the Archbishop for their conversion and they desired him to pray againe that it might returne to the former substance and presently he returned it into the same substance Now I would gladly know what was the reason that after this great miracle and the conversion of this clergie that this contrarie Doctrine should be taught and that an Archbishop Alfrecus should translate and write against this miracle doctrine and that all the Churches in England should with him teach against this Transubstantation and that for 90. yeares if not for a hundred and yet should not be excommunicated by the holy Father the Pope not once proceeded against seeing that 60. yeares after the clergie of England made a booke of constitutions to be governed by in which they did all approve that in the Lords Supper there remained bread wine and yet the faithfull receaved Christ spiritually and yet for all this the Pope did not proceede against them Againe what was the reason there were so many Latine sermons tolerated in the Church which taught against their superstitions and they not condemned by some generall councell for heresie if the Church had formerly concluded this Doctrine Againe what is the reason that these Latine Sermons are all made away except one and that that should have some words utterly razed out the same Sermon remaining in the Saxon language hath these words Notwithstanding this sacrifice is not the same body of his wherein he suffered for us nor the same blood of his which hee shed for us Anno 1141. but spiritually it is made his body and blood as that Manna which rained from heaven the water which did flow out of the Rock as Paul saith These words so razed out are restored againe by the same sermon in the Saxon language and is to be seene in a booke at Exeter Againe I marvell those clergie men were suffred to be so neare the Bishop at his celebrating of Masse and were not rather committed to ward like hereticks Againe I marvell that this Odo Popish Writer found falsh hee being a man of so great authoritie who had such extraordinary gifts in working miracles as never any Prophet or Apostle had yet that he would suffer those Latine sermons in the Church which Alfrecus did translate 46. yeares after him into the Saxon language and not he to have so much as writ against them and that heresie and to leave some testimonie of his detestation against it Againe I do marvell that Osbon doth not make mention of their singing to Deum seeing it was in the Cathedrall Church where so many singing men were That Jesuite who can cleare these Doubts shall do as great a miracle as Odo did when by his prayers caused a sword to come flying from heaven into King Ethelstanes scabard when he had lost his owne and he being in fight with Analnus Or as great a miracle as Odo did in making that all the time the roofe of the Chuch of Canterbury was a building hee caused that not one drop of raine fell in the Church nay that Iesuite deserveth a Cardinals hat All these reasons well considered do shewe that this Osbon did seeke to delude the people and his testimonie is found to be against them and to manifest the truth for us And this Doctrine was not established by generall consent till Innocent the 3. by the counsell holden at Rome Anno 1215. It was by 1300 Bishops and there they did decree that all must goe to confession once a yeare and come to the communion and this was made an Article of Faith About the year of our Lord 1280. lived Iohannes Scotus he is called Downes he was Master of Sciences in his 4. book he writes thus of the sacrament of the Lords Supper the scriptures might be expounded more easily more planely without Transubstantiation but the Church did choose this sence which is more hard being moved thereunto as it seemeth chiefly because of the Sacrament men ought to hold as the holy Church of Rome holdeth And in the same place he doth allude unto Jnnocent the 3. and the counsell holden in the Church at Rome called the Laterane counsell Erasmus on the 1. Corinth 7. saith The Church of Christ hath lately determined Transubstantiation in the Sacrament it was enough a lōg season to beleeve Christs body to be either under the bread consecrated or els to be present after any other manner this he wrote about an 120. yeares since He was as great a learned man as any lived in that age This Pope having as it is manifested altered the institution of the Lords Supper he having ordained a new faith and having chosen 4. orders of Fryers which brought forth a new Gospel called Cirillus by which they taught that God governed in the time of the Law the Sone in the time of grace but now by the comming of the 4. orders of begging Fryers the Holy Ghost began to raigne and should raigne till the end of the world and those which beleeved this new Gospell should be saved And if the Lord in mercy had not stirred up many witnesses Rev. 16.13 to withstand there croaking frogs they would have razed out all Christianity amongst which was that famous divine Gulielmus Master of Paris who proved by 39. Arguments that fryers are false teachers and all the Scriptures which are against Antichrist hee applyed against them See more in Mr. Fox This Innocentius the 3. came to be Pope Anno 1198. Hee was Pope 19. yeares and he having brought in many superstitions into the Chuch Hee commanded Almericum of Paris to be burned for an hereticke because he disallowed Transubstantiation and that whosoever did not goe to confession at least once a yeare should be excommunicate He ordained the Lords Supper should be celebrated without wine he ordained that the consecrated Hoste should be carryed to the sick by the Priest in a gorgeous habit with torches or candles light and a bell before him and so to goe to the sick and give him of it It is recorded this Pope was exceeding subtile and crafty he brought the Emperour under him and all the Kings in Europe as Abas Vespergincs saith Hee gott all the wealth in the world by his wicked devises He compelled king Iohn to receive his Crown of him See Fox 253. Hee decreed that whosever spake evill of the Pope should loose his life yea that hee should be tormented in hell sire This Pope did first institute the fowr orders of Fryers wheras the order of Monks were made first clergy men by Boniface the third in a counsell at Rome Anno 610. There it was decreed that the Moncks might preach and baptise excommunicate and absolve whereas before they did not attend any such office See Vencenee Belovanses Hist lib. 30. and it doth appeare that the Priests did much oppose them For I doe find that Pope Honorius after did conform them to those degrees To returne to
