did for a commemoration of mee especially considering that these his words are so plaine and manifest and no where els we finde that our Sauiour either offered vnbloudy Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech or commaunded any of his followers to offer vnbloudy Sacrifice but at his last supper and the Christian world now for 1600. yeares hath generally beleeued that at his last supper our lord offered vnbloudy Sacrifice and gaue his bodie and bloud to God for vs after an vnbloudy manner as in part I haue proued in the 2. Chapter and shall proue more at large heereafter 6. Neither doth this hinder the fulfilling of this oath of God in our Sauiour for that he is not visibly now vpon earth to execute Priesthood according He vvho cōmandeth a thing to be donn is said rather to do it then his officer to the order of Melchisedech for when a thing is donn by commandement of another who hath lawfull power and authority to command and vertue to execute what is commanded he who commandeth is rather said to do the thing commanded then his officers or ministers who do it by his authority power and command So our Sauiour commanding the Apostles and their Successors to giue his body to God for vs and shed his bloud to God for vs and they doing it by his authority power and command he may be rather said to giue his body and shed his bloud to God for vs and offer Sacrifice then Bishops or Priests who do it but as his officers and by vertue of his power authority and command 7. The Scriptures supposing Melchisedechs Melchisedechs Priesthood supposed by the Scriptures to bee vvell knovvn Priesthood and Sacrifice to bee well known many tymes say that Christ shal be a Priest foreuer according to the order of Melchisedech yet of Melchisedechs Priesthood and Sacrifice we haue in the Scriptures no more but Melchisedech brought forth bread and wine for he was the Priest of the most high or And he was the Priest of the most high Gen. 14. 18. Whereby it is manifest that hee brought forth bread and wine to offer it vnto God in Sacrifice seeing that no where els there is made any mention of any thing he could offer to God in Sacrifice whereby his order might be known neither can it be said that he brought them forth only to feed Abraham and his soldiors who were filled with the victualls and spoyles of 4. kings and gaue the tythe thereof vnto Melchisedech as appeareth in the same chapter and then it had binn needles to add that he was a Priest of the most high and how he blessed Abraham 8. Secondly the Ancient Iewes affirme that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice in bread and wine The Ancient Ievves affirme that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice in bread and vvine as Rabbi Samuel vpon the 14. Chapter of Gen. saying He sett forth the acts of Priesthood for he was sacrificing bread and wine to God Rabbi Phinees vpon the 28. of Numbres saying In the time of the Messias all Sacrifices shall cease but the Sacrifice of bread and wine shall not cease as it is said Gen. 14. For Melchisedech the King Messias shal be exempted from the cessation of the Sacrifices of bread and wine as it is said in the 110. Psal thou art a Priest foreuer according to the order of Melchisedech Rabbi Moyses Hadarsan vpon the 14. of Gen. saying Rabbi the sonne of Enachinam said that this Melchisedech was Sem the sonne of Noe but what is the meaning of this that he brought forth bread and wine by this he shewed that he taught the act of his Priesthood which was to sacrifice bread and wine And this is it which is said in the Psal Our Lord hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a Priest foreuer according to the order of Melchisedech And Philo Iudaus in his book of Abraham toward the end saith that Melchisedech sacrificed in bread and wine for the victory of Abraham And Galatinus in his 10. book of the secrets of Catholick verities and Genebrard in his Chronologie vpon Melchisedech cite certayn Rabbies who translate these words of the 14. of Gen. and 18. Ver. thus Melchisedech offred bread and wine The Catholick Church translateth them brought forth bread wine and assigning the cause saith for he was Priest of the most high as if she should say that this was his office to offer bread and wine in Sacrifice to God And Theodorus Bibliander a Protestant in his 2. booke of the Trinity and 89. leafe confesseth that it was a generall receaued opinion amongst the ancient Iewes that as the comming of the blessed Messias all legall Sacrifices were to cease and that only the Sacrifice they called Theoda of thancksgiuing praise and confession was to continue with was to bee performed in bread and wine as Melchisedech king of Salem and Priest of the most high God in the tyme of Abraham brought forth bread and wine 9. The ancient Fathers were of opinion that The Ancient Fathers affirme that Melchisedech offered Sacrifice in bread and vvine Melchisedech sacrificed in bread and wine and that our Sauiour was to fulfill the Type in Melchisedechs sacrifice by offering vp his body and bloud in Sacrifice to God vnder the formes of bread and wine As S. Cyprian in his 63. Epist. saying Our Lord Iesus offered a Sacrifice to God the Father and offered the same that Melchisedech did that is bread and wine that is his body and bloud S. Ambrose vpon the 109. Psal saying Christ by the misterie of bread and wine is made a Priest foreuer according to the order of Melchisedech S. Hierome in his 17. Epist to Marcella chapter 2. saith Melchisedech then in type of Christ offered wine and bread and dedicated the Christian mystery in the body and bloud of our Sauiour And with these Fathers doth agree S. Augustin in his first Sermon vpon the 33. Psal saying In the old law you know that the Sacrifice of the Iewes was according to the order of Aaron in the slaughter of beasts and that in a mysterie for then the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord which the faithfull and those who read the Scriptures know was not instituted which Sacrifice is now dilated ouer the whole globe of the earth Propound therefore before your eyes two Sacrifices that according to the order of Aaron and this according to the order of Melchisedech c. The Sacrifice of Aaron was taken away and the Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech entered in his place and the Iewes adbering vnto that Sacrifice which was according to the order of Aaron imbraced not the Sacrifice which was according to the order of Melchisedech and so lost Christ Thus S. Augustin 10. Of this opinion where both the Greeke and Latin Fathers abundantly cited by Coceius in his 2. tome and 6. book Insomuch that Doctor Fulk a Puritan in the 99. leafe of his booke
offered Sacrifice to God the Father in his body and bloud for the remission of sinnes and withall gaue an expresse command that no other kind of Sacrifice should be offered for the remission of sinnes in his Church but the Sacrifice of his body and bloud which we see fulfilled 7. As faith in Iesus-Christ to come and the Sacrifice of our Lord vpon the Crosse to come did Saluation at all tymes by vertue of our Lords Passion not hinder the faithfull in the Law of nature and written Law from the offering of Sacrifice to God in the commemoration of Christs Passion to come for the remission of their sinnes so neither may it doe in the Law of grace seing that Christ was slaine from the beginning of the world Apoc. 13. 8. and by vertue of his Passion the faithfull in the Law of nature and written Law were saued as they are now as our Aduersaries together with vs confesse though now the faithfull in the Law of grace haue better meanes because the Law brought nothing to perfection but an introduction to a better hope Heb. 7. 19. And Iesus is made a surty of a better testament Heb. 7. 22. which he should not be if in the new Testament he had not instituted as he did a propitiatorie Sacrifice for sinne in better termes 8. And not only the Scriptures at the institution All high Priests ordained to offer Sacrifice for sinne of the blessed Sacrament doe affirme that our Lord offered a propitiatrie Sacrifice in his body and bloud for the remission of sinnes but also S. Paule saith Euery high Priest taken from amongst men is appointed for men in these things which appertayne to God that he may offer Gifts and Sacrifice for sinne Heb. 5. 1. wherefore seeing that our Sauiour was a high Priest according to the order of Melchisedech Heb. 5. 10. it is certaine that he offered Gifts and vnbloudy Sacrifice for the remission of sinne seeing that euery high Priest did it And considering that he ordayned the Apostles Bishoppes The Apostles high Priests and his Priests at his last Supper Act. 1. it necessarily followeth that at his last Supper he both offered Gifts and vnbloudy Sacrifice for the remission of sinnes and also ordayned the Apostles Bishoppes and high Priests for to offer Gifts and vnbloudy Sacrifice for the remission of sinnes and seeing that at his last Supper there is mention made of no other Gifts giuen or broken to God for the remission of sinnes but his body and bloud vnder the species of bread and wine it manifestly followeth that our Lord at his last Supper instituted an vnbloudy Sacrifice or Sacrifices of Gifts in his body and bloud vnder the species of bread and wine to be offered in his Church for the remission of sinnes because he then taught his Church what she should doe herin 9. And not only the ancient Fathers when they haue occasion to speake of the last Supper of our The Fathers affirme that our Lord instituted a Sacrifice for the remission of sinnes Lord affirme that our Sauiour offered vnbloudy Sacrifice in his body and bloud for the remission of sinnes as S. Clement in the 12. chapter of his 4. book of Apostolicall constitutions S. Alexander in the 2. chapter of his Epistle vnto all Catholicks S. Irenaeus in the 23. chapter of his 5. book of heresies Origen in his 35. Tract vpon S. Mathew S. Cyprian in his 63. Epistle S. Chrisostome in his 28. homily vpon S. Math S. Augustine in the 24. chapter of his 1. book De Peccatorum meritis but all the publicke Liturgies or Church seruice bookes for the administration of the communion which haue bin vsed by any nation or people in the Church of God before Luther reputed heretickes only excepted affirme that our Lord at his Last Supper instituted a Sacrifice in his body and bloud for the remission of sinnes as the Liturgies or books of the administration of this Sacrament sett forth by S. Peter S. Iames S. Marke S. Basil S. Chrysostome c. and all the whole Church of God the promises of God considered could not decaie in the right vse and beliefe of this Sacrament 10. Our Sauiour comming to fulfill the Law Our Sauiour came to fullfill the Lavv and the Prophets concerning Sacrifice and the Prophets as he wittnesseth Math. 5. and all the Sacrifices in the Law of nature and Law of Moyses being figures and shadowes of this one and only Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord as wittnes the Scriptures saying Priests that offer Gifts according to the Law serue vnto the example and shadow of heauenly things Heb. 8. 5. for the Law had a shadow of good things to come Heb. 10. 1. And all these things hapened to them in figure 1. Cor. 10. for the Law brought nothing to perfection but an introduction to a better hope Heb. 7. 19. Wherevpon S. Augustine in the 20. chapter of his book against the Aduersaries of the Law and the Prophets saith Israel according to the flesh did serue in the shadowes of the Sacrifices where with the singular Sacrifice The Sacrifices in the ould Lavv shadovves of the Sacrifice in the nevv was signifyed which now the Israel according to the spirit doth offer Againe in the same chapter he saith Our Lord hath sworne and it shall not repent him Thou art a Priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedech to commend that healthfull Sacrifice wherein his holy body and bloud is shed for vs where of the Sacrifices which were commanded to be immolated of vncleane beastes were shadowes Whervpon it followeth that the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord was not only to be a propitiatorie Sacrifice for the remission of sinnes but also a Sacrifice of Thanksgiuing peace laud and prayse and for the obtayning of all those things for which the diuerse and sundrie Sacrifices of the Law of nature and written Law were vsed to the fulfilling of the Law and Prophecies concerning these Sacrifices 11. Wherefore seing that in the Law of nature and Law of Moyses there were not only propitiatorie The diuerse Sacrifices of the old Lavv fulfilled in the Sacrifice of the nevv Sacrifices for the remission of sinnes but also of Thanksgiuing and for peace as also vpon vowes made for the obtaining sōme good thing to the honor of God and good of personnes as is sett downe in the 7. chapter of Leuiticus and other places as also for cessation of plauges or other punishments as is specifyed in the 2. of Kings and last chapter and in like manner for the preseruation of the temporall life of men which Onias the high Priest practised in the fact of Heliodorus 2. Machab. 3. and the people of Israel for the preseruation of the life of Darius and his children Esdras and 6. chapter what Christian man can with reason deny that the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord wherein all
scope of this booke the more easily afterward to iudge of the truth and to imbrace it First a Sacrifice A Sacrifice in generall in generall as it comprehendeth all kyndes of Christian Sacrifices is described by S. Augustine in the 6. Chapter of his 10. booke of the Cittie of God to be anie good worke visible or inuisible which is done to this end that we may cleaue fast to God by holie societie as hauing relation to that end of Goodnesse by which we may become truly happie So that euerie good deed whether visible or inuisible which we doe for the loue of God with an intent to vnyte ourselues vnto him or to stick closer vnto him who is our happie life may be called Sacrifice in generall tearmes as holie thing or fact donn or disposed of to the right end of goods which is God Vnder this generall kynd Fovver kindes of Sacrifices of Sacrifice for asmuch as maketh for our purpose in this controuersie we distinguish fower particular kyndes 1. The first kinde of Sacrifice is only inuisible The first kinde of Sacrifice where of the Scripture speaking saith A Sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit Psal 50. 19. and of this sort are all those inward and inuisible operations of our hearts who tend to the honor and loue of God as for example the inward mortification of our inordinate appetytes and desyres according to the wordes of S. Paule saying VVee are killed for thy sake all the daie Rom. 8. 36. And these are called spirituall sacrifices for that by the spirit we inuisibly mortifie and kill the inordinate desires of the spiritt and flesh where of S. Paule further speaking saith If by the spirit you mortifie the deedes of the flesh you shall liue Rom. 8. 13. 2. The second kynd of sacrifices are all those The second kinde of Sacrifices outward pious actions and good deeds which represent vnto vs the aforesaid inward affections of mens mindes as flowers and fruites doe the roote of which kynde are all the outward Sacrifices of Praise iustice faith c. in which sense euery pious outward good worke which is donn for the loue of God is called a Sacrifice as hauing his subordination vnto the end of goodnesse wherevpon S. Paule calleth the giuing of almes for the loue of God a Sacrifice Phil. 4. 18. Heb. 13. 16. In this sense to praise God or praie is called a Sacrifice Psal 49. 14. Heb. 13. 15. c. But as S. Augustine in the 6. Chapter of his 10. booke of the Cittie of God affirmeth The workes of mercie if they be not donne for the loue of God are not a Sacrifice Because they want the end vnto which all Sacrifices are ordeyned which is that wee may Adhere and cleaue vnto God by holy societie These two kyndes of Sacrifices are called generall because they may and ought to be donn or performed by all men generally who are come to the yeares of discretion and haue abilitie without anie particular vocation or election more then the obligations of all mankynde 3. The third kynde of Sacrifice is the death The 3. kynd of Sacrifice and passion of our Sauiour vpon the crosse which is generally called the Sacrifice of our Redemption for by it we were redeemed and therefore it is called aboue all others chiefly and principally a Sacrifice as vpon which all other Sacrifices doe or ought to depend as commemorations or applications of it vnto our selues for though our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by his Sacrifice vpon the crosse redeemed all mankynde from euerlasting paines yet he did not so redeeme man as that he should haue nothing to doe or performe on his part for the obteyning of his saluation but only to liue idlely for so the sacred passion of our lord should be a cloake for idlenes and sinne but he redeemed mankinde conditionally that man should doe these and these things thereby to applie the merit of the Sacrifice vpon the crosse vnto him selfe and so be saued as witnesseth our Sauiour saying Not euery one that saith lord lord shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen he shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen Matth. 7. 21. 4. The fowth kinde proper to the faithfull The fovvrth kinde of Sacrifice whereof we are to treate is an oblation or gift giuen or offered to God vpon an Altar by a priest the onely lawfull Minister of a particular visible thing wherein there is made some alteration or change to expresse the death of our Lord in Sacrifice and also to signifie the inuisible Sacrifice of our hearts to God his Dominion ouer vs and our subiection vnto him and our vnitie in Religion amongst our selues vnder one God as wittnes the Sacrifices of Noe Gen. 8. 26. of Abraham Gen. 15. 9. of Iacob Gen. 31. 54. Gen. 33. 20. Gen. 14. of Iob Iob. 1. 5. in the law of nature and the Sacrifices perscrybed by God vnto the people of Israel in the written law which Sacrifices were offered to God by the antiēt fathers of the old law as S. Augustine in the 5. Chapter of his 10. booke of the Cittie of God affirmeth To expresse or signifie by them those thinges which are donn in vs to this end only that we may stick or cleaue vnto God and giue councell vnto our neighbour that he may tend vnto the same end And then discrybing what such a visible sacrifice is immediatly addeth saying Therefore a visible Sacrifice is a sacred signe of the inuisible Sacrifice of our hearts So that a perfect visible Sacrifice consisteth in it selfe of three partes the exterior visible oblation and actions which are called as S. Augustine saith in the same Chapter The signes of the true Sacrifice the inuisible operations which are the Sacrifice of our heartes the memory of the Passion of our lord the acknowledging of God for our God c and the good worke whereby God is honored with the worshipp of Latria and peace and vnitie in Religion practises amongst our selues Wherefore this fowrth kinde of Sacrifice whereof of I intend cheifly to treate includeth the first and second kynde as the whole doth the partes an hath relation vnto the third as a commemoration or application of the vertue of it vnto our selues 5. Whereas I saie that an exterior visible Sacrifice is an oblation or gift giuen or offered to God vpon an Altar by a lawfull Minister of a particular visible thing wherein there is made some real alteration or change to expresse the death of our Lord in Sacrifice this is so manifest in all the Sacrifices which were offered in the law of nature and written law that it needeth no other proofe-then the reading and obseruing what was donn in those Sacrifices And that this reall allteration The Sacrifices of the old lavv expressions of the death of our Lord to come and change which was made in
