Augustine and Tertullian and concerning the first he saith that S. Augustine spake not of a bare and emptie figure but of the figure of a thing really present but this answere is deceitfull for the Sacramentall elements are a true and liuely figure and not a bare and emptie signe of the Bodie and Bloud of Christ. And although the Bodie and Bloud of Christ are not essentially contained and inclosed in the shapes or materiall substance of the elements yet they are really communicated by the holy Ghost at and by the faithfull and worthie receiuing of these diuine mysteries The second place of S. Augustine admitteth not the Iesuits solution for one difference betweene the Manichee and this Father was concerning Moses his words Deut. 12.23 Thou shalt not eat the Bloud for the Bloud is the Soule S. Augustine saith Possum interpretari praeceptum illud in signo esse positum I may expound that commandement by saying it was set downe in a signe for Christ doubted not to affirme This is my bodie when he gaue a signe of his Bodie In these words S. Augustine teacheth that as the Bloud is called the Soule after the manner of a signe so likewise the Bread in the holy Eucharist is called the bodie of Christ because it is a signe of his bodie This similitude prooueth that S. Augustine held our Sauiours words This is my Bodie to be a siguratiue enunciation which is the thing affirmed by vs. Tertullian affirmeth expressely of Bread which he receiued into his hand and distributed to his disciples that it is a figure of Christs Bodie And the Aduersaries 〈◊〉 expounding his words in this manner The figure of my bodie is my bodie is voluntarie or rather sophisticall for the words immediately following are he called bread his Bodie and in other places he maketh bread the subiect of the proposition This is my Bodie But the accidents and shape of bread are not bread neither did our Sauiour when he said This is my Bodie demonstrate the forme only of Bread or command the formes only of Bread and Wine to be corporally receiued for he did demonstrate that which was sacramentally changed but the accidents of Bread and Wine are not changed into Christs Bodie and Bloud by the confession of Papists themselues IESVIT This supposed I inferre that the bodie of Christ is present in the mysticall Supper not onely to the faithfull that receiue the Sacrament nor onely to the place or Church where the holy Synaxis is celebrated but vnder the formes of Bread in the verie same place therewith This manner of presence is cleerely consequent vpon the precedent and that granted this cannot be denyed For the reason for which Christians hold the bodie of Christ to be really truly present in the Sacrament is because they cannot otherwise in proper and plaine sence verifie the word of Christ to say of Bread this is my bodie Wherefore we must either put no real presence at all or els put such a real presence as is able to verifie the foresaid speech in proper and rigorous sence But if the bodie of Christ be not in the same place with the consecrated Bread contained vnder the formes thereof it cannot be said to be verily and really the body of Christ. For though we should suppose the Body of Christ to leaue heauen and be substantially present in the Church where the Sacrament is giuen yet this supposed presence would no waies further the verifying of the words of Christ This is my Bodie except his bodie be vailed and couered with the sensible accidents of Bread so that it be demonstrated by them and pointing vnto them one may truely say This is the Body of Christ. For why should consecrated Bread be tearmed truely and substantially the Bodie of Christ if his body be not so much as in the same place with it Wherefore the Fathers affirme that Christ is so in this Sacrament as he is vailed with the semblances of Bread as S. Cyrill of Hierusalem in his Booke highly commended by Dr. Whitaker saith Let vs therefore with all certitude receiue the Bodie and Bloud of Christ For vnder the forme of Bread is giuen Thee his Bodie Yea Caluin saith In the supper Christ Jesus to wit his Bodie and Bloud is truely giuen vnder the signes of Bread and Wine ANSVVER Although the mysticall words be not vnderstood properly and rigorously yet we may truely and really though spiritually eat the Flesh and drinke the Bloud of the sonne of man by a liuing Faith Ioh. 6.54 1. Cor. 10.16 The food which entreth into the bodie must be locally present but this food entreth not into the bodie but it is the bread of life which nourisheth the substance of the soule saith S. Ambrose But the Obiector demandeth Why consecrated bread should be tearmed truely substantially the body of Christ if his bodie be not so much as in the same place with it Our answer is because of the Sacramentall vnion betweene the signes and the bodie of Christ represented and spiritually communicated to the worthie receiuor by that signe As a Kings crowne may be called a kingdome because it is a signe thereof and the placing thereof vpon the head may be a meanes of conferring a kingdome So likewise in Sacramentall speeches the outward signe is called by the name of the thing signified because it representeth it and is by diuine institution an effectual instrument to applie and communicate the same 1. Cor. 10.16 And by the same reason Christs Bodie may be said to be in the bread and his Bloud in the Cup not by locall presence or as wine is contained in a vessell which S. Cyrill affirmeth not but vertually and by relation and spirituall donation because when the Minister deliuereth the outward signe and the Communicant receiueth the same The holy Ghost deliuereth and communicates the thing signified to the beleeuing soule IESVIT Whence it is also consequent that the whole bodie of Christ is contained vnder a consecrated Host be the same neuer so little for by this mysterie the bodie of Christ is demonstrable by the sensible accidents so that consecrated bread may be termed truly really substantially the bodie of Christ not a parcell or part thereof only But were not the bodie of Christ wholly and entirely vnder the formes of bread consecrated bread could not truely and properly be tearmed the bodie of Christ but a sole part and 〈◊〉 thereof Againe we haue no reason to beleeue the bodie of Christ is truely and really present in the Sacrament but only to the end that it may in the Supper be truely and really eaten to nourish and feed mens soules And if he be eaten onely mentally by Faith we haue no ground to thinke that he is present more than mentally by Faith the presence of his bodie being ordained vnto the manducation thereof for else why did he institute this Sacrament
vnder the elements of Bread and Wine But if Christ be not present wholly and totally vnder the forme of Bread he cannot be truely and really eaten Why then is his bodie brought from heauen to be there really present or how can the bodie of Christ being coextended in place according to the naturall dimensions thereof enter into the mouth of the Receiuer yea in at the mouth of the wicked and vnworthie as Fathers teach ANSWER That bodie which is neither circumscriptiuely nor definitiuely present in the outward signes is not substantially contained in the same The bodie of Christ is neither of these waies present in the outward signes not the first way for in circumscription the continent must be as large or ample as the thing contained not the second way for that which is definitiuely in one place cannot at the same time be substantially in another And yet although the bodie of Christ is not according to his materiall substance wholly and intirely vnder the outward elements notwithstanding the bread may truely be tearmed the bodie of Christ because of a relatiue Pactionall and Sacramentall Vnion and Donation of the things signified together with the signes worthily receiued For God Almightie hath made a Couenant with his Church and faithfull people to nourish their Soules with the liuely food of the Bodie and Bloud of Christ Ioh. 6.32 He hath also appointed a Sacrament in which there shall be made a representation and commemoration of his passion vntill his comming againe 1. Cor. 11.26 and he hath annexed a promise therunto which is that as often as the same is lawfully administred he will communicate to all worthie receiuers the Bodie and Bloud of Christ 1. Cor. 10.16 Now then when the outward Sacrament is administred and receiued as is aforesaid God remembring his Couenant reacheth vnto the soules of his people by the powerfull hand of the Holy Ghost the very bodie of his Sonne crucified and his blood shed and powred out and hereby feedeth and nourisheth them to eternall life The Obiect or thing carnally and bodily receiued is the Elementall Creature The Obiect and thing receiued spiritually and internally is the bodie and blood of Christ crucified vpon the Crosse. The Donour and distributer of this inward gift is the blessed Trinitie the Sonne of God himselfe and by appropriation the Holy Ghost The eating and drinking of it is by Faith Iohn 6. 29. 35.40.47 And thus if it be demanded What kind and manner of Presence we maintaine It is answered First a mentall and intellectuall presence by way of representation Secondly an exhibitiue presence by way of donation and Tradition on Gods part and faithfull reception on mans part whereby wee possesse the thing giuen and are vnited mystically to Christ our Head Now to the effecting hereof locall and corporeall presence is not necessarie A father and his sonne may bee absent by distance of place one from the other yet the sonne is truely and really vnited with his father so as his fathers nature is in him and he hath right in his fathers person and estate A mans goods may be at Constantinople and yet he liuing in England is a true possessour or owner and proprietarie of them and he may communicate and vse them and distance of place hindreth not his right and proprietie Now although there bee a difference betweene things temporall and spirituall yet thus farre there is agreement That euen as wee possesse temporall meanes being locally absent so likewise wee may receiue and partake Christs bodie and blood locally distant by the power of Faith and by the donation of the Holy Ghost according to a celestiall and spirituall manner For in Baptisme we are washed with the blood of Christ and wee put on the Lord Iesus Gal. 3.27 Now that which is absent cannot wash or bee put on in a naturall manner but a spirituall vnion and application is necessarie Euen so in the holy Eucharist wee are nourished with the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour but to the performance hereof locall presence or presence by indistance of place is of no vse but a spirituall vnion and application is sufficient These things premised the Iesuits Argument is answered as followeth First The bodie and bloud of Christ are in such sort truly and really presented in the holy Eucharist as that they are truly and really eaten not bodily but spiritually by Faith Secondly Although they be receiued by Faith onely yet they are truly and really communicated by the powerfull operation of the Holy Ghost Thirdly Christs bodie is not brought locally from Heauen vnto Earth but being crucified vpon the Crosse is symbollically represented vpon Earth by the Sacramentall signes and actions and being locally at this day sitting on Gods right hand in Heauen is also truly and effectually communicated and giuen to worthie Communicants Fourthly The Sacrament is not instituted in vaine although Christs bodie and bloud are not locally present in the outward Elements For if vpon the worthie receiuing of the Sacrament the Holy Ghost truly and effectually communicates vnto vs Christs bodie and bloud to be the food and life of our soules and doth not so effectually and fruitfully communicate the same by any other meanes then there is great vse of this Sacrament and vnspeakable benefit receiued by it although Christs bodie and bloud are not locally contained within the outward signes Fifthly The Fathers teach not that Infidels and wicked persons receiue in at their bodily mouth the naturall bodie and bloud of Christ. First The Fathers cited in the Margine of the Iesuits booke speake not of wicked and vnworthie persons Secondly They affirme expressely That Infidels and wicked persons receiue the bodie of Christ onely Sacramento tenus that is according to the visible signe and not reuera in truth and in deed Panem Domini non Panem Dominum The Bread of the Lord and not the Bread which is the Lord or the Lords Bodie The Author bearing the name of S. Cyprian saith Lambunt Petram Wicked men like AEsops Foxe licke the outside of the Rocke but sucke not out the Honey They receiue saith Bernard Corticem Sacramenti furfur Carnis the outward Barke of the Sacrament and the Branne of Christs flesh Beda Omnis Infidelis non vescitur carne Christi No vnbeleeuer eateth the flesh of Christ. Hilarius Panis qui descendit de Coelo non nisi ab eo accipitur qui Dominum habet Christi membrum est The Bread which came downe from Heauen is receiued of him onely which hath the Lord and is a member of Christ. Cyril of Alexandria For as much as wicked men doe not liue nor are reformed to immortalitie they eat not that flesh Origen If it were possible for one perseuering a wicked man to eat the Word which became Flesh being liuing Bread it would not haue beene written Whosoeuer eateth this Bread shall liue
mankinde when there be others that do abundantly complic with that duty to which mankind is in general bound multiplicamini replete terram Secondly when the end of tion is such as euery man must indeauour the attayning thereof to the end that a man be bound to vse that institution it is further required that the thing instituted be necessarie for attaining of that end for if there be other meanes ordained sufficient for the attaining of that end man is not bound to vse such particular diuine institutions For example man is bound to maintaine his corporall life so long as nature will permit and to this end God created varietie of fruites yet no man is bound by diuine institution to eate fruites there being other meanes instituted for the maintenance of life Applying this to our purpose it is apparent that by force of diuine institution no man is bound to vse Communion vnder both kinds For though the end why Christ did institute the Sacrament in both kinds be necessarie and all must indeauour the attaining thereof to wit maintenance and increase of grace the life of the soule yet there be other meanes by which we may attaine to this end Whence it is that learned Diuines hold that the Sacrament of the Eucharist is not Necessarium necessitate Medij as they speake that is the vse thereof is not a necessarie meanes for the maintenance of spirituall life but a man wanting meanes of Sacred Communion may by other meanes preserue himselfe in the state of grace And though we should suppose that actuall Communion were a necessary meanes to preserue spirituall life yet Communion vnder one kind is abundantly sufficient thereunto For the Sacrament in the sole forme of Bread contayning the Author and fountaine of life whole and intire according to Body Soule Bloud and his infinite person is abundantly sufficient for the refection of the soule yea no lesse sufficient than Communion vnder both kinds For this one kind 〈◊〉 within it nothing lesse than what is contained in both and Christ promiseth life to sole manducation Qui manducat me ipse viuit propter me and vnto the sole reception of his Body vnder the forme of Bread Panis quem ego dabo caro mea est pro mundi vita qui manducat hunc panem viuet in aeternum If the Tree of life in the midst of Paradise if the Manna of the Jewes the Bread of Angells did suffice to nourish the body without Drinke Why should we deny this soule-nourishing sufficiencie vnto the sole body of Christ were the same alone in the Bread but specially being there conioyned with his soule and his most precious bloud ANSWER FIrst the ground of the obiection laid by the Iesuit in certaine comparisons taken from Marriage Meatand Drinke is of no consequence for as touching Wedlocke the same presupposing humane Propagation is necessarie both Necessitate Medij and Necessitate praecepti that the generation of man may be morally lawfull Heb. 13.4 so likewise presupposing that Christians doe receiue the holy Eucharist it is necessarie Necessitate finis or Medij necessitate praecepti That they receiue the same as the Author appointed it to be receiued which was not in one kind but in both And as touching Food it is necessary that man receiue it in some kind or other for the sustenance of his life but because God hath left it to the libertie of mans Election to vse which kind he liketh and hath not by law or precept obliged him to any one kind in speciall thereforeman is free in choosing his materiall Food and obtaineth the end of Food and obserueth the law of his Maker when he orderly vseth any kind thercof But in the matter of the holy Eucharist as God hath not made it adiaphorous for man to change the Elements substituting Water and Broath or Flesh in the stead of Bread and Wine so likewise he hath not permitted it to humane discretion to omit or vse the Sacramentall signes but hath by expresse precept obliged his Church to thevse of one signe as well as the other But I wonder that the Iesuit in this discursiue preamble would vse an instance from our naturall foode than which nothing by wayof inference doth more expresly refute him Can he in the Sacrament make mention of Food and not consider that our Sauiours intent in the institution was to proportion our Spirituall food to our Corporall In our bodily nourishment haue we not need of drinke as well as meat Did not our Sauiour therfore adde the Cup to the Bread and equally blessed both How dare they then make the repast of our soules a dry banquet And although God neuer bound any man to eate all kind of meat yet he neuer forbad any man all kind of drinke Secondly If the matter or materiall part of compounded things belongs to their substance then the defalcation of one kind is against the integritie of the substance of the Eucharist For the Element of Wine vnto which answereth the distribution and reception thereof is a medietie or halfe part of the matter of the holy Communion and if the taking away thereof is not against the substance of Christs Institution then likewise the taking away of Bread which is the other part and the retaining of Wine onely is not against the same for the blood of Christ is as noble a part of Christ and hath as great vertue necessitie and commendation in holy Scripture as his bodie strictly taken and consequently the outward signe heereof is as necessarie for all the members of the Church as the externall signe of his bodie But against this the Iesuit argueth as followeth If Lay people may attaine the end for which Christ ordained the Eucharist without receiuing in both kindes then Communion vnder one kinde is not against the substance of Christs Institution But Lay people may attaine the end c. to wit maintenance and increase of grace by Communion in one kinde because one kinde containeth in it nothing lesse than what is contained in both Ioh. 6. v. 55 58 59. Ergo Communion vnder one kinde is not against the substance of Christs Institution ANSWER The sequele and assumption of this Argument are denied First Communion vnder one kinde may be of the substance of Christs Institution although the end and fruit of the holy Eucharist might bee receiued by other meanes for as in the Sacrament of Baptisme the end is regeneration and remission of sinnes Acts 22. 16. Tit. 3. 5. and this end in some cafe may bee obtained without aspersion of water as appeareth in Baptismo sanguinis when Martyrs decease without Sacramentall Baptisme and yet to be washed or sprinkled with water is of the substance of Christs Institution so likewise Communion in both kindes is of the substance of Christs Institution although the end and fruit of the holy Eucharist to wit continuance and increase of grace may be obtained by
