed whereof some are said concerning the bread and some concerning the cuppe And truely there are two parts of that speach concerning the bread the first This is my bodie The latter Which is giuen for you or is broken Which is the subiect of the former part and also the Attribute The Pronoune demonstratiue This not taken adiectiuely but substantiuely which doth not signifie a singular thing and vnfruitfull or any singular thing of a more general substance which may signifie the same thing with that which is spoken of or as Scotus speaketh may pro eodem supponere that is put in the place of the same so as they which are signifyed by the subiect attribute differ not betwixt themselues except in a diuers manner of conceiuing as though the sense should be This thing cōteined in the bread is my bodie Neither also is that subiect to be vnderstoode of that which was bread as if wee should speake of that which Moses held in his hand and which was a staffe or a rod. This is a Serpent or this which was water at the mariage in Cana is wine Also it is not to be taken for the aduerbe of place Hic here But that pronoune demonstratiue is referred to certaine breade which Christ tooke brake and gaue to the Disciples but it is not referred to his owne bodie Paule being the interpreter 1. Cor. 10.16 The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ It is false therfore which Bellarmine assumeth booke 1. chap. 9. concerning the Eucharist that Hoc this cannot be spoken of a thing which is seene and openly knowne vnlesse that thing be of the neuter gender But the attribute is corpus meum my bodie which is spoken concerning the subiect that is to say true bread But the couple wherwith that attribute is ioyned with the subiect is the Substantiue Est is Is the verbe Est to be taken essentially or substantiuely and in his naturall signification In no wise but significatiuely representatiuely and figuratiuely and againe Bellarmine is deceiued who thinketh that this verbe cannot by any meanes bee taken in any other then in the proper signification because by no reason at all neither Phisicall nor Logicall nor Theologicall can an vnlike thing be saide of an vnlike properly existently essentially and substantially but onely figuratiuely Neither can two things remaining substantially diuided how much soeuer ioyned and vnited together in their essences bee truely saide so to bee one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that one may truely be said to be another substantially So the soule
was identical rightly expressed in these words this is the bloud of the couenant But Christ gaue to his disciples wine contained in the cup and sacramentally signified the thing by the signe of wine Therfore in the enuntiation of Christ this namely the wine which was contained in the cup is one thing that bloud of the new Testament that is the thing it selfe of that sacrament is an other thing And therfore the enuntiation of Christ is rightly expressed in these words hoc est sanguis this is bloud What is the new testament in the bloud of Christ They acknowledge that the name of Testament is the same here that Couenant is who do take it to answere to the Hebrew name Berith and therfore to declare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is an agreement begun betweene them which first did disagree which signification doth especially heere accord although it commeth all to one reckoning whether we vnderstand the new couenant begun by the bloud of christ or the wil of christ dying which is signified by the word testamēt established confirmed by his own bloud shed For the particle In in the Hebrew phrase doth not signifie a simple coniunction inexistence or reall concomitancie as though it had beene said with my bloud but the cause the manner the instrument and the adiuuant cause of any thing as Psal 33.16 The King is not saued in multo exercitu that is by the multitude of an host and Rom. 5.2 In the bloud of Christ that is by the bloud as it is expounded Coloss 1.22 Rom. 3.14 But this Testament is not any corporal draught of the bloud of Christ or drinking of wine but it is the couenant of grace reconciliation or agreement and a couenant betweene God and the beleeuers wherein God doth promise vnto vs that he forgiueth vs our sins and giueth the holy Ghost righteousnes and life eternall of his meere mercie by faith for the bloud of Christ shed vpon the crosse and wee in like manner to binde ourselues to God to receiue these his benefits by true faith in Christ and to shew thankfulnes by true obedience towards him in the whole course of our life Of which couenant Esay speaketh chap. 59.24 and Ier. 31.31 and 32.40 Heb. 9 15. Gal. 3.17 Why said not the lord This is my body of the new Testament as he said this cup is the new testament in my bloud Because although the Testament or new couenant was established by the oblation of whole Christ and by the intercession of his death Heb. 9.15.16 yet notwithstanding his death was more euident in the bloud shed then in the matter it selfe of the flesh Therfore vnder the old couenant Moses said Exo. 24.8 Heb. 9.20 Behold the bloud of the couenant which the Lord hath made with you And therfore Christ that the relation of the truth might be more plaine he applied the appellation of the New Couenant rather to his bloud then to his bodie yet so that he excluded not his bodie the bloud whereof was shed from the confirmation of the couenant and redemption of the soule Add to this that when Christ had made mention of drinking wine which he calleth his bloud he remembred the new couenant because vnder the old the vse of bloud was forbidden a Leuit. 17. Verse 10.16 which in the other signe of bread was not necessarie to expresse Which is the other branch Which for you in Luke and for many in Mathew and Marke is shed for the remission of sinnes The subiect of which speech is the Relatiue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which and it is referred properly to the bloud not to the wine Truly if you look to the construction of the words in Luke it must be referred to the cup but because neyther the cup nor the wine was shed for vs that subiect is altogether to be vnderstood of the bloud The predicate Effunditur is shed again by Enallage for Effundetur shall be shed as the common translation doth also expound it Yet the Lord doth seeme vpon set purpose in the institution of this mystery although speaking of a thing to come yet to haue vsed in both places the words of the Present Tense that the Disciples might be admonished that this is the vse of these signes that with the eyes of faith the things forthwith to be should be seene as it were alreadie present in them like as we must behold them in this action by faith as it were being before our eyes although alreadie performed long agoe that is to say the whole historie of the passion as if with these our eyes wee did see the bodie of Christ hanging and pierced through and the bloud dropping out of his wounds Therefore it is shed saith hee that is to say vpon the Crosse not into the cup or into a mouth whereby againe is signified in what manner the bloud of Christ is liuing drinke to vs not simplie as it is now clarified but as shed for vs and truly for you and for many Marke 14.24 although not for all but for the elect onely that is for their cause for the remission of sinnes which is a most exceeding wholesome end of the bloud of Christ shed not of the drinke of wine For of this it is said In remembrance of me but of the shedding of bloud For the remission of sinnes From whence doe you gather besides that Christ spake Tropically 1 From the nature and sacramentall speaches of all other Sacraments alreadie instituted from the beginning of the world wherein it commeth to passe that the name of the thing signified is giuen to the signe it selfe or the signe is named for the thing signifyed as Genes 17.10.13 Circumcision is the Couenant that is the signe of the Couenant Exod. 12.11.27 The Lambe is the Passeouer that is the signe and memoriall of the Lord The Rocke was Christ that is a signe of Christ a Exod. 17.6 1. Cor. 10.4 2 From the knowne speech concerning the same Sacrament in Paule 1. Cor. 10.16 The bread which we breake is the communion of the bodie that is to say Metonymically like as the Gospell is called the power of God that is the effectuall instrument of God Rom. 1.16 And VVe that are many are one bread and one bodie And 1. Cor. 11.29 He that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth drinketh his owne damnation which things vnlesse a trope be vsed cannot be vnderstood and the bodie it selfe of Christ cannot be said to be eaten but tropically 3 Because the Ascension of Christ into heauen and the veritie of the humane nature which hee tooke admitteth not a proper speech For Augustine teacheth That one place is not to bee interpreted so that it may be contrarie to many others but so that it may agree with many other De Doct. Christ 4 Because the Fathers had the same meate and drinke not only among themselues but also with vs that is to say in respect of the matter
spiritually fed with my bodie giuen for you and my bloud shed for you and are nourished by it to life eternall Why had the Lord rather vse this phrase This is my bodie and this is my bloud then to say this signifieth my bodie and my bloud Because the word of signifying worthily seemed vnto him somewhat light and he would more expresly declare that those signes are not propounded that they may bee considered as they are in themselues but that it behoueth the receiuers so to behold and spiritually to apprehend with the eyes of a faithfull minde those things only in those signes which are represented by them as if that breade and that wine were not the signes of those things but those things themselues which they doe signifie Whether if the bodie of Christ bee denyed to bee in the bread of the Supper therefore Christ himselfe is said to bee altogether absent from his Supper No yet so that whole Christ is present but not the whole for Christ man is truely present 1. By the grace and operation of his spirit Where two or three are gathered together in his name Mat. 18.20 2. And by his power and maiestie a Math. 28.20 Heb. 7.26 3. That he which being absent in bodie and made higher then the Heauens yet may be whole most present by his vertue wherby he doth spiritually communicate both himselfe and all his great things to vs truely by faith 4. And by the promise of the Gospell he doth lift vp the hearts of the faithfull to himselfe euen into heauen that there they may behold namely in the celestiall sanctuarie the sacrifice offered vpon the crosse so may feed vpon it by faith Finally Christ doth truely and fully without all doubt accompish that which he promised Is the bodie of the Lord truely and Substantially present in the Supper It is present not truely by conuersion of the whole substance that is both of the matter and forme of the bread and wine into the bodie and bloud of the Lord either by impanation or assumption of the bread or locall inclusion not as an infant in the cradle for neither is it present in outward signes by in existence or indistance nor in regard of the place where the bread is neither also is it present in the bodies of men or is put into the mouth for if you respect the place the bodie of Christ is in heauen circumscribed But in the minds of the faithfull and in regard of the faith of a man lawfully vsing the holy Supper of the Lord. For that is the strength of faith that it may ioyne together most streightly things neuer so much distant asunder Therefore a true and liuely presence of the bodie of Christ in the Supper and communion of him with the beleeuers in the ministerie of the Sacraments is not reiected but onely that manner of presence which is fained at the bread is denyed Are these propositions contradictorie Christ is corporally in heauen and Christ with his body and bloud is in the Supper Not a whit because this latter is nor rightly vn●erstood of the presence at the place of bread but of the communion with man which is sealed and exhibited by the rite of the Supper Is not the Supper of Christ made voide if the very flesh of Christ be determined to be so farre essentially absent from this action as the heauens are from the earth In no wise because the bodie it selfe and bloud of Christ are set forth in these mysteries not simply and so farre forth as they are things subsisting in themselues but to be cōsidered intellectually and are offered to the minde not to the bodie to faith not to the senses to be taken also in the mind by faith alone For truely like as those things which are heard are to be perceiued by the hearing those things which are seene by the sight so also those things which are vnderstoode by the vnderstanding so those things which are beleeued by faith neither are these things alike present to their obiects But the perceiuing of faith is a great deale more certain then all comprehension of the senses or of reason how faith can make a thing present Paule declareth Gal. 3.1 where hee saith that Christ was described in their sight and among them crucified Are earthly and celestiall gifts present after the same manner of presence Not after the same because there is no other presence of Christ in the seale of grace then in the word or promise of grace But the presence of Christ Iesus in the word adde also in baptisme yea in the whole ministerie is only spirituall not corporall or locall For as there is not made an inclusion of Christ in the voice of the minister outwardly sounding so neither in the Sacramental symbols or signes For Paul saith that Wee whiles we are strangers in the bodie are absent from the Lord and doe walke by faith and not by sight 2. Cor. 5.6.7 Neither that wee know Christ henceforth after the flesh but after the spirit vers 16. Also that Christ is aboue Col. 3.1 That Christ shall descend from heauen in the day of iudgement 1. Thess 4.16 And truely that he shall come not daily and euery moment and otherwise then he ascended that is to say inuisibly and vncircumscriptiuely but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is in that manner not otherwise wherein he was seene to ascend into heauen a Act. 1.11 Wherfore the presence of Christ also in the Supper is spirituall which you may call celestiall Diuine supernaturall but not corporall or natural Which therefore is the thing signified of the Lords Supper Christ himselfe offering himselfe with all his benefits spiritually to bee apprehended in our mindes by faith for in the Lords supper wee are made partakers not onely of the operation or of the benefits and gifts of Christ but of the substance of the liuing bodie of Christ What is vnderstood by naming of bodie and bloud in the Attribute of these propositions This is my bodie and This is my bloud Not a signe thereof which some fathers call a Sacramentall bodie that is to say Sacramentally vnderstood euen as when they say that the bodie of the Lord is seene touched brused with the teeth doth fall vpon the earth is created made consumed Also not the mystical body which is the Church a Eh. 5.32 Eph. 23 For so the faithfull should seeme to cate either the signes alone or the Church although we doe not deny this that the mysticall bodie is shadowed and moreouer established by the signes of bread an● wine b 1 Cor. 10 16 but Synecdochically the whole humanitie of Christ both altogether and in respect of parts the true and naturall bodie of Christ deliuered for vs crucified and buried The true bloud shed for vs and his true soule yea also the whole person of Christ For truely his humanitie without the Deitie of the word
vpon the Sacrament doth cease For the Sacraments are religious and continuall actions to which signes are added not that the minde should stay it selfe in them but that they might moue them to whom they are giuen to thinke vpon and doe another thing 2 Is is manifest also out of the word of God that it was plainely forbidden of the Lord that any of the Paschall Lamble being the expresse type of our Eucharist and of Manna should be kept till the next day vndoubtedly that the least entrance to superstition might be shut vp 3 And this worshipping of bread Dan. chap. 11.38 Doth attribute to Antichrist when he saith He shall honour the God Mauzzim as if he should say Missarie that is to say crustie or breaden In Gold and siluer and precious things 4 Neyther said Christ lift vp offer lay vp carie about worship but take eate drinke in remembrance of me What is the second end That the Lord may visibly represent his inuisible giftes neere to all the senses to the sight to the hearing to the taste to the feeling that the whole man being mooued in bodie and soule may celebrate this most pleasant and holy thing with greater ioy Which is the third end That it may be an effectuall token symbole pledge testification and confirmation of our communion coniunction and incorporation with Christ the head and by him as it were by a Mediator with the Father and the holy Ghost a 1 Ioh. 1.3 Of which end the Apostle saith the cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ and the bread which we breake is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ 1. Cor. 10.16 that is to say Metonymically like as the Gospell is called the power of God to saluation Rom. 1.16 That is an effectuall instrument of God which ende the promise of the Lord doth also note Iohn 6.56 Hee that eateth my flesh dwelleth in mee and I in him Of how many sorts is the coniunction of our nature with Christ 1 Threefold the first is of natures that is of our nature by Incarnation but yet in the particular and truly of the seede alone of Abraham and a ioyning together of the diuine nature in the person of the sonne into one person b Ioh. 1.14 Heb. 2.14 16 which is called Hypostaticall and according to this we say that the sonne of God is of our flesh and of our bones because hee tooke flesh of our kinde 2 There is a ioyning together of our persons but yet being absent and on pilgrimage from the Lord and of the person of Christ God and man yea of both natures both of the Diuine and of the humane nature of Christ into one mysticall bodie which in regard of the extreams See Zanch. his Spiritual mariage betwixt Christ his church his comment vpon Eph. 5. de communione cum Christo is called Substantiall Essential but in regard of the bond or manner whereby the extreames are vnited meerely spirituall and mysticall that is to say secret Whereupon dependeth the participation of the operation and of the graces of Christ that is of remission of sinnes of regeneration and of life eternall Concerning which 1. Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye are called vnto the fellowship of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. And according to this wee are said to be of his flesh and of his bones not in respect that we are men but in regard that wee are Christians and ingrafted into Christ and by this Christ is the Spouse of one Church that is of all the Elect a Eph. 5.30 3 And there is a coniunction of our persons but present with the Lord and of the person of Christ into one glorious bodie and that is called glorious Of which coniunctions the third dependeth vpon the second and the second vpon the first What doth the word Felowship signifie in the saying of Paule b 1 Cor 1.9 that is which coniunction of those three doth it signifie Not the concord or coniunction of consent and will onely but the habitation and dwelling c 2 Cor. 6 6. and consociation or participation of our persons with Christs person Although 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is participation doth seeme to be referred properly to the signes and to the seuerall persons eating the same bread but yet broken and distributed seuerally by parts as the same Apostle noteth 1. Cor. 10 17. as Chrysostome interprets it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Because we all are partakers of one bread But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Felowship is to be referred to whole Christ to be applied to themselues by faith that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is participation may be an exception of the part but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is fellowship a fruition and possession of the whole And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is participation may be said of the signes taken by parts but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is felowship of the thing signified that is to say whole Christ Verily how straight this is it is euident Ex nomine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by the name of vnitie or coniunction which Christ vnfolding saith I desire of thee O father that they which thou hast giuen me may be one as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee euen that they also may be one in vs. Iohn 17.21 Else where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifye both fellowship in prayers and in breaking of bread and also almes or contribution or collation or abilitie d act 2 42 Rom. 15.26 2 Cor 8 4 Heb. 13.16 and also consent in doctrine Gal. 2.9 What is it to communicate with Christ It is not onely to professe Christ or onely to communicate with his incarnation whereby he was made a certaine one thing in speciall with all mankind although this incarnation be the foundation of this Vnion whereof wee intreat neyther onely in affection in loue in consent and concord to bee vnited to Christ nor to communicate only with the merits of Christ But it is to haue Christ dwelling and liuing in vs and vs to dwell and liue in Christ a Ioh. 6.55 and that in verie deed as Chrysostome speaketh and naturally as Cyrill saith that is in the verie communication also of the humane nature of Christ to be vnited and ioyned with Christ to cleaue to him and Christ to bee made ours and wee in like manner to bee made Christs and moreouer to bee nourished with Christ or to be ioyned to him to be ingrafted into him so that more more growing vp into his mystical bodie in one spirit we be members of his bodie b 1 Cor. 6.15 of his flesh and of his bones And that we may all meete together in the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the