the meritts of the sacrifice of our redemption vnto vs as a commemoration therof and a meanes to obtaine iustification and the gift of contrition and pennance for our sinns as is set doune more at large in the 22. Session of the Councell of Trent And in prouinge of this will consist the whole scope of this our booke following CHAP. II. The necessitie of visible Sacrificie and the end or cause why it was instituted and vsed 1. TWo things haue alwaies been much recommended The honor of God and peace much recommended to men by God The honor of God and peace mainteyned by visible Sacrifice by God and highly esteemed by men of all sects and sortes who firmely beueled that there was a God who extended his prouidence ouer mankinde first the honor of God and peace with him and secondly vnitie peace and society amongst themselues And these two haue alwaies been chiefely mainteyned amongst men by a particular visible Sacrifice first offered vnto God vpon an Altar as a sacred signe of the inuisible Sacrifice of their hearts vnto him and after eaten or communicated amongst themselues By offering visible Sacrifice vpon an Altar vnto God they solemnely protested the sacrifice of their hearts vnto him publickely adored him with the honor of Latria or deuine worshipp which is due only vnto him and visibly made profession of peace vnitie and societie with him and amongst themselues The Communion made of meate offered to God in signe of vnion and by eating of the same Sacrifice wich had been offered vnto God they ratified and established the same peace and vnitie as partakers of that meate with they had offered vnto God for a sacred signe of common vnion as is generally manifest by experience in all sectes and sortes of people of former ages who firmely beleeued there was a God and that his Prouidence was not wanting in the gouernment of mankind 2. And to begin with the faithfull who liued in In the lavv of nature the faithfull offered visible Sacrifice to honor God and mainteyne vnitie the law of nature written law and law of grace In the law of nature after that Iacob and Laban his father in law had agreed vpon a peace firme freindshipp and league as before God there present and beholding them Iacob for a conclusion of the peace Offered victimes in the Mount and called his brethren to eate bread who whē they had eaten lodged there Gen. 31. 54. Where in confirmation of the peace concluded Iacob offered visible Sacrifice vnto God as a sacred signe of the inuisible Sacrifice of their hearts adored him with the honor of Latria or diuine worshipp which is due only vnto him c. And after the sacrifice called his Brethren to communicate or eate of the victimes the more to ratifie the vnitie peace and concord amongst themselues by eating of the meate which was offered to God in signe of vnion 3. At the comming of the Children of Israel out of Egipt in their last supper they offered visible Sacrificie vnto God in the Paschal Lambe Sacrifice in the Paschal Lambe thereby publickly to honor God as their Soueraigne Lord God and to expresse the inuisible sacrifice of their hearts vnto him And when they had donne they communicated of it the more firmely to maintaine peace and vnity with God and amongst themselues by eating of meate which was offered vnto God as a sacred signe of the vnion of their hearts in him Exod. 12. 4. In like manner after that Moyses had told his father in law Iethro a Priest of the land of Madian Iethro offered Sacrifice all things that our lord had donne for Israel Iethro reioyced and said Now I know that the Lord is great aboue all Gods Iethro therefore offered Holocausts and hosts to God thereby to adore him with diuine honor and to expresse the Sacrifice of his heart vnto him And Aron and the Ancients of Israel came to eate bread with him before God Exod. 18. To cōfirme vnitie peace and society amongst themselues and this was donne in the law of nature before the written law was giuen 5. In the written law God said vnto the Children of Israel To the place which God hath chosen In the vvritten lavv the faithfull offered visible Sacrifice to honor God and maintaine peace and vnitie which was Hierusalem shall you come and shall offer in that place Holocausts and victimes thereby as by a sacred signe to expresse the inuisible Sacrifice of their hearts and to adore God with the honor of Latria and you shall eate there in the sight of the Lord your God Deut. 12. To ratifie peace vnitie and concord amongst themselues Againe in the same chapter Thither to Hierusalem shall you bring all the things that God commanded you Holocausts c. There shall you feast before the Lord your God Where vpon it is said that Elcana immolated and gaue to Phenenna his wife and to all her sonns and daughters parts and to Anna one part 1. Kings 1. 4. In like manner Salomon and all Israel with him did immolate victimes before our Lord and Salomon killed peaceable hosts which he immolated to our Lord of Oxen 22000. and of Sheepe 120000. c. and made in that time a solemne Festiuitie and all Israel with him for 14. daies 3. Kinges 8. 60. And this was donne in the old law to establish and preserue the vnitie peace and societie of men with God and amongst themselues as further witnesseth S. Augustine in the 5. chapter of his 10. booke of the Cittie of God saying What thing soeuer we reade to haue been commanded by God about the diuers and sundrie Sacrifices in the ministrie either of the Tabernacle or of the Temple are written to signifie the loue of God and our Neighbour for vpon these two commaundements as it is written doe depend the whole Law and the Prophets Thus S. Augstine Whereby it doth appeare that the diuers and sundrie sacrifices which were vsed in the old law were al instituted by God to this end only to maintaine the loue of God and of men amongst themselues by the vnion of their hearts in God which these Sacrifices did represent 6. In the beginning of the new law our Lord Sacrifice instituted in the lavv of grace and Sauiour Iesus Christ the Prince of Peace offered his bodie for a gift vnto his eternall father and then gaue his said bodie vnto the Children of his Church to eate saying Take eate this is my bodie which is giuen for you Luk 22. as a sacred signe of the inuisible Sacrifice of your hearts and a preseruation of vnitie peace and society with God and amongst yourselues as were the gifts and Sacrifices of the written law and law of Nature And when he had donne he established this manner of offering his bodie to God for a gift in commemoration of him in lieu of all the Sacrifices of the old law saying Doe this the same
especiallie commaunding that we should come vnto it with concord and burning Charitie Thus S. Chrisostome Whereby it doth appeare that the end why Christ our Lord instituted a visible sacrifice in the new law was not only to preserue in Christians the worshipp of Latria towards God and the commemoration of his Passion c. but also to maintaine a perfect vnion amongst them 11. Man on the one side being obliged by the debt of his creation conseruation redemption and other benefits to honor and loue God aboue all things and his neighbour for Gods sake as himselfe as the holy scriptures doe aboundantly testifie And on the other side as Sacrifice is the publick exercise of the vvorshipp of God the said Scriptures doe witnesse and experience doth daily manifest vnto vs That the cogitations of mans heart are bent vnto euill at all times and to forgett these his obligations and institute of life vnlesse he by some publique act or daily exercise be put in minde and kept to the practise thereof for this cause God of his infinite mercies hath ordeyned that a particular visible sacrifice should be daily vsed in his Church as a publicke exercise and practise of the inuisible sacrifice of our hearts vnto him a daily visible adoration of him with the worshipp of Latria a commemoration of the Passion of our Lord and a continual renewing of our loues peace and societie with him and amongst ourselues thereby to preserue in vs the honor and obligation which we owe vnto God and the loue of our neighbours as ourselues so to liue together in vnitie peace and charitie whilst An absurd thing that there should be Schooles of other things not of the vvorship due vnto God we remaine vpon earth and after death to ascend vpp into heauen to enioy the Kingdome Which was prepared for vs from the foundation of the world 12. And it were a thing verie absurd that in the Church of God which is his Kingdome here vpon earth there should be visible Schooles and publique daily exercises of things of lesser moment and that of the visible Sacrificing of our hearts to God publicke worshipp of Latria soleÌ„ne commemoration of the Passion of our Lord for vs and the sacred vnion of our hearts with him and amongst our selues wherein consisteth our teÌ„porall and eternall welfare there should be no practise more then in naked words only which either men of diuers nations who speake different languages or the vnlearned could not vnderstand Neither would words only without other visible actions be sufficient to teach the The necessitie of Sacrifice vulgar common people the practise dignity excellencie and eminencie of these sacred things as we finde by experience Whereby it doth appeare how necessarie it is that in the Church of God there should not only be instituted publicke Schooles where all men not in words only but in deeds might see the adoration due only to God the Sacrifice of mens hearts the commemoration of the passion of our Lord and vnion with God and amongst ourselues daily practised such as are or should be the sacred temples and Churches but also that these exercises should be sett fâ—â—th with great solemnitie vnder solemne visible knowne signes common to all that all in euerie Cittie towne and village might comply with these their obligations towards God and man which is the exterior visible Sacrifice I speake of whose practise as we see by experience is so appropriated vnto this vse that wheresoeuer we shall finde either amongst Christians or infidells anie company of men seriously attending to the offering of Sacrifice vpon an Altar we presently know that they are adoring some God true or false with the honor due only vnto God and colleagued in vnitie of Religion and societie amongst themselues as is manifest by experience 13. And because that the offering of a particular visible Sacrifice vnto God vpon an Altar was instituted by God vnto those ends before rehearsed therefore to communicate as Protestants To communicate and not of things offered in Sacrifice a prophane thing and Puritans now doe and not of hosts or Victimes first offered to God vpon an Altar was and is by the Scriptures accounted a worke of the Sonnes of Belial 1. Kings 2. 2. and an exceeding great sinne 1. Kings 2. 17. Because say the Scriptures they distracted men from the Sacrifice of our Lord and so hindred them not only from the publicke practise of the inuisible Sacrifice of their hearts vnto God and the visible adoration of him with the worshipp of Latria which is due only to him but obliterated the memorie of his passion for vs who was slaine from the beginning of the world and infringed the solemne practise of peace and vnitie betweene men and God and of men amongst themselues For which cause S. Paul also commaundeth visible Sacrifice to be vsed in the administration of the communion saying As often as you shall eate this Bread and drinck the Chalice you shall shew the death of our Lord vntil he come 1. Cor. 11. 26. who dyed offering vp himselfe in a visible Sacrifice as our aduersaries confesse To conclude Prayer as affirmeth S. Iohn Damascen in the 24. chapter of his 3. booke orthodoxae fidei is an eleuation of mind to God which visible Sacrifice doth not only teach and expresse as words doe things as I haue proued hertofore but also addeth to the eleuation of the mind to God a gift giuen or offered to God according to his commaund sayinge Thou shalt not appeare in my sight emptie Exod. 23. 15. and such a superexcellent gift as the body and blood of his only sonne in whome he is wel pleased and withall an inuisible sacrifice of our selues to God accordinge to the earnest exhortation of S. Paul saying I beseech you Brethren by the mercie of God that you exhibite your bodies a liuing host holy pleasing to God your reasonable Sacrifice Rom. 21. 1. wherby it cometh to passe that the due offering of visible Sacrifice doth The offering of visible Sacrifice is excellent prayer not only teach vs to pray as we ought but also is in it selfe the most coÌ„pleate prayer in the Church of God and therfore called the publick office of the Church as I shall further declare in his place In the meane space this is not only sufficient to shew the institution of visible Sacrifice but also the necessitie and cause why visible Sacrifices were instituted in the Church oft God and vsed amongst the faithfull in the Law of nature written law and law of grace and the fruite or benefit we receaue by them CHAP. III. All the Gentills and Heathen people Atheists and Epicures onely excepted offered visible Sacrifice vnto their supposed Gods 1. THe offering vp of externall visible Sacrifices Offering of Sacrifice necessary for the preseruation of vnitie and peace vnto God and communicating of the same after they were offered was esteemed a thing so necessary
poure out ther vowes before God with perfumes and drinke offerings Thus S. Ciprian whereby it appeareth that the ancient Fathers beleued visible sacrifice to be due vnto God by the law and light of Nature 5. Secondly by the defects which euerie one findeth in himselfe natural reason doth dictate vnto euerie one that he is subiect vnto some higher superior whose helpe he hath need of which superior call him what you will is God And the same naturall reason which telleth man Reason telleth man that he must honor God vvith such an honor as may not be giuen vnto any other that he hath a God vnto whom he is subiect and of whose helpe he hath need telleth him also that he is bound to honor this God with the highest kinde of honor that can be giuē him vpon earth and acknowledge this his subiection by such inward affection and outward signes or symbols as neither are nor ought to be giuen vnto anie other which is the externall visible Sacrifice we speake of which as we haue proued in the 4. and 5. chapters neither is nor yet euer was offered vnto anie but vnto some true or supposed God Nature is the cause of these things vvhich are donne after one manner 6. Thirdly Aristotle in his 7. booke of his morals to Eudemon saith That nature is the cause of these things which are alwaies or for the most part donne after one manner and fortune or accident of these which are seldome alike Which wee find true by experience in all naturall and accidentall things as in the naturall and accidentall things of the sunne moone planets and elements all whose naturall motions are constant and after the same manner and accidentall variable and changeable Accident the cause of mutability And seeing that all the sonnes of Adam both faithfull and infidels who firmely beleeued that there was a God or Gods and his or their prouidence ouer mankinde haue all generally offered visible sacrifice vnto some God true or false as I haue proued in the former chapters what reasonable man can doubt that God of his infinite goodnes mercies towards mankinde hath giuen vnto mankind a naturall inclination propension and instinct to offer visible sacrifice vnto him therby to acknowledge him for his God Corruption of nature the cause vvhy all offer not sacrifice and expresse the inward sacrifice of his hart vnto him and that the defect of offering visible sacrifice in those who vse it not is the corruption of nature 7. Fourthly we haue proued in our former chapters that people of all nations Epicures and The impossibility of all mē to agree to offer visible sacrifice had not the lavv of nature dictated it vnto them Atheists only excepted who denied God or Gods and his or their prouidence ouer mankind offered visible sacrifice vnto some true or supposed God And the people of all nations who were vpon the earth could neuer meete together to make an accord or agreement to offer visible sacrifice no nor yet the heads or kings of all nations could meete together to make this general accord that they would all offer visible sacrifice or if they should haue all mett together yet speaking diuerse languages and being of diuerse dispositions and humors they would neuer haue all agreed But suppose that they should haue all concurred together in one assemblie and agreed to offer visible sacrifice yet their diuerse dispositions natures interests reasons of state c. would not haue permitted them to haue continued for so manie thousand yeares in this their agreement of offering visible sacrifice without alteration or change if the dictamen of their consciences law and light of nature written in euery mans hart had not persuaded or compelled them vnto it as we see by experience in the contract or agreements which are made but amongst some few nations in other matters from which they change and fall from in few yeares 8. This which hath ben sayd is sufficient to conuince any indifferent reader that the offering The consent of nations is from the lavv of nature of exterior visible sacrifice vnto God is due vnto him by the instinct and law of nature For as Cicero a heathen man in the first booke of his Tusculan questions well obserueth In euery thing the consent of nations is to be esteemed the law of nature And againe in the same booke The consent of nations is the voice of nature Wheruppon S. Augustin in his 49. Epistle and 5. question sayth Those who are skilfull in the holy Scriptures of both The Pagans not to be blamed for offering sacrifice Testaments do not blame the Pagans or heathen people for that they build temples ordeine Priests and offer sacrifice because these things are taught them by the light and law of nature but for that they doe exhibite those things vnto Idols and deuils Thus S. Augustine With whom agreeth S. Thomas 2. 