speciall Promise of Diuine assistance and grace is annexed to the Sacramentall signes vsed and receiued according to Christs Institution which belongeth not to other signes and figures therefore it is inconsequent to say one Element receiued alone signifies as much in substance as both Ergo the vse of one Element is as profitable and effectuall as the vse and reception of both But if the obiection be reduced to forme the defect will be more apparent If there is the same signification of one single Element which there is of both then there is the same benefit obtained by receiuing one which is obtained by receiuing both But there is the same signification of one single Element which there is of both to wit spirituall Food vnion of the Faithfull and Christs passion Ergo There is the same benefit obtayned by receiuing in one kind as in both I answer First denying the consequence of the Maior Proposition For although there were the same signification in one Element which is of both yet there is not equall benefit reaped by receiuing one as is reaped by receiuing both because the promise of Grace is annexed to the receiuing both and not to the receiuing of one without the other for when a promise is made vpon condition of a duty to be performed the promise is not fulfilled but vpon obseruing the condition Now Christ hauing instituted the Sacrament as a seale of his Couenant and appointed the same to be receiued in both kinds as his Institution shewes the Church cannot expect that Christ should fulfill his promise in giuing his flesh and blood by the Sacrament vnlesse the Church obserue his ordinance and doe that which he appointed Also obedience is better than Sacrifice 1. Sam. 15. 22. but when we administer and receiue in both kinds we obey Christ saying Drinke ye all of this and we disobey when we doe otherwise Therefore although there were the same signification of one Element which is of both yet the same benefit is not reaped by receiuing one which is obtained by receiuing both Secondly to the assumption I answer that there is a more perfect and liuely representation of spirituall feeding and refection and of coniunction of the faithfull and of Christs death and Sacrifice vpon the crosse by both the signes than by one and pouring out of the wine doth in a cleerer manner represent and signifie the effusion of Christs bloud and also the separation of his body and soule and there is a more perfect similitude of nourishment in Bread and Wine together than in Bread alone Eccles. 4. 9. so likewise two Elements represent more than one and nourish more than one and vnite more than one Otherwise if the representation of one Element were equall to the representation of both to what purpose should our Sauiour institute a Sacrament in two kinds which according to Papists who will seeme wiser than God is as sufficient in one kind as in both IESVIT The fourth thing required to the substance of a Sacrament is Causalitie to wit to worke in the soule the Spirituall effects it signifies This Causalitie cannot be wanting to the Sacrament vnder one kind wherein is contayned the fountaine of Spirituall life For the cause why the Sacrament in both kinds giueth grace and refresheth the soule is That Christ is assistant vnto them bound by his promise at the presence of sensible signes to worke the proportionable spirituall effects in disposed soules But Christ is in the Sacrament vnder the forme of Bread and he is able through infinite power and bound by inuiolable promise to worke the effect of grace preseruing vnto life eternall the worthy participant of this Sacrament vnder the forms of Bread Qui manducat hunc panem viuet in aeternum Not any doubt then may be made but the Sacrament in one kind is full entire compleate in substance and by participation thereof prepared consciences doe receiue the benefite of celestiall fauour that conserueth the life of the soule with daily increase in perfection ANSVVER The summe of this obiection is There is the same power of causing Grace in one signe receiued alone as in both because Christ the Fountaine of Grace is receiued in one signe alone Ioh. 6. 51. Therefore the receiuing of one signe alone is as sufficient and profitable as the sumption of both The Antecedent of this Argument is denyed And the Scripture Ioh. 6. 51. saith not Whosoeuer eateth Sacramentall Bread without Wine shall liue for euer but if any eat this Bread which came downe from Heauen to wit Christ Iesus incarnate shall liue for euer And then it followeth Vnlesse you eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his bloud you shall not haue life in you Ioh. 6.53 Now let the Romist chuse which Exposition hee pleaseth If our Sauiour in these last words speaketh of Sacramentall and Spirituall eating ioyntly then Communion in both kinds is necessarie to life eternall and if he speake of Spirituall eating only by Faith then this Scripture prooueth not the necessitie of receiuing eyther Bread or Wine and much lesse prooueth it that there is the power of causing Grace in receiuing Bread alone IESVIT §. 4. Communion vnder one kind not against Christ his Precept ALthough Communion vnder both kinds pertaine not to the substance of the Sacrament yet if Christ did specially command the same we are bound to that obseruance and should by Communion vnder one kind sinne not against his Sacrament and Institution but against a speciall Diuine Precept ANSWER WHen Christ instituted the Sacrament he prouided and prescribed two materiall Elements and not one onely or none and he sanctified and distributed both and with his Institution and Practise he conioyned a Precept Doe this in remembrance of me Drinke ye all of this Saint Paul likewise saith Let a man prooue himselfe and so let him eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup and the practise of the holy Apostles in their dayes and of the successours of the Apostles and Saint Pauls owne practise appeareth 1. Cor. 10.16 cap. 11.26 and he describeth Communicating by taking the Cup as a most noble part saying Yee cannot drinke the cup of the Lord and the cup of deuils 1. Cor. 10.21 Iustin Martir who borders vpon the Apostles saith That Christians in his age distributed the sanctified Bread and Wine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to euery one present and he addeth further that the Apostles taught That Iesus commanded them to doe thus Saint Chrysostome saith That whereas in the old Law there was a difference betweene Priests and Laicks in communicating of Victimes in the New Testament it is otherwise for one Bodie and one Cup is ministred to all This practise continued as a Law more than a thousand yeeres after Christ. And Haimo who liued in the yeere 850. saith That in his dayes all the people receiued out of the
no Lye nor his Power any Inconstancie Because therefore Christ hath a true and perfect Bodie both in regard of substance and matter and also in respect of quantitie stature measure posture proportion c. and because euerie true humane bodie by the Ordinance of the Creator who hath formed and constituted the seuerall kinds and natures of things after a speciall manner is determined to one indiuiduall place at one instant and must also haue distinction and diuision of parts with a length latitude and thicknesse proportionall to the quantitie thereof Therefore except God himselfe had expressely reuealed and testified by his Word that the contrarie should be found in the humane bodie of Christ and that the same should haue one manner of corporall being in Heauen and another in the holy Eucharist at one and the same time a Christian cannot be compelled to beleeue this Doctrine as an Article of his Creed vpon the sole Voyce and Authoritie of the Laterane or Trident Councell Some learned Papists confesse ingeniously That secluding the Authoritie of the Church there is no written Word of God sufficient to enforce a Christian to receiue this Doctrine And moderne Pontificians are not able to confirme their present Tenet to wit That Christs humane bodie may be in many vbities or places at one time and that the whole bodie of Christ is circumscriptiuely in Heauen and according to the manner of a Spirit and of the Diuine nature it selfe without extension of parts in euerie crumme of the Sacramentall formes This Doctrine I say Papals are not able to confirme by the vnanimous Testimonie and Tradition of the antient Church Therefore because the same is grounded neither vpon Scripture nor Tradition they begge the question when they alleadge Gods omnipotent power for it must first of all and that vpon infallible Principles appeare That God will haue it thus before his omnipotencie be pleaded that he is able to make it thus But the Iesuites Sophisme whereby hee would intangle vs within the snares of fundamentall Errour when wee denie Christs bodily presence in many places at once proceedeth in this manner No bodie can be truely receiued in many places at once vnlesse the same be corporally present in many places at once The Bodie of Christ is truely receiued in many places at once to wit in euery place where the holy Eucharist is administred Ergo The Bodie of Christ is present in many places at once I answere The Maior Proposition is denyed for there is a twofold manner of true Presence and consequently of Receiuing one Naturall by the hand and mouth of the bodie Another Mysticall and Spirituall by the deliuerie of the holy Ghost and by the apprehension and action of the soule First The holy Ghost truely and verily reacheth and presenteth the Obiect which is Christs Bodie and Blood crucified and offered in Sacrifice for mans Redemption Secondly The reasonable soule being eleuated by a liuely and operatiue Faith apprehendeth and receiueth the former obiect as really verily and truely after a spirituall and supernaturall manner as the bodie receiueth any corporeall or sensible obiect after a naturall manner Iohn 1. 12. Ephes. 3. 17. Fulgentius saith Filium Dei vnicum per fidem recipiunt They receiue the onely Sonne of God by Faith Our Sauiour saith That holy Beleeuers receiue the Flesh and drinke the Blood of Christ Iohn 6. 50 53 54. Credendo by 〈◊〉 v. 35.47 Paschasius hath these words The flesh and blood of Christ c. are truely 〈◊〉 by Faith and vnderstanding It is not lawfull to eate Christ with teeth This Sacrament is truely his flesh and his blood which man eateth and drinketh spiritually 〈◊〉 saith Hold readie the mouth of thy Faith open the iawes of Hope stretchout the bowels of Loue and take the Bread of life which is the nourishment of the inward man Eusebius Emisenus When thou goest vp to the reuerend Altar to bee filled with spirituall meates by Faith behold honour and wonder at the sacred Bodie and Blood of thy God touch it with thy minde take it with the hand of thy heart and chiefly prouide that the inward man swallow the whole Saint Ambrose Comedat te cor meum panis Sancte panis viue panis munde veni in cor meum intra in animam meam Let mine heart eate thee oh holy Bread oh liuing Bread oh pure Bread come into my heart enter into my soule Saint Augustine There is another Bread which confirmeth the heart because it is the Bread of the heart And in another place Then is the Body and Blood of the Lord life to each man when that which is visibly taken in the Sacrament is in very truth spiritually eaten spiritually drunken Now from the former Testimonies it is manifest that the Bodie and Blood of Christ may truely and really bee eaten and receiued by operatiue Faith in the Sacrament And if it bee further obiected That spirituall eating and drinking of the Bodie and Blood of Christ may bee without the Sacrament I answere That the same is more effectually and perfectly accomplished in the Sacrament than out of the Sacrament because the holy Ghost directly and in speciall when the Sacrament is deliuered exhibiteth the Body and Blood of Christ as a pledge and testimonie of his particular loue towards euery worthie Receiuer and the liuely representation and commemoration of Christs death and Sacrifice by the mysticall signes and actions is an instrument of the Diuine Spirit to apply and communicate Christ crucified and to increase and confirme the Faith Charitie and pietie of Receiuers Lastly It is remarkeable that vntill the thousand yeeres and more after Christs Ascension Orthodoxall Christians beleeued that the Bodie and Blood of Christ were truely and really present and deliuered to worthie Receiuers in and by the holy Eucharist according to St. Pauls Doctrine 1. Cor. 10.16 And that the same must be spiritually receiued by Faith or else they profited nothing But the manner of Presence which some Modernes now obtrude by Consubstantiation or by Transubstantiation was not determined as an Article of Faith And to say nothing of Consubstantiation the defence whereof inuolueth them in many absurdities which vndertake for it it is apparant that Transubstantiation is a bastard plant and vpstart weed neuer planted by the heauenly Father but the same sprang vp in the declining state of the Church and it is perplexed and inuolued with so many absurdities and contradictions to Veritie formerly receiued that our Aduersarie was transported with partiall folly when he presumed to ranke the refusall of this new and prodigious Article among fundamentall Errours IESVIT EIghtly Their denying the Sacrament of Penance and Priestly Absolution the necessarie meanes for remission of finnes committed after Baptisme ANSVVER THe Obiector by Penance vnderstandeth not Repentance as it is a vertue for Protestants beleeue true
belong to the substance of this Mysterie and cannot be called in question without danger of misbeleefe First the Reall presence of the whole Bodie of Christ vnder the formes of bread Secondly that this is done by Transubstantiation ANSWER Whatsoeuer is certainely reuealed in holy Scripture concerning the manner of Christs Presence in the Sacrament must be beleeued and not denied and so much is reuealed as is sufficient to inable the Minister people to vnderstand by Faith that Christs word and promise saying This is my bodie are infalliblie true and alwayes fulfilled when his Ordinance is obserued But Christ affirmeth not that the shapes of bread and wine are his Bodie and Blood neither that he is present by carnall vnion of his naturall Bodie and Blood with the formes or accidents of the Elements or that his Bodie and Blood are present in the holy Eucharist by Transubstantiation IESVIT §. 1. That the Reall presence of the whole Bodie of Christ vnder the formes of Bread belongs to the substance of the Mysterie TO prooue this I suppose as certaine that the Bodie of Christ is truely and really in the Sacrament of his Supper This I may iustly suppose seeing your Maiestie doth professe to hold a presence of the Body of Christ in the Sacrament no lesse true than we hold and consequently you will not vnderstand the words of Christ figuratiuely as Sacramentaries doe for they make the Body of Christ present in the Eucharisticall Bread but as in a figure holding not a true nor a reall presence but onely a presence by imagination and conceit as is euident ANSVVER Reall presence is taken two wayes First for a true and effectuall presence of the body and blood of Christ so as man receiuing the externall signes by his naturall parts receiueth also the thing signified and presented by the action of his spirituall facultie to wit by an operatiue faith Ioh. 6.51.53 54 55 56 57. Secondly for a corporall presence when the thing signified and presented is according to the naturall substance thereof contayned vnder the shapes of the outward signes and together with them conueyed into the mouth stomacke and bodily parts His most excellent Maiestie and all his Orthodoxall people beleeue reall presence according to the first acceptation but the fame is denyed according to the latter acceptation The Iesuit being ignorant of this distinction or else dissembling the same disputeth as followeth They which hold a reall presence of Christs body no lesse true than Papists themselues hold cannot vnderstand the words of Christ This is my body c. figuratiuely But his Maiestie holdeth a reall presence of Christs body no lesse true than Papists themselues hold Ergo His Maiestie cannot vnderstand the words of Christ This is my body figuratiuely I answer The Maior of the former argument is denyed for a true reall and effectuall presence of Christs body and blood may bee taught and deliuered by a figuratiue speech for First the mysticall head is really truely and effectually present to the mysticall body and yet notwithstanding this presence is taught in holy Scripture by figuratiue words Read Psal. 45. Salomons song Eph. 5. Ioh. 15. Secondly one part of our Sauiours words about the Sacrament to wit This cup is the new Testament in my blood Luc. 22.20 is figuratiue by confession of Romists themselues and yet they hold the thing expressed and meant by those words to be really giuen It is false therefore which the Iesuit and his consorts affirme That Protestants expounding the words of Christ This is my body figuratiuely doe by this sence ouerthrow the true presence of Christs body and bloud in the holy Eucharist and bring in onely a fantasticall and imaginarie presence for a mysticall Presence wrought by the power of the holy Ghost is as reall and true a presence in one kind as a corporall and carnall presence is in another kind But the Romists themselues are the men which contending for their carnall Presence giue vs a fantasticall body of Christ in stead of a true and naturall body and Phantasticall Elements to wit Accidents and emptie shadowes of Elements in stead of the substantiall creatures of Bread and Wine by this absurd doctrine vtterly subuerting the holy Sacrament IESVIT Wherein as your Maiestie knowes they contradict the antient Church which teacheth expresly That Christ did not say this is a figure of my body but this is my body and exhorts vs to beleeue Christ on his word he said This is my body I pray you let vs beleeue him whom we haue beleeued veritie cannot vtter vntruth and herein acknowledge with your Maiestie a most high and incomprehensible Mysterie which were no Mysterie at all the words being vnderstood in a meere figuratiue sence ANSWER The question is not Whether Christ vttered these words or not This is my body This cup is the new Testament in my bloud Neither is there any doubt of the veritie of our Sauiours speech or whether we must beleeue his word or not to which purpose Gaudentius speaketh but the question is concerning the sence of the words to wit whether This is my body This cup is the new Testament in my blood are to be expounded literally Arguments for the negatiue part are these which follow First if the substance of Bread and Wine be deliuered in the Eucharist our Aduersarie will grant that the words are figuratiue because one indiuiduall substance cannot be predicated of another properly But it shall be prooued in the sections following both out of Scripture and Fathers that the substance of Bread and Wine are deliuered in the holy Eucharist Secondly the words whereby the wine is consecrated Luc. 22.20 are tropicall by the confession of our Aduersaries Thirdly if the words be taken properly then the body of Christ and the bloud of Christ are deliuered and receiued without the soule and deitie of Christ for in proprietie of speech the body is a distinct and diuers thing from the soule and likewise the blood Fourthly that which Christ deliuered to bee eaten and drunke by his Disciples he did sacramentally eate and drinke himselfe Luc. 22.15 as S. Hierome S. Chrysostome Euthymius with many Schoole-men affirme But if the words be litterally vnderstood then he did eat his owne body and drinke his owne blood Fiftly if the words be vnderstood literally then Christ gaue his passible and mortall body to the Disciples but I trow no Iesuit will maintaine that a body mortall and passible can be in many Hosts or mouths at once neither can the same be corporally eaten without sensible touching and feeling thereof or diuiding one part thereof from another Sixtly if our Sauiours words be literally expounded then Infidells dogges and swine may eate the flesh and drinke the bloud of the Sonne of man but all that eate the flesh and drinke the bloud of the Sonne of man haue
