to instruction and not superstition to vnitie and not vanitie in suche sorte that the faithfull bee not spoyled of their libertie and that by necessitie they be not compelled vnto those things from the which they be made free by the gospel of iesus Christ I will faithfull reader hold thee no longer beseching thee to geue god hearty thankes for purging the church of England frō so many blinde and dumme ceremonies earnestlye to pray that the rest which at this day do molest the godly and minister occasion to the aduersarie to sclaunder the true professors of gods holy ghospell with discord and discention may be also shortly rooted out So that god may be freely worshipped the godly comforted the enemie confounded and his people trewelye taught N. LYNGE A summe or a briefe collection of holy sygnes Sacrifices and Sacramentes instituted of god euen since the beginning of the vvorlde And of the true originall of the Sacrafice of the Masse IN THE TYME ordayned before of God by his vnsearchable and vncomprehensible wysedome after he had created man to hys owne Image and lyknes to th end that he might stirre him vp to feare and obedience and geue vnto him also some exercise of vertue to acknowledge hys God hys creator there were ordeyned many signes Sacrifices and Sacramentes First to our first father Adam and to hys successours being bodely men were ordayned corporal signes of god the better to approuē and make knowen hys obedience To wit Trees of lyfe Gene. 2.3 Euseb Theodor. Seuer the trees planted in the midst of the herber and earthly paradise These trees althoughe they were of no other qualitie than the other plantes yet they were dedicated and consecrated of God to serue for sacramentes that is to saye for holy signes their qualitie then dedicated and hallowed to serue as a seale for a witnes attestation and approbation of the godly wyll For the infinite goodnes of god willing to make knowen the fellowshippe bond and alliaunce contracted with man his creature created to hys own likenes hath from tyme to time ordayned outwarde and corporal sygnes which man might se and behold with his corporall eyes to serue for assuraunce gage and pledge of the diuyne couenaunt like as to our first common father were ordayned trees and corporal fruits left and geuen vnto him to kepe without wasting eating or consumyng in payne of euerlasting death We must then beleue by faith that the trees and fruites were not signes or sacramentes of vanitie as a symple pycture but more that vpōthem did hange both life death they contayning the signe and the thing signified Prouer. 1.2.3 Wherein did consist the knowledge and wisedome to feare god and obey him This was the cause wherefore they were called the fruites of knowledge of good and euill and the trees of lyfe For in keping these fruites hallowed in obeying god euerlasting life was promised contrariwyse in abusyng these Sacramentes in goyinge against the wyll of god declared by outwarde tokens euerlasting death and dampnation was gotten For other exercises of man toward god Sacrifices before the lawe written to the ende that he myght reuerence honour and worship him mani and diuers sacrifices were celebrated yea before the lawe written by Moyses Psalm 50. And although the almyghtye God creatour of heauen of earth hath no nede of mans workes neyther is nourished with the bloud of beasts or fruites of the earth Yet he hath alwayes desyred to drawe man vnto him in feare outward obedience by Signes Sacrifices and Sacramentes In such sort that the sacrifice of the lambes offered by Abell was pleasyng vnto god Gene. 4. Hebreo 11. Gene. 6.7.9 Noe likewyse after the great flouds passed in signe of knowledge and obedience towarde God did erect an aulter offered and lifted vp sacrifice of shepe without spotte and of byrdes wherewith he did make sacrifices sounde and pleasing vnto god By these examples it is easie to knowe that sacrifices did not beginne in the tyme of Moyses But the innocent and iust lambe represented by the sacrifice of Abell the figure of Iesus Christ was slayne and offered vp from the beginning of the world Apoco 13. After the rigor of the floud comen for the punishement of the offences of the tyrants of the earth in signe of reconciliation and couenaunt renued Raynbowe Gene. 9. our good god did ordeyne the signe of the Bow in heauen for a gage and assuraunce of the diuine mercifulnes This signe and heauenly Bowe although before it did apeare in the thick clouds a token