vnto the people of Israell The oblations offered in sacrifices The offered sacrifices as well of earthlye beastes as vnleauened bread and other holye sygnes ordeyned of GOD for Sacramentes and holye Sygnes to cleanse the people of Israell Were they chaunged into an accidence without substaunce All the holye Sygnes ordeyned of god in the church of Israell not withstanding that they did represent really sacramentally that whiche they did figure not as a simple sygne without effect yet so it is that there was neuer none so horrible an heritike that did inuent this witchcrafte of transubstantiation Yet muste you confesse O Massalians that the good holy fathers of Israell were adopted graffed regerated by faith in Iesus Christ begotten before all worldes A conference of the fayth of the auncient fathers of Israel with ours and that they were nourished got euerlasting lyfe by Iesus Christ that they we haue but one only God and one only Iesus christ our mediatour redemer And that thei through faith did sacramentallye communicate and spirituallye partake the blood of Iesus Christ for their saluation and euerlasting lyfe And there is no difference as touching God betwene them that were before the incarnation of Iesus Christ we that are after the incarnation But they we are the churche of God bought with the bloode of the iuste vnspotted lambe Iesus Christ S. August cōtra Faust lib. 20. cap. 21. 14. lib. 19. con Petilan lib. 2. ca. 37. 77 Furthermore that they had faith in the promise to come and obserued the sacraments holy signes of the sacrifice whiche oughte to be finished by Iesus Christ And that we by the newe lawe do celebrate the memorie and remembraunce of the sacrifice already finished by Iesus Christ hauing the fruition of his promise accomplished 1. Cor. 10. August in Psalm If then the Israelites did eate of the same heauenly bread drynke of the same water of life by faythe that we do in one only Iesus Christ If they had holy sygnes to represent actually really the death of Iesus Christ to come euen as we haue had holy signes of his death present or past they for the tyme to come we for the tyme past Wherefore is it then that the Massalians haue inuented this newe Witchcraft of tourning one holy sacrament ordeyned of God into a Witchcraft of transubstantiation and an accident without a substaunce If god to make knowen his power to declare the hardnesse stiffeneckednesse of Pharao pleased to do merueylous thynges by Moyses Aaron Against the miracles alledged by the massalians Exod 7.8.14 in chaunging a rod into a Serpent the water of the riuer into bloode into Frogges the duste of the yearthe into lyce and further to make the sayleable sea drye and to do manye other miracles Is this to bryng in a transubstantiation of lytle rounde hostes vnleauened prynted full of pictures into an accidence without substaunce In what place of the holy scripture when there is mencion made of holy Sygnes Sacramentes or Sacrifices ordeyned of God is it sayde the Sygne or Sacrament is chaunged Contrariwise God wyllyng to accommodate hym selfe to the infirmities of man hath ordeyned vnto him from time to time common Sygnes for notes markes of the assuraunce of the thynge sygnified Wherein the myght of God is moore renowmed magnified by geuynge vnto vs with the holye sygne the thynge represented by the power of fayth the holy Ghost than if the selfe sygne were reallye chaunged by some visible myracle For the Sacramentes doe conteyne in them more spiritualnes then fleshlynes for which cause God did alwayes blame his people Israell by his Prophetes for taking his sacraments ouer fleshlye The expositiō of Iesus christ of the communion of his body as we haue before briefly declared But tel me O Massalians when Iesus Christ would expounde that he was the true bread of life which came down from heauen to geue euerlasting life how these sacramentall words oughte to be vnderstand to eate his flesh drinke hys blood when the Capharnaites your predecessors wer offended did he teach by his interpretation that to eate his flesh ought to be vnderstande by a litle rounde hoste transubstantiated The rounde hoste of flowre and the wyne to be no more bread Wyne but an accidence without substaunce Is thys your abhominable Witchecrafte the doctrine of Iesus Christe Nothing lesse But Iesus Christ as a true lawe geuer Iohn 6. vnto whome the interpretation of his lawe appertayned answered vnto the Doctours Capharnaites that they were to grosse carnall and that they did abyde in the flesh as ye do O Massesayers Notwithstanding that the fleshe alone profiteth nothing saying that these sacramentall wordes were spirituall Iohn 6. The fleshe sayeth he profiteth nothing it is the spirite that quickneth Moreouer O Massayers howe can ye safelye make to agree your transubstātiatiō with the doctrine of Iesus Christ whiche doeth promise assure to geue euerlastinge lyfe to those whyche eate his fleshe drynke hys bloode if ye take these wordes carnallye For you can not be ignoraunt that your bodyes notwithstandynge that they haue deuoured the lytle rounde hostes transubstantiated into fleshe bone supt and lycked the wyne chaunged into bloode do dye are mortall by the necessitie of the lawe Wherefore lyfe euerlastyng promysed by this communion maye not be vnderstand of the body nor of the mortall fleshe You muste then of necessitie acknowledge for a sure interpretation that to eate the bodye and dryncke the blood of Iesus Christ ought to be referred vnto the lyfe spirituall heauenly that the fleshe profiteth nothing Iohn 6. but the spirituall worde communion of the body blood of Iesus Christ by fayth in spirite geuyng euerlastyng lyfe This interpretation is often recited by the holy apostle Iohn in many places when he vseth these termes he that commeth vnto me shall neuer hunger he that beleueth in me shall neuer thruste but shal haue euerlasting lyfe Are not these termes sufficient playne to interprete this holy sacrament of the body blood of Iesus Christ withoute running vnto your witchcraft of transubstantiation Conference of baptisme vnto the sacrament of the supper Another lyke interpretation of the doctour authour of the sacramental law is described when Iesus Christ was asked of Nicodeme the meane howe a man coulde be regenerate borne againe Is it possible sayeth Nicodeme that man should enter into his mothers wombe be borne agayne Did Iesus Christ answere vnto this demaunde that in the holy sacrament of Baptisme the water was turned into the body into flesh and into bloode transubstantiate into a carnall wombe to be thereby agayne engendred borne Is there not as great reason after your witchchraft here to vse this answere as in the holy sacrament of the supper for by
