for that our sauiour Christ did eate the sacrament doth appeare by these his words after supper Verely I say vnto you Matth. â—6 I will not henceforth drinke anie more of the fruit of the vine c. And as our Sauiour vouchsafed to be baptized that he might sanctifie Baptisme vnto vs euen so he did receiue this sacrament also to sanctifie it vnto vs and thereby to assure vs the more of our communion fellowship with him Chrisost in Mat. Homil. 83. de Consecr dist 2. cap. nec Moses Et glos in cap. in Christo This both Chrisostom doth flatly affirm and the papists themselues do not deny but plainly confesse in these rude rimes without reason Rex sedet in Coena turba cinctus dnodena Se tenet in manibus se cibat ipse cibo i. The king sitting at his supper with his xii Apostles helde himselfe in his hands and fedde himselfe with the meat of himselfe Now whether this be not an absurditie that our sauiour Christ sitting with his disciples did with his natural body eate his naturall body I will commit it to the conscience and iudgement of the godly to consider And whether it must not hereof follow that he had too bodies one an Actiue that did eate and another a passiue that was eaten An other absurditie hereof ensueth that whereas the papists teach the Christs body is in the sacrament being impassible mortall and glorified contradictories must néeds be affirmed at one instaÌ„t vpon Christs bodie for his body wherein he sate at the table with his disciples was visible but the body in the sacrament inuisible that bodie was passible this impassible that subiect to death which shortly after died vpon the crosse this not subiect to death Now it can no more be that Christs body at one instant should be visible and inuisible passible and impassible subiect to death and not subiect to death then it can be a bodie and no body And therefore this is a foule absurditie Moreouer for Christs body to be at one instant in heauen and earth and infinite places of the earth is as I haue shewed and proued before an absurdity And that Christs bodie should bée in the Sacrament without any accidences of a body as form figure leÌ„gth breadth thicknesse is as I touched before an absurditie This doctrine bringeth an other absurdity which they maintain that wicked men do eat the very body of Christ Whereas Christ himselfe saith Iohn â— 54 whosoeuer eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood 56. hath eternall life and I will raise him vp at the last day And againe he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood 57. dwelleth in me and I in him hée that eateth me shal liue by me But the wicked haue not eternall life neither do they liue by Christ being deade in their sinnes Therefore the wicked do not eat Christs flesh nor drink his blood Augustine saith August in Ioh. tract 26. Huius rei sacramentum id est vnitatis c. The sacrament of this thing that is of the vnitie of Christs bodie and blood is prepared in the Lords table and receiued of the Lords table in some places euery day in some at certaine times of some men to life of some to destruction But the thing it selfe wherof it is a sacrament is destruction to none but life to euery one that is partaker of it Again the same Augustine saith August lib. 21. de imitat Dei cap. 25. Non dicendum eum manducare corpus Christi qui in corpore non est Christi i. we must not say that he doth eate the body of Christ who is not in the body of Christ And againe in the same place Idem ibid. Nec isti ergo dicendi sunt manducare corpus Christi quoniam nec in membris computandi sunt Christi c. Therefore they are not to be said to eat the bodie of Christ because they are not to be counted among the members of Christ for not to speake of other things they cannot at one time be the members of Christ and the members of a harlot Origene saith Est verus cibus i. Orig. in Matth. 15. that is the true meate which no wicked man can eate for if a wicked man could eat the body of Christ it would not be writen He that eateth this bread shall liue for euer These places I do alledge to confute not onely this absurd assertion but also that grosse doctrine of transubstantiation for if the bread be so transubstantiated into Christs body then the wicked do eate Christs body if the wicked do not eat Christs body as by the proofes before alledged doth plainely appeare then is there no such transubstantiation nor carnall presence as they vainely imagine and falsely affirme for to be But heere also they want not a shift which is that the wicked doe eate Christs flesh and drink his blood but not worthily But I would haue them to proue that a man may eate Christs bodie vnworthely In déede I confesse that the wicked may vnworthely eat of this bread drink of this cuppe of the Lords 1. Cor. 11.27 and be guilty of the bodie and blood of Christ as S. Paul saith because that through infidelitie they do reiect Iesus Christ offred therby But that the wicked and reprobate be either worthely or vnworthely partakers of Iesus Christ that I do deny Yet to proue this shamelesse assertion see how they be not ashamed wilfully to corrupt the holy Scriptures Titul 21. Arti. 1. de sumpt Euch. Bunderius a lying and false Frier is not abashed thus to alledge S. Paules place which euen now I brought forth Multi enim indigne accipiunt de quibus ait Apostolus Qui manducat carnem bibit calicem domini indigne iuditium sibi manducat bibit i. For many do vnworthely receiue of whom the Apostle speaketh He that eateth the flesh and drinketh the cuppe of the Lord vnworthely eateth drinketh his owne damnation Heere this deceitfull Frier for panem the bread putteth carnem the flesh that whereas the Apostle saith he that eateth this bread and drinketh this cup c. He maketh him to say he that eateth the flesh and drinketh the cuppe of the Lord vnworthely wherein you sée how he altereth S. Pauls words and corrupteth the place But no maruell for such shamelesse assertions and corrupt doctrin cannot be defended without shame lesse corrupting of the holy Scriptures But they will say the sense and meaning is all one for he that eateth that bread eateth Christs body But that is the question and therefore they vse a deceitfull Argument called petitio principii taking that for graunted which is in question and is denied for the bread is one thing Christs bodie an other And although we are not to seperate Christ from the sacrament yet we ought not to confound them but to distinguish betwéene them for euen as the godly
