in Christ for euer according to his most mercifull promise made in his word By the similitude of vnion of many cornes and many grapes in these sacramental elements the faithful are put in minde that as the bread which they receiue and eate in the sacrament was made of many cornes and by the liquor of water kneaden into dowe and yet is but one bread and as the wine was made of the iuice of many grapes and yet is but one wine so they that receiue and eate Christs body and drinke his bloud by a true and liuely faith watered with the liquor of godly and true charity are made one body and one flesh with him as liuely members and fruitfull branches of his mysticall body the Church wich is the whole companie of Gods children which are in heauen and in earth of which fellowship and mysticall body these elements are a sacrament as well as of his naturall body declaring the perfect coÌ„iunction which all the faithful of the church militant here on earth haue with their fellowe members the church triumphant together with their head Iesus Christ who all make but one body of Christ being compact knit together to him as to their head according as the Apostle Saint Paul affirmeth in the 1 to the Corinthians cap 10. The cup of blâ—ssing which we blesse is â—â— not the â—oÌ„munâ—on of the bloud of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the boâ—y â—f Christ For we that are manie are one brâ—â—d and one bodie because we all arâ— partakers of one bread In the 12. chapter of the same epistle he saith For as the bodie is one and hath manie members and all the members of the bodie which is one though they bee manie yet are but one body euen so is Christ for by one spirit we be all baptized into one body whether we be Iewes or Grecians bond or free and haue beene all made to drâ—nke into one spirit Therefore if one member suffer all suffer with it if one member bee had in honour all the members reioyce vvith it Novv you are the body of Christ and members for your part By which words the Apostle sheweth that all the faithfull both in heauen in earth make but one mystical body of Christ and that the whole Church together make but one Christ being all in particular the seuerall members of his said mystical body wherof â—e himselfe is the head of which fiâ—me and stedfast coniunction Baptisme the Lords supper are an effectuall declaration and resemblance and perfect seales of assurance to all the faithfull for by Baptisme is declared their new birth into one spirit and by their participation of the body and bloud of Christ is manifestly shewed opened sealed assured vnto them their newe planting incorporating into Christs body who being made liuely members of the same they are guided gouerned and ruled by one selfe same spirit of Christ according as the Apostle affirmeth in the 4. chapter of the epistle to the Ephâ—sians There is one body and one spirit euen aâ— you are called in one hope of your vocatioÌ„ There is one Lord one faith one Baptisme one God father of all which is aboue all through all and in you all That we be henceforth no more children wauering and caried about with euery winde of doctrine by the deceit of men and craftines whereby they lie in waite to deceiue but let vs follow the truth in loue and in all things grow vp vnto him which is the head that is Christ by whom all the body being coupled and knit together by euery ioynt for the furniture thereof according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euery part receiueth increase of the body vnto the edifying of it selfe in loue till we all meete together in the vnity of faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ And in Gal. 3. it is thus said For yee are all the Sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus for all yee that are Baptized into Christ haue put on Christ By which words the Apostle noteth that all the whole church are but as one man in Christ Iesus making but one mysticall body of Christ whereof the sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper are a declaration resemblance testimony perfect seale of assurance so that Christ being nowhead of his church and the Church which is the company of the faithfull being made one body with him he nourisheth and feedeeth all and euery member of the same and through the worke grace of his holy spirit ioyneth them together by their particularioints so that euery part hath his iust proportion of foode that at length through the vertue receiued extended from him as from their head euery part may grow vp to perfection in which communion and fellowship of the members of Christ together with their head great comfort is laide vp to a true Christian soule For as the Apostle saith if one member suffer all suffer with it and if one member be had in honour all the members reioyce with it because that which is comfort and honour to one is comfort and honour vnto all in asmuch as all be made partakers therof through Christ their head who by the lace of loue hath vnited and fast ioyned them one with another and coupled them all to himselfe through his exceeding charitie spreading it selfe and ouershadowing them all that in all good things as also in their euill afflictions and sorrowes Christ himselfe with all his members do partake and common together according as by himselfe is affirmed in his word that whatsoeuer is done to the least lowest of his members in his said mysticall body be it good or euill it is done vnto him he being the head of that body froÌ„ whence euery member draweth his life and feeling for how can a man offend the least part of the body being a liuely and quicke member and the whole body and head not feele it and what suffereth the furthest part of the foot that the whole body and head suffereth not seeing that it is the head that giueth motion sense and perfect feeling to all the body euery member of the same and what suffereth the furthest lowest and least part of the foot that the whole body and head suffereth not and what benefite also can be done vnto any litle part of the foot in which all the body and specially the head taketh not comfort and reioyceth So then if any one member be feeble and weake in faith yet the churches faith which is the company of all the faithfull ioyned to and with their head is stable and assured strong and if the repentance of some one member be suddaine small and short yet the repentance and sorrowes of the church ioyned with her head is plentifull deepe large and sufficient whereof this short and