take it that was the cause they did not suppresse it as they did others For Mr. Fox doth shew there how they have rased out of some of the Latin sermons which are to be seen in those of the Saxon tongue and thence he doth shew that they were such words as made against their superstition So it is manifest that this doctrine of Transubstantion was not received in the Churches of England for fifty years after for this book of constitutions was in use till Langfrank was Archbishop it doth appeare that sermon was read in those Churches untill William the Conquerour came into England had raigned there some years in likely hood till the year 1070. Capgrave and William Mamsbery who were History writers doe both of them affirm that this Alfricus was Archbishop of Canterbury about the year 996. And by the rehearsed booke of Canons constitutions it doth appear that this Alfricus was holden for a man of found judgment and a Catholike writer and this booke of constitutions was given unto the Church of Worcester by William Bishop of Worcester for an especiall treasure as doth appeare in the same booke Besides this book there is another booke given to the Church of Exeter by Leofrious the first and famous Bishop of that Sea which hath those two Epistles before rehearsed Manie other proofes ye may see in Mr. Fox for the truth of this Authour And it doth appear that Langfrank did alter this doctrine for before hee came into England I doe finde that hee was one of the four Henry Bulling de ongine erroris cap. 10. Counsell Vercellense doe say manie French stood with him WilliaÌ„ Mauâ—â—usbury affirme the same which did dispute against one Beringarius Archdeacon of Angreas in France who was turmoiled persecuted by four Popes for defending in the Lords Supper Bread and Wine did remain and that the faithfull received Christ spiritually and not with their carnall mouths his last recantation hee made under Pope Hildebrand named Gregory the 7. Anno 1079. Vpon which hee with griefe and sorrow did give away his living and all his goods to the poore and wrought for his living in his old age after hee had been persecated thirty years one Authour doth say hee did repent his forsaking of the truth before his death These with manie other testimonies are to be seen in the answere to the 6. Articles recorded by Mr. Fox And Osbon who did write an History at the appointment of Langfrank Archbishop of Canterbury doth say that at that time certain of the Priests and Clergy were deluded and seduced by wicked errour did hold and maintain that bread and wine which are sett upon the Altar after the consecration doe remain in their former substances and are but a figure of the body and blood of Christ Thus was the manner of the Popish Priests thus to deprave wher it is certain by that before rehearsed this herafter testified that this was the judgment of the Church the reasons he used to shew what made them alter their mindes are certain false miracles which are common in their Legendaries may be read in the forenamed History which if I should rehearse would be thought lying for the Whetstone Whilst this abhominable doctrine was in hatching See how many thousand witnesses the Lord did stirre up to maintain his truth even by their own Authors confessed See rerum Francicarum scriptores about the yeare 1283. Hee saith the heresye of the Waldenses spread throughout Europe Look a Rayling Booke written against Mr. Fox his Booke printed 1603. in the 528. Section he saith the doctrine of the Waldenses was spread in more then a thousand Cityes speaking of the yeare 1200. There is a Cronicle of Lambertus a Monk of Hersfield Anno 1078. hee writt from the beginning of the World to this yeare in which hee doth much complain of the Clergy but most of the Monks hee affirmeth them to be proud and ambitious destroyers of the Lords Vineyard by their ungodly life and great iniquityes by which they have polluted the whole Church The Bishop of Florence did teach and preach that Antichrist was then manifested as Gabellicus testifyeth Anno 1101. Vpon this Pope Pascalos called a counsell and putt him to silence condemned his books And Blondus Platina testifieth he also disalowed of many Ceremonies for which the Pope deprived him of all his goods See the two former testmonies A counsell holden at Rome Anno 1124. where was assembled one thousane Bishops Abbotts there they did ordaine that this transubstantion should be put for an Article of faith yet it doth appeare that it was opposed for Innocent the 3 did 86 years after enact it in a counsell but here by this connsel the Pope sent his Cardinall to the Monks of Caslam that they should acknowledge the Church of Rome had received power from St. Peter and hee had delivered it from the mouth of Christ that all Churches and Cloysters are to be planted and established by the Sea of Rome and all ought in conscience to be obedient to that Sea and to acknowledge that he hath received power to open the gates of Heaven to whom he would and also to shurt them against any and that the Romain Church was builded on the Sone of God which all ought to beleeve and this is builded on the faith of Peter that Peter and Paul did plant the Church at Rome with their blood and that it was the Mother church of all other Churches and those which did oppose that Church did oppose the Word of God See the counsell of Cissinences At this time was Arnulphus Bishop of Ludom Anno 1127 a zealous man he rebuked the wicked life of the clergy their much pride and he exhorted all to follow Christe in poverty as his Apostles did in holynes of life This man for his holy life and godly preaching was well accepted of the Nobility and of the Cittizens but the Cardinall and clergy hated him and sought to make him away privately But he having a revelation before what death he should dye he declared unto them in his teaching that he knew the clergy would murther him privately because he told them the truth in blaming their pride and wicked living and therefore they were offended with him he protested he was commanded of God to cry out against their great sins It doth follow that the clergy murthered him there is a book of his doth inveigh against many superstitions printed at Collen The Archbishop of Ments Anno 1131. Hildebertus a man of great learning did earnestly preach and write against the Sea of Rome against the abhominable wickednes He affirmed them to be Tyrants the sink of all iniquity that they banished away all goodnes out of the Church for this doctrine hee is sent up to Rome and there cruelly handled and imprisonned See Rainul in poli Chrocit Peter Blesensis
