Disciples is undeniable Paul mentioning the Institution unto the Corinthians mentions both as 't is evident the Bread represented his Body the Bread of Life that nourishes the Soul to eternal Life the Wine his Blood which they came to witness to cleanse them from all sin as they kept to the Head thorow the Ligament of living Faith they came to the End of all Figures to partake of the one Bread one in all but in the dark reign of Apostacy they re-assumed the Shadows and divided Christendom into Clergy that is Teachers and Laity that is all others out of Holy Orders so called but all the Faithful are the Lord's Lot as Acts 26.18 translated there Inheritance but properly signifies Lot if the Greek Copies be consulted and makes nothing for but against the distinction of Clergy and Laity Leighs Crit. However the Distinction hath found continuance in the Church and in the year 1215. Pope Innocent the third did first of all as 't is recorded forbid that the Lay People should receive their Communion in both kinds he would allow them Bread but no Drink this kind of Communion as 't is said was not before the Council of Constance where in the thirteenth Session they deprived the People of the Cup yea and a Canon was put out saying in down-right and express terms If any one shall deny whole and entire Christ the Fountain and Author of all Graces to be taken under one Species of Bread c. let him be Anathema accursed Thus in this as in other things it appears that not only the Power of Godliness hath been lost but great Confusion hath followed Of Mixed Wine Alexander if I may use the Language of my Author the seventh Pope from Peter being about to consecrate was the first of all that mingled Water and Wine together Polydor lib. 5. Of taking Money for Bread and Wine I have shewed before how Pope Innocent the third and the Council of Constance denyed the Cup to the Laity so called one Eckius complying with this Doctrine gives an irrational Reason for it The Laity saith he ought to content themselves with the Bread only because equi donation sunt inspiciendi dentes that is a gift Horse is not to be looked in the Month Apud Manlium in loc com He though belike that Lay Men could not claim any Right to the Bread neither Bellarmine grants that they have Right to the Bread but adds that in eating the Bread transubstantiated by the Priest into the Body of Christ they drink his Blood also But Lombard his Master contradicts this his Doctrine saying That the Bread is not turned but into Christs Flesh nor the Wine but into his Blood Let him that is crowned with Heavenly Wisdom judge whether these Contradictions bespeak them to be Builders of Sion a City of Unity the Joy of the whole Earth or Builders of spiritual Babel a City of Confusion The Council of Constance acknowledged that Christ instituted and administred both Bread and Wine tamen hoc non obstante yet notwithstanding the Authority of the holy Canons and the Custom of the Church hath and doth deny the Cup to the Laity But to return Neither did Christ take Money for the Bread and Wine which he gave to any but as the spirit of Selfishness entred the Temple of the Church it produced other Effects surely there was occasion why the six the general Council of Constantinople decreed That no Bishop Priest or Deacon administring the Communion to people should take any Money whatever of them for the same and that who as did should be deposed Summa Concil et Pontif. Yet notwithstanding the Constantinopolitan Canon in Protestant Churches now the Parish buyes Bread and Wine and the Priest sells it them again that the Priest may have an Offering at Easter so that many otherwise zealous for the established Ministry blame their Ministers their spiritual Hosts as they call them that first the Parish must buy Bread and Wine and give it to the Minister and then the Minister give it to the People and after call for a Reckoning yea and force such as neither bite nor sup thereof to reckon and pay Let us hear the Lord's Proclamation Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters to the Water of Life the Cup of Salvation Consolation and Blessing a spiritual Thirst is called for neither Money nor Price And further He that hath no Money come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Here is Bread and Wine and Milk at the Lord's Hand without Money or Price Isa 55.1 2. but such as are made Ministers by the will of man through the strength of Arts Sciences Natural Parts Abilities Qualifications Endowments Acquisitions they have another Language so another Spirit forcing Money and Price not only from Receivers but from Non-receivers also so that the Practice of many I say not all bespeaks them saying We preach the Gospel tantum ut nos pascat et vestiat meerly for Food and Rayment to pick a living by Trap on 1 Pet. 5. Yea and Revel 22.17 The Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the Water of Life freely Here is Communion Royal Communion Water of Life Bread of Life the Cup of Blessing freely without Money or Price But their Voice is not the Voice of the Spirit nor of the Bride nor of him that heareth nor of him that is athirst who forces Money and Price for Bread and Wine the Shadow not only from the Receiver but the Non-receiver also for where Christ's Doctrine and the Apostles is