your selues treasures the vpon earth where the rust and moth doth corrupt and where theeues breake through and steale but lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt and where theeues doe not breake through and steale Math. 7. Whatsoeuer you would that men should doe to you euen so doe you vnto them for this is the law and the Prophets Luke 12. Sell that you haue and giue alme◠make you bagges which waxe not old a treasure that neuer can faile in heauen where no theefe commeth nor moth corrupteth and according as God had commanded in his law that a mercifull respect and diligent care should bee had of the poore so holy Toby in his 8. chapter giueth this instruction to his sonne Giue almes of thy goods and turne neuer thy face from the poore and then the face of the Lord shall neuer bee turned away from thee bee mercifull after thy power if thou hast much giue plentiouslie and if thou hast little doe thy diligence gladly to giue of that little for so gatherest thou thy selfe a good reward against the day of necessitie and in the second to the Corinth the 9. chap. it is thus written He that soweth sparingly shall reape also sparingly and he that soweth liberally shal reape also liberally as euerie man wisheth in his hart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessitie for God loueth a cheerefull giuer and in 13. to the Hebrewes the 16. verse it is said to doe good and to distribute forget not for with such sacrifices God is pleased Pro. 20. he that hath mercie vpon the poore lendeth vnto the Lord and the Lord will recompence him that which he hath giuen By all which places and many other in holie scripture it appeareth what loue tender care and compassion by the ordinance and commandement of God is appointed to bee had and shewed vppon such as are in miserie and want By which kinde of Communion and bond of charitie all mankinde without exception are vnited and knit together but of the first none can or may be partakers but onely the faithfull which are the elect and chosen children of God the true members of the Church ioyned to their head Iesus Christ among which company all the members are so compact vnited knit together that all make but one bodie of Christ and therefore ought thus to thinke one of another he is my brother coheire in Christ a member of the same bodie redeemed with one bloud a fellowe in the common faith called to the very same grace felicity of the life to come how can any then that is a true mēber of Christ of which body thou professest thy selfe also a member be a stranger vnto thee to whom thou art coupled with so many bonds of vnitie And as concerning the outward goods of this life the godly and true members of christ in whose harts alone this true charitie is rooted by and through the working of the holy ghost do and ought to be readie at all times to make partakers not only their frēds and such as be of the houshold of faith but euen the wicked and vnbeleeuers their enemies persecutors and slanderers distributing of the outward goods of this life vnto all men in generall as their prayers their counsell helpe and comfort their reliefe charitie almes whose prayer for the vngodly concerning the outward and temporall blessings of this worlde God hath shewed by manie examples in his word that he hath both heard and graunted as at the prayers of Moises and Aaron hee remoued the plagues from Pharao at the prayers of the Prophet of God the dried hand of Ieroboam was restored to his former strength and so will GOD still heare the prayers of his children for the vngodly so farre as it standeth with his good pleasure and aduancement of his owne glorie commanding his children not to bee like the wicked and vngodly to doe good onely in respect of reward or for some speciall bond of alliance or friendship as our Sauiour affirmeth that the Publicans vnbeleeuers doe Mat. 5. For if you loue them which loue you what reward haue you doe not the Publicans euen the same and if you be friendly to your brethren onelie what singular thing doe you do not euen the Publicans like wise but I say vnto you loue your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for thē that hurt you and persecute you giue to him that asketh and from him that would borrowe of thee turne not away thy face that you may bee the children of your father which is in heauen for he maketh his sunne to shine vpon the euill and vpon the good and sendeth raine on the the iust and on the vniust yee shall therefore bee perfect as your heauenly father is perfect thus our sauiour hath shewed by this his cōmandement what the true rule of charitie is by which his children are vnited and knit togither euen in all things both bodily and ghostly to communicate participate one with another seeing from the outward bodily participation he hath not separated the wicked and vnbeleeuers but hath first lincked and tied them also to his owne children in the outward participation of the goods of this life By which doctrine all the children of God are put in minde that they must suffer nothing to let or hinder their charitie in any the outward things temporall blessings before mentioned but euen to be liberall pitifull compassionate vnto all for that they are of the same kinde and flesh with them yet neuerthelesse to haue their mindes and eies of their soules lifted vp higher to that communion and participation which they haue of all things with their brethren the true members of the holie and vndefiled bodie of Christ who is their head so that whatsoeuer is bestowed vpon any one member it redoundeth to the whole bodie and from thence vnto the head and the head of Christ is God whereof it followeth that the good which is done to any one member it is done to Christ it is done to GOD. Which liuely worke of true charitie the head who is our sauiour Iesus Christ worketh by the grace of his holie spirit in all and euerie true member of his bodie the Church the bodie and euerie part thereof drawing all their life and feeling the power and strength also of euerie good and vertuous worke and of euery godly act from the head to whom all the honour glorie and praise is due for all the good that is done or can be don either in this life or in the life to come onely let all the faithfull be quickned in their charity when they feele it to begin to wax cold and faint by this spurre that albeit to their fleshly eies and iudgement which is alwaies during this life corrupt and blinde there appeareth no kindnes goodnes vertue or any good
and 3. verse and 5. of the 2. to the Corinth and 21. verse God sending his owne sonne in the similitude of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sinne in the flesh For hee made him to bee sinne for vs which knew no sinne that wee should bee made the righteousnes of GOD in him By which words the Apostle meaneth not that the holy bodie of Christ was defiled with any the sinnes of mankinde but that he was the true sacrifice propitiatorie vnto God for the sinnes of mankinde hauing borne away and taken vpon himselfe all their sinnes in his own reall naturall bodie flesh and bloud as if he himselfe were the particular persō of euerie of them and had committed their seuerall sinnes and as though hee himself were the selfe same bodily person flesh and bloud in essence and substance nature quality of euery of the faithfull being sinners transgressers of the Law of God guilty of the wrath iudgement eternall damnation curse of God from which punishments our Sauiour Christ hath acquitted euery of them by his death passion suffering and all that haue or shall hereafter truly beleeue in him By which their faith through the working of the holy ghost as Christ is apprehended and conuerted into them hath borne a way their sinnes vpon himselfe and the punishment due for the same so are they also and euerie of them conuerted into Christ and are made partakers of the righteousnes of God in him according as before hath been remembred wherin the infinite iustice mercy of God most liuely appeareth to the eies vnderstanding taste and feeling of all the faithfull infinite in iustice for that no satisfaction could or can satisfie the iustice of God for the recompence or redemption of the least sinne in mankind but that the same must bee fully punished for the satisfaction of Gods infinit iustice in the true reall naturall flesh of man which satisfaction our Sauiour Christ made for mankinde who came