you would daily more and more increase go forward in the loue of the preaching of Gods word and to imitate that noble example of that noble man of AEthiopia Act. 8.22 who both read that in his charet trauailing by the way the Prophet Isaias and also heard Philip expound the same Euen so that your Honors may daily more more grow in the true knowledge feare and obedience of God Wherein true Nobilitie doth chiefely consist not onely daily and reuerently reade the word of God your selues but also diligently heare faithfull Philips that is godly and learned ministers truely expound and preach the same Which is most needfull for you For as that noble maÌ„ profited by reading but was conuerted vnto Christ by Philips preaching Rom. 10.14 so it is chiefly the preaching of the Gospel which winneth vs vnto Christ planteth faith worketh repentance in vs and directeth stirreth vs vp to walke warely vprightly before the Lord our god For as spice when it is brused is of more force to season meat when it is chewed is more meete to norish vs Euen so the word of god when it is by exposition as it were brused chewed applyed vnto vs is of more power to season the corrupt humors that be in vs effectually to feed vs that we may liue in holines righteousnesse vnto God for want coÌ„tempt of the preaching of Christs gospel it is lameÌ„table to see how many fearfully fal away from the grace of god Therefore that your Honors may not only constantly coÌ„tinue but also daily increase in the true worship and feare of God loue earnestly the preaching of gods word let it be dearer vnto you than thousands of gold and syluer sweeter than hony the hony comb hunger after it as your daily food Matth. 13 45. esteeme it for that pretious pearle which ought to be more dear vnto you thaÌ„ al these earthly and transitorie things of the world for all flesh is grasse Isai 40. and al the glorie thereof is as the flower of the fielde which soone fadeth and falleth away but the word of our God abideth for euer and shall make vs stand florish for euer in gods kingdome if faithfully in our heartes we beleeue it and obediently in our liues and conuersation follow it Thus assuring my self that your Honors will take in good part this my bolde aduenture in presenting this small mite and poore gift vnto you I will forbeare from further troubling you beseeching God the father of mercie so to worke by his holy spirit in you that you may be filled with the knowledge of his wil in al wisedome Colos 1.9 and spirituall vnderstanding that yee may walke worthy of the Lord pleasing him in all things being fruitfull in all good workes and increasing in the knowledge of God c. Your Honors most humble in Christ Iesus to commaund Edward Bulkley At my house in VVoodhall the 18. of Februarie 1586. A Sermon preached by Edward Bulkley Doctor of Diuinitie at Bletsoe the 30. day of Ianuarie 1585. vpon the doctrine of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Iesus Christ Matth. 26.26 As they did eate Iesus tooke breade and when he had blessed he brake it and gaue it to his disciples and said take ye eate ye This is my body Also he tooke the cuppe and when he had giuen thanks he gaue to them saying drinke ye all of this for this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the forgiuenes of sinnes I say vnto you that I will not drinke henceforth of this fruite of the vine vntill that day when I shall drinke it new with you in my Fathers kingdome And when they had song a psalme they went out into the mount of Oliues WHen the time did nowe drawe neare Ephes 5.2 that our Sauiour Christ was to offer that sweete smelling sacrifice and oblation of himselfe vpon the Altar of the crosse for our redemption reconciliation it seemed good to his heauenly wisedome to ordaine this Sacrament to be a perpetuall memoriall remembrance and pledge vnto vs of his death and passion vntill his comming againe 1. Cor. 11.25.26 And because the law did require the Paschal lambe at that time to be eaten he comming not to breake but to fulfill the lawe that he might discharge all our breaking of the law Matth. 5.17 did first with his disciples according to the law eat the passouer and so did put an end vnto the same and then did institute this his supper to succeed in his Church for euer in the place thereof That as he had ordayned baptisme to succéed in the roome of Circumcision so he would haue this Sacrament to succeed in the place of the Pascall Lambe and as they had béene Sacraments and seales of the olde Testament before his comming in the flesh so these might be after his comming sacraments and seales of the new Testament and couenant whereof we reade Hieremie 31.31 and Hebrewes 8.8 Therefore the Euangelist in the first words of my text saith As they did eat Meaning that when they had eaten the Paschall Lambe then they did receiue and eate this his holie supper Whereupon I may gather this that it is not so vnlawfull as some thinke after the tasting and eating of some thing to eate this blessed Sacrament The which I speake not for that I would haue men eate and drinke and fill their bellies before they come to this holy supper which with al reuerence and sobrietie ought in Gods