to preserue in men the honor of God and vnity and concord amongst themselues that not only the faithfull in all ages vsed it to this effect and purpose but also all the Gentills and heathens who were not All the Gentills the Atheists and Epicures excepted offered Sacrifice Atheists or Epicures and denied not God or Gods or his or their prouidence ouer mankinde as we shall finde by experience For if we look into the acts deeds books histories or relations of such Gentills or Auntient or moderne heathen people who are at this day or haue been in the world in former Ages we shall finde that all Atheists and Epicures only excepted offered externall visible Sacrifice vnto some God true or false as the Babilonians Assirians Chaldeans Cananits Philistians Egiptians Ethiopians Greekes Romans Sarazens Turcks auncient or moderne heathen people of Europe Asia Africa and America who all vniuersally haue and had Priests Altars and externall visible Sacrifice as witnesse all the Authors who make anie mention of the Religion of these nations whose testimonies in this short Treatise would be to long to sett downe and therefore I referr the Reader vnto their owne wrytinges as vnto the bookes of the old and new Testament S. Augustine in his 18. booke of the cittie of God Athanasius in his Oration against the gentilles and Epiphanius in his first booke of heresies vnto Cicero of the nature of the Gods Herodotus Diodorus Siculus c. 2. And for later writers I referr the Reader vnto Geraldus of the Gods of the gentilles Christopher Richerius in his booke of the manners of the Turckes Septem Castrensis of the faith and Religion of the Turkes Samuell Purchas in his relations of the Religions obserued in all Ages Lewis Godfry in his 12. tomes of the history of the East Indies and others Wherevpon Plato towards the end of his 10. Dialogue in his books of lawes saith The custome of the gentilles to offer Sacrifice in their necessities It hath allwaies been the custome of those who were in danger or wanted anie thing or when their substance increased to consecrate something to the Gods and vow Sacrifices With whom agreeth S. Thomas in his 2. 2. quest 85. Art 1. saying In euerie age and amongst men of all nations hath allwaies been offering vp of Sacrifice Insomuch that amongst all the heathen people that are at this daie or heretofore haue been Atheists and Epicures only excepted there is not nor hath there been found anie so impious and barbarous in the whole Globe of the earth who haue not or yet doe not offer some kinde of externall visible Sacrifice thereby to acknowledge the soueraigntie of some God true or false ouer them which is so true that euen at this daie we maie saie vnto the Atheists Epicures and Puritans of this Age who haue no externall visible Sacrifice as Plutark in his booke against Coletes said vnto the Epicure Coletes towards the end of his booke If you trauell throughout the world well you may finde Citties without No Cittie vvithout Sacrifice walles without writings without Kings not peopled or inhabited without howses without money or men or desirous of coyne who know not what Theaters or publik Halls of bodly exercise meane but neuer was there or euer shall there be anie one Cittie seene which vseth no Sacrifice either to obtaine good blessings or to auoid heauie curses or calamities Moreouer the offering vp of Sacrifice vnto some God was by the light of nature so highly esteemed amongst the heathens that if anie man committed any wickednes or impietie in the Sacrifices which were offered vnto the Gods hee was to suffer death for his offēce as witnesseth Plato in the aforesaid Dialogue saying If any shall commit wicked impietie or shall offend either in his priuate or publicke Sacrificinge worship of the Gods he shall be condemned to death as one who sacrificed impurely 3 This being the end and vse of externall visible Sacrifice to preserue in men the memory and honor of God and vnitie and society with him and amongst themselues and all prudent lawes being chiefely instituted to the same end we neuer read of any prudent Lawgiuer or All the prudent Lavvgiuers instituted the offering of Sacrifice Prince though an infidell or heathen that gaue lawes vnto any Common-wealth or founded a Monarchie but he instituted externall visible Sacrifices to be offred vnto some supposed God As Cham founder of the Monarchy of the Egiptiās Chus founder of the Monarchy of the Ethiopians Nemrod Belus founder of the Monarchy of the Babilonians Ninus founder of the Monarchy of the Assirians Ion Cecrops Deucalion Licurgus Law-giuers to the Grecians Numa Pompilius the first and principalst Statesman amongst the Romans All which noble and renowned personages to vse Plutarcks words in his booke against Coletes made the people deuout affectionate and zelous to the Gods in prayers Oathes Oracles Prophecies and Sacrifices either to obtain good blessings or to auert heauy curses and calamities Insomuch as Plato in the 8. Dialogue of his book of Lawes besides solemne Sacrifices Plato ordeyned that 365 Sacrifices should daily be offred in Athens vsed vpon great festiuall dayes ordeyned that in the citty of Athens there should be 365. Sacrifices offred euery day in such sort as that some one or other of the Magistrates should alwayes bee offering Sacrifices to some of the Gods for the prosperities of the Cittie of themselues and their goods 4. Licurgus the Lawgiuer to the Lacedemonians The frugall Sacrifices of Lycurgus ordeyning sparing and frugall Sacrifices to be offred vnto the Gods made answere as Plutark affirmeth in his life That the honour due vnto the Gods might neuer faile amongst them and this these heathen men and infidells did by the light of nature which dictated vnto them that there would be no constant vnitie or ciuill society or Religion amongst them but by offering visible Sacrifice vnto some true or supposed God or Gods thereby to expresse the inward Sacrifice of their harts and soules and acknowledge visibly an vnion in one supreame Soueraigne and amongst themselues Moreouer the Gentils and The Gentills communicated of their Sacrifices heathen people not only offred Sacrifices in honor of their Gods but also did eate or communicate of their Sacrifices to mantayn a more firme vnity and society amongst themselues and with their Gods as the Scriptures witnesse saying The Isralits falling in to Idolatry offered Holocausts and pacifique hosts to the molcen calf and the people sate downe to eate and drinck Exod. 32. 