Steven was put to death saith That the faith of Christ did spread over all the world by the multitude of them which fled And St. Paul wrote to the Church at Rome about 21. years after hee saith The faith of Christ was published throughout all the world which was before Peter came at Rome Act. 28.22 Rom. 1.8 16.26 And it doth appeare that those which planted the Gospell in Brittaine came not from the Romaine Church because they did so much dissent in ceremonies for the observation of Easter day which is one of the ancientest traditions they did dissent from Rome 700. yeares and although Austine the Monk did corrupt the Church with the Romane superstitions yet hee was opposed by many learned Brittaines and they sent unto Augustine to confer with him concerning their differences they did agree to have a meeting where Austine came with his learned men and the Brittaine Churches sent thither one Donatus with 7. Bishops where they met at a place called Austines oake there it doth appeare that they could not agree on which Austine did threaten them with warre if they would not receive his superstitions And as Segebertus saith Beda Baleus Galfridus and others Beda lib. 2. Austine would have them to receive Altars and Gregorius Masse-bookē and the Crucifix and Procession observation of Easter-day as the Romanes did which they did oppose that they did so contend and strive in this contention that there was blood-shed in this assembly upon which Austine did threaten to stirre up warres against them the which wee find hee did and caused many to be murthered and although hee prevailed against them Fox in folio 131. Anno 798. yet Mr. Fox doth shew that when Charles the Great did send into England to the King Bishops and Nobility for to receive the Romane ceremonies Images in the Churches they appointed Albinus to answer it which hee did when he had answered it they did well approve of it sent it with the booke to Charles King of France and appointed this Albinus to go to him with it And howsoever it hath since prevailed See the Chronicle of Panlus Meriall Anno 794. yet there was the same yeare a Counsell houlden at Franckford of 205. Bishops which did condemne the worshipping of Images and the second Counsell of Nice for establishing of them But it is objected Foxes booke is a booke of lyes therefore not to be credited I know the Papists doe so charge it but wee say how comes it then that they have wrote two Bookes against it and instanced sundry of those stories affirming them to be lyes unto which hee hath made answer in great modesty and so cleared their objections that all men of indifferent judgment may see they are meere calumniations He being a Noble Man and suffered so many arraignments and imprisonments and at last death itself and false charges one I will instance by reason it is allmost as rare as a black Swan and that is of the Lord Cobham whom these blasphemous men say was a rebell and that hee came against the King with an army of men to St. Gyles feildes the which doth very evidently appeare to be false as all may see in his answer imprinted in both his last impressions and yet for all this they have wrote a third booke after his death and never answered any thing unto his shewing them their false accusations Tit. 3.10.11 2. Thes 2.12 1. Tim. 4.2 but scoffing and wondering at his number of sheetes written yet a great part of his booke is in answer to their slanders Therefore I conclude they are such as the Apostle speakes of which have their conscience seared with an hot iron Anno 600. And thereto Galfridus Monumentisis in his center 6. Epistle saith That before Anstine the Monk came to Brittaine they had the profession of Christ more purely then he brought from Rome And Dagonus Bishop in London cōming as he travelled to an Inne where Austine was when hee understood that hee was in the house refused to stay there or so much as to drinke in the house by reason hee had so corrupted the worship of Christ And like as the Popes champions dealt in our land Anno 752. so we doe finde they did in other countries as here in the country now under the States Boniface Bishop of Vtrecht accompanied with 52. of which one was a Bishop and ten Priests and Monks travailed to Doekum in Friesland about 60. miles and there sent for the Officers of the Churches of Lewarden and thereabouts and they would compell them to receive the Romane ceremonies which they refused to doe and thereupon they fell at so great contention that the Bishops with all their train were killed Thus they were rewarded for their paines Looke Joan. Baka Lupus Frerariensis epist. 5. on Carolus Magnus Many Preachers or Bishops in Bavaria did much dislike the Bishop of Ments Anno 735. because hee brought in the Romane Ceremonies and they told him it was contrary to all truth equity for to stand with the Pope in disinheriting the right heire of the Crown of France and that hee did great evill in bringing-in Images teaching purgatory praying for the dead forbidding marriage to the Ministers and that hee himself had an evill report in that hee had women come in such manner to his house upon which this Bishop Boniface was very angry and he went to Gregory the Pope and complained of them the Pope sent for them and condemned them for hereticks for 14. years before hee banished fowr Preachers the land for refusing to observ his traditions Look Aventanus lib. 3 Kilinus Bishop of Whitzburgh a Schotsman travailled thorow France England and Dutchland Anno 687. for to perswade the Clergy to observe the Romane ceremonies which hee could not accomplish then hee caused to be sent unto him two other Messengers from the Pope Look Otthe Frisingenses lib. 5. cap. 13. and then they theatened them that they should bee forced to receive them for which the people sett upon them and beat them so sore that those three died of it And their Histories doe shew thus they dealt in moste parts of Christendom between the years 610. and 800. And then they doe write they were converted to the faith of the Roman Church whereas it is certain they perverted the faith for by the testimonie of Histories the faith of Christ was professed in those Countryes long before as I have partly related I have alledged some Fathers here to shew how it doth appeare that they have given testimony unto the truth we cōfesse not that I doe build my faith upon their writings or upon any man on earth I doe reverence the graces of God I find in them but my faith I build upon the word of God as the Apostle saith 2. Pet. 1.19 Wee have a sure word of the Prophets to