euerlasting life Ioh. 6.49.50 51.54.56 Seauenthly if our Sauiours words were literall regular and plaine as Papists pretend then they themselues could not bee distracted and diuided about the sence thereof But they are notoriously diuided First Some of them say that the Pronoune This signifieth nothing Others say it signifies the Bread Alex. Hales Hocest corpus meum sensus est signatum hoc signo quod est panis transubstantiandus in corpus meum est corpus meum that is The sence of these words This is my body is the Bread presently to bee transubstantiate into my body is my body Some say it signifieth the Accidents and formes of Bread others it signifieth the body of Christ. Some say it signifieth confusedly that which is contayned vnder the formes And euery of these opinions hath sundry crookes windings and limitations Secondly Touching the Verbe substantiue est is some expound it by continetur vnder these formes my bodie is contained Others expound it by Erit This shall be my bodie when the sentence is ended Some say it signifieth Transmutatur It is changed and conuerted Thirdly Touching the words Corpus meum my Bodie Some say it is Materia prima The first matter of Christs Bodie Others The materiate Bodie with the reasonable soule Others A Bodie organicall without reference to being a liuing Bodie or a dead Others A liuing Bodie Some say it is a Bodie without quantitie dimensions or parts Others A Bodie hauing quantitie without extension figure order of parts Others A bodie hauing quantitie without extrinsecall reference to place an immateriall Bodie like vnto Angels and Spirits and they resemble the same by the Image of mans face reflecting in a glasse A Bodie hauing the stature of a man and yet contained in euerie crumme of bread Thus whiles Romists denie that there is a figure in our Sauiours words they fall into innumerable absurdities in stead of the true and perfect bodie of Christ crucified for vs and communicated in the holy Eucharist they reach vs a fantasticall bodie and a very vaine shadow and Image of Christs reall bodie But the Aduersarie to make the contrarie Tenet appeare Catholicke affirmeth That the antient Church expresly denied our Sauiours words to be figuratiue and in his Margen he pointeth out certaine Authours Euthymius Theophilact Damascene c. I answere although these Authours being none of them antient but post nati affirme that Christ in the holy Eucharist deliuereth not onely a figure of his bodie but his true bodie which is also our Tenet yet they say not that there is no trope or figure in our Sauiours words Theophylacts words are Non tantum figura exemplar est corporis Christi c. It is not onely a figure or similitude of Christs bodie Euthymius Esaias beheld a fierie coale the coale was not simply or onely wood but fierie wood such is this fierie coale in this great Mysterie Secondly It is to be obserued that these Authours teaching that bread and wine are Sacramentally or mystically conuerted doe also maintaine that the said Elements remaine in their materiall substance and that Christs bodie and blood are receiued into the spirituall powers of the soule and they say farther That Christ changeth the worthie Receiuers into his Bodie IESVIT As for some places of Fathers brought to the contrarie how they are to be vnderstood your Maiestie is not ignorant Saint Augustine saying That Christ gaue to his Disciples a figure of his Bodie and Blood spoke not of a bare emptie figure but of the figure of a thing really present as likewise in another place when he saith Christ affirmed it was his Bodie when he gaue a signe of his Bodie though there he may seeme to speake in the opinion of the Manichees who held That Christ had not true flesh but a meere figure shape and shaddow of flesh against whom in that place he vndertakes to prooue That the figure of a thing may bee tearmed the thing it selfe Argumento ad hominem that Christ said This is my Bodie when hee gaue but a figure of his Bodie to wit as you thinke Tertullian hath this speech Christ taking bread into his hands and distributing it to his Disciples made the same his Body saying Hoc est corpus meum id est figura corporis mei where figura corporis mei is referred not vnto corpus meum as an explication thereof but vnto hoc in this maner hoc id est figura corporis mei est corpus meum This to bee Tertullians meaning appeares by the drift of his discourse in that place for Tertullian is to shew that whereas in the Old Testament Bread was afigure of the Bodie of Christ as appeares by the words of the Prophet Mittamus lignum in panem eius id est crucem in corpus eius Christ in the New Testament made this figure to be truely and really his Bodie taking Bread into his hands saying this that is This figure of my Bodie is my Bodie as if he said Bread which antiently was a figure of my Bodie I doe now make to be truely and really my Bodie and this is an vsuall phrase in Tertullian who not to interrupt the sentence of holy Scripture addeth his explication of the subiect not presently but after the Attribute as when he said Christus mortuus est id est vnctus the sence whereof is Christus id est vnctus mortuus est ANSWER Many of the Fathers treating of the Sacramentall signes call them Figures Representations Similitudes Memorials Antitipes c. of the Bodie and Blood of Christ. But that which is a figure similitude and representation of a thing is not properly the same Saint Augustine It is a figuratiue speech commanding vs to be partakers of the Lords Passion and sweetly and profitably to keepe in minde that his flesh was crucified and wounded for vs. The Lord did not sticke to say This is my bodie when hee gaue the signe of his bodie Origen This I speake of the typicall and figuratiue bodie Saint Ambrose Which is the figure of the bodie and blood of the Lord Iesus Saint Chrysostome In the sanctified vessell there is not the true bodie of Christ but a mysterie of his bodie is there contained Gratians Glosse The Diuine bread which representeth the flesh of Christ is called The bodie of Christ but improperly Beda Substituting his flesh and blood in the figure of bread and wine Druthmarus The blood of Christ is aptly figured thereby Bertram Bread and Wine is figuratiuely the Bodie and Blood of Christ. And Tertullian more antient than any of these saith That Bread representeth the Bodie of Christ And he saith in two places That it is a figure of Christs Bodie The Iesuit in his answer to these plaine testimonies taketh notice onely of S.
probabilitie be alleadged in fauour of reall Presence by Consubstantiation than for Transubstantiation Lastly The mysticall vnion betweene Christ and his members is ineffable and the manner incomprehensible and the Protestant Doctrine teaching a reall donation of the bodie and blood of Christ and a mysticall coniunction by the operation of the holy Ghost with the soules of faithfull Receiuers and that dead and corruptible creatures can be a meanes and instrument heereof is a great mysterie of godlinesse incredible to prophane persons and therefore the Primitiue Church which beleeued this Doctrine might iustly require that this Mysterie should not be manifested before Infidels and other infirme Christians vntill they were first instructed in the rudiments of Christianitie IESVIT Yea the Fathers did not feare to declare vnto Catechumens this Sacrament so farre as it was commemoratiue of Christ and his Passion as appeareth by the Treatises of Saint Augustine vpon Saint Iohn made before Catechumens out of which Treatises Protestants for their meere commemoratiue presence alleadge many Sentences to little purpose For he there explicates spirituall manducation by Faith and he excludes the grosse imagination of eating Christs bodie in his proper shape tearing it in pieces with the tooth but denies not yea rather insinuates another kind of spirituall manducation not onely by Faith but by reall sumption though to conceale the Mysterie from Catechumens he speakes not so clearely thereof Wherefore as the Palme tree the heauier the waight is that is laid vpon it the more it riseth vpwards as it were ioying in difficulties so a true Catholicke Christian feeling in the doctrine of Transubstantiation many seeming absurdities that presse carnall imagination to the ground groweth thereby more strong to beleeue it imbracing these difficulties as manifest signes that this doctrine was beleeued by the Primitiue Apostolicall Church On the other side Protestants finding the Presence of Christs body by Faith to be deuoyd of such difficulties may by the very lightnesse thereof suspect it is not the doctrine which the Fathers concealed from Jnfidells as more absurd to humane Imagination than any other mystery of Christian Religion ANSWER You obiect that the Fathers declared to Catechumens that is to Nouices in Christianitie a commemoratiue presence in the holy Eucharist but not a corporall presence by Transubstantiation and from hence you would inferre that the Fathers held two kinds of Presences of Christs body and bloud in the Eucharist the one soly spirituall by intellectuall apprehension the other corporall by reall sumption of Christs body into the mouth and stomacke of the receiuer and you pretend that S. Augustine was of this iudgement But you must remember that you are not now to deale with Aduersaries which will credite your bare words and proofes you haue none Therefore I answer First that the Fathers taught no other kind of Presence to them which were baptised and receiued the holy Eucharist than to Catechumens or vnbaptised Christians although they instructed the one sort more fully than the other Secondly S. Augustine teacheth not that Christs body is receiued inuisibly insensibly and according to the nature of a spirit by the mouth and stomacke of each Communicant but he teacheth onely two kinds of manducation in the Sacrament one both corporall and spirituall wherein the body of man receiueth the externall elements of Bread and Wine and the soule receiueth the true body and bloud of Christ by faith the other corporeall onely wherein the receiuer partaketh the outward signe and not the thing signified Panem Domini non panem Dominum the visible Sacrament of Christs body but not his very body and he affirmeth not vpon the sixt chapter of S. Iohn That a malicious sinner continuing such receiueth the very body and blood of Christ. Thirdly Protestants beleeue not onely a commemoratiue but also an exhibitiue presence of the thing signified together with the outward signe according to the manner formerly declared pag. 405. and this Presence is mysticall and such as may seeme incredible to vnbelceuers because of sundry difficulties repugnant to common sence to wit That Christs flesh by the vnspeakeable power of the holy Ghost should be after a sort incorporated into the soule and that corruptible and dead creatures should be eleuated and made effectuall instruments to apply and communicate Iesus Christ and the vertue of his death to faithfull Communicants IESVITS 2. Consideration This consideration is drawne from the qualitie of the difficulties obiected against this Mysterie which be such as a Christian in honour should neglect them For if it be the part of a prudent and intelligent man not to permit Imagination to preuaile against his Reason What a disgrace is it for a Christian that his faith should be conquered by these kind of difficulties For that the seeming absurdities of this misterie be not in respect of naturall Reason but meerely of Jmagination may hence appeare that some naturall truths be in a manner as difficile and incredible which will be seene if we compare the foure aboue mentioned difficulties with the difficulties some truths euident in nature haue ANSWER When difficulties obiected arise from experience of sence and principles of nature and there is no expresse or manifest word of God sufficient to mooue vs to beleeue the contrarie it is the part of each intelligent and prudent man rather to credite that which is apparent to sence and common reason than to beleeue Paradoxes vpon no true ground and reason IESVIT First we cannot imagine that the whole body of Christ can be contained in the compasse of a small Hoast But it is not more incredible that in a thing of small quantititie for example the wing of a Flye there should be so many parts as vnfolded and laid together would couer the whole face of the world both of heauen and earth And yet it is demonstrable in Philosophy That euen in the wing of a Flye there are so many parts as broad and long as the wing though still thinner and thinner that Almightie God separating and vnfolding them may therewith couer the whole world For certaine it is that some finite number of such parts so separated each of them as long and as broad as a Flyes wing would couer the face of the whole world certaine also it is That the wing of the Flye is still diuisible into more and more such parts so that no finite number is assignable but God may still separate from that wing a greater number without any end therefore it is certaine that in the wing of a Flye there is so much quantity as is sufficient to couer the face of the whole world both of heauen and earth if God would but separate and vnfold the same Is not this Secret of Philosophy as incredible to carnall Imagination as the being of Christs body within a small Hoast Wee that cannot comprehend things we see with eyes and feele with hands certainely we shall haue much adoe
flowers So the bodie of Christ by supernaturall participation of his Diuine Presence is really vpon earth in things visible inuisible in things hurtfull impassible in things noysome inuiolable in things impure immaculable to his friends that receiue him with loue most sweet and comfortable and ouerflowing in Graces but to the vnworthie present in a manner dead and sencelesse as if hee were not there at all And as hee that receiues into his armes a bodie wherein the spirit absorpt in contemplation neither feeling nor felt lyeth inclosed may bee said to imbrace the bodie without the spirit which is in that bodie insensible and as good as if it were not there so they that receiue vnworthily are sometimes said by the Fathers to receiue the Sacrament without the bodie of Christ because though the bodie of Christ bee really in the Sacrament they receiue yet hee is there in a dead manner in regard of them as if hee were not there at all because hee stirres not vp heauenly actions in them nor makes them feele the workings of his grace and loue in their sences ANSWER The glorified bodie of Christ being impassible cannot bee polluted or corrupted because although it retaineth the same essentiall forme figure and substance yet it is deliuered from all terrene staines and frailtie and conuerted into caelestiall puritie and stabilitie And as this bodie cannot be polluted so likewise it cannot be masticated or ground with mens teeth as a Roman Synod vnder Pope Nicholas compelled Berengarius to confesse But from impassibilitie to omnipresence and immensitie it followeth not for impassibilitie is an affection of finite creatures but omnipresence and immensitie are diuine and in communicable properties And although in an extasie there is alienation and independencie of the spirit vpon the sences yet this argueth not that Christs humane bodie is substantially and insensiblie in the consecrated creatures of Bread and Wine or according to the manner of Angelicall presence or rather a participation of diuine immensitie as the Iesuit compelled to turne vbiquitarie speaketh or without bodilie stature posture and dimensions Lastly the Obiector saith that wicked persons receiue into their bodilie mouthes and stomach the substance of Christs flesh He prooueth not this assertion but bringeth only a similitude taken from the spirit of man in an extasie and pretendeth that the Fathers did therefore affirme wicked persons to receiue the outward Sacrament without the bodie of Christ because Christ in regard of them is in the Sacrament after a dead manner But S. Augustine and other Fathers speake not figuratiuely or by similitude but literally and expressely saying Non manducant illam carnem wicked persons doe not eat that flesh The thing it selfe to wit the bodie of Christ whereof this Bread is a Sacrament is receiued of euerie man which eateth it to life and by no man to death IESVIT Thirdly We cannot imagine the same bodie can bee in many places together at the same time Jt is true but as hardly can we imagine the soule to be in the head and in the feet of a man one and the same without diui sion in it selfe or an Angell to bee in two townes of the countrie whereof he is president as distant one from the other as Yorke and London Also who can conceiue God who is infinitly one and indiuisible to be both in heauen and on earth at once What marueile then that imagination failes vs to apprehend the multiplyed presence of Christs bodie in the Sacrament which is Spirituall Angelicall Supernaturall comparable with the diuine that S. Gregorie Nissen stickes not to say Sicut Diuinitas replet mundum tamen vna est ita innumerabilibus locis offertur tamen vnum corpus est The bodie of Christ being glorious is for operation as swift and agill as any thought but a mans thought is so quicke that one may be by thought in two disjoined places at once for example in London and at Rome Some Diuines giue such agilitie to Angels that they can place themselues substantially where they please by a thought and thinke that as their thoughts so like wise their substances are so independent of corporall space that they can be naturally in two distinct places without being in the spaces interiacent But the agilitie of Christs glorious bodie is more excellent and perfect as being supernaturall than the naturall agilitie of Angells yea than of thoughts why then should we make any doubt but he may be disioined in different places at once ANSVVER This discourse being reduced to argumentation is as followeth If a soule may be in euerie part of the bodie the thought of man in many places an Angell in many distinct vbities and if God is in heauen and earth then the bodie of Christ may be in many places But the first is true Ergo c. It is answered First one part of the antecedent is false for an Angell being a finite creature is at one instant difinitiuely in one vbitie onely for that which mooueth and passeth from one vbitie to another is not in both the places at once but Angels mooue and passe from one place to another Genes 28. 12. Math. 4.11 cap. 12.43 Marc. 5.12 Ioh. 5.4 Genes 19.1 32.1 Apoc. 14.6 ca. 18.1 20.1 Damasc. li. 2. ca. 3. Angeli dum sunt in terra non sunt in coelo Whiles Angels are on earth they are not in heauen And the opinion of some Schoolemen alledged to the contrarie is not to be regarded because their owne fellowes teach that there is no certainetie of these and the like assertions Secondly the consequence is infirme because of the difference which is betweene a bodie and the things compared thereunto in the antecedent First the soule of man is in euery member of the bodie because it is the forme thereof and because it is by nature immaterial Secondly God is euery where because he is infinit Thirdly the thought of man is a spirituall or intentionall motion and action and not a substantiall thing therefore Speculando phantasmata it may conceiue and apprehend diuers distant obiects Per modum vnius at one instant Fourthly Angells are immateriall substances and therefore their motion and action is sodaine yet determined to one place at one instant but an humane body is materiall finite and limited to a certaine space and measure and differeth from all the former things mentioned in the argument in kind and motion in manner of being present Reade before pag. 180. Ergo haec nihil ad Rhombum Therefore all these instances to this purpose and question of bodies are no better than shadowes without bodies IESVIT Fourthly We finde difficultie to conceiue that accidents existing separated from any substance can performe the office of substance euen to the nourishment of mans body but we should perchance find as much difficultie to beleeue That of a little