6. afer the manner of the Egiptiās from whence they came whose chiefe God in their tyme was a Calf as witnesseth S. Augustine in the 18. Chapter of his 5. Book of the Cittie of God Agayn The people of Israel fornicated with the Daughters of Moab who called them to their Sacrifices and they did eate and adore their God Numb 25. 5. And because the Gentills and
belieue not that they may saue their soules 4. This obserued we doe not alwayes flie vnto miracles in euery particuler act or spirituall exercise The actes of Christian religiō novv not miraculous of our religion as when euery child is baptized or when euery Priest doth consecrate because God by the omnipotency of his will and woord hath established his spirituall Kingdome of his Christian Church after this manner so that now this supposed her ordinary actions and operations are not miraculous but according to the common and vsuall course of the acts and operations which God hath established in the spirituall Kingdome of his Church and according to that spirituall nature which God hath giuen vnto her at her first foundation So that whereas before Baptisme was instituted by our Lord if any one should haue pronounced the words of Baptisme and haue powred water vpon a man who neuer was baptized it would haue had no power or vertue to remit sinnes or to make him a child of the spirituall Kingdome of God and so the first institution was miraculous because the water and the words had not this power before but now since that God Almightie by the omnipotency of his power hath instituted Baptisme and established it in his Church and giuen vnto it this spirituall vertue and power to clense men of their sinnes make them Children of this spirituall Kingdome which is his Church and Heires which Christ of eternall life now this is no miracle but it is the spirituall nature and propertie of Baptisme which God who hath giuē the nature and properties vnto all things which they haue hath giuen also vnto it and therefore now this being supposed it is no miracle that when a man is baptized his sinnes are forgiuen but it should be a miracle that a man should now be baptized according to the rights of Baptisme and his sinnes should not be forgiuen because God hauing once giuen this spirituall vertue vnto Baptisme and hauing made it the nature propertie and qualitie of Baptisme cannot take it away without altering the course of the nature propertie and qualitie of Baptisme which is a miracle 5. Lykwise when our Lord instituted the B. Sacrament he took bread blessed gaue thanks and said This is my body and by vertue of his omnipotency consecrated it or made it his true reall and substantiall body and when he had donn said vnto Bishopps and Priests rightly ordeyned It is the propertie of Priests rightly ordeyned to consecrate the body and bloud of our Lord. Do this the same that he then did for a commemoration of me and by vertue of his omnipotency they do the same that he then did The first institution was supernaturall and miraculous but afterwards Bishopps and Priests did and do consecrate the same body and bloud which our Lord then did without any new miracle because he who created all things of nothing and hath giuen vnto euery thing that nature propertie and qualitie which it hath hath also giuen Bishopps and Priests rightly ordeyned this propertie and qualitie So now it is not a miracle that Priests do consecrat the true reall and substantiall body and bloud of our Lord but it should be a miracle if now that the Eucharist is established they do that which our Lord then commaunded them to doe and yet should not consecrat his true reall and substantiall body and bloud because that then our Lord should suspend or alter the properties and qualities which he hath giuen to Bishopps and Priests which would be a miracle 6. In like manner in other things In the beginning God created heauen and earth and the earth was void and vacant Gen. 1. 2. and neither brought forth hearbs nor trees nor grasse nor plants nor euer would haue donn if God had then lett it alone and neither haue said nor donn any more vnto it but afterwards God said Lett the earth In the beginning it vvas miraculous that the earth should bring forth hearbs plants and trees shoot forth green hearbs and such as may seed and fruit trees yeilding fruit after his kind such as may haue seed in it self vpon earth and it was so donn Gen. 1. 11. this was a supernaturall and miraculous work of God but euer since it hat been naturall vnto the earth to bring forth hearbes and fruit trees without any new miracle because God who is the giuer of all the properties and qualities which things haue gaue also vnto the earth this to bring Novv it is proper to the earth to bring forth hearbs and trees forth hearbes and fruit trees And it should be a miracle if the earth should not do it 7. And the like we may say of the hauing of Children and creation of soules God created man to his own image to the image of God he created him male and female he created them Gen. 1. 