or Bacchanalls without a Sermon or declaring of the Lords death which Paule would haue to be vsed in the Lords supper 23 By hearing or rather by looking vpon the Masse they thinke themselues armed against God and as it were with an Ammulet or preseruatiue against poyson safe from all daunger 24 That the Sacrament is once a yeare to bee deliuered or communicated to the people 25 They teach that auricular confession is necessarie for those that will be communicants 26 They celebrate the Masse in a strange and vnknowne language 27 In the Canon of the Masse besides the offering of their sacrifice they vse inuocation of Saints departed and they mixe withall imaginarie merits 28 They celebrate Masses for the honour of Saints and for the obtayning of their intercession with God whereby the remembrance and intercession of Christ is obscured and ouerthrowen 29 They thinke that the vse of the Supper is of absolute necessitie to those that are readye to depart this life 30 They vse consecrated bread for the quenching of fire and for the calming of tempests 31 They doe superstiously include it in their Armories and Cupbords 32 They burne candles before it 33 VVhen they please euen as in the olde time the Persians did the fire they carrie it about to bee worshipped Thirdly the errors of the consubstantiators who doe not admit the true doctrine of the letter and the spirit but thinke that the sacramentall speeches are to be interpreted literally according to the letter and rationallie as they meane 2 That it is offered bodily or essentially or ioyntly or after an admirable and vnspeakable manner and yet by the hand of the minister 3 They say that the bodie of Christ is cast into the mouthes euen of the wicked 4 They commend the recantation of Berengarius which was set downe to him by Pope Nicholas wherein he professeth that not onely the Sacrament but euen the verie true bodie and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ is sensually and in truth handled and broken by the hands of the minister and torne in peeces by the teeth of the faithfull 5 They teach the reall omnipresence of the verie bodie of Christ vpon earth in many places nay in euery place 6 They attribute to the flesh of Christ many sortes of beings 7 They holde that there is a communion made by a mutuall reall and actuall conioyning of the substances 8 The doe not acknowledge the spirituall presence onely of the bodie and bloud of Christ 9 They reckon the papisticall eleuation and lifting vp of the hoast among things indifferent 10 They doe wickedly confound the twofold eating namely the one outward of the bread the other inwarde of the bodie of Christ to be but one and the same Fourthly the errour of them who haue taken away the breaking of bread in the supper of the Lord and in stead of bread broken or cut doe distribute vnto euery one that commeth to the Lords table so many in nomber of whole and severall breads or round and thin cakes 2 They haue abolished the deliuerie of the signes into the hands of the receiuers and the taking of them by their hands Fiftly the error of those who doe very seldome make mention of the sacramentall changing of the bread and wine 2 They teach that the onely merit of Christes obedience is to be accounted for the thing signified in the holy Supper of the Lord and thinke that onely the commemoration and remembrance of the death of Christ and of his benefits is taught therein and doe not vrge vs to bee by communion incorporated into Christ Sixtly the errors of them who first denie the presence of Christ in the Supper 2 They hold them to be but common signes which doe not effectually and powerfully moue 3 They account the sacramentall signes but as bare pictures and things to looke vpon whereby they may onely be stirred vp to renue the memory of Christs death 4 They take these holy mysteries but as outward notes or badges whereby they that professe themselues to be Christians may be distinguished from other profane people Seuenthly the error of them who doe vnreuerently vse these holy actions and in no other manner but as common and daily matters 2 They that thinke it is free for them eyther to come to the Lords Supper or to abstaine from it at their pleasure and therefore vse it verie seldome whereas indeed it is no small part of Gods worship and by God commaunded Eightly the error of some who alleadge that the Supper of the Lord succeedeth not the Paschall Lambe but Manna which was not an ordinarie and perpetuall sacrament nor ioyned in time with the Supper neyther had it any signe of the merite of Christ which is the chiefe thing in the Lords Suppe contrarie to the manifest institution of the Lord a Luk. 12.19 Ninthly the error or rather the dreame of a certaine libertine Iodochus Harchius a Montensian Belgan who holdeth that wee doe not eyther corporally or spiritually take and eate the verie bodie of Christ crucified but making a twofold flesh of Christ one naturall and taken of the virgin Marie now glorious in heauen the other spirituall intelligible and made by the diuine power of God of bread and wine to bee tasted and conceiued chiefely in the minde this hee imagineth to goe into the nourishment of the mysticall bodie that is to say of all the faithfull being daily taken with the mouth and by faith or otherwise he dreameth that there is a certaine power proceeding from the flesh of Christ and after a wonderfull and vnspeakeable sort infusing it selfe into the bread doth nourish the flesh of a Christian man which is cōtrarie to the expresse words of our Sauiour Christ which is giuen which is powred out which words doe euidently shew that the true bodie of Christ and the true bloud of Christ are signified and spiritually exhibited vnto the beleeuers The nine and fortieth common place Concerning Magistrates or Politicke gouernment Is the doctrine of policie or ciuill gouernment and Magistracie to be deliuered in the Church IT is Because Commonweales are the Nourceries of the Church and the consciences of both godly Magistrates and faithfull subiects are by this doctrine to bee enformed against such Fanaticall Spirits as oppugne that doctrine Whence is the Commonwealth called Politeia Policie Of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Citie comming of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many But Ciuitas a Citie as it were Coiuitas or Ciuium vnitas the vnitie of Citizens is not onely such buildings as are comprehended in one ditch trench or wall but that multitude of people which doth inhabite those buildings And the regiment and order of that companie or people is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 policie in Latine Respublica the Common-wealth From whence is deriued politice the Art of policie which teacheth how the Commonwealth must be ordered and preserued as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
f Heb. 2.16 and did personally and inseparably for euer vnite a true humane bodie g Heb. 2.14 indued with a reasonable h Mat. 26.38 27.50 soule And so being true God became true man like to vs in all things i Heb. 2.17 4.15 sin onely excepted What things are we especially to consider in the person of Christ Foure 1. That Christ is God 2. That the same Christ is man 3. That he is God and man in one person 4. The phrases and the vsuall speeches which are affirmed of Christ in the Scriptures By how many and by what kind of testimonies do you proue that Christ is God By three 1. By apparant and manifest sentences of scripture wherein the Diuinitie of Christ is auerred 2. By his workes which were altogether diuine 3. By the worship and honour which was yeelded vnto Christ both of the Saints that beleeued and of the Angels Shew some pregnant testimonies whereby you can proue that Christ is God Esa 9.6 This is the name whereby they shall call him speaking of the Messias to wit the mightie God the Father of eternitie Ier. 23.6 The name whereby the braunch of Dauid shall be called shall be the Iehouah our righteousnesse Iud. 6.11 c. That Angel which appeared to the holy Patriarches cals himselfe Iehouah In the new Testament Mat. 16.16 Thou art Christ the Sonne of the liuing God Iohn 20.28 My Lord and my God Rom. 9.5 Christ being God was of the Fathers according to the flesh who is God for euer 1. Iohn 5.20 And we are in his Son Iesus Christ who is very God and life eternall 1. Tim. 3.16 God is manifest in the flesh In which places Christ is absolutely called God and the name Iehouah so giuen to him not by a trope or symbolically by reason of the presence of God as Exod. 17.15 it is giuen to the altar Psal 24.8 it is giuen to the arke Ier. 33.16 it is giuen to Ierusalem Which be the testimonies of the second sort The workes which none can doe but God alone which are ascribed to him to wit to create and preserue a Ioh. 1.3 5.17 Col. 1.16 Heb. 1.2.3 to redeeme b 1. Cor. 1.30 1. Thess 1.10 to blot out iniquities c Mat. 9.6 to search the heart d Matth. 9.4 Mar. 2.8 14 13. to heare our prayers e Iohn 14.14 to quicken f Iohn 5.27 to iudge g Iohn 5.22 moreouer the miracles which he wrought by his owne power according to that prophesie Esa 53.5.6 vnto which also euen Christ himselfe sendeth vs h Iohn 10.25 Mat. 11.4.5 and for the working whereof he gaue power to his Apostles i Math. 10.8 moreouer those attributes which do agree onely to the nature of God and ascribed vnto him as eternall k Mic. 5.2 Ioh. 1.1 17.5 almightie l Iohn 3.31 Phil. 3.21 infinite m Mat. 18.20 28.20 King of Kings n Reu. 19.26 Sauiour o Math. 1.21 Act. 4.12 and the rest testifie him to be God by nature Which is the third kind of testimonies The worship and honor which is performed vnto Christ namely inuocation adoration faith hope Psal 72.11 All the kings of the earth shall worship him and all people shall serue him Esa 11.10 and Rom. 15.12 All nations shall call vpon him and trust in him Psalm 2.12 Blessed are they that put their trust in him Euery knee shall bow vnto him p Rom. 14.11 Phil. 2.10 And Iohn 14.1 Ye beleeue in God beleeue also in me Act. 7.39 Lord Iesu receiue my spirit All which do proue that hee is true God Why is it necessary that Christ the Redeemer should be God For two causes especially whereof the former is the greatnesse of the euill wherewithall mankind was ouerwhelmed which could be taken away by no creature The latter is the greatnesse of the good which could be restored by none to man againe but by God who alone is truly good q Mat. 19.17 What is the greatnesse of the euill It standeth in foure things which be these The greatnesse of mans sin The infinit vnsupportable weight of Gods anger The power of death The tyrannie of the diuell which to take away to abolish to appease to ouercome none was able but God alone What is the greatnesse of the good which could be restored by no creature The restoring againe of the image of God r Col. 3.10 therefore Christ 1. Cor. 1.31 is made to vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption not onely by reuealing and teaching of them but by performing and restoring of them ſ Luk. 1.77 2. Cor. 5.21 Mat. 20.28 Rom. 3.24 Gal. 3.13 4 5. Tit. 2.14 1. Pet. 1.18 Heb. 5.9 Why is he called the Word Basil saith because he proceeded from the mind and is the image of the Father wholy in himselfe manifesting the Father and hauing his being of himselfe euen as our speech is the patterne of all that we thinke but he as Ignatius saith is the Word of the Father not because he floweth from him but that he is the essentiall Word of the Father Or else as Irenaeus speaketh because he is the Fathers interpreter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is called his speech as it were speaking speaking with the Fathers Or else because it is he of whom speech is made that is of whom the Lord hath spoken or whom the Lord hath promised or else because it is he who spake the word and all things were made According to which nature is he called the image of God Col. 1.15 Not according to his humane nature alone as man is said to be made after the image of God but especially according to his diuine nature but manifested in the flesh or so farre forth as God hath truly manifested himselfe in Christ a 2. Tim. 3.16 whereupon he is called the brightnesse of the glorie of the Father Hebr. 1.3 and the character or ingrauen forme of his person because he is not some vanishing representation but ingrauen and durable Proue that Christ is very man Gen. 3.15 The seede of the woman is promised which shall breake the Serpents head Gen. 22.18 God promised Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed 2. Sam. 7.12 it is promised to Dauid that his sonne must sit vpon his throne and raigne for euer Esa 7.14 Behold a virgin shall conceiue and bring forth a sonne Besides all these the historie of the Gospell doth plainly proue that Christ was conceiued b Luke 1.31 borne c Luke 2.7 circumcised d Verse 21. had a true body and soule e Luke 22.20 Heb. 2.4 Mat. 26.38 was hungrie f Mat. 4.2 thirstie g Iohn 19.29 shed his blood h Iohn 19.34 that he died i Mat. 27.50 and that he had all the properties and affections of mans nature yet without sinne k
a Col. 2.15 and our captaine but also our defender vnder whose standard if we fight couragiously we shal get the victorie according to that promise Gene. 3.15 concerning Christ that he should breake the Serpents head And Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall shortly tread downe Satan vnder your feet and Ioh. 16.11 The Prince of this world is iudged alreadie and that comfort Ioh. 16.33 Be of good comfort I haue ouercome the world as also that we haue the good Angels our keepers and defenders against the wicked being of greater power then they What things be against this doctrine 1. The error of the Sadduces which affirmed that the wicked spirits were not indeed substances but euill affections and wicked thoughts which our owne flesh doth suggest vnto vs. 2. The heresie of the Manichees and Priscillianists who affirmed that the diuels were created such as they are now 3. Origens error who thought that the diuels should one day returne to the Lord and be saued cleane contrarie to the sentence of Christ who saith that the diuels shall go into euerlasting fire Mat. 25.41 all which are confuted by those things which haue bene spoken before The eighth common Place of Man What meane you by this word Man NOt the bodie alone or the soule alone but that which is compounded of both soule and bodie being knit together by a most friendly and streight bond in one person Why did God make man the last of all his workes 1. To the end that because he would make him such an one as should consist of bodie and soule before he was made he might haue all things prepared which do belong to the happinesse of either both of bodie as also of the soule 2. That he might vse the things created to the glorie of the Creatour 3. That the Epitome of the whole world might be described in man as it were in a little mappe and so he might be Gods Little world and as it were a Compendium of the things that were before created 4. Because God would communicate himselfe vnto him and take pleasure in him Who is the Creator of man Gen. 1.26.27 Iehouah Elohim the Lord God that is to say the Father Sonne and holy Ghost who did create man after his owne image immediatly that is without any meanes or without the helpe of the Angels How manifold did God create Man Twofold Male and female created he them to propagate such as sho●●d be like themselues in the world a Gen. 1.27 Did God create them both after one manner No for first he created the man and then the woman againe he framed man of the dust and woman of the ribbe of man b Gen. 2.7 ●2 Wherefore did not God create the man and the woman at once as he did the Angels To the end that as God is one beginning of the creation of all things euen so one man might be the beginning of the generation of all men so as whilest all men know themselues to spring from one man they might loue one another euen as one man and might be knit together by one common bond of blood a Act. 17.26 Why was the woman framed out of the side of man and not of some other part of the body Because she was prouided to be neither a mistris not a maide for man but his mate neither was she to be taken out of his head nor his feete but out of his side that he might vnderstand she was to be placed neare vnto himselfe whom he had learned to be taken out of his side In a word because as the woman was framed out of the side of man when he was asleepe euen so the Church was redeemed by the blood and water which flowed out of the side of Christ sleeping on the crosse b Ioh. 19.34 Eph. 5 25.26 Of how many parts doth man consist Of two the bodie and the soule c 1. Thess 5.23 Whence was the bodie taken Out of the clay or the slime of the earth whereupon he was called Adam of Adamah signifying red earth and Homo ab humo or rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pariter quia homo est animal politicon man of a word that signifies the earth therefore Paul saith 1. Corin. 15.47 that he is of the earth earthly which Tertullian in his first booke of the Resurrection keeping the Greeke word interpreteth slime He is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Grecians from his forme because he hath his face vpward or of looking vpward agreeable to that excellent speech If then ye be risen together with Christ seeke those things which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Minde those things which are aboue and not the things which are vpon earth Coloss 3.1.2 Which etymologie Ouid hath expressed elegantly in the first booke of his Metamorphosis Whilst other creatures downe do looke vpon the earthly mold To man he gaue a face vpright the skie for to behold Was not the bodie of Adam framed of the foure elements The foure humors whereof his bodie doth consist do proue that Why then doth Moses make mention onely of the earth Because the denomination or name is giuen of the predominant or greatest part What doth this teach vs that his bodie was framed of the clay It doth put vs in mind of our originall to wit that we as well as other liuing creatures are of the earth and therefore that we should not be proud seeing we must returne thither againe a Gen. 3.19 What is the essentiall forme of man It is the Soule Whereof is this word Soule deriued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of a Greeke word that signifies wind or breathing the Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of cooling or refreshing What then is the Soule a certaine wind or blast No but it is not bodily or materiall and therefore indeed a Spirit or a spirituall essence which being seuered from the bodie hath his being How do you proue that the Soule is a spirituall substance Genes 2.7 It is said that God breathed into mans nostrils the breath of Rather of liues which must be noted for the soules immortalitie life Eccles 12.7 Salomon speaking of death saith that then the spirit returneth againe to God that gaue it And Christ in his passion Luke 23.46 saith Lord I commend my spirit vnto thee And Steuen Act. 7.59 Lord Iesu receiue my spirit And Math. 10.28 Do not feare them who kill the bodie but cannot kill the soule Besides Luke 23.43 Christ said to the theefe This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Now he was not with him in bodie ergo in soule Moreouer also the soule is a subiect capable of all vertues vices arts and sciences and if the soule be once taken away the liuing body perisheth Therefore to conclude it is not an accident but a substance not depending of the being of the bodie After what manner was the