kernell of an Apple a great tree may bee made and nourished by the force and vigour proceeding from the same did not we see by daily experience the same to be true that ashes may be made of glasse that stones in the stomacke of a Doue yron in the belly of an Ostridge be turned into flesh that of a rotten barke of a tree falling into the water should be bred and produced a perfect bird to me seemes more incredible than that God should make the accidents of Bread separated from their substance to nourish mans body for the dead barke of a tree may seeme to haue no more efficacie of it selfe to produce a liuing creature specially so perfect a bird as Barnacles than haue the accidents of Bread to feede and breede the flesh of a liuing man Yea many Philosophers teach and in my iudgement conuince that in substantiall generations where no cause coequall in perfection to the effect produced is present God by his Omnipotencie doth supplie deficiencie of naturall causes Why then should any man so much mislike our Doctrine that in this Mysterie where the substance of Bread wants God by the secret operation of his power supplies the defect thereof seeing by the opinion of many learned Philosophers his prouidence by the like secret speciall working doth ordinarily daily and hourely supply the manifold defects of substantiall secondarie Agents Neither is the manner how God can doe this difsicile to explicate For he may inable the quantitie of Bread to receiue and sustaine the working of mans nutritiue power and when in that quantitie there is the last accidentall disposition to the forme of flesh he can secretly produce againe Materiam primam that was of the Bread and combine the same with the prepared quantitie and the substantiall forme of Flesh What reason is there why God may not doe this yea doe it sooner than we speake it Wherefore the seeming absurdities of this mysterie being as J haue shewed meerely imaginarie and not like those against the Trinitie and the Incarnation wherein not so much imagination as reason findes difficultie it is the part not onely of sincere Christian faith but also of a cleere excellent wit to conceiue them and not to permit wandring vnruly fancie destitute of reason to controll our beleefe about the literall sence of Christs words so many waies by the grauest testimonies of Antiquitie recommended vnto vs. ANSVVER That Accidents may subsist and haue their naturall force and operation without a subiect of support or inhaerencie implies a contradiction for it is of the being and definition of Accidents to be in another or to be in their subiect And none of the Examples taken from a Kernell Ashes Iron in the belly of an Ostridge the barke of a tree c. are ad idem for these are not Accidents without a substance but reall bodies hauing by nature a proportion and propension to produce their owne effects either as seminall causes or true materials conuerted by heate fire and art or things putrescent formed and animated by the heate of the Sunne and other secret and naturall causes That an Akorne should become an Oake is wonderfull as the workes of God are yet it is as naturall as that a Lyon begets a Lyon nay as that the Sunne or fire shineth That of ashes is made glasse what is it but that a transparent bodie is made of a bodie not transparent so Yee of Snow c. And concerning Stones Iron c. I doe not thinke that these feed or nourish Doues Hawkes Struthiocameles c. but onely coole or cleanse them and this I count not impossible in nature that vegetatiue heate should in short time dissolue stones The Barnacles are generatio ex putri as are Mice Frogs and Serpents but what is this to accidents nourishing without matter and substance Now for all the former wee know the truth and certaintie by naturall reason and by experience of our sences but there is no naturall or supernaturall rule or Law no manifest demonstration either to sence or reason no reuelation of Faith that the abstracted formes of bread and wine subsist without a subiect and haue power to nourish and may bee tasted and felt and also putrifie but Romists presumptuously forme these Chimera's and Idols in the forge of their owne deceiued brest and they deserue to bee fed onely with accidents like Birds that pecked at the painted grapes which thinke to feed any intelligent Reader with such improper and extrauagant accidents IESVITS 3. Consideration Thirdly to make Christians incline to 〈◊〉 this Mysterie so difficile to carnall imagination this Consideration may be very potent to wit that in beleeuing the same on the one side there may be great merit and excellent faith if it be a truth and on the other side though which is impossible it should be false yet in beleeuing it we shall not fall into any damnable errour For although we suppose this an vnpossible case yet what can be laid to our charge which wee may not defend and iustifie by all the rules of equitie and reason if we be accused that we tooke Bread to be the body of Christ adoring the same as God so committing Idolatry we may defend that both for soule and body we are innocent herein For seeing the body is not made guiltie but by a guiltie mind euen our body may pleade not guilty seeing our mind our thoughts or deuotion were fully and totally referred vnto Christ whom we truely apprehend by faith as vailed with the Accidents of Bread and so may repell the reproach of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bread Worshippers with saying Quae nouit mens est pani nil vouimus illa Neither did we beleeue that the Bread was changed into Christs body vpon sleight reasons or mooued by the fancies of our owne head but contrary to our fancies out of Reuerence to the expresse words of Christ This is my body A sense declared by most antient Fathers defined by many generall Councells deliuered by full consent of our Ancestors so practised in the Church for many ages without any knowne beginning finally confirmed with the most credible and constant report of innumerable most euident miracles Can a Christian beleeue any points of Religion vpon surer grounds And if God at the day of iudgement will condemne none but such as liuing in this world wronged him in his honour Why should Catholikes feare any hard sentence in respect of their prompt Credulitie of Transubstantiation that is of Gods Word taken in the plaine proper sense Js it an 〈◊〉 to his veritie that they denie their senses correct their imaginations reforme their discourses abnegate their iudgements rather than not to beleeue what to them seemeth his Word Js it an iniury to his power to be persuaded he can doe things incomprehensible without number put the same body in innumerable places at once Make a body occupy no place and yet remaine a quantitatiue substance
in it selfe Js it iniury to his charitie to thinke that loue vnto men makes him vnite himselfe really and substantially with them and to be as it were incarnate anew in euery particular faithfull man entering really into their bodies to signifie efficatiously his inward coniunction by spirit vnto their soules Finally is it an iniury to his Wisedome to beleeue that to satisfie on the one side the will of his Father that would haue him euer in heauen sitting at his right hand on the other side the Ardencie of his owne affection vnto men desiring to be perpetually with them he inuented a manner how still remaining glorious in heauen he might also be continually on earth with his Church secretly not to take from them the merit of faith yet to afford full satisfaction to his owne loue really by continuing personall presence and most intime coniunction with them On the other side it imports them that thinke Transubstantiation impossible or that God cannot put the same body in different places at once to consider if they erre easie it is for men to erre that with the compasse of their vnderstandings measure the power of God how dangerous and vnexcusable their errour will prooue when they shall be called to giue vnto their omnipotent Maker a finall account particularly of this Doctrine so much derogating from him Let them thinke how they will answer if God lay to their charge the neglect of the most prudent and reasonable aduise which S. Chrys. giues Let vs beleeue God saith he let vs not reiect his Word though the same seeme secret and absurd vnto our cogitation and sense for his speech doth surpasse our reason and sense his words cannot deceiue vs but our senses be deceiued easily and often How will they reply if they be pressed with the Intergatory which S. Cyril makes vnto such misbeleeuers If thou couldst not comprehend the diuine operation of God Why didst thou not accuse the imbecility of mans wit rather than the omnipotencie of God Or how disputing or proposing so many arguments against Gods power reiecting or questioning the same because they could not vnderstand it they neuer called to mind the saying of S. Augustine Ecce quibus argumentis diuinae omnipotentiae humana contradicit infirmitas ANSWER This third and last consideration is a meere declamation grounded vpon a vaine supposition for it presumeth as granted the opinion of Transubstantiation to be most probable and reasonable as being declared by many antient Fathers defined by generall Councells c. But this supposition is a begging of the question for not so much as one antient Father or generall Councell did euer declare or define the same as it will plainely appeare to all iudicious Persons which shall compare and apply the sentences of Fathers and antient Councells to the Popish definition of Transubstantiation And the said Doctrine is not grounded vpon our Sauiours words and the miracles which Romists venditate to authorise the same are eyther Fryars fables or reports misapplyed and wrested to a contrary end And that there should be merit or at leastwise lesse perill in adhering to this doctrine rather than to any other may bee proclaimed ouer and ouer againe by Romists but it deserueth credit when they demonstrate That an opinion which is not grounded vpon diuine Reuelation and which containeth so many difficulties as cannot be solued and the beleefe whereof is vnnecessarie can be imbraced with safetie and expectation of reward To the words following in the Iesuit That he might also bee continually with his Church secretly it is answered That excluding Transubstantiation Christ Iesus is continually with his Church secretly by his grace spirit and mysticall vnion and he dwelleth in the hearts of iustified persons by faith Epkes 3. v. 17. S. Chrysostome S. Cyril and S. Augustine in the places obiected affirme that we are not to beleeue our dull and carnall sence when it suggesteth vnto vs that which is repugnant to faith and when it acknowledgeth no other force and operation in the holy Sacraments but that which is sensible and naturall But embracing this doctrine of the holy Fathers we cannot from thence extract the fancie of Transubstantiation Learned Papists themselues acknowledge the intricacies and difficulties of this Article many of them affirme that secluding the authoritie of the Romish Church there is nothing in diuine Reuelation compelling to beleeue it The doctrine is not Catholike or Antient The Propugners of it vntill the late Trident Councell disagree in that which is maine and substantiall in it and for auoiding one figure they make many Therefore it standeth not with Christian Wisedome to imbrace or maintaine this doctrine and Romists are more confident than prudent in imposing the same as an Article of the Creed censuring the Noncredents as hainous Heretikes My finall conclusion about this Article is That doctrine which is not expresly taught or formally deduced from holy Soripture which no antient Councell or Church for the first 600 yeares plainely taught and vnto which many aduerse passages are extant in the monuments of antiquitie also which is repugnant to sence and common reason and hath no apparent vtilitie ought not to be imposed as an article of diuine faith But such is the doctrine of Romish Transubstantiation Therefore it ought not to be imposed as an article of diuine faith and the Roman Church should either cancell this part of their new Creed or be lesse censorious in obtruding of it THE SEVENTH POINT COMMVNION VNDER ONE KIND AND THE ABBETTING OF IT BY CONCOMITANCIE IESVIT YOur most Excellent Maiestie in the Proposition of this Controuersie shewes your deepe insight into Theologicall difficulties perceiuing a maine ground whereon the Catholicke opinion of the lawfulnesse of Communion vnder one kinde standeth to wit Concomitancie which being granted Communion vnder one kind is iustified ANSVVER IF his Sacred MAIESTIE should yeeld you Concomitancie yet vpon that ground Communion in one kinde could not be iustified Neuerthelesse we denie both 〈◊〉 and Communion vnder one kinde IESVIT § 1. The Doctrine of Concomitancie prooued THe Doctrine of Concomitancie is that vnder the forme of bread not onely the bodie of Christ but also his precious blood and blessed soule are truely and really contained the bodie directly and by vertue of the words of Consecration the blood and the soule consequently for being contained within the bodie of Christ they must needs Concomitate that is follow the bodie in what place soeuer the same bee neither can any that acknowledges the reall Presence denie this Concomitancie without falling into many absurdities as I prooue by three Arguments ANSWER THe bodie of Christ is considered two wayes First According to the nature of a perfect liuing bodie secondly As it is represented and exhibited in the Sacrament If we consider it the first way the blood of Christ cannot properly be said to be
in his bodie by Concomitancie for then it were accidentally therein but as a part in the whole for as the bones sinews and veynes are integrall parts of anaturall humane bodie so likewise is the blood and naturall parts are in the whole by substantiall vnion not by Concomitancie for then they were in the bodie or belonging thereunto as an adiunct to his subiect If we consider the bodie of Christ taken for the more solid parts thereof as it is represented and exhibited in the Sacrament to wit as it was fixed to the crosse and diuided from the blood then according to this Sacramentall representation and exhibition the same alone neither containeth nor representeth the blood The sacred Eucharist is one intire Sacrament totum compositum hauing two externall Elements to wit Bread and Wine and these two signes or elements represent the materiall Sacrifice of Christ vpon the Crosse which consisted at the time of the Oblation thereof of a bodie fixed on a tree and the same dying by effusion of blood Luk. 22.21 And in the holy Eucharist Christ is as it were crucified before our eyes and his bodie and blood by representation are diuided and God Almightie vseth these mysticall creatures as instruments to communicate vnto euery worthie Receiuer the Sacrifice of Christ his Sonne 1. Cor. 10.16 But as the Sacrifice vpon the Crosse was not performed in one of these Indiuiduals apart or by it selfe but ioyntly in them both and without effusion of blood there is no remission of sinnes Heb. 9.22 So likewise in the holy Eucharist the bodie of Christ is represented as it was diuided from the blood and againe the blood as seuered from the bodie and God concurreth with both the Elements deliuered and receiued with the one as it were by inception and with the other by consummation and Communicants partake not the whole Sacrifice of Christ vntill they haue receiued both the materiall parts of the Sacrament Here then is no Popish Concomitancie either of the blood to the bodie when it is receiued apart or of the bodie to the blood when that is receiued alone but the Sacrament reacheth the bodie blood as they were diuided and they are then conioyned to make one Sacrifice when they are both deliuered and receiued The whole cannot be in one part neither doth one part Concomitate another but is substantially vnited to another and in a Sacrifice or Sacrament compounded of diuisible parts he which giueth or receiueth one materiall part doth not therein or thereby distribute or receiue the whole Neither againe is the Deitie vnited to the bodie or blood of Christ by Concomitancie but by personall vnion Thus then I argue Whatsoeuer is receiued in the Sacrament by vs was before offered to God vpon the Crosse. But the bodie of Christ hauing bloud in it by concomitance or the deitie in it by concomitancie or the bloud of Christ hauing in it the bodie or 〈◊〉 by concomitancie was not offered to God vpon the Crosse for before the effusion of the bloud the same was in the bodie as a part not by concomitancie After the full effusion the bloud was diuided from the bodie and the 〈◊〉 was with the bodie by personall vnion and not by concomitancie Ergo At this day the bodie and deitie of Christ are not in the bloud of Christ by concomitancie c. IESVIT First hee that acknowledgeth the reall presence of Christs sacred bodie vnder the forme of bread and denies concomitancie doth in his beleefe seperate the bloud and soule of Christ from