27. that is he created their soules for Adam he formed of the slyme of the earth and Eue of a rib taken out of Adams side Gen. 2. And vpon their first creation they had no children nor could haue or begett any vntill God said Increase and multiply and replenish the earth Gen. 1. 28. And this first was a miracle that God should giue that power vnto men and woemen to be his instruments of bringing forth soules into the world but now that the generatiō of men is established it is no miracle but agreeable to the vsuall course of nature that God in the generation of men doth creat soules but if nature concurring men and woemen should bring forth bodies without soules it would be a miracle because God should suspend or alter the course of nature which he hath established in the creation of soules in the generation of men 8. So as men and woemen God and nature concurring bring forth soules into the world vntil this daye and shall doe vntil the end by vertue of these words once spoken saying Increase and multiply Gen. 1. 28. So Bishopps and Priests rightly ordained in bread and wine fittly prepared haue hitherto and shal vntil the end of the world consecrate the true reall and substantiall body and bloud of the Sonne of God by vertue of these words once said Doe this the same that he then did in commemoration of me And in due consideration it seemeth as hard a thing that men and woemen should be God Almigties instruments to bring forth so many millions of soules into the world which before were not as for Bishopps and Priests to be his agents and instruments of making one body that was before to be in diuers places and vnder diuers demensions 9. If our Puritans beleeue that by vertue of these words Increase and multiply once spoken Almigtie God doth so concourr in the generation of men as that they haue soules I see noe difficultie why they should not beleeue that Bishopps and Priests rightly ordayned by vertue of these words once said Doe this the same which he
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
Scriptures Exod. 33. 19. Ioh. 11. 15. and the offering of visible external sacrifice being due vnto God only chieflie and aboue al things as a Sacrament of the inuisible Sacrifice of our hearts and soules vnto him and a holie signe of our acknowledging God for our Lord God as I haue proued in the precedent chapters What reasonable man can denye that God out of his prouidence towardes mankinde in directing him as a reasonable creature vnto his end and chiefest good hath also giuen vnto all mankinde a natural inclination propension and instinct to offer visible sacrifice vnto him thereby to acknowlegd him for their God honor him with the worshipp of Latria and professe the vnion of their harts with him their last end and chiefest good Vnlesse we should saie that God in the creating of man and in directing of men vnto their last end hath vsed lesse goodnes and prouidence then he hath towards trees plants and stones with is absurd seeing that his mercies towards man are aboue all his workes 2. From this instinct it did proceede that in the law of Nature whilest men liued in the beginning of the world without writings or anie other ordinarie directions or law more then the instinct of nature proceeding from reason with is called the law of Nature the faithfull in the Church of God vsed to offer visible Sacrifice vnto God as Abel Noe Melchisedec Abraham Isaac Iacob and Iob who all offered exterior visible Sacrifice vnto God before anie other law was knowne or published but the instinct of nature The lavve of nature is vvritten in the hartes of the Gentils proceeding from reason and is as S. Paul sayth Written in the harts of the Gentils Rom. 2. 15. and was as S. Hierom. vpon the 24. of Isai sayth Giuen vnto al nations before the law of Moyses was written which was not giuen by God vnto the children of Israel vntill the yeare 2544. from the beginning of the world according to the Annales of Torniellus 3. Neither could the defects in the sacrifice of Cain be displeasing vnto God as they were Gen. 4. 5. if Cain had not been obliged by some law to offer sacrifice for as S. Paul saith Rom. 4. 15. Where there is no law there is no preuarication Cains sacrifice displeasing because it vvas not conformable to the lavv of Nature or offence nor the sacrifices of Abel and Noe be gratefull and acceptable vnto God as they were Gen. 4. and 8. 21. but for that they were conformable vnto some law and right for God is not a God that will iniquitie Psal 5. 5. Yet before the law of Moses was giuen which was not vntill the yeare 2544. there was no other law as al men Cain and Abel bound to offer Sacrifice by the lavv of nature grant but the law of nature written in the harts of men Wherefore seing that for those 2544. yeares the faithfull offered visible sacrifice according to some law and there was no lawe but the instinct of nature proceeding from right reason which we call the law of nature it manifestly followeth that external visible sacrifice is due vnto God by the law and light of nature 4. From hence it is that Cain and Abel in the Cain and Abel offered Sacrifice vvithout a maister or teacher beginning of world had no need of anie maister or teacher to tell or teache them in general that they ought to offer visible sacrifice vnto God because they were taught it by the direction of theire consciences light of reason and wisdome giuen from aboue vnto all mankind as witnesseth S. Chrisostome in his 18. homilie vpon Genesis sayinge Cain of the fruites of the earth offered a Sacrifice