transgressed his Institution for Gospel-Maintenance violated their Voice is the Voice of Balaam who was for Gifts Rewards Wages of Unrighteousness filthy Lucre who have nothing but the Shadow which maketh not alive they make Gain of it sell it but who are Members of Christ's Body of his Flesh of his Bones as freely they have received the Bread of Life so they freely give Of the Kiss of Peace and of the Pax. David the sweet Singer of Israel exhorted Kings and Judges of the Earth to kiss the Son lest he be angry Psal 2.12 These are Greetings cordial Embraces not known but in the operating Virtue of the Seed of Regeneration and in spiritual Submission to his Heavenly Will Let him kiss me saith the Church with the Kisses of his Mouth Cantic 1.2 In the sense-restoring Life these are felt as Seals and Assurances of divine Favour and Acceptance Earnests and Fruits of the Spirit like Balm to the Wounded Paul writing to the Romans said Salute one another with an Holy Kiss Rom. 16.16 This Peter called The Kiss of Love 1 Pet. 5.14 In after Ages as Fellowship with the Lord and with one another in the Light in a high measure came to be loft then the Observation of Shadows more and more got entrance then their
Professors of Christianity as hereafter may be seen This is my Body that is this betokens denotes signifies or shadows out my Body the word is is often so taken as by several Scriptural Instances it may appear Joseph said unto Pharaoh The seven good Kine are seven years and the seven good Ears of Corn are seven years that is signifieth or betokeneth seven years Gen. 41.25 26. The seven Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches Rev. 1.20 that is denotes betokens or signifies them And the seven Heads are seven Mountains on which the Woman sitteth and the ten Horns are ten Kings that is signifies betokens or denotes these things Rev. 17.1 12. And Zech. 5.3 The flying Rell is the Curse that is signifies or betokens the Curse The Shadows of the Old Testament are said to expiate because they were Types of Expiation by Christ So 1 Cor. 10. That Rock was Christ that is signified betokened or held out Christ a Figure or Type of him As in the Flower saith Ludolphus the Fruit is foreshown so by the Shadows of the Law Christ to come was signified But the word is is never put for changed into Poole So this is my Body that is betokens or signifie my Body the outward Bread was a Figure or Shadow of Christ who is that to the Soul which outward Bread is to the Body thorow outward Bread the Body grows is strengthned comforted refreshed satisfied this Christ said should be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God in the Church how thorow his spiritual Return who is the Heavenly Bread Bread of God living Bread life-giving Bread in by and thorow which the Churches grew were strengthned comforted refreshed satisfied Moreover Christ took the Cup and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it for this is my Blood signifies and denotes my Blood Wine quenches the Thirst increases Strength banishes Sorrow causeth Mirth gladdens the Heart adds Courage Christ said it was to be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God in the Church the primitive Churches washed in the Blood of the Lamb were Witnesses hereof thorow Draughts of the Cup of Blessing in pourings of the Quickening Spirit they made Melody in their Hearts to the Lord this Cup of Blessing made Paul and Silas sing Praises unto God though in an inner Prison and their Feet fast in the Stocks Acts 16. Further Paul put the Corinthians who were jangling and in Disorder in mind of Christ's Institution saying I received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you he informs them how he took Bread and the Cup and bad them eat and drink in remembrance of him for as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye de shew the Lord's Death till he come 1 Cor. 11.23 c. Christ though he departed as touching his outward Manifestation yet he comforted them with Promises of returning so though he departed in the Flesh yet he returned in Spirit I will pray the Father and he shall give you the Comforter that he may abide with you forever Again I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you Again The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your Remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you John 14.16 18 26. Again Christ said unto his Disciples It is expedient for you that I go away if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him unto you and he will guide you into all Truth and shew you things to come John 16.7 13. So their eating the outward Bread and drinking the Cup was in Remembrance of him till he came and when he was returned in Spirit and revealed in them their Comforter their faithful Remembrancer their Guide into all Truth then they had that in them which the Bread and Wine represented Paul writing to the Corinthians took them from the Outward to the Inward saying Christ is in you except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 And We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 And The Mystery hid from Ages and Generations was Christ in them the Hope of Glory Col. 1.27 Thus Christ being in them what need was there of Bread and Wine to keep them in Remembrance of him