his bodie but to seperate either Christs diuinitie from his humanitie or soule from his bodie or his bloud from his flesh is vnlawfull for such a beleeuer doth dissolue and destroy Christ Jesus and so is one of the number of them that S. Iohn condemneth Omnis Spiritus qui soluit Iesum non est ex Deo hic est Antichristus ANSVVER The summe of this obiection is Whosoeuer dissolueth Christ Iesus is an Antichrist Euerie one who admitteth reall presence and yet denyeth concomitancie dissolueth Christ Iesus for he seperateth the bloud and soule of Christ from his bodie and his diuinitie from his humanitie Ergo Whosoeuer in the reall presence denyeth concomitancie is an Antichrist Our answer is Whosoeuer dissolueth Christ Iesus according to S. Iohns meaning 1. Ioh. 4.3 by denying his deitie humanitie or personall vnion is Antichrist But the denying of Popish concomitancie inferreth none of these For although we affirme that in the holy Eucharist the bodie and bloud of Christ are represented distinctly and as they were diuided at his passion yet this dissolueth not Iesus but signifieth the seperation of his bodie and bloud formerly made vpon the Crosse And we beleeue that the holy Ghost according to the distinct signification of the sacramentall elements reacheth in a spirituall manner the bodie and bloud of Christ crucified to all faithfull communicants and addeth a seuerall effect and vertue of spirituall refection to each distinct part receiued according to the signification and this is confessed by Vasques Ruard Tapper Alexander Halles IESVIT And this argument hath greatest force in their opinion who shall thinke that Christ leaues heauen for the time to come downe really according to his Bodie and Bloud for how can the bodic of Christ come downe from heauen without bloud and soule vnlesse he come downe dead and so Christ should be not only mystically and figuratiuely but truely and really massacred in the Sacrament and the Eucharist be a bloudie Sacrifice and not incruent as the Fathers tearme it ANSWER None of our part thinke that Christ leaueth heauen to come downe really according to his bodie and bloud Act. 3.21 Donec seculum finiatur 〈◊〉 est Dominus Augustine in Ioh. tract 7. vntill the world be finished the Lord continues aboue And the Fathers tearme the holy Eucharist an vnbloudie sacrifice not because Christ is properly and in his substance offred therein but because his bloudie sacrifice vpon the crosse is by this vnbloudie commemoration represented called to remembrance and applyed Read the sentences of Fathers placed in the margen Read also Peter Lombard and the Enchiridion of Colen IESVIT Secondly The Priest in the person of Christ who is glorious in heauen or rather Christ being glorious in heauen by the mouth of the Priest saith This is my bodie but a bodie deuoid of bloud without soule and consequently dead and sencelesse is not the bodie of Christ as he is now glorious in heauen which hath bloud in the veines and is informed and glorified by a most excellent soule Therefore Christ glorious in heauen cannot say truely that a bodie void of bloud sence and soule is his bodie but soule life and bloud must needs follow and concomitate his bodie wheresoeuer it be ANSVVER First The new Testament acknowledgeth no proper sacrificing Priests but Christ Iesus onely
Heb. 7.23.27.28 ca. 10. 21. Neither is there any word or sentence in our Sauiours Doctrine concerning any reall sacrifice but only of himselfe vpon the Crosse neither was any altar vsed and ordained by Christ and his Apostles And if in all reall sacrifices the matter of the oblation must be really destroyed and changed and no physicall destruction or change is made in the bodie of Christ or in the elements of Bread and Wine by Transubstantiation then Romists haue deuised a reall sacrifice in the new Testament which hath no diuine Institution Secondly There is no created vertue inhaerent in the Sacramentall words as they are pronounced by a Priest to make the bodie of Christ locally present in the holy Eucharist but when all the words and all the actions are lawfully performed which Christ commanded the holy Ghost is assistant to his owne ordinance and deliuereth vnto faithfull people the crucified Bodie of Christ and the Bloud of Christ shed for our sinnes vpon the crosse And although the crucified bodie of our Sauiour was seuered from the soule yet the deitie euen then remained vnited to that bodie which then was not dead in regard of merit and satisfaction and all they which receiue that bodie by operatiue faith are made partakers of the merit and satisfaction thereof and by this receiuing are more and more ingraffed into Christ. IESVIT Thirdly If vnder the forme of bread were onely the bodie of Christ and his soule and bloud were not by concomitancie there the communicants should receiue the body of Christ but not truely Christ as our Aduersaries grant Caluin specially saying Quis sanus sobrius Christi corpus Christum esse sibi persuadeat And againe Ne fando quidem auditum est corpus Christi aut sanguinem Deum hominem appellari But Fathers affirme most constantly that not onely the bodie of Christ but also Christ himselfe is in the Sacrament that we take in the Dominicall refection The word made flesh that by the consecration of the Mysteries wee receiue the verie Sonne of God that vnder the forme of Bread we lodge within vs the Soueraigne King and that we see Christ feele Christ eate Christ Non regium puerum sed ipsum vnigenitum Dei filium An hundred other places might be brought where the Fathers call the consecrated Bread Christ and consequently they did not thinke there was the meere Bodie without Blood and Soule seeing as Caluin doth confesse Jt is an absurd manner of speech to terme Christ the meere bodie of Christ and such a forme of speech was neuer heard of hitherto in the world Ergo Concomitancie that is Christs reall and entire Bodie Soule Flesh Blood to be vnder the forme of Bread was acknowledged by the Fathers ANSVVER It is granted that worthie Communicants in the holy Eucharist receiue Christ Ioh. 6. 33 35 48. but Sacramentall eating his flesh and drinking his blood is the meanes by which they are vnited and incorporated with Christ himselfe therefore the Obiection to wit if the soule and blood were not in Christs bodie by Concomitancie Communicants should receiue the bodie of Christ but not truely Christ is inconsequent because by receiuing the one they receiue the other and the former is the instrumentall cause of the latter So in this kinde of spirituall Concomitancie neither the Fathers nor Caluin nor we nor you need be at any difference IESVIT This Principle which is no lesse certaine than the true reall Presence supposed I inferre the lawfulnesse of Communion vnder one kinde to wit vnder the sole forme of Bread by this Argument If Communion vnder one kinde be not against the substance either of Christs Institution or of his Sacrament or his Precept or of the Practise of the Primitiue Church it is lawfull iustifiable and for iust Reasons may be commanded by the Church This Proposition is true because there neither are other causes of dislike that may not be reduced to these foure neither doe Christs Institution or Sacrament or Precept or the Primitiue practise bind vs to keepe them further than in substance the accidentall Circumstances of Institutions Sacraments Precepts Primitiue Customes being variable according to the variable disposition of things vnto which the Church Militant in this life is subiect Now I assume Concomitancie being supposed it may be made euident that Communion vnder one kind is not against the substance either of Christs Institution or of the Sacrament or of his Precept or of his Primitiue practise For the substance of these foure Obligations is one and the same to wit that we be truly and really partakers of the Bodie and Bloud of our Sauiour which is fully done by Communion vnder one kind as I will shew in the foure consequent Sections ANSWER If Concomitancie which is stiled in this place by the name of a Principle were graunted yet Communion in one kind is not iustifiable For although it depriue not people of Christs Bloud as it is a bodily part contained in the veines yet it depriueth them of the Bloud of Christ as it was shed and poured out and offered in Sacrifice for them To the maine Argument I answer denying the Assumption For Communion in one kind is repugnant to the first Institution of the Eucharist by Christ who hallowed two materiall Elements Bread and Wine appointed them a distinct signification deliuered them indifferently to all the Communicants and annexed a Promise to the reception of the one as well as to the sumption of the other Secondly It is repugnant to the expresse Precept of Christ saying Drinke yee all of this and to S. Pauls Precept 1. Cor. 11. 28. Thirdly The practise of the holy Apostles and of the Primitiue Church is against it Fourthly The people which receiue in one kind receiue onely a Moitie and piece but not the whole and entire Sacrament IESVIT § 2. Communion vnder one kind not against the substance of the Institution of Christ. DIuine Institution is an Action of God whereby hee giues being vnto things with reference vnto some speciall end This end is twofold the one corporall and temporall for which God hath instituted agreeable 〈◊〉 meanes that men may be borne into this world he did institute marriage and for maintenance of the said life being had hee or dained many sorts of meate The other end is spirituall for which God hath instituted Sacraments as for the first obtaining of grace and spirituall life the Sacrament of Baptisme and Penance and for the preseruing of grace and increasing therein particularly the Sacrament of the Eucharist That a man bee bound to vse the Jnstitution of God two things are required First that the end thereof bee necessarie and hee bound to indeuour the attaining thereof Hence it is that though marriage bee the Jnstitution of God appointed to propagate mankinde yet euery man is not bound to marry because he is not bound to propagate
spirituall manducation alone without Sacramentall If the former illation of Romists were good it will follow likewise from thence that receiuing of Bread in the Eucharist is not of the substance of Christs Institution for whole and intire Christ according to bodie and soule and infinite person is in the blood alone if the Popish Doctrine of Concomitancie be true and if this be granted as of necessitie it must then Romists may mangle and transforme the holy Sacrament at their pleasure Secondly The end and fruit of the Sacrament is either common to the holy Eucharist with other meanes of Grace or else proper to it onely To eate the flesh and drinke the blood of the Sonne of God by recognition of Christs Passion and by Faith in the same may be an effect of the Gospell preached Ioh. 6. 54. But to eate the same flesh and blood communicated more distinctly and effectually by visible seales of the couenant of the new Testament is an end and fruit peculiar and proper to the holy Eucharist 1. Cor. 10. 16. A man may haue the same inheritance bestowed on him by the word and writing of the Donor yet when the same is confirmed by the seale of the Donor the donation is of greater validitie and if by Law or custome two seales should be appointed the apposition of one is not of equall force and validitie to the apposition of both so likewise because the Sonne of God made choyce of two outward signes namely Bread and Wine to represent and apply his Passion and Oblation and withall commanded the common vse and reception of both saying Drinke ye all of this and also annexed a speciall promise and blessing to both these outward signes ioyntly vsed therefore the vse sumption of one of these without the other cannot haue so great force to apply the effect fruit of the Sacrament as the vse reception of both And as in concauses or partiall causes the action of the one cannot produce the effect without the other and as when two keyes are prouided to open a locke the same is not opened by one of them onely so likewise Christ Iesus hauing instituted and sanctified two signes for the more proportionable and effectuall application of his Bodie and Blood it is grosse presumption in man to mutilate and cut off a part of that bodie which the wisedome of Christ hath framed in due and beautifull proportion and to diuide that which God hath ioyned together and without warrant from Gods reuealed word to attribute a totall effect to a partiall meanes and cause IESVIT Hence it is apparent that without any iust cause some Protestants inueigh against the Councell of Constance as professing to contradict the Precept of Christ because it decreed That the Sacrament may bee lawfully giuen vnder one kind Non obstante quod Christus in vtraque specie illud instituerit Apostolis administrauerit Notwithstanding Christs Institution and Administration thereof in both kinds to his Disciples This their bitternesse proceeds from zeale without knowledge not distinguishing the Jnstitution of God from his Precept which are very distinct for the Precept of both kinds if Christ gaue any doth bind whether both kinds be necessarie for the maintenance of mans soule in grace or no but the Jnstitution in both kinds doth not binde further than the thing instituted to wit Communion vnder both kinds is necessarie for the maintaining of spirituall life for which one kind being sufficient as I haue shewed Christs Institution of both kinds doth not inforce the vse of both If God should haue commanded the vse both of meate and drinke euery man should be bound not onely to eate but also to drinke though he had no necessitie thereof but now seeing God hath not giuen such a Precept a man that can liue by meate without euer drinking is not bound to drinke non obstante that God did institute both eating and drinking for the preseruation of life in euerie man ANSWER The Councell of Constance is iustly censured for presuming to alter and disanull the ordinance of Christ for if it be flagitious amongst men to alter and contradict the lawfull Will of a Testator Galat. 3.15 shall it not be much more vnlawfall to alter the Testament of the Sonne of God who disposed to the common people his Bloud as well as his Bodie saying Drinke ye all of this Math. 26 27. and except yee eate the flesh and drinke the bloud of the man c. Ioh. 6.53 And the words of the said Synod are most presumptious for this they pronounce Although Christ after supper instituted and administred to his Disciples vnder both kindes c. And although in the Primitiue Chruch this Sacrament was receiued of Beleeuers in both kinds yet notwithstanding the contrarie custome for Laicks to receiue in one kind is with good reason brought in and they are Heretickes which hold this sacrilegious or vnlawfull But what are these men in comparison of Christ and his Apostles and of the Fathers of the Primitiue Church If men may thus twit Christ and his Apostles what shall become of all religion The sole and totall rule to guide the Church in the matter of the holy Eucharist is Christs Institution and practise recorded by the Euangelists and testified by the Apostles and the Primitiue Church in their doctrine and practise followed this rule as some of our learned Aduersaries ingeniously confesse If therefore Christ Iesus and his Apostles and after these the Primitiue Church administred the Communion to lay people in both kinds as this Synod confesseth and on the contraie nothing is extant in holy Writ or in the monuments of the Fathers to testifie that Christ and his Apostles retracted or altered this first practise What audacious sacriledge was it in the Prelates of Constance vpon their owne priuate and childish reasons to cancell Christs last Will and Testament and to violate the sacred precept and ordinance of the Sonne of God But our Aduersarie laboureth by a distinction of Institution and Precept to plaister the vlcerous Doctrine of the 〈◊〉 of Constance saying or implying That although Christ did institute the holy Eucharist in two kinds yet he gaue no precept for the vse of it in two kinds But this plaister of sig-leaues healeth not the wound for there is both an institution and a precept for both kinds and more expressely for the cup than for the bread for Christ said expressely and literally Drinke yee all of this whereas he said not so literally and expressely eat yee all of this Besides his institution is a vertuall and interpretatiue precept as appeareth by S. Paul 1. Cor. 11.23 And Christ did institute the Eucharist in two kinds that people might receiue and vfe it in two kinds Also if the manner of the institution prooueth not the manner of the vse then the Eucharist may be vsed in another manner I meane in things substantiall than