admonished them of the vncleannesse which was to be cleansed away by the bloud of Christ Sacrifices did typically shadow out that Sacrifice which was to follow Whereupon Col. 2.7 and Heb. 10.1 The Law had the shadowe of good things to come not the very image of things but the body was Christ 4. That they might be signes and sacraments whereby the holy Ghost might be effectuall and this not ex opero operato for the worke sake as it was wrought but beeing vsed in faith In which sence Sacrifices are called an attonement for sinne b Leuit. 19 27 5. That they might bee markes of their profession signes distinctions or as it were a wall to separate the Church of Israell from other nations and to driue them from the Idolatrie of other nations What vvas the Iudiciall or Politique Lavv It was a commaundement cōcerning outward actions by which the ciuill societie of the Israelites should bee gouerned or you may call it the Ciuil Law of the Israelites concerning Magistrates distinction of gouernments distribution of inheritances punishment of offences the distinction and proprietie of inheritances the order and processe of Iudgements Contractes Rites of Mariage Diuorces bondage the order and lawes of warre witnesse vsurie of raising seed vp to a mans brother punishment of blasphemie periurie profaning of the Sabaoth and ceremonies sedition disobedience manslaughter damage done to a man either in goods or bodie adulterie whoredome theft and to conclude of all outward offences against euery commaundement of the Decalogue What vvas the vse of the Iudiciall Lavv 1 The maintaining of the State according to the condition of time place and nation 2. Secondly that there might bee an apparant and notable difference betwixt that state wherein the Messias shouldbe borne and that of other nations Hovv farre is the Morall Lavv abrogated 1. In respect of iustification we must thinke alike of all parts of it namely that no man is iust or accepted vnto eternall life for any workes of the Law 2. In respect of obedience wee must make a difference in the parts of the Law and the Morall Law hath two parts as it were precepts or the rule of life and an appendix concerning promises or threatnings 3. In regard of the rule of mens liues the Law shall not bee abolished either in this life or the life to come for so much as concerneth the cōmaundements For God requireth a perpetual loue towards himselfe and his creature in his place and in this respect Christ testifieth that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it that One iotte of the Lavv should not passe avvay but it should bee fulfilled 4. In regarde of the appendices and appurtenances all the promises of the Lawe are ratified to the regenerate in Christ a Rom. 8.4 Now for the threatnings the inexorable seueritie of the Lawe and the seuere exacting of obedience these are abolished to the regenerate Rom. 6.14 You are not vnder the Lavv but vnder grace Also Chap. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesu Also Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law becomming a curse for vs. Also cap. 4.4 Christ became subiect to the Law that hee might redeeme them vvho vvere subiect to the Lavv. But the vnregenerate are subiect to the whole Lawe and the sentence of condemnation which it pronounceth according to that which is saide Gal. 3.10 Cursed is he that doth not all things vvhich are vvritten in the booke of the Lavv. Is the ceremoniall lavv abrogated It is abrogated not in respect of the signification or Scripture that it should no more bee read for this may serue to confirme and instruct vs concerning Christ but in regard of the vse and outward obseruation For Dan. 9.27 it is saide Hee that is Christ shall confirme the couenant vvith many for in one vveeke and in the middest of the vveeke hee shall cause the sacrifices and oblations to cease And Christ saith Math. 11.13 The Lavv the Prophets vvere vntill Iohn came And Iohn 1.17 The Lavve vvas giuen by Moses but grace and truth came by Iesus Christ Therefore by a publike decree of the Holy ghost in an assembly or counsell of the Apostles Act. 15.6 the ceremonies were abrogated so as they are not to bee called againe seeing Christ of whome they were a type is alreadie come and hath fulfilled them all and hath put out the hand vvriting of ordinances vvhich vvas against vs. Colos 2.14 That is the ceremonies which were vsuall instruments which testified our guiltinesse and vncleannesse So Heb 10.14 for by one oblation hath hee made perfect for euer those who were to be sanctified This was also signified by renting of the veile of the Temple at Christs passion a Mat. 27.5 Therefore saith Paule Gal. 5.2 If you be circumcised Christ shall nothing profit you In stead of this Law the Lord hath appointed the administration of Sacraments to be obserued in the Christian Church according to his direction vnto the end of the world Marc. 16.15 Goe preach and baptize And 1. Cor. 11.26 Shew forth the Lords death till hee come But for those things which pertaine to the order of administring them those hee left free to the Churches disposition Is the iudiciall law in like maner abrogated It is abrogated in regard of the Obligation namely for so much as no cōmon wealth is boūd to receiue the politick Lawes of the Israelites as also in regard of the manner limitation forme and decreeing of punishments or the appointment of them to be set downe according to certaine circumstances which thing is left to the libertie and disposition of good princes accordingly as place time and person shall require For the Ciuill Law bindeth onely those to whome it is giuen Moreouer that law which is made onely for a certaine time doth not stand in force after that time but this Law was onely giuen for a time Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not bee taken away from Iuda and the Lawgiuer from the middest of his people vntill Silo come To the same effect is also that saying of Christ Luk. 16.16 The Law and the Prophets that is the gouernment and policie of Moses was vnto Iohn Therefore the Iudiciall Law was positiue and therefore Christians are not compelled to gouerne their Common wealths in the same maner in which the Israelites common wealth was gouerned but it is lawfull for them to vse the politique Lawes of their Nations which agree with the Lawes of Nature and the tenne Commaundements according to that Commaundement Rom. 13.1 Let euery soule bee subiect to the higher powers a 1 Pet. 2.13 Againe God by a notable iudgement hath destroyed the politique gouernment of Moses b Dan. 9.26 27. Mat. 24.15 But yet it is not abrogated in respect of the substance end or that naturall and vniuersall equitie which groundeth vpon the Law of God and of nature and in
that Land when he had receiued it but is aduanced and lifted vp higher by a greater promise For thus he heareth God speake to him I am thy protectour and thine exceeding great reward So Dauid from temporall blessings riseth to that highest and last blessing Ps 73.26 The Lord is my portion for euer And Psal 16.5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou shalt maintaine the lot of mine inheritance As on the contrarie the depriuation of that Land as being a signe of eternall life was acounted a curse But in the new Testament we are led the direct way without any turning vnto meditation of eternal life these earthly and grosse helps being omitted What is the other difference It is takē frō the Doctrin annexed to it or frō the maner of leading men to the fountaine and author of saluation and the knowledge of mercie in Christ for before the comming of Christ the administration was more burthensome troublesome and costly for God brought vp and led the auntient Fathers more straitly by laying vpon them the tuition and gouernment the teaching and obseruance of the Law a Gal. 3.24 4.1 2.3 with hard conditions and laying vpon them the yoake of many seuerall ceremonies b Act. 15.10 and the burden of his curse also But vs he intreateth more kindly and liberally without that hard strict exacting of the performāce of the Law the burthen of the curse being removed from our shoulders that intolerable yoak of ceremonies by the preaching of the Gospel Mat. 11.28 Come vnto mee all yee that are weary and heauie leaden and I will refresh you Take my yoake vpon you for my yoake is easie And from this adiunct doth Ierem. 31.31.32 take a difference betwixt the Old and New Testament by a Metonimie of the Adiunct for the Subiect calling the Lawe of Moses considered by it selfe and in it selfe a Legall and auntient Couenant because it was the law of creation whereby God tooke of vs assurance and full couenant for our perfect obedience to be performed by our owne strength a Gal. 3.12 Math. 19 19 17. Deut. 6.5 Luk. 10.27 But the Gospell couenanteth with vs that perfect obedience shall be giuen vs by him of his free voluntarie fauour is therefore a nevv and free Couenant b Ephes 2.8 Iohn 6.45 So also in respect of this adiunct the Apostle 2. Cor. 3.6.7.8.9.11 and Gal. 4.24 Compareth the Old testament or Law with the New testament or Gospell and the Old hee calleth the Letter the ministerie of death and condemnation consisting in the Letter and ingrauen in stones because the law in respect of them that heare it hath no more power then any writing in it selfe void of all force and can do nothing else but accuse vs of vnrighteousnesse wrap vp all mankind in the curse But the New Testament so farre forth as it is opposed to the law being considered by and in it selfe nakedly hee calleth the Spirit and the ministerie of the Spirit and righteousnesse that is the preaching of the Gospell because it reuealeth the mercie of God by which wee are iustified renewed by the spirit of Christ whom the Gospell hath being ioyned vnto it who also giueth to the elect that faith which he requireth of vs. Againe he calleth the Old testament a testament of bondage because it breedeth a seruile feare in our mindes because the law by adding a most hard and impossible condition can stirre vp nothing in our heatts but the feare of Gods wrath But the new he calleth a Testament of Libertie because it stirreth vp the beleeuers to a sonne-like trust in God Rom. 8.15 Yee haue not receiued the Spirit of bondage again vnto feare but the spirit of adoption by vvhich vve crie Abbafather What is the third difference It is taken from the qualitie and maner of reuelation for in the Old testament all things were set downe more darkly and the Old testament did shadow out Christ to come by promises types figures ceremonies and diuers rites and it was a portraying and sleight shadowing of the New testament for as the high priest himselfe was a type of Christ a Heb 8 1.2 9.7.8.9.11 likewise also the mercie seate b Rom. 3.24 So also were the sacrifices shadowes yea visible Sermons of Christs passion as also the purifications in the Law did shadow forth the only true expiation and pacification for sinnes which was to be made by the bloud of Christ as it is said Heb. 10.1 The Lavv had in it a shadow of good things to come not the very Image of the things But the new is administred more clearely plainely by the preaching of the Gospell by Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord it also giueth vnto vs the present inheritance and solid bodie or it sheweth vnto vs Christ who is giuen c Act. 1.8 Mat 26.28 And in respect also of this adiunct the New testament is opposed to the Old d Heb. 10.1 c. And the Old was confirmed by the slaughter of beasts and the sprinkling of their bloud but this by the bloud of Christ whereupon Christ saith at his Supper Luk. 22.20 This cup is the New Testament in my bloud The Old was temporarie and to be abolished is taken away by the comming of Christ because it had a resemblance of things to come but this because it giueth vs the bodie it selfe and the trueth of the thing it is eternall and shall neuer perish Psal 110.4 The Lord hath sworne and it shall not repent him Thou art a Priest for euer c. Thefore Augustine saith In the Old Testament is a hiding of the New in the new a manifestation of the Old What is the fourth difference It is taken from the measure of the Spirit because now is greater abundance of the Spitit in the New Testament and a greater knowledge then was before vnder the old testament if you consider the bodie it selfe of the Church a Act. 2 17 Iohn 7.38 39 Ierem. 31 34 Isa 11.9 54 13 Iohn 6.45 1 Cor. 2.10 1. Ioh 2 20.27 For although there were many vnder the Old testament who seeme to haue beene endewed by God with greater gifts then any vnder the New yet wee must iudge of the abundance and greater efficacie of the spirit vnder the new Testament not in respect of euery particular man amongst the faithfull but of all in generall or the whole Church together Hereupon Ioel. 2.28 I will poure out of my Spirit vpon all flesh that is I will giue it in great abundance Hence also the old testament is called by Paul a testament of the Letter c 2. Cor. 13.6 But the new is Spirituall because God doth shew more power of the spirit in the preaching of the Gospell then of the Law What is the last difference It is in the largenesse and newnesse of the people of God gathered together out
remembrance Looke vpon his wounds when he hung on the tree his bloud vvhen he died the price vvherevvith he redeemed vs. Hee hath his bodie so placed on the crosse as he bovveth it to kisse thee his armes spread to embrace thee his vvhole bodie giuen vs to redeeme thee Consider hovv great things these are vveigh these things in the ballance of your heart that he may be vvholy fastened in your heart vvho for your sakes vvas vvholy fastened to the crosse Hovv is the passion of Christ applied vnto vs By the word by faith and the Sacraments for by the word he is offered as by the hand of God by faith he is receiued as by the hand of man by the Sacraments he is sealed vp vnto vs. What opinions are against the sacrifice and passion of Christ 1 The blasphemy of the Marcionites and Manichees who affirmed that Christ did not suffer truly but imaginarily and in appearance to men 2 The blasphemy of the Papists whereby they affirme that Christ is still offered daily vnto the father by priestes in the Masse and that really for the quicke and the dead contrarie to that which is said Heh 10.14 vvith one offering hath he consecrated for euer them vvhich are sanctified 3 The righteousnesse which is of works Pardons Inuocations of Saints that forged Purgatorie and whatsoever men deuise thereby to make satisfaction for sinne The foure and twentieth common Place Of the buriall of Christ VVhat is buriall or burying IT is a proceeding of death and so also a confirmation of death for not liuing but dead men vse to be buried The Latine word Sepultura Buriall is deriued a sepeliendo or a sepiendo because the corps is enclosed and fensed with earth stone or some other matter and is laid vp in the graue or tombe But Funerare or Pollincere is to make readie the bodie for buriall by washing anointing and the like complements a Gen. 50.26 Math. 26.20 Mat. 27.60 1 Cor. 15 4 Wherupon Pollinctores were a seuerall sort of men from Libintiarii But what was the buriall of Christ It is a part of Christs abasing whereby after death his bodie being seuered from the soule was laid in a Sepulchre according to the fashion of the Iewes b yet so as this was a preparatiue and enterance to the glorie of his resurrection VVhat is the chiefe cause thereof God who not onely hath engrauen in the minds of men the custome and manner of burying according to that Gen. 3.19 Earth thou art and to dust thou shalt returne as the auncient examples of the Saints who were buried doe testifie c Gen. 23.4 15. 49.29 50 13. 2 King 13 3 Tob. 4 3 and the depriuation of buriall which is reckoned amonst the signes of Gods wrath d Psal 79.3 2 King 6.35 Ierem 14.16 22 19. but did also specially ordaine all things which were done about Christs buriall VVho were the ministers and meanes of this burial Noble and rich men who were of the degree of Senators Ioseph of Arimathea which some thinke to be the same with Ramathaim e 1. Sam. 1.1 and Nicodemus who were the Disciples of the Lord but in srcret through the feare of the Iewes f Ioh 3 2 19 38 and who as gratefull Disciples performed to their well deseruing maister the honour of buriall when as there appeared no danger or but very little whom whilest he liued he durst not confesse For when the open and professed Disciples of Christ were dispersed and hid themselues for feare they then stirred vp confirmed by God tooke the bodie of Iesus being giuen them by Pilate that it should not fall into the hands of the rascall executioners who were wont to cast the bodies of theeues into stinking pits whereby it appeareth how great the power of Christs death was who made these men so coragious as they feared not to attempt an enterprise most base and daungerous namely to take downe from the crosse a man condemned by the authoritie of the whole councill and the President and by this their deed to accuse their iudgement of iniustice and impietie whereby also they incurred extreame danger for his sake and in the extremest ignominy which Christ suffered what time he was hanged betwixt two theeues they professed themselues his Disciples how much more doth it now become vs so to doe when he raigneth in glorie What was the manner of his buriall Ioseph as it is recorded Mat. 27.58 went with a bold courage to aske Pilate the bodie of Iesus of whom he obtained it after he had vnderstood certainly by the centurion that hee was dead Mark 15.44 so God vseth to blesse those who earnestly and vprightly go about his busines which pertainineth to the publike weale and benefit Nicodemus in the meane while prepared a mixture of myrrhe and aloes which things do preserue bodies from putrefaction to the weight of an hundred pounds Ioh. 19.39 And so they both come and openly with their owne handes take the naked bodie of Christ from the Crosse and wrapped it in cleane linnens with those pretious odours after the maner which the Iewes vsed with their Nobles in hope of the resurrection and also hereby to signifie that Christ would rest in a pure minde well seasoned and spiced with sweet smelling vertues Yet it was annointed because they could not do it by reason of the shortnes of time For the Sabath was at hand on which day it was not lawfull to do any worke and the women a Ioh 20.1 Mark 16 when the Sabbath was ended came to the Sepulchre to annoint Iesus but he was now risen againe Yet those spices were which thing belongeth to God types of that quickening odour which ariseth from Christs death And God would by this glorious buriall declare the innocencie of Christ and abolish for the most part the ignominie of the crosse according as Esaias had foretold and his sepulcher shall be glorious cap. 11.10 VVhat are the subiectes and adiuncts of Christes buriall The place the time the shutting vp and keeping of the Sepulchre Where vvas the Lord buried 1 In a garden planted with herbs and trees next vnto the place where he was crucified in which place Ioseph had his Sepulcher that in the verie place of his delights he might be admonished of death by the beholding of the monument 1 Because the first Adam died spiritually in a garden 2 Because as Cyril saith there is prepared for vs a returne into Paradise by the death of Christ 3 To shew the plentiful fruit which should grow to all that beleeue from his death and buriall 4 Because from the crosse there is a passage to Paradise Againe he is buried in a Sepulchre 1. Hevven out of a rocke least the aduersaries should cauill that the Lordes bodie was stolne by his Disciples through some vaults vnder the ground 2 In a new one that we might know how that the condition of death is chaunged