of rain to come Yet before it had neuer bene a marke dedicated to serue man for a sacrament or holy signe vntill it was ordeyned of God a signe of the couenaunt contracted with good father Noe and his ofspring Vnto the faithfull Patriarch Abraham another couenaunt and alliaunce was contracted by the wysedome of God Circumcision in the yere of the world 2048. which he gaue vnto him for a gage and assuraunce of him and of his posteritie the outwarde signe of circumcision to serue for a sacrament and perpetuall marke of the diuine wyll It was ordeyned vnto him to circumcise his children males within eyght dayes after theyr byrthe Gene. 17. in paine of being reiected from the number of those people which God had adopted or chosen To the same people of Israel was ordeyned the sacrifice of the vnspotted Lambe the bloude whereof spilt Pascal lambe should preserue the people from the appoynted death in Egipt Exodo 12. the flesh also was ordeyned to be eaten in celebrating the feast euery yere in the day called Pasque in signe commemoration of their deliuerance from Pharaos bondage Exodo 12. with the signe of the communion of the fleshe of the pascall Lambe it was ordeyned to eate vnleuened bread seuen dayes in payne of death Other holy signes were sent of god to his elect people alwayes to draw them to his feare obedience As the signe of the cloud a token of the way to guide the people by day Cloude Pillor of fyer Exodo 13. the flaming firie piller to conduct them by night out of the hands of Pharao the tyrant Moreouer the signe of the diuision of the red sea of Arabie thorow the middest whereof the elect people of god did passe The diuision of the red sea in the yere 2453. 1. Corin. 10. Tite 3. By the which wonderfull signes god would signifie tholy sacrament of baptisme afterward ordeyned by the signe of water which is the lauer of regeneratiō renuing of the holy gost During the time that the elect people of god were holden in the wildernes of Arabia Manna to them was ministered foode of heauenly bread Exodo 16. wherew t they were nourished .xl. yeres This holy sacramēt instituted by the power of god was in such great admiration that euery of the people sayd Manhu
sacrifices are not pleasing vnto me I am as well pleased with thoffring of a beast as with the murderyng of a man Eccle. 7. with the offering of Incens as with the worshipping of an Idoll Wherefore then sayth god do ye take so much paynes to seeke Incens vnto Sabba odours from far countreys to offer make sacrifices vnto me wherein I delyte not Who hath moued you O Israelites to erect images vnto the Gods Moloch and the sterre Rompham duryng the tyme that you were in the Wildernesse where I dyd nouryshe you wyth my heauenlye Manna Your feastes be odious vnto me your offerynges Amos. 5. oblations sacrifices for the healthe I wyll reiect your offeryngs do displease me Mich. 6. After what maner shoulde one prepare him selfe to god Shall it be by sacrifices of Bullocks of one yere Doth God take pleasure in a great number of shepe offered vnto him Or in a great quantitie of holye oyles To him sayth the Prophet shall I offer of the first borne for the remission of synnes Our good God hath verye clearelye declared that seruyce whiche he commaundeth followe equitie loue Psalm 51. mercye and of an humble and contrite hearte fall downe before hym for obedience is more worthe then sacrifice or the fatte of offered Rammes 1. Samuel 15. What gaue an occasion to God to put awaye those sacrifices and sacramentes whyche he hym selfe had ordeyned but the abuse and corruption whyche the Israelites had committed takynge ouer grosselye the Signes and Ceremonies ordeyned to drawe them to feare and obedience For in place of conceyuing that whiche was figured by the signes corporall sacrifices they did rest in the fleshe of the beasts offered And in stead of cutting away the foreskynne of theyr heartes they rested in the carnall circumcision in the meane tyme tourned away from the true worshipping of god addressing them selues to creatures As to starres to the queene of heauen other straunge Gods offeringe to them incens buyldyng for them temples preparing for them priests chaplaynes sacrificers to offer vnto them oblations and sacrifices Moreouer to accomplishe this corruption they did sacrifice with the blood of innocents offering of them causing them to passe thorowe the fyer of purgatorie in the valley of Tophet Wherfore for the abuse committed by the children of Israell