2. quest 85. ar 1. saying The offering of sacrifice is by Sacrifice by the lavv of nature the law of nature for saith he it proceedeth from natural reason that man should vse some sensible things and offer them to God in signe or token of due subiection and honor as they vse to doe who offer some thing vnto their temporal lords in acknowledgment or manifestation of submission vnto their dominion and this is that we call sacrifice So S. Thomas 9. And from this instinct of nature proceeding The diuision of tongues made no diuision of sacrifice from reason which we call the law of nature written in the harts of all men it came to passe that after the building of the tower of Babel and after that God had so confounded the tongues of all men that they could not one vnderstand another to consult together what kinde of religion they should follow or after what manner or way they should honor God or Gods they all agreed that God or Gods true or false were to be honored and adored with externall visible sacrifice as appeareth by the scriptures and testimonies of all antient times yet were they diuided and scattered ouer the earth into 55. or as others write into 72. distinct nations and tongues so that it had been impossible for them all to agree in generall in the offering of sacrifice vnto their true or supposed Gods had not the light of nature dictamen of their consciences and wisedome giuen from aboue vnto all mankind in their creation directed them 10. And this dictamen and light of nature to Temples vvithout sacrifice atheistical offer sacrifice vnto their true or supposed God or Gods was so inserted in the harts of al men that Plutark a heathen man taught by the light of nature in his booke intituled that there is no pleasant life according to Epicurus saith A temple without a sacred feast or sacrifice is atheistical impious and irreligious So constantly were Sacrifices beleeued to be due vnto God and
sacred feasts or communions to be made of things offered in sacrifice that euen heathen men who beleeued that there was a God or Gods and his or their Prouidence ouer mankinde guided only by the law of nature or the dictamen of euerie mans conscience esteemed those to be Atheists impious and irreligions who had temples and yet had no sacrifice nor communicated of things offered in sacrifice And Plutark in the same place adding a reason why those who communicated together in their temples and not of things offered in sacrifice were Atheists and impious wicked people saith For he that should make a sacred feast or communion without offering of sacrifice standeth by the Priest as he would stand by a cooke or buicher gaping after meate and that 's all wherby they contemne the sacred honor or worshipp which is due vnto God by the law of nature and profane the holye societie which should be betweene men and God and of men amongst themselues and therefore are instlie esteemed Atheists irreligious And this is sufficient to shew vnto any indifferēt reader that the offering of visible sacrifice is due vnto God by the law and light of nature or the dictamen of all mens consciences in whom the light or lawe of nature is not extinct or that without infringing the law of nature the offering of visible sacrifice vnto God cannot be taken away or neglected CHAP. VII How visible Sacrifice was offered vnto God in the beginning of his Church vpon Earth shal be vntill the end 1. THis being the end why visible Sacrifices were ordeyned by God that men might by them visibly acknowledg him for their Lord God honor him with the honor of Latria or diuine vvorship due only vnto him maintaine a memory of the passion of our Sauiour to come or past and preserue peace vvith him and amongst themselues God of his goodnes in the beginning of his Church vpon earth in the Law of Nature established the offering of visible Sacrifice in man not only by the law and God established the offering of sacrifice light of Nature but also by reuelation and inspiration immediatly bestowed vpon Adam from himselfe as witnesseth S. Athanasius in his sermon vpon these wordes All things are giuen me by my father saying Neither was Abel ignorant that he ought to offer of his first begotten for he learned it of Adam who had it from God For as the Scriptures saie Wisdome 10. 2. God brought Adam out of his sinne and gaue him power to containe all things Amongst which this was one that he and his sonnes and posteritie ought to offer visible Sacrifice to God in signe of homage and subiection vnto him and vnion of hearts with him their Creator Wherevpon S. Chrisostome in his 18. homily vpon Genesis saith that both Cain and Abel were moued to offer Sacrifice By the dictamen of their consciences and by wisdome giuen from aboue 2. By this which hath been said it appeareth that the offering of visible Sacrifice vnto God was not only practised in the beginning of the world by Adam Cain and Abel but also that it Sacrifice an article of faith was an article of faith reuealed vnto man by God in the Law of Nature euen from the beginning of the Church of God vpon earth after the fall of Adam Wherevpon S. Paule faith By faith Abel offered a greater hoast to God then Cain Heb. 11. 4. Where S. Paule signifieth vnto vs that Abel beleeuing that visible Sacrifice as a sacred signe of the inuisible Sacrifice of his heart was gratefull to God offered a visible Sacrifice according to this his faith of the best thinges he had and therefore was respected by God And Cain wanting faith and belief in this point offered according to the defect of his faith of his worst fruites and therefore God respected not his giftes Gen. 4. for without faith as S. Paule saith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. 3. Now seeing that Adam and his sonnes who Adam and his Sonnes first founders of the Church vpon earth were the first founders of the Church of God vpon earth vsed externall visible Sacrifice and externall visible Sacrifice is a thing only chiefly and aboue all thinges due vnto God as a Sacrament representing the inward and inuisible Sacrifice of the heart and a matter of faith in the Law of Nature most certaine it is that externall visible Sacrifice shall not be taken out of the Church of God vntill the end of the world seeing that as S. Paule witnesseth Faith is alwaies one and the same saying One Lord one Faith Ephes 4. One faith in all times and ages immutable 5. and not changeable or mutable but one and the same spirit of faith 2. Cor. 4. 13. Wherevpon S. Augustine in his 89. Epistle to Hillarius and 3. Question saith Faith is not variable but one And the true Faith shall neuer faile vntill the end of the world as the Scriptures affirme Mat. 13. 39. Ephes 4. 13. and the manie promises of Cod. Wherefore seeing that visible Sacrifice was vsed in the beginning and first foundation of the Church of God vpon earth as a matter of faith and as a thing due only to God most certaine it is that visible Sacrifice shal be practised vntill the end of the world that we all meete as S. Paule saith in the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God Ephes 4. 13. which God himselfe further witnesseth saying I the Lord this is my name and I will not giue my glorie vnto an other Isa 42. 8. 4. Secondly CHRIST IESVS deliuered himself to death as S. Paul witnesseth that he might Christ planted a glorious Church vvhich could not be vvithout Sacrifice present vnto himself a glorious Church Ephes 5. 26. with could not be where the honor and worship which is only chiefly and aboue all things due vnto God is taken away such as is externall visible Sacrifice as I haue prooued in the precedent Chapters And whereas some obiect and say that S. Paul saith Christ offred himself once and one hoast c. we grant that Christ offered himself but once bloodily which was vpon the Crosse and but one substantial hoast because the same substantial body which was offered vpon the Crosse is now daily offered or giuen to God for vs as a sacred signe of the inuisible Sacrifice of our harts according to his commaundement saying Do this the same which he then did when he took bread and made it his Body and gaue it to God for vs as I shall shew more at larg hereafter 5. Thirdly the offring of externall visible Sacrifice is one of the chiefest meanes whereby Sacrifice the meanes of peace men preserue vnitie peace and society with God and amongst themselues as I haue proued in the 2. Chapter and therefore this could not be taken away by our Sauiour the end of whose coming into the world was chiefly to
I haue prooued in the last Chapter and there fore to make Christ to put down all speciall externall Sacrifice were to make him Antichrist Secondly all other outward acts obseruances and worships may be vsed and giuen vnto men only visible Sacrifice is due vnto God as he is God and Creator of all things as I haue prooued in the former Chapters Wherefore if our Sauiour Sacrifice taken avvay Religion is destroyed should haue taken away the offering of visible Sacrifice vnto God he had taken away Religion for Religion is a vertue by which men do giue due worship and honor vnto God as witnesseth S. Thomas in his Secunda Secundae quaest 81. art 1. Wherevpon S. Cyprian in his booke of our Lords Supper saith Religion is destroyed when there resteth no more Sacrifice to bee offred for as S. Augustin saith in the 21. chapter of his 20. book against Faustus The offering of Sacrifice doth belong Sacrifice is diuine honor or only due to ditie vnto the worship of Latria which is a seruice properly due vnto diuinitie Again in the same book and chapter he saith Sacrifice is diuine honor Wherefore if our Sauiour had taken away the offering of visible Sacrifice he had taken away the diuine honor which properly belongeth vnto God and had destroyed Religion 2. Thirdly if our Sauiour had taken away visible Sacrifice out of his Church he had taken away Priest-hood for by the law of nature nations Sacrifices taken avvay Priest-hood is destroyed and written law and law of grace Priests were ordeyned to this end that they might offer externall visible Sacrifice vnto God as we see by experience in all tymes and in all nations for at all tymes and in all nations those who beleeued that there was a God and his prouidence ouer mankind knew by the dictamen of right reason and nature that they were to honor and worship God with visible Sacrifice as a thing only and aboue all things belonging vnto him as their God and Creator as I haue shewed in the 6. Chapter and also knew by the same light of nature that euery one was not fitt to execute that office or could tell how to do it wherefore they chose some who publickly should for the whole assemblie or company performe that act Wherevpon S. Paul saith Euery high Priest is taken from amongst men that he may offer gifts and Sacrifices Heb. 5. 1. Agayn for euery high Priest is appointed to offer gifts and hosts wherefore it is necessary that he haue somthing that he may offerr Heb. 8. 3. Whereby we see that if our Sauiour had taken away the offering of externall Sacrifice vnto God hee had also taken away Priesthood which S. Ephrem in his treatise of Antichrist further witnesseth saying in the tyme of Antichrist for that the deuine oblation and sanctification shal be no more offred to God then the holy mistery of Priesthood shall cease 3. Fourthly the Priesthood being taken away Priesthood being taken avvay the lavv is destroyed the law also is translated and taken away as witnesseth S. Paul saying The Priesthood being translated it is necessary that a translation of the law be made Heb. 7. 12. Wherefore if our Sauiour had not instituted a visible Sacrifice in his Church he had not bin a lawgiuer as the Scriptures call him Iames 4. 12. but a law destroyer And from hence it is that S. Ireneus in the 15. Chapter of his â—5 book against Heresies saith That Antichrist Antichrist vvithout a lavv shal be with out a law as an Apostata because he shall take away all publick visible Sacrifice and Priesthood on which the law dependeth for as the Scripture saith The Lipps of the Priest shall keepe knowlege and the law they shall require of his mouth Math. 2. 7. He that shal be proud refusing to obey the commandement of the Priest that man shall die Deut. 17. 12. Wherevpon the Prophet Osee when he would expresse the wickednes of the Children of Israel in whom there was no truth nor mercy nor knowledg of God but cursing and lying and man-slaughter and theft and adulterie c. saith Thy people are as those who gainsay the Priest Osee 4. 4. Whereby it is manifest that if our Sauiour had taken away externall visible Sacrifice he had taken away the Law 4. And for this cause least that the Church of God should at any tyme be without a religion or law our Sauiour presently after he had finished the Sacrifice of the Paschal lamb took bread and gaue thanks and brak and gaue to his Apostles saying This is my Body which is giuen for you to God Luc. 22. 19. And instituted the Sacrifice of the new law and said to the Apostles and their successors Do this that is giue my body to God for you in commemoration of mee least that his Church should be at any tyme without a speciall visible exteriour Sacrifice Religion and Law 5. If our Sauiour in the new law had not instituted a proper visible Sacrifice wherewith God might be worshipped by men in the time of the VVhen Sacrifice is taken avvay the chief visible honor due vnto God is taken avvay new law as he was in the old but had wholy taken externall visible Sacrifice out of his Church he had left no externall visible act of Religion whereby men might haue adored God as God and had depryued his eternall Father of the greatest externall visible worship and honor which he had vpon earth that is to say the worship of Latria by offering externall visible Sacrifice vnto him which is absurd seeing our Sauiour came to add honor vnto his etternall Father and not to diminish it Ioh. 8. 49. 6. Sixtly the law of nature and nations and written law as I haue proued in the former chapters teach vs to offer externall visible Sacrifice vnto God therby to acknowledge his soueraigntie and supreame power ouer vs and our Sauiour came not to breake the lawe but to fulfill it Math. 5. 18. 7. In the communion of the ould law there was a Sacrifice to represent the Sacrifice of our Sauiour vpon the Crosse to come as witnesse the Scriptures Exod. 12. 6. and Fathers as S. Chrysostome in his 61. homily to the people of Antioch S. Augustine in the 18. Chapter of his first booke against the aduersaries of the lavv and the Prophets therefore there must be also a Sacrifice in the communion of the new law to represent the Sacrifice of our lord vpon the Crosse past seeing as I haue said before our Sauiour came not to breake the law but to fulfill it And as the Children Sacrifice as necessarie in the nevv lavve as in the ould of God who liued before the Passion of Christ stood in need of a Sacrifice in their communion to represent the Sacrifice of Christ vpon the Crosse to come and to apply the merits of the said Sacrifice vnto them So the Children of the Church