for the remission of sinnes Ioh. 7 37 and imputation of righteousnesse but the staying vnder the water though but a while setteth as it were before our eyes the death buriall and mortification of our natural corruption the old Adam by the vertue of the death and buriall of Christ which is the first part of our regeneration d Rom 6.3 4 And the being taken out the reuiuing of the newe man and newnesse of life yea and proportionally our resurrection to come e Ibid. vers 4.5.13 VVhat change or coniunction is there of the signe and the thing signified in Baptisme Not any naturall for the outward signe is only the Ministers corporall action but the thing signified is spirituall and Gods worke namely to be washed with Christes bloud and regenerated with his spirit which is not to bee sprinkled with Christs bloud corporally either visibly or inuisibly but to bee receiued into Gods fauour by reason of his bloud shead that is by reason of Christs whole obedience and being grafted into his body to bee quickned by him through the working of the holy Ghost as it is said expresly of Christ Hee shall baptize you with the Holie Ghost and with fire f Mat. 3.11 Iohn 3.33 Notwithstanding for the fitnesse reference and trueth of the signe and thing signified and also for the promise made to those that vse them rightly there is a Sacramentall and Relatiue copulation by reason whereof the name and properties both of the signe and thing signified are changed Hereof Baptisme is called the Lauer of Regeneration and the water the bloud and spirit of Christ. Tit. 3.5 that is not onely the shadowe but a most certaine Testimonie that the baptized truely beleeuing are cleansed with the bloud of Christ regenerated by the holy Ghost Is the same man alwaies at one instant Baptized with water and the Holy Ghost No. 1. Because the promise of the spirit annexed to baptisme is not absolute but conditionall requiring faith and obedience 2. Because that God dealeth not in Baptisme by naturall reason as when a medicine being taken worketh with thee whether thou sleepest or wakest and fire warmeth whether thou thinkest of it or no. But as God is a most free agent sometimes the Baptisme of water is without the baptisme of the spirit as the Example of Simon Magus teacheth who although hee had an Historicall faith yet hee was not regenerated and the a Act. 8 12 baptisme of the spirit sometime goeth before sometime accompanieth and sometimes followeth the baptisme of water for both men and women when they beleeued by Philips preaching the things belonging vnto the kingdome of God and of Christ as also the Eunuch Cornelius and his friends were baptized by the Holy Ghost before they were baptized with water as appeareth by their faith and conuersion b Act. 8.13 but in infants to whom the kingdome of Heauen belongeth if wee respect Gods ordinance both Baptisme and Iustification and Regeneration do concurre out of the nature of that Couenant I will bee thy GOD and the God of thy seed Gen. 17.7 but the effect hereof is truely declared afterward in his time For the seede of the word and Sacraments lyeth as it were in the Earth couered and hid as long as the Lord seeth good to deferre grace Is Christ present after one manner both in baptisme and in the Supper He is alike present in the lawfull vse but yet the manner of his presence may be after a sort discerned for in baptisme hee is present as at the new birth In the Supper for the confirmation and nourishment of him that is newe borne But vnderstand this presence in respect of him that taketh it for nothing hath the reason of a Sacrament out of the vse instituted What is the manner of receiuing Baptisme The manner of receiuing the outward signes is naturall but of the things signified spirituall for the things themselues are effectually communicated vnto vs in respect of God that giueth the holy Ghost by the meanes of the lawfull administration of Baptisme But faith is that only gift of God whereby wee apply the substance of the Sacrament peculiarly vnto our selues Touching infantes they haue a singular priuiledge in respect of God Who are to be Baptized All men lyuing who are receiued or esteemed to be receiued into the Couenant of God without difference of sexe or nation a Act 10 47 and 11.17 and those who are of yeares which come vnto the Church and shewe their assent to the doctrine of the Gospell professe their faith in Christ and shewe forth the confession of their sinnes or repentance Mat. 3.6 and 28.19 Baptizing them that is to say those which haue giuen their names to the Gospel and haue professed themselues Disciples And Act. 2.41 They which receiued his word were baptised And Christ said first He that beleeueth afterward And is baptized Mar 16 16. So Simon Magus was admitted the Eunuch and others b Act. 8.13 37. 10 46.47 Or else the Infants of the faithfull c Gen. 17.7 Luk 18.16 and those which are begotten of Baptized parents but not of Infidels which are not in the Church and not the Children of the Baptized because their seed is contained in the couenant but not these other Act. 2.39 To you is the promise made and to your children Neither is it materiall whether the Infant bee borne of vnequall matrimonie that is whether one parent or both be faithfull and Christian for the Apostle calleth such children holie d 1 Cor 7.14 that is pure and separated for the Lord according to the forme of the Couenant Neither doth this hinder because al that are borne of faithful parents are not elected for we are not to enquire into the secret iudgements of God but probably we may duely coniecture that all which are borne of Christians are elected Are persons of yeares and infants to bee admitted vnto baptisme all after one sort No but they which are of yeares are not to be baptized before they be instructed in the faith of Christ as in the word which entereth the ignorant in Christ that is in the Rudimentes of Religion in the principles of Christianisme which is called Catechisme e Heb 6 1 Secondly when they are to be baptized they ought to confesse their faith before the Church of Christ Mat. 3.6 They were Baptized by Iohn in Iordan confessing their sins that is such as did testifie that they did earnestly embrace the Doctrine of free remission of their sinnes Such a confession was required in the antient Church of them which were able to be enstructed differing farre from that Popish shrift consisting in a proditorious enumeration of each euen secret sinnes Wherupon the Apostle 1. Pet. 3.21 calleth baptisme the answering of a good conscience hauing respect to the Interrogations of Catechists to which those which were to be instructed in the principall heades of Faith and of
this that he should take a double portion and the people one kinde onely but in those properties which Paule describeth 1. Tim. 3.2 and 5.17 where hee saith that the Elders are worthie os double honour when they rule well and labour in the word of God Hom. 18 vpō 2 Cor. Gratiam Cau. compernu de consecrat distinction 2 and excellent is the sentence of Chrysostome There is a time when a priest differeth nothing from an inferiour as when they must vse the mysteries for we are accounted worthie all alike that we may pertake of them And Ignatius in the Epistle to the Philadelphians One bread broken to all and one cup deliuered to all And Gelasius The diuision of one and the same mysterie cannot come to passe without great sacriledge 11 Because whatsoeuer pretence is brought Christ not only instituted the supper with a twofold signe but commaunded his Disciples to take it and vse it vnder a twofold signe Take eate drinke and do this And the doctrine of the Lords Supper which is handled 1. Corinth 11. vers 23. and so following is common to all the faithfull Finally because the Sacrament ought to be whole and to be taken wholy Wherefore did Christ take bread not breads To signifie the mysterie of one and the same bodie from whence the communicants do partake of one bread What manner of bread vsed Christ vnleauened bread or leuened Such as they vsed with meat true and common bread but yet valeauened because of the circumstance of time to wit the feast day of vnleauened bread wherin after the eating of the paschall Lambe Christ celebrated the supper b Mat. 26 17 and also because the vse thereof was common on those feastiuall daies of Easter wherein it was not lawfull to vse leauened bread c Exod. 12.15 And the Apostle speaking of the holy supper doth terme it simplie bread meaning vndoubtedly common and vsuall bread among the Corinthians such bread as the churches of the Graecians do vse and which the Corinthians did eat of Wherefore ordained he bread to be the sacrament of his bodie For the Analogie or similitude of the properties and effects of the signe and of the thing signified For as of the graine of wheat is made corporall bread so of the bodie of Christ is made spirituall bread 2 As bread in the ouen is baked with the heat of the fire so the bodie of Christ was baked with the fire of the crosse and prepared to be meat of life 3 As corporall life is susteined with bread so by Iesus Christ the bread of life the soule is nourished vnto spirituall eternall life 4 As the heart of man is vpholden strengthned with bread d Psal 104 15 so the vertue and merit of the body of Christ doth comfort the soule to life eternall 5 As bread doth driue away the hunger of the body so the merit of the body of Christ doth asswage the hunger of the soule 6 As bread doth profit the hungry not the full fed so also the vertue or merit of the bodie of Christ doth not profit any but them who hunger after righteousnes and them which are puffed vp swelling with their owne righteousnes and for such as are full truly nothing doth it profit them at all 7 As bread distributed among manie is a signe of concorde or agreement so also the bodie of Christ offered for manie is a pledge of the good will of Christ of mutuall loue amongst our selues 8 As one bread is made of manie graines so we being manie are one mysticall bodie of Christ which doe pertake of one bread one I say by a common notion of the sacrament but not in nomber and because it is taken to one end as we may see 1. Corinth 10.17 For wee that are many are one bread and one bodie because wee all are partakers of one bread Why did Christ take bread rather then flesh or other meat to institute his Supper Because he had not regard to the colour and outward forme for the which flesh is more like to flesh but to the vertue of nourishing which is greater in bread then in the flesh of any beast Theodoret. Dialogo 1 What maner of wine vsed Christ taught by his exāple to be vsed Not tempered which the ancient Graecians called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is mixt of water and wine which they vsed as a thing free and indifferent neither necessarie to the Sacrament occasion being taken from that because water flowed out of the rocke to the thirstie Israelites which rocke was Christ a Numb 20 10 1 Cor. 10 4● and because water and bloud came out of the Lords side b Ioh. 19.34 Amb. of the scaraments 5 or because in olde time celebrating the Lords Supper they did drinke more largely so that some were drunken in the loue feasts c ●p 1 18. booke Chap. 53 Tractate 120 vpon Ioh. and therefore that wine being of it selfe strong might do the lesse hurt water should be put thereunto or to signifie the vnion of Christ with the Church as though the waters should figure out the people as Cyprian will haue it or to signifie the vnion of natures in Christ as Nicephorus will haue it But these arguments are not necessarie and as Augustine will haue it that powring out of water bloud did signifie two sacraments baptisme and the Eucharist Moreouer we drinke not in so great plentie or so strong wine in the Supper and our communion with Christ is signified after another maner but it is better concluded that Christ vsed wine without water For the scriptture doth not speake of any water mixt with wine as neyther of red or white colour but of the fruit of the Vine Math. 26.29 Verily I say vnto you that I will not drinke henceforth of this fruit of the vine vntill that day when I shall drinke it new with you in my Fathers kingdome Which words Mathew and Marke doe apply to the narration of the mystical cup but in Luke they seeme to be transposed Luk. 22.18 as Augustine teacheth 3. booke of the agreement of the Euangelist and they are not extant in the Syrian interpreter And Chrisost Hom. 83. vpon Mat. 26. cha Of the fruit saith he of the vine which truly bringeth forth wine not water Yea if a mā listed to play with Allegories that might be expounded of the adulterating of the Lords supper Esa 1.22 Thy vintners do mixe wine with water Wherefore instituted he the Sacramen● of his bloud with vvine In like mannner for the likenesse properties and effects of wine and of the bloud of Christ For as wine is the most sweet liquor flowing out of the Vine so the bloud of Christ is the most sweet drinke of the soule powred out for vs out of the side of Christ which is that true Vine a Ioh. 15.1.5 2 As wine doth asswage the thirst of the bodie so the merit of
temporall and brittle life for this would bring in a Capernaiticall eating of his flesh But it is spirituall not in respect of essence but in the manner of receiuing and by the spirituall strength and efficacie of our norishing by it because the spirit or minde of man doth receiue it by faith alone and really and truely for there is also in spirituall actions their realitie is nourished by the vertue of the holy Ghost and is fed vnto spirituall and eternall life And truely the benefit of spirituall life doth redounde also to the bodie it selfe forasmuch as from thence it is regenerated it is sanctified and at length shall be partaker of the blessed Resurrection but neuerthelesse that meat is not to be called corporal but spiritual because it giueth onely spiritual nourishment Therefore although there is an eating of the bodie in which respect that is to say in respect of the terme or obiect it might be called corporall notwithstanding in respect of the manner it is not a corporal eating Therefore seeing that the flesh of Christ is only spirituall meate and in like manner the bloud of Christ spirituall drinke it followeh that the flesh of Christ is eaten onely spiritually and also that his bloud is drunke spiritually that is with the mouth of the spirit or soule namely by faith which the holy Ghost himselfe doth ingender in our minds Ioh. 6.51 Because the commaunding words of the Supper Take and eate doe speake of a corporall action and of one eating with the mouth And concerning that which ought to be taken and eaten Christ saith a little after This is my bodie whether therefore is the true bodie of Christ taken by a corporall action and eating The Maior is denyed because seing that the holy Supper as hath beene said doth consist of two things earthly and heauenly or of the signe and of the thing signified there are two sorts of eating and therefore a twofold eating is commaunded one of the signe another of the thing signified that corporall and sensible but this spirituall and intelligible The word of eating is attributed to that properly but to this figuratiuely as Psal 14.4 The workers of iniquitie eate vp my people as they eate bread And Ioh 6.53 Otherwise it should followe that the bodie of Christ is to bee eaten by a corporall action which is a horrible thing and the conceipt of the Capernaits For Christ goeth not into the belly but into the heart Ephe. 3.17 therefore is not eaten with the mouth a Mark 7.18 19 And whereas to auoide this absurdity some doe faine a corporall eating which may bee done after a heauenly and supernatural manner it is a deuised forgerie vnutterable and no way is intelligible and moreouer implying a contradiction What is it to eate the bodie and to drinke the bloud of Christ It is not onely to beleeue the promise of God which doth witnesse as Christ himselfe expoundeth it Ioh. 6. vers 35. I am the bread of life hee that commeth to mee shall not hunger and hee that beleeueth in mee shall neuer thirst Where the Lord doth declare that to beleeue is to drinke and to come to Christ by faith is to Eate that the flesh of Christ is crucified for vs and his bloud shed for vs for remission of sinnes but to be spiritually refreshed and to receiue spirituall life and strength by a true communication of the bodie of Christ as it were by nourishment as Christ saith He shall not hunger nor euer thirst and moreouer to lay hold vpon Christ by faith not appearing a farre of but so vniting and insinuating himselfe vnto vs that he may be our head we his members Tractat 26. 27 vpon Iohn Whereupon Augustine in the second Sermon De verbis Apostoli saith That same manducare to eate what is it but to be refreshed that same bibere to drinke what is it but viuere to liue This is saith hee to eate that meate and to drinke that drinke to abide in Christ to haue Christ abiding in him as Christ himselfe declareth Ioh 6.56 Hee that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in mee and I in him And by this hee which dwelleth not in Christ and in whom Christ doth not dwell without doubt hee neither eateth his flesh spiritually nor drinketh his bloud although carnally and visibly hee presseth the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of Christ with his teeth Therefore the eating of the flesh of Christ and the drinking of his bloud is not onely faith but a certaine consequent and effect of faith namely the inward coniunction of vs with Christ the effect whereof is ioye in God and moreouer life eternall a Iohn 6.51 54.56 1. Cor. 5.8 Seing that Christ is giuen daily in the word to be eaten by faith and is there eaten of the faithfull Iohn 6.35 why is there neede of the supper That by this Sacrament as by an action more euident vnto vs or by a word visible that is shewing that selfe same thing to the eyes which the word doth signifie to the eares of the hearers our faith being more exercised and more confirmed we may eat him more and more and may apply him vnto vs more nearely more effectually and moreouer by Christ so eaten we may haue more spirituall sense motion and life vntill in that last day needding the vse neither of the word nor of the Sacraments we all in Christ and with Christ being present with vs in verie deede in heauen doe enioy that euerlasting spirituall life Now therefore at the length distinguish exactly the waies of eating of the bodie of Christ As it is a Sacrament it is not taken generally for the whole action of the Lords Supper and for the taking it selfe both of the signe and also of the thing signified but for the signe it selfe Question vppon Leuiticus 57. as Augustine saith Secundum quendam modum Sacramentum corporis Christi corpus Christi est that is after a certaine manner the Sacrament of the bodie of Christ is the bodie of Christ and hee saith the same thing oftentimes Sacramentum Ecclesiae duobus constare Sacramento re sacramenti that is That the sacrament of the Church doth consist of two things of the sacrament the thing of the Sacrament In this sense one eating is outward Sacramentall Symbolicall or Sacramentall onely namely of them which in the Lords Supper doe eate that holy signe of the body of Christ with the mouth of the bodie but which without faith is of no moment to saluation Another is Mentall or spirituall only namely of the thing signified which is done by faith alone by hearing reading and meditating of the word of God concerning which Ioh. 6.53.54 55.63 and it belongeth to all times but yet onely to the faithfull and in the olde time also it was common to the Fathers a Cor. 10.3 verily verily I say vnto you Except yee eate the flesh