till he came Now John a Witness of his spiritual Appearance bare record saying We know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an Vnderstanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ 1 John 5.20 Paul travelled in birth for the Galatians until Christ was formed in them Gal. 4.19 in the Apostles dayes and while the Church kept the Faith and primitive Order the Life of Jesus was manifest in their mortal Bodies the Heavenly Birth was brought forth in them Christ the Bread of God Bread of Life Living Bread which who eat of live forever John 6. the redeemed Churches washed in the Blood of the Lamb witnessed this so had the thing in them signified by outward Bread and Wine Further Paul writing to the Corinthians sanctified by Faith in Christ Jesus called to be Saints said I speak as to wise men judge ye what I say the Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ the Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ we are all Partakers of that one Bread 1 Cor. 10.15 This Cup and this Bread know none but who follow Christ in the Regeneration the outward mind feeds on Husks drinks the Cup of Abomination but in the Cross a renewing is known a Hungring after the Bread of Life is known the immortal Seed is known in which the Families of the Earth are blessed he spoke of a Cup of a Bread which only the Wise in the Wisdom of God had knowledge of Now the primitive Christians living Stones being come to the the End of Shadows testified against the Shadows and did not stick in them not jangle about them the Kingdom of God stands not in Meat and Drink but in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit Rom. 14.17 not in Bread and Wine but in the second Adam the quickening Spirit the End of Shadows Paul wrote to the Collossians saying Let no man â—udge you in Meat or in Drink c. which are a Shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ Col. 2.16 17. Bread and Wine are Shadows as well as the outward Passover and Christ is that in his People which the Shadows pointed at To him that overcomes saith Christ will I give to eat of the hidden Maenna Rev. 2.17 He promises a Food of a more spiritual nature then outward Bread Wine a Food hidden from the wise and prudent yea and from that Mind that sticks in the Shadows Further said the true and faithful Witness Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any man hear my Voice and open the Door
born of the Virgin bread into his body wine into his blood and that this consecrated Host being offered to God by the Priest is a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the Quick and the Dead and that men are thereby reconciled to God and that it must be worshipped and carried about in Processions and that such as denyed the same should be Anathema accursed And not only this Council but also the Lateran Council Pope Nicholas Pope Leo Pope Innocent Pope Pius the fourth Pope Victor Pope Honorius c. taught the same for denying of this Doctrine many have been burned to Ashes as Ecclesiastical Writers testifie Summa Concil et Pontif. Oruphrius Pope Innocent the third invented Pixes and Boxes as 't is said to put the sacramental Bread in Again such Reverence came to be given to consecrated Bread without when the bread of life was turned from yea and the true Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth that a Council put out a Canon forbidding Women to receive the Eucharist that is the consecrated Host with bare Hands Concil Antisid Summa Concil et Pontif. Roman-Catholicks tell of a Miracle of an Ass that left his Provender to worship the consecrated Host on such Conceit as this saith Mede the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is grounded Of Aderation given to the Consecrated Host When it came to be believed that bread after consecration was the very Christ the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World then Popes and Councils ordained that at certain times it should be lifted up above the Priests Head and that at the heaving of it up a Bell should be rung and that all that hear it s found should not only do low Obeysance but fall down on their Knees and with Hands lifted up towards Heaven worship it and say Pater Noster or some other Prayer they ordained also that it should be born to the Sick with great Reverence and that with lighted Caudles though at noon day for the same they instituted a solemn Feast called Corpus Christi Day on which the consecrated Host is born about lifted up and worshipped Further 'T was enjoyned That if a Priest were called in the Night season to housel the Sick and there spent all his Hosts as he came Homeward he was to put out the Candle left the people should adore the empty Tabernacle such as read the Canons of Pope Honorius Gregory the ninth Pope Innocent Pope Clement the fifth their Lives and Councils in their dayes they may see these things In France saith Heylin in his Survey of the Estate of France a couple of Priests carries the Host under a Canopy before it goeth a Bell continually tinkling all in Houses perceiving their God to go by make some shew of Reverence all in the Streets with bended Knees and elevated Hands do it Honour to the Protestants it is as a Watch-Peal to be gone left for their â—â—reverence they be knocked down in this saith he is a smatch