Glasses of the Israelitish Women In this Laver or Holy-water Font was put this Water of Purification wherewith the Priests besprinkled themselves before they celebrated their sacrifices to the end they might be purified and obtaine grace and remission of sinnes After the death of the High Priest Aaron the Israelitish people ingratefull towards God for the benefit he sent them murmuring when they were wearie of the heavenly Manna which hee gave them bountifully for their sustentation they were punished with the stingings of venemous Serpents Brazen Serpent Numb 27. But God being mercifull gave them a sacred signe to bee preserved and restored to health that is to say the signe of the Brazen Serpent erected up on high which was a Figure of Iesus Christ crucified Iohn 3.7 This in briefe is the greatest part of the Signes Sacrifices and Sacraments instituted by God in the first Church of the Israelites being figures of the true and perfect sacrifice accomplished and immolated by Iesus Christ the true Messias the Eternall Priest who sits at the right hand of God his Father CHAP. III. Of Corruptions NOw wee must succinctly produce how Man by his owne fault falling into oblivion and disobedience against God his Creator Corruption began first in Adam abused herein divine favour and grace and corrupted the sacred signes sacrifices and Sacraments by him ordain'd and instituted For else what perswaded our first Father and his Wife Eve to hide themselves when they heard and were set in the way of God but that they had abused his sacred signes and violated the Law of those Fruits prohibited forbidden them This holy signe which our first Parents so alienated abused was the originall of other Vices and corruptions hereafter described whereinto men are falne having a rellish of the corrupt masse in Adam Omitting the particular corruptions of signes sacrifices Corruption of the sacrifices by Aaron Exod. 32. Deut. 9. Sacraments before the Law written by Moses we will begin in setting downe briefely the most notable errors committed by the greatest sacrificers Kings and Priests with others that had the government and charge of the people When Moses remained in Mount Sinai to receive the Commandements from God his brother Aaron the High Priest caused a golden Calfe to be framed of the earings delivered unto him by the people of Israel hee built an Altar offered Incense and celebrated sacrifice causing the coÌ„mon people to adore this Image Was not this an abusing of the sacrifices ordained by God a corrupting of their true use procuring the same to be adoâ—'d which before was it selfe offered and immolated according as the custome was His sonnes also Corruption of sacrifices by Nadab Abihu Levit. 10. Numb 11. Nadab and Abihu were they not consum'd with fire because they adulterated the true use of sacrifices and tooke unconsecrated wood by corrupting the instituted Law The people of Israel ingratefull for the benefit received in being delivered from Pharaohs captivitie did they not murmure against the holy Sacrament of celestiall Manna when they contemned and despised this Bread of Life crying out for flesh to eate Achan the sonne of Charmes did not hee violate the Law of sacred signes when hee committed sacriledge by detaining the spoiles of Jericho which were vowed consecrated for sacrifices to God Iosh 7. If any man more curious Observe this desires to see the abuses and corruptions continued by the same people let him reade the Histories of the Iudges of Israel and he shall perceive Iud. 6.3.6.8.9 that in all ages men have never been content with the true adoration instituted by God but in stead of externall signes constituted by God to drawe the people to his feare and obedience they have forged and brought-in their owne inventions and in stead of reverencing the Altars Iud. 10. and the Arke of Covenant in the name of the onely one God which were externall sacred signes the Israelites misled by the Idolatries of their neighbours Iudg. the Syrians Sidonians Moabites Ammonites and Palestines erected Altars to strange gods to Baal Astaroth Jephta Iudge Inhumane sacrifice of Iephta Iudg. 11. and Conductor of the Israelites did not he corrupt the Law of sacrifices when he offered up his owne daughter excusing himselfe by a Vow he made which was not so enjoyned him by God The sacred signe ordain'd for the High Priest Sacrificer in celebrating of sacrifice Iudg. 8. called the Ephod serving for an externall ornament was it-not abused by Gideon Captaine of Israel when of the spoiles of the Madianites and their eare-rings hee forged an Ephod of gold by meanes whereof the people fell to great Idolatrie How long was this externall signe of the Ephod abused Idolatry by the golden Ephod when an Image was thereof erected in Siloe by the Mother of Michas so that Priests were expressely instituted to