cannot be truely said to be the bodie or the bodie the soule although conioyned personally in one man yet in that peculiar and beyond all example vniting of the humane nature by subsistence of the Deitie in the person of the Sonne God is said to be a man and man God against Nestorius by vnitie of person and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by naming one by the other against Eutiches According to what sense is the bread of the Lords Supper the bodie of Christ Not according to an essentiall or personall or reall but according to a mysticall meaning Sacramentall and significatiue whereby the thing which doth signifie taketh the name of that thing which it signifieth saith Augustine namely by reason of the Analogie or mutuall respect both of one to another and also to him from whom it is taken For Christ teacheth not in this proposition what that bread and that wine is in it owne nature and substance or in the same signification of diuers words or what is contained in them but what they are in signification in office in vse in proportion In nature they are bread and wine in signification they are the bodie and bloud of Christ And therefore here the predicate is spoken of the subiect Sacramentally that is to say in that kinde of signification wherin the thing signified is no lesse truely offered and to be taken spiritually by faith then the signe it selfe is deliuered to be taken with the instruments of the body What manner therefore of predication is it Not proper and regular for that proposition is not identicall wherin the same thing is said of it selfe as This is bread of bread This is a bodie of a bodie seeing that breade and the bodie of Christ doe differ in kinde neither is the speciall spoken of the singular nor the generall the difference the proper or the accident of the speciall as Peter is a man a man is a liuing creature apt to be taught white but an vnlike thing of an vnlike the thing signified of the signe yet notwithstanding proportionally as the manner of relatiues doth require for things seuered or vnlike if there bee an Analogie or signification may so be conioyned that they may make a proposition but figuratiuely as I am the vine Iohn 15.1 and the field is the word 13. Mat. 38. Therefore this predication is figuratiue and that not simplie Metaphoricall or allegoricall like as the flesh and bloud of Christ are called the meat and drinke of the faithfull but Metonimicall For most rightly it is called a Metonimie not of the continent for the conteined but of that manner whereby the name of the thing signified is giuen to the signe As in this proposition The bread is the bodie of Christ the name of the thing signified which is the bodie of Christ is giuen to the signe namely bread Therefore it is a metonimicall speaking verie familiar in the scriptures as a Gen. 41.26 the seauen kine are seuen yeares Iohn is Elias b Math. 11.14 that is to say figuratiuely for the predication of a singular concerning a singular is not true but figuratiuely Herod is a Foxe c Luk. 11.32 that is to say Metaphorically Christ is the way d Iohn 14.6 The doore e Iohn 10.7 bread f Iohn 6.53 The rock is Christ g Ier 10.4 So the bread of the Eucharist is the bodie of Christ figuratiuely metonimycally and Sacramentally For the bodie of Christ cannot bee called breade regularly and properly when as the bodie of Christ is neither the Genus nor the species nor the differentia nor the proprium nor the Accident of bread Whereby it commeth to passe that the predication of the bodie of Christ concerning the bread Eucharisticall is figuratiue seeing that euery predication is either proper or figuratiue for a third time of predication there is none For it is a foolish thing to say that Sacramentall predications are vnusuall whereof there is so frequent vse in the Scriptures And truely this figuratiue predication is not in euery word seuerally and considered in it selfe but in the whole attribution for bread is bread properly and the bodie not allegoricall not tropicall not figuratiue much lesse a spirit or vision also not a mysticall bodie which is the Church or a signe of the bodie it signifieth not the merit of Christ but the proper body of Christ for the true body of the Lord is altogether spoken of the true bread I say it is in the whole attribution because the copula or word est is doth ioyne together two things vnlike which wee may resolue thus Bread is the signe or seale of the bodie of Christ But againe it is to bee noted that it is not onely a figuratiue Metonimicall or significatiue speech as this is The field is the world that is signifieth the word and other like in parables because so it should more faintly expresse the nature of that mysterie but Sacramental because therwithal the exhibition of the thing sealed is promised as in this proposition Rods boūd together are the Romane Empire that is they do not barely nor simply onely signifie the Iurisdiction of the Romane Empire but they doe certainely testifie that the Empire together with the signes is transferred to him to whom the rods are lawfully deliuered So that which is promised by worde and is signified by signes is truely also giuen of GOD but to be taken by saith Is not the proprietie of the speach or the word to bee kept in the verie words of the Supper Seeing that the appellation of the worde is vsed sometime in a larger sometime in a stricter signification truely in the very wordes of the Supper the Sacramentall word is to be kept but this same sacramentall word is vnlike to other regular predications and it is to be made plaine by a conuenient interpretation agreeing to the nature of the Sacraments For in a Sacramentall speach not so much the letter or the sound of words as the true sense is to bee followed that is to say which doth agree with the nature of the Sacrament which Christ instituted and with all the circumstances of the institution and with the Analogie of faith Is it not a proper proposition wherein the Subiect and the attribute are vnderstood so to be coupled that the Attribute is in the Subiect or in the place wherein the subiect is as Deut. 12 23. The bloud is the life because it conteineth the life Not at al for neuer can any thing be properly predicated of another thing in which it existeth or to which it is conioyned although it be a streight coniunction but onely figuratiuely Therfore if the breade bee therefore the bodie either because some hidden thing in the breade is the bodie of the Lord or because in this breade is that bodie of the Lord it can neuer bee prooued that these words This is my bodie are a proper predication Are the places of Scripture which are
the grounds of Doctrines or of the Articles of faith and of the commandements of God alwaies to be taken without figures altogether as the words doe sound No seeing that there is no lesse certaintie in a figuratiue speech which may bee applyed to the nature of the thing concerning which it is spoken then in a proper Like as the first promise of the Gospell was published by God in a figuratiue speach The seede of the woman shall breake the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 which Iohn declareth in a proper speach 1. Epistle chap. 3. verse 8. The sonne of God appeared that hee might dissolue the works of the Diuell And the first chapter of Iohn is the ground of Doctrine concerning the person of Christ and yet in it are figuratiue speeches Verse 4. 5. That light was the light of men And that light shineth in the darkensse and the darkenesse comprehended it not But is it not absurd that Christ spake tropically and therefore enigmatically that is obscurely or doubtfully in the institution of his supper with the Disciples which were rude and simple In no wise for the thing it selfe sheweth that that Metonymicall speech was not enigmaticall doubtfull or darke to the Disciples for vnlesse it had come into their minde that bread was called of the Lord his bodie because it was a signe thereof doubtlesse they had beene troubled at so prodigious a thing as followeth vpon the proper and literall sense of the words And that so much the more because almost at the same time they could not vnderstand farre more easie things a Iohn 14.8 16.17 a seeing therefore they are not trobled with these words it is plain that they vnderstood those things Metonymically after the mnaner of the Scripture Especially as a little before they had eaten the Lambe which in the same sense is called Pascha that is the Passeouer Exod. 12.27 Which is the other part of words of Christ concerning the bread Which is giuen for you In Luke 22.19 or VVhich is broken for you in Paule 1. Cor. 11.24 For in Mathew and Marke this part is wanting the subiect of which member is not bread but bodie expressed in the Pronoune Relatiue which And the Attribute VVhich is giuen or deliuered for you namely vnto death or is broken that is Esay being interpreter Chap. 53.10 He is broken with sorrowes or is crucified and killed VVhat is signified in this proposition 1 The mysticall bodie of Christ is not signified for the mysticall bodie of Christ which is the Church is not giuen or deliuered or broken for vs but the true bodie 2 It is signified that Christ gaue not a glorified and spirituall bodie and therefore that the flesh of Christ is not simple meate in respect that it is glorified but that it is liuing meat vnto vs in respect that it was in time past crucified Iohn 6.51 3 It is gathered by a proper and regular predication that the bread is not called the body of Christ but figuratiuely because it is vniuersally true of a proper and regular signification Whatsoeuer is the predicate of the predicate is also the predicate of the subiect But that which is said heere of the bodie of Christ cannot be spoken properly and regularly of bread For bread is said to be giuen to vs properly not giuen for vs Neyther is wine said properly to be shed for vs by powred in to vs. Againe that which is giuen is but an Enallage of the present time for the future spoken for that which shall be shortly giuen vpon the crosse but not in the Eucharist Because Christ therein offered not or gaue his bodie for a sacrifice but vpon the crosse For it is an vsuall Enallage of scripture to speake concerning a thing now instant to be forthwith as it were of a thing present And so to vse the present tense for the future So Mat. 26.24 Wo be to that man by whom the sonne of man is betrayed And Iohn 10.15 I lay downe my life for my sheepe And the common translation hath VVhich shall be giuen for you VVhich is broken cannot be affirmed of the signe which the Lord had broken alreadie neyther can it be spoken of the bodie of Christ vnlesse it be Metonymically seeing that it was said of the bodie of Christ Exod. 12.46 and Iohn 19.36 yea shall not breake a bone thereof 4 And also the loue of Christ towards vs is commended because when he owed nothing to Death because he was without sinne for he was holy and vndefiled a Heb 17.26 he would vndergo it for vs. 5 Last of all the fruit of his death because he is said to be deliuered vnto death not onely for the Apostles but for many What are the words of the Lord concerning the cup They also consist of two branches the former is in Mathew and Marke This is my bloud of the new Testament Or as Luke and Paule hath it This cup is the new Testament in my bloud The subiect of which speech is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This of the neuter gender but not hic this in the masculine gender as hath the old interpretation which pronounce hoc this is referred to the wine not to the bloud for so it should bee an Identicall proposition which is manifestly plaine out of Luke 22.20 who addeth vnto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is this the Noune 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is cup or wine as as if he had said This which I hold in my hands and giue to you And the predicate is bloud or the new testament in my bloud The couple the verbe substantiue est is which in Luke is wanting In which proposition surely it cannot be said without a Metonymie that the word cup is taken for wine which is contained in the cup and that this cup is that New testament In the one is the continent put for the thing contained in the other of the thing signified is for the signe For properly according to the word the cup it selfe or wine is not the new Testament it selfe but a pledge and seale of the new Testament or rather that wherewith the Testament is established that is to say of the bloud of Christ like as Circumcision was called the old Couenant By all which it appeareth that the words of the Lords supper are ful of figures but yet most vsual easie to be vndestood Whether may this proposition of Christ This is my bloud be so compared with that of Moses saying Exod. 24.8 concerning the bloud of calues this is the bloud of the couenant that both here there bloud being in deed in it owne essence as that being holden in the hands of Moses and this in the hands of Christ be demonstrated properly and not figuratiuely In no wise For Moses truly sprinkled the people with the bloud of the offering taken out of a basen that bloud was a sacramental signe therfore that enuntiatiō of Moses
1. Cor. 10.3 VVhat is the same but that which also wee haue saith Augustine Therefore the same meat and the same drink but to the vnderstanding and beleeuing But to the not vnderstanding that Manna alone Book de Vti lit paenitent vpon Ioh. tract 21 that water alone but to the beleeuers the same which now for then Christ was to come now he is come was to come and is come are diuers words but the same Christ 5 Because it could not be that Christ locally sitting at the table and communicating with the disciples as it is Mat. 26.29 I will not drinke henceforth of this fruit of the vine should himselfe eate himselfe really and corporally Did Christ Iesus take part of the same signes Truly no lesse then of the Paschall Lambe Concerning which let him which doubteth thinke 1 That the Lord Iesus sanctified the ordinarie Sacraments of both the Testaments in the vse thereof 2 And in instituting of the supper by his example went before in sayings doings that the whole Church may know that the first paterne is to be respected of her in that regard that it was the greatest cause why he did not abstaine whereupon Hierome saith ipse conuiua conuiuium ipse comedens qui comeditur that is Epist ad Hed. biam he is the guest and the feast he is eating and that which is eaten Is there that vertue and that sense of the words of Christ wherewith he instituted this Sacrament that as often as vpon the bread and wine they are recited by the Priest who hath a purpose to consecrate then the substance of bread and wine eyther by Analysis is resolued into the first matter or euen into nothing so that in steed thereof doe succeed the bodie and bloud of Christ or by a simple mutation is turned into the substance of the true bodie and of the true bloud of Christ so that the substance of bread is formed into the flesh of of Christ the bare accidents of breas and wine remayning hanging without a subiect God forbid 1 Because it were magicall to attribute the power of changing the substance of the signes to certaine words mumbled ouer 2 Because in expresse words of the Apostles and Euangelists the true natural substance of bread and wine is affirmed before and after consecration as they call it 1. Cor. 10.16.17 and 11.26 27.28 The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ And wee that are many are one bread and one bodie because we all are partakers of one bread and As often as yee shall eate this bread ye shew forth the Lords death till he come And Whosoeuer shall eate this bread and drinke this cup of the Lord vnworthily shall be guiltie of the bodie and bloud of the Lord. And Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of this bread and drinke of this cup. For whereas they say that it is called bread not which is now but which was before it is confirmed by no testimonie of Scripture or iudgement of sense and besides Math. 26.29 I will not drinke saith hee henceforth of this fruit of the Vine Thus spake Christ after consecration 3 Because the kingdome or God is not corporall meate and drinke Rom. 14.17 4 Because in the proposition the pronoune hoc this demonstratiue doth not demonstrate the bodie of Christ For the transubstantiation saith Thomas is not accomplished but in the last instāt of the pronouncing of the words neither doth it demonstrate the accidēts alone of the bread For the accidētes are not the body of Christ neither doth it demōstrate any wandring thing or singular thing vncertainly determined For there is no Indiuiduum or singular thing which is not something And therefore certaine not wandering vndetermined or indefinite and especially the Demonstratiue Hoc this doth signifie some certaine thing 5 Because it is a wicked thing to be thought and spoken that the bread it selfe is properly and substantially the bodie of Christ 6 Because of this conuersion neither doth the Scripture giue sentence nor sense or reason iudge as of the rod of Moses turned into a Serpent a Exod 4.3 and of the water turned into wine Iohn 2.9 Where the Euangelist said not simply Water but Made wine For the accidents of bread doe plainely shew that bread doth remaine and they which partake of those holy signes doe feele in themselues a taste of wine and the power of the bread and wine This is an vnanswerable reason Framed thus euerie miracle is sensible transubstantiation is not sensible therefore it is no miracle 7 Because the substance the accidents thereof remayning cannot perish neyther can the accidents subsist without a subiect nor be the accidents of bread which are not the accidents of bread 8 Because the substance being remooued and the nature of the signes the similitude affinitie habit relation and Analogie of the signes to the thing signified come to nothing For the bread signifieth the bodie of Christ because it nourisheth strengtheneth and sustaineth which accidents cannot doe 9 Because heere is no word of Christ which may signifie a conuersion or transubstantiation For the verb Est doth not signifie to be made to be changed to be turned And note that which is said to be made cannot properly be said to be for Esse to be and Fieri to be made are said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say contradictorily 10 Because a carnall eating of the bodie of Christ is no where prooued in the Scriptures 11 Because it should follow that both the faithfull and vnbeleuers doe receiue the bodie of the Lord and his quickening spirit which neuer can be feuered from his bodie And Augustine saith that They doe not eate the bodie of Christ but which are in the bodie of Christ Because that bodie cannot be spoyled of quantitie nor in an instant and without locall motion be together in heauen in earth vnlesse vpon necessitie we should make an vbiquitie of Christs bodie which the verie transubstantiators do refuse to doe and the Fathers denie and they doe determine contrarie things which say that a bodie and the quantitie are truely present and yet not by meanes of the quantitie 13 Because now the bodie of Christ cannot be separated from the bloud nor the soule from his bodie and concerning Concomitancie there is nothing extant is the word of God 14 Because they write that Victor the third Bishop of Rome died hauing drunk poyson out of a chalice giuē him by his Subdeacon and that Henrie the seuenth Emperour of Lucelburge tooke poyson from the bread taken in the Eucharist by a Monke of Senens one of the preachers order 15 Because infinite discommodities doe follow this Transubstantiation as that the accidents must remaine without a subiect that if it happen that Mice do gnaw the bread they shal be said to gnaw accidēces or that if worms do breed of the bread it
shall be said that they are brought forth out of the accidences that although the bread be broken it shal be concluded that the accidences are broken with many of the like kinde all which are against the nature both of Christs sacrament and Christs bodie Is not the bread of the Supper at leastwise by a miracle turned into the bodie of Christ No. 1 Because such a miracle doth not affect the outward senses for miracles doe plainely shew a change if there be any made and doe runne into the eyes and the rest of the senses and doe strike men with admiration as the rod did being turned into a Serpent and the water when it was made wine 2 Because miracles are ceased 3 Because miracles although they are done besides and aboue yet not so against nature as that they doe ouerturne it 4 Because this is spoken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is contradictorily that a miracle which is an extraordinarie worke of God should bee done in an ordinarie Sacrament of the Church For miracles are extraordinarie works of God and of a certaine time and belong to certaine persons if you looke to the workers of miracles But the Sacraments doe belong to all times and to the vniuersall Church and are part of the ministerie of the Gospell wherin Christ dealeth after an ordinarie manner or by certaine and perpetuall ordination not making a miraculous change in the nature or in the qualities of the Elements 5 Miracles take not together away the substance or qualities naturall and also leaue them that is they doe not implie a contradiction as when the rod of Moses was turned into a Serpent it was not together a rod and a serpent But the miracle of Transubstantia●ion taketh away the substance of bread and withall keepeth the properties of bread And it repugneth this immoueable and euerlasting principle of any thing whatsoeuer eyther the aff●●mat●on or negation thereof is true that is to say euerie thing is or is not 6 For the faith or credit of miracles as that in the hands of Gregorie in his booke of the super at his praiers this Sacrament was turned into a fleshie fing●r sometime there appeared a little boy and that the Sacrament being bored through with Laurell stickes sent out bloud a●d that it was turned into coales and ashes in the time of Cyprian as he w●●teth we doe thus imbrace them that they may be said to be done eyther to driue away vngracious and vnworthy men from so great a Sacrament or to declare and commend the dignitie thereof but not to confirme the superstition and error concerning Transubstantiation For we know that we must not beleeue false Prophets making mē by miracles to beleeue thē a Math. 24 2 Thess 2.9 that Antichrist shal come being famous for signes lying wonders Is not that true which Christ spake and can it not be performed by him No doubt it is and is also performed the question is not concerning the truth but concerning the sense of the words namely whether it be plainely affirmed by the words of Christ that the bodie and bloud of Christ together with the bread and wine are essentially actually really present vpon earth and really corporally in the mouth of the bodie although inuisiblie receiued as well of the godly as of the vngodly which thing we denie 1 Because the words of Christ do not beare it and they which hold Consubstantiation