THE ORIGINALL OF POPISH IDOLATRIE OR The Birth of Heresies Published under the name of CAVSABON And called-in the same yeare upon misinformation But now upon better Consideration Reprinted with ALOWANCE Being a True and Exacte Description of such Sacred Signes Sacrifices and Sacraments as have bene instituted and ordained of GOD since ADAM With a newe source and Anatomie of the Masse first gathered out of sundrie Greeke and Latine Authors as also out of diverse learned FATHERS Published by S. O. Printed in the Yeare of our Saviour 1630. To the Christian Reader CHristian Reader this treatise came to my hande and I have perused it I saw it to be but a relation out of other ancient Histories how superstition was brought into the Church which made me to wonder that any who is not a lover of popery should suppresse it by reason it doth only shewe what others have written who lyved in those ages wherein they were brought into the Church I have therefore gott this treatise to be examined and viewed by sundry others who are not inferiour for giftes and learned artes to any who had a hand in suppressing this booke and all of them doe agree with me that those things which are related in it are to be found in the writtings of those Authors quoted in it therefore I take it that those which suppressed it if they be not Papists in their hearts yet they hould with the Papists that ignorance is the mother of devotion which is expresly against the Law of God And the Scriptures hould ignorance to be no better then Paganisme therefore the Apostle doth tell us that God shall come to judgment in flaming fyre rendring vengeance to all which knowe not God 2. Thes 1.8 Therefore those which contemne this means of knowing God much more they which suppresse the knowledge of God or his truth their end shal be wofull and accursed Our adversaries the Papists doe vanut much of antiquitie unto such as are not acquainted in ancient Histories saying that their religiō is the true religion of Christ which hath bene in all ages since the Apostles but this short treatise doth manifest otherwise if we search the Scriptures and ancient Histories we may find that all their boasting is mere delusion which doth vanish away and their Religion shal be found to be no other then the Scriptures have foretould to witt that Antichrist should arise in the Church of God and corrupt all the holy ordinances of God sett up his traditions command them to be observed above all the ordinances of God 2. Thes 2.3.4 Apoc. 12.11.12 1. Tim. 4. And although they have suppressed the testimonies of the faithfull witnesses of the truth which we produce against them yet we do find sufficient testimonies out of their owne writers that their religion was not receaved in many Churches till a thousand yeares after our Lords ascension and since brought to the height by Jnnocentius the third and Honorius Then by their owne Authors confession God did stirre up many thousands of wittnesses to his truth which we professe against their superstitions in all ages since the Lords truth hath not wanted some which did witnesse it even to the death by giving their lives for it And now this hundreth yeares the Lord hath given us in our land many excellent truthes to be maintained by lawes to be professed and embraced which many thousands have comfortably embraced and are departed this life in Christ and rest with him And now for our great sinnes the Lord doth beginne to take it away from our land as he hath done in other countries which have had it we see he hath sent them the sword with famine and great miseries and he hath shaken his rod against us to see if we will learne before it be too late and forsake all our great and haynous iniquities Christ tould the Iewes that those eighteene on whō the tower of Siloam fell were examples to them that except they did repent they should all perish so except wee reforme our great and crying transgressions we shal be ruinated and made an astonishment to all the world and although we are not the first who have drunk of this cup of Gods wrath yet we shall not receive the least part although the Lord have reserved the Dregges of his cup for the beast and his false teachers Wee may see the Angell of the Lord is executing of his wrath here and all the world is in an uproare round about us The whole frame of nature is out of order yet wee do not lament as we should therefore it doth prognosticate his plagues shall fall seven times heavier upon us The gospell of Iesus Christ is departing from us who can love his King and Country and not lament mourne feare least his fiere wrath should consume us all in this troublesome cruell desperate and bloodie age in which wee live now that warres rumoures of warres are sounding in every mans eares and Gods enemies make Havocke of his Churches and Servants and the Romane Antichrist doth prevayle Gods people at this day be grievously persecuted and murdered yea some consumed and devoured Alas it wil be too late to bring water to quench the fyre when the house is burnt to ashes This short treatise is to manifest the originall of the superstitions crept into the Churches how most of them came from the old heathenish Romanes except their Transubstantiation which is a grosser kind of Idolatrie thē ever was invented by any Pagane Christian Reader if you doe observe this treatise you may have wherewith to stop the mouthes of the Papists and behold whence their idolatrous Masse is derived I have in the end added some thing of my owne collecting most out of their owne Authors to shew the truth how long it is since their idol of their Breaden God came first into the Church S. O. THE AVTHORS EPISTLE TO THE READER MOst Christian Reader Considering the Controversies and bloudy hatred grown betwixt those who professe themselves Christians about religion for they aspiring to retain these vaine superstitions proceeding from their predecessors and many also not contented do invent new Sects Schisms and Heresies Others least in number divinely inspired and of God elected desire to extirpate the Darknesse of Ignorance thereby to cause resplendently to shine the Light and claritie of Truth But it seemes that the most dangerous Poyson that Satan useth to entoxicate men with the Venym of sedition and cruell contention and hatred derives chiefly from the Masse disguised with some good meaning masked and covered peradventure with a good intention And although that many heretofore have by sundry faithfull descriptions endevoured to discover to the world the deceitfulnes error blindnesse thereof yet could they not prevaile nor give light to their duskish and heavy sight Therefore now without any passion I have faithfully extracted and lively drawne out from the Volumes of ELASOPOLITANS