of God who liue after the Passion of Christ stand in need of a Sacrifice in their communion to represent the Sacrifice of our Sauiour vpon the Crosse past to apply his merits vnto them who was slaine as S. Iohn saith from the beginning of the world Apoc. 13. 8. And as many as were saued in the law of nature or vvritten lavv or shal be saued in the law of Grace all were and shal be saued by the merits of the passion of our Sauiour and his Sacrifice vpon the Crosse And therefore if in the lavv of nature and written lavv they had need of externall visible Sacrifice to apply the Passion of our Sauiour vnto them so likevvise haue vve in the nevv lavv seeing that the ould lavv vvas a figure of the nevv 1. Cor. 10. 6. Wherevpon S. Augustine in the 18. chapter of his 20. booke against Faustus saith At this present Christians do celebrate the memorie of the sacrifie of Christ passed vpon the Crosse by the most holie oblation of the body and bloud of Christ 8. The chiefest act whereby our Sauiour redeemed vs vvas his offering or giuing himselfe to God for our Redemption according to his word saying I yeild my life for my sheepe Ioh. 10. 15. Sacrifice taken avvaie the commemoration of our Sauiours passion is also taken avvaie Against Christ gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs. Tit. 2. 14. Wherefore if our Sauiour had taken away all externall visible Sacrifice out of his Church he had left in deeds or actions no expresse commemoration of his Passion 9. God Almightie threatneth it as a great To be depriued of Sacrifice is threatned as a punishment plague to the pleople of Israel to take away from amongst them for their sinnes Sacrifices and Altars saying Manie daies shall the kingdome of Israel sit without King and without Prince and without Sacrifice and without Altar c. And after this the children of Israel shall returne and shall seek the lord their God and his goodnes in the last dayes Osee 34. Where we see that God himself accompted it a great plague for the Children of Israel to be without Sacrifice and Altar as they are and shal be vntill a litle before the last dayes according to this prophecy and at the last dayes they shall seeke the Lord their God and his goodnes and become Christians and haue Sacrifice and Altars Wherefore if our Sauiour should haue planted his new lavv and Testament vvithout any externall visible Sacrifice or Altar the nevv lavv had bin a lavv and Testament of greater anger vvrath and punishmēt then vvas the ould law and not a law of greater grace and fauor which is repugnant to the promises saying Christ came to preach the acceptable yeare of our Lord Psal 71. 1. Luc. 4. 19. Insomuch as S. Paul speaking of this tyme of grace saith Behold now is the time acceptable behold now the day of saluation 2. Cor. 6. 2. c. 10. As I said in the 2. Chapter two things haue alvvayes been highly esteemed amongst men the honor of their God and their vnity peace and society with him and amongst themselues and these two haue been chiefely mainteyned amongst men of all nations by offering visible Sacrifice vnto God and after by eating or communicating of the said Sacrifice amongst themselues as I haue prooued in the 2. chapter By Sacrifice peace and vnitie is preserued and our Sauiour came not to take away peace vnitie and societie of men with God or amongst themselues but to plant it saying Not for the Apostles only do I pray but for them also that by their word shall beleeue in mee that they all may be one as thou Father in mee and I in thee that they also in vs may be one that the world may know that thou hast sent mee Ioh. 17. 20. 11. God Almightie promised by the Prophet Ieremie that visible Sacrifice should neuer be taken away saying Of Priests and Leuits there shall not fail from before my face a man to offer Holocausts and to burn Sacrifice and kill victimes all dayes Ier 33. 18. According to which promises S. Paul commandeth the Christians to offer Sacrifice saying you shall shew the death of our Lord vntill he come 1. Cor. 11. 26. who dyed offering vp himself in a visible Sacrifice as our aduersaries will confesse 12. If our Sauiour had taken away the offering of visible Sacrifice to God and had instituted a communion by taking an eating a peace of bread and apprehending Christ in heauen by VVithout Sacrifice there is no difference betvveen the communion and eating of common meat faith he had made no difference betweene the eating of common meat and the communion for euery one who eateth or drinketh piously like a Christian and not like a beast apprehendeth God or CHRIST IESVS our Lord in heauen by the hand of faith as author and giuer of that meat as often as they eat or drink 13. The offering of visible Sacrifice in generall vnto God vvas a matter of faith planted in the Church of God vpon earth euen from the first foundatiō of the Church of God vpon earth after the fall of Adam as I haue prooued in the last Chapter and faith is one and vnchangeable as also there I haue prooued Whereby it is sufficiently Our Sauiour changed not the faith but ceremonies of the old Lavv. manifest vnto any indifferent Reader that our Sauiour at his comming did not nor would take away out of his Church which he founded vpon earth externall visible Sacrifice but took away only the ceremoniall law and planted externall visible Sacrifice in more worthy gifts as made suertie of a better Testament Heb. 7. 22. 14. And to conclude all the known world as I haue prooued in the 2. and 3. chapters at the tyme of our Sauiour offered visible Sacrifice vnto some God true or false thereby to adore him with the honor of Latria or honor due only vnto God and signifie the Sacrifice of their harts vnto him and vnion with him Wherefore if our Sauiour had quite taken away the offering of visible Sacrifice to any God some Iew or gentill would haue accused him or the Apostles of it Our Sauiour neuer accused of taking avvay Sacrifice which vve neuer read that they did yet the Iewes so highly esteemed visible Sacrifice as they accounted it a punishment or curse to be without it as appeareth Dan. 9. 27. the 11. 31. and the 12. 11. Osee 3. 4. Ioel. 1. 9. and the Gentils esteemed it a sinne worthy of death to abuse it as vvitnesseth Plato in his 10. Dialogue and a signe of atheisme and impietie to neglect it as testifyeth Plutark in his booke intituled That there Epicurus only for feare offered Sacrifice contrary to his doctrine is no pleasant life according to Epicurus who in doctrine and words denied the offering of visible Sacrifice but not in practise for feare of the
common people and not to displease the Athenians as witnesseth Cicero in his bookes of the ends of good and euill of Tusculans quest and of the nature of the God and Plutark in his book against Coletes an Epicure Wherefore seeing that it was a thing impossible and altogether incredible that our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST should quite take away the offering of externall visible Sacrifice to God for the good of those who are deceaued to the violating of Religion contempt of God and damnation of their poore soules it wil be worth our labour yet more exactly to handle this matter and seeke out how and what visible Sacrifice our Sauiour appointed for his followers to vse in his Church vpon earth which by Gods grace I will do in the ensueing chapters CHAP. IX Our Sauiour was to be a chiefe Priest of the order of Melchisedech and to offer vnbloudy Sacrifice in his body and bloud vnder the formes of bread and wine vntill the end of the world 1. THe Prophet Dauid speaking of the Priesthood of our Sauiour in the 109. Psal and 4. Ver. according vnto our account Christs Priest hood foreuer of the order of Melchisedech vvas to be performed vpon earth and 110. according to the account of Protestants and Puritans saith Our Lord hath sworn and it shall not repent him thou art a Priest foreuer according to the Order of Melchisedech This to be spoken of our Sauiour S. Paul witnesseth Heb. 5. 6. 10. Heb. 6. 20. So here we haue that our Sauiour vvas to be a Priest not for once or for a litle while as vpon the Crosse but as long as the world shall last vntill Eternitie come or as the Apostle saith vntill Christ shall come to Iudgment 1. Cor. 11. 26. For these words foreuer euerlasting are many tymes taken for as long as the world shall last or for a long time as Leuit. 25. 46. Exod. 15. 18. Exod. 21. 6. Exo. 31. 16. Leuit. 23. 31. Eze. 26. 21. And S. Hierome in his commentaries vpon the 26. of Ezechiel and 21. Ver. and vpon the first to the Gal and 4. Ver. affirmeth that the hebrew word Leolam vvhich is here translated foreuer doth not signify the eternity of the other life but the whole tyme of this life or as long as the world shall endure c. 2. The end and vse of Priesthood and offering The vse of Priesthood and sacrifice vp of Sacrifice is as S. Paul saith Heb. 5. 1. to obtayn remission of sinnes but after the day of Iudgment and end of this world there wil be no more any remission of sinnes wherefore it were in vayn to say that Christ were a Priest foreuer in the other world of eternitie according to the order of Melchisedech seeing that in the eternitie of the other life there is no remission of sinnes or vse of Priesthood or Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech which S. Paul further signifyeth saying Where there is no remession of sinnes as in the eternitie of the other life now there is not an oblation for sinnes Heb. 10. 18. Agayn S. Paul sayith Euery high Priest is appointed that he may offer guifts and hosts wherefore it is necessary that he also haue somthing that he may offer Heb. 8. 3. But it were absurd to say that Christ in heauen offered Sacrifice hosts or gifts according to the order of Melchisedech seeing that in heauen earthly Sacraments and Sacrifices which are represented vnder outward corruptible materiall signes do cease by reason of the imperfection for in heauen is no imperfection 1. Cor. 13. 10. 3. And S. Paul speaking of the Priesthood of our Sauiour according to the order of Melchisedech saith If then consummation was by the Leuiticall Priesthood what necessitie was there yet of an other Christ a Priest of the order of Melchisedech and not of Aaron Priest to rise according to the order of Mechisedech and not to be called according to the order of Aaron for the Priesthood being translated it is necessary that a translation of the law also be made for Christ of whom these things be said is of another tribe of the which none attended on the Altar Heb. 7. 11. Where we Chriests Priesthood to be performed on earth see that our Sauiours Priesthood according to the order of Melchisedech was to be performed vpon earth as the Priesthood according to the order of Aaron was performed vpon earth and the law was translated vpon earth and the tribes and Altars were vpon earth 4. Neither can this prophecy be vnderstood of This Prophecie not vnderstood of the Sacrifice vpon the Cross our Sauiours Sacrifice vpon the Crosse for that was but once offered Heb. 10. 10. and if the Scriptures here should speake of the Sacrifice of the Crosse it should say thou art a Priest for once and not say thou art a Priest foreuer Secondly S. Paul saith Other Priests by death were prohibited to continue but Christ for that he continueth foreuer hath an euerlasting Priesthood Heb. 7. 23. But as our Sauiour offered himself in Sacrifice vpon the Crosse he was neither euerlasting nor immortall but mortall and dyed and therefore as he was offered vpon the Cross he was by death prohibited to continue aswell as other Priests wherefore it cannot be said that Christ is a Priest foreuer according to the order of Melchisedech because he offered himself vpon the Crosse 5. The Sacrifice of our Sauiour vpon the Crosse was bloudy and rather according to the order of Aaron then Melchisedech of which order our Sauiour was not as S. Paul witnesseth saying Christ Our Sauiour vvas not a Priest of the order of Aron was not called according to the order of Aaron Heb. 7. 11. Wherefore seeing that our Sauiour was to be a Priest to offer Sacrifice vnto God vntill the end of the world and that there neither is nor hath been any other Sacrifice offered in the Christian Church but that which amongst Christians No Sacrifice amongst Christians but that of the body and bloud of our Lord. is called the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord as all the Christian Church seruice bookes Histories Chronicles and testimonies of ancient tyme beare witnes what Christian man can deny that our Sauiour was to be a Priest foreuer to offer this Sacrifice of his body and bloud by himself his Apostles and their Successors vntill the end of the world and that this oath of God is fulfilled in offering or giuing to God his body and bloud vnder the species of bread and wine according to his commaund at his last supper when taking bread he gaue thanks and brake and gaue to the Apostles saying This is my body which is giuen for you to God And in like manner the Chalice after he had supped saying This is the Chalice of the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you to God Luc. 22. Do this the same which he then
drie it at the fire and bruise it after the manner of meale and so shalt thou offer thy first fruits Leuit. 2. 14. Malachie the last of the Prophets foretelling how God would reiect the sacrifices of the Iewes and haue a cleane oblation or vnbloudy sacrifice offered vnto him euery where amongst the coÌ„uerted gentils sayth A gift I will not receaue at your hands Mal. 1. 10. Where the Prophet accompteth a cleane oblation an vnbloudy sacrifice and a gift offered to God by Priests vpon an Altar as all one 3. S. Paul also maketh mention of these two kinds of sacrifices and calleth th'vnbloudy sacrifices gifts offered to God in sacrifice by Priests saying Euery high Priest taken from amongst men is appointed for men in these things which appertayne to God that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sinne Heb. 5. 1. Agayne Euery high Priest is appointed to offer gifts and hosts Heb. 8. 3. where distinguishing the two kinds of sacrifices which where offered by Priests in the Church of God from the beginning of the world he calleth the vnbloudy sacrifices gifts and placeth them in the first rank as a more excellent kind of sacrifice then hosts offered with carnall effusion of bloud 4. Moreouer that cleane and vnbloudy sacrifices are called gifts S. Hierom. vpon the 25. chap. of Ezechiel and 15. and 17. verses doth witnes saying that gifts were things of wheate flower or barley flower or oyle offered to God in sacrifice Wherevpon Theophylact vpon this 8. chap. to the Hebrewes and 3. verse sayth If we would diligently examine the difference betweene gift and host it is this that an host is offered with bloud and flesh but gifts consist of fruites and other such things as are vnbloudy With whom agreeth our aduersarie Samuel Purchas a Puritan in the 6. chap. of his 1. booke of his relations of the religions obserued in all ages saying Of sacrifices there were from the beginning two kinds th' one called gifts or oblation of things without life th' other victimes or slayne sacrifices of birds and beasts Where it is manifest that gifts offered to God by Priests appointed as Saint Paul saith for that purpose and vnbloudy sacrifice are all one 5. These gifts or vnbloudy sacrifices were also VVhat gifts vvhere vnbloudy sacrifices of two sorts that is to say of things solide as bread wheate new corne c. or of things liquid as of wine oyle c. If they were of solide things then the manner was in signe of the inuisible sacrifice of the hart to breake or bruise them if of liquid things then the manner was also in signe of contrition and the inuisible sacrifice of the hâ—â—t to poure them fourth before God as appeareth in the solide and liquid vnbloudy sacrifices or sacrifices of giftes which where offered to God in the law of nature and written law So the vnbloudy sacrifice or sacrifices of gifts were distinguished from the generall offerings gifts oblatioÌ„s and tenths of the peole first for that the sacrifice of gifts or vnbloudy sacrifices were broken or shedd th' other offered whole these were offered vpon an Altar by Priests appoynted for that purpose Heb. 5. 1. th' other offered at the Altar by any one Math. 5. 24. these were publike sacred visible signes of the inward contrition and sacrifice of the harts of them who offered as is proued heretofore th' other priuate dewties and donations c. So that not all manner of gifts or oblations were vnbloudy sacrifices or sacrifices of gifts but those which were broken or shedd to God vpon an Altar by a lawfull Priest to signifie the inuisible sacrifice of our harts 6. This distinction putt downe of bloudy and vnbloudy sacrifices or sacrifices of gifts it is easy to proue that our Sauiour at his coming was Our Sauiour established the sacrifice of gifts in his Churche to offer vnbloudy sacrifice or gifts and to establish them in his Churche for after the coming of the Messias all the bloudy sacrifices were to cease as witnesseth the Prophet Dauid in the 39. Psalme Prophet Malachie in his first chapter S. Paul Heb. 10. and the Fathers cited in the last chapter to this purpose But our Sauiour was not to take away all kind of particular exterior visible sacrifice as I haue proued in the 8. 9. and 10. chapters of this booke therefore the vnbloudy sacrifice or sacrifice of gifts were to be established in the Church of God in the new law 7. Moreouer the Prophet Malachie speaking of the sacrifice which shal be established in the new law saith it shal be a gift and cleane oblation Malach 1. wherevpon Lactantius who liued about the yeare 290. in the 25. chapter of his 6. book of diuine institutions sayth There are two things which ought to be offered vnto God gifts and sacrifice gifts for euer sacrifice for a tyme with whom agree the ancient Fathers cited before in the last chapter and many more who shal be cited here after in the ensuing chapters 8. And as for the time when our Sauiour was Our Sauiour at his last Supper offered gifts to God to offer the sacrifice of gifts or vnbloudy sacrifice and to establish it in his Churche it must needs be then when he changed the Sacrament of the old law and instituted the Priests of the new which was at his last Supper as appeareth by Iudas Iscariot who vvas a Priest and Bishop as witnesseth S. Peter Act. 1. 20. And yet could not be made before the last Supper nor yet after seeing that presently after the last Supper hee went forth and betrayed our Lord Luc. 22. and no man euer made a Priest or Bishop but he instructed him what he was to doe Secondly our aduersaryes in the book of their consecration of Priests doe coÌ„fesse that the consecration and administration of the Sacrament of the new law doth belong vnto the office of the Priests of the new lavv but at the last Supper our Sauiour not only consecrated and administred the Sacrament of the new law himselfe as our aduersaries confesse but also gaue vnto the Apostles authoritie to consecrate and administer the Sacrament of the new law saying Do this the same which he then did for a commemoration of me and therefore he then made them Priests and gaue them authoritie to offer vnbloudy Sacrifice or the sacrifice of gifts and established the said kind of sacrifice to be vsed in his Church This sett downe lett vs examine what our Lord did at his last Supper 9. First he tooke bread which was a meate or thing vsed in the sacrifice of gifts and vnbloudy sacrifice Gen. 14. 18. Secondly he blessed the bread Math. 26. 25. and so made it holy and consecrated to God as al things offered in sacrifices are Thirdly he brake it Math. 26. 26. with was accustomed to be donn in all sacrifices of gifts or vnbloudy sacrifices as I haue proued in the 1. paragraphe of this chapter