keepe not the words of Christ as they are most properly spoken but they follow a certaine sense For Christ neither said In or vnder this bread is my bodie but this that is this bread is my bodie which things doe as much differ betweene themselues as to be and to containe something And the visible bread it selfe not any thing hidden in the bread is called the bodie of the Lord. And the Schoole men themselues doe confesse that the letter of the words is not kept if for this is my bodie thou sayest heere or vnder bread is my bodie 2 Because a reall inexistence of the bodie of Christ In with or vnder the bread maketh nothing to the spirituall taking therof which notwithstanding is the finall cause of this Sacrament Seeing that faith being taught by the word of of God and more confirmed by those holy signes doth truly receiue the bodie of Christ being in heauen by the holy Ghosts working as the sayings do teach which bid vs seeke behold Christ in the heauens a Col 3.1 Moreouer a reall and bodily presence doth bring no profit which may not be had from the spirituall presence For Iohn 6.51.54.56 The Lord promised to them which eate him life eternall and also that he will dwell in them they in him what is required more then these things 3 Because the bodie of Christ is spirituall meat and therefore of the minde not of the bodie to be eaten with faith not with the mouth Neyther is it more difficult to faith to receiue the bodie being in heauen then in the bread or in the mouth and that which is more faith of her owne nature and force looketh vpward and is not excluded by any distances of times or places 4 Because how much is giuen to the Eucharist by an Hyperbole or exaltation so much is taken away from all other sacraments by a Tapeinosis or extenuation 5 Because the opinion of the inexistence of the bodie of Christ doth confirme the worshipping of bread and the carnall opinion concerning that iornall prouision necessary to saluation for them which are about to die 6 The nature of a bodie is ouerturned whiles that it is decreed that it is substantially in many places or euery where which thing agreeth to no creature For most truly Athananasius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is That which is consubstantiall with God is euerie where And Chrysostome 2 Col. Hom. 5. Hee is God whose center is euerie where and circumference no where In like manner there is determined against nature that there is a thing not to be felt insensible inuisible vncircūscribed without qualitie quantitie forme and figure and yet corporally present that is a bodie without a bodie against the Essentiall properties of a true bodie whereby Christ prooued the true and essentiall presence of his bodie Luke 24.38.39 Iohn 20.27 saying Behold my hands and my feete For it is I my selfe handle mee and see For a spirit hath not flesh and bones as yee see me haue For hee is said not to bee seene of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 24.31 because he was taken from their sight But He denieth the nature it selfe which denieth the properties thereof or as Theodoret saith the taking away of the properties is the denying of both natures And that eistinction of corporal presence into visible and inuisible is a fained distinction For this abolisheth the manner of a bodie neither doth one nature receiue any thing contrarie and diuerse in it selfe
senses all which truely together cannot bee deceiued vnlesse they bee withholden as in the two Disciples which did thinke the Lord to be some stranger and in Marie Magdalene which supposed that he had beene the gardiner Luk. 24.16 Ioh. 20.15 Whether vnlesse the bodie of Christ be determined to be euery where by this is it separated and pulled asunder from the Diuine nature which is eueriewhere and to which it selfe is personally vnited or hath the body of the Lord obtained that by the vnion that it should be wheresoeuer the word is In no wise because of those things which are equally vnited so as one doth not stretch further then another one cannot be in any place where the other is not but if the one doe stretch further then wheresoeuer the lesse is there also is the greater but not contrariwise as wee may see in a precious stone and in a ring Because therefore the diuinitie of Christ doth exceede the humanitie wheresoeuer the humanity is there is the diuinitie with it not on the contrarie Neither is the personall vnion a making euen of the humane nature with the Diuine or an effusion of the properties of the Diuine nature into the humane that the humane nature may haue the same properties which the diuine hath but it is such an vnion wherby the humane nature doth subsist in the person of the word so as it may be as it were a part therof neither may it subsist by it selfe or without the word But it doth not follow Epist 57. ad Dard. saith Augustine that that which is in God is euery where as God is Moreouer seing that the deitie is euery where whole not by parts not as in a place it cannot be that the humane nature which it assumed can be said to be separated any where from it although it be contained onely in it owne place so as the inuiolable truth thereof doth beare But also the bodie of the sunne and the light thereof haue betweene themselues a naturall and extreme coniunction yet notwithstāding to what places soeuer the light doth extend it self the body doth not come to them really So also the eye the sight are verie neerly ioyned together between themselues yet the sight goeth to many things to which the eye doth not extend it selfe Finally rightly said those ancient fathers in the general council of Chalcedon that the difference of natures in Christ is not taken away for the vnion but rather that the propertie is kept of both natures concurring into one person or one hypostasis But whether did that which Christ said Ioh. 3.13 No man ascendeth vp to heauen but the sonne of man which is in heauen make the humane nature of Christ while it was in earth to haue beene also at the same time in heauen No for the Sonne of man in this place signifieth the whole person of Christ which also is the Sonne of God but the humane nature doth signifie onely one part of that person which was assumed in time of the virgin Therefore that which is spoken of this person which is not man onely but also God is amisse said to be spoken of the humane nature also For by this it should be gathered that the humane nature was before Abraham before it was conceiued in the wombe of the virgine But it is certaine that the sonne of God when hee did speake in earth was in heauen in the same manner wherein hee descended from heauen For Christ doth speake of one and the same subiect that is of the sonne of man that he descended from heauen concerning whom he said that he is in heauen But the son of mā is said to haue descēded not because his flesh fell downe from heauen but because the diuine nature is from heauen and tooke vnto it humane flesh Therefore the sonne of man when hee was vpon earth is so said to haue beene in heauen not because the humane nature but because the diuine nature of this sonne which alwaies filleth heauen and earth was in heauen namely by the Trope Synecdoche wherby both the whole is plainely vnderstood Booke 6. cap. and a part is named of the whole saith Cassian It is not vniust to subiect the nature of Christs glorious body which is called spirituall to the lawes of common nature In no wise because the glorie abolished not the trueth of the bodie nor changed it into a spirit but altogether made it subiect to the spirit a Luk. 24.36 Acts. 1.9 10 11. 7.55 56 Aug. Whether doe the Orthodoxall Fathers when they write that the bread which the Lord did reach to the Disciples not changed in forme but in nature by the almightie power of his word was made flesh Cyprian Serm. de caena domini In prologe Psal 33 That Christ bare himselfe in his hands Augustine That the bodie of the Lord doth enter into our mouth That the tongue is made bloudie with the bloud of Christ and that Christ himselfe is seene touched broken and that teeth are fastned to his flesh whither doe they I say b Chrysost Hom. 83. vpon Math. 45. vpō Iohn hom 24 vpō 1. Cor. speake properly and without trope No seeing that the senses themselues and experience do witnesse the contrarie and these things cannot bee spoken properly without great and Capernaiticall blasphemy Therefore those speaches of the fathers are figuratiue whereby the name and effects of bodie and bloud are giuen to bread and wine and in like manner those things which are done in the signes are attributed to the bodie and bloud of Christ but yet although somewhat hardly and by an hyperbole to commend the worthinesse of the mysterie they doe shewe in these most expresse figuratiue and Metonimicall phrases how certaine and effectuall the mystery is of our communion with Christ or our spirituall eating of Christ namely of such sort that we may bee flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones that is that being truely made one with him wee may enioy all his goods b Ephe. 5.30 In epist vpon Ioh tractat 1 serm de Cr●mate Epist 102 ad Euodium Otherwise saith Augustin We cannot with the hand handle Christ fitting in heauē but we can touch Christ by faith And Tract vpon Io. 50. The bodie of Christ ascended into heauen some body may aske How shal I hold him being absent How shal I send my hands into heauen that I may hold him sitting there Send thy faith thou hast hold on him And vpon Ps 73. he writeth that he did beare himself in his owne hands after a sort namely because he did beare in his own hands the Sacramēt of his bodie And Cyprian saith that Sacraments haue the names of those things which they doe signifie And the same Augustin Neither let it moue thee saith he that somtime the thing which doth signifie doth take the name of that thing which it signifieth for so the rock is called
Christ because it signifieth Christ So we say with Cyprian that the forme that is that the appearance and sight of bread and wine are not changed but that the substance of breade and wine are changed into the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of the Lord which before they were not So Chrysostome That which belongeth to the signes he attributeth to the thing signified especially in respect of faith and the cogitation of the minde What meane the ancient fathers whiles that euery where they doe admire with astonishment the mysterie of the Supper they call it the Fearfull mysterie they require Faith they celebrate the power of God they deny that the order of Nature is to be sought in the bodie of Christ they attribute a conuersion to the signes They signifie a change made by grace not of the substance that is of the naturall matter and forme but of the qualitie that is of the former office condition calling end and vse of the Elements which is the consecration appointment and adhibition or traduction of the signes from a common vse to an holy mysticall vse or office that is to the obsignation and testimony of eternall life that surely they may be nourishment not for the bodie onely for this life as in our ordinarie table or before the blessing but that by reason of Gods ordinance because they are now the Sacraments of the bodie and bloud of Christ they may feed the soule also for as much as they are taken that they may bee vnto vs most sure pledges of the bodie and bloud of Christ and of eternall life flowing vnto vs from him Whereupon Paule doth not simply call it the Supper and the cup but the Supper and cup of the Lord and 1. Cor. 10.4 he calleth the rock of which the Israelites did drinke in the wildernesse spirituall Dial. 10 8 From hence Theodoret saith The Lord honoured the signes which are seene with the name of his bodie and bloud verily not chaunging the nature it selfe but putting grace to nature because these Elements are made Sacraments or spirituall things that is outward meanes of the holy Ghost and instruments of strengthning keeping and increasing the communion of Christ in vs. Therefore this change not essentiall but Sacramentall the fathers admire as wonderfull and supernaturall and that worthily For it cannot be done without the power of God that that earthly and decaying thing which is appointed properly to nourish the bodie should begin to be vnto vs a most holy thing a spirituall and heauenly foode Neither is it a worke of nature that those signes should moue the minde so powerfully and effectually and should offer and exhibit the bodie and bloud of the Lord to bee apprehended also of our minds by faith like as it is not a worke of nature that water should be made the lauer of regeneration or washing of the new birth Tit. 3.5 Although the Sacramentall change is no more a thing miraculous and vnspeakable then when of common waxe is made an authenticall seale of a publick instrument but because that is diuine and a cause of diuine things but this is humane and an ordinance instituted to establish mens matters Whereupon Augustine saith that Sacramēts may haue honour as religious things De trinit B. 31. c 10. but not astonishment as wonderfull things Moreouer the same fathers doe require faith because faith is heere especially necessarie whereby wee may firmely determine that the breade is the bodie of the Lord that is that wee by the lawfull vse of the bread are truely made partakers of the bod●e of Christ Finally they doe grant that that vnspeakeable and truely meruailous fellowship of vs with Christ is established wherin the order of nature is not to be sought for because it goeth beyond all humane sence Whether when we say of a firie sword of an infant lying in a cradle of wine contained in a vessell and the like This is Fire this is an Infant this is wine And Deut. 12.23 The bloud is the life because it containeth the life by which speaches the presence of the Attribute is manifestly affirmed are therefore the words of Christ to be vnderstoode of his bodilie presence at the place where the bread is No for truely the fire doth set the sword on fire doth pierce through the whole substance thereof but it changeth not the nature of the Sword saith Theodoret and in a fired sword the fire doth keepe still the force of burning as the sword of cutting neither hath the sword the operation of fire Dial. 2 c 19. B. 3 c ●9 but the burning is the effect of fire as cutting of the sword saith Damascen By which simile the ancients declared the most streight vnion of the two natures made without confusion and not a reall effusion of the Properties of the Deitie into the humane nature But heere is a great dissimilitude For those are naturall coniunctions whereby either new qualities are applyed to bodies or substances to substances but here all things are supernaturall by the institution of Christ Besides Christ is present in the Supper not for the bread but for the man for Christ spake not these words This is my bodie for the bread as though hee were about to make a substantiall change thereof or were about to communicate his bodie to the bread but hee gaue a promise to the disciples concerning the communication of his bodie whereby he doth ioyne vs to himselfe as it were members of his bodie What is therefore the naturall and proper sense of the words of the Lords Supper This that is bread which being broken Christ did reach with his hands to his disciples is not substantially or essentially or naturally in it self but mystically or by a Sacramētal promise not by a simple bare signification but also although spirituall yet a reall signification that is true and not imaginarie but hee himselfe because nothing is so truely done as that which hee doth by exhibition of the holy Ghost vnder cōdition of faith that he himselfe My bodie or as Paul doth vnfold it 1. Cor. 10.16 The bread is the Cōmunion of the body of Christ that is the seale effectual token or instrument or meanes of the communion of the bodie of Christ Which interpretation Augustine doth confirme The Lord doubted not to say This is my bodie when he gaue the signe of his bodie And Tertullian Against Adimantus c 12 Against Marcion b. 4 hauing taken the bread and distributed it to the Disciples he made it his bodie by saying This is my bodie that is a figure of my bodie Neither doe wee otherwise interpret that enuntiation This or this cup is my bloud that this may bee the sense of the words of Christ As often as yee which are my Disciples and beleeue in mee doe eate this bread and drinke of this cuppe let it be vnto you a sure remembrance and testimonie that you are truely but yet
which is life it selfe and the fountaine of life cannot bee the bread of life to vs c Ioh. 14 Neither can the humanitie be separated from the word neither can the humanitie subsist without the Diuinite and his benefits without the whole person and therefore the one without the other are neither giuen nor receiued VVhether in the Supper of the Lord for the thing it selfe of the Sacrament doe wee partake of his merits alone or the liuely operation gifts or benefits of Christ without Christ himself that is without participation of the body and bloud of Christ or doe we partake of Christ himselfe with his benefits Truely Christ himselfe with al his benefits both those which are giuen to vs by imputation alone and also those which are giuen by reall efficacie 1. Because Christ himselfe one and the same God and man is that liuing bread from whom life eternall doth flowe to vs d Ioh. 6.51 and is eaten of them which are endued with true faith 2. Because bread and wine are holy signes not onely of the death and benefits but of the bodie and bloud of Christ 3. Because Paule doth plainly affirme it e 1 Cor. 10.16 we ought to haue a cōmunion with the body it self bloud it selfe of Christ that we may be partakers of his benefits For those benefits that liuely vertue or operation which sustaineth our soules vnto life eternall cannot be seuered from the bodie and bloud of Christ and moreouer not from Christ himself to whom it cleaueth a Ioh. 5.11 no more then the effect from the cause conteining it or the qualitie from the subiect in which it is properly inherent and from which it issueth because as Cyrill saith The spirit in Christ is ioyned chiefly with the flesh of Christ and the flesh also with the spirit so that wee can neither take his flesh without the operation nor the operation without the flesh neither in the plaine worde or in the Sacraments 4. Because he which imbraceth the promises of the Gospell by faith is made partaker of Christ b Heb 3.14 5. Because the verie words of Christ doe most clearely witnesse it Take eate this is my bodie Therefore it is needfull that the bodie of Christ should bee receiued and eaten of the faithfull 6. Because the true communion with Christ himselfe God and man is established in baptisme Therefore wee must determine that the same thing is done in the Supper 7. Because the Analogie of receiuing eating of bread wine should be lost vnlesse we should spiritually receiue Christ himselfe but that we may receiue the strength of nourishing which is in the bread it is needfull that we should receiue the bread it selfe 8. Because like as we dye in Adam because we are ioyned together with him by a naturall participation so we do liue in a spirituall life in Christ and we drawe it from Christ by reason of the spirituall participation with Christ c 1 Cor. 15.22 9 Because the Scripture euery where teacheth that the Church is one bodie of one head but truely it cannot be imagined that life doth come from the head to the bodie without the ioyning together of them both 10. Because they which stick to the accidents alone and leaue the substance are in no Science to bee suffered But the death of Christ and his benefits are reckoned among the accidents Therfore it is an intollerable thing to propound the benefits of Christ alone and not Christ himselfe But this we adde like as in the plaine worde the word preached shewing Christ to vs by voice is perceiued by the sense of the eares but Christ himselfe signified by the word preached is not receiued but by the vnderstanding beleeuing and in baptisme the bodie is dipped in the water but the minde of the beleeuer is washed with the bloud signified by the water So in the Supper the bodie is fed with that bread and that wine but the soule of the beleeuer is made fat with the flesh and bloud of the Lord as Tertullian speaketh Mandu●atio Corporissed non manducatio corporalis Therefore there is an eating of the bodie but not a bodily eating but of faith or spirituall like as the coniunction is spirituall mysticall and supernaturall for as much as it is made by the apprehension of faith by the efficacie of the holy Ghost and also in like manner the presence of the bodie of Christ is spirituall For if our sight in a moment of time be ioyned with the bodie of the sun much more is faith conioyned with Christ himselfe and moreouer with his bodie placed in heauen Can this proposition be endured The bodie of Christ is exhibited with the bread If you do referre the word with to the time wherein the faithfull doe vse the Supper that the sense may bee When a faithfull man vsing the Supper doth eate the bread of the Lord and drinketh the wine of the Lord he is made partaker not only of earthly gifts but also of heauenly that is to say of the bodie of Christ and of the bloud of the same then truely wee doe in no manner of wise mislike that proposition But if any doe referre it being taken together with the other two particles In and sub that is in and vnder to the place that is to ordaine a presence of the inuisible bodie of Christ In cum sub pane that is in with vnder the bread wee doe worthily reiect this consubstantiation inexistence and indistance seing that this is neither expressed in the words of Christ nor can rightly bee drawne out from them Of how many sorts is this vnion or coniunction in the vse of the Lords Supper Twofold one of the bodie and bloud of Christ with the bread and wine which is called Sacramentall and belongeth to the forme of the Sacrament Another is the coniunction of the same bodie and bloud of Christ with the beleeuers which although spirituall is called the mysticall reall and substantiall communion or communication and fruition of the bodie and bloud of Christ which is exhibited vnder the holy symboles of the Supper Calu. Inst b 4. c. 17 sect 19 33 and belongeth to the end of the Sacrament Notwithstanding a mixture or transfusion of the flesh of Christ is not to be imagined in our soule because it sufficeth that Christ doth breath life into our soules from the substance of his flesh yea rather doth powre into vs his owne life although the flesh it selfe of Christ doth not enter into vs. Of what qualitie is the coniunction of the signes and of the thing signified in the supper of the Lord Not consubstantiall or naturall which may make a presence of the thing signified at the place of the signe 1. Because the words of the institution do by no meanes beare it 2. It is manifest that Christ sate placed with the Disciples at the table really and corporally 3. Neither are Sacraments