downe from heauen and was made man of the substance of his mother that in the fraile flesh of mankinde hee might take vpon himselfe and suffer all the punishment due vnto sinners that as manie as beleeued or should to the end of the world beleeue in him might not perish but haue euerlasting life For christ in the power of his diuine nature to which hee ioyned our flesh suffered the wrath curse punishment of God due for sinne which no mortall creature beeing only man was or could bee able to beare or ouercome for which cause the sonne of God made himselfe flesh to the end that according to gods infinit iustice the sinnes of the faithfull might be borne away and fully punished in his flesh wherein his infinite Iustice did most brightly shine apeare His infinite mercie herein appeareth that where the sinnes of the faithfull be fully punished through the sufferings of Iesus Christ for the satisfaction of Gods iustice it appeareth plainly vnto them that they are freely forgiuen pardoned because in them as in their owne persons their sinnes are not nor shall euer be punished nor any satisfaction made or to be made vnto GOD by themselues Christ hauing borne the wrath and full punishment of God due vnto them for sinne and quite freed discharged them so that neither their sinnes shall be laid to their charge nor any punishment nor purgation due for the same required at their hāds Which plainly setteth forth and declareth vnto all the faithfull Gods infinite and vnspeakeable mercie whereof this sacramēt communion of his precious bodie bloud is a plain declaration resēblance perfect seale of assurance vnto all the faithful But the Church of Rome with her followers as by the Doctrine of transubstantiation they do denie the truth of the manhood of the sonne of God so by the same doctrine they denie also and abolish the truth of the Sacrament and the end of the institution of the same which was to put the faithfull in mind of the great loue of God and sufferings of Christ for thē for so saith the Apostle You shall shew the Lords death till hee come It serueth also to put them in mind of all the benifits receiued by his precious body and bloud who gaue his body to bee broken and his bloud to bee shed for their sinnes and by this holy sacrament giueth to all true beleeuers his reall naturall flesh and bloud to bee their spirituall meate drinke to preserue and nourish their bodies and soules vnto life euerlasting and to declare testifie and assure vnto them their vnion that they haue with him as members making one body distributing vnto all and euery member the spirituall graces and vertues of his most excellent reall naturall holy body which spirituall and immortall foode of their bodies and soules is receiued from their head Iesus Christ who distributeth and sendeth it downe to the nourishment of all his members euen as the foode of this mortall life is receiued by meanes of the head and sent downe to the nourishmēt of all our earthly members whereof these outward elements are a full declaration and a perfect seale of assurance to all the faithfull being by the institution of God made a holy sacrament to represent the same vnto them and by his holy ordinance appointed to carrie the very name of his body which is signified by these elements offered vnto all and giuen to the true beleeuers wherein God of his infinite goodnes and mercy applieth himselfe to the dulnes of the capacities of his children who without these outward pledges being signes tokens and remembrances of his great mercy would neuer haue conceiued and would haue beene ready also to forget the infinite benefits mercies of God purchased for them by the death and passion of his beloued sonne which God in his excellent wisedome hath so liuely declared and set forth in these Sacramentall elements because the reall naturall bodily presence of Christ did not so plainely make the same knowne and and open to the vnderstanding of his disciples and the Church For which cause our Sauiour did institute command and celebrate this holy Sacrament whiles hee was yet bodily present amongst his disciples both for that his bodily presence was not long to continue but to depart away from them whereof this Sacrament was to keepe a remembrance amongst them as also of all the benefits receiued and to be receiued by all and euery of the faithfull by his most precious bodie bloud giuen vp to bee crucified broken and shed for their sinnes whereof these sacramentall elements did and would make a more liuely declaration to the senses and vnderstanding of his Disciples and the Church through the grace of his holy spirit working in euery of their hearts then by his bodily presence they were able to conceiue For which cause it pleased our Sauiour to giue to this Sacrament the name of his bodie because in this Sacrament the
vnto him from time to time common signes for notes and markes of the assurance of the thing signified Wherein the might of God is more renowmed and magnified by giuing vnto vs with the holy signe the thing represented by the power of faith and the holy Ghost then if the selfe signe were really changed by some visible miracle For the Sacraments doe containe in them more spiritualnesse the fleshlines for which cause God did alwaies blame his people Israel by his Prophets for taking his Sacraments ouer fleshly as we haue before briefly declared But tell The expositioÌ„ of Iesus Christ of the communion of his body me O Massalians when Iesus Christ would expound that hee was the true bread of life which came downe from heauen to giue euerlasting life and how these sacramentall wordes ought to be vnderstood to eate his flesh and drinke his bloud when the Capharnaites your predecessours were offended did hee teach by his interpretation that to eate his flesh ought to bee vnderstood by a little round hoste transubstantiated The round hoste of flowre and the wine to bee no more bread and wine but an accideÌ„ce without substance Is this your abhominable Witchcraft the doctrine of Iesus Christ Nothing lesse but Iesus Christ as a Iohn 6. true law giuer vnto whom the interpretation of his law appertained answered vnto the Doctours Capharnaites that they were to grosse and carnall and that they did abide in the flesh as ye doe O Massayers Notwithstanding that the flesh alone proffiteth nothing saying that these sacramental words were spiritual The fleshe saith hee profiteth nothing Iohn 5. it is the spirite that quickneth Moreouer O Massayers how can you safely make to agree your transubstantiation with the doctrine of Iesus Christ which doth promise and assure to giue euerlasting life to those which eate his fieshe and drinke his bloud if yea take these wordes carnally For you cannot be ignorant that your bodies notwithstanding that they haue deuoured the little round hostes transubstantiated into flesh and bone and supt and licked the wine changed into bloud doe die and are mortall by the necessitie of the lawe Wherefore life euerlasting promised by this communion may not bee vnderstood of the bodie nor of the mortall flesh You must then of necessitie acknowledge for a sure interpretation that to eate the bodie and drinke the bloud of Iesus Christ ought to be referred vnto the life spiritual and heauenly and that the flesh profiteth nothing but the spirituall word and communion of Iohn 6. the body and bloud of Iesus Christ by faith and in spirite giuing euerlasting life This interpretation is often recited