sacrifice thereunto and an Altar edified and thus was the true use of holy sacrifices corrupted While the Temple continued in Siloe into what depraved and adulterate Rites did the Priests and sacrificers fall who were appointed and ordained for the celebration and Ministerie of holy sacrifices and Sacraments when by long custome they usurped this priviledge over the people that when the sacrifice was solemnized and the flesh of the oblations was a boiling their sonne or servant having a trident or iron hooke in his hand he had the libertie to rake out of the pot or Cauldron whatsoeuet he could bring up with his hooke Moreover 1. Sam. 2. with more extreme Leviticall Tyrannie this servant of the Priests had the priviledge to demand of the Celebrater some flesh to roast for the Priest or else he might violently take whatsoever he listed Were not these wonderfull abuses and detestable corruptions practised by the sacrificers and High Priests under the pretext and colour of sacrifice What grosser corruption can be mentioned then that of the children of Eli the High Priest nam'd Ophni and Phinees who Ophni and Phinees corrupters of sacrifices 1. Sam. 2. under the colour of devotion committed infamous Whoredoms with the women that watcht neere to the holy Oraculous signe instituted by God For which sinne they were lamentably slaine and the Arke of Covenant violently taken away by the Philistims who erected it in the Temple of their Idol Dagon 1. Sam. 4. But God not permitting this sacred signe to be thus prophaned he caused the Image of Dagon to fall downe 1. Sam. 5.6 and sent grievous punishments upon the Philistims so as they were constrained to re-deliver up againe the Arke of Gods Covenant This sacred signe was so precious and estimable Arke of sacred Covenant that being but abused and prophaned by the Bethsamites that were not of the Order of the Levites fiftie thousand of the common people and seventy of the most apparant and remarkable amongst them were by divine revenge cut off by
sodaine death This example may make them tremble Against the corruption of sacred signes that presume to profane the signes and Sacraments instituted by God Vzza also for abusing the same sacred signe though it were with a good intention to ease the Arke of the Covenant that leaned too much of one side was he not punished with death For other prophanations committed by the Israelites there are examples of Osias punished with Leprosie 2 Sam. 6. Oâ—as for adulterating the sacrifices and assuming the Ministerie of incensing allotted onely to the Priests Saul the first elected King of the Israelites 2. Chron. 26 Saul was put to the Sword and his Kingdom succeeded to another as was foretold him by Samuel in that he prophaned the sacrifices and permitted his subjects to commit the like abuses 1. Sam. 13. Ioseph lib. 7 cap 4. de Antiq Iudae His successors to the Kingdomes of the Iewes and Israelites did they not persever in their abuses and corruptions of the sacrifices and Sacraments ordained by God when they celebrated sacrifices to the gods 1. Kings 11. Astaroth the god of the Sidonians Chamos of the Moabites and Melcom or Moloch of the Ammonites building Temples Oratories for them offering incense and solemnizing sacrifices to them Jeroboam King of the Israelites Ieroboam 1. Kings 12. did not onely erect a golden Calfe as the high Priest Aaron formerly did but hee set up two golden Cowes in the two Temples of Bethel of Dan he instituted strange Priests corrupted the Law of God and caused sacrifices to be celebrated after the manner and forme of Aarons This Idolatrie and corruption of sacrifices was continued by the Israelites for more then foure hundred yeeres 1. Kings 14. during the reignes of their Kings who had taught them to adulterate the true manner and forme of sacrifices in particular Chappels Oratories edified on the tops of hilles consecrated in shadie forrests violating the law of sacrifices ordained for the holy Temple in the sacred Citie of God for particular examples of abuses committed against the true use of sacrifices we reade an historie of Maacha 2. Kings 16. the mother of King Asa who caused an Image to bee erected to god Pan she consecrated dedicated unto him a shaddie Forrest celebrated to him sacrifices Achab another King of the Israelites erected an Altar Achab. 