as it was instituted and if this then it may be vsed in wine onely without bread or in broth or in flesh for we haue no direction or rule for the manner of greater authoritie than the institution Lastly diuine institution doth not only signifie an action of God whereby he giueth being vnto things with reference to their end in which manner the Iesuit sinisterly defineth it but it signifieth also a decree rule precept and information concerning the vse and practise of that which God hath ordained Now our Sauiour when he ordained the holy Eucharist in regard of the being and entitie thereof he withall conioyned the vse of the same as a necessarie condition to make it operatiue and effectuall to his people For euen as in Baptisme although the Word and Element constitute the Sacrament in regard of the definition yet the same is no Baptisme to vs vntill the Word Water be applied to the subiect by ablution so likewise in the holy Eucharist the words and elements make the definition but the vse and application according to the manner taught by Christ giues it a Sacramentall vertue and operation in respect of vs IESVIT §. 3. Communion vnder one kind not against the substance of the Sacrament A Sacrament of the new Testament being a visible efficatious signe of inuisible grace foure things are necessarie to concurre to the substantiall constitution thereof which I will set downe in order and together shew that they are all found in the Eucharist giuen vnder one kind First there is required some element that is a visible and sensible thing or action without which no Sacrament can subsist tearmed by Diuines Materia Sacramenti This substantiall part is not wanting in the Sacrament giuen in one kind in which kind there is consecrated bread visible and sensible in the accidents thereof and manducation also an action visible and appar an t to sence ANSVVER THis quadripartite argument at least in the three formost branches is meerly sophistical indeed against common sence as if one should question whether a man without legs or armes were a perfect entire man according to the first creation of mankind the perpetual succeeding law of nature not erring The Iesuit should answere thus This is a sufficient and perfect man for the other members which he hath as head brest backe c. are not of the substance of humane nature In my replie I need adde no more but smile And yet to answere his particulars First in euerie Sacrament there is required not onely a sensible action but also a visible and materiall signe and therefore to speake by the way some of the seuen which Romists number in their List or Kalender are no Sacraments But in the holy Eucharist there is a double visible element and materiall visible signe to wit Bread and Wine Math. 26.26 27. Luc. 22. 19 20. 1. Cor. 11.23.25 and these outward elements being two in number and diuided the one from the other were distinctly and seuerally distributed by our Sauiour and were receiued by the communicants apart the one of them after the other and although they make but one Sacrament in regard of the definition as similarie and dissimilarie parts make but one bodie yet there is a diuersitie and pluralitie both in their matter and forme and a reason why they must be two and not one indiuiduall signe IESVIT The second thing required to the substance of the Sacrament is Verbum the Word that is a forme of speech shewing the diuine and supernaturall purpose vnto which the element is consecrated Neither is that part wanting in the Sacrament giuen vnder one kind which is consecrated by the words of Christ This is my bodie and the Theologicall Principle taken out of S. Augustine verified Accedit verbum ad elementum fit Sacramentum ANSWER As the outward elements are two in number so likewise a double act of blessing and consecration must passe vpon them for otherwise that part which wanteth benediction is not a sacramentall signe but a common creature and if any signe be omitted then the Sacrament wanteth integritie of parts IESVIT The third thing is signification euerie Sacrament signifying some diuine effect of grace which God worketh by the application thereof and the sensible signe euen by nature hath as S. Augustine noteth some proportion and analagie to signifie that diuine effect which to produce it is assumed by Gods omnipotencie as an Instrument This sacred signification which the holy Eucharist hath is of three kinds and all three are found in the Sacrament giuen vnder one kind First this Sacrament is a signe of spirituall food for the nourishment and refection of the soule which signification is manifestly found in Communion vnder one kind for the Eucharist doth signifie this effect of spirituall nutrition because it is a signe of Christ the Bread of Life the food of Angels the fountaine of grace but by the sole forme of bread Christ is signified as present according to his most sacred bodie and consequently as most sufficient to feed and refresh the Soule Another signification of this Sacrament is vnion and coniunction betweene the Faithfull as being members of the same Bodie whereof Christ is Head and fellow members one with another as S. Paul declares which coniunction the Sacrament in the forme of Bread doth signifie For Bread being a compound of many graines of Wheat massed together in one Loafe and also made of Flower and Water mingled one with another signifies the perfect vnion both of the Church with Christ and of the Faithfull that are in the Church one with another as S. Paul testifies Vnum corpus sumus quotquot de vno Pane participamus where he makes no mention of Wine the Sacrament in the forme of Bread being alone able to shew and worke this signification This Sacrament doth also signifie the Passion and Death of our Sauiour which Death and Passion is shewed and represented by Communion vnder one kind For receiuing the Sacrament in the forme of Wine onely wee haue a sufficient ground to remember the Bloud of Christ that was in his Passion shed and seperated from his Bodie Likewise by participating of the consecrated Bread wee may liuely conceiue the Bodie of Christ as it was depriued of the most precious Bloud by the effusion thereof on the Crosse whereupon Christ as S. Paul testifies did after the consecration of each kind particularly recommend the memorie of his Passion as knowing that in each of them alone was a sufficient Monument and memoriall thereof ANSWER Significations may be found in Types and figures being no Sacraments as in a Vine and Branches a naturall Humane Bodie a materiall House or Temple a Lambe led before the shearer and the like but yet because they are otherwise in the Sacrament both in regard of a more perfect and liuely representation and also because a
into the water is required yet according to the Intention sprinckling is sufficient But heere I demand of the Romist Whether any thing touching the manner of receiuing the Eucharist is deliuered in Christs words or not And if nothing then our Sauiour treateth not either of Spirituall or Sacramentall eating or drinking for both these belong to the manner and if hee speake about the manner then the Blood of Christ must be Sacramentally receiued as well as his Bodie but it is not receiued Sacramentally vnder bread alone because to receiue Sacramentally is to receiue vnder the proper and indiuiduall signe representing the Blood receiued which is Wine And implicite and vertuall receiuing of Christs Blood is spirituall drinking and this is performed out of the Sacrament and not onely in the same The last euasion is That in the words of Christ Et is taken for Aut that is vnlesse you eate the flesh or drinke the blood of the Sonne of man ye haue no life c. This poore Cauill borrowed from Claudius de Saincts is against the letter of the Text and if it be admitted then it will follow That it is not necessarie to drinke the blood of the Sonne of man implicitely and vertually and the reason why Christ nameth bread alone vers 51. is in opposition to Manna for the Sonne of God descended from heauen by incarnation and propounded himselfe incarnate as an obiect of Faith and because he was the spirituall Life and food of mans soule by donation of his Word and Grace and heerein excelled Manna which was onely corporall bread But in the sacred Eucharist Christ is represented as hauing perfected mans saluation and this representation is made by two sensible signes wherein his suffering of death by separation of bodie and soule and of bodie and blood is visibly proposed and whosoeuer receiueth him Sacramentally as he was sacrificed on the Crosse must receiue him by both the signes because in both and not in one alone there is a representation of his Passion and of the effusion of his blood As for the Iesuites instance in the manner of Baptising whether by plunging or by sprinckling the same is not to purpose For in our Question the Dispute is about taking away one of the Elements and materiall parts of a Sacrament in Baptisme onely a circumstance in the manner of applying and vsing the Element was altered by the Church But from alteration of a thing accidentall or of circumstance to inferre a libertie to defalcate a substantiall part is sophisticall IESVIT §. 5. Communion vnder one kinde not against the Practise of the Primitiue CHVRCH CErtaine it is that the Primitiue Church did very often and frequently vse Communion vnder both kindes so that Lay men had by prescription a right to receiue in both kindes yea they were bound thereunto by the Obligation of custome not by Diuine Precept ANSWER THe Primitiue Church in all her publicke Assemblies and congregations administred the holy Eucharist to the people in both kinds perpetually and not frequently onely or often as the Iesait minseth And Iustin Martir saith That the Apostles prescribed this as commanded by Christ and Saint Cyprian hath these words Lex esum sanguinis prohibet Euangelium precipit vt bibatur Whereas the old Law forbade the eating of blood the Gospell commandeth to drinke the blood and in his 63 Epistle Many Bishops c. depart not from that which our Master Christ commanded and performed Praecepit iussit but others of ignorance and simplicitie In Calice Dominico sanctificando 〈◊〉 ministrando In consecrating and ministring the Cup to the people doe not that which Christ our Lord and God performed and taught Petrus de Occhagauia saith that the words Et plebi ministrando Deliuering it to the people are not St. Cyprians But this man went by heare-say as appeareth both by the elder later Edition of Cyprian And that this was the constant Doctrine of this Father is manifest by other places cited in the Margen Therefore it is palpably vntrue which the Iesuit venteth They were bound thereunto by Obligation of Custome and not by Diuine Precept IESVIT Also because the Manichees being impiously per suaded that wine was the gall of the prince of darknesse did superstitiously abstaine from the Chalice The Church in detestation of this errour commaunded for a time Communion vnder both kinds Vpon which ocasion Gelasius Pope made the decree recorded by Gratian aut integra Sacramenta suscipiant aut ab integris arceantur And why because such Abstinents 〈◊〉 qua superstitione docentur astringi that is were superstitious not abstaining out of any deuotion but out of impious persuasion of the impuritie of Gods creature Wherefore the crime with which some Protestants charge vs That our receiuing vnder the sole forme of Bread is to iumpe in opinion with the Manichees we may as Doctor Morton confesseth reiect as injurious saying That it was not the Manichees 〈◊〉 from wine but the reason of their for 〈◊〉 that was iudged hereticall This custome was the cause that Cyprian saieth That the Law 〈◊〉 the eating of bloud but the 〈◊〉 commaunds the same should be drunke not only because some Christians to wit Priests are bound to 〈◊〉 the Bloud of Christ but also because Christ in his 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉 the Sacrament of his Bodie and Bloud in both kinds Whence grew the custome of the Primitiue Church to receiue in both kinds and by custome there grew further an Oligation to drinke of the 〈◊〉 there were some iust cause of 〈◊〉 as in the sicke and in some that by nature loathed wine ANSVVER One errour begets another It was formerly said that Communion in both kinds was vsed by the Fathers as a matter of custome onely and not because of precept now it is added that this was done only because of the errour of the Manichees I answere First before euer the Manichees appeared in any number Communion in both kinds was in practise as appeareth by the Apostles and by Ignatius Dionysius Iustin Martyr Ireneus Tertullian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Saint Cyprian Secondly although Pope 〈◊〉 in his Sermon speaketh of the Manichees yet Vasques the Iesuit saith That he commanded not the vse of the Cup because of them but required that these Heretickes which feigned themselues Catholickes and came to the holy Communion receiuing the Bread and taking the Cup into their hands pretending that they drunke the Wine and yet did not should carefully be obserued Thirdly touching the place of Pope Gelasius the same Author saith That whereas some of his part applie the same to the Manichees yet this exposition agreeth not with the last branch of the Canon for therein Gelasius teacheth that the mysterie of the Eucharist is of that nature in regard of it selfe that without grieuous sacriledge it cannot be diuided and seuered
Protestants vrge against vs make against their custome of making Images so that with no probabilitie or ingenuitie they thereupon mislike vs. if by the vse of Images there bee no danger of hurt to ignorant people which may not with very ordinarie diligence of Pastours and Teachers be preuented and otherwise the vtilities very great then there is no reason of iust mislike of this custome But this supposition is true as in the same order I will indeauour to shew in the soure Particulars ANSVVER This Aduocate of Imagerie should first of all haue declared what hee vnderstandeth by Worship of Images whether Veneration onely largely taken or Adoration properly so called Veneration may signifie externall Regard and Reuerence of Pictures such as is giuen to Churches and sacred Vessels and to ornaments of sacred places and according to this notion many haue approoued or tollerated worship of Images which denie Adoration Adoration properly taken among Schoolemen signifieth a yeelding of honour to things Worshipped by recognition of their dignitie and excellencie and by religious submission of Bodie and Soule to wit by inward motion of the Will and externall deedes and gestures of Honour as Kneeling Kissing Censing holding vp the hands c. The worshipping of Images in this manner by Religious Adoration either primarie or secondarie absolute or respectiue is neither grounded on the prime Principles of Nature and Christianitie neither was the same practised by the antient Catholicke Church But on the contrarie it is a superstitious dotage a palliate Idolatrie a remainder of Paganisme condemned by sacred Scripture censured by Primatiue Fathers and a Seminarie of direfull contention and mischiefe in the Church of Christ. First The Scriptures of the Old Testament are so apparantly against Adoration of Images Exod. 20.5 Leuit. 26.1 Deut. 5. 9. Psal. 106. 19. Esay 2. 8. Mich. 5. 13. that the best learned Papists themselues affirme the same to haue beene prohibited vnto the Iewes Aquinas saith The making of Images to bee worshipped was prohibited in the Old Law The same is affirmed by Alexander Hales Albertus Bonauenture Marsilius Rich. Mediauilla Gerson Abulensis and it is also the Tenet of many later Schoolemen to wit Soto Corduba Cabrera Palacius Tapia Oleaster c. Secondly The brasen Serpent was a figure of Christ Ioh. 3.14 The same was formed by Gods Commandement Num. 21.9 And yet the worship thereof being as Vasques saith no other than such as Romists vse towards their Images was vnlawfull 2. Kings 18.4 Thirdly The Scriptures of the New Testament neither expresly nor by Consequent maintaine the worship of Images Neither is there in all the Apostles Doctrine any abrogation of the Negatiue Precept deliuered to the Iewes concerning the Worship of Images And therefore the same Law is Morall and obligeth Christians as it did the Iewes Fourthly the worship of Images was not practised or held lawfull by the Primitiue Fathers And Gregorie the great six hundred yeares after Christ condemned the same The Councel of Frankford seuen hundred ninetie and foure yeres after Christ opposed the definition of the second Nicen Synod concerning worship of Images as besides more antient Historians Cassander and some other Pontificians affirme Agobardus the BB. of Lyons who liued as Ado saith about the yeare 815 in his Booke de Picturis Imaginibus saith That none of the antient Catholickes thought that Images were to be worshipped or adored and deliuering his owne iudgement he saith Nemo se fallat c. Let no man beguile himselfe whosoeuer worshippeth any Picture or moulten or carued Statue neither honoureth God himselfe nor Angels or Saints but Idols Fifthly many latter Pontificians haue condemned the worshipping of Images according as the same was practised by the vulgar and maintained by Aquinas and other principall Scholemen Holcoth saith No adoration is due to an Image neither is it lawfull to worship any Image Cassander writeth in this manner The opinion of Thomas Aquinas who holdeth that Images are to bee worshipped as their Samplers is disliked by sounder Scholemen and they affirme that the same is not very safe vnlesse it be qualified with fauourable interpretation Among these is Durand and Holcoth Gabriell Biel reporteth the opinion of them which say that an Image neither as it is considered in it selfe materially nor yet according to the nature of a Signe or Image is to bee worshipped Peresius Aiala saith All Scholemen in a manner hold that the Image of Christ and the Images of Saints are to be worshipped with the same adoration that their Samplers but they produce so farre as I haue seene no sound proofe of this Doctrine to wit neither Scripture nor Tradition of the Church nor common consent of Fathers nor the determination of a generall Councell or any other effe-Cuall reason sufficient to persuade Beleeuers Sixthly the varietie of opinions and the palpable discord among Pontificians concerning the manner of adoring Images their sandie and disjointed consequences their forging and purging Authors their knottie and labyrinthian distinctions wherein they ambush themselues and out face euident Truth are sensible arguments of corrupt and vnsound Doctrine in this Article of adoration of Images IESVIT §. 1 Worship of Images consequent out of the Principles of Nature and Christianitie AN Image is a distinct and liuely pourtraiture of some visible and corporall thing parts of the Jmage corresponding to the parts of the thing represented more or lesse particularly according as the Image is more or lesse distinct and liuely ANSVVER THis definition may perchance agree to some Images to wit to the pictures of persons visible creatures which were taken from the immediate beholding of the Prototype but not to such Images as are made by coniecture or vpon fabulous and Apocriphall reports such as are the Images of Christ and of the Prophets Apostles and many other Saints drawne and pourtrayed many ages since their departure out of the world Papists besides many other formes depaint the blessed Virgin like the Queene of Heauen with a crowne of Starres and clothed with the Sunne and treading the Moone vnder her feet This and the like Images are false represents neither haue they direct and immediate correspondence to the parts and qualities of the persons represented And whereas the Iesuit tearmeth an Image meaning such as is vsed in his Church A distinct and liuely pourtraiture c. he should rather haue said A confused and dead pourtraiture for who is able to deliuer a distinct and liuely Picture truely resembling Christs humane bodie or the countenance feature and proportion of many other Saints deceased And Clemens Alexandrinus speaking of a painted Image doth not call it liuely but saith that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a dead matter formed by a workemans hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But we saith he