by the holy Apostle Iohn in many places when he vseth these tearmes he that cometh vnto me shall neuer hunger he that beleeueth in mee shall neuer thirst but shall haue euerlasting life Are not these tearmes sufficient plaine to interprete this holy sacrament of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ without running vnto your witchcraft of tran substantiation Another like interpretation of the doctour Conference of baptisme vnto the sacrament of the supper and authour of the sacramentall law is discribed when Iesus Christ was asked of Nicodeme the meane how a man could bee regenerate and borne againe Is it possible saith Nicodeme that a man should enter into his mothers wombe and be borne againe Did Iesus Christ answere vnto this demaund that in the holy sacrament of Baptisme the water was turned into the bodie into fleshe and into bloud and transubstantiate into a carnall wombe to be thereby againe engendred and borne Is there not as great reason after your witchcraft here to vse this answere as in the holy Sacrament of the supper for by the one of these two holy sacraments wee be regenerate and by the other nourished And the regeneration is as marueilous vnto mans wisedome as the nourishment For after mans carnall iudgement it seemeth vnpossible twise to be engendred But our good God hath vsed like interpretation for the regeneration as hee did for the communion of his flesh and his bloud namely that these sacramentall tearmes must be spiritually vnderstood and not carnally for the flesh profiteth Iohn 3. nothing but the spirit quickneth That which is of the fleshe is fleshly that which is of the spirit is spirituall The holy Apostle giuing vnto the Corinthians that which hee receiued at the hand of God did admonish them of the second comming of Iesus Christ in looking for the which he commanded to communicate the body and bloud of Iesus Christ by breaking of bread and the Cup of blessing called the new Testament and the new Couenant contracted by the bloud of Iesus Christ For as much then as we are assured of the second comming of Iesus Christ Being gon vp into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God his Father vntill the day appointed that he must come againe to iudge the quicke and the dead How do ye O Massalians with this issue when as by your Magicke you say that euery day you cause to come downe and make returne the body of Iesus Christ in flesh and bone before the time appointed of his second comming be come Tit. Liuius 1. Decad 1. This witchraft was restored by you froÌ„ the first author of your Masse sacrifice Numa pompilius who by his witchcraft Valerius Max. lib. 1. cap. 3 gaue to vnderstand that he caused his Nyphe and Goddesse Aegeâ—ie and also his Iupiter Eticius to descend from heauen by whose meanes the heauenly secrets and misteries were reuealed vnto him Euen so by our witchcraft the round host consecrated is transubstantiated into the true and reall body of Iesus Iohn 19. Exod. 12. Numb 9. Christ The bread being no more bread How haue you learned this boldnesse to bruse and breake in peeces the Corruption of the holy sacraments body of Iesus Christ according to the inuention of Sergius the second of that name your predecessor Bishoppe of Rome Are not you more detestable hangmen then your predecessors Lieutenants of the Church of Rome which Against traÌ„substantiation crucified Iesus Christ but without bruising and breaking his body in peeces as it was propheceied before And that more is you are not content to breake it in 3 peeces but in your Masse sacrifice ye haue enterprised to drowne or steep one portioÌ„ of it in the wine changed into bloud to deuoure it To confirme your witchcraft of transubstantiation haue ye not ordeyned to preserue your litle round printed hosts the which you do keepe and lay vppe so curiously in boxes and shrines after they be changed Harman contr into flesh and bone and into the reall body of Iesus Christ Is not this a detestable heresie to beleeue that the body of Iesus Christ can receiue corruption Blond Platina Yea and often it is eaten of wormes mites rattes and mise Can you interpret that this is an accidence without a substance
that the cup is the new Testament that by these outward signes of bread and wine he might cause vs to vnderstand our life and nourishment of saluation to stay onely vpon Iesus Christ and that by his death and bloudshedding we are so assured of euerlasting life as the bread and wine are nourishment for the body and that it pleased him to ordeine these holy signes to serue vs for sacraments for the triall and confirmation of our faith is this an occasion to play the Capharnaits or the Nicodemianes to doubt of the power of God how is it possible to eate the body and drinke the bloud of Iesus Christ How is it possible to be regenerate and borne againe Then seeing wee haue a promise giuen vnto vs by the word of God wherefore O Massalians haue ye imagined a carnall transubstantiation mistrusting the incomprehensible power of God ought it not to suffice you to beleeue simply that the body bloud of Iesus Christ is offred vnto vs really sacramētally to communicate for our nourishment and to giue vs euerlasting life by the bread and wine consecrated with giuing of thankes the bread being truely his body and the wine his bloud which ought to be receiued worthily by faith and in purenes of conscience as holy signes and markes of the godly badge without enquiring euer subtilly the meanes otherwise then Iesus Christ hath interpreted saying the flesh profiteth nothing it is the spirit that quickneth and that his words were spirit and life Ought we to doubt that God hath not the power to make vs partakers of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ by the holy signes of bread and wine consecrated the bread neuerthelesse remaining bread and the wine wine If it were otherwise this should not be called a sacrament but a myracle as when Iesus Christ turned the water into wine that he vsed a miracle of transubstantiation changing water into wine But he did not then ordeine a sacrament as he did of the communion of his body bloud by the holy figures of bread and wine Was it not as easie for God to make the wine to bee changed into bloud or the bread into flesh as for Moyses Aarō to change the water of the riuer into bloud to approue the hardnes of Pharaoh or when the cloudes were turned into the flesh of Qailes which rained vpon the people of Israell alwaies God did not ordeine these miracles to serue for ordinarie sacraments but would apply himselfe to our infirmitie giuing vnto vs signes holy and not transubstantiated which are neither vaine nor fantasies but are outward signes which wee can see touch eate taste abiding in their substance and neuerthelesse representing sacramentally that which is comprised and signified by them wherein our triall of faith doth stand to declare vs by a sacramentall worke to be of the number of them that are regenerated nourished by the holy sacraments of baptisme and of the supper If it be lawfull tomake comparisons of the 2. holy sacraments of Baptisme and of the Supper notwithstanding that there is difference A comparison of the two holy Sacraments betweene regeneration which doth not reiterate for it sufficeth once to be regenerate and borne againe But the nourishment must be often done againe according to to the order of nature and other differences largely discribed by the holy Apostles and ministers