of Turcism who when they hear the Cryers bawling in their Streets they fall prostrate on the Ground where-ever they are and kiss it thrice so perform their Devotions to Mahomet their carrying it about the Streets hath a touch of Judaism from the Levites carrying about the Ark on their Shoulders their Adoration of it is especially from Gentilism for never any people but Heathen saith he afforded divine Honours to things inanimate Thus when Heavenly Salt Wisdom from above was lost within multitudes of Inventious swarmed into Apostatized Christendom Lanctantius in his first Book of Institutions taxed the Gentiles of Ridiculousness who worshipped Jupiter as a God Cam cundem tamen Saturno et Rhea gentium confiterentur seeing they so perfectly knew his Original much more are they to be blamed who impose upon the peole the Adoration of a Dead God a principis non ita fuit it was not so from the the beginning Heylins Survey c. Christ said unto his Disciples Take eat this is my Body this denotes signifies be tokens my Body what bread and wine is to the body of man that is Christ the Bread of Life his Flesh his Blood to the Soul the Doctrine of Bread-worship Invocation of Saints Worshipping of Images and many other pestilent Errors have steamed into the Church from the mis-understanding and mis-interpretation of Scriptures saith Rainold in his Orations Paul who had the Mind of Christ a feeling sense of Christs Institution said thrice in a Breath as I may say that the Bread after it was blessed or Thanks were given which is called Consecration remained Bread he called it so and he called it what it was his words imply not his belief of Transubstantiation but expresly the contrary 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28. Again Mat. 26. Christ took the Cup and gave Thanks and bad them drink saying This is my Blood that is signifies betokens or holds out my Blood not his Blood after Consecration but a Shadow of his Blood his own words immediately following evidently demonstrates this I will not drink henceforth of the Fruit of the Vine he calls what was in the Cup the Fruit of the Vine now his Blood was not the Fruit of the Vine but Wine is the Fruit of the Vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdom saith he now whoever say that Bread and Wine after Consecration is Christ's Flesh and Blood consider this Did Christ cat his own Body Did he drink his own Blood you say consecrated Bread and Wine is Christ's Flesh and Blood and Christ eat and drank thereof what Consquences would follow this Doctrine Christ his Flesh his Blood is hid from apostatized Ages and Generations his Word became Flesh living Food Food of living Souls Christ is the living Bread which came down from Heaven his Flesh is the Bread that he gives who came from Heaven given for the Life of the World but perishing Bread and Wine though consecrated a thousand times came not from Heaven this said he who also said The Flesh profiâ—â—eth nothing it is the Spirit that quickeneth and the words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life John 6. And whereas Paul said to the Corinthians As often as ye eat this Bread and Drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords Death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 Now if the consecrated Host were Christ then he were come then how is it done till he come and were it proper to say till he come when he is already come Christ was obedient to Death even the Death of the Cross the Corinthians were in the Cross in the daily dying having Tastes of the eternal Inheritance and in the dying he comes with perfect Conquest abolishing Death and bringing Life and Immortality to Light And Paul said This do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me this plainly shews that consecrated Bread and Wine is not his Body where his Body is there is no need of
Trent Council What was become of the Unity of the Spirit and the Spirit of the Prophets which is subject to the Prophets Some said Ebrius Infantes Erroneus atque furentes Cum pueris domini non debent sumere corpus Of giving the Sacrament so called to Dead People From the before-mentioned Scripture Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you John 6. â—3 the Fathers in the Degeneration from the primitive Faith Doctrine Worship and Practice fell into the Gulf of that Conceit That none but Communicants should partake of the blessedness of Salvation upon which they not only gave Sacramental Bread c. to Infants but put it into the Mouthes of Dead Men There were some saith Sparke the Kings Chaplain pag. 127. that baptized the Dead and put the Sacramental-Bread in their Mouths as their Viaticum judging it better to have such a necessary Ordinance by Proxy then altogether to go without it That such a thing was in use in the Church may be certainly concluded from the sixth Canon of the third Council of Carthage 't is there apparent that that Council condemned certain Hereticks who thrust the Sacramental Bread into the Mouths of Dead Men yea and the sixth general Council at Constantinople was concerned to eradicate the Tares of that Delusion and smoky Conceit saying Let none give the Encharist that is sacramental Bread to the Dead for it is written Take and eat but the Dead are neither in a Capacity to take nor to eat