secrets nor to concurre with him in all actions of Emperie IESVIT Secondly S. Paul saith Now wee know but in part wee prophesie but in part but when that of perfection shall come that of part shall be euacuated I now know but in part then I shall know as I am knowne By which words the Apostle signifies that all Knowledge both Humane and Diuine particularly the gift of Prophesie is contained eminently in the Beatificall Light So that the blessed Saints haue the gift of Prophesie in a more excellent degree than had the Prophets in this world But by the light of Prophesie holy men vnited with God could see the secrets of hearts as S. Paul saith By the gift of Prophesie the secrets of hearts are manifested and also see things absent being present by Light of Vnderstanding from whence they were absent according to their substance The Prophet Elizeus saw in absence what passed betwixt his seruant Gehezi and Naaman to whom he said My heart was there present with thee With farre greater reason saith S. Augustine the Saints of God euen with eyes of bodie closed vp shall see all things not onely present but also from which they are corporally absent This is that which Saint Hierome doth so earnestly defend against Vigilantius That the soules of the Martyrs are present where their Shrines and Reliques are and neuer absent but still readie to heare the prayers of their suppliants not thinking as Dr Field imposeth vpon him that they are present in so many places substantially according to their soules but that they are present as Elizeus was present vnto Gehezi in spirit beholding what passed as cleerely as if they were corporally present ANSWER That the blessed Saints in Heauen haue the gift of Prophesie formally eminently or in actu exercito in respect of all indiuiduall Obiects is neither expressely affirmed by S. Paul neither can it be collected from his Doctrine for the vse and end of this gift was the edification of the Church Militant 1. Cor. 12. 10. Eph. 4. 11 12. And because this end ceaseth in regard of the blessed Saints Apoc. 14. 13 therefore wee haue no certaintie that they ordinarily and perpetually enioy the same And if it were graunted that they had this gift eminently yet it followeth not that they haue the exercise of it according to euerie materiall Obiect it had in this life for some Obiects of Prophesie are contingent and accidentally belonging to Propheticall Grace and euerie act of knowledge belongeth not to the perfection of the glorified state Imperfection of knowledge to wit in respect of the manner of knowing and the Obiect knowne and the Subiect vnderstanding shall be remooued in the blissefull state But where doth S. Paul affirme That the blessed by Diuine Vision or Reuelation vnderstand all particular Obiects which they knew in this life Aquinas himselfe hath these words To know all particular or indiuiduall things and the cogitations and actions of the same belongeth not to the perfection of a created vnderstanding neither doth his naturall desire affect this Also the same Author with Hugo Lyra and others commenting vpon S. Pauls words 1. Cor. 13. 12. Then shall I know euen as also I am knowne expoundeth them of the intuitiue knowledge which B. Saints in Heauen shall haue of God himselfe and not of all other created Obiects But from hence it followeth not That Saints deceased shall intuitiuely or by reuelation know all other inferiour things as I haue formerly prooued in my Answer to the Iesuits second Paragraph S. Augustine d. Ciuit. Dei Lib. 22. cap. 29 Prosper d. Vit. Cont. Lib. 1. cap. 4. speake of the knowledge of blessed men after their resurrection affirming That when they shall be all of them together in Heauen their hearts shall be open each of them to other but that the hearts of them which remaine vpon Earth are open to the 〈◊〉 Saints is not affirmed by these Fathers S. Hierome against Vigilantius speaketh in heat of Disputation but he affirmeth in another place That because Iesus knew the thoughts of some of the Scribes he did thereby shew himselfe to be God IESVIT Thirdly It is clearely to be prooued by Scripture That holy Angels see the Prayers and Actions and Affections of men In the Apocalypse an Angell offered vnto God the Prayers of men which he could not haue done had he not knowne them ANSVVER First The place of S. Iohn Apocal. 8.4 prooueth not either clearely or obscurely that holy Angels heare the Prayers or see the Actions and Affections of men For the Angell mentioned is expounded by the antient Expositors and by the Romists themselues not of an Angell by Nature but of an Angell by Office and by some of them of an Angell by Type Albertus in his Commentarie S. Iohn saith Another Angell that is Christ who is the Angell of the Couenant Esay 9. Dionifius Carthusian Catholike Doctors c. by this Angell vnderstand Christ who is the Angell of the great Councell and which by the Mysterie of his Incarnation came into the world and stood vpon the Altar of the Crosse. Blasius Viegas a Iesuit Wee may easily perceiue that this Angell is Christ because the things here spoken of him can agree to no other but Christ for who but he can with so great Maiestie offer vp to God the Incense that is the Prayers of the vniuersall Church Who besides him is able out of the Perfuming Panne to send downe into the Earth the fierie Coales of Diuine Charitie and to inflame people with the burning Graces of the holy Spirit With these agree Ambrose Primasius Ansbertus Beda Haimo Hugo Cardinalis and the Glosses But if it were granted that this Angel were a created or ministring Spirit it cannot be prooued that Angels vnderstand the secret cogitations of mans heart any further than the same are manifested by signes neither is it consequent that people ought to pray vnto them for Priests offer the prayers of the Church to God and yet no man doeth therefore inuocate Priests IESVIT Our Sauiour witnesseth That the Angels reioyce at the conuersion of a sinner so they must needes know it nor can they know it without knowing the sinners heart conuersion not being true nor worthie of ioy except it proceed from the heart ANSWER Not onely the Angels of God but holy men on earth reioyce at the conuersion of a sinner Luke 15.24 2. Cor. 7.9 Likewise Parents Ministers and 〈◊〉 reioyce c. and yet it followeth not from hence That holy men on earth which reioyce at the conuersion of a sinner see the secrets of the heart 1. Cor. 2.11 So likewise Angels which are ministring Spirits Heb. 1.14 may vnderstand by the signes and fruits of true repentance the conuersion of diuers sinners and consequently they may reioyce without intuitiue
for euer S. Chrysostome This Bread filleth the mind and not the belly this is our Bread and the Bread of Angels Thirdly Whereas some of the Fathers say That the bodie of Christ is receiued into the mouth they vnderstand by the bodie of Christ the Sacrament or outward signe of his bodie as appeareth not onely by their owne Exposition where they call the outward signe a figure of Christs bodie but also because they say the bodie of Christ is visibly eaten and his bloud is visibly drunke Also they affirme That the bodie of Christ is spirituall food and passeth not into the bodie but into the soule IESVIT Wherefore seeing we must of necessitie grant as I haue prooued That some part of the Bodie of Christ is vnder consecrated Bread penetrating the same and occupying the same place with it Why should wee doubt to beleeue the whole Bodie of Christ to be wholly and totally in euery consecrated Hoast ANSVVER The Question is Whether the whole Bodie of Christ is entirely and totally in euerie consecrated Hoast that is Whether the true and substantiall Bodie of Christ which is an humane bodie essentially and in kind differing from a Spirit and hauing magnitude proportion order and distinction of parts is contained vnder euerie small crumme of consecrated Bread The Iesuit propugneth this Paradox in manner following IESVIT For if we can beleeue that two bodies bee in the same place at once we may as easily beleeue the same of twentie And if we grant that one part of Christs body doth penetrate that is occupy the same roome with the quantitie of Bread Why should we not thinke that the rest of his parts may also doe the like Our Sauiour saith That it is as easie for a Cammell to passe through a needles eye as for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heauen adding Though these things be impossible to men yet all is possible vnto God If then God can put a whole Cammell in the eye of a needle is he not able to put the whole body of Christ within the bignesse of a consecrated Hoast The body being mortall and passible could penetrate the body of his Mother and come out of her wombe through the same still remaining entyre as we professe in the Creede to beleeue Natum de Maria Virgine Why then may not the same body being now glorious immortall and as the Apostle speakes spirituall penetrate the quantitie of the Bread and inclose it selfe wholy and intirely within the small compasse thereof and Christ that made heauie things not to weigh as the body of Peter walking on the water coloured things not to be seene as his owne person which he so oft made inuisible to the Iewes bright things not to shine as his body after his Resurrection more bright than the Sunne did not shine in so many apparitions to his Disciples finally a flaming furnance not to burne the bodies of the three children cast into the midst thereof Why may not hee keepe a body from occupying a place or from extruding another bodie from the place where it is for to occupie a place or to extrude thence another body is but an effect consequent and flowing from the nature of a quantitatiue substance as to weigh to be seene to shine to burne be the naturall and necessarie effects of heauie coloured bright and fierie things ANSVVER We must beleeue whatsoeuer God hath reuealed But God hath reuealed that Christ hath a true body and all proprieties and attributes essentiall to a true body Heb. 2.16 Luc. 24. 39. And therefore the Romish doctrine which conuerteth the indiuiduall and finite body of Christ into a Spirit and fancie and destroyeth the true properties of the same affirming that is not circumscript palpable or situated in one particular place at once is erroneous neither can that be one and the same indiuiduall body betweene which are interposed many bodyes but betweene the one indiuiduall body of Christ in heauen and the same body in the Eucharist many other bodies to wit the seuerall bodies of the Heauens the Ayre the Pixe c. are interposed and the body of Christ in heauen is not ioyned to the sacramentall body by continuation or indiuision But it is obiected a whole Cammell may bee in the eye of a needle Math. 19. 24. 26. The passible body of Christ passed through the Virgins wombe the same being closed and not opened Peters heauie body walked aboue the waters the bodyes of the three young men continued in the fierie ouen vnconsumed or scorched Christs body was diuers times inuisible and once it was resplendent as the Sunne c. Therefore the now glorified body of Christ by the omnipotent power of God may be separate from circumscription length and thicknesse and other effects and properties of indiuiduall humane bodies It is answered the examples mentioned in the Antecedent are set vpon the Racke for our Sauiour affirmeth not that a Cammell continuing in his ordinarie quantitie can passe through the eye of a small needle but he saith onely that this may as easily be fulfilled as a rich man which maketh Mammon his God may enter into the kingdome of heauen Prouerbiall speeches Parables and suppositions are not according to euery passage in them to be strayned or expounded literally Luc. 17.6 Math. 7.3 If it be further said it followeth in the Text All things are possible with God Math. 19. 26. Marc. 10. 27. Luc. 18.27 Our Answere is First these words are referred to the latter part of Christs speech touching the rich mans entrance into heauen and not to the Cammels passing thorow the needles eye Secondly all things agreeable to truth and which God will haue done are possible but that it is agreeable with Truth for a Cammell retaining his quantitie with the whole bodie to passe thorow the eye of a needle or that God will haue this to bee or that it is his will that the bodie of Christ shall bee separated from circumscription and continencie of place deserueth to be credited when the Aduersaries prooue it by Diuine Reuelation or by other demonstration Secondly The Scripture affirmeth not nor yet the Apostles Creed that the blessed Virgin in 〈◊〉 trauell in Puerperio bare Christ in a different manner from other women Luk. 2.23 and what a sophisticall inference is this the Creed hath Borne of the Virgin Marie meaning according to conception generation and clearenesse from the companie of man Ergo the bodie of the blessed Virgin was not opened at the time of Christs birth Also many Fathers and some Schoolemen denie this and therefore from an Antecedent doubtfull and in question a consequent or conclusion of Faith cannot be inferred Thidly The example of Peter Math. 14. 29. and the three yong men Daniel 3. prooue not the question for the miracle might be in the water and in the fire and not
the roome or seate of another is not substantiall conuersion but alteration of place IESVIT Saint Chrysostome When waxe is put into fire nothing of the substance thereof is left nothing remaines vnconsumed so likewise doe thou thinke that the Mysteries are consumed by the substance of the bodie of Christ. ANSWER This Father saith not That nothing of the substance of bread and wine is left but cleane contrarie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nothing of the substance goeth away And the words which follow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are falsly translated for they are not Is consumed by the substance but Is coabsumed with the substance Also the substance of bread is not consumed by the bodie of Christ according to the Tenet of many Schoolemen The substance of the externall elements passeth into the bodie of the Receiuer and is consumed or vnited to the flesh of the Receiuer The bodie and blood of Christ represented by the same and receiued by Faith nourish the soule to life eternall Iohn 6. 54. And if our Aduersaries following their owne translation will expound Saint Chrysostome literally then Communicants receiue Christs bodie by the hands of the Seraphim and not by the Priests hands IESVIT S. Ambrose What arguments shall we bring to prooue That in the Sacrament is not the thing which nature hath framed but that thing which benediction hath consecrated and that greater is the force of benediction than of nature seeing by the benediction euen nature is changed ANSVVER The quantitie and accidents of the outward signes are framed by nature as well as the substance and the force of consecration and benediction passeth vpon the one as well as vpon the other and therefore the change of nature which Saint Ambrose intendeth is not the destruction of the elements and the conuersion thereof into another substance but the eleuating of these earthly creatures to be mysteries of grace and holy instruments to apply and communicate that which is represented by them It is inconsequent to argue They are changed in their nature Ergo Their naturall substance is destroyed for nature implieth qualities and properties as well as substance and it is taken Theologicè as well as Physicè for S. Peter speaking of regenerate persons 2. Pet. 1. v. 4. saith They are made partakers of the Diuine nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and yet his meaning is not that their former substance is abolished The nature of glorified bodies is changed and they are made spirituall 1. Cor. 15. 44. and yet they retaine the same substance Mans nature was changed after his fall Ephes. 2. 3. yet the substance of his nature remained Saint Ambrose himselfe saith That in Baptisme man is changed and made a new creature and treating farther of the Sacrament of Baptisme he saith Learne how the word of Christ is accustomed to change euery creature and when he will he altereth the course of nature IESVIT Secondly They require that the Authour that changeth bread into Christ his Bodie be omnipotent and consequently the change not meerely significatiue but substantiall S. Cyprian This Bread changed not in shape but in nature by the omnipotencie of the word is made flesh S. Cyrill Hee that in the marriage of Cana changed Water into Wine by his onely will is not hee worthie that we beleeue him that he hath changed Wine into his Bloud S. Gaudentius The Lord and Creator of Natures that of Earth made Bread againe because he can doe it and hath promised to doe it makes of Bread his owne Bodie and he that of Water made Wine now of Wine hath made his Bloud ANSWER S. Cyprian was not the author of the Booke de Coena Domini so Bellarmine confesseth and before him Iohannes Hessels but in some copies it passeth vnder the name of Arnoldus who liued manie ages after Cyprian And yet in one part of that worke d. vnctione Chrysmatis there is a manifest place against Transubstantiation Our Lord saith he in the table wherein he banqueted with his Disciples with his owne hands deliuered Bread and Wine c. declaring also how the thing signifying and the thing signified are called by the same name Secondly to a mysticall change the omnipotent power of God is necessarie as appeareth in the water of Baptisme and earthly creatures cannot be instruments of grace or meanes to communicate spirituall or miraculous benefits without the same as appeareth in the waters of Iordan 2. Reg. 5. and in the poole of Bethesda Ioh. 5. Therefore although some do require an omnipotent power to eleuate and change the creatures of Bread and Wine yet it followeth not that they maintained Transubstantiation Thirdly the author by the words Natura mutatus changed in nature vnderstood not a corporall change for in the same sentence he declareth himselfe by the example of Christs humanitie which being personally vnited to the deitie is changed but not so as that it looseth his naturall forme and substance And in the same Booke this Father faith That although the immortall food deliuered in the Eucharist differ from common meat yet it retaineth in the kind of corporal substance He saith not Species in the plurall number meaning according to the new Popish sence the externall shapes and accidents for let the Aduersarie prooue out of antiquitie that S. Cyprian or the Primatiue Church maintained the late Romish Doctrine concerning shapes of Bread and Wine without the materiall substance and we will freely grant that the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is antient but he saith Speciem the kind in the singular number that is the corporall substance and forme in the same sence in which S. Ambrose vseth the word saying Ante benedictionem verborum Coelestium alia species nominatur Before the benediction of wordes applied it is called another kind of thing S. Cyrills place maintaineth not Popish Transubstantiation for in this the shapes and accidents remaine and the materiall substance is corrupted but in our Sauiours miracle Ioh. 2. the shapes accidents and forme were changed and the materiall substance remained Gaudentius saith Satis declarat Sanguinem suum esse omne Vinum quod in figura passionis sua offertur Bonauent d. 11. q. 6. in 4. sent Omnia verba significantia innouationē circà corp ' Christi sunt falsè dicta Haec est simplicitèr impropria Corpus Christi fit Ne 〈◊〉 putes quod Coeleste effectum est per eū qui transit in 〈◊〉 Nam cum panem consecratum vinum Discipulis suis porrigerat c. The Lord makes Bread of his owne Bodie and he makes Wine of his Bloud and then he saith further of Bread he makes his owne Bodie and of Wine his owne Bloud but he saith not that this is done by Transubstantiation for Christs Bodie and Bloud are not transubstantiate but calling the same coelestiall food he declareth his meaning