of the word of God Yet the same end the same God the same Iesus Christ is shewed declared as well in baptisme as in the supper By the bloud of Iesus Christ we be regenerate and by the same bloud nourished By the bloud of Iesus Christ we are renued set and graffed and by the same bloud we are kept and preserued from hunger and thirst for euermore By the bloud of Iesus Christ we are spoyled from the olde corrupt skinne and clad with his body of the selfe same also we haue our nourishment and euerlasting life By the bloud of Iesus Christ we haue accesse into the kingdome of heauen And by the same bloud we haue the fruition of the kingdome for vnto the same purpose the holy Apostle witnesseth wee are all baptised by the vertue of one holy spirit and we haue all drunke of one spirituall drinke giuen vnto vs by Iesus Christ Be not these comparisons taken out of the holy scripture to iustifie that Iesus Christ is the onely end vnto the which tendeth as well Baptisme as the holy Supper It followeth then that the signes of the sacramentall water for baptisme and bread and wine for the supper of Iesus Christ are holy signes ernest gages paunes markes seales and sacraments instituted of God for proofe and assurance of our faith Well then O Massalians seeing yee haue inuented a witchcraft of transubstanttiaion for Against the Massalians the sacrament of the Supper why haue yee not also subtelly deuised the same witchcraft in the sacramēt of baptisme why haue yee not ordeyned the sacramental water after that it is by you coniured and bewitched with salt to driue away Diuels to be changed into the bloud of Iesus Christ the water to bee no more water but accidence without substance as yee haue imagined of the bread and wine What difference can you shew but Sophistries Sophismes and Masse subtelties If yee continue your heresie by this word is it is also found in the water of Baptisme which is called renuing and regeneration the same is also named the holy Ghost and the garment with which by which we are clothed renued and borne again in the bloud of Iesus Christ Then seeing O Massalians that you confesse that yee cannot finde a second Berengarie to make a decree of recantation to the end to enlarge your witchcraft of transubstantiation vnto the holy water of Baptisme and by the same meane to change your spettell and salt water your oyle your creames your salt water other drugs wherwith you haue corrupted the holy sacrament of Baptisme Wherefore then are yee so hardened and waxt old in your Pompilian Religion that you would plucke Iesus Christ from the right hand of God to make him to descende in body and bloud by your whispering witchcraft Luk. 1. Malach. 4. A comparison of the Sunne with Iesus Christ as Iupiter Elicius did before the day appointed of his second comming I can bring you in the similitude of the Sunne called by some Apostles the Sun of Righteousnesse Iesus Christ because The which S. Iustine the Martyr vled in his treatise of the exposition of faith cap. 2. that light commeth from heauen by the great and bright starre And euen so the spirituall light is giuen vnto vs by Iesus Christ who hath restored vs to light out of the night and darknesse of sinne Well then O yee Capharnaites carnall and grosse vnderstand now a comparison sufficient inough to shewe you the infinite power of God to bee much more perfect then your abhominable inuention of transubstantiation
Do yee not acknowledge if you haue not your eyes blinded and holden in depth of the darknesse of frowardnesse that the Sunne doth giue vnto vs his light his beames his force his heat streÌ„gth And yet the body it selfe of the Sunne doth rest and abide in heauen Do not ye say ordinarily in your common language when the windowe of the house towardes the sunne is open that the sunne commeth into the house Yet the sunne remaineth alwaies in heauen Behoueth it to snatch and catch the body of the sunne causing it to come downe and to transubstantiate in this earthly place before it can giue his heate his beames his light and nourishment to plants hearbes trees and earthly creatures Are yee so brutish O Capharnaites that yee will not confesse the true sonne of righteousnes Iesus Christ to haue much more power then this starre of the sunne create and mortall If then the mortall creature haue this power to giue vs the vertueâ— and strength of his body by his beames by his light and by his heate sent downe into the earth really and effectuously the body notwithstanding abiding in heauen It behoueth to beleeue that God the euerlasting creator hath much more power to giue vs the true sonne of rightuousnesse Iesus Christ to giue vs his force vertue of his body and bloud shed for vs by the beames light and heate of his holy spirit without coÌ„straining him by your witchcraft to be plucked from the right hand of God to be drawen out of heauen by your transubstantiatioÌ„ into earth Wherefore hath not Iesus Christ this power to giue vs his light and to offer to vs his body his bloud to enter within vs if by faith and pure conscience we will receiue him by the vertue of his holy spirit euen as well better then the sonne entreth into our houses by his might and power without drawing it out of heauen to change the substance thereof The sonne is one onely body created abiding in heauen the cause of the growing of plants trees hearbes which giueth nourishment by force and heate vnto all things liuing vpon the earth and in one and the same moment hath power to quicken heate nourish an infinite number of plants trees hearbes and earthly creatures without seperating diuiding or plucking his body from heauen to transubstaÌ„tiate it The body also of Iesus Christ which he hath caried into heauen and set at the right hand of God hath it not more force more vertue and more strength to regenerate vs to feed and nourish vs to giue his vertue his light and his beames to inspire quickeÌ„ sustaine lighten and in a moment make vs through faith partakers of his body and bloud to make vs members of his members knit together in him and by him by his true promise conteined vnder the bages and holy signes left vnto vs till that the second comming of his humanitie bee seene vpon the earth Wherefore O Massesa yers haue ye inuented this witchcraft of transubstantiation to blaspheme against God to lesson his power and lesse to esteeme his power and vertue then the vertue of the sunne his creature wherefore will yee pluck the body of Iesus Christ from heauen before the time appointed to change his substance into your little round hosts vnleauened and printed Iesus Christ as God aideth all full of pictures which you cause to bee worshipped seâ—ing that Christ as God doth aide his church euerlastingly and hath power to regenerate feed and nourish vs yea with euerlasting life food by his promise witnessed and assured by his holy sacraments of Baptisme and of his holy supper For other comparisons O Massesayers familiar homely consider how the earthly and mortall princes are esteemed reuerenced and honoured for the sacred signes ordeined by them I will onely set forth vnto you two that is to say Waxe Metalles of the one is made the seale of the prince wherewith is sealed graces pardons and forgiuenesses the letters priuiledges graÌ„ted by the prince He that counterfeiteth this seale is hee not punished for treason euen as if hee had hurt the very person of the prince Doth not this seale represent the very person of the prince