1 Kings 16. and procured sacrifices to bee solemnized to god Mars otherwise called Baal to whom he dedicated an umbragious Grove Ioseph lib. 8. cap. 10. to please herein his wicked wife Jezabel Hee also built another Temple and Altar to the god of the Tyrians ordained sacrificing Priest and instituted about 40. false prophets His sonne successor Ochosias Ochosias instâ—ucted by his father in corrupting the true use of the sacrifices caused men not onely to immolate to Baal who signified Mars but persevering still in farre greater corrupt on s he built another Temple to the god of the Acaronites 2. Kings 1. Ioseph lib. 9. cap. 1. called by Josephus Myos and by the Grecians Priapus to which god hee offered sacrifice And to bee shoâ—t what more abominable corruption can bee imaginâ—d then the invention of Purgatory fire Purgatory fire 2. Kings 16. which the Israelites abused causing their children to passe through the middest of the fire in Tophet a valley belonging to the sonnes of Ennon sacrificing to god Moloch This corruption of sacrifice In the book Alcoran Asoar 29. li. 46. Asoar 5. Ignem gehounae non nisi numero dierum praeterminato Animas sentire docet Alcâ—van liber ad diem Veritatis omnis accedere â—perum suorum mercedem accepturos Aâ—oar 5. The cause of corruption in Sacraments Apâ—â— 1. â— though it had been practised since Moses time notwithstanding the idole of Moloch in the valley of Ennon was not demolished till the reigne of good King Iosias more then nine hundred yeeres after Moses Neverthelesse this abuse hath been continued by the Arabians and Africans even to this present day for the Alcaronists and Mahumetans are of this beliefe that the soules of the dead shall passe through fire to bee purged purified of their offences By this briefe collection wee may cleerely discerne how from the beginning of the world man hath fallen by his owne defect into this gulph of the error and corruption of sacred signes sacrifices and Sacraments instituted for him by God But the most capitall abuses from whence the originall of all Idolatry derives have proceeded from this in that carnall and fleshly men have bin alwayes more addicted to visible signes and externall ceremonies then to things signified and intimated in Sacraments for in stead of circumcising their hearts casting off the old skinne of sinne to bee regenerated and purified by the bloud of the heavenly oblation offered up before all ages they have taken understood the circumcision carnally for nothing but the corporall foreskin circumcised Dent. 10.50 For did they follow the interpretation of God hereof by Moses which was to circumcise the prepuce of their hearts Did the people of Israel give credit to the good Prophet Ieremias who admonished them of the spiritual Circumcision and to circumcise the foreskin of their hearts Ierem. 4. in casting off the old skinne of their corrupt nature The like hath hapned in sacrifices and sacred signes instituted by God for signes of that sacrifice consummated in the sacred person of Iesus Christ for carnall man had reference to the corporall bloud of the terrestriall beasts whereas man should have raised up his spirit to heaven to have apprehended what was prefigured signified by the Immolation Oblation of beasts And therefore divine Iustice is denounced by the Prophets Esar 7. What neede have I saith the Lord God of your sacrifices I am angry with the oblation of your sheep I take no more delight in the bloud of Oxen nor of Lambes and sacrificed goats Why labour you to erect Altars to mee I le none of your vaine Offerings and Oblations I abhorre your Incenses I cannot endure your New Moones your Sabbaths your assemblies nor your feasts all this is but vanity I have conceived an hatred against your Feasts of New Moones O you Israelites and your solemne celebrations I am weary with having endured so much Psal 41. you are ready to addresse unto mee your prayers but I will no more heare you for the abuses you have committed by your hands full of blood I will accept of no Bull hereafter from the house of Israel because sacrifices are not pleasing to mee Esay 65. I take as much delight in the sacrifice of an immolated Oxe as in the murder of a man slaine in the Oblation of Incense Ierem. 6. as the adoration of an Idoll Wherefore then saith God take you so much paines to hunt after Incense froÌ„ Saba and for odours out of a farre
Tree of Life Apoc. 2. Rom. 12. planted in the middest of the Paradise of God in and by whom wee that were bastard slips have been engraffed to obtaine eternall life Hee committed to our keeping his holy Gospel commanding us to preserve it entirely without adulterating or corrupting the same without adding or dimishing there-from upon pain of eternall death Hee was as the Rain-bow The Rainbow extended all over the Aire to assure us of the League and Covenant contracted between God and us that we should no more be drowned in the deluge of sinne He was circumcised that the Law in him might be accomplished that so the prepuce of our hearts might be circumcised and to make us cast off our ould corrupted skinne in Adam Circumcision Galat 4. The flaming Bush Hee was like the flaming Bush incarnate in the wombe of the Virgin conceived by the Holy Ghost without the seed of Man the sacred Virgin like the Bush remaining notwithstanding entire and not consumed He was sacrificed