to God Consider how the builder of nature in grafted in man the science of conscience for I pray you tell me whoe brought Cain to this knowledge no other but the knowledge which is in a conscious mind He offered saith the Scripture Sacrifice to God of the fruits of the earth for he did know and he did clearly know that it was conuenient or meete to offer something of his possession to God not that God stood in need of any thing that was his but that he who inioyed such a be-benefit from him should shew his gratitude And againe in the same homilie he saith Cain had no teacher nor Abel a prompter or councellor to teach them to offer visible Sacrifice but they were both moued to this oblation by the dictamen of their consciences and by wisdome giuen from aboue vnto mankind In like manner S. Clement in the 20. chapter of his 6. Booke of Apostolicall constitutions affirmeth that Abel Noe Abraham and others after them offered Sacrifice to God only moued thervnto by the law of nature Whervpon Eusebius Cesariensis in the 10. chapter of his first booke of Euangelicall demonstrations saith The ancient friends of God Abel Noe Abraham c. offered Sacrifice which saith hee we ought not to thinke to haue been a rash inuention or a thing begunn after a humaine manner but rather inspired from aboue sed deuino potius nutu insinuatū For which cause Tertullian in the 2. chapter of his book against the Iewes saith Leuites to offer Sacrifice before the leuiticall lavv Before the law of Moses was giuen which was written in Tables of stone ther was a Law not written which was naturally vnderstood and kept by the Fathers for from whence was Noe found iust if the naturall iustice of the Law did not goe before him from whence was Abraham esteemed the freind of God if not by the equitie or iustice of the Law of Nature How came Melchisedec to be called a Priest of the most high God if there were not Leuites before the leuiticall Law who offered Sacrifice to God Thus Tertullian wherby it appeareth that men by the law of nature and dictamen of their conscience without a Maister or Teacher or written law are in generall sufficiently instructed to offer visible Sacrifice vnto God as a meanes wherby they may attaine vnto the vnion of their hearts with him who is theire last end and chiefest good Whervpon Origen in his first book vpon Iob saith In the tyme of the Law of Noe Abraham Melchisedec and Iob Priestes by the lavv of nature nature there were Priests who were not ordained to that office by the prescript of anie written law but taught and instructed to doe it by naturall wisdom After this manner Noe executed the office of Priesthood After this manner Abraham and Melchisedec were Priests and also after them Iob himselfe had the office of Priesthood Thus Origen With whom also agreeth S. Ciprian in his treatise of the reason of Circumcision saying Though many of the nations of the earth did iudge Circumcision which the Iewes vsed to be absurd and vnreasonable yet following the law of nature they retained the instruments of expiation or clensing from sinne and doe immolate victimes burne fatt and
inuisible things of God are knowne by the visible and the increated by the creature and cannot in this life be well knowne or learned of man by other meanes Therefore Religion cannot stand without visible Sacrifice which may as by a signe or motiue conduct the mindes of men vnto the inuisible of the heart so to be vnyted vnto God Againe the strength of a kingdome is the vnitie or concord of the subiects amongst themselues and with their Soueraigne vnder God and by visible Sacrifice not onely a league of freindshippe and ciuill vnitie is made amongst men by the participation and communion of the thing that is sacrificed as is proued in the 2. chapter of the first part but also there passeth as it were a couenant betwixt God and them whereby they become his particular people and he their God and Protector without whose particular prouidence and protection no common wealth can either prosper or stand VVhereupon it cometh to passe that there cannot be anie perfect common wealth or well framed monarchie without the offering of visible Sacrifice to God for which cause Aristotle in the 7. of his politickes speaking of the things which are precisely necessarie to the preseruation of a common-wealth guided by the light of abondant reason giueth order that Speciall care be had of the Sacrifice to the Gods because this is the end and office of visible Sacrifice to vnite 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 VVhatsoeuer things we reade to haue been commanded by God diuers waies concerning sacrifices in misterie of the tabernacle or of the temple they are referred vnto the loue of God and of our neighbour by which loue peace vnitie and concord the commonwealth is established Wherefore seeing that some kinde of exterior visible Sacrifice is so absolutely necessarie both to the state of Religion and the perfection of a common wealth as that they cannot well stand or be without them it cannot be that Iesus Christ our Lord the wisdome of his eternall Father should either establish a Religion or plant a common wealth amongst men without the institution of a daily Sacrifice as I shall shew more at large in the ensuing chapters CHAP. I. Our Sauiour at his laste supper instituted an vnbloudie Sacrifice or Gifts in his bodie and bloud to be offered to God in commemoration of him OVr Sauiour coming into this world not to destroie Religion or take awaie the honor or worshipp due vnto God and the peace vnitie and society of men with God and amongst themselues but to plant a more eminent Religion increase the honor of his eternall Father and establish a more perfect peace vnion and societie between God and men and of men amongst themselues that they myght be The end of Christs coming vvas peace and vnitie of men vvith God and amongst themselues one as he and his Father are one according to his word saying That they all may be one as thou Father in me and I in thee and they also in vs may be one Ioh. 18. 