as if hee himselfe were there present yet the waxe notwithstanding that it is called the seale of the prince is not therefore transubstantiate but remaineth still waxe yet after that it hath receiued the reuerend print of the Prince it is no more called waxe but the princes seale The metalles of gold and siluer marked for the coyne of the prince to serue for money although they be no more golde nor siluer but haue changed their names at the will of the prince be it into the name of ducate crowne shillings pence or other names do they leaue to be metalles and the same substance they were before this onely difference there is they are appointed and stamped with the print of the prince which doth really represent him in such sort that hee that clippeth counterfaiteth this money 1. Cor. 11. is punished as for the crime of treason and as he had hurt the proper person of the prince By much better reason the bread and wine consecrated and marked to be sacraments of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ do really represent him not in painting Wherefore he that vseth it vnworthily shall haue euerlasting damnation as a traytor to the maiesty of God If ye O Massalians Nicolaitains transubstaÌ„tiators are not sufficiently satisfied with the interpretation of Iesus Christ and his Apostles ne yet with similitudes and familier comparisons to bring you to the true way and certaine forme ordeyned of God for the celebration of his holy sacraments in abolishing of your Masse Pompilian Idolatries casting away also your abhominable witchcraft of traÌ„substantiation at the least yet will ye giue no credit vnto the interpretation of the ancient doctors of the church Heare then that which S. Augustine doth recite against Adamantine euen as the bloud in August cap. 12. authorities of the ancient doctors The exposition of saint Augustine many places of the holy scriptures is called the water the rock Christ So is the bread called the body of Iesus Christ the which three places must be expounded to be figures and signes When that saith the same doctor Iesus Christ spake these words Hoc est corpus meum This Lâ—b de doctri christi in prefati Psal 3. is my body and gaue them bread Hee gaue them the signe of his body for he thought otherwise that it was a thing vnlawfull too vncurteous to deuour the flesh body of Iesus Christ if there lib. 10. de candes cap. 5. sacrificiâ—m de consecr distinct 2. were not a figure there namely the bread to put vs in minde of the flesh and body of Iesus Christ to haue beene offered vp for our life and euerlasting foode Moreouer the same doctor vseth
doctrine also of transubstantiation the truth of the blessed Sacrament is in plaine truth denied what colours pretences shiftes or shewes so euer be made to the contrary for how can there bee a sacrament of Christs precious body and bloud when as by the doctrine of the church of Rome the elements of bread and wine which by the power of the word of God are made a holy sacrament are taken away changed into the reall naturall flesh and bloud of Christ and after which change nothing but the very substance of Christ remaineth and hee is really carnally corporally present which if it be so true as they would haue it as they with fire sword would force euery one to beleeue then must Christs reall naturall carnall body be a sacrament of his body and not the elements which by their doctrine haue no essence or being at all but by the power of the word are transubstantiated into the carnall body of Christ or else there remaineth no Sacrament at all which for shame I thinke they will not affirme for the vndoubted truth is that the substance it selfe of Christs body and the Sacrament of the substance which are the elementes beeing distinct seuerall things cannot so be changed or giue place the one to the other that one selfe same thing should be both seeing the true nature and property of a Sacrament is according to the doctrine of holy scripture to declare offer giue to all the faithfull and true beleeuers that receiue the same with a liuely faith another thing then that it selfe is both in shew and substance or else it should nor cannot be properly a Sacrament for a Sacrament as the diuines do terme it Is a visible signe substance and pledge What a Sacrament is of inuisible grace giuen to all theÌ„ that receiue the substance of the elements by which they are and shall be made partakers of the inuisible grace offered giueÌ„ to al theÌ„ that through the working of the holy Gghost haue a true faith to receiue the same inuisible grace by the elements as the sacrament of circumcision and the passeouer in time of the lawe did declare giue testifie and assure vnto all the children of Abraham the beleeuing Iewes the mercifull promise of God that God was is and would be their God their redeemeâ— and deliuerer from sinne and Satans power for euer of which their captiuity vnder sinne and Satan their thraldome in Egypt from whence they were diliuered was a figure The Sacrament also of Baptisme the Lords Supper do declare giue testifie seale vp and assure through the vnspeakeable working of the holy Ghost vnto all the true beleeuers in Christ their full and perfect deliuerance from sinne and Satans power their participation and fruition of perfect holinesse in Iesus Christ and in the end the reward of euerlasting life purchased giuen bestowed by his meanes and for his sake who paied the price of their redemption of all which the true beleeuers are made partakers in the instance of receiuing the outward elements in Baptisme the Lords Supper through the worâ—king of the holy Ghost in them and vnfained stedfast true faith It belongeth not therfore to any sacrament or to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper by the doctrine of Gods word that the elements should bee changed into the very and naturall substance of that whereof it is a sacrament either by transubstantiation or consubstantiatioÌ„ for that were to fetch Christ againe froÌ„ aboue and giue him a reall naturall or supernaturall corporall presence here vpon earth and so to make him be in all places at once contrary to the true nature of his true humane body and contrary to the doctrine of holy scripture which teacheth not any presence of Christ on earth againe in his humane flesh vntil the time appointed before remembred but plainely sheweth the contrary declaring further that as many as come to this sacrament and communion of the precious body and bloud of Christ with a true and liuely faith fruitfull in true repentance and in a vertuous and godly life the holy Ghost worketh in them a lifting vp of their hearts and mindes into heauen where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God and there through the operation of the same Spirit in the instance of receiuing the sacrameÌ„t they receiue apprehend and feede vpon in a true vnfained and liuely faith the true reall and naturall body of Iesus Christ the sonne of God whereby their bodies and soules are preserued nourished and strengthened to the attainment of euerlasting life by his changing purging all their corruptions and vncleannes and by his distributing and vniting vnto euery of them the true properties and excellent graces of his naturall holy body as his wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption all which is as truely made theirs by and through his gracious imputation as if they and euery of them had in their owne proper nature attained vnto