against the holy sacraments 4. Esdr 1. sacred signes sacrifices ordeyned of God it was sayde vnto them by the prophetes that god woulde no more of their feasts of their newe Moones of their circumcision 4. Esdr 1. nor of their sacrifices celebrated by people idolatrous and full of blood When the vnserchable wisedome of god did perceyue the hardnesse infidelitie of the people of Israell which did euer continue to commit idolatrie by corrupting the holy signes sacramentes sacrifices in place of acknowledging the infinite goodnes of god which had delyuered them from the Pharaonicall tyrranny whiche had nourished them in the Wildernesse whiche had brought them into the fruitfull lande promised vnto them And which so many tymes had succoured them in the warres against their neighbours the Cananites Moabites Madianites Philistines Ammonites Sirians Sidonians Sicyonians other enuious people Neuerthelesse this rude people did continue in their idolatries taught them by their priests sacrificers kings princes without tourning to the trew worshipping of one onely God Wherefore after the great mercye and longe tarying of the iuste Iudge whiche by all maner corrections would haue brought agayne his people by diuine vengeaunce particulerly as by reasyng vp of warres by captiuitie and bondage by diuidyng of the kyngdome parted betwene Roboam and Hieroboam the successours of Salamon plounged in the depth of Idolatrye by inwarde warres amonge the people diuided and by other scourges accustomed to correcte those whome God doth fauour to the ende to bryng them to hys feare and obedience In the end thys people to muche hardened and waxed olde in theyr Idolatries were taken into miserable bondage vnder the tyrannye of Infidels Assirians 4. King 15 24 and Idolatrous Babilonians theyr realmes quyte ouerthrowen But wythin a lytle whyle after that thys selfe same people by the great mercye of God was delyuered from the handes of vnfaythfull tyrauntes was set agayne at lybertye and was restored to theyr lande of promyse they fell agayne to theyr Idolatries more then euer before Iosephus lib. 13. cap. 18. of the Iewes antiquities vnder the gouernement of theyr Sacrificers hygh Priestes whiche ioyned the temporaltye the spiritualtie so together that they were clad wyth Scepter Royall and Crowne Then succeded the heresyes of the Phariseis of the Saduces Esseens Gallileens Masbutheens Iosephus in the boke of the antiquities of the iewes Hemerobaptists Samaritans corrupted by the diuersitie of straunge nations whiche had inhabited subdued the countrey of Samaria neare vnto Iudea For the Babilonians did worshyp for theyr god Soccobenoth the Cutheens Persians hauing for theyr God Mergal or Mergel the Hematenses called vppon theyr god Asima the Ananoys dyd worshyppe theyr god Nebahaze Thartace the Sepharuainenses dyd holde vppon theyr gods Adramelech and Anamelech Vnto the whiche gods they sacrificed their children causyng them to passe thorowe the fyer Thus then when all kynde of idolatrie was spred among the Israelites the sacrifices were altogether corrupted the priests became byers sellers couetous tyrants Idolaters the people payed tribute to the tyrantes of Rome theyr countrey of Iudea made one with the Prouince ioyning vnto Siria vnder the power of the Romains Iosephus lib. 15. cap. 3. Iosephus lib. 18. cap. 3. Eurrop lib. 1. cap. 12. The order also the law election of the high priests was corrupted their dignitie abastarded altogether in so much that without regard of the Leuiticall race the high priests were appoynted by Consulls or Lieutenants of Rome as pleased them Genes 49. And where as before they continued during their lyues now they chaunged yerely And when as the Scepter was taken from the stocke of Iuda her kyngdome quyte ouerthrowen as before it was prophecied The incomprehensible greatnes of God did manifest it selfe by his sonne begotten before all worlds which did so humble himselfe that he tooke humaine fleshe of the Virgins wombe to redeme his people and restore them to grace before God For as in Adam by his breaking and abusing of the holy signe geuen vnto hym to keepe A conferryng of Adam with Iesus christ all the lumpe of mankynde was corrupted with the leuaine of synne Euen so by the seconde Adam Iesus Christ we are by grace purged from our offences To our first vniuersall father Adam was geuen a holy signe to exercise his obedience and to his successors was geuen other holy signes sacrifices sacraments instituted of God as the tree of lyfe the fruits of the tree of knowledge of good euyll the rainebowe circumcision the lambe