like the just Innocent Lambe Pascall Lambe Iohn 1. Heb. 13. and his Blood shed to preserve us from the Tyranny of Satan and to open unto us a passage whereby we may enter into the Land of Promise the Heavenly Kingdome Hee is that true unleavened Bread which came downe from Heaven incorrupt and unspotted The bread of Life 1. Cor 5. of whom we must cate for our spirituall nourishment that we may celebrate the Feast of that miraculous passage from Pharach in the Land of true Liberty Hee was the Cloud the firie Pillar the divided Red Sea The cloud the Pillar of Fire the Red Sea 1. Cor. 10. Ioh. 19. Heavenly Manna The flowing Rocke Living Water 1. Cor. 10. Sacrifice Heb. 1.8.9.10 Heb. 9. Arke of Covenant which conducted and delivered us out of the hands of our enemies out of whose opened Side came Water and Bloud for our Salvation He was the heavenly Manna sent from Heaven to feed us for ever the true Rocke out of which issued Water to quench their thirst for ever which beleeve in him It was He that onely offered up the saving Sacrifice for the expiation of our sinnes both Priest and Sacrifice both the Offerer and the Oblation remaining an Eternall High-Priest at the Right Hand of God his Father beeing entred into the Holy and Heavenly Sanctuarie not built with mens hands but by the Hand of God He was the true Arke of Alliance and Covenant by which God revealed and manifested his Oracles and in him he did reside to accomplish his divine and incomprehensible Mysteries He was like to the Brazen Serpent fastened to the Crosse Brazen Serpent Ioh. 3. Temple of God Ioh. 2. to give health unto the sicke which returne to him and contemplate on him by Faith He was the true Temple of God wherein the Holy Ghost dwels one God in Trinity in and by whom God is onely adored He was the true and sacred Oblation Holocaust and water Purgatorie of whom the reall water purgatorie was made for the purgatioÌ„ of every blemish Himselfe with his owne Ashes that is with his immolated Body besprinkled and wet with water issuing out of his Side all People and Nations that beleeve in Him Iohn 15. CHAP. VI. Of Sacraments ordained by Iesus Christ himselfe THe Law Ceremoniall beeing by this meanes accoÌ„plished not in Figures but really executed by the Incarnation Death and Resurrection of Iesus Christ our Saviour our Mediator our Eternall Priest and Propitiator the infinite goodnesse of God was yet further revealed by the new Covenant new Alliance and new comming of the Sonne of God Incarnate For Heb. 9. by his New Testament ratified and confirmed in the death of the Testator He hath constituted us as heires and coheires to God in his heavenly Kingdome For assurance of this celestiall succession Rom. 8. purchased for us by grace after the Consummation of the Law Ceremoniall the same abolished as we have formerly declared through that perfect Sacrifice of the Priest Eternall there were left unto us two sacred signes or Sacraments wherein God bestowed greater favour and more speciall grace then he had done before his Incarnation St. Augustin lib 3 de doct Christ cap. 9 For hee hath freed us from the servile Law of Circumcision from the difference of meates and divers sacrifices ordained in the first Church of the Israelites And by easing us of this waighty burthen Hee further conferred upon us a greater comfort in constituting for a memoriall and remembrance of our regeneration and eternall life two holy Sacraments under two sacred signes which are the water of Baptisme and the Bread and Wine in the Communion of his Body Now that his Grace might be extended to all Nations Sacraments of the New Testament God thought good to make choice of the most familiar and ordinary signes and Symboles For Circumcision was a speciall marke for Abraham and his Posterity to which Circumcision DistributioÌ„ of the Sacraments to all Converts Herod lib. 2 other Nations were not accustomed though Hereditus a Grecian borne in an History he wrote of the Aegyptian manners specifies their manner and custome of beeing circumcised but especially the Priests and we may easily conjecture that he had heard of the time when the Iewes dwelt in Aegypt which was about 400. yeeres observed Circumcision Moreover Circumcision was appointed only for the Males and not for Females there was a limited time appointed for Circumcision which was within â—ight dayes after the Nativity and the cutting of the fore-skin was with griefe and paine But the Grace of God by his Incarnation and plenary Sacrifice Gen. 17. having abolished the rigor of the Law Ceremoniall as well for difference of meates as of dayes He left unto us by his New Testament and new Alliance the sacred signe of Water common to all both Male and Female without any distinction of dayes and the Infant by the Sacrament of Baptisme feeling no paine as it did by the Circumcision of the fore-skinne