feare to be receiued but to take away the superstition of some who think that if they being in neuer such infirmitie and weaknes do tast neuer so little they be thereby vnméete and vnworthy to receiue this holy mysterie and thereupon abstaine from it But if we did iudge rightly we should think that not the receiuing into vs of a little of Gods creatures soberly with thankesgiuing that vpon infirmitie doth make vs vnméete communicants but those things that come out of vs euen out of our hearts as euill thoughts murders Matâ—h 15.15 adulteries formeations theftes false testimonies slaunders are the things that defile vs and make vs more loathsome vnto Gods maiestie than any leprosie vnto men These thinges make vs vnméete gestes for such a celestiall banket and vnworthy receiuers of this blessed Sacrament of Christs body and blood Well saith Chrisostome Non enim comedisse confusionem nobis affert In Genes hom 10. sed mali quippiam egisse i. Not to eate but to commit any wickednesse bringeth shame vnto vs. Therefore I exhort you to abstaine from these and all other such filthie sinnes and to come with cleare consciences and good hearts to this holy table And as touching meats I wish men to refraine from them when they come to communicate on this sacrament vnlesse it be for some great infirmitie necessitie c. Now
c. 1. Cor. 11.25 I would aske of these men that grate so earnestly vpon the letter and vrge so eagerly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word whether the cup that is made either of siluer gold or wood for by the way as Bonifacius the martyr sometime said B. Rhenanus in Annotat. in Tertull de Corona militis In old times we had wooden Chalices and golden priests but in these dayes we haue golden Chalices and wooden priests be the new Testament No no say they by the cuppe is ment by a figure the thing in the cup. Thus they that haue cried out against figures and figuratiue speeches in the sacramēt and haue scornefully called such as haue vsed them figurators M. Anto. Constantius fol 2. c. tibi saepe are now forced to flée to a figure to forsake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. the expresse words and by the cuppe to vnderstand the thing contained in the cuppe But to graunt them this what is in the cup wine say we blood say they Now to grant them this their owne assertion for disputation sake I will aske them whether blood be the new Testament I suppose they cānot with any forehead or face say that blood is the new Testamēt for what is the new Testament but the new leage couenant which God maketh with vs in Christ Iesus as it is set forth in Ieremie and the Epistle to the Hebrewes in these words Hierem. 31.31 Hebr. 8.10 This is the Testament that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I wil put my Lawes in their minde and in their heart I will write them and I wil be their God and they shal be my people I wil be merciful vnto their vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sinnes and their iniquities no more This promise of mercy is the new Testament And therfore neither wine nor blood is properly the new Testament but a Sacrament a holy signe and seale of the new Testament confirmed vnto vs in the blood not of Oxen or Goats but of Iesus Christ the sonne of God Whereupon I thus reason with the Papists as the Cuppe or that in the cuppe is the new testament so is the bread the body of Christ but neither the cuppe nor the thing in the cuppe is properly the new Testament but a holy signe and Sacrament of the new testament So the bread is not properly the body of Christ but a holy signe and pledge of his body offred vpon the crosse for vs. And this phrase of speach in attributing to the Sacrament the name of the thing whereof it is a sacrament which séemeth so rough in these fine mens mouthes both the spirite of God in the holy scriptures we in our common talke vse to giue too bare naked signes which do not exhibite as sacramēts do the thing signified but barely signifie the same as in the example before alledged by S. Augustine Genes 41.26 the seuen thinne eares of corne and the seuen leane kine are said to be seuen yeares when as they did but onely barely signifie the seuen yeares of famine which were to come Genes 40.11 So also Ioseph saith of the thrée branches of the vine and of the thrée white baskets the thrée braunches be thrée dayes and the thrée white baskets be thrée dayes 16. when they did but onely signifie the thrée dayes wherein the butler should be restored and the baker hanged So S. Paul calleth the wiues vaile or couering of her head 1. Cor. 11.10 her power being but a bare signe of her husbandes power ouer her and many such other examples might be alledged out of the scriptures but these shal suffice In our common speach we vse to call bare pictures by the names of those persons whereof they be pictures Alluding to the pictures which hang in my lord S. Iohns great Chamber So we say this is king Henry the seuenth this is king Henrie the eight this is Francis the french king this is the Lord Cromwal and yet those pictures be not those personages but only and barely represent them Now if we vse to speak thus of pictures which be but bare signes of men and do but only represent the formes shapes of thē How much more may we so speake of this Sacrament and call it the body and blood of Christ being not a bare signe representation thereof but an instrument of Gods grace whereby the bodie and blood of Christ is truly offered to all and effectually receiued of the faithfull children of God to nourish and comfort their soules Yea moreouer the very prophane Poets haue vsed this phrase of spéech as Virgil saith faliere dextras for to breake promise where by Dextras the right hands he meaneth promises made by giuing the right hand Iliad 3. So Homer saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. The Herolds brought from the citie the faithfull othes of the gods two lambs pleasant wine the fruite of the earth And againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibidem post i. but the gorgeous Harolds brought forth the faithful othes of the gods In which places by the faithful othes are ment the lambs and wine which they slew and powred out in confirmation of those promises made touching the combate betwéene Menelaus and Paris and so Eustathius vnderstanding it expounding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the faithful othes that is the sacrifices Where we sée that the external sacrifices the lambes slaine and wine powred out to confirme those othes that they which did not performe them might be slaine and their blood braines powred out as those lambes and wine were are called the othes themselues These places to this end only I alledge to shew vs that it should not séeme so straunge a thing to attribute to the outward signe and Sacrament the name of that thing wherof it is a sacrament and for the confirming whereof vnto vs it is ordained and vsed But that this exposition of mine or rather of God himselfe as hath béene proued by many places and reasons out of the scripture may plainly appeare to agrée with the doctrine of the auncient and godly fathers of the Church I will set downe some places out of their bookes to be as witnesses to giue testimony to the truth of this doctrine Tertullian saith Lib. 4. aduers Marcionem Christ professing that he did greatly couet to eat the passeouer as his owne for it were vnméete that God should couet that which were an others taking the bread and distributing it to his disciples made it his bodie saying this is my bodie that is to say a figure of my bodie but it should be no figure vnlesse Christs bodie were a true bodie for a vaine or void thing such as is a ghost cannot haue a figure Phantasma Héere Tertullian expoundeth these words This is my body by this that is figure of
true and effectuall communion with Christ Iesus Againe S. Paul saith immediatly after 1. Cor. 10.17 we that are many are one bread and one bodie because we are all partakers of one Bread Againe as often as ye shall eate this Bread 1. Cor. 11.26 and drinke of this cuppe yée shew the Lords death till he come Againe whosoeuer shall eate this Bread and drinke the cuppe of the Lord vnworthely shal be guiltie of the body and blood of the Lord And again let a man therefore examine himself and so let him eate of this bread and drink of â—his cup. Here Saint Paul fiue times callâ—th it bread euen when it is receiued and eaten therfore I conclude that it is bread But here the Papists come in with a craftie cauillation and think they haue found a fine deuise to shift off these plain words of the Apostle they say that saint Paul calleth it bread because it was bread as Aarons rodde being turned into a serpent Exod. 7 1â— and being a serpent is called a rodde Aharons rodde deuoured their roddes I aunswere first that they compare things vtterly vnlike for in the Sacrament there must continue a similitude and agréement betwéene the signe and the thing signified as before out of S. Augustine I declared and therefore the substance of the signe must néeds remaine without which there can bée no such similitude But in this matter there is no such agréement betwéene the rodde and serpent but rather bee cleane contrary and therefore the reason of these two are not alike Secondly I say that because the conuersion of the rodde into a serpent was but temporall for a short time to continue Moses had good cause to call it a rodde because thereunto it was straight wayes to be restored and in the nature of a rod to continue Thirdly let the Papists shew that their bread is so turned into the bodie of Christ as that rodde was into a serpent and then they say something other wayes they proue nothing Lastly I may turne this Argument vpon their owne heads that as Moses called the serpent a rodde when it was not a rodde indéede but a serpent So Christ called the bread his body when it was not indéede naturally his bodie but in substance bread and by his ordinance a sacrament of his bodie And as the Papists will haue Saint Paul to call that bread which they say is not bread so why may not our sauiour Christ call that his bodie which not properly but sacramentally is his body Thus I trust this their cauillation is sufficiently confuted that you plainly perceiue that S. Paul calleth it bread because it is bread The which now Dialog 1 I will proue by the testimonies of the ancient fathers Theodoritus beside that plaine place before alledged where he saith that Christ hath honored the visible signes with the title or name of his bodie blood not chaunging the nature of them but Dialog 2 adding grace to nature hath a more plaine and pregnant place whose words be these Thou art catched in thine owne snares for the mysticall signes after sanctification or consecration leaue not their proper nature but they remaine in their former Substance and figure kind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. and be visible and tangible as they were before here not only Theodoritus plain words do affirme the nature and substance of bread and wine to remaine after consecratioÌ„ but also the whole drift of the disputation betwéene the true Christian the Eutican heretike tendeth to the same end But if the doctrine of transubstantiation had beene then in the Church receiued it had most fitly serued for the heretiks purpose that as the bread after consecration is turned into Christs body so Christs bodie after the ascention is turned into the deitie and so the heretike reasoneth but the true Christian answereth that he is catched in his own snare for as bread and wine after consecration are not turned into