at the day of Judgement to iustifie our not beleeuing any part of Gods word by reason of the seeming absurditie thereof ANSWER You are not able to demonstrate that God will haue vs beleeue that the whole Organicall body of Christ hauing the stature quantitie and magnitude of a perfect mans body is contayned in the compasse of a small Hoast or in a crum of Bread for that Christ Iesus hath a true and perfect body differing in kind from a Spirit from an Angell and from an immateriall substance diuine reuelation teacheth but that the same indiuiduall and corporeall substance partaketh the spirituall manner of Angelicall existence and the diuine immensitie simplicitie and omnipresence as Bellarmine affirmeth is not reueiled vnto vs by the holy Ghost neither can the same be inferred ex Reuelatis from any plaine and euident truth which God hath reuealed Neither is it reuealed that the Abstracted formes and accidents of Bread and Wine subsist or are tasted and felt or nourish the body and are afterwards corrupted according to the manner of corporeall food hauing no substantiall or materiall nature in them Therefore this large tract wherein the Obiectour laboureth to prooue a possibilitie of the former by diuine miracle and omnipotencie is vnworthy our examination for we make no question of Gods omnipotent power in effecting whatsoeuer himselfe pleaseth as hath beene formerly answered Pag. 181. Yet the Fathers and Schoolemen very well teach vs That such things as implie a contradiction and falsitie are not the obiect of diuine power and they teach vs further that there is a twofold power in God Ordinata Absoluta one according to the order which himselfe hath fixed by his word and will the other according to the infinitenesse of his essence and which exceedeth his will Now according to the power of God measured and regulate by his word and will all things are impossible which God will not haue to be And thus we say that it is impossible that the whole body of Christ can be in one crumme of Bread or substantially present in many places at one instant and accidents cannot subsist or be tasted felt and nourish and be conuerted into the substance of mans body without a materiall subiect of inherencie to sustaine and giue force vnto them But on the contrarie we dispute not what God is able to effect by his absolute power neither is this question of any vse in the matter now in hand for the naturall kind of the things themselues created by God and the Doctrine of holy Scriprure teach vs what is the reuealed will of God but that hee changeth this Ordinance which himselfe hath fixed no Diuine Testimonie or Reuelation affirmeth or teacheth The sole pretext which Papals haue to palliate the absurdities pursuing Transubstantiation at the heeles are the words of Institution But there is nothing coactiue in the said words to prooue this Romish Article by the confession of the best learned Papists as I haue formerly prooued pag. 414. And besides many other Reasons This Argument out of our Sauiours words is most strong against Transubstantiation If nothing bee found in our Sauiours words This is my Bodie which prooueth the conuersion of the substance of bread into Christs bodie more than which is likewise found to change the quantitie and accidents then Popish Transubstantiation being onely a conuersion of substance and not of quantitie and accidents cannot be concluded out of our Sauiours words But nothing is found in our Sauiours words This is my Bodie c. proouing any more the conuersion of substance than of quantitie and accidents for our Sauiour tooke the whole bread both according to the substance and also according to the quantitie and accidents thereof into his hands and blessed and consecrated the same intirely with the like thankesgiuing and pronuntiation of words and performed all things to the one as well as to the other Therefore if our Sauiours words prooue Transubstantiation of the substance of Bread and Wine they must likewise prooue conuersion of the quantitie and accidents into Christs bodie and blood But by the confession of Papals they doe not the latter for the quantitie and accidents are not conuerted into Christs bodie and blood and consequently they doe not the former Now this being apparent the Popish Doctrine of Transubstantiation hath no foundation in our Sauiours words This is my bodie c. I supersede therefore to examine the Obiectors particular Arguments among which one is learnedly borrowed from the flies wing which according to Romish Phylosophie may be thinned extended and inlarged to make a case such perhaps as Base Viols haue to put the whole world into Euery punie in our Vniuersities can distinguish betweene Mathematicall or Potentiall diuision of a bodie and Physicall or Actuall Aristotle himselfe teaching vs that there is Minima caro though there be not Corpus minimum But this fictious Cosmotecture and case may well bee paraled to the Doctrine of Transubstantiation and they are twinnes the one as credible and infallible in Theologie as the other in Philosophie But if our Aduersarie would be pleased to respite vs from beleeuing Transubstantiation as an Article of our Creed vntill his vast words cap-case made of a flies wing bee finished hee shall finde vs more flexible and prone to credite his Romish Doctrine in this and other Articles IESVIT Secondly Wee cannot imagine the bodie of Christ to bee really combined vnto the consecrated formes and not to bee polluted by such indignities as may happen vnto the formes yet wee haue seene or may see things able to make this not to seeme incredible for holy men often by Prayer so purifie their soules and by contemplation bring their spirits to such an independencie of their sences that neither bitter meates offend their tastes nor loathsome sents their smell nor shrill cries their hearing yea burnings and torturings are not perceiued their spirit being eloyned through Diuine vnpolluted affection from the contagion of the bodie vnto the substance whereof it still remaines most really vnited This being so cannot the glorious bodie of Christ graced with most Diuine Ornaments flowing from the excessiue blisse of the soule made spirituall impassible and insearchable bee really present vnto the formes of consecrated bread and yet free immune and wholly independent of any contagion or corruption that may happen to those formes especially the bodie of Christ not being so strictly and substantially tied vnto the formes as the spirit is to the bodie it informeth but is present vnto them as an Angell assistant is to the bodie wherein he worketh What dishonour can it bee to attribute to Christs most venerable bodie this spirituall manner of Angelicall presence yea rather a participation of the Diuine Immensitie for as God by his incomprehensible Immensitie exists euery where no lesse pure in the sincke than in the Sunne no lesse sweete in the dunghill than in a Garden of odoriferous
Cardinall 〈◊〉 saith That indulgences are granted onely for pennance imposed by the Church and so according to this opinion they release people onely of saying a certaine number of 〈◊〉 or from fasting certaine houres or from bestowing a few pence on the poore And it was a common opinion in the dayes of Albertus and Henricus de 〈◊〉 that Popes Pardons were onely pious Fraudes What indulgence is it then for 〈◊〉 Pontificians to Father this Popish Cosenage vpon the holy Apostles and Primitiue Church Thirdly I haue perused the place of S. Cyprian obiected by the Aduersarie and two other Epistles of the like argument wherein I finde that the Martyrs intreated the Church for mitigation of Paenance imposed vpon some offenders but neither doe the Martyrs themselues affirme That they had made Satisfaction for the temporall paine of sinne neither did S. Cyprian grant any other indulgence than from the paenance inioyned by the Canons of the Church in manner before rehearsed But if the Iesuit will obtaine his purpose he must prooue out of Antiquitie that the Church in those dayes maintained a common treasure of Satisfactions an application of the same to people defunct whose soules were frying in Purgatorie and that the Roman Pope was the onely or principall Key-bearer and Barterer of this Treasurie I reade of certaine Popes that they granted pardons of 〈◊〉 hundred dayes and of foure thousand dayes and of eleuen thousand yeares to all people which should rehearse S. 〈◊〉 his prayer and the 〈◊〉 Maria and one other Prayer to the blessed Virgin Our Aduersarie is reputed learned by his owne part and perhaps he hath the gift of working wonders I intreat him out of his owne vast reading or else from Father 〈◊〉 his storehouse to parallell this Romish liberall practise with some historie out of Antiquitie And if he please further to demonstrate that the antient Church had taxes and 〈◊〉 for summes of money vpon particular crimes to be solued to the Publicans of the Ecclesiasticall Roman Tribute in lieu of Pardons or for absolution he shall by disclosing to the world in what old Wall or Vault such vncouth Iewels are to be found highly aduance the reputation of his Roman pennance and pardons and for my part he shall haue leaue to squeese from his spirituall children what money he can vnder that title whereas in the meane time he and his fellowes by false pretence of Antiquitie doe but cheate their simple Lay-Catholikes of their coyne whereof no small summes are transported out of the Kingdome by such like glosses and trickes Fourthly for want of better testimonie the Obiector would prooue the antient vse of Pardons out of lapsed Tertullian for if this man being fallen from the Church opposed them then they were in vse in that age I answer the Aduersary might haue learned of Pamelius That the Indulgences which Tertullian oposed were the same whereof Cyprian speaketh Epist. 10 11 12. to wit relaxation of Canonicall censures and paenance to Adulterers and other notorious sinnes vpon the request of Martyrs being in prison and yet aliue Now it seemed to this Father to be vnlawfull both that the Martyrs should be Intreatours and that the Church should graunt Absolution tosuch persons or vse relaxation of censures imposed by the discipline of those times And it is to be obserued that this Father speaketh of liuing Martyrs and not of Martyrs defunct and of releasing censures and forgiuing faults in this world onely and not in Purgatorie But the Aduersarie is so farre from being able to prooue Popes pardons in Tertullians dayes that he cannot prooue the same to haue had any being in the dayes of Peter Lombard or Hugo Victor IESVIT I shall not need particularly to refell the vulgar obiections against this Doctrine which all proceed vpon mistaking and impugne what we neuer dreamed of They prooue that Christ onely dyed for the world and redeemed Mankind and not any Saint who doubts therof That we are sanctifyed and washed from the staine of sinne by the blood of the Lambe not of any Saint We confesse it They bring the testimonies of S. Leo and of S. Augustine That the Saints receiued Crownes of God gaue not Crownes vnto others but onely Christ we neuer did nor will deny it That onely in Christ we dye to sinne and are raysed againe soule and body vnto eternall life we neuer taught the contrarie for the Satisfactions of Saints haue not vertue to redeeme the world nor to satisfie for the guilt of sinne nor to take men out of the power of darkenesse nor to iustifie soules by infusion of grace nor to purchase for men crownes of Glorie nor to rayse men from life to death but only shew they are auaileable vnto one transitory effect which men might were they feruent obtaine by their owne industrie ioyned with diuine grace to wit the Remission of temporall paine which vertue also comes from the merits of Christ and his most pretious blood in and by the Satisfactions of Saints applyed to worke the aforesaid temporall releasement from which temporall seruitude the children of God may through his gratious assistance by good workes redeeme themselues or by Satisfactions of their fellow Citizens and Saints be redeemed Though this temporarie Redemption compared with the Redemption of Christ deserue not that Tytle ANSWER It is an errour to ascribe any effect to the operations of men which is proper to the death of Christ But to make Satisfaction to diuine Iustice for any punishment of sinne eternall or temporall is an effect proper to the death of Christ. For the holy Scripture teacheth expresly that all spirituall redemption is immediately wrought by the bloud of Christ Heb. 1. 3. When he had by himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 purged our sinnes Col. 2. 15. triumphing ouer them in himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And whereas our Aduersaries restraine these and the like places to the staine and eternall guilt of sinne the Apostle Col. 2. 14. affirmeth That Christ blotted out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hand writing of decrees contayned in the law that was against vs and tooke it out of the way nailing it to his Crosse and that by himselfe Heb. 1.3 Col. 2.15 but the temporarie punishment of sinne is contayned within the latitude of the Law Leuit. 26.14 Deut. 28.15 c. Therefore Christ Iesus our Sauiour immediately and by himselfe and not mediately by the passions of Saints wiped out and remooued out of the way the malediction of temporarie punishment as well as the guilt of eternall When Daniel himselfe one of the most holy Prophets prayed for the remission of his owne sinnes and of the transgressions of his people and made supplication to God for remission of temporall paines and plagues he offereth not his owne merits or Satisfaction but saith Dan. 9.7 Oh Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee but
which haue forsaken the fountaine of liuing Waters and hewed them out Cisternes euen broken Cisternes that can hold no Waters Ier. 2. 13. And if any man worship the beast and his Image and receiue his marke in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God c. and hee shall be tormented with fire and brimstone Apoc. 14. 9 10. And on the contrarie they which heare the voyce of Christ speaking by the holy Scriptures and build their faith vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ himselfe being the head corner stone Eph. 2. 20. Ioh. 10. 27 all they which keepe the commuandements of God and the faith of Iesus Apoc. 14. 12. refusing to worship Angells Col. 2. 18. or dead Images 1. Ioh. 5. 20 which call vpon God in the name of Iesus onely which receiue the holy Eucharist in both kinds according to our Sauiours Precept and the constant practise of the Primitiue Church which beleeue free remission of sinnes and iustification by a liuely faith for the sole merits of Christ which honour the King as Gods Supreame Vicegerent which praise God with vnderstanding and inuocate the blessed Trinitie in a knowne Language and maintaine obedience to all Morall and Euangelicall Commandements and submit their priuate iudgement to the authoritie of the Apostolicke and Catholicke Church All these I say build their soules vpon the Rocke and not vpon the sands the gates of hell cannot preuaile against them and maugre all the limmes of Antichrist they shall neuer perish neither shall any man plucke them out of their Sauiours hand IESVIT How dreadfull then must the danger bee of liuing out of the lap of the Roman Church that is of a Church of infallible authoritie This Church hauing a most glorious succession of Bishops from the Apostles deserues aboue all other the protection of your Maiestie that by a long line of religious Catholicke Ancestours succeeding in the right of two Illustrious Kingdomes and being so beneficiall vnto mankinde and so efficatious to maintaine vnitie cannot giue ouer hope of your fauour whom singular preseruation in the wombe of your glorious Mother against the barbarous attempts of Hereticall diuision that would haue brought you to an immature end shewes to bee by Gods infinite wisedome preordained for some singular good of mankinde specially by your meanes to quench warres and dissentions and to bestow the blessings of Peace and vnion on this Land Your title to the Crowne of England springs from the peacefull coniunction of the two renowned Roses which before were mortall enemies and fought so manie cruell fields that if wee consider the great effusion of blood wherein each of them were bathed wee shall hardly discerne the one from the other by the diuersitie of colour Your Maiesties person is the roote of a more happie Vnion of two most glorious Kingdomes by your Sacred Person combined in assured Peace which in the Histories of former times are by no other markes more famously knowne than by their mutuall warres Nothing remaines to bee added for the full consummation of this Ilands happinesse and your Maiesties immortall glorie but the quenching of discord about Religion by bringing them backe againe to the Roote and Matrice of the Catholicke Church to the principall See from which Sacerdocall and Sacred Vnitie springs whereby your Maiestie shall extend the blessings of Peace from this Iland to the rest of Europe from the bodie vnto the soule and Crowne your temporall Peace and felicitie with eternall For both which not onely I but all of my Profession yea all Catholickes will offer vnto Almightie God our daily Prayers ANSWER Sir Declamator you vsurpe Radamanthus his office ouer his head and being a delinquent make your selfe a Iudge Wee vnderstand your vttermost strength in propugning the absolute Soueraignitie of the Roman Church The essence of your Creede in this and other points consisteth in supposall and conceit For our selues wee are assured by that which cannot deceiue vs The vndoubted Word of the eternall God that our Faith and Religion is according to Veritie and wee shall bee iudged at the latter Day not by the conceit of our Enemies but by the Word and Gospell of Christ Rom. 2. 16. Now the lappe of your Romane Church since the dayes of Hildebrand and his faction is inlarged to a vast sise and wee are departed from the filthinesse which is the skirts of that lap but not from any branch of the Catholicke Faith Disprooue vs if you bee able by Diuine authoritie and then make ostentation at your pleasure But in the meane time iudge charitably of vs who are more readie to entertaine Truth than you to persuade vs. As for glorious fuccession about which your triumph if you want the life and soule thereof to wit Apostolicall Doctrine and if according to the relation of your bosome friends the same in the verie externall face thereof hath beene miserably blasted pardon vs if we make not our finall and absolute dependence vpon it And to proceede to the last part of your Declamation wherein you sollicite his Maiestie to aduance your Superstition putting him in remembrance of his preseruation in his Mothers wombe and of the vniting of the two renowned Roses You must vnderstand that his Maiesties royall Person was preserued in his Mothers wombe and at the Powder Treason by the God of Truth and hee flourisheth as a Cedar of Libanus with all honour happinesse and safetie and with enioying the vnfained loue of all his Loyall Subiects by the Faith Profession and Protection of that Veritie which is taught of God and which will make him blessed at his latter end But if hee should which is impossible bee persuaded to giue eare to such Betuefeus as many of your Crue are the White Rose you speake of by your malice might againe turne Red for wheresoeuer the soales of your feet take fast footing your manner is to die all things in blood either by Ciuill Warre or by Fire and Faggot But I wonder vpon what surmise Romists can build their vaine hope of surprising his Maiestie by plausible Blandishments and Insinuations These Inchantments are fit for lapsing Ladies and other mutable Camelions But our Lord the King is as an Angell of God discerning Good and Euill The Aduersarie himselfe hath felt the force of the Wisedome of this Solomon and one may sooner with a twined thread plucke vp a tall Cedar by the roote or with a Fishers line hale the greatest rocke from the bottome of the Sea than transplant this great and religious Constantine out of the Paradise of Sacred Scripture into the darke Thicket of humane Traditions and night-sprung weedes Nec dicere aliquid nec facere contra Christum potest cuius spes fides virtus gloria omnis in Christo est Cyprian lib. d. Lapsis It is impossible that