This signe of Water intimating unto us the purgation and expiation of our sinnes through the Bloud of Iesus Christ was common not onely among the Iewes who used ordinarily Water purgatorie and of expiation but the Gentiles also and all other Nations Numb 19. were accustomed to a Lotion and purgation of cleansing and purgatorie Water as we may perceive in reading Ancient Histories Wherefore to the end that Gods Grace in Iesus Christ might generally bee spred over all the Earth to all Nations Regions and Provinces both to the circumcised uncircumcised to the Iewes and to the Gentiles God made election of the most common signe of Water the more freely to expose himselfe unto Man and to win him to His feate and obedience By which Signe he hath instituted his holy Sacrament of Baptisme for an assured note and marke of our regeneration and purification which is really conferred by the
Zone wherewith the Aube is trussed and this signifies the band of Gods charity The Stole put over the Amict at the Missalians necke in forme of a Crosse deciphers Christs obedience even to the death of the Crosse The Maniple worne on the left hand signifies the reward of Christs eternall felicitie Other sophistries there are upon the Amict as that it represents faith the Stole humility and obedience the Maniple the vigilancie and hearty devotion of the Missalian Priest Tittilman hath another subtle devise for the Maniple worne on the Priests left hand which as he saies doth expresse the battaile and power of Christ against all visible and invisible dominations being as a buckler against all temptations and the Buttons of the Maniple portend finall perseverance He also further sophisticates that by the left hand is understood the humane infirmity of Christ which being tyed with the Maniple that Christ is tyed and bound by his divinitie like a mad man Brunus another Missalian Doctor fantasticates that by the Maniple is inferred the Missalian Priests speciall care to drive away bad affections or else that it figures the Cord Tit. Liv. lib. 1. Decad. wherewith Christ was bound by the Iewes and that the Stole is a figure of the Lords yoake which the Masse-priest must weare garnished with the Armes of Iustice on the right and on the left hand The other painted Ornament instituted formerly by the Magitian Numa they disguise by the name of a Planet as an errant Vestment otherwise called a Cap or Chaâ—uble Tit. Liv. Fenest Pompo Lett. which they say resembles the Purple Robe presented to Christ in Pilates Hall when they mocked called him King of the Iewes There is another sophistrie how this Vestment implies the Nature of Christ Aube Alex. ab Alex. lib. 4. cap. 17. wherein the Deity was couched Philo the Iew immitating Plato interprets this Vestment so adorned with colours to be a Figure of the signes coelestiall Starres Now these Masse-Priest being roabed Super tuniceÌ„ aneam pectu regumen 1. Decad. 1. with his Aube Amict Zone Maniple Stole and his Chasuble or Cap of divers colours he must stretch out his armes to play two parts at an instant represented by the Chasuble whose quarter before is lesse then that behinde figuring herein the Primative Church from Abel till Christ and by the after part more ample and enricht with the signe of the Crosse Christian people are signified This Chasuble must be joyned to the Amict which was in the beginning in the head to represent the conjunction of Christ with his Church The Aâ— be also must be correspondent to the Chasuble to intimate how Christ applied himselfe to our infirmities Besides the above mentioned Vesiments Philo the Iew addes a Myter Phi'o in lib. de prosug to declare the Messalians royall Diadem who must have their heads annointed with Creame or sacred Oyle to signifie the Priests dignitie which Mytrall Ornament is only preserved for eminent and higher Priests CHAP. XIII The Masse divided with the true nature of Holy Water NOw we must discend to the description of severall parts of the Masse Apul lib. 11. de la no anri whose head originall we will particularly set down according to the truth First of all in those which are called high Masses celebrated on Sundayes the Missalian Priests retaine somewhat of the Pompilian Religion Procl in lib. de sacrafâ— Gag procl Plat. Catul. Eâ—us aquae aspersione peccata praesertim perjuria mendati aquae dilui credebant Blond lib. de Rom. trium O vid. lib. Fast 3. Fonts of two sorts Dijs superis sacra faclurus corporis ablutione purgabaetur cum verâ— inferis lijamdum erat sola aspersio sussicicbat Blond lib. 2. de Rom. trium Macr lib. 3. Satu. chap. 3 as to exercise a lustrall water called holy Water wherewith to besprinckle the assistants or beholders at the Sacrifice The conjuration and exorcisme instituted by Numa was of Sea or salt water because said he salt did participate of the fierie Nature or of Fire very