euerie place there are Altars as God foretould by the Prophet Malachie for expressing the Ecclesiasticall sinceritie of the new lawe and laying open the ingratitude of the People of the old law he saith vnto them I haue no will in you saith the Lord omnipotent and hosts I will not receaue at your handes for from the rising of the sunne vnto the goeing downe my name is glorified among the Gentils and in euerie place sacrifice is offered vnto my name and a pure Sacifice See how plainelie how manifestlie he hath sett forth that mysticall Table which is the vnbloudy Sacrifice c. The pure Sacrifice is certainely the chiefe mysticall Table the heauēly and most venerable Host so S Chrysostome 7. In like manner the rest of the ancient Fathers The antient Fathers agre able to the ancient Liturgies doe also call the Sacrifice of the new law somctimes guifts and sometimes vnbloudie sacrifices As S. Dionisius Areopagita in the 5. chapter of his Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy saying The Bishop after that he hath shewed the guifts of the diuine workes cometh to cōmunicate them himselfe and also inuiteth others Againe The Bishop doth shew the couered guifts and that which in them is one he diuideth Vnbloudie Sacrifices called gifts into manie S. Clement in the 12. chapter of his 8. booke of constitutions speaking of the sacred host after consecration saith Wee beseech thee ô Lord fauorablie to looke vpon these guifts sett before thee And in the 13. chapter he earnestly beseecheth God to receaue the said Guifts offered for all Bishops Priests Kings and the people there presēt and the whole Church Theodoret in his 2. Dialogue saith What doe You call the guifts which are brought before the inuocation of the Priest Answereth It is made of such like seede And after the sanctification how doe you call those things Answereth The bodie of Christ 8. S. Ireneus in the third chapter of his 4. booke of heresies saith Christ taught the new oblation of the newe testament which the Church receauing Gifts in the nevv Testament from the Apostles offereth throughout the whole world to God who giueth vs for nourishment the first fruits of his gifts in the new Testament So likewise the 318. Fathers in the first general great Councel of Nice in the 5. cannon according to the Greeke copie call the sacrifice of the new Lawe A most pure gift offered to God Where we may obserue that those ancient Fathers doe call the sacrifice and Sacrament of the new Lawe Gifts of the diuine workes and a most pure guift before they were receaued in the communion as being the bodie and bloud of our Lord independant of the faith of the receiuer 9. And in like manner the ancient Fathers doe call the sacrifice of the new Law an vnbloudie sacrifice as Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea in the 10. chapter of his first booke of Euangelicall demonstrations saying We are taught by the most high Priest of all to offer vnto the supreame God throughout our whole life vnbloudie and reasonable victims sweete vnto him S. Gregorie Nazianzen in his first oration Iulian the Apostata hated vnbloudy Sacrifices against Iulian the apostata shewing the auersion which this apostata had from the sacrifice of the Altar saith He profaned his hands that he might wash them from the vnbloudie sacrifice by which we communicate Christ and his sufferings and diuinitie 10. S. Cyrillus Alexandrinus in declaratione Anathematismi 11. saith Wee offer the holie quickening and vnbloudie sacrifice in the Church beleeuing the bodie and pretious bloud which is sett before vs to be not of a common man and like vnto vs but of the word Againe in his booke de adoratione in spirituli 13. The table trulie of proposition hauing bread vpon it did signifie our vnbloudie host wherewith we all are blessed whilst we eate that bread which is from heauen that is to saie Christ. 11. And it was a thing so generally receaued in the Church of God and so vniuersally beleeued of the whole primitiue Church that our Sauiour at his last supper instituted an vnbloudy Sacrifice cleane oblation or gifts in his bodie and bloud to be offered by Bishops and Priests for a commemoration of him that three of the 4. first generall Councells which euer were celebrated in the Church of God call the Eucharist or thing deliuered in the communion the vnbloudie sacrifice as the great generall Councell of Nice which was the first generall coūcell which euer was celebrated in the Church of God saying In the time of the first generall coūcell of Nice they offered vnbloudy sacrifice in the third booke and title of the diuine table Lett vs vnderstand the Lambe of God which taketh awaie the sinnes of the world to be placed vpon the table sacrificed after an vnbloudie manner by Priests 12. In like manner S. Cirill Archbishop of Alexandria chiefe of the generall Councell of Ephesus in the 26. Epistle set downe in the first part of the same Councell writeth after this manner vnto Nestorius the heretick for whose condemnation In the time of the Councell of Ephesus they offered vnbloudie sacrifice that Councell was called saying I cannot omitt this that whilst we declare the death of the onlie sonne of God and his resurrection from death we also confesse his assumption into heauen and celebrate the vnbloudie sacrifice in the Church and approach vnto the misticall blessings by which meanes we are sanctified as being made partakers of the holie flesh and pretious bloud of Christ the Sauiour of vs all Neither doe we receaue it as common flesh God forbidd we should doe so nor yet as the flesh of a holie man c. But we receaue it as trulie quickening flesh and as proper flesh of the word it felfe which was incarnate Thus S Cyrill Chiefe in the generall Councell to the heretick Nestorius 13. And in the 4. generall Councell which In the time of the Counced of Calcedon they offered vnbloudy sa crifice was that of Calcedon Ischyrion Deacon of Alexandria preferring in the third act of the Councell a bill of complaint vnto the Councell against Dioscorus Archbishop of Alexandria a wicked man amongst other things accuseth him of this as of agreat crime that whereas in Lybia for the sterilitie of the countrey wheate would not grow the most pious Emperor allowed wheates first that as he saith the vnbloudie host might be offered of it and secondlie for the reliefe of Pilgrims and the poore of the prouince Dioscorus would not permit the holie Bishops of the countrie to receaue the said wheate but would forestall it and buy it vp with great summes of money and in time of famine sould it againe at most deare rates and by these meanes neither the terrible and vnbloudie sacrifice as there it is termed was celebrated nor the Pelgrims or poore releeued Thus Ischyrion in his complaint against Dioscorus the hereticke vnto the generall Councell of
liued aboue 1200. yeares past And thus the vnbloudy sacrifice or sacrifice of the bodie and bloud of Lord after an vnbloudie manner which was begun at Hierusalem by our Lord and the Apostles was after dispersed and planted all ouer the Christian world by the Apostles and Apostolicall men their Successors and hath continued vntill this daie as we may finde by experience 9. For our aduersaries to saie that all these Liturgies or publick Church-seruice bookes which All the Liturgies could not be corrupted haue been vsed by all nations countries and people who haue bin conuerted by the Apostles themselues or Apostolicall men whose names would be to tedious to reherse haue in this point of the Sacrifice and Sacrament been corrupted without assigning when or where or by what men or meanes so maine sundrie and diuers nations separated by place gouernment tongues in warrs one with another deuided manie times in other pointes of Religion could become so generally corrupted in one and the same point and that a thing which they for the most part all practised daily is as the Prophet saith but to excuse excuses in sinne Psal 140. 4. 10. Neither may our aduersaries say as they vse to doe in other thinges that the Pope hath brought vpp this as new doctrine For first it was foretould by the Prophets in the old law before there were anie Christian Popes Secondly manie of these nations who vse vnbloudie Sacrifice in the bodie and bloud of our Lord are so farr distant from him as that vnlesse it were in these late-yeares that nauigation and trauelling into strange countries hath bin more in vse they did scarcely know whether there were such a man or no and manie of theÌ„ remaine yet in schisme and heresie deuided from the Pope as the Grecians Nestorians Eutychians and other heretickes in Egypt the Muscouits and Russians 11. Moreouer the afore said Proclus in the place aboue cited affirmeth that by thse praiers of the Liturgie They expected the coming of the holie Ghost that by his diuine presence he might make the bread and wine mixt with water which was prepared for the Sacrifice the self same bodie and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which religious rite is trulie obserued vntill this daie and shal be vntill the end of the world Thus Proclus Bishop of Constantinople about 1200. years agoe whereby it is manifest that this doctrine of offering vnbloudie Sacrifice in the bodie and bloud of our Lord and communicating of the same is no new doctrine nor inuented by anie man but instituted by our Lord at his last supper in Hierusalem and published ouer the world by the Apostles and Apostolicke men at the conuersion of nations as was foretould by our Sauiour Act. 1. As farther witnesseth S. Hierom. in his commentaries vpon the first Chapter of Prophet Malachie saying In euerie place there is offered an oblation not an vncleane one as was offered by the people of Israel but a cleane one as is offered vp in the ceremonies of the Christians The Conclusion Though God be a spirit and according to the Scriptures is delighted with that worshippe which procedeth from our spirits yet because the foule as long as she is in this mortall bodie cannot make her inward actes oblations and Sacrifices of her selfe conueniently and perfectly except she behold the same in some sensible oblation of a gift or present offered visibly to God before her as a meanes signe or motiue to moue and stirr her vp vnto that interior and visible Sacrifice of herselfe the vnderstanding of mortall men depending vpon the senses according to that axiome There is nothing in the vnderstanding which was not first either by it selfe or by some resemblance in some one of the senses Therefore God of is infinite goodnes condiscending vnto our capacities hath instituted an exterior visible sacrifice in his Church to moue and stirr vs vpp vnto this interior and invisible wherein he so much delighteth the example whereof we may finde in prayer God vnderstandeth that praier of our hearts and that which delighteth him most is the praier of the heart and mynde yet because the operations and actes of the soule in this life depend vpon the organs of the bodie â—nd senses therefore God hath instituted vocall praier or praier with the mouth in his Church â—s a sensible signe to prouoke the heart feruently â—o pray and praise him so that those who would haue men to practise and vse the inuisible sacrifice of their hearts to God and yet denie them the exercise of exterior visible Sacrifice are like vnto those who would haue men pray in their hearts and studie to become learned and yet permitt them no bookes nor exterior meanes to learne Which our most blessed Lord considering at the institution of the new law left vs not without an exterior visible sacrifice but instituted it in his bodie and bloud vnder the curtaines of bread and wine the more powerfully to moue and stirre vpp in vs the sacrifice of our hearts to God by the excellencie and eminencie of the outward obiect as I shall shew more at large in the ensuing bookes FINIS CENSVRA TRractatus hic de Sacrificio nihil continet quod aut rectae Fidei aut bonis moribus repugnet imprimi itaque poterit divulgari Louanij 12 Febr. 1637. Antonius Louerius S. T. L Apost Regius lib. Censor OF THE VISIBLE SACRIFICE IN THE CHVRCH OF GOD. THE SECOND PART VVritten by ANONYMVS EREMITA Sacrifice ye the Sacrifice of Iustice and hope in our Lord. Psal 4. 6. AT BRVXELLES By HVBERT ANTONY Velpius Printer to his Majestie 1638. THE PREFACE REligion saith S. Thomas in 22. quest 81. Art 1. is a vertue by which men giue to God due worshipp and reuerence wherin hee agreeth with S. Augustine in his book of the nature of God saying It is the office of religion to giue due honor vnto God And the honor and worshipp which is cheefly and most properly due vnto God is the inuisible Sacrifice of the heart and the outward visible Sacrifice of some creature to expresse the inuisible Sacrifice of the soule as wordes doe things which is properly Latria or seruice due vnto God as God and Creator of all things as I haue shewed more at large in the 5. and 6. Chapters of the first part Whereupon it cometh to passe that without the offering of visible Sacrifice there cannot be any perfect Religion for though some of the more pious sort of men by a longer custome and much practise may attaine vnto a continuall or often inuisible Sacrifice of their hearts by inward anagogicall actes without the helpe of exterior visible Sacrifice yet because the myndes of men in this life depend vpon the organs of the bodie for their knowledge and operations therefore they haue need to be lead by the hand of sensible and visible things vnto God and inuisible because as S. Paule saith in the first to the Romans the
giuen for you as at that present time For we must obserue that when our lord gaue himselfe vpon the Crosse He gaue himself as S. Paule saith Tit. 2. 12. à Redemption for all So here to distinguish from the giuing or offering himselfe vpon the Crosse and to take awaie al suspition or imagination that here he should speake of the giuing of his bodie vpon the Crosse he saith This is my bodie which is giuen for you as in an vnbloudie Sacrifice and not for all men as in the bloudie Sacrifice of the Crosse And after that our Or Sauiour commanded the offering of vnbloudie Sacrifice in his bodie Lord had offered Gifts or vnbloudie Sacrifice in his bodie to God and communicated the Apostles of the said Gifts or Sacrifice he then gaue them a command saying Doe this for a commemoration of me and instituted an vnbloudie Sacrifice cleane oblation or Sacrifice of Gifts in his bodie to be vsed in his Church and gaue the Apostles and their Successors rightly ordayned authoritie to offer an vnbloudie Sacrificie or cleane oblation or Gift in his body for commemoration of him vntill he come to Iudgment to the verifying of that which was spoken by the Prophet Malachie saying From the rising of the Sunn euen to the going down great is my name amongst the Gentils in euery place there is Sacrificing there is offered to my name a cleane oblation 4. In like manner our Sauiour Taking the Chalice he gaue thanks and gaue to the Apostles saying Our Sauiour instituted an vnbloudie Sacrifice in his bloud Drink ye all of this for this is mi◠my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for many vnto remission of sinnes Math. 26. or This is my bloud of the new Testament that is shed for many Mar. 14. or This is the Chalice the new Tectament in my bloud which is shed for you Luc. 22 as it is in ihe original greek and as Protestants and Puritans translate these texts Where first wee are to obserue that he doth not say this is my bloud which is shed to you as in a cōmunion only to eate but which is shed for you to God as an vnbloudie Sacrifice where there was no carnall but spirituall effusion of bloud 5. Secondly we must obserue that when our Sauiour shed his bloud vpon the Crosse he shed it for all the world as witnesseth the Scripture 2. Cor. 5. 14. 2. Cor. 5. 19. 1. Ioh. 4. 14. and therefore to distinguish here this his shedding of his bloud at his last Supper from that shedding of his bloud vpon the Crosse he saith This is my bloud which is shed for many or which is shed for you and doth no say This is my bloud which is shed for all Our Sauiour vpon the Crosse shed his bloud for all at his last Supper for many only to shew that here at his last Supper he did not shed his bloud for all men as he did vpon the Crosse but for many as for these only of his Church c. 6. It is to be noted that the bloud which was here shed was in a Chalice according to his words saying This is the Chalice the new Testament in my bloud that vpon the Crosse was shed out of his side Vpon the Crosse our Sauiours bloud vvas shed out of his side at his last Supper in a Chalice as witnesseth the Scripture saying One of the Soldiers with a speare opened his side presently there came forth bloud water Ioh. 19. 34. 7. The Euangelists here set down the actiōs of our Sauiour what our Sauiour did at his last Supper and what he would haue his Church to do in commemoratiō of him and not what the Iewes were to act or execute vpon him at his Passion and therefore they say IESVS tooke bread and blessed and brake and said c. and do not here speake of what the Iewes were to do at his Passion 8. It is to be noted that the Sacrifice of our Sauiour vpon the Crosse was a Sacrifice of Redemption which was to be applied vnto vs by Baptisme the Sacraments Faith Hope and Charitie c and that this Sacrificie of his last Supper is a Sacrifice of Religion commemoration and application of that as a principal meanes where by we may become partakers of the fruit and benefit of that vpon the The Sacrifice at the last supper is not a Sacrifice of Redemptiō but of commemoratiō or applicatiō of it vnto vs. Crosse and therefore our Sauiour saith This is my bloud which is shed for many vnto remission of sinnes for as many as shall worthily vse it by way of application and commemoration of the Sacrifice of the Crosse vnto them selues as our Sauiour witnesseth immediatly adding This do ye as often as you shal drink for the commemoration of me 1. Cor. 11. 25. 9. It is much to be noted that by these words This do ye as often as you shall drinke for the commemoration of me Our Sauiour did not only giue authorite vnto the Apostles and their Successors rightly ordeyned to offer vnbloudy Sacrifice in Our Sauiour commanded a Sacrifice in the Chalice his bloud but also commanded them that they should not drink of the Chalice in commemoration of him without first offering it in Sacrifice to God saying This do ye that is shed my bloud to God for you or for many as often as you shal drink for the commemoration of me absolutly forbidding them to make commemoration of him in the Chalice or to drink of it in memory of him without shedding it or offering it first in Sacrifice vnto God for many vnto the remission of sinnes 10. And the causes why our Sauiour here bindeth the Apostles and theirs Successors not to drinke of the Chalice in commemoration of him before they offered it in Sacrifice to God were first for that our Sauiour offering of him felfe in Sacrifice for vs was the chiefe part of his Passion in such sort as if our Sauiour had died and yed had not offered his death in Sacrifice for vs wee had receaued no benefitt by his Passion and therfore he forbiddeth the drinking of the Chalice in commemoration of him before it be offered in Sacrifice A sinne te cōmunicate not of things offered in Sacrifice Whervpon the sonnes of Hely are called sonnes of Beliall 1. Kings 2 because they would eate of the meate which was prepared for the commemoration of our Lord before it was offered in Sacrifice and so left out the commemoration of the chiefest part of the Passion of our Lord which was his volontarie offering of himselfe in Sacrifice for vs. Secondly in the ould Law the Iewes did not drink of these Sacrifices or commemoration of Christ to come but only eat as is manifest num 15. 5. 7. 10. num 28. 8. 14. In somuch as that there The cause vvhy our Sauoiur cōmanded a Sacrifice in the Chalice was