instituted that they may be hiding places of things signified but that they may bee effectual signes seales and memorials as the Scripture speaketh Aliud existentia aliud significantia saith Augustine that is being one thing and signifying another thing But meerely significatiue or relatiue that is wholy placed in this that according to Gods ordinance declared in the Sacramentall word these things in a mutuall respect reciprocall relation betweene themselues are one certaine thing for as Beda saith vppon Lu 22 Panis ad corpus Christi mysticè vinum ad sanguinem refertur that is Tho bread is referred to the body of Christ mystically the wine to the bloud and are offered to be considered and also to bee taken spiritually by faith the signes of them which doe lawfully administer the Supper but the things are giuen of the Father and Christ the son the holy Ghost working together with them Seing that Aristotle booke 5. chap. 6. of the Metaphysicks doth teach that there are fower kinds of them which are one In number figure generall Analogie which of these waies is the bread the bodie of Christ Neither in number nor figure nor generall kinde but in analogie or proportion and similitude for they are said to be one in proportion whatsoeuer are compared together betweene themselues as one thing to another according to proportion he saith What things soeuer are as one thing to another are said one in respect Therfore the bread and body of Christ or the bread of life are one thing in proportion because both of them doe giue sustenance that is nourishment and increase to a man but that to the bodie but this to the faithfull soule So the wine of the Lord and the bloud of the Lord are one in proportion because they quench thirst and doe refresh but that the bodie this the faithfull soule Whether can that supernaturall coniunction whereby the Deitie of Christ is personally conioyned with the humanity or that miraculous whereby God hauing taken some visible shapes disclosed himselfe to some men as when God is said to haue appeared to Moses in a flame of fire in a bush a Exod. 3 2 or when the holy Ghost descended vpon Christ in the shape of a Doue Mat. 3.16 or when it was giuen to the Disciples by the breathing of Christ and with firie tongues Iohn 20.22 Act. 2.3 take place here No because the the personall vnion and the Sacramentall vnion doe differ in the whole kinde and because the condition of that bread should be better then of all the faithfull men to whom the bodie of Christ is vnited not personally but only mystically Moreouer the body of Christ is one thing which cannot bee in many places God or the holy Spirit another thing which is euery where And besides we may not argue from that which is done against order by miracle to that which is ordinary in the Church of God of which sort is the Supper of the Lord according to his owne precept Doe this Finally neither that Doue which Iohn Baptist saw descending from heauen vpon Christ nor that breath wherewith he breathed vpon his Disciples nor the fierie tongues which sate vpon each of the Disciples were God or the holy Ghost essentially or had the holy Spirit in them but were signes of that spirit both in Christ and also in the Disciples Is it true in all things that those things which are ioyned by Gods ordinance in a peculiar manner are affirmed one of another as This man is God the Doue is the Holy Ghost No otherwise we might say truely in a man The soule is the bodie and in Christ The Humanitie is the Diuinitie and in a fired sword the sword is the fire or the fire is the sword which yet no man doth grant But it is true chiefly in the propositions concerning the person of Christ when as for the same substantial word they put in concrete words as wel this man as this God But the personall vnion is not placed in the Sacrament wherefore it cannot bee that that should be alike true This man is God that This bread is the body of Christ Moreouer in symbolicall and Sacramentall speaches as we read that the holy Ghost was seene of Iohn descending like a Doue because the Doue was the signe of the Holy Ghost and so we grant that the bread is the bodie of Christ But concerning a vessell of wine we say truely but yet figuratiuely This is wine seing that there are two substances their ioyned and as it were the thing contained in the thing containing as also of an Angell appearing in mans shape it might bee saide This is an Angell but as a thing in a place which that it cannot be said of the body of Christ in the bread hath beene alreadie proued at large Why therefore are the Sacramentall signes called Exhibitiue Because the Lord doth so truely exhibit and giue himselfe being the bread celestiall ●ucer comment vpon the Ephes and that of eternall life to those which are his like as he gaue truly to his Disciples the holy Ghost by the signe of the breath of his mouth or as by the touching of the hand hee gaue vnto many health of bodie and minde as sight by clay made of spittell as by circumcision of the flesh the circumcision of the heart and as by baptisme Regeneration For they which with a true faith doe communicate with the signes corporally doe receiue true confirmation and increase of the communion of the bodie and bloud of the Lord spiritually But Irenaeus saith that the Eucharist doth consist of two things of an Earthly and a Heauenly Rightly yet we must not thinke that it is compounded or whole altogether substantiall or some subsisting thing made of whole parts as a man of bodie and of soule and the bodie of an head and a trunke but it is a holy action or a diuine ordinance wherein at one time but not in one place diuers things are distinctly propounded and deliuered no otherwise then as a pledge being deliuered or the earnest of any thing the thing it selfe was wont to be deliuered also together To what purpose commaunded the Lord to make his Supper Not for an vnbloudy oblation of his body to God the Father for the sinnes of the quick and dead or for a Scenical representation of the death of Christ but for a commemoration of his death for he saith Doe this in remembrance of me that is to say to bee celebrated in the assembly of the faithfull to that end a Luke 22 19. to which purpose also serueth the words of Paule verse 26. declaring what that is In remembrance of me For as often as ye shall eate of this bread and drinke of this cup ye shew the Lords death vntill he come Verse 25. That is 1 Cor. 11.24 call to minde and speake of the whole obedience of Christ and all his benefits with a thankfull mind
and professe openly that you doe beleeue and imbrace them For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to shew is not to expresse any thing by similitude of fact or to represent by stage playing gestures but to declare and shew Neyther ought it to bee restrained to the Priests alone for seeing that whiles we are strangers in the bodie we are absent from the Lord a 2 Cor 5.6.7 we doe by this remember the Lord Iesus which is in the heauens which thing hee himselfe commaundeth vs doe till he commeth to iudgement signifying that the Church shall continue vntill that iudgement he would not haue commaunded it if he had determined to remaine with his corporally For memorie is opposite to bodily presence because remembrance is not of things to come nor of things present but of things past Of what qualitie ought that remembrance to bee Not any bare or idle remembrance of a thing past which nothing appertaineth vnto vs but operatiue and such whereby the faithfull minde in the vse of this Sacrament doth by faith lay hold vpon Christ with all his benefits doth apply to himselfe particularly and so cals to minde the sacrifice past and once performed in the flesh that thereby it feeleth present comfort gladnesse of minde peace of conscience increase of faith and of loue and moreouer doth conceiue most certaine hope of the life and happinesse to come by reason of that sacrifice Finally it is stirred vp to consider of so great loue of Christ and to offer vnto him by faith the sacrifice of prayse and to giue him thanks b Psal 50 23 From which end we doe againe vnderstand that the supper is not ordayned that it may be a reall and expiatorie or appeasing sacrifice for the quicke and the dead but a solemne and publicke thankesgiuing for the incarnation death redemption and all the benefits of Christ Which are the causes for which Christ ordained the memorie of himselfe to be celebrated amongst vs 1 His great loue the propertie whereof is that they which doe loue sincerely and from the heart do desire to liue in their minds and memorie Whereupon wee gather that Christ is neuer vnmindfull of vs. 2 The faithfull prouidence of Christ whereby hee prouided for his beloued that the benefits bestowed might truly profit and enioy their end For as by the forgetfulnesse of the benefactors a benefit receiued is lost so by memorie it is especially kept What is it to shew the death of the Lord Not onely to meditate vpon the historie but also to thinke earnestly 1 Of the iustice and wrath of God against sinne which are seene in this sacrifice 2 Of the great mercie of God towards vs. 3 Of the loue of the sonne towards mankind For so great is the seueritie of Gods iustice and the weight of sinne that there may be no reconciliation made vnlesse the penaltie due to sinne should be paid so great is the greatnesse of his anger that the eternall Father may not be pacified but by the intreatie and death of the sonne His mercie so great that the sonne is giuen for vs. So great is the loue of the sonne towards vs that he deriued this true and great anger vnto himselfe being made a sacrifice for vs doth make vs partakers of his flesh and bloud all which in the vse of the supper we must speak of meditate vpon that we may be truly feared by the acknowledgement of Gods anger we may be truly grieued for our sinnes and againe may be lifted vp with true comfort And finally that wee may celebrate our Lord Iesus Christ with true thankefulnesse heart mouth and life Is Christ to be adored in the bread of the Supper No. 1 Because he is not there present with his bodie 2 Neyther hath hee in his word tyed himselfe to the bread Therefore he is to be adored in the mysteries as saith Ambrose that is in the celebration of the supper in that he is God and in respect that he is God and man together yet so as that we rest not in the supper but that we may lift vp the eyes of faith and our hearts not to a peece of bread but into heauen where he is sitting at the right hand of God a Coll 3.1 whether also in time past the people in the administration of the supper were inuited while they were admonished Habere sursum corda that is to lift vp their hearts Not that they should bee yet taught to seeke downeward for the bodie and bloud of our Lord present in Essence either in the accidents without the subiect or in vnder or with the bread but rather to seek for him in heauen that selfesame flesh long agoe deliuered for vs and that bloud shed for vs to be touched and laid hold vpon with the hand of faith Wherefore euerie one of the Disciples did not rise that falling downe vpon their knees they might take bread and that wine out of his hand And in the little booke of Constitutions ascribed to Clement the people are commaunded to come with a certaine shame fast reuerence without tumult But concerning the shewing or lifting vp of the Sacrament we confesse that it was the custome in the ancient Church that the whole Sacrament couered with a cleane linnen cloath should be set vpon the holy table vntil it should be distributed to the people For then the minister of the Church the linnē being taken away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as saith Dionysius that is opening the mysteries did set them before the eyes of those which were present In the Lyturgy also of Chrysostome he saith that the Priest was woont to lift the holy bread a little while from the table not aboue his head to say with a loud voyce Sancta sanctis that is holy things for holy men surely in imitation of the Iewish custome among whom the Priest being about the sacrifices did shew before hand the oblation before his breast and did lift it vp a Exod. 29 24.27 Leuit. 10.15 But not in any other respect then that the people should prepare themselues to the communion But now seeing that the eleuation of the bread aboue the Priests head is the sinew of Bread-worship and prescribed neyther by Christ nor of the Apostles nor obserued in the most ancient and purest Church it is rightly taken away in Euangelicall Churches Is that which is left of the Supper to be laid vp to be caried about to be seene or to be adored as though some holines did remaine inherent in it Much lesse for the Sacraments out of the holy and lawfull vse or out of the taking of them prescribed in these words Take eate take drinke are not Sacraments like as neyther water is the water of baptisme vnlesse some body be dipped in it as is meet but when any bodie hath beene dipped or sprinckled with water the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost being called
flesh of Christ and bone of his bones not according to substance as Eue was of the flesh and bones of Adam but according to qualitie for as much as the Church is the Spouse of Christ not in respect that wee are men but in that wee are truely Christians a Psal 45.11 Cantic 1.8 2 Cor. 11.12 Apoc. 21.2 by which similitude is declared that Christ doth not only deliuer his goods to his Church to be vsed and enioyed but also doth giue himselfe to vs and make himselfe ours 2. The second is of the head and of the members bound fast by the same quickning spirit b Eph. 2 22 4 12 1 Cor. 6 1● whereby is signified not onely the most streight copulation of vs with Christ but that we doe take life safetie and euerie good thing from him alone that he doth excell his Church 3. The third is of plants and stocks as of the vine and the branches and of engrafting c Ioh 15 1 by which the stock and the young slip being ingrafted do growe together into one plant in very deed d Rom. 6.5 Coll 2 7 but this is the difference 1. That we by nature being wild vines doe not growe out of that vine concerning which it is spoken but we are first ingraffed into in by grace afterward we are trimmed by the husbādman that all bitternesse of tast being laid aside by little and little wee may bring forth sweet fruit 2. Because in this spirituall grafting we being the gresses must passe into the nature of the stock into which we are grafted not on the contrarie as it is in naturall graffing 3. Nether thereupon is to be imagined a reall transfusion of the substance or qualities of Christ himselfe and a certaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or continuitie of them betweene themselues as the Postellians and Libertines do think but a power an operation and a streight efficacie whereby Christ by the holy Ghost doth change vs beeing iustified into himselfe and doth renewe vs vnto spirituall life 4. The forth is of a spring and e Ioh. 4.14 of riuers but so that seeing we are a most impure sinke we must first of all by grace bee purged from vncleannesse most pure waters being powred in 5 The fift is of a house and of a building built together of liuing stones but yet by workmanshippe not made with hands laide vpon the chiefe corner stone and pretious yea the fundamentall corner stone a liuing and pretious stone f Eph 2.20 1 Cor. 3 16 1 Pet. 2.4 which similitude doth tend to this end that it may bee manifestly knowne that the whole Church and euerie member thereof is sustained by Iesus Christ alone to whom it cleaueth spiritually by faith in whome by whom and in respect of whom the holy Ghost doth builde the whole companie of the faithfull vpon this foundation the stones whereof he doth ioyne together by vnity of faith continual loue and so being ioyned together hee doth defend and maintain them against all the tempests insultings of the world 6. The sixt similitude is of meat drinke or of eating drinking a Ioh 6 51. but with a manifold difference 1. Because meate and drink taken after a corporall manner cannot giue life but onely doth conserue corporall life that as it seemeth good vnto God but the meate and drinke which in this mysterie are signified by similitude haue life and that truely eternall in themselues 2. Because these naturall meats drinkes are digested by natural heat and being altered are assimulated to the substances of the bodies But this spirituall meate drinke is incorruptible doth transforme vs into it selfe by a new as I may say qualification as Augustine saith Non mutaberis in me sed ego mutabor in te that is thou shall not be changed into me but I shall be chaunged into thee 3. Corporall meat drinke doth maintain this life but for a small time which life also they do hurt sometime also kill vnlesse they be taken in that measure discretion wherin it becommeth them to be taken But whosoeuer doth eate drinke that spirituall meate and drink one only the same is made partaker of immortality 4. Seing that Christ giueth his flesh with the meate and his bloud with the drinke and declareth the spirituall receiuing of the same by the names of eating and drinking he doth not signifie a passage of his flesh and bloud into our soule or bodie or a transfusion of the qualities either of his soule or of his bodie into vs but an inspiration of the peace of conscience of an holy spirituall and heauenly life by the gift of the spirit of sanctification Therefore in those similitudes all are metaphoricall but not proper speeches neither are to be vrged precisely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is according to the letter 1 Cor 2. 13 but so as the Apostle admonisheth that spiritual things may not be ioyned to corporal but spiritual things to spirituall that is that we may apply the words to the things What is the end and fruit of this our communion with Christ Manifold 1. Our bringing againe into the good fauour of the Father by a Mediator 2. The communion of Christ himselfe with vs wherby as our eternal Priest he doth beare vs in his heart and maketh intercession to the father for vs esteemeth it done to himselfe whatsoeuer good or ill is done toward his brethren 3. The participation and communion of all his goods for among friends all things are common and a spirituall congruence conformitie with Christ For euen as our guilt naturall blemish al our sins which follow therevpon are laid vpō Christ himselfe not by real inhesion infusion but by imputatiō alone according to the couenant of the Gospell but that all the miseries sin excepted punishments due to our sins that same our suretie a Heb 7.22 in very deed took vpon himself subiectiuely so his most perfit righteousnes proceeding from that obedience which being most absolute he performed to the father in his flesh euen to the death of the crosse by which he attained both the paying of all our debts also right to obtaine eternall life for the beleeuers is not ours by a reall infusion inhesion therof but by imputation acceptance 4. By vertue of the holy Ghost or by a real efficacie within vs he doth conuey into our masse which is inserted into his masse by faith spiritually the liuely liquor iuice spirit of eternall life that is he bringeth forth in vs another effect of that sauing vertue being vnseparable from his flesh by which he doth quicken renew sanctifie within vs both our mind and also will affections doth make vs conformable to his humane nature and so he beginneth spiritual life inherent righteousnesse in vs subiectiuely at length to be perfected in the last