Christs bodie and blood but remaine in substance as they were before so Christs bodie after his ascention is not turned into the deitie but replenished with glorie and immortality Gelasius a Bishop of Rome writing against the same heretike Eutiches that Theodoritus did and vsing the same reason setteth downe the same doctrine in these words Gelasius contra Eurichen Certe Sacramenta c. i. Surely the sacraments of the bodie and blood of Christ which we receiue are a diuine thing and therefore by them wée be made partakers of the diuine nature and yet it ceaseth not to be the substance or nature of bread and wine and indeed an image and similitude of the bodie and blood of Christ is celebrated in the Accion of the mysteries c. Chrisostome also writeth thus Chrisost ad Câ—esarium Monachum Sicut enim antequam sanctificetur panis c. For as before the bread is sanctified we call it bread but when the diuine grace hath sanctified it by the meanes of the priest it is in déed deliuered from the name of bread and is counted worthy of the name of the lords bodie although the nature of bread doe still continue in it and is called not two bodies but one bodie of the son c. Both the words of Gelasius Chrisostome and also the drift of their discourses tending to the same end that Theodoritus doth most plainly shew that after consecration the substance of bread remaineth euen as after Christs assention the substance of his true body continueth or else these reasons taken from the sacrament do not only not make for them but directly against them yea and plainly make for those heretikes whom they by these arguments séeke to confute Origen also saith Panis ille c. Orig. in Matâ—h cap. 15. That bread which is sanctified by the word of God and prayer according to the material substance which it hath goeth into the belly is cast out into the draught but by the prayer which is ioyned to it according to the proportion of faith is made profitable By which it appeareth that it is the substance of bread and not Christs bodie which were blasphemie to affirme that is so cast out Cyprian saith De vnctione Chrismatis Dedit dominus noster c. Our Lord at the table whereat he did participate his last feast with his disciples gaue with his own hands bread wine but vpon the crosse he gaue his bodie to be wounded by the hands of the souldiers August de consecr dist 2. qui mandu Augustine also saith Quod videtur panis est c. That which is séene is bread and the cuppe which our eies also do shew vnto vs c. He saith it is bread and not séemeth or appeareth to be bread August in psal 98. And in another place Spiritualiter intelligite quod loquutus sum Nen hoc corpus quod videtis manducaturi estis c. .i. Spiritually
that he is God but in heauen in that he is man Againe Ille absens est praesentia corporis August in Psal 127. sed presens vigore maiestatis .i. he is absent in respect of the presens of his bodie but present by the power of his maiesty And again Sursum est dominus c. i. the Lord is aboue August in Ioan. tract 30. but also here is the Lord the truth For the body of the Lord wherin he did rise can be but in one place but his truth is dispersed euery where Againe let good men also take this August in Ioan. tract 50. and not bée carefull for he spake of the presence of his bodie for as touching his maiesty his prouidence his ineffable and inestimable grace that is fulfilled which hée said behold I am with you alwaies to the end of the world But touching the flesh which the word took to it touching that by which he was borne of the virgine apprehended of the Iewes crucified vpon wood taken from the crosse wrapped in clothes laid in the sepulchre reueiled in the resurrection ye shall not alwayes haue him with you Why because he was conuersant with his disciples 40. dayes in respect of his bodely presence they waiting on him seing him but not following him he ascended into heauen and is not here for he is there sitting at the right hand of the father and he is here for he hath not left vs by the presence of his maiestie c. Contr. faustum lib. 20. cap. 11. Againe Augustine saith Christ according to his corporall presence could not be at once in the sonne in the moone Lib. 1. coâ—â— Euticâ—eâ— vpon the crosse Vigilius a godly Bishoppe of Tridente and Martyr giueth most plaine witnesse to this truth saying Nam vide myraculum vide vtriusque proprietatis mysterium c. for sée a myracle sée the mysterie of the property of both the natures The sonne of God according to his humanitie is gone from vs according to his diuinitie he said vnto vs. Behold I am with you alwayes to the end of the world if he be with you how doth he say The day shal come when ye shall desire to sée one day of the sonne of man you shall not sée it But both he is with vs he is not with you for whom he hath left and from whom he is departed in his humanitie he hath not left nor forsaken by his deitie for by the forme of a seruant which he hath taken from vs into heauen he is absent from vs but by the forme of God which doth not depart from vs he is present in earth with vs so he being one and the same is both present with vs and absent from vs. And againe the same Vigilius saith Lib. 4. contr Eutichen Deinde si verbi carnis c. Moreouer if there be one nature of the word and flesh how commeth it to passe that the word being euerie where the flesh is not also founde to be euerie where for when it was in the earth it was not in heauen and for that now it is in heauen it is not in earth and in so much it is not that according to it wée looke for Christ to come from heauen whom according to the word we beléeue to be with vs in the earth Therefore according to your doctrine either the word is conteined in place with the flesh or the flesh is euery where with the word seeing that one nature receiueth not in it selfe