the communion in the body and bloud of our Lord offered in vnbloudy Sacrifice it is manifest that both S. Paule taught the Corinthians to offer vnbloudy Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord and so to communicate of the same and that our Sauiour himself instituted an vnbloudy Sacrifice and communion in his body and bloud 12. Moreouer not only S. Paule had bin at The faith at Corinth before the vvrittē vvorde of this Epistle Corinth before he writt this Epistle and taught them by practise what they were to doe in the communion and what to beleeue but also Prisilla and Aquilla Act. 18. 18. Apollo Act. 19. 1. Stephanus Fortunatus and Achaicus were at Corinth and instructed them by practise what they ought to doe in the communion and what to beleeue before this Epistle was written as appeareth 1. Cor. 16. which considered and seeing that the Corinthians euen in the infancie of their Church offered vnbloudy Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord and communicated of the same as I haue proued in the 12. chapter by the consent of many Councells and Fathers of the primitiue Church who can doubt whether S. Paule taught the Corinthians and Grecians to offer vnbloudy Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord and to communicate of the same that is not willing to be deceaued seeing that it is more hard and vncertaine for men to gather and vnderstand a thing deliuered by an Epistle only and that in this point briefe and short then both by seeing it donn and practised many yeares and by an Epistle also both together when an Epistle only may with greater facilitie be altered and changed then a Religion which is settled and established in manie citties and prouinces as wee see by experience CHAP. III. The Scriptures and all knowne Christian-mens bookes who writt of this subiect before Luther reputed hereticks to both parties only excepted teach a Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord. 1. THe Scriptures are so plaine for the institution of an vnbloudy Sacrifice or Sacrifice The Scriptures manifest for Sacrifice of Gifts in the body and bloud of our Lord that S. Augustin speaking of the old Testament in his Oration against the Iewes seth downe in the beginning of his 6. Tome saith vnto them Search the Scriptures for they beare testimonie of this cleane Sacrifice which is offered vnto the God of Israel noth of your nation only from whose handes he foretold that he would not receaue but of all nations who saie come lett vs ascend vnto the mountaine of God not in one place as it was commanded you in the earthly Hierusalem but in euery place euen vnto Hierusalem it Sacrifice offered in euery place in S. Augustines tyme. selfe And in like manner preaching vnto the Christians in his first Sermō vpon the 33. Psalme he saith Faithfull men who haue read the Ghospell do know the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord dilated ouer the whole globe of the earth Thus S. Augustine both vnto the Iewes and faithfull Christians whereby we gather fower things first that in the opiniō of S. Augustine both the old and new Testament speake plainely and manifestly enough of an vnbloudy Sacrifice or Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord which was to be vsed in the new Law Secondly that the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord was in S. Augustins time Dilated ouer the whole globe of the earth and beleeued of all faithfull men Thirdly VVhy our Aduersaries read Scriptures and find not Sacrifice for Christians that the cause why our Aduersaries doe not or will not beleeue that we ought to vse an vnbloudy Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord is not for that the Scriptures doe not sufficiently speake of it but for that they are blynded with obstinacie and obduratiō of heart with the Iewes and so though they read the Bible euery day and heare it read many times yet as our Lord said Seeing they see not and hearing they heare not neither doe they vnderstand c. for their heart is waxen grosse The Ievves deny Christian Sacrifice Matth. 13. 13. Fouerthly our Aduersaries in denying that we ought to offer Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord doe take parte with the Iewes and Gentils against the faithfull Christians of all former ages 2. Againe S. Augustine in his said Oration against the Iewes saith vnto them as we in his wordes S. Augustins speech to the Ievves applied to our Aduersaries may saie vnto our Aduersaries Least you should thinke ô Iewes because you doe not offer Sacrifice and that God will not receaue Sacrifice at your hands that Sacrifice is not to be offered vnto God which he indeed doth not stand in neede of who wanteth not any of our goods yet that he is not without Sacrifice which is not profitable vnto him but vnto you he addeth and faith from the rising of the sunne euen vnto the goeing downe my nane is made famous in all nations and in euery place there is offered a cleane Sacrifice vnto my name for great is my name in the Gentills saith the Lord omnipotent What wilt thou answere to this ô Iewe open thine eyes yet at last and see the Sacrifice of the Christians to be offered from the rising of the sunne vnto the goeing downe not in one place as it was appointed for you but in all places not vnto any God what soeuer but vnto that God who foretolde these thinges the God of Israel Thus S. Augustine against the Iewes whereby we see that the whole Catholicke Church dilated ouer the world in S. Augustins time not only offered Sacrifice to God in the body and bloud of our Lord as they doe now but also beleeued that they were taught so to doe by the Sriptures 3. And not only in these bookes S. Augustine speaketh of the Sacrifice of the Christians offered S. Augustins often repetition of the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord. vnto God in the body and bloud of Christ but also often in his other workes he calleth the Eucharist the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of Christ as in the 25. chapter of his first booke against Cresconius saying The only Sacrifice of the body it selfe and bloud of our Lord. And in 27. chapter following The Sacrifice of the body and bloud of Chist And in the 8. chapter of his 22. booke of the Cittie of God he telleth vs how one of his neighbours Hesperius by name a Tribune finding his cattle and seruants to be molested by euill Spirits came vnto his Priests in his absence and desired that some one of them would come thither and by his praiers dryue away these wicked The Sacrifice of the body of our Lord expelled vvicked Spirits Spirits One went and offered there saith S. Augustine the body of Christ praying as well as he could that the
vexation might cease and by the mercies of God it forth with ceased And in the 10. chapter of the same book he saith We Sacrifice and doe immolate Sacrifice to God only and the Sacrifice it selfe is the body of Christ In the 11. chapter of his first booke de origine animae he saith According to the Catholick faith and Ecclesiasticall rule it is by no meanes granted that the participation of the body and bloud of Christ should be offered for such as are not baptised Which he also repeateth againe in the 15. chapter of his 2. book 4. In his 1. Sermon vpon the 33. Psalme he saith The sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord This sacrifice spread ouer the vvhole earth which the faithfull who haue read the Scriptures doe know was not in the time of the old Law which sacrifice is spread ouer the whole globe of the earth And againe in his second Sermon vpon the same Psalme he saith Christ at his last Supper instituted a sacrifice of his body and bloud according to the order of Melchisedech Whervpon in his 86. Epistle he saith Christ gaue his bloud to drinke before his Passion And in the 20. chapter of his 12. booke against Faustus he saith In this Sacrament is drunck that which flowed out of the side of Christ And vpon the 56. Psalme he affirmeth that the Iewes who crucified Christ and afterwards were conuerted to beleeue in him in this Sacramēt drunck by grace the same bloud which through furie they had shed 5. And because the same body and bloud of One body and bloud in all sacrifices our Lord is offered to God in all Christian Sacrifices which was offered to God in the Sacrifice of the Crosse though after an other manner therefore S. Augustine in the 12. chapter of his 9. booke of Confessions calleth that which is offered to God in Sacrifice by Christians the Sacrifice of our Redemtion saying The Sacrifice of our Redemtion was offered for his Mother after her decease at her Funeralls And in the 13. chapter of the same book speaking of his said Mother S. Monica saith She desyred to be remembred at the Altar of God where at she vsed to assist without pretermission of This Sacrifice dispensed from the Altar any one day and from whence she knew that holy sacrifice to be dispensed whereby the hand writing was blotted out which carried our condemnation in it and whereby our Enemie had triumphed ouer vs. Thus the glorious S. Augustine and that according to the Scriptures as he further affirmeth in the 3. question of his 49. Epistle saying The sacrifice which we Christians doe now offer is not only demonstrated by the written word of the Ghospells but also by the Prophecies 6. Neither is this expression of the Sacrifice of the body and bloud our Lord found only in S. Augustine but also in the rest of the ancient Fathers who are commonly stiled Doctors of the Catholick Church as namely in S. Basil S. Chrisostome S. Ambrose S. Gregorie and S. Hierome for the Church being in peace in their times the first fower of these fiue that is to saie S. Basil S. Chrisostome S. Ambrose and S. Gregorie euery one of them sett forth books where in they expresse the forme and manner how to offer Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord with great solemnitie Fouer Doctors sett forth Missalls and how to administer the Sacramēt in the same which books are extant in print vnder the Titles of The Liturgie of S. Basil The Liturgie of S. Chrisostome The Masse of S. Ambrose and the Booke of the Sacraments of the circle of the yeare sett forth by S. Gregorie the Pope Where of the first two are printed with their works the latter are printed by Pamelius in his two Tomes of the Missalls of the Latin Fathers which Liturgies or Missalls are in substance the same with those Liturgies and Missalls which are vsed at this daie in the Catholick Church for the offering of Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord and also with the Liturgies and Missalls which were before their times as with the Liturgie of S. Peter S. Iames S. Andrew S. Marke S. Clement c. as may manifestly appeare vnto anie man who shall take the paines to vew them 7. Moreouer S. Ambrose in the 2. chapter of his 4. book of Sacraments setteth down the words which at this daie are vsed in the Catholick Church in the consecration of the Eucharist and offering Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord saying Wilt thou know how the Eucharist is consecrated by diuine wordes He are the wordes The Priest saith make this oblation apply able vnto vs reasonable and acceptable which is downe vpon the figure Bread a figure of Christs body before consecration of the body and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ. that is to saie vpon the bread not yet consecrated After it followeth Who the daie before he suffered tooke bread into his holy handes looked vp into heauen vnto thee ô holy Father Almighty eternall God giuing thankes blessed broake and broken gaue vnto his Apostles saying Take and eate of this all for this is my body which is giuen for you And in like manner he tooke the Chalice after he had supped that is the daie before he suffered looked vp into heauen vnto thee holy Father Almighty eternall God giuing thankes blessed deliuered to his Apostles saying Take ye and drinck ye all of it for this is my bloud consider euery thing he saith who the daie before he suffered he tooke bread into his holy handes therefore it is bread before it be consecrated but when Christs wordes doe approach it is the After consecration the Eucharist is the body of Christ. body of Christ Finally heare him saying take ye eate ye all of it This is my body And before the wordes of Christ it is a Chalice full of wine and water but assoone as the wordes of Christ haue done their worke there is made the bloud which redeemed the People therefore consider after how many sortes the word of Christ is powerfull to conuert all things And to conclude our Lord Iesus-Christ himselfe doth testify vnto vs that we receaue his body and bloud and ought we to doubt of his sinceritie and testimonie Thus S. Ambrose explicating the manner of the consecration of the body and bloud of our Lord in his time and the certaintie there of in the Eucharist before receauing which manner of consecration is also vsed in the Catholicke Church at this daie Againe in the 6. chapter of the same booke he sheweth that the intent of these wordes As often as you shall doe this so often you shall doe it in commemoration of me vntill I commeagaine were to command a Sacrifice in the commemoration of his Passion and for that cause he immediatly addeth to these wordes The Priest saith therefore mindfull of his glorious
Scripture which Catholickes at this day alleadge against the different opinions of their aduersaries adding also in the same Christ at his last Supper offered himselfe in Sacrifice Epistle saith Who is more the Priest of the high God then our Lord Iesus-Christ who offered Sacrifice to God the Father and offered the same which Melchisedech had offered that is bread and wine to witt his body and bloud Againe Iesus-Christ our Lord God he is the chief Priest of God the Father he offered first himselfe to God the Father and commanded that which he then did to be donne in commemoration of him Moreouer he there saith to the Aquarian Hereticks who would only vse water and no wine in the Sacrament of the Chalice The bloud of Christ wherewith Christ bloud seene in the Chalice we are redeemed and quickned cannot be seene to be in the Chalice when wine whereby the bloud of Christ is shewed is not put into the Chalice And citing the wordes of consecration as they are sett downe by S. Matthew in the 26. chapter of his Ghospell addeth Hereby we finde that the Chalice which our Lord offered was mixt and that it had bin wine which he called his bloud whereby it doth appeare It vvas first vvine and after his bloud that the bloud of Christ is not offered if there be no wine put into the Chalice neither is our Lords Sacrifice celebrated with lawfull sanctification vnlesse our oblation and Sacrifice shal be answerable to the Passion wherein our Sauiour shed bloud and water c. Iohn 15. 34. Againe As with this common wine the mind is sett at libertie the spirits freed and all sorrow Christian drinck the bloud of Christ. banished so by drincking the bloud of our Lord and the healthfull cupp we cast awaie the memorie of the old man and doe forgett our former worldly conuersation c. Againe How shall we shed our bloud for Christ who are ashamed to drinck the bloud of Christ. This and much more to this effect hath S. Cyprian in one afore said Epistle besides what he hath dispersed through his other workes 11. Alexander the first was made Bishopp of Rome in the yeare 121. and suffered a most cruell martyrdome for the faith in Rome when the faith of Christ flourished amongst the Romans as our Aduersaries confesse and he in his first Epistle vnto all Catholicks repeating the wordes of consecration addeth With such hostes God will be delighted and pleased for nothing can be greater in Sacrifices then the body and bloud of our Lord neither is there any oblation more to be desired then this for this exceedeth all oblations which is to be offered vnto God with a pure conscience and to be receaued with a cleane heart and to be worshipped of all Thus S. Alexander 12. S. Clement of whom S. Paule maketh mention Philippians 4. 