proper to purifie For this reason the Ancient Romane Idolaters besprinckled this salt exorcised water as a Mercuriall expiatorie Purgatory water for popular offences especially for perjurie and lying To preserve this consecrated and exorciz'd salt Water they had two sorts of Holy water Fonts One was large not moveable but placed at the entrie of their Temples where they adored their Images that so they might sprinckle those which entred into the same Temples The other was a portable Font to conveigh therein Lustrall water into any part of their Temples or houses that they might be watered with it for their expiations and purifications They that were to celebrate Masse if it were to the inferiour gods it was enough for the sacrificing Priest to sprinckle himselfe with that Lustrall water But if the Priest celebrated Masse to the superiour gods hee must bathe his whole body and wash all his members therewith Furthermore he was prohibited not to use this Lustrall water for any other purpose but for expiations purgations Conformable to which Pompilian constitution In Delij Apollinis templo praecipua erat aqua sacrificantium ujui accommoda quam ad alios uâ—us hausisse magni criminis instar eras Alex. ab Alox lib. 4. cap. 17. Platino Si crvis vitula aspersus populum ludaeorum mundabat multo magis aqua sale conspersa populum sanctificat iÌ„nsidias Diaboh avertit ea à quam de consecrat distmct 1. The Law of God corrupted Numb 19 4. King 2. Exod 15. Numb 19. Alexander the first of that name next successor to the Apostles of Iesus Christ and one of the first corrupters of the holy Sacraments ordained by God continued this Idolatrie of consecrating exercising Lustrall water with salt to repell devils Neverthelesse the better to maske Pompilian Magicke he framed this comparison so it is said Alexander that the ashes of an inviolated red Cow for sacrifice mingled with Fountaine water purified the people of the Iewes and therefore by a more prevalent reason water exorzed with salt must needs purifie Christians and drive away devils Was not this a violating and corrupting of the holy Law of God to content and please the Romaines tainted with the auncient religion of Numa Pompilius the Magician If Alexander had not yeelded to the use of salt instituted by the auncient Idolaters for lustrall water he would rather have followed the Iewish ceremonie and ordained Ashes to consecrate the water of expiation For if he thought to disguise it by the Miracle of Elizeus that purified the water with salt Moyses also did the like with the wood which was brought him when the people of Israel were distressed for sweet water to drinke But in these miracles no mention is made that Elizeus or Moses instituted any lustrall water to purifie the people of the Iewes And we cannot finde that there was
house palace when he was banished were coÌ„fiscated to the Colledge pontificall and specially alloted for sacrifices to be celebrated in the Temple consecrated to the goddesse Liberty I was desirous by the way briefly to recite the revennues and supportations of the ancient Romane sacrificers to the end that men might more and more discerne that all abuses and idolatries succeeding in the Church of Iesus Christ are not new but originally derived or revived from the ancient Romane idolaters as the foundation of Masses Obits Anniversaries Dispensations for holding sundry benefices pensions vacancies first-fruits offerings and the Missalian treasure all amercements and confiscations adjudged within the demeans of the Romane Pontife with other ordinances revived by new Romane Popes which have discended from one to another To this purpose wee reade in the Romane Stories that during the reigne of the Emperour Valentinian the second of this name there hapned a dangerous sedition at Rome betweene the Christian idolatrous Priests which strove who should amasse or heape up together most wealth in the Church by grants testamentary legacies oblations and other inventions so as the Heathen and Infidell idolaters who retained yet a Temple to themselves called at this day the Church of Saint Peter ad Vincula fought with the Christians at Rome who would have dedicated it to their devotion After the Offertory Titelmans Alcoran sets downe how the Masse Priest should bee silent for a time to figure the flight of Christ or his disciples feare to confesse him before the Iewes Then this being performed the Priest sings aloud per omnia secula seculorum because after Christ had hidden himselfe he publikely came forth in Lazarus house Then hee sings Sanctus sanctus sanctus to allude to the Iewes song when Christ entred unto Ierusalem When this Musicke ends the Priest must murmur in secret and betweene his teeth counterfeiting sorrow without any turne-abouts but then he must expresse a k nd of mure mummerie by the making of many reiterated