any thing contrary and diuers Hitherto Vigilius whereby we may sée how néere the papists ioine with that old heretical Abbot Eutiches condemned in the counsell of Calcidone in confounding the properties of both natures and holding that Christs flesh and body is at one instant both in heauen and earth and in infinit places of the earth Therfore we are not to séeke our sauiour Christ in earth but we must be Eagles to soare vp by faith into heauen and there to eat his flesh drinke his blood S. Paul exhorteth vs to seeke the things that be aboue Colloss 3. â— where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God in which words he moueth vs to seeke the things that be there where Christ is but Christ is aboue in heauen therefore wée must seeke the thinges that bée aboue in heauen and not the thinges that be vppon earth But if Christ bée vpon earth as the Papists teach then either Paules reason is not good or we may seeke the things that he vppon earth which he doth in expresse words forbid vs. But I will prosecute this matter no further onely I will lay forth certaine absurdities that follow of this grosse doctrine of Transubstantiation First If Christs real and natural body be there vnder those formes of bread and wine as they teach then we do with our mouthes receiue and eate the verie bodie of Christ and drinke his blood but this is not onely an absurditie but also wickednesse and impietie as S. Augustine saith August lib. 3. de doct christ cap. 16. whose words are worthy wel to be marked and considered He giuing rules how to vnderstand the scriptures amoÌ„gst others giueth this for one That if the scripture seeme either to command any thing that is euill and nought or to forbid any thing that is good and profitable then it is not a proper speach but a figuratiue The example that he bringeth is this Except ye eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his blood ye shall haue no life in you He seemeth to commaund saith he a horrible and wicked thing Therefore it is a figure commaunding vs to communicate vpon the Lords passion and sweetly and profitably to hide vp in memory that his flesh was crucified and wounded for vs. In which words S. Augustine not onely condemneth that grosse and Capernaicall eating and drinking of Christs flesh and blood which the Papists imagine but also sheweth what it is to eat his flesh and drinke his blood euen faithfully to beleeue and acknowledge in our hearts that his bodie was crucified and his blood shed vpon the crosse for vs. But Pope Nicolas with the Romane counsell enforcing that excellent learned maÌ„ Berengarius to recant and denie the true doctrine which he had mainteyned caused him to confesse as appeareth in the Popes owne decrees the very body of Christ in truth to be handled by the priests hands De consec dist 2. Ego Beringarius manibus sacerd frangi fidelium dentibus atteri and to be broken torne by the téeth of the faithful The which is so absurd and grosse that the very barbarous writer of the glosse vppon that place giueth warning warely and wisely to vnderstaÌ„d Beringarius words or else we may fal into greater heresie then he held An other absurditie is this that if Christ naturall bodie be in the sacrament then our sauiour Christ did eat his owne body
precious blood shedde vpon the crosse for vs to feede and nourish our soules to eternal life which is not to be done carnally but spiritually yet truely and effectually Now let vs prepare our selues to come reuerently and worthely to this holy sacrament the which that we may do we ought as S. Paul exhorteth vs 1. Cor. 11. to proue and examine our selues and so to eat of this bread drink of this cuppe for he that eateth this bread and drinketh this cup of the Lord vnworthely eateth and drinketh his owne damnation We are therefore not so much to examine others which by confessions priests did in popery as to try our selues to cal our selues to account before god First we must examine our own hearts whether we imbrace and beléeue in our hearts the true doctrine of Iesus Christ sāctified vnto vs in the scriptures sealed with the blood of Christ chiefly whether we rest onely vpon the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ and that we séeke our saluation onely in him who is giuen of God 1. Cor. 1.30 to be vnto vs wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption that he that reioyceth may reioyce in the Lord. If we doe not vnfainedly yeld to this true doctrine it is impossible that we can be worthy receiuers of this Sacrament which as I haue declared is ordained and giuen vnto vs to seale and confirme the said true doctrin of our saluation onely by Iesus Christ crucified vnto our hearts and consciences And therefore if any that do not beléeue with his heart and confesse with his mouth this holy and heauenly doctrine but being still frosen in the dregges of wicked superstition and deceiuable errour séeking some part of saluation in mens merits and in their owne works come to receiue this holy mystery and sacramēt they cānot worthely receiue it but doth most wickedly abuse it Doing in like sort as if a man should put her Maiesties seale to such a writing as she neuer allowed graunted nor commaunded but is directly cōtrary to her wil pleasure he that so vseth her seale abuseth her maiesty is a traitour and deserueth to be hanged euen so these men beléeuing erronious and false doctrine such as hath no warrant of Gods word and is iniurious to the death and passion of Iesus Christ the sonne of God whereof this Sacrament is a seale in receiuing it doe horribly abuse it in making it a seale of their damnable doctrine and bée traitors to Iesus Christ and vnlesse God in mercy graunt them repentance will hang in hell for it Therefore such as professe popery or any other wicked heresie and will not reny and forsake