3. in the 57. chapter of his 2. book of Apostolicall constitutions saith Lett the Bishopp pray in these wordes conserue ô Lord thy People safe and blesse thine inheritance c. Afterwards lett Sacrifice be made all the People expecting and praying insilence and Sacrifice being donn lett euery order a part receaue the body of our Lord and the pretious bloud approaching in order with modestie and reuerence as vnto the body of the king before they receaued it Thus these most ancient Fathers of the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord instituted by our Sauiour and continued in the Church of God as they prooue by the same Authorities of Scriptures which the Catholicks alleadg at this day And all Christian mens books and workes who haue written of this subiect are so conformable to the doctrine of those before cited Fathers in this point of the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord that our Aduersaries knowne and reputed hereticks to both parties only excepted are not able to assigne or bring forth any book written before the rebellion of Luther which denieth the offering of Sacrifice to God in the body and bloud of his only Sonne amongst Christians And this is sufficient to proue that the Scriptures and all knowne Christian mens bookes who writt of this subiect before Luther knowne and reputed hereticks or enormish erroneous men to both parties only excepted teach a Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord. CHAP. IV. Remission of sinnes and other blessings are and may be obtained by the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord. 1. THe Sacrifice of our Redemption which The Sacrifice of the Crosse like a Pardon at the end of a Parliament our Lord offered for vs vpon the Crosse is like vnto a generall Pardon at the end of a Parliament which is in it selfe sufficient to pardon all his Majesties subiects for the offences there in specified were they tenntymes more then they are yet actually it pardoneth not any one of them but those who vse the meanes which his Majesties lawes require in that case for the applying his gratious generall pardon vnto themselues which is to sue out a writt of pardon or the like So the Passion of our Lord and his Redemption vpon the Crosse is in it selfe sufficient to redeeme tenn thousand worlds if there were or could be so many from euerlasting paines and from the punishment imposed vpon man for originall and actuall sinne as wittnesseth S. Iohn saying Christ is the propitiation of our sinnes and not for ours only but also for the whole world yet actually according to the common concurse of God it redeemeth not any one man from euerlasting torments but those who vse the meanes to applye the Passion of our Lord and his Redemption vpon the Crosse to themselues expressed in the Law of God as withnesseth S. Paule saying Christ was made to all that obey him cause of eternall saluation Heb. 5. 9. 2. And amongst the many meanes which Almightie God hath left vnto mankind to apply the Sacrifice of our Redemptiō and merits of Christs Passion vnto vs this is one the offering of a certaine and particular externall visible Sacrifice vnto God representing the inward Sacrifice of our hearts and the Passion of his Sonne thereby to acknowledge him for our God and supreame Soueraigne Lord and apply the meritt of the said Passion vnto ourselues for the remission of our sinnes as is manifest by the practise of the Church of God euen from the beginning or first plantation there of vpon earth for Abel Noe Abraham Isaack Iacob Iob and the Children of Israel offered particuler visible Sacrifice to God in commemoration of the Passion of our Lord to come for the remission of sinnes by his Passion who was presenly promised vpon the fall of Adam Gen. 3. 5. and in vertue Slaine from the beginning of the world Apoc. 13. 12. Whervpon S. Iohn saith He hath redeemed vs to God in his bloud out of euery tribe and tongue and people and nation Apoc. 5. 9. And there is no saluation in
any other Act. 4. 14. 3. In proofe here of By faith in Christ to come Abel offered a greater host to God then Cain by which Abel by Sacrifice obtained testimony of Iustice he obtayned testimony that he was just Heb. 11. Noe built an Alter to our Lord offered holocaustes vpon the Alter And our Lord smelled a sweete sauour and said I will no more curse the earth for men and God blessed Noe his Sonnes Gen. 8. 9. Iob when the daies Noe by Sacrifice obtained blessing of feasting which his Children made were past arising vp early offered holocausts for euery one of them For he said least my Sonnes haue sinned Iob. 1. Our Iob offered Sacrifice for the remission of sinnes Lord said to Eliphaz the Themanite my furie is wrath against thee and against thy two friends take therefor seauen oxen and seauen Rams and goe to my seruant Iob and offer holocaustes for your selues and my seruant Iob shall pray for yow c. that the folly be not imputed Eliphaz by Sacrifice and prayer obtained remission of sinnes vnto you Iob 42. In the written Law God often commanded the Priests and People to offer Sacrifice for the remission of their sinnes saying If the multitude of Israel be ignorant and through ignorance doe that which is against the commandements of our Lod c. they shall offer for their sinnes a Calfe c. and the Priest praying for them our Lord wil be propitious vnto them Leuit. 4. 13. If a Prince sinne through ignorance c. he shall offer an host to our Lord a Buck of the goates without spot c. and the Priest shall praye for him and for his sinne and it shal be forgiuen him And if a Soule of the People of the Land shall sinne through ignorance doing any of these things that by the Law of our Lord are forbidden and offending c. he shall offer a shee goate without spot c. The Priest shall praye for him and it shal be forgiuen him Leuit. 4. 27. and the like is said of many other Sacrifices offered for sinne in the 4. 5. and 6. chapters of Leuiticus which manner of offering Sacrifice for the remission of their sinnes continued in the Church of God amonst the People of Israel vntill this last Supper of our Lord. 4. At the last Supper of our Lord our Sauiour did not take away out of his Church Priesthood and Sacrifices for the remission of sinnes in such Our Sauiour constituted a Sacrifice for the remission of sinne sort as that he would haue no more exteriour visible Sacrifice offered vnto God for the remission of sinnes This is contrarie to the Law and the Prophets wcich he came to fulfill and not to breake Math. 5. but translated the Priesthood from the order of Aron vnto the order of Melchisedech Heb. 7 and chāged the Sacrifice of brute beasts which were offered in commemoratiō of him for the remissiō of sinnes in the old Law into the Sacrifice of his body and bloud vnder the species of bread and wine for the remissiō of sinnes in the new Law to the fullfilling of the Law and the Prophets concerning Priesthoop Sacrifices and the remission of sinnes by Sacrifice offered in commemoration of him when taking bread he blessed brake and gaue it to his Disciples and said This is my body which is broken for you Cor. 11. for the remission of sinnes as wittnesseth Origen in his 35. Tract vpon S. Mathew S. Chrysostome vpon the 26. of S. Mathew and S. Damascene in the 14. chapter of his 3. book Orthodoxae fidei who all citing this text in the places aforesaid and there vnto as the true sense and meaning thereof and words of our Lord For the remission of sinnes which are not put into the Bible at the consecration of the bread because they are annexed vnto the consecration of the Chalice Math. 26. yet the Liturgie or publick Church-seruice book sett forth by S. Iames the Apostle hath these wordes of our Lord thus This is my body which is broken and giuen for you for the remission of sinnes S. Marke in his Liturgie readeth This is my body which is brokē for you and distributed in the remission of sinnes S. Basil S. Chrysostome and the Aethiopians in there Liturgies read This is my body which is broken for you in the remission of sinnes 5. in like manner our Sauiour taking the Chalice He gaue thankes and gaue to the Apostles saying The Chalice offered for the remission of sinnes drincke ye all of this for this is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for many vnto remissiō of sinnes Math. 16. and then offered Sacrifice in his body and bloud vnder the species of bread and wine for the remission of the sinnes of many according to his words and when he had donn he established the remission of sinnes by the giuing of his body and shedding of his bloud vnto God vnder the species of bread and wine saying This doe for a commemoration of me Luk. 22. And This doe ye as often you shall drinck for the commemoraton of me 1. Cor. 11. And so fullfilled the Law and the Prophets concerning Sacrifice for the remission of sinnes by establishing in his Church that one pure and cleane oblatiō or host of his body and bloud vnder the species of bread and wine for the remission of sinnes in place of the many and diuerse Sacrifices which were vsed in the Law of nature and written Law of Moyses 6. And that this change of Sacrifice for the remission of sinnes might be the better known Propitiatorie Sacrifice not taken avvay but changed our Lord did not speake only once of it but diuerse tymes and said This is my body which is broken for you for the remission of sinns as wittnes the Liturgies before cited and S. Damascene in the 14. chapter of his 3. booke Orthodoxae fidei and also said This is my body vhich shal be broken or deliuered for you for the remission of sinnes as wittnes Origen and S. Chrysostome in the places before cited And this diuersitie of words our Lord vsed Propitiatorie Sacrifice commanded to expresse that he both then broke his body to God for the remission of sinnes and also commanded that it and no other body should be broken to God for vs for the remission of sinnes in his Church and so made voyde all the Sacrifices of the old Law and established this of the new and therefore also he said of the Chalice This is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes and This is my bloud of the new Testament which shal be shed for many vnto the remission of sinnes as wittnes the greeke and latin Bibles for the greeke Bibles read these words in the present tense and the latines in the future tense to signify vnto vs that our Lord then at his last Supper
of hostes in the old Law and as there is one sacrifice for all the victimes of the old Law so now there is one Kingdome of all nations Whereby we see that the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord may be offered to God for the obteyning of all or any of those blessings or benefits which were assigned vnto all or any of the Sacrifices of the old Law or Law of nature because they are all fulfilled in this one and healthfull Sacrifice to the fulfilling of the Law and Prophets concerning Sacrifice 16. And by this Sacrifice appeareth the beauty The beautie of the Church in offering Sacrifice for her necessities and excellency of the Catholick Church for that dispersed throughout the world not only she daily offereth her selfe to God with the body and bloud of our Lord and commemoration of his Passion but also humbly preferreth all her petitions and prayers desiring that by the merits of Sacrifice of her deare Lord vpon the Crosse and The manner hovv Sacrifice obtaineth remission of sinnes the Gift of his body and bloud there present God would bestow vpon her Children grace and the Gift of penance for ther sinnes or the like And if they put no impediment on their part God bestoweth vpon them grace to doe penance for their sinnes and therefore saith This is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for many vnto remission of sinnes Math. 26. euen â—oâ— as many as put no impediment or stopp to the grace and gift of penance which should be obtained by it or to the other blessings which by meanes of the said Sacrifice they shall desire at the hands of God supposed they be expedient for the saluation of their soules wherein there should be no difficultie amongst Christian men considering that they were promised by the Sacrifices of the ould Law when grace and fauour did not so much abound Sacrifice and prayer of more force then only prayer and that our Lord saith of prayer only Aske and it shall be giuen you for euery one that asketh receaueth Math. 7. How much more then shall this be verifyed when feruent praier is ioyned with the gift of the body and bloud of our Lord and the commemoration of his Passion by which God Hath reconciled all things vnto himselfe Coloss 1. 20. CHAP. V. How our Sauiour commanded that we should giue to God for vs the same body and bloud which he gaue and shed and how all the hosts offered in Sacrifice or giuen in the communion are one and the same 1. WHen our Sauiour instituted the communion and gaue commandement Our Sauiour said not preach this or beleeue this but doe this to the Apostles to make a commemoration of him he said not as puritans would haue it Preach this or beleeue this or apprehend me in heauen by faith For it is supposed that euery one before he come either to consecrat or receaue the communion beleeueth all the Articles of his faith but taking bread he gaue thanks and brake and gaue to them saying This is my body which is giuen for you do this in commemoration of me and so commanded them to consecrat his body and to giue his body to God for vs in commemoration of him and not another body or thing Wherevpon it cometh to pass that the body which our Sauiour gaue then to God for vs and the body which euer since hath been giuen to God for vs or shall be giuen for vs or receaued in the Catholick communion vnto the end of the world is all one body hosts or things though giuen to God for vs and receaued at diuers tymes and in diuers places by a multitude of people Insomuch as all the Christian Catholick Priests who offer Sacrifice and all the Christian Catholick communicants who either haue or shall receaue or offer Sacrifice in the Church of God for as much as concerneth the hosts or thing offered in Sacrifice or receaued do offer and receaue all one host all one body euen the same which our Sauiour then gaue to the Apostles and the same which now sitteth at the right hand of God the Father in heauen though not after the same manner but vnder the species of bread and wine 2. For the better vnderstanding whereof it is necessary to obserue that these words Sacrifice Oblation Gifts Communion c. are somtymes taken in the Scriptures and Fathers for the thing sacrificed offered giuen or communicated and somtymes for the actions in the Sacrifice Oblations Gifts or Communion so when we saye that the Sacrifice Oblation Gift or Communion of all Christian The thing sacrificed is one euery vvhere though the actions be diuers Catholicks is all one we intend the thing sacrificed offered or giuen and not the actions for the actions whereby the Sacrifice is consecrated offered or giuen are diuers and many euen as many as there are men who consecrate or receaue and so the Sacrifices Oblations Hosts and Communions may be saied to be many though the substantiall thing consecrated offered and giuen in the communion be one and the same body according to these wordes of our Sauiour saying Doe this the same which he then did who consecrated his true and reall body and gaue it to God for vs and vnto euery one of the Apostles in the communion if we will beleeue the expresse Text it self 3. And this S. Paule excellently explicateth out of the 39. Psal saying Christ comming into the world he saith host and oblation thou wouldst not but abody thou hast fitted to me Holocaust for sinn did not please thee then said I behold I come In the head of the One body in place of all the Sacrifices of the ould Lavv. book it is written of mee That I may do thy will ô God saying before because hosts and oblations and holocausts and for sinn thou wouldst not neither did they please thee which are offered according to the Law of Moyses then said I Behould I come that I may do thy will ô God He taketh away the first that he may establish that which followeth Thus S. Paule Heb. 10. 5. where the Apostle doth excellently shew that when the hosts oblations holocausts and sinne offerings which were vsed in the ould Law should be abrogated and taken away out of the Church as they were at our Sauiours last Supper after that he had eaten the Paschall Lamb then presently a The Sacrifices of the old Lavv ended presently the Sacrifice of the nevv begun body should succeed in all their places of such excellency and perfections that it should be worthy and fitt to be offered to God which we find true by experience for assoone as our Sauiour had ended the Paschall Lamb and in it all the Sacrifices of the ould Law he presently took bread and brake and gaue thanks and said Take ye and eat this is my body which is giuen for you to God in place of all the