Leviticus Numbers Beasts appointed for sacrifice were the most obedient and obsequious beasts as the Oxe and the Calfe the Hee and Shee Goat and so likewise amongst Fowle the most mild and gentle as the Pidgeon and Turtle Of Sacrifices againe some were publike and others private or particular those publike were either quotidian or every seventh day either at New Moones or in times of Fasting but they were chiefely celebrated at three festivall times of the yeere which were First the dayes of unleavened bread Dayes appointed for sacrifices when the Paschall Lambe was offered and eaten Secondly the time of Harvest and the first Fruits And thirdly at the Feast of Vines and Olives towards the end of the yeere Exod. 23. They were commanded to immolate every day two Lambes one in the morning another in the evening after the Altar was first perfumed with Incense and Odours Some of the Sacrifices also were ordain'd See the books of Philo the Iew and of Iosephus for corporall things which were celebrated with shedding of bloud other sacrifices were without bloud for things incorporate Sacrifices named Holocausts concerned onely the honour of God because the whole oblation was consum'd in the fire For which Holocausts the Male and not the Female was received as an oblation Holocaust Philo the Iew in his Treatise of Beasts appointed for sacrifice Ioseph lib. 3 c. 20. De Antiq. Iudaic. Lev. 9.2.3.4 Sacrifice for health that is to say the Oxe the Lamb or Goat of a yeere old In the sacrifice for Health it was a matter indifferent whether the oblation were Male or Female but of the victime offered three parts were reserved for the Priest which was the fat the two Rumnions and the Kidney or Fillet of the Kidneys There was another difference betweene the Sacrifice for Health and that celebrated for sinne for in the one they were injoyn'd to eate up all the oblation in two dayes and in the other for sinne the Priest was commanded to eate it up in one day and by this meanes some Sacrifices were termed Holocausts a Sacrifices for sinne Sacrifices for sinne out of ignorance Sacrifices for the high Priests sinne for the Princes for the Magistrate and for particular men Lev. 3.4.5.6 Sacrifice for a polluted man Sacrifice for a delivered woman Lev. 12. Sacrifice for the Leprous Levit. 14. Sacrifice for menstruall pollution some were ordained for health other some for sinnes Sacrifices for sinne were divers both in respect of the persons and of the oblations For he that offended out of ignorance his expiation was celebrated with a female Sheepe or Goat but the expiation for voluntary and wilfull sinne was with a Male sheepe The High Priests sinne was expiated by the sacrifice of an immolated Calfe that of the Prince with an Hee Goat or Bull that of a Magistrate with an Hee Goat and the sinne of a particular man with a female oblation The Sacrifice for expiation of offences towards God was with a Ramme The Sacrifice of a man polluted was also with a female Sheepe or Goat for a womans expiation after child-bed was a Lambe of a yeere old a yong Pidgeon and a Turtle For the clensing of the Leprous were appointed two living Fowles pure and cleane Cedar-wood and Hysop two whole Lambes and a female sheepe of a yeere old with Meale and Oyle Another Sacrifice was celebrated for a man or woman polluted by shedding his Seed or her menstruall bloud with two Turtles and two yong Pigeons If the great Oblations failed they had recourse to Doves Pigeons or Turtles or for Holocausts others maintenance In all Sacrifices there was pure Flowre without Leaven Leaven and Honey forbidden in all sacrifices Sacrifice for a woman suspected of Adulterie Numb 5. Sacrifice of Nazareans Numb 6. Philo the Iew in his Treatise above named Incense and Oyle and nothing was permitted to be offered upon the Altar with Leaven or Honey Notwithstanding in the Sacrifice constituted for the Purification of a woman suspected of Adulterie there was neither Incense nor Oyle as in other Sacrifices but it was offered with water mingled with the dust or ashes gathered up from the floore of the Temple There was also another Sacrifice celebrated for those that had made some great Vow called Nazareans when the time of their Devotion was expired wherein they were appointed to offer three Victimes a Lambe of a yeere old a Sheepe and a Ramme the one that is the Lambe to serve for a Holocaust the other of a female Sheepe for Salvation and the third oblation for Health Furthermore his haires that made the oblation were to be cast into the fire to be burned together with the Holocaust I was willing particularly to discourse of the diversitie of Sacrifices that hereby I might make knowne the great goodnesse and bounty of our God who in the Law of sacrifices publisht by Moses meant to curbe and reyne in the rude people of Israel as it were with a Bridle who could not forget the Aegypt an Idolatries wherein they had beene nourished and bred for about foure hundred yeeres under the tyranny of the Pharaohs Exod. 12. But what rigorous Lawes soever enacted what Ceremonies or Sacrifices soever he did ordaine them this people ever made a relapse into their Idolatry abusing the Law of God and corrupting the holy Sacraments and sacrifices as hereafter shall be expressed But if any man desire to know more at large the multitude and varietie of sacrifices let him reade the bookes of Philo the Iew and of Iosephus in his Antiquities of the Iewes according as Moses hath expressely written in the bookes of Leviticus Numbers There was another signe Sacrament instituted of God Arke of Covenant Exod. 25.26.27.28 by the Arke of Covenant described in Exodus being a sacred signe and dedicated to receive celestiall divine Oracles to the end to induce the people to a remembrance feare obedience of God To accompany and honour the Arke of Covenant many other externall signes were constituted by God as the ornaments and consecrations of the Priests especially that ornament called the Ephod Ephod both which and the Sacrifices the Israelites abused and prophaned with their Idolatries Another sacred signe there was Water of Purificatiō cōsecrated Numb 15. of cleansing water or Water of expiation instituted by God for Moses and Aaron the High Priest This cleansing or purifying Water was consecrated with ashes taken up by an unpolluted man of the oblation offered in the Holocaust that is to say of the whole Red Cow without spot not having ever bin exposed to labour The Fire for the burnt-offering was ordained to be of Cedar-wood Exod. 38. Hysop and of Purple-Crymosme Polluted men were sprinkled over with this Water for an expiation purgation of their corporall blemishes At the entry of the Tabernacle or Temple there was a kinde of Laver like a Font of Brasse forged at first of seeing