21. To effect this his vnion as soon as he had ended the externall visible Bloudie Sacrifice of the Pascall Lambe wherewith the Children of the Church were vnyted and communicated in the ould law he presētly instituted the exterior visible and vnbloudie Sacrifice or Giftes of the new Law in his bodie and bloud vnder the species of bread and wyne that his Church should not no for a little tyme be without a Law Religion and particular exterior Sacrifice or God without Sacrifice the meanes of vnitie his visible honor of Latria or diuine worship due onely vnto him or the Children of his Church without that meanes of vnitie with him and amongst them selues which he desired For after that the Sacrifice of the Pascall Lambe was ended before he arose from the table taking bread he gaue thankes and brake and gaue to the Apostles Our Sauiour instituted Sacrifice in his last supper saying This is my bodie which is giuen for you Luc. 22. 20. Where first it is necessary to obserue that our Sauiour doth not saie this is my bodie which is giuen to you as a Sacrament only to eate but which is giuen for you to God as a Gift or vnbloudie Sacrifice offered or giuen to God 2. Secondly it is necessarie to obserue that of the two kindes of Sacrifices which had been vsed in the Church from the beginning of the world the one was called Giftes or vnbloudie as I haue proued at large in the 11. Chapter of the first part and the other bloudy both which were to be fulfilled by our Sauiour at his comming who came not to breake the Law but to fullfill Mat. 5. and to perfect those things which in the Law of nature and written Law were done in types and figures of vs as witnesseth S. Paul 1. Cor. 10. and Heb. 7. therfore our Sauiour here at his last supper to shew that he instituted an vnbloudy Sacrifice Why our Sauiour said This is my Body vvhich is giuen for you of Gifts to be vsed in his Church in the new Law to the fulfilling of the Types and Prophecies of the Law of Nature and ould Law concerning vnbloudy Sacrifices or Sacrifices of Gifts said This is my Body which is giuen for you and doth not say This is my Body which is Sacrificed for you The better to expresse himselfe that here at his last supper he instituted Gifts or Vnbloudy Sacrifices in his Body to be giuē to God for vs in his Church vntill the end of the world to the fulfilling of the Types and figures and Prophecies in the Law of Nature and ould Law concerning Gifts or vnbloudy Sacrifices Wherupon the Scriptures indifferently doe vse the wordes Christ gaue himself Christ to giue his Body for vs and to offer Sacrifice is all one for vs And Christ offered himself for vs is all one saying Iesus-Christ gaue himself for our sinnes Gal. 1. Againe Iesus-Christ gaue himfelf a Redemption for all 1. Tim. 2. 6. Againe Iesus-Christ gaue himself for vs that hee myght redeeme vs from all iniquitie Tit. 2. 14. Whereby we see that to saie This is my Body which is giuen for you And This is my Bodie which is offered in Sacrifice for you is all one according to the phrase of Scriptures only to saye This is my Bodie which is giuen for you doth more fittly and properly explicate the Sacrifice of Gifts or cleane oblation and vnbloudie Sacrifice which our Sauiour as high Priest of the Order of Melchisedech was to establish in his Church vntill the end of the world according to the Prophecies Psal 109. 4. Heb. 7. 11. and 12. Mal◠1. 10. 3. Thirdly it is necessarie to obserue that our Sauiour doth not saie here This is my body which shal be giuen for you as to be giuē afterwards vpō the Crosse but which is
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
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
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
the Altar not held by a woman but by a Priest assisting and a number of Angels flying about these things which are sett before thee And the same Saint vpō the 10. chapter to the Hebrews and 17. Hom. speaking more at lardge of our Christian Sacrifice saith This Sacrifice which now we vse in the Church is an example of that which Christ offered euen the self same for we offer alwayes the same not now truly another but alwayes the same wherefore the Sacrifice is one for this reason Because it is offered vp in many places are there not many Christs No indeede but one Christ euery where who is wholy Christians offer alvvayes the self same Sacrifice heere and wholy there one body and euen as one body is offered in many places and not many bodyes so there is one Sacrifice He is our Bishopp who offered that host which doth cleanse vs and we offer euen the same which was then offered which cannot be consumed This is done in commemoration of him which was then done for he said Doe this the same that he then did in remembrance of me Thus S. Crysostome Where still we see that the same body or host is offered in all Catholicke Sacrifices and receaued in their communions in such sort as that all Christian Catholicks receaue equally the same body of our Lord in the communion Wherevpon the same S. Chrysostome in his 18. Homily vpon the 2. Epistle of S. Paule to the Corinthians saith Sometimes there is no difference betweene the Priest and the people as for example when they receaue the terrible misteries for we admitt all equally vnto them for it is not in the new Law as it was in the