expounders do declare the roūd host to be deuided in thre parts one for those which ar in paradise another for those whiche are in purgatorie to haue remission of their synnes and the thyrde drenched in wyne for those whiche are lyuyng in thys worlde But the Alcoran of Durand declareth the thre parts of the host broken to represent the thre fashioned body of christ in the sepulchre sleping in the earth lying and after resing againe The other subtell doctour Biel because he would not confesse the bodye of christ in the round host to be brused and broken doth subtelly defyne the breaking of the hoste to be done in an accidence without a substance Be not these horrible heresies to make the soules to communicate which are in heauen or in purgatorie instituted by Sergius doctour of the Machomet by the meanes of one round host deuoured by the massalian But you O Massalians maye here obiect vnto me the vse of the primatiue churche obserued in the communion of the holy supper whereas euery one of the assemblye in the temple did take a portion of the broken bread consecrated to eate and communicate together A communiō of holy bread The which vse hath bene kept vnto this daye in your Missal sacrifices celebrated vpon Sondayes the which you cause to be distributed by morcelles of holy bread vnto thassistaunts within the temple But in this auncient communion doth abide nothing but an image onely Because the Massalians absing the holye sacrament haue reserued for them selues only the litle rounde hoste conscrated to be deuoured Notable differences betwene the round host the holye bread without geuing any portion vnto the assistaunts vnto whome they leaue the bittes of holy bread which are foure square for the moste parte The round host without leauen and the holy bread is with leauen The rounde hoste is without salt the holy bread with salt The rounde host is printed full of pictures the holy bread is wtout print or picture The rounde host is worshipped the holy bread is receyued with thanks geuing The round host is deuoured of the priest the holy bread is deuided among thassemble to cōmunicate to eate together The round host is stieped in wyne the holy bread is eaten without wyne To be short there is as great difference betwene these two kynds of cōmunion as there is betwene thauncient lawe of the Idolators the lawe of the ghospell Prouided always that they agre in one poynct that is that both in the one the other there is a corruption of the holy sacrament of the supper ordeyned of god It resteth to come downe to the deepe Maze of Idolatrie Transubstantiation We haue recited the history of the people of Israel which did not content them selues with the heauenly bread Manna geuen vnto them of God during the tyme that they were in the wildernes but did murmur against god and Moyses their leader requiring to eate fleshe The people also of Rome beinge Heathen and Infidelles were not contented with the institution of Pompilian touchynge the communion of the lytle rounde Cakes Blond lib. 1. de Rō trium But the bishiops of Rome Idolators did institute the killing and offering vp of beastes to the ende to eate and communicate the fleshe of the offerings in in their sacrifices specially the shepe the Sowe the Goate and the Beofe whiche firste were ordeyned by Euander king of Arcadie To the ende therefore that the Massalian should not go out of kynde from the Idolatries of their predecessours they haue folowed this communion of fleshe and are not contented with the lytle rounde vnleauened hosts consecrated and prynted full of pictures but haue in tyme inuented a new witch crafte Hosts of meale are chaunged into flesh and wyne in to blood to chaunge theyr litle hostes of floure into flesh and bone the bread being no more bread but an accidence wtout substaunce and by this meanes to chaunge their rounde host of meale into an host of fleshe and bloude The wyne also offered in their Masse challices to be chaunged into bloude the wyne beyng no more wyne but an accident without substaunce Was there euer any witchcrafte more abhominable and heresie more detestable than this transubstantiation of the Masse When the children of Israel were weryed with the eating of Manna and the heauenly bread demaunding flesh was the Manna turned into fleshe bones and bloode When the Romains the auncient Idolaters did chaunge theyr round