to sinne are not to be admitted to receiue this sacrament Exod. 11.43 for if no stranger might receiue the passeouer thē such as be not onely straungers but also enemies to the trueth are not to receiue this our passeouer which is a sacrament of Iesus Christ by whom we haue true deliuerance from eternall destruction and damnation They are therefore first to be instructed diligently in the truth the which if they stubbernly withstand they ought seuerely by the magistrate to bée punished yea and generally al that are to be receiued to communicate of this holy sacrament are first to be catechised and instructed in the true doctrine of saluation and are to be taught what this sacrament is to what end it was ordeined and what comfort and spirituall profit they are to receiue by it Eod. 12.26 So God commaunded the Israelits to instruct their children in the doctrine of the passeouer to teach them the causes wherefore it was ordeined and appointed by God And we reade that when Iosiah did keepe that great passeouer ◠Paralip 35.6 he commaunded the Priests both to sanctifie themselues to prepare their brethren that they might do according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses Therefore both parēts ought priuatly to teach their children ministers should publikely instruct the people in all true doctrine and diligently prepare them that they come worthely to the receiuing of this holy sacrament But these things are in a manner vtterly neglected for parents haue no care nor conscience of doing this duty which the Lord layeth vpon them yea most be so blind and so ignorant themselues in gods truth that they be neither able to instruct themselues nor to teach others Ministers for the most part neither preach nor Catechise the people but admit al hand ouer head to this holy sacrament where by it is greatly profaned and abused Some thinke it ynough somtimes to preach but they neither catechise and instruct the people in the grounds and principles of religion nor priuatly examine prepare them to the worthy communicating of this holy mysterie and sacrament And therefore the people come ignorantly and without knowledge vnto it without the which the mind of man cannot be good as Salomon saith Prouerb 19.2 and so most wickedly abuse it and kindle gods wrath against them for it Let therfore parents do this duetie which God laieth vpon them in teaching their children families the true knowledge of god and the right vse of this sacrament Let ministers both publikely preach Christs Gospel and also perticularly catechise and instruct their people in the doctrine of saluation and namely of this Sacrament that they may reuerently worthely for the strengthening of their faith comfort of their consciences receiue it Moreouer euery man that commeth to the lords table must examine his own heart whether he féele the same touched with true repentance and an effectuall remorse for his manifold and haynous sinnes commited against Gods maiesty for as the Israelits were with bitter herbs to eat their passeouer Exod. 12.8 so we ought to receiue this holy sacramēt of Christs body and blood with bitter repentance for our manifold iniquities being inwardly pricked in conscience that wée haue so grieuously offended our gratious God in doing such wicked things as he forbiddeth and not doing those holy things that he commaundeth vs or not doing them in that pure sincere sort that he requireth of vs. This true repentance must bring with it a true amendment and reformation of life in forsaking such sins as we haue heretofore committed and in indeuoring diligently to do those things that wée know to be good acceptable before God our Sauiour Iames. 5.12 He that hath ben a swearer must sweare no more but let his speach be yea yea nay nay lest he fall into condemnation and he must vse his tongue not to blaspheme but to glorifie Gods name and to praise him for his mercies euery morning renewed vnto him Lament 3.23 If any haue béene a prophanour of God Sabboth a neglecter of gods seruice and a contemner of his word hée must forsake these sinnes he must sanctifie the Sabboth day and consecrate it as glorious to the Lord not doing his own wayes nor séeking his owne
will Isai 58.13 nor speaking a vaine word he must carefully serue God with a pure conscience earnestly loue his holy word and hunger after it as his daily foode He that hath ben an adulterer or fornicator must flée and forsake this filthy sinne 1. Thess 4.4 kéepe the vessell of his body and soule in holinesse and honour not in the lusts of concupiscence as do the Gentiles that know not God And if any come to this holy table like a filthy dogge before he haue bewailed vnfainedly this his wickednesse and if it be open before he haue publikely shewed true tokens of his true repentance and reconciled himself to the Church of God he treadeth vnder his filthy féete the blood of Iesus Christ the sonne of God and eateth and drinketh his owne damnation Those that haue beene dronkards ought to forsake this beastlinesse and liue soberly and temperately in Gods feare or else they in comming to this sacrament prouoke Gods anger and indignation against them and so receiue it to their destruction But it is lamentable to sée what infinite numbers of whoremongers adulterers incestious persons drunkards such other filthy swine without any signe of repentance or satisfaction to the Church of God by them offended doe come and be receiued to the communicating of this holy sacrament Lastly we ought to examine our selues whether we liue in Christian loue and charitie one with an other without which 1. Cor. 13.1 though we speake with the mouth of men and angels and could moue mountaines and did giue all our goods to the poore yea and our bodies to be burned we be nothing and without it we can do nothing that may be acceptable before God as our Sauiour Christ teacheth vs in these words If thou bring the gift or oblation to the alter Matth. 