ould where the Priest did eate somethings and the people others where it was not lawfull for the people to eate of those things of which the Priest did In the new Law it is farr otherwise seeing that one body and one cuppe is sett before all men 8. And the like affirmeth S. Ambrose in his first praier for preparation to Masse saying O Lord Iesus-Christ with what contrition of heart with what fountaine of teares with what reuerence and feare with how great chastitie of body and puritie of minde this diuine and heauenly Sacrifice is to be performed where thy flesh is in veritie taken where thy bloud is in veritie drunken where the highest are ioyned to the lowest where the holy Angells are present where thou art the Christ the Priest and the Sacrifice Priest and the Sacrifice after a wonderfull and vnspeakeable manner established Thus S. Ambrose with whom also agreeth Theodoret vpon the 8. chapter to the Hebrewes saying It is manifest to those who are learned in diuine things that we doe not offer an other Sacrifice but we celebrate the memorie of this one and healthfull Sacrifice for this our Lord himselfe commanded vs saying Doe this in commoration of me So Theodoret whereby it appeareth that the want of beleeuing that the same body or host is giuen to God in all Christian Catholick Sacrifices and is receaued by all in the communion is not any defect in the Scriptures but the want of learning as Theodoret saith in diuine things 9. In like manner our Sauiour instituted and commanded that we should offer in Sacrifice vnto God and communicat of the same substantiall bloud which he shed for vs to his heauenly Father and gaue in the communion When taking the Chalice he gaue thanks and gaue to the Apostles saying The same bloud of our Sauiour euery vvhere offered as Protestants and Puritans translate drink ye all of this for this is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes Math. 26. 27. and then gaue a commandement saying This doe ye as often as you drink it in remembrance of me 1. Cor. 11. 25. and so ordayned and commanded the Apostles not that they should shed for vs to God or communicat of any new thing but the same bloud which he then shed for vs and therefore he saith This do ye and not a resemblance of this or do a thing like this Wherevpō S. Paul saith The Chalice of blessing which wee bless is it not the communication of the bloud of Christ 1. Co. 10. 16. Herein consisteth the excellency of the Sacrifice and communion in the Catholick Church that all The excellency of the Sacrifice and communion in the Catholick Church offer one and the same Sacrifice and communicate of one and the same substantiall body and bloud of Christ vnder the species of bread and wine And therefore all who worthily communicate in the Catholick Church are all one because they are all vnited corporally and spiritually to the one and the same body of the Sonne of God and so become as S. Peter saith Partakers of the diuine nature 2. Pet. 1. 4. and be as S. Paul saith members of Christs body of his flesh and of his bones Ephes 5. 30. Wherevpon S. Chrisostome in his 2. Hom. vpon the 2. Epistle to Timothie saith The holy oblation whether Peter offer it or Paul offer it or any other Priest is the self same which Christ himself gaue to his Disciples vvhich Priests now also doe consecrate this hath nothing less then was in that 10. If our Sauiour had not intended that the Apostles should consecrate and giue to God the same body which he did and also giue the same body in the communion which he did but a peece of bread or the like as I haue said before hee would not haue said This is my body vvhich is giuen for you or This is my bloud of the new Testament vvhich is shed for many for remission of sinnes but Our Sauiours vvordes in vaine vnlesse he had spoken of his true and reall body haue left them out and the sense would haue been better and more cleare thus Iesus took bread and blessed and brak and gaue to his Disciples and said take ye and eate do this for as commemoration of me and taking likwise the Chalice he gaue thanks and gaue to them saying drinck ye all of this this doe ye as often as you drink it And then it had been a clear case that our Sauiour had instituted a Puritan communion to eat a peece of bread and drink a supp of wine in remembrance that Christ dyed for vs and be thankefull But seeing that our Sauiour gaue his body to God for vs and gaue his body and bloud in the communion and commanded vs to do the same there is no place left for any Catholick Christian man to doubt whether the body or thing which our Sauiour gaue to God for vs at his last Supper offered vpon the Crosse deliuered in the communion and which is now offered or giuen to God in the Church of God and deliuered in the communion be one and the same substantiall body vnlesse we either deny the playn Text of Scripture and the consent