hosts of meale and demaunded to eate of the fleshe in their sacrifices did they vse this witchcraft of transubstantiation Wherefore I do frely affirme that the Massalians haue lately instituted this addicion of the Masse yea more than 1000 yeres after the incarnation of Iesus Christ In the yere of Christ 1062. in Chrono log Fon. Volater This heresie began to sprede abroad greatly in the tyme of the Antichrist Nicolaite crept into the Romaine bishopricke by the conspiratie of Hildebrant hauing chased awaye by force the other chosen bishop namely Benedict the .xij. Lanfranc de sacr of that name in the yere of Iesus christ 1062. Afterward it aduaunce it self by a conspiratie holden in the Lateran at Rome during the ecclesiasticall tyrranny of Innocent the third of the name about 200 yeres after the solemne recantatiō of Berengarius deane of S. Maurice of Angiers Against transubstantiatiō Against the which abhominable witchcraft herisie we must briefely bring in by the way of recapitulation the institutions of the sacraments ordeyned of god First the fruites of the knowledge of good euill Trees of lyfe forbidden to our first father Adam as holy signes sacraments of feare obedience wherevpon did hange life death were they chaunged conuerted into knowledge or death leauing the nature of trées fruits reduced in to an accidence without substaunce Heauenlye Manna the rock flowing water the Manna from heauen the rock flowing with water of life sacraments agreing with the holy sacrament of the supper were they changed into an accidence wtout substaunce Lambes offered by Abell the lambes without spot offered by Abel in sacrifice wel pleasing to god were they chaūged into another nature Circumcision The lytle skynne cutte of for a note marke of the couenaunt vnto the good patriarch Abraham his posteritie was it chaunged into an accident wtout substaunce Pascal lambe The blood of the Paschal lambe for thassuraunce of the helth of Israell was it chaunged into another substaunce The fleshe of the vnspotted lambe ordeyned to be eaten in the daye of the Passeouer a true figure of the holye sacrament of the Supper was it chaunged into an accidence withoute substaunce The brasen Serpente Brasen Serpent by the onelye syght whereof health was geuen vnto disseases left it to be a serpent of brasse was it chaunged in beynge ordeyned a sacrament and holy sygne
without blemishe the bread without leuain the cloud the fyrypillour the red sea deuided the heauenly Manna the water of the rocke the immolation and offering of beasts for sacrifices the arck of couaunt the Brasen serpent the purging water the temple buylded in the middest of the holy citie All which sacred signes sacrifices sacraments wer figures of that whiche was accomplished by Iesus Christ Iesus christ the tree of lyfe Apoca. 2. Rom. 11. For first he was the trew tree of lyfe planted in the myddest of the garden of God in whome by whome we which were bastarde trées are grafted and set to the obteyning of eternal lyfe he hath geuen vs the keepyng of the fruites of the tree of wisedome by his holy ghospell and commaunded vs to keepe it whole without abusing without corrupting without adding or diminishyng in payne of eternall death Rainebowe He hath bene as the celestial Bow bended in the aire to assure vs of the bande and couenaunt contracted betwene god and vs that we shuld be no more drowned in the floud of synne He was circuÌ„cised to accomplish the law in himselfe Circumcision Gala. 4. that he might cut away the foreskynne of our harts to spoyle vs of our old corrupted skinne in Adam The burning bushe He was the flame in the burning bush taking flesh in the wombe of the virgin conceyued by the grace of the holy ghost without the séed of man the holy virgin as the bushe remaining neuertheles perfect vncorrupte He was sacrificed as the iust and innocent Lambe hys blood beyng shed to preserue vs from the tyrranny of Sathan Pascal lambe Iohn 1. Hebr. 13. and to open vnto vs the passage into the land of promise the kyngdome of heauen Bread of lyfe Iohn 6. He is the trew bread which came downe from heauen wythout leuaine without corruption and spotte whereof we muste eate for our spirituall nourishement to the ende we maye celebrate the feast of the Pharaonicall passage in the lande of libertie He was the cloude 1. Corin. 