5.24 and there remember that thy brother hath ought against thée leaue there thine offring before the alter and goe thy way first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift Our Sauiour Christ here speaking of the alter and oblations that were in the old law doth teach vs that we can do nothing acceptable to God vnlesse wâ— be truely reconciled to our brethren and do sincerely loue them euen as we desire God in Iesus Christ to loue vs. Therefore if we liue not in true brotherly loue and charitie one with another we cannot come worthely to this holy supper of our Lord Iesus Christ for it is a sacrament of vnitie as Saint Paul saith we that are many 1. Cor. 10.17 are one bread one body because we al are pertakers of one bread For euen as we al eate of one bread and drinke of one cup so we declare and acknowledge thereby that we be all one in Christ Iesus all members of one mysticall body and all lynked together in brotherly loue one with another And as the bread is made of many graines knoden togither euen so we ought all to be knit together in a holy profession of one truth and in brotherly sincere loue one to another which must bring forth her fruits in humbling our selues one to another in the feare of God in helping comforting and reléeuing one another c. But lamentable it is to sée how cold Christian charitie is waxen and how rare it is among men Al men séeke themselues and their own priuat profit and not the good and benefite of their brethren we dispise and disdaine one another we séeke to exalt and aduance our selues one aboue an other by vsury bribery extorsion and oppression we pinch bite yea and deuour one an other If these be our fruits if thus we leade our liues and yet come to communicate on this holy sacrameÌ„t we prouoke gods fearefull vengeance against vs fearefully for to plague vs. So Paul sheweth that for the abusing of this sacrament at Corinth 1. Cor. 11.30 God had so striken them that many were dead and many weak and sicke among them And wheÌ„ I consider how horribly this holy Sacrament is abused among vs how this pearle is cast before swine and ministred to all without making any difference betwéene the cleane and vncleane how ignorantly vnreuerently and profanely it is receiued I cannot but stand in terrour and horrour of gods fearefull plagues to come vpon vs euen to the depriuing vs of the word of life the Gospel of our saluation and of this pretious pledge of our Redemption by Iesus Christ Let vs therefore deare brethren iudge our selues that we bee not iudged of the Lord our God but let vs humble our selues vnder his mighty hand let vs truely turne vnto him by vnfeined repentance and amendment of life Let vs with all reuerence come to this holy feast vnfeinedly confessing our sinnes with an inward féeling of them remorse of conscience for them truly trusting in gods mercy through Iesus Christ who came into this world to saue vs sinners 1. Tim. 1.15 2. Cor. 8.9 Philip. 2.7 who became poore to inrich vs tooke vpon him the shape of a seruant to purchase eternal fréedome and libertie to vs submitted himself to shame Gal. 3.13.15 to procure euerlasting glorie to vs tooke vpon him the curse to obtaine the blessing of God for vs finally suffered death to giue eternall life vnto vs. Thus when we come to receiue this sacrament let vs thus declare the death of our Lord Iesus Christ acknowledge with heart and mouth that the life wée now liue in the flesh Gal. 2.20 we liue by the faith of the sonne of God who hath loued vs and giuen himselfe for vs. This is our worthy receiuing of this holy mysterie euen effectually from our hearts to confesse our owne vnworthinesse and earnestly to hunger for the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ which onely is able to discharge our vnrighteousnesse If therefore we do vnfainedly confesse our vnworthinesse and wickednesse and not with a perfect faith which no where is to be found and which if we had wée should haue no such néede of this sacrament which is ordeyned to strengthen our faith and to be as it were a prop to vphold it but with an vnfaigned faith as the Apostle termeth it come vnto Christ Iesus 1. Tim. 1.5 lay our sins vpon him beléeue that he hath made peace by the blood of his crosse Coloss 1.20 that by his stripes we be healed if we do truly amend our sinfull liues 1. Pet. 2.24 2. Pet. 1.4 féeling the corruption that is in the world through lust and purelie serue God with good consciences And finally do reconcile our selues one to an other and liue in brotherly loue and Christian charitie one with an other in comming to this sacrament we shall not onely licke the rocke but also sucke the hony and Oile out of the same as S. Cyprian saith Serm. de Caenâ— Domini we shall not onely eate Panem domini the bread of the Lord as Iudas did August in Iâ—hn tract 59. but also Panem Dominum that bread which is the Lord as the other disciples of our sauiour Christ did we shall not onely receiue these visible elements of bread and wine but also we shal eat Christs flesh and drinke his blood Iohn 6.56 he shall dwell in vs and we in him and shall hereby more and more grow vp in him and be more and more assured of our saluation in him These things the father of all mercie worke in vs and continually increase in vs to his owne glorie and our eternall comfort and saluation through Iesus Christ our onely sauiour redéemer to whom with the Father the holy Ghost be all praise laud and glorie now and for euer Amen HOSEA 14.10 Who is wise and he shall vnderstand these things and prudent and he shall know them for the wayes of the Lord are vpright and the iust shal walke in them but the wicked shall fall therein LONDON Printed by Iohn VVolfe for George Byshop 1586.