and fulfilled the same of which excellent graces the fruit and reward shal follow of glorification and life eternall Of all which benefites this sacrament The vse of the Sacramenâ— and the sacrament of Baptisme are appointed vnto the faithfull to be as tables and glasses wherein they may plainely see and behold all the great mercies of God towards wretched and miserable sinners plainly drawen and figured that whereas the word doth as a liuely trumpet sound out his gracious goodnesse to the eares of the faithfull these sacraments do serue as instrumeÌ„ts and conduits to conuey it to the eies taste feeling and comfort of all the senses so that when their bodies are made partakers of the sacrament and outward elements their soules in the same instaÌ„t through the mightie working of the holy Ghost are sed by the instrument of true and liuely faith with the most holy reall natural body bloud of Christ through the liuely power also of which holy spirit they are moued stirred vp to giue continuall praise honour and thankes for these his bountifull mercies rich treasures bestowed vpon them For in this sacrament and communion of the body and bloud of Christ there is shewed declared and giuen vnto all and euery of the faithfull the death and sufferings of Christ the participation they haue with him and all the benefites which they receiue by his passion whereof they are put in minde in this sacrament by foure Similitudes First by breaking and receiuing of the bread Secondly by powring foorth and drinking of the wine Thirdly by the nourishment which their bodies receiue by these elements by the vnity of many cornes whereof the substance of the bread and the vnity of many grapes whereof the substance of the wine is made Fourthly by the conuersion that these elements haue into the substance of the receiuers By the breaking and receiuing of the bread and by the powring foorth and drinking of the wine the faithfull are put in minde of the death
passion and sufferings of Christ whose body was broken both before on the Crosse his bloud drawne forth shed not for any cause of his owne but for remission of their sins which is giuen and they receiue by his passion for by the nourishment which the bodies of the faithfull haue of these elements they are put in minde that as these elements do in the vsing and receiuing of them nourish their bodies and comfort sustaine their naturall flesh bloud being the outward man so the body and bloud of Christ apprehended and receiued through the working of the holy ghost by the instrumeÌ„t of the true and liuely faith of the receiuers who through the operation of the same spirit do by their faith apprehend and feede vpon the true reall and naturall body of Iesus Christ the sonne of God which feedeth nourisheth their bodies and soules vnto life euerlasting by his distributing vnto euery of them according to his gracious imputation the true reall and naturall properties of his vndefiled body and bloud as his wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption his holinesse innocencie his perfect and full satisfaction of the lawe of God his incorruption both in will and nature his suffering and satisfaction of the wrath and iustice of God due vnto vs miserable sinners his victorie against sinne death the diuell and hell his glorification and eternall happinesse of all which euery of the faithfull are and shall be as verily made partakers by receiuing this heauenly foode the bread of life the body and blouâ— of Christ as if they in their owne persons had wrought suffered fulfilled whatsoeuer Christ suffered for them and were in â—ull possession of the reward whereof Christ is in possession and hath prepared and purchased it also for them the certainty and assurednesse whereof is approued vnto euery of their hearts and soules by the stedfast sure and vndoubted promises of the word of God deliuered by Christs owne mouth in the 6. of Iohn I am the Iohn 6. liuing bread which came downe from heauen if any man eate of this bread hee shall liue for euer and the bread which I giue is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the world verilie verilie I say vnto you except you eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud you haue no life in you whosoeuer eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life and I will raise him vp at the last day For my flesh is meate indeede and my bloud is drinke indeed I am the bread of life this is the bread which coÌ„meth downe from heaueÌ„ that he that eâ—teth of it should not die he that eateth of this bread shall lâ—ue for euer and he that eateth me euen hâ— shall liue by me he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in me and I â—â— him I am the bread of life he that commeth vnto me shall not hunger and he that beleeueth in me shall not thirst and this is the will of him that sent me that euerie one which seeth the sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Verilie verilie say vnto you hee that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life hee that beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall he liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in mee shall neuer die By this and many other sweete and comfortable promises of our Sauiour in his word it appeareth plainly that life is promised to all the faithfull and true beleeuers And seeing by our Sauiours owne words none can be partakers of this life but such as truely eate his flesh drink his bloud it must needs follow that truely to beleeue in Christ is truely to eate his flesh drinke his bloud and that without true faith it is impossible to be partaker of the true reall naturall flesh and bloud of Christ To bee partaker also of the flesh of Christ is not carnally to apprehend feede vpon his materiall naturall substaÌ„ce for in that sense our Sauiour saith his flesh profiteth nothing But to be partaker of the spirituall graces of his true naturall flesh in receiuing his precious body and bloud by a true faith as before which is the very precious foode whereby the soule liueth and is sustained to life euerlasting and is apprehended onely by faith whereby also Christ is said truely to dwell in vs and we in him and therefore all the wicked and vnbeleeuers which come vnto the coÌ„munion of the body bloud of Christ are refusers mockers and despisers of his body and bloud and by receiuing the sacrament vnworthily doe most worthely eate and drinke their owne damnatioÌ„ seeing by their lacke of true faith and beleefe they refuse mocke despise yea and violently thrust away from them so precious a treasure as the body and bloud of Christs is and come not with reuerence to receiue and feede vpon the same by a true liuely faith as all the beleeuers do who without great reuerence and dread with acknowledgment of their owne vnworthinesse dare not presume to come to this holy table of the Lord and communion of the body bloud of Christ hauing also a true faith working by charitie fruitfull in true repentance and in a vertuous godly life which they haue receiued and do acknowledge to be of the free gift of God through the vnspeakable working of the holy Ghost the same true faith in euery of their hearts by which euery of them doth in their minde and soule partake and feed vpon the true reall and naturall body bloud of Christ seated in the heauens at the right hand of God whither through the worke of the holy Ghost and by their true faith they are lifted vp in the very instaÌ„ce of receuing these sacramental elements according to Christ our Sauiours owne institutioÌ„ in remembrance of his death and passion For which cause euery one is commanded to trie and examine himselfe whether he haue this gift of true faith which is required to be the instrumeÌ„t meane to be made a true partaker of this precious body and bloud and by the body and bloud of the spirituall graces of the same whether he be in true charitie and in the way of true repentance and of a vertuous and godly life before he eate of this bread and drinke of this cuppe lest eating drinking of this holy sacrameÌ„t vnworthily because he commeth without true faith fruitfull in the effects aforesaid he put from himseâ—fe and be a mocker aâ—so a despiser of the precious treasure of Christs reall naturall flesh and bloud offered by these sacramentall elements of bread and wine and so worthily plucke vpon himselfe his owne iust damnation in as much as by lacke of true faith he hath not receiued but refused and despised the rich iewell that was offered whereby Christ would haue dwelt in him and he should haue dwelt