5. The cloude fyry pillour red sea the fâ—rye Pyllour the redde Sea deuided whyche hathe conducted vs whyche hath delyuered vs from the handes of oure enemyes oute of whose syde opened 1. Cor. 10. Iohn 19. came bloode and water for oure saluation and redemption The heauenly Manna the rock flowing water of lyfe 1. Corin. 10. He was the heauenly Manna sent from heauen to nouryshe vs for euer and the true rocke from whence flowed water to quenche the thrust of al those for euer which thrust and beleue in him It was he that made the sacrifice of health for the defacing of our synnes Sacrifice Heb. 7.8.9.10 the sacrificer and sacrifice the offering offerer abiding for euer a sacrificer at the ryght hand of God hys father He entered into the heauenly sanctuary buylded not with the handes of men Heb. 9. but with the hand of God He was the trew arcke of couenaunt appoyntment The arcke of witnes by the which god did manifest declare his oracles and in the which he did rest to accomplishe his diuine and incomprehensible misteries He was as the brasen serpent fastened to the crosse Brasent serpent Iohn 3. to geue health to the sickennesse of all those which did tourne toward hym beholde him in faith temple of god Iohn 2. He was the trew temple of God wherin the holy ghost doth dwell in whome and by whom one god in trinitie is worshipped He was the true holy sacrifice whereof was made the purgyng water for the cleansing of all spotts The hoste holy water hauynge by his owne ashes that is by hys owne body offered vp Iohn 19. sprinckeled watered with water issuing out of his side all people beleuing in him The ceremoniall law being thus accomplished not by fygures but really executed by thincarnation death resurrection of Iesus Christ our sauiour our mediatour our euerlasting sacrificer mercy obteyner the infinite goodnes of God was yet more manifested by the new band Hebr. 9. new couenaunt new comming of the sonne of God incarnate Rom. 8. For by his new testament confirmed by the death of the testator he hath made vs fellow heyres inheritours of the kingdome of heauen with God For assuraunce of this heauenly succession gotten to vs by grace after that he had finished the ceremoniall lawe and abolished the same as we haue shewed by the sacrifice perfectly made by the euerlastyng Sacrificer there were left vnto vs two sacred signes and holy sacraments S. Augustine in his 3. boke of the christian doctrine chapter 9. wherein God hath vsed more fauour and more speciall grace than euer he dyd before his incarnation in this that he hath delyuered vs from the seruile lawe of circumcision of difference of meates and of diuers sacrifices ordeyned in the fyrste churche of the Israelites and in dischargynge vs of this heauye burthen he hathe so muche the moore comforted vs in ordeyning vnto vs for a memorye and remembraunce of our regencration and lyfe euerlastyng two holy sacramentes vnder two holye sygnes Sacramentes of the newe testament To witte the water of Baptisme and the bread and wyne for the partakyng of hys bodye and that hys grace myght extend to all nations God dyd choose those tokens and sygnes whyche were moste common and easye For Circumcision was a speciall marke for Abraham and hys posteritie the which Circumcision other nations were not accustomed to vse althoughe Herodote a Gréeke in the history which he writeth of the maners of the Egiptians Herod lib. 2. doth attribute vnto them the custome to circumcise especiallye their Priestes But it is easie to coniecture that he had heard speaking of the Iewes dwelling in Egipt for the space of foure hundred and thirtie yeres obseruing the circumcision A comparing of the circumsion with baptisme Exod. 12. Moreouer the Circumcision was ordeyned for the men only and not for the women there was also a day set for Circumcision the eyght day after the natiuitie the cutting of the skynne was paynefull and greuouse Genes 17. But the grace of God hauing abolyshed by his incarnation and perfect sacrifice the rigour of the ceremoniall lawe as well for the difference of meates as of dayes hath left vnto vs by his new wyll and couenaunt the holy signe of water common to all aswell men as women Num. 19. without difference of dayes and in this holye sacrament the chyld baptized féeleth no grief as he did féele in cutting of the skynne This signe of water to represent vnto vs the purging and cleansing of our sinnes by the bloude of Iesus Christ was common not onely to the Iewes which were wont to vse their cleansing water but also to the Gentils and all nacions who had in vse the cleansyng and washynge with this water called Lustrale