pleasing release of the people to goe home to their houses being a chearefull and acceptable sound it was supprest and the Sacrifice honoured with this terme of Missa To confirme this point two thousand yeares being now come and gone these words are pronounced at this present day Ite Missa est which signifies a leave given to the company or assembly to depart so as they themselves which frequent these Temples so soone as they heare this pleasing note Jte missa est commonly they skip leape for joy being assured that they are then licenced to goe to dinner The Arabians In the book of the description of Affrick by Iohn Leo Affricanus and Mahumetists instructed for a long time by the Monke Sergius as formerly we cited hold this word of Messa in great esteeme By which word they have nominated three Townes or Cities called Messa scituated upon the Ocean shore upon the Cape where Mount Atlas takes his beginning Neere to the same Townes in the Suburbs Messa of the Turkes there is a Templemuch reverenced by the Turkish Idolaters because they beleeve that from Messa should come the righteous Pontife promised and prophesied of by Mahomet they also thinke that about that quarter or shore of Messa Messelmans in the book of the great Turks Court by Frier Autonie Geffrie Jonas was cast up againe after his being swallowed up by the Whale Furthermore they so highly esteeme this name of Messelmans as we doe the name and title of Christians Intimating by this word Messelman as much as saved Moreover the Mahumetists honoured their Priests with the name of Messe calling them Messen and their Temples Messites or Meschites Wherefore In the book of the above said Messen Messi they that publisht the Anatomie of the Masse the Centons the FoundatioÌ„ Augmentation and embellishing thereof could not but write with speciall reverence in respect of the ancient Pompilian Religion and the Alcoran Institutions of Mahumet After we have thus decided the word of Messe or of in the Romane tongue to be derived from the auncient Romane Idolateâ—s not from the Hebrewes nor the Greekes we must now discend to the vestments of these Missal an Sacrificers But by the way we must not omit the name of Pontife Pont. li. 1. of Comment or Pontifex taking also it 's originall from the Romanes as we deÌ„clared in our Commentaries The stile also of Pope proceeding from the ancient Idolaters who used to enstile their God Iupiter calling him Pope Iupiter but especially the Bâ—thinians and Scithians Which word Papa comes from the Greeke word Papus which is to say great Father As also the true title subscribed to any sutes presented to the great Romane Pontife is Most blessed Father The next purple Pontifes are termed most reverend Fathers and petty Bishops reverend Fathers A Curate Curio a Priest or Curat who in his Cure that is in his Parish had the care of sacred celebratiâ—Ì„ all of them retayning this word Father or Pope Great Father which was wont to be a common name to all Bishops but afterwards the great Romane Pontifes reserved it onely to themselves Another title is also retayned for the Demie Bishops termed Curates who are suporintendants in every Parish borrowing this nomination from the ancient Romane Curates which is to say a rasing or shaving because the ancieÌ„t Curions Sacrificers were cut Tit. Liv. lib. 1. Decad. and shaven in their heads after the Babilonian manner or of the Herculean Pontifes called for this reason Stephanophores as wearing a Crowne upon their heads Neverthelesse by the reason that all the members of the Missall Sacrifice derive from the Pompilian Religion wee should wrong the ancient Romane Idolaters Tit. Liv. Fenest Pompo Lett. to take from them the originall of these names Masse Pontife and Curate as may be justified by the Romane Histories As for the vestment of Missall Sacrificers Numa ordained that it should be white called by the Latine word Alba an Aube Aube Alex. ab Alex. lib. 4. cap. 17. which name of Aube continues to this day for the vestment of him that sacrificeth and celebrates Masse Moreover Super tunicaÌ„ ancam pectori regumen 1. Decad. 1. above his Aube the Priest was appointed to weare a Tunickle painted above that the ornament of a Pectorall of copper or brasse afterwards changed into gold or silver which the Missalists terme a Chasuble They also used a vaile to cover their heads when they sacrificed called Amictus first instituted by Aeneas Virg. lib. Acneid 3. Purpurce vel are comas ad apertus amictu capite ante aras Phrigius velamus amictu Titilman in tract de expo Myster Missx Gab. Eiel in lib. de exposit Missa These are the principall vestments instituted by Numa more then 700. yeares before the Incarnation of Iesus Christ T is true that since there have beene many Iewish ornameÌ„s added as the Stole Ephod Zone or Conture the Myter or Theare and some other decorations the better to pownce set forth the great Bab◠〈◊〉 whore But the Mâ—â—â—lians desirous to alter the originall of their Missall vestments pretend that the Aube is a figure of Iesus Christs conversation in the flesh or the purity of his body incarnate in the wombe of the virgine Others interprete the white colour to signifie chastity and continencie Some minding to mocke and make Playes sophistically of the Passion of Iesus Christ say that by the Aube the white Robe is represented which was offered by Herod to Christ when he was sent back againe like a foole to Pylat Philo the Iew a more worthy Philosopher in his Treatise of Dreames subtilly deviseth that the Aube signifies the solidity of the most resplendent light of the Dyetie which he calls Ens. The linnen also whereof the Aube is made they expresse for the subtilty of the Scriptures As for the Amict invented by Aeneas they adulterate it for the Vayle wherewith Christ was covered when the Iewes mocking him in Caiphas house did smite him Titilman one of the subtilest Missalians deviseth that in the Amict Christs Devinity concealed in his humanity was intimated Some likewise confesse that the Amict was subrogated in stead of the Iewish Ephod by the Zone Maniple and Stole which are three Ligantents they understand the three Cordes wherewith Christ was bound and drawne before the High Priests Apul lib. 11. le la no anri and after that before the Romane Lieutenants in Iudea Biel another pregnant Missalian by the Zone Procl in lib. desacraft Gag Procl Flat Catnl Eâ—us aquae â—spersione â—eccata prae conceives the rods wherewith Christ was scourged By the Stole extended in forme of a Crosse there was signified the Gibbet or Crosse which Christ bare upon his shoulders The Maniple also which he weares on his left arme to figure the band of love wherewith Christ was bound Another Mummerie they have for the