Summa Concil et Pontif. Thus the Cup of Blessing being lost they received at the old Serpents hand the Cup of Abomination Fornication Delusions and Conceits and they were drunk therewith Of Time and Times of taking the Sacrament As the Churches in the Apostles days and primitive Ages grew up in the sanctifying Faith in the purifying Hope thorow the Cross of Christ the Life of Jesus came to be manifested in their mortal Bodies they were true and living Witnesses of Fellowship with the Lord thorow the Leadings and Teachings of the Anointing they knew Christ supping with them and they with him without outward Bread and Wine being in the Heavenly Banquetting House in the End and Substance of all Types Figure and Shadows but as the Serpent seducing Eve brought in a world of Wickedness so the same by little and little wearing the Church from the Simplicity that is in Christ Jesus brought in a flood of Confusion an earthly Mind within turned to earthly Figures and Shadows without Elements and Rudiments losing the Life of Communion within they placed it in Shadows without and much Confusion and Uncertainty hath been in the Church about the Times of taking it as appears in the Writings of Men. Very anciently saith Polydor Christians took the Eucharist that is the sacramental Broad every day in the Morning and Fasting Polydor lib. 5. After this Augustin said This daily taking of the Communion of the Eucharist I neither Praise nor blame yet my Perswasion is that men take it every Lords Day his Perswasion very likely took place hence it came to be called Panis hebdomadarius Weekly Bread Polydor lib. 5. Zephyrinus afterwards appointed That all Christians who were come to sutable years should once a year at least take the Sacrament namely at Easter Once every day now once a year will serve either much of Zeal was in the one or much of Coldness was in the other Polyd. lib. 5. Fabian afterwards established That men should take the Sacrament thrice in the year if not oftner at Easter Pentecost and Christmas Polyd. lib. 5. Summa Concil et Pontif. Anacletus commanded That they that would not take the Sacrament should be excommunicated as Prophane Persons Polyd. lib. 5. Several are of another Disposition in this our Age who shew not much dislike at peoples Refusal of the Sacrament provide they give them the same Price as they do who take it but refusing that War is prepared Concerning the Communion Cup. In the primitive Times the Church of living Stones was under the Rule and Government of the blessed Spirit in and thorow which the Cry and living Soul-breathing was Abba Father here the Cup of Salvation of Consolation of Blessing full of Righteousness Peace Joy Assurance Heavenly Riches was plentifully drunk of this being lost thorow the Smoke Inchantments Delusions pompous Shew bewitching Splendor Misleadings Muzlings and enfatuating Sleights of Antichtist and men fast bound in the Dungeon of spiritual Servitude and toiling in the Entanglements of Will-worship Self-righteousness Traditions Conceits in this condition the Cup of Abomination and spiritual Fornication got entrance making Nations drunk and in the barren Wilderness of this State there hath been no little jangling about the Sacramental Cup without as of what Mettal it should be made of some have been for Wood some for Glass some for Pewter some for Gold some for Silver as may be assuredly concluded by the Canons and Constitutions of Popes Kings Arch-Bishops Provincial Councils c. It is very clear saith Polydor that the Cups used in the consecration of divine Blood was at the first made of Wood de Invent. lib. 2. cap. 12. Zepherinus afterwards commanded That Glass Cups should be used not Wood Cups as before Polyd. lib. 2. cap. 12. Succeeders skrewed a Peg higher the former Decree by little and little vanished and it was constituted That Golden Silver or at the least Pewter Cups or Chalices should be used Polydor lib. 2. Bonifacius Martyr and Bishop said Formerly Golden Priest did wake use of Wood Cups or Chalices but now on the contrary Wood Priests use Golden Chalices As the Apostatical Pomp and Splendor increased so the simple and homely use of Wood Cups came to be generally hissed at and sleighted so that the Provincial Triburiensian Council decreeed thus We decree that henceforth no Priest may by any means presume to make the sacred Mystery of the Body and Blood of our Lord in Wood Cups or Chalices Summa Concil et Pontif. Our King Edgar put out a Canan to this purpose saying We teach that every Chalice or Cup wherein any one shall consecrate the Eucharist shall be of Molten Mettal and not at all consecrated in a Wood Cup or Chalice One Remigius an Arch-Bishop appointed these his Verses to be set on the side of the Sacremental Cup Haurit hinc populus vitam de sanguine sacro Injecto aeternus quem fudit vulnere Christus c. Hence People drink Eternal Life that 's good For in this Cup contained is Christ's Blood Thus you see what a stir hath been about Invention after that the Simplicity and Stability of the Truth as it is in Jesus was turned from and after that credens was given that Bread and Wine by the Priests consecration was transmuted that is changed into the real Body and Blood of Christ How Communion in both Kinds was forbidden That Christ gave Bread and Wine unto his