thou hast defrauded thy neighbour by extortion and hast forgotten mee saith the Lord God There is a conspiracie of her Prophets in the middest thereof like a roaring lyon rauening the pray they haue deuoured soules they haue taken the riches and precious things they haue made her many widowes in the middest therof her priests haue broken my law and haue defiled my holy things they haue put no difference betweene the holy and prophane neither discerned betweene the vncleane and the cleane and haue hid their eyes from my sabbaths and I am prophaned amongst them her Princes in the middest thereof are like wolues rauening the pray to shed bloud and to destroy soules for their owne couetous lucre The people of the land haue violently oppressed by spoyling and robbing and haue vexed the poore and the needy yea they haue oppressed the stranger Ezechiel against right I sought for a man amongst them that should make vp the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it but I found none Behold therefore I haue smitten my hand vpon the couetousnes that thou hast vsed and vpon the bloud which hath beene shed in the middest of thee Can their hart endure or can their hands bee strong in the dayes that I shall haue to doe with thee I the Lord haue spoken it and I will doe it as they gather siluer and brasse and iron and lead and tinne into the middest of the furnace to blow the fire vpon it to melt it so wil I gather you in mine anger and in my wrath and will put you there and melt you and you shal know that I the Lord haue powred out my wrath vpon you Say vnto them as I liue saith the Lord God I desire not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue Turne you turne you from your euill waies for why will you die When the righteous turneth from his righteousnes and committeth Cap. 33. iniquitie hee shall euen die thereby But if the wicked returne from his wickednes and doe that which is lawfull and right he shal liue therby Yee leane vpon your swords yee worke abomination and yee defile euery one his neighbours wife should yee then possesse the land Also thou sonne of man the children of thy people that talke of thee by the walles and in the doores of houses and speake one to another euery one to his brother saying Come I pray you and heare what is the word that commeth from the Lord for they come vnto thee as the people vseth to come and my people sit before thee heare thy words but they wil not do them for with their mouths they make iestes and their heart goeth after their couetousnes loe thou art vnto them as a iesting song of one that hath a pleasant voice and cansing well for they heare thy wordes but doe them not Say thus vnto them thus saith the LORD GOD as I liue so surely they that are in the desolate places shall fall by the sworde and him that is in the open field will I giue vnto the beasts to be deuoured and they that be in the courts and in the caues shall die of the pestilence thē shall they know that I am the Lord when I haue laid the land desolate and waste because of their abominations which they haue committed Wo vnto the shepheards of Israel that feede Cap. 34. themselues should not the shepheards feede the flocks yee eate the fatte and ye cloath you with the wooll yee kill them that are fedde but you feede not the sheepe The weake haue you not strengthned and the sick haue you not healed neither haue you bound vp the broken nor brought again that which was driuen away neither haue you sought that which was lost but with cruelty and with rigour haue you ruled them and they were scattred without a shepheard and when they were dispersed they were deuoured of all the beasts of the field Therefore ye shepheards heare the word of the Lord As I liue saith the lord God surely because my flock was spoiled and my sheepe were deuoured of all the beasts of the field hauing no shepheard neither did my shepheards seeke my sheepe but my shepheards fedde themselues and fed not my sheepe Behold I come against the shepheards and will require my sheepe at their hands and cause thē to cease from feeding the sheepe neither shall the shepheards feede themselues any more for I will deliuer my sheepe from their mouths they shall no more deuoure them For thus saith the lord God behold I will search my sheepe and seeke them out I will seeke that which was lost and bring againe that which was driuen away and will binde vp that which was broken wil strengthen the weake but I wil destroy the fatte and the strong and feede thē with iudgement because ye haue thrust with side and with shoulder and pusht all the weake with your hornes till ye haue scattered them abroad therefore will I helpe my sheepe and they shall no more be spoiled I will iudge betweene sheepe and sheepe And ye my sheepe the sheepe of my pasture are mine and I am your GOD saith the Lord God A new heart also wil I giue you and a new spirit will I put within you and I wil take away the stony heart out of your bodie and will giue you an heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes ye shall keepe my iudgements and do them and ye shall dwell in the land that I gaue to your fathers and ye shal be my people and I wil bee your God I will also deliuer you from al your filthines Thē shall you remember your owne wicked waies and your deedes that were not good and shall iudge your selues worthy to haue bene destroied for your iniquities and for your abominations Be it knowne vnto you that I doe not this for your sakes but for my holy names sake saith the Lord God Therefore be ashamed and confounded O house of Israel for your owne waies Wee haue sinned and committed Daniel against impenitent sinners cap. 9. iniquitie and haue done wickedly yea we haue rebelled and haue departed from thy precepts and from thy iudgements for we haue not obeied the voice of the Lord our God to walke in his waies which he hath laid before vs by the ministry of his seruants the Prophets Therfore hath the Lord made ready the plague and brought it vpon vs for the Lord our God is righteous in all his workes which he doth for we would not heare his voice Many shall be purified made white and tried but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall haue vnderstanding but the wise shall vnderstand Heare the word of the Lord ye children Osea against ◠impenitent sinners Cap. 4. of Israel for the