and places of the holy Scripture is said to bee the water the Stone also to bee Christ Even so the bread is said to bee his body which three places must be understood interpreted to bee sacred signes figures then when this very author said Christ Iesus uttered these words Hoc est Corpus meum this is my Body in presenting and breaking bread to his Disciples hee gave them the signe of his body for otherwise it should seeme to bee a thing both inhumane and unlawfull to devoure the pretious flesh blood of Iesus Christ if there were not the figure of the bread and wine for to keepe in memory his flesh and blood the body of Christ having beene sacrificed to God his Father for our life and eternall nourishment Againe the same Author used this interpretation Lib. 10. de Caut. des cap. 5. ea sacrificium de coÌ„sc dist 2 Tertul. lib. 1 3.4 Etiquid paras dentem ventrem crede maÌ„ducaâ—â— ea ut quid de consec dict 2 Aug. in lib. demmed paeniteud in Ioan. tra 25. cap. 6. The Sacrament visible is the new Testament that is to say The sacred signe of the invisible sacrifice the like interpretations are described by Tertullian against that hereticke Marcion Christus acceptum PanuÌ„ Corpus suum fecit dicendo Hoc est Corpus meum id est figura Corporis mei Wherefore then O Missalians have you not followed the authority of these holy Doctors of the Church which would not blaspheme against God by the Magick of transubstantiatioÌ„ bat have freelly and vertuously acknowledged the Sacrament to be a visible signe or sacred figure signifying by faith spirit that which is invisible Wherefore do you prepare the mouth the belly for to devoure the body and blood of Christ corporally really and carnally Why offer you not your selfes by true and lively faith for to eate worthily Christ Iesus Why have you not understood the manducation of the body of Christ by the notable distinction of that loarned Doctor St. Ierome saying S. Hieron in Epist ad Ephes Ca. dupliciter eadem distinct The flesh of Christ Iesus is to be understood carnally when it is spoken of the shedding his blood and crucifying of his body for our salvation but spiritually when it is said that his flesh is the meat for us to eate For another proofe S. Gelase against Entychius and Nestorius I will alledge that learned Prelate Gelase Bishop of Rome the which disputing against the heretickes Eutichines and Nestorians doth afirme the bread and wine consecrated and made Sacraments are neverthelesse in substance bread and wine but to be signes of the body and blood of Christ Iesus by the mystery of the Sacrament And if ye desire larger testimonies S. Ambrose in the book of Sacraments cap. 1. 11. S. Ambrosius upon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Corhintians hath explicated and made manifest that the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine doth signifie the flesh and the blood of Christ Iesus offered for us Origen likewise in his Homilies Origen in Lev hem 7. teacheth the Sacraments to bee figures which wee ought to examine really and not carnally Because saith hee that those words Hoc est Corpus meum not understood spiritually kils the soule when he writes to eate the flesh of Christ Wherefore St. Chrysostome admonished the people to honour that holy Sacrament in offring himselfe his soule to God S. Chrysost hom 31. cap. 15. tont 1. for the which Christ Iesus was crucified and that by that holy Sacrament of bread and wine is signified to us the similitude of the body and blood of Iesus Christ For the resolution wee must follow and be ruled according to the instruction and interpretation of our holy Saviour Christ Iesus and his Apostles to honour and reverence his holy Sacraments instituted of him by extorior signes to lift up our hearts and raise our spirits and minds to Heaven Psa 12. for to comprehend that which by those signes is represented to us and not to esteeme hold and account them a vaine picture or apparitions but endevour to receive them worthily by lively faith and vertue of the Holy Ghost to the end to be fed and nourished with celestiall bread to the salvation of our soules thereby to attaine life eternall Let us then be assured in Christ Iesus as members of his body 1. Cor. 10. 1. Cor. 12. that wee may be reduced and brought all into one unity for to communicate and eate the same bread drink the same wine compounded of many graines united together to the end that wee may say with the holy Apostle All wee faithfull are the body of Christ Iesus saved redeemed by his holy body crucified and pretious blood shed for us and so remaining permanent in faith in Christ Iesus in eating his body and drinking his blood to beleeve firmely to have beene crucified and risen from the dead D. August in Ioan. tract 30. Art 1. 3. ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God his Father untill that hee returnes as hee is ascended with his humanity and neverthelesse his Almighty power and Divinity to be distributed to us and diffused in earth and in all places especially in his holy Sacraments which hee hath left us for a pledge and exteriour approbation of our faith for memory and recordation of the death and passion of our Saviour IESVS CHRIST FINIS Invincible proofes that Transubstantiation is but of late yeares gathered out of authentick Authours and confessed by the most learned of the Papists NOw to manifest that the Church of Christ taught none other doctrine coÌ„cerning the Lord Supper then the reformed Churches doe teach for one thousend years since Christ here I doe produce undenyable testimonies First the Book of Alfricus Archbishop of Canterbury Anno 996. in the raigne of Etheldred King of England which book doth remain in the Library at Exeter and a coppy of part of it dedicated to King Henry the 8. by Doctor Cranmer And by the same booke Alfricus having translated So. Sermons out of Latin into the Saxon tongue of which hee made two bookes and hee was of such learning and eloquence and of such worthy esteem in the Churches of England that wheras they made a book of Canons after his death to govern the clergy they did collect out of some generall counsells other ancient Fathers in which they did insert two of the Sermons in that book of Alfrieus his translation into the Saxon language the one was read in the church on Easterday before they received the Lords Supper and there anie may read it in the Saxon language or in English recorded by Mr. Fox and there are two of these books extant and one of them is to be seen in the Library at Exeter and the Italians and French did not understand the Saxon language I