croysadoes as shall hereafter be mentioned CHAP. XVII Of the round Host with the Consecration of the same NExt to the Offertory Ninth part of the Masse Round host of flower Plut. in Numa we must come to the ninth part of the Masse the most rich and most pleasing for the Missalians This is the Host or victime which comprehends the end of all this Missall Sacrifice In the dayes of Numa the Magician the Romanes were not yet accustomed to kill and immolate with the blood of beasts Pollux in onom lib 6. Mysterijs peractis qui sacris intererant rotundis panibus quos in honorem Deâ—rum adnibebant stantes vesceb intur nec nisi facri ficio perfectovesci licebat Alex ab Alex li. 4. cap. 17. but men were appointed to eate and communicate within the Temple after the end of the Missall Sacrifice small round loaves consecrated to the honour of the gods in whose name the sacrifice was celebrated These little round hosts of fine meale were earen by the Priest and by the assistants standing upright and not sitting The flower wherof they were made was called Mola and from thence came this word immolare There were divers hosts that is to say little round loaves dedicated to divers gods as there were likewise sundry Missall Sacrifices With the said round hosts they also offered Wine the Altars serving for Tables While the Priests and the assistants in the sacrifice eate communicated together of the said little round loaves consecrated to the honor of their gods hymnes and thanksgivings were sung and some used the sound of the Organs and Cymbals Before the swallowing of this round host printed with imagery the Missalian Doctors ordained the Priest to utter certaine exorcismes and conjurations with many signes of the crosse First hee must make three crosses upon this round host to figure the trinall tradition of Christ that is to say by the Father by himselfe Christ and by the holy Ghost in pronouncing these words Haec dona haec munera haec sancta sacrificia illibata Some other Doctors Alcoranists and Missalians interpret the third crossing for Iudas treason who delivered his Master into the hands of the Iewes Besides the above mentioned three Croisadoes five other follow to intimate the five dayes space from the day of Palmes to the day of the Passion or otherwise to represent the five wounds of Christ two in the hands two in the feet and one in the right side Of which five Croysadoes the three first must be made over the Chalice and the round host to figure the delivery of Christ to the Priests Scribes and Pharisies or to signifie the price of Christs sale that is to say three times ten which import the thirty pence The two other crossings are made distinctly on which is the fourth over the host the other over the Chalice distinctly to manifest unto us the two persons of Christ Iudas when this is done the Masse-Priest continuing in his fooleries monckeries stretcheth out his armes to delineate Christ spred upon the Crosse then he lifts the round host printed with imagery on high that it may be adored Afterwards he returnes to make three crosses one over the host another over the Chalice and third over himselfe to play herein the part of three estates or conditions of those that are in Heaven in Purgatory and in the earth Then he thumps upon his brest to play the penitent theefe that was hanged upon the Crosse This thumping of his stomacke must bee performed with the three last fingers of his hand because the thumbe and the next finger are reserved to consecrate and transubstantiate the round host Moreover he must beat his breast three times to figure a triple offence of the heart of the mouth and of reall act exalting his voice to represent the Theefe or the Centurion which confessed God in the Passion Sixe other Croisadoes are afterwards reiterated three over the covered Chalice to commemorate the three houres that Christ hung alive upon the Crosse and three other crosses are made over the open Chalice and the round host being once more elevated to decypher the three houres that Christ hung dead upon the Crosse Then does he adde two other crosses after the Masse-monger hath kist his Chalice to describe the mystery of blood and water issuing out of Christs sides Besides all the above mentioned mute mummeries the Priest must lift the vaile over the Chalice and release it from Plataine to represent the rent vaile in the midst at Christs death This being done the round host is laid upon the Chalice and couched in the corporall to figure the burial of Christ When the Masse Priest hath plaid the part of the hang'd theefe of the traitor Iudas of Christ of the Publicanes hee afterwards comoediates the Centurion singing the Pater Noster But Durandus Alcoran by the petitions in the Pater Noster expresseth the seven teares of the Virgin Mary the
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