shepehard we the shepe must we therfore ratch these places of the holy scripture so far that necessarily we must beleue a transubstantiation for as much as this terme is is there When Iesus christ admonished his disciples saiyng to them that they were the salt of the earth Math. 5. did he chaunge transubstantiate them into pillors of salt as he did the wife of Loth Genes 19. If Iesus christ hath said by his apostles that we are the teÌ„ple of god wherin the holy gost doth dwel is this to imagin that we are traÌ„substaÌ„tiat into a pece of stone 1. Cor. 3. 2. Cor. 6. If the apostle haue said that christ is the rock out of that which did com the liuing water to wash vs froÌ„ our sinnes 1. Cor. 10. is this craftily to deuise a changing of Iesus christ into a rocke or materiall stone 1. Cor. 12. If the apostles haue witnessed that we are the bodye of Christ Is this to brynge in that we are vanished awaye and are no moore men but chaunged into an accidence withoute a substaunce I foresée well o massayers moore than hardened that you will obiect that in all these places before alledged wherin this word is is founde that no mencion is made of sacrameÌ„ts which must be depely considered for asmuch as they be holy mysteries ordeyned of god which also is true And also this worde is is not only found in the holy scriptures before noted Genes 17. Exod. 12 13. but also when there was speaking of the holy sacraments ordeyned before of god vnto the people of Israel was it not written that circumcision is the band couenaunt of god Genes 17. Num 10. Psalm 68.94 Math. 21. iohn 2. In thother holy sacrameÌ„t of the coÌ„munion of the paschal lambe is it not sayd that the lambe is the passeouer or passage Is this to bring in a witchcraft of transubstantiation will ye not coÌ„fesse o massalians chaungers of substances that in these places of holy scriptures speaking of the sacraments thys word is can not otherwise be expouÌ„ded but to signifie that circumcision was the signe marke of the bande couenaunt contracted betwen god Abraham and that the paschal lambe was also the sign of tholy passage for remembraunce of their deliueraunce froÌ„ Egipt The arck of the couenaunt for another sacrament whereof it is written that it is the true power of the lord Is this to saye that it was transubstantiated into the maiesty of god It behoueth to interpret the holye scripture with discretion humilitie wtout sophistrie Witchcraft to vnderstande souÌ„dly the true meaning of words not to abide in the letter that killeth but to receyue the word of god in spirit that quickeneth If than the holy arcke be named the lord called god for that in it he exercised his might shewed his wonders and mysteries to draw the people of Israel by an outward signe to remember god to feare obey him Also if Iesus christ is called the bread that came from heauen the bread of life that the bread brokeÌ„ is his body the wine is his blood that the cup is the new testament that by these outward signes of bread wine he might cause vs to vnderstand our life and nourishment of saluation to stai only vpoÌ„ Iesus christ that by his death bloodsheding we are so assured of euerlasting life as the bread wine are nourishment for the body that it pleased him to ordein these holy signes to serue vs for sacrameÌ„ts for the trial confirmation of our faith is this an occasioÌ„ to play the Capharnaites or the NicodemiaÌ„s to dout of the power of god How is it possible to eate the body drink the blood of Iesus christ how is it possible to be regenerate borne again Then seing we haue a promise geueÌ„ vnto vs by the word of god wherfore o MassaliaÌ„s haue ye imagined a carnal traÌ„substantiatioÌ„ mistrusting the incomprehensible power of god oght it not to suffice you to beleue simple that the bodie blood of Iesus christ is offered vnto vs really sacramentally to coÌ„municate for our nourishment to geue vs euerlasting life by the bread wine consecrated with geuing of thanks the bread being truly his body the wine his blood which ought to be receiued worthely by faith in purenes of conscience as holy signes marks of the godly badge with out enquiring euer subtilly the meanes otherwise then Iesus Christ hath enterpreted saying the fleshe ê“fiteth nothing it is the spirite that quickneth that his wordes were spirite life Ought we to doute that god hathe not the power to make vs partakers of the body blood of Iesus Christ by the holy signes of bread wine consecrated the bread neuertheles remaining bread the wine wine If it were otherwyse thys shoulde not be called a sacrament but a myracle as when Iesus Christe tourned the water into wine that he vsed a miracle of transubstantiatioÌ„ changing water into wine But he did not then ordain a sacrameÌ„t Iohn 2. as he did of the coÌ„munion of his body blood by the holy figures of bread wine Was it not as easy for god to make the wine to be chaÌ„ged into blood Exod. 4.7 or the bread into flesh as for Moises Aaron to chaÌ„g the water of the riuer into blood to apê“ue the hardnes of pharoo or wheÌ„ the clouds were turned into the flesh of quals which rained vpon the people of Israell alwayes god did not ordeyne these miracles to serue for ordinary sacraments but would apply himself to our infirmitie geuing vnto vs signes holy not traÌ„substantiated which are nother vain nor fantasies but are outwarde signes which we can sée touch eate taste abiding in their substance neuertheles representing sacramentally that which is comprised signified by them wherein our triall of fayth doth stand to declare vs by a sacramental worke to be of the number of them that are regenerated nourished by the holy sacraments of baptisme of the supper A comparison of the two holy sacraments If it be lawful to vse coÌ„parisons of the .ij. holy sacraments of baptisme of the supper notwtstanding that there is difference betwene regeneration which doth not reiterate for it sufficeth once