Archdeacon Anno 1167 he wrote a book very learnedly in which he proved Rome was that Babylon St. Iohn wrote of in the Apocalypse and that all their clergy were adversaries to the Gospell of Iesus Christ and the very Calvs of Bethell and Dan and Baals Priests and Egyptian Idolaters they selling all things for monie S e Trethinius Gesnerus Peter Conster a Priest at Troyes a man of great learning Anno 1182. and an eloquent Oratour he wrote 20. books and sundry Sermons in which he doth prove the clergy neglect the Word of God and feed the people with their own inventions and that the Church goods which belong to the poore they consume wickedly he affirmeth them to be false brethren for which the wrath of God shall fall on them See Trethemius Vensâ—nttus I will now sett down some testimonies of some of those Of those which were banished suffered death Anno 1105. which did testify the Lords truth the time this idolatry was in hatching Before there was any generall Lawe to maintain this Transubstantiation I finde under the Bishop of Trare four persons banished and accompted hereticks for that they affirmed the bread and wine doe remain in their former substance at the Lords Supper after the words of consecration They denyed the Pope to have authority over other Churches See the Catologue of the Bishop of Trare Doctour Fulck in his answere to the Rhemish Testament See Reve 17.4 doth say that the church of Leedium before this was under great persecution under Pope Pascus for affirming him Antichrist Two Preachers in France one named Peter Breves Anno 1135. the other is called Hendrick van de Tollhouse they were well known in France and of good estimation for their great learning and they did much bewaile the Apostacy of the church and they spared no man of any degree whatsoever they were affirming that they were fallen from the estate of grace and from Christ and they affirmed the Pope to be the Prince of Sodom and the Citty of Rome to be the Mother of all abhomination that all the Bishops were cruel Wolves they detested the doctrine of Transubstantiation and affirmed the Masse prayer for the dead was Idolatrie before God and that Images the Crosse might not be prayed unto nor suffred in the Churches That the Priests manner of singing was mockery before God that praying to Saincts and vowing of Chastity and their manner of building Temples and observing of Holydayes were superstitious and wicked and all humane inventions in Gods worship wicked Idolatrie These men continued in their preaching twenty years and having great refort coming to their preaching of all sorts and estates at last they were apprehended by the Popes commaund by a Legate of his and Peter Brise was burned a St. Ioyls the other was apprehended committed to prison but what came of him we finde not but the followed great persecution many of their Disciples went to their death joyfully Look the 65. and 66. Letters of Barnod to the Earle of St. Ioylls There wrote against them Peter Abbott of Clugnam which Barnod did record and in likelyhood with envy See the Cronicle of Paulus Meriam Ilyricus in his boock Detesbus Anno 1158. speaketh of two called Gurhardus and Dulcinus who did preach diligently against the Church of Rome affirming that prayer was no better in one place then another and that the Pope was Antichrist and the Prelates and Clergy of Rome were rejected and the very whore of Babylon prefigured in the Apocalyps These two Preachers came into England and brougt with them thirty in the raigne of King Henry the Second and by means of the Prelats they were imprisoned and branded in the cheeck and banished the land and after putt to death by the Pope This yeare was Peter Waldus called in question Anno 1160. for that hee taught the truth of the Gospel against the Popes superstition The meanes of his conversion was this He being a rich merchant of Lions some say he was a Magistrate sundry of the Merchants being together merry suddenly one of them was strucken dead and so the rest being strucken with great feare he gave himselfe to prayer and reading the Scriptures good bookes and instructed his Familie in the grounds of Christian Religion shewing them the great superstition of the Romish Church so that they had forsaken the Heavenly Truth which the Apostles planted in steade thereof they did burdeÌ„ their consciences with superstition And hee being very rich gave much goods weekely to the poore instructed them well in the grounds of religion so that many came to his godly exhortations and to conferre with him concerning the truth of the Gospell He kept sundry learned men in his house he caused good bookes to be translated in the French language He himselfe was learned as doth appeare by a parchment writing of his owne hand in which he had collected the Fathers into a good forme as that writing sheweth First the Bishops and Priests sent unto him and forbad him to have any mo such meetings in his house upon payne of excommunication to which he gave this answer That it was his dutie to teach his houshould the grounds of religion wheras his neighbours came to heare him he did not find wher that he ought to forbid them but he was assured it was his dutye to teach his houshould he would obey the voice of Christ when he was called into question that which they layd to his charge was that hee affirmed that the Masse was abominable before God and that hee denyed any more Sacraments then Baptisme and the Lords Supper and that it was an abomination to offer for the dead and that Purgatory was the invention of men that there was no ground in the Scripture for it for the Faithfull go presently to joy after this life that honouring of Images praying to Saincts was idolatrie that the Church of Rome was the Whore of Babylon that Christians ought not to obey the Pope or the Bishops because they were no better then Wolves to destroy the Church and that they ought not to meddle with the temporall sword and that their additions of mo Sacraments then two was wicked Item that the Vowe of chastity was found to be Sodomitrie that the many orders of the Monks was the marke of the Beast abominable against Christ For friers were not then hatched that celebrated dayes for dead men all inventions of men in Gods worship were ungodly And because the Popes champion Bernard who is saincted for his worke Peter of Clumin write so spightfully of them charging them with sundry heresies and that they denie childrens baptisme I will set downe the testimonie of one who was a bloody persecutor of them as it is in a little booke that he wrote against the Waldenses about the yeare 1270. wherein when hee hath spoken all