saying and affirming This is my bloud who I saie cann doubt and say that it is not his bloud Heretofore at Cana in Galilea only by his will he changed water into wine which is neere vnto bloud and is he not worthy to be beleeued that hath changed wine into his bloud He being inuited to a corporall marriage wrought a wonderfull miracle shall we not much more easily confesse that he gaue his body and bloud to the Children of his Spouse Wherefore with assurednesse lett vs take the body and bloud of Christ for vnder the species of bread the body is giuen thee and vnder the species of wine the bloud is giuen that hauing receaued the body and bloud of Christ thou mayest be made partaker of his body and bloud we shal be bearers of Christ after that we haue receaued his body and bloud into our membres 8. S. Gregorie Nissen brother to S. Basile the great S. Gregorie Nissen of the change in in the bread by the vvord of God liued in in the yeare 380. and he in his 37. Oration catechetica saith As Christ by eating bread made it is diuine body so likewise heere bread being sanctified by the word and praier as the Apostle saith and not by eating and drinking becometh the body of the word changed by the word saying This is my body 9. S. Ambrose who liued in the yeare 370. in S. Ambrose of the change in the bread by the omnipotency of Gods vvord the 9. chapter of his book of those who are begunn to be instructed in the mysteries saith If human blessing of Moyses Elias and Elizaeus was of such force as that it could alter nature what shall we saie of the diuine consecration where the words themselues of our Lord and Sauiour doe worke for this Sacrament which thou doest receaue is made by the word of Christ. If the words of Elias were of such force that they could call fire from heauen shall not the word of Christ be sufficient to change the species of the Elements Of the workes of the world thou hast read that because he spake the word they were made he commanded and they were created therefore the word of Christ which could make of nothing that which was not cann it not change those things which are into that which they were not for the difficultie is not lesser to giue new natures to thinges then to change natures Againe in his 4. book and 4. chapter of the Sacraments speaking of the Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Altar he saith This bread is bread before the words of the Sacraments but assoone as consecration is added vnto it of bread it is made the flesh of Christ. This we affirme how cann that which is bread be the body of Christ by consecration And with what words and speeches is consecration with the wordes of our Iesus for in the rest which are said praise is giuen vnto God praier is made for the people for kings c. but when we come that the venerable Sacramēt should be made then the Priest doth not vse his owne wordes but the wordes of Christ Therefore the word of Christ doth worke this Sacrament What word of Christ euen that by which all things are made Our Lord commāded and the seas were made our Lord commanded and all creatures were begotten If therefore there be so great force in the wordes of our Lord Iesus that these things could begin to be which were not how much more will they be able to effect that those things may be which are and be changed in an other But heare the Prophet saying He said and they were made he commanded and they were created Therefore that I may answere thee it was not the body of Christ before consecration but after consecration I tell thee that then it is the body of Christ Againe vpon the 38. Psalme he saith It is the word of Christ which consecrated the Sacrifice which is offred Thus S. Ambrose 10. In like manner S. Chrisostome in his Homily S. Chrisostome of the change of the bread into the body of our Lord by the povver of God de proditione Iudae saith It is not man that doth make these things which are exposed for consecration vpon the table of our Lord the body and bloud of Christ but he who is crucified for vs Christ The words are pronounced with the Priests mouth and they are consecrated by the grace and vertue of God He said This is my body by these words the things exposed are consecrated And as that voice which said increase and multiplie and replenish the earth was said but once yet at all tymes hath this effect for generation nature concurring so this word but once said and yet it giueth strength to the Sacrifice which is vpon all the tables of the Church euen vntill this daie and shall doe vntill his coming to judgment Againe in his 83. Homily vpon the S. Matthew he saith We Bishopps or Priests in the consecration of this Sacrament hold but the place of Christs Ministers for he who doth santify or make the chāge is Christ himselfe Thus S. Chrisostome 11. S. Hierome vpon the first chapter to the Galatians saith Although some thinke me worthy of reprehension S. Hierome of this change for that in my book which I writt of the preseruation of virginity young woemen ought to flye from wine as they doe from poyson yet it doth not repent me of what I said for I rather contemne the effect or worke of wine then the creature it selfe And I took liberty to giue this counsell vnto a virgine warme with a heate proper vnto her yeares least vpon occasion of drinking a little she might drinke much and perish otherwise I did know that wine was consecrated into Christ his bloud Thus S. Hierome 12. S. Augustine in his 3. book and 4. chapter S. Augustine of the change in the Sacrament by the povver of God De Trinitate saith We doe not say that the articulat words pronounced with the tongue or the signe of letters written in skinns is the body and bloud of Christ but that only which is taken from the fruites of the earth and is consecrated by mysticall prayer c. It is not sanctifyed that it may be so great a Sacrament but by the spirit of God working inuisibly seeing that God doth worke all the things which by corporall motion are made in that worke 13. Againe in his book of sentences ad Prosperum cited by Gratian in his 2. distinction he saith In the species of vvine and bread vvhich vve see vve doe honor inuisible things that is to saie flesh and bloud neither doe vve equally esteeme of these two species after consecration as before consecration for before consecration vve faithfully confeffe that they are bread and wine as nature hath formed them but after consecration they are the flesh and bloud of Christ vvhich the blessing hath consecrated S. Cyrillus Alex.