day moreouer doth communicate to vs all wholsome graces necessary for vs to obtaine enioy life eternall as the feeling of Gods loue the certainty of Election the gift of iustification of regeneration faith good works other graces of his spirit he distributeth to euery man seuerally as he wil b 1 Cor. 12 12 Ioh. 1 16 vntill we liue with him eternally in the heauens According to the sayings Io. 15.5 He that abideth in me I in him the same bringeth fourth much fruit Of his fulnes haue all we receiued We are ioyned to the Lord we are one spirit with him that is to say by conformity of the vnderstāding of the wil of the affections and by that renuing of the image of God within vs by the holy Ghost a 1 Cor. 6.17 Againe Wee are changed into the same image 2. cor 3.18 Wee shall bee like him 1. Iohn 3 2. Hee shall make our bodies like vnto his glorious bodie Phil. 3.21 Hereupon Christ is said to be and to liue in vs and wee in like manner are saide to bee and to liue in him Whereupon Paul saith I liue not but Christ liueth in mee Gal. 2.20 by which wordes againe is not signified an existence of essence or of substance or an issuing out of qualities from the soule or bodie of Iesus Christ into our soules as some not well in their wits doe imagine but an operation vertue of this communion much more powerfull and stronger as well to iustifie as to sanctifie vs then is the strength of our soule it selfe conioyned with our bodie to quicken our body Finally from this communion betweene Christ and the beleeuers doth spring the coniunction of the beleeuers betweene themselues not by a certaine insinuation of soules and bodies and as it were by contiguitie and by soldering together but by vnitie of faith and of hope and by the bond of true holy and mutuall loue so farre forth that the heart and soule of them all may seeme to bee one b Act. 4.32 and which is therefore called the communion of Saints Which is the forth end of the Lords supper That it may be a testimonie whiles that we vse it according to his institution of our spirituall education or nourishment in Christ that is that wee are fed and sustained spiritually by the benefit of the bodie and bloud of Christ according to the promise Eate drinke this is my bodie which end is neere and of kinde to the former Which is the fift end The obsignation or seale of the new couenant betweene God and men that is of the promise of the Gospell concerning remission of sins wherein God witnesseth that he receiueth into fauour and remitteth sins for the death and passion of Christ to all which vse this Sacrament with a true and liuely faith like as hee himselfe saide This cup. c. And so the Supper is a most sweete couenant and consideration in which the sonne of God doth make a couenant with vs that hee will mercifully receiue vs and wee in like manner doe make a couenant with him that wee will beleeue him and take his benefits with thanksgiuing and that we will performe his obedience before all things VVhich is the sixt end That it may be a symbol and pledge of our resurrection both spirituall in this life which is called the first resurrection and belongeth to our soules a Rom. 6.4 5 11 in which they which haue part the second death shall haue no power on them b Apoc 20.5 and also by consequent of our corporall resurrection at the last day which belongeth to the flesh and is the latter and which deliuereth vs from the first death c vers 13 and moreouer to get life eternall and saluation by the vertue of the bodie of Christ being raised againe according to the saying of Christ Ioh. 6.54 Whosoeuer eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloude hath eternall life and I will raise him vp at the last day VVhich is the seauenth end That it may be a symbole and an earnest penny of the spirituall gathering together of communion or consociation whereby wee are vnited as it were into one bodie by the spirit of Christ as many as doe receiue the Sacrament together and that as many of vs as come to the same table doe take the same meat drinke are as members of the same familie and as it were table fellowes and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is consorts and confederates of the same holy thing like as the ancient were wont to confirme their couenants with the fellowshippe of holy things whereupon they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or faedera that is to say leagues or couenants Hereupon Paule 1 Cor. 10.17 because there is one bread one I say by a common notion of the Sacrament but not necessarily one in number VVe that are manie are one bodie that is to say mysticall in Christ For we all are partakers of that one bread Whereupon againe it followeth that our fellowshippe with Christ is not corporall and naturall seing that our fellowshippe betweene our selues that is of the Church is not corporall but mysticall and meerly s●●●ituall For euen as the bread is compacted of many graines and the wine doth consist of the iuyce of many grapes so wee that are many that is to say beleeuers are spiritually knit into one mysticall bodie the head whereof is Christ Rom. 12.4.5 Euen as in one bodie we haue many members and all the members haue not one office so we beeing many are one bodie in Christ a Eph. 3.6 and euery one one anothers members or concorpores that is of the same bodie in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or one that is like vnto one man in Christ Iesus Which communion doth flowe as it were the effect from the cause from the former which we haue with Christ himselfe being the head and the consent of wils doth necessarily follow it from thence is mutuall loue among the communicants concord one heart one soule forasmuch as it is betweene the members of the same mysticall bodie which loue whoso feeleth not at all in his heart must needs abstaine from that Supper which is a louefeast For the Supper is an example whereby we may learne to offer our bodies and spend our life to Gods glorie and the defense of our neighbour if neede bee and also wee may accustome our selues both to distribute all good thing which wee haue receiued from God with the like liberality to the needie to powre out vpon others with the like charitie that it may be a certaine prouocation to loue brotherly charitie springing from the most excellent pledge of Gods loue towards vs most wretched sinners But God forbid that either wee should account this to bee the chiefe end or wee should with the Anabaptists haue these holy mysteries for example of imitation and onely
the wicked eate the flesh and drinke the bloud of Christ vnto the iudgement of their owne condemnation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 truely and not refusing but receiuing it are made guiltie of Christs bodie No for 1. To eate vnto themselues Iudgement or to bring Iudgement vpon themselues is not to eate Christ who is made vnto vs righteousnesse and life 2. Because the promise of grace doth promise onely to the faithfull the participation of Christ himselfe and they are Sacramentall Seales to none but to the faithfull onely For what part hath the beleeuer with the Infidell light with darknesse Nor must wee say saith Augustine that hee eateth Christs bodie that is not in Christs bodie and therefore their vnbeleefe cannot make void the faith of God and the institution of the supper 3. Because no man saith the Apostle can bee partaker of the Lords Table that is of the meate set vpon the Lords table and of the table of Diuels that is haue any thing common with Diuels and vncleane spirits 4. Because the thing signified is receiued with the heart and not with the mouth for indeede Christ is not receiued by the instruments of the body but by faith alone a Ephe. 3.17 which the wicked do want 5 Because God giueth not holy things to dogs seeing the Lord forbiddeth the same to be done Math. 7.6 6 Because there are not contrarie effects of the participating and communciating of the bodie and bloud of Christ And the power of quickening or giuing life cannot be separated from the communion of the bodie of Christ and the wicked haue not life eternall but are condemned alreadie but he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life saith our Sauiour Christ Iohn 6.51 7 Because Christs bodie eaten worketh life but being despised refused and reiected it worketh death and condemnation but this accidentally not in respect of participation but of priuation 8 Because Christ can discharge the office of a Iudge although the vnbeleeuers eat not his bodie with their mouth they eat then the Lords bread but not the bread which is the Lord hereunto tendeth that excellent saying of Augustine If thou receiue it carnally it ceaseth not to be spirituall but it is not so vnto thee Againe A good man receiueth the Sacrament and the matter of it an euill man the Sacrament onely and not the thing it selfe And againe He that disagreeth from Christ eateth not Christs bodie nor drinketh his bloud though he daily receiue the Sacrament of so great a thing vnto his owne iudgement Whereas therefore the Fathers Tract 25. vppon Iohn but especially Augustine say that the Lords bodie is sometimes receiued euen of the wicked by the word Bodie they meane the signifying signe and not the thing signifyed or matter of the Sacrament And the bodie of the Lord that is to say his symbolicall bodie is distinguished from the bodie of the Lord that is to say from the verie matter of the Sacrament 9 And lastly this consequence of our aduersaries is ridiculous Christs bodie is giuen or offered therefore it is receiued It is not receiued therefore it is not giuen Can a man be guiltie of the bodie and bloud of Christ which eateth not his bodie nor drinketh his bloud Essentially Hee may by reason of the abuse of the holy signes which is contumelious to the thing signified euen as they which dispise Christs seruants are guiltie of contemning our Lord Iesus Christ yea and of the father also Luke 10.16 And a contumely done to an Embassador redoundeth to the Prince that sent him and whosoeuer spitteth vpon teareth or trampleth vpon the kings Image or letters is guiltie of offence to the maiestie of the king himselfe to conclude the vnworthie receiuer is guiltie in that he doth not spiritually receiue and eate Christs bodie offered vnto him Whether may the minister without perill of conscience admit all to the Lords Supper seeing he cannot know who are worthie and who are vnworthie As the Church iudgeth not of hidden things that is to say doth not prye into the secret corners of our hearts but iudgeth the outward actions hauing the Decalogue rightly vnderstood for a rule therein so the ministers dutie is to leaue to God the iudgement of euerie mans heart admitting all that are not tainted with open crimes but he must restraine those that are bewitched with errors repugners of the foundation of doctrine blasphemers heretickes worshippers of Idols drunkards cozeners theeues tyrants adulterers euill and filthie speakers and those that any other way liue vngodly and walke not worthie of the Gospell which giue no signes of repentance the Ecclesiasticall Consistorie hauing first taken knowledge of them for to them belongeth that of the Poet. Procul hinc procul este profani People profane and wanting grace Packe hence and come not neare this place For Christ giueth a weightie and serious prohibition Giue not holy things vnto dogs Mat. 7.6 Neither must we communicate with other mens sinnes 1. Tim. 5.22 therefore Chrysostome saith He would rather giue his bodie to be shamefully torne in peeces then wittingly willingly reach out the bodie and bloud of our Lord to a wicked man that liueth without repentance And for this abuse Paule witnesseth that among the Corinthians many were weake and sicke and many slept Is it a thing arbitrarie or indifferent to vse the Supper of the Lord or to abstaine from it No but the contemners of the Lords table sinne grieuously for they contemne 1 That edict not humane but diuine Doe this 2 The memorie of Christs death whereby we are redeemed 3 They neglect the communicating of the bodie and bloud of Christ 4 And lastly they shew themselues vnworthie to be accounted Christs disciples Shall wee need any sacramentall signes of Christs bodie and bloud in that life that shall be euerlasting No for we shall be with our Lord Iesus Christ euen in bodily presence for there will be no place for any sacrament when Christs corporall presence shall be restored to the Church and the Church by the way of faith shall be restored to the heholding of Christ euen face to face a Rom. 8.24 1 Cor. 13.12 5.7 1 Ioh. 3.2 What is contrarie to this doctrine First the error of the Aquarians who vnder pretence of sobrietie vsed not wine but water in the Lords Supper Secondly the errors of the Papists who doe horribly profane the Supper of the Lord and disdaining the name thereof 1 Borrow the name of the Masse from the rites of Isis 2 They faine that the Masse as it is now retained among them was celebrated by Iames the brother of the Lord or by the other Apostles 3 They adorne it with Gold Siluer and pretious stones as if it were a whorish Thais to allure the more to loue and affect it 4 They doe superstitiously vse bread that is meerely without leauen 5 They doe necessarily mingle water with wine 6 They transforme the
words of the Lords Supper into Ephesian letters or into such a consecration as nothing differeth from magicall inchantments 7 They whisper the words of the Eucharist with a low voice blowing the crosse vpon the elements turning their face from the people that so the people might with more religion adore the Elements 8 They referre consecration onely to those fiue word Hoe est enim corpus meum for this is my bodie and this is my bloud 9 They say that the outward signes doe vanish away and that they are conuerted and turned into the substance of the bodie and bloud of Christ or that by force of the consecration made by the Priest the bodie of Christ doth succeedc and come into the place of the substance of the bread the bare accidents still remayning and hanging in the ayre without the subiect and they fayne that Christ is corporally contayned in the hand of the Priest 10 They haue taken away the breaking of the bread and haue brought in wafer cakes printed with the Image of the Crucifixe vpon them to maintaine superstition keeping still the shadow of the breaking in the Priests masse 11 They affirme that the sacrificers are creators of the Creator from whence are these saying that are to be found in their books He is made food flesh of bread God of the element Also Hee that created mee gaue mee power to create him And hee that created me without mee is created by my meanes And in this respect they preferre themselues before the blessed virgin Marie inasmuch as she onely once conceiued Christ but they can create him as often as they will themselues 12 The Sacrament of the supper which they call the masse they turne into a sacrifice true proper and propitiatorie or expiatorie without bloud for the sinnes of the quicke and the dead yea more for the dead then the quicke for whom it is celebrated and all this for gaines sake 13 They say there is application of this sacrifice made for others by the very worke wrought 14 They teach that this sacrifice doth not onely merit for those that are aliue that they should be freed from their sinnes and the punishment of them and from all wants whatsoeuer but also that it doth auaile for the deluerance of the dead out of their fained Purgatorie 15 They faine that the Priest doth offer Christ vnto his eternall father and that the Priest is the mediator betweene Christ and the Father by which meanes the sacrifice of the crosse of Christ is made altogether of none effect his alone perpetuall Priesthood is denied the merit of his death is drowned and swallowed vp and Christ himself is againe crucified a Durand I. 4. Heb 5.6.7 24.9.12.10 12 Math. 26.28 As the Paschall Lambe was to be sacrificed so say they is Christ sacrificed in the Eucharist yet he was but once to be sacrificed vpō the crosse b 1 Cor. 5 7 That which Malachy 1.11 after the manner of the Prophets spoke metaphorically or allegorically in generall of the reasonable worship of the inward spirituall worship or of the spirituall oblation accepted by the God of the Church of the new Testament vnder the shadows of ceremonial worship as of the incense pure oblation vsed in the old Testament In euerie place they offer sacrifice vnto mee and they offer to my name a pure oblation they take this to be meant properly of the particular reall outward oblation of the bodie of Christ in the supper That which the Apostle Hebr. 5.1 speaketh of the leuiticall Priests by Enallage of the time present Euerie high priest is appointed of men that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sinnes they doe vnskilfully expound it of the ministers of the Gospell They say that Melchisedech the priest of the most high who was a type of Christ did offer vnto God for a sacrifice bread and wine that so they might proue that the Priesthood of Christ doth consist in the offering of bread and wine which notwithstanding like a bountifull king he brought forth Hotsi that is to say hee caused to come forth that is he drew out he brought forth food that is to say of euerie sort some for the refreshing or nourishment of Abraham and his seruants who returned wearie from the battell to whom he would thus congratulate for the victorie that he had obtained and moreouer he blessed him as a Priest and receiued tithes of him Gen. 14.19 They vnderstand Christ to bee called a Priest after the order of Melchisedech chiefely in respect of the daily sacrfice which is offered vnto God vnder the shew of bread and wine which indeed is not so for the Apostle maketh no mention of it when he setteth downe the comparison betweene Melchisedech and Christ but in that he is a Priest farre aboue all the leuiticall Priests and an euerlasting Priest and his Priesthoode is without succession as Melchisedech hee is brought in by Moses as without father without mother without beginning of daies as farre as wee know as Chrysostome saith as if he were sodainly come downe from heauen and by and by had betaken himselfe thither againe making no mention of his ancestors nor of his death Also because his sacrifice being once finished vpon the Crosse hath a continuall and perpetuall force Hebr. 7.3.24 16 Moreouer one part namely the Cuppe notwithstanding saith the Counsell of Constance the institution of Christ and the practise of the ancient Church they doe most wickedly keepe backe from the Laitie 17 Those things which Christ hath indeed distinguished and separated they by their fained Concomitancie will needs haue to be signified and to be both together 18 The bread being magically inchanted they stirred vp and downe and adore it as God and by and by deuoure the same not remembring what Cicero saith Whom doest thou thinke to bee so madd as to beleeue that to be God which he eateth 19 They faine a separation of the bodie of Christ and of vs saying that Christ is forthwith receiued into heauen assoone as the signes are torne with our teeth 20 They abolish the communion which ought to be of many and teach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an eating alone one hauing his owne proper and priuate feast at one alter in one corner apart by himselfe And therfore although none of the people or of the Cleargie be present and communicate with him yet they teach that priuate Masses and that many in one temple in diuers places at once ●nd continually may bee celebrated that so there may be made an oblation of the sacrifice of Christ and that the Priest may communicate himselfe which is all one as if a man should baptise himselfe and should say that it were auaileable for others that are not baptised 21 They proclaime their Masse for gaine 22 They celebrate it with a stage-like and Histrionicall ornament gesture bellowing murmuring lisping groning singing and other fashions like the Orgian sacrifices