Our Sauiour spoke often of this Sacrament often of this Sacrifice and Sacrament at his last Supper and Sacrament and said vpon diuerse occasions This is my body This is my body which is giuen for you This is my body which is broken for you This Chalice is the new Testament in my bloud drinke ye all of this for this is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes This is my body which shal be deliuered for you Drinke ye all of this for this is my bloud of the new Testament which shal be shed for many vnto remission of sinnes This is the Chalice the new Testament in my bloud which shal be shed for you as not only doe wittnes the greek and latin Bibles Math. 26. Mar. 14. Luk. 22. 1. Cor. 11. and both the greek and latin Fathers in their seuerall workes but also the practise of both the greek and latin Church in their seuerall Liturgies or books of the consecration and administration of this Sacrament and no where either in the greek or latin Bibles or in the greek or latin Fathers or in the ancient Liturgies or Signe neuer read amōgst the vvords of the institution of the Sacrament books of the consecration and administration of this Sacrament are the wordes of the institution of this Sacrament read This is only a signe of my body or This doth only signifie my body as our Aduersaries would haue them to saie or signifie but euery where both in the greek and latin Bibles and in the greek and latin Fathers and ancient books of consecration and administration of this Sacrament where the wordes of the institution of this Sacrament are read or alleadged they are read and alleadged This is my body This is my bloud c. 2. And though the Grecians alwayes in their The greek Bibles reade the vvordes of the institution in the present tense Bibles and for the most part in theire books of the consecration of this Sacrament and other books read the words of the institution of this Sacrament in the present tense as This is my body which is giuen for you or which is broken for you and This is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for many and the latines for the most part both in their Bibles books of consecration and other books read them in the future tense as This is my body which shal be deliuered for you and my bloud which shal be shed for you yet neither of them find fault with the other or reprehend the diuersitie in reading because our Lord at the institution of this Sacrament spoke often of his body and bloud and not only said that it was his body and bloud which he then gaue broke and shed to God for vs and deliuered in the communion vnto the Apostles but also said that the same his body and Our Sauiour instituted a Sacrifice in his body to the fulfilling of the Lavv and Prophets bloud should be deliuered and shed to God for vs as a cleane oblation or vnbloudy Sacrifice in his Church vntill he come to the fullfilling of the Law and the Prophets 3. In the ould Law there were cleane or vnbloudy Sacrifices Leuit. 2. 1. 4. and 5. Leuit. 5. 11. and these things were donn in figure of vs 1. Cor. 10. 6. For the Law brought nothing to perfection but an introduction to a better hope Heb. 7. 19. And the Prophets speake of Priests Leuites and vnbloudy Sacrifice or a cleane oblation to be established in the new Law as Isaie 61. 6. Isaie 66. 21. Ieremie 33. 18. Psal 109. 4. Daniel 9. 27. Malachie 1. 11. And therefore our Lord said of his body and bloud in the institution of this Sacrament This is my body and bloud which is giuen and is shed for you now and shal be giuen and shed for you in the commemoratiō of me To fullfill the Law and the Prophets concerning Priests Leuites and vnbloudy Sacrifice 4. The Grecians in their Bibles reading alwayes these words in the institution of this Sacrament in the present tense doe demonstrate that our Our Sauiour at the institution of the Sacrament did not speake of his boby as vpon the Crosse Lord at the institution of this Sacrament did not speake of the giuing or breaking of his body or shedding of his bloud vpon the Crosse but of his then breaking of his body and shedding of his bloud at the institution of the communion to the verifying of his words spoken in the present tense and the sayings of the ancient Fathers who affirme that he was then at his last Supper both the Priest and victime host or gift and both the banquet and the guest as of S. Cyprian in his 63. Epistle Origen in his 35. Tract vpon S. Matthew S. Gregorie Nissen in his Oration of the Resurrection S. Ambrose in his first preparation to Masse S. Chrisostome in his 28. Homilie vpon the 1. to the Corinthians S. Hierome in his 2. question of his 150. Epistle vnto Hedibia and in his Commentaries vpon the 80. Psalme and vpon the 11. chapter of Osee S. Augustine in the 20. chapter of his 10. book of the cittie of God and in his 2. Sermon vpon the 33. Psalme saying Christ carried himself after a certaine manner when he said This is my body because he carried himself vnder the species of bread Neither was was his body broken vpon the Crosse as wittnes both Sriptures and Fathers Iohn 19. 39. Exod 12. 46. S. Chrisostome vpon the 10. chapter of the 1. to the Corinthians and Theophilact and Oecumenus in the same place neither will our Aduersaries be able to finde these words is broken put for shal be crucified in the whole Bible for though the Prophet Isaie saie He was brused for our iniquities or as the Septuagint read He was made infirme or weake for our iniquities yet no where doe they saie He was broken vpon the Crosse or put these words is broken for shal be crucified as both one because the Scriptures saie that he was not broken vpon the Crosse and cannot be contrary vnto themselues Neither was the tyme of our Lords Passion then begun as our Aduersaries also confesse and therefore our Lord could not then saye and saye truly This is my body which is broken for you intending that it was broken for them vpon the Crosse or in his Passion 5. Neither is it any way probable that our Lord who was truth itselfe and descended down Not probable that our Lord vvould vse equiuocation in his last vvill and testament from heauē to teach men the way of truth should in the making of his Testament instituting of a Sacramēt and administrating of the communion and going to his Passion not only equiuocate and put the present tense so often for the future and vse analogie of tymes in a thing which did concerne all mens saluations contrary to the common custome
not vpon the Crosse as This is my body which is broken for you now and This is my body which shal be deliuered for you to God in the commemoration of me Wherevpon S. Chrysostome in his 24. Homily vpon the 1. to the Corinthians saith to the communicants in the holy communion Thou art not nourrished of one body and he of an other but we are all nourrished of the same body one and the same substantiall body of our Lord being in all the Christian Communions vnder the species of bread by the will and power of our Lord. 11. Somme also of the greek Fathers alledge Sōme greeck Fathers read the vvords of institution in both tenses these words of the institution of this Sacrament in the future tense as This is my body which shal be deliuered for you and yet also vnderstand thereby that one and the same substantiall body of our Lord should be giuen to God for vs in all Christian Sacrifices and be administrated in the communion to all the communicants as S. Irenaeus who liued about the yeare 180. in the 23. chapter of his 4. book of heresies S. Dionisius Alexandrinus who liued about the yeare 250. in his Answer vnto the obiections of Paulus Samosatenus an heretike sett downe in the 3. Tome of Bibliotheca Patrum Theodoret vpon the 1. to the Corinthians and 11. chapter S. Chrysostome in his 83. Homily vpon S. Mathew c. 12. The latin Bibles more manifestly to demonstrate vnto all men that our Lord at his last Supper spoke diuers tymes of his body and bloud and that the same his substantiall body and bloud may be in diuers places and vnder diuers dimensions The Latins read the vvords of institution in both senses at one and the same tyme read those words in the institution of this Sacrament in both tenses and say of the body This is my body which is giuen for you 10. Luk 22. And also This is my body which shal be deliuered for you This doe ye for the commemoration of me 1. Cor. 11. playnely and manifestly to shew that one and the same substantiall body of our Lord both was then giuen to God for vs and shall at all tymes be giuen to God for vs when wee make commemoration of our Lord. 13. So likewise the Greeks in their Bibles Noe contradiction betvveen the greek and latin Bibles in the vvords of the institution of the Sacrament read alwayes these words in the institution of the Chalice in the present tense and the Latins without contradicting or gaine saying what the greeks read doe alwayes read them in their Bibles in the future tense Math. 26. Mark 14. Luk. 22. manifestly to declare vnto all Christians that the same substantiall bloud of our Lord which was shed to God for vs in the institution of the commemoration of our Lord the same substantiall bloud shall also be shed to God for vs in all the commemorations which we shall rightly make of him because God speaking of one and the same substantiall bloud said so 14. When our Lord said This is my body which is broken for you And This is the Chalice the new Testament in my bloud which is shed for you he spoke of the institution of his commemoration and when he said This is my body which shal be deliuered for you and This is the Chalice the new Testament in my bloud which shal be shed for you he spoke of the commemoration which the Apostles and their successors should make of him in his Church and so gaue a command not only that the Apostles and their successors should break and shed the same his true reall and substantiall body and bloud to God for vs in the commemorations By the Lavv of God nothing is to be offred in Sacrifice to God or receaued in the communion but his body and bloud which they were to make of him but also that they should not break or shed any other body or bloud but his in the commemorations which they were to make of him and so made a Law that only his body and bloud vnder the species of bread and wyne should be offred to God in Sacrifice and receaued in the communion of Christians and nothing else and abrogated the Priesthood and Sacrifices of the ould Law and established a Priesthood and Sacrifice in his body and bloud vnder the species of bread and wine according to the order of Melchisedech in his Church to the fulfilling of the Law and Prophets Wherevpon the Apostles in their tyme decreed in their 3. Canon saying If any Bishopp or Priest contrary to the ordinance of our Lord should offer any thing vpon an Altar as hony milke or syder insteed of wine or any compounded thing or any kind of birds or beasts or beans or pease transgressing our Lords constitution lett him be degraded 15. The ould Law as S. Paule saith brought nothing to perfection But an introduction to a better hope Heb. 7. 19. to be performed in the new where Iesus is made a suerty to a better Testament Heb. 7. 22. Wherevpon our Sauiour coming to performe this hope and better Testament changed all the Sacrifices of the ould Law which were Christ chāged the Sacrifice of the ould Lavv. in sheepe Bullockes Birds c. into the Sacrifice of his owne body and bloud and therefore said at the institution of the Eucharist This is my body which is giuen for you and also This is my body which shal be deliuered for you most plainely and manifestly to expresse the change of all the Sacrifices of the ould Law into the only Sacrifice of his body and bloud and declare his prohibition to offer any thing in Sacrifice vnto God but his body and bloud and therefore said This is my body which shal be deliuered for you This is my bloud which shal be shed for you to prohibit the offering of any thing in Sacrifice to God but his body and bloud and the same body and bloud which he then offred or gaue to God Wherevpon S. Augustine in the 20. chapter of his 17. book of the cittie of God saith The Sacrifice of Christs body and bloud succeeded in place of all those Sacrifices of the ould Law Againe in the same chapter For all those Sacrifices and oblations of the ould Law Christ body is offred and administrated in the communion to the communicants And in his 2. Sermon vpon the 33. Psalme he saith In the ould Law was the Sacrifice according to the order of Aron but afterwards Christ instituted a Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech of his body and bloud And the like hath S. Cyprian in his 63. Epistle to Cicilianus S. Ambrose in the 4. chapter of his 5. book of Sacraments S. Hierome in the 2. chapter of his 17. Epistle and in his 126. Epistle S. Ephanius in his 55. heresie Theodoret vpon the 109. Psalme S. Leo in his 8. Sermon vpon the Passion And S.
these Sacrifices are to be perfectly fulfilled may not be offered to God for the obtaining of all or any one of these or like benifits especially seing that it hath bin the practise of the Catholicke Church in all ages as appeareth by all the Liturgies or publicke Church seruice books of ancient tymes where in the manner of offering the body and bloud of our Lord to God vnder the species of bread and wine is sett down not only for the remission of sinnes but also for the obtaining those other particuler blessings comforts and consolations as is to be seene in the said books at large 12. S. Augustine so constantly beleeued this S. Augustine of the remission of sinne by Sacrifice doctrine that in his 57. question vpon Leuiticus he saith By these Sacrifices of the old Law this only Sacrifice the new was signifyed wherein is true remission of sinnes from taking the bloud of which Sacrament in nourrishment there is no restraint but rather an exhortation vnto all to drinck it And speaking of the practise and vse of this meanes for the remission of sinnes in the 12. chapter of the 9. book of his confessions saith That the Sacrifice of our redemption was offered for his Mother for the remission of her sinnes after her death and yealding the reason why the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord was offered for her in the next chapter addeth All though shee was so quickened and renewed in Christ whilst she remained yet amonst vs that thy name was praysed both in her beleefe and lyfe yet I dare not affirme that after thou hadest regenerated her by her Baptisme there issued no word out of her mouth against thy commandement And in the 25. chapter of his 10. book of the cittie of God he saith that at the tyme of the vniuersall iudgment it wil be necessary that some be purged by the fyer of the iudgmeÌ„t because then Noe man can offer Sacrifice for his sinnes shewing that the offering of Sacrifice in the body and bloud of our Lord for the remission of sinnes shall not cease vntill the end of the world and then adding saith For all who offer Sacrifice for their sinnes are commonly in the sinne for the remission whereof they doe offer Sacrifice and when they haue offered and it shal be acceptable to God then their sinnes are forgiuen 13. S. Cyprian liued about the yeare 240. yet S. Cyprian and the vvhole Catholick Church of the remission of sinne by Sacrifice speaking of the practise of the Catholick Church of his tyme in his 66. Epistle saith The Bishopps which were before vs haue religioussy and prudently decreed that none of the brethren departing out of this lyfe should name for his Executour or Ouerseer a Clergy man and if any did there should be no offering for him nor Sacrifice celebrated for his ease or rest In the yeare of our Lord 121. S. Alexander the first was made Bishopp of Rome yet he in the 2. chapter of his first Epistle vnto all Catholicks repeating the words of the institution of this Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord for the remission of sinnes presently addeth saying Crimes and sinnes are blotted out by offering these Sacrifices to God And to conclude the remission of sinnes by the offering of the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord was so generally beleeued to be a matter of faith that in the most flourishing tyme of the Church Aâ—â—ius was condemned of heresie for denying amongst other things the offering of Sacrifice for the dead As wittnesseth Epiphanius in his recapitulation of all heresies S. Augustine in the 53. heresie of his book of heresies and S. Damascene in his book of 100. heresies And if it were the faith of the Catholick Church to beleeue that we might offer the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord for the remission of the paines and punishment due vnto some sinnes after death no man can with reason deny but that also it was the faith of the same Church to offer the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord for the remission of the sinnes of the liuing 14. And it was not only the custome of the Catholick Church to offer the Sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord for the remission of Sacrifice offered for other blessings sinnes but also for obteyning of other benefits Tertullian in his book to Scapula saith that in his tyme They offered Sacrifice for the health of the Emperor as we doe many tymes for our Soueraigne Lord king Charles his Queene and Children S. Augustine in the 8. chapter of 22. book of the cittie of God relateth how one of his Priests offered the body of our Lord in a hous that was possessed with euill Spirits and the wicked Spirits ceased to trouble the hous any more 15. S. Chrysostome vpon the 95. Psalme setting downe the practise of the Catholick Church in S. Chrysostome of the custome of the Church in offering Sacrifice offering Sacrifice saith In euery place are Altars and Doctrine This God foretould by the Prophets for expressing the Ecclesiasticall sinceritie and manifesting the ingratitude of the Iewes he saith vnto them I haue no will in you saith the Lord omnipotent neither will I receaue hostes from your hands for from the rysiing of the sunne vnto the goeing downe my name is glorified amongst the Gentills and in euery place Sacrifice is offered to my name and a pure Sacrifice See how fully and plainely he hath interpreted the mysticall table which is the vnbloudy Sacrifice and calleth pure incense the holy prayers which are offered with the Sacrifice for this incense doth recreate God not that which is taken from the rootes of the earth but that which is breathed from a pure heart Lett my prayer therefore be deliuered as incense in they sight dost thou see how it is graunted to this Angelicall Sacrifice to shyne most brightly in euery place dost thou not see how neither the Altar nor the Canticle is comprehended within any limits In euery place incense is offered to my name Therefore most certainly the principall mysticall table and the heauenly and the most venerable host is the pure Sacrifice There is also amongst vs diuers kinds of Sacrifices for the Law of the ould Testament had diuers hosts some for sinne others which were called holocaustes others Sacrifice of praise others of health others for the cleansing of Leapers briefely there were others and many and diuers for those who were censured to innumerable expiations Great was the number of the Sacrifices of the ould Law and aboue measure all which the new grace entring vpon doth comprehend in one Sacrifice by appointing one and a true host thus S. Chrysostome With S. Chrysostome agreeth S. Leo in his 8. Sermon vpon the Passion saying Now ô Lord the carnall Sacrifices ceasing the one oblation of thy body and bloud doth fulfill the diuersity