then did should not haue power and authority as The cause vvhy Protestans and Puritans deny the reall presence in the B. Sacrament agents and instruments of God to consecrate his true reall and substantiall body and bloud if it be not but because they want the Sacrament of order and know that these words Do this were not spoken vnto them And therefore knowing that they haue no authority or power to consecrat and yet resolue to be as they are not to fall into manifest idolatry and to teach the people to esteeme and adore a peece of bread for God of two euils haue chosen the lesser and therefore say that after consecration there is nothing but bread and wine our Sauiours words effect nothing the whole busines cōsisteth in taking bread and apprehending Christ in heauen by the hand of faith and be thankefull Otherwise if we should seeke to pry and dyue into by naturall reason how and when and after what manner God createth soules in the generation of men and infuseth them into their bodyes or of what substance they are of or how they being spirituall informe the body and make one man with the body what operations they haue where the will vnderstanding and memory are placed and how they are diuided seeing the soule hath no parts how the soule mooueth the body and preserueth it from corruption how it affordeth ability te see heare smell touch and tast in what gulf the memory putteth all these species of things which she reteyneth from whence they come when they are called for and where some lye hid which cannot be found when we would and how and where we find then we shall find no lesse difficulty in these things then in knowing how a body that already is may at the same tyme be in diuers places and vnder diuers dimensions and species by the will and power of God 10. And if none should beleeue that he had a soule vnlesse he did know certainly and manifestly all these howe 's then few would attaine vnto the beliefe that he had a soule thoug all men should study Aristotles book de anima or what soeuer books they could find to that purpose all their liues yet what is more familiar vnto a man thē his soule wherewith he liues and mooues whereby we see ho absurd a thing it is not to beleeue the misteries of our faith vnlesse we cann certainly and manifestly know by reason how euery thing in particular is for then it were not a mistery of faith but a thing manifest to our senses whereas faith Is an argument of things not appearing to the senses Heb. 11. Wherefore as in the creation of all As in the founding of his earthly Kingdome God spake and things vvere so done so in founding his spirituall Kingdome vvhich is his Church things and establishing his earthly Kingdome God spake the word and we beleeue that they were made of nothing by the omnipotency of his word though we know not how God made them or could make them of nothing more then by the omnipotency of his word so here establishing the B. Sacrament in his Church he took bread and blessed and said This is my body and likwise wine and said This is my bloud and we beleeue that the bread was changed into his body and the wine into his bloud by the omnipotency of his word though we know not how God could change bread into his body or vvine into his bloud and putt them into so little a roome and vnder the species of bread and vvine but by the omnipotency of his vvord And as after God had created the earth and mankind he said to the earth Let the earth shoote forth green hearbs and such as may seed c. and to man Increase and multiply and vve beleeue that both the earth and man by the omnipotency of his vvord receaued vertue and power to do that vvhich he said though we do not know vvhere this power lyeth or in vvhat part or hovv these things come to passe more then by the omnipotency of his vvord so after that God had instituted this Sacrament and consecrated his body and bloud he said to Bishopps and Priests rightly ordained Doe this and This doe ye and vve beleeue that Bishopps and Priests rightly ordained haue power to consecrate the body and bloud of our Lord though vve doe not knovv vvhere the power lyeth in Priests or hovv it cometh to passe more then by the omnipotency of the vvord of God 11. Besides that vvhich I haue said in the former Chapter S. Iohn Damascene in the 14. chapter of his 4. book Orthodoxaefidei explicateth this point at large saying Our Lord breaking the bread gaue it vnto his Disciples saying take eate this is my body c. S. Damascene of the manner hovv the body of our Lord cometh to be in the Eucharist If then the word of God be quickning and full of efficacy and all that our Lord hath willed he hath done if he hath said lett light be made and it was done if he haue said lett the firmament be made and it vas donn if by the word of God the heauens haue been established and all their vertues by the spirit of his mouth if the heauen and the earth and the water and the fier and all their ornaments and man himself who is so famous a liuing thing haue been perfected by the word of our Lord if God the word itselfe willing it was made man and was formed of the pure and immaculate bloud of the holy alwayes Virgin without seede and flesh vnited hypostatically with him could he not make the bread his body and the wine and water his bloud He said in the beginning lett the earth bring forth green hearbes and euen vntill this day by the fall of raine the earth doth bring forth her proper plantes aided and fortified by the commaundement of God And God hath said This is my body doe this in commemoration of me and this by the omnipotency of his commaund will be donn vntill he come Thus S. Damascenus of the change of the bread and vvine in the consecration of the blessed Sacrament by the omnipotency of God Eusebius Emissenus in his Sermon of the body of our Lord speaketh to the same effect saying When the creatures of bread and wine are placed vpon the Altar to be blessed before they are consecrated by the inuocation of the holy Ghost there is present the substance of bread and wine but after the words of Christ there is Christs body and bloud and what great matter is it if he who could create all things by his word could conuert and change these thinges which he had created into other natures 12. If our Aduersaries will grant as commonly The spirituall kingdome more excellent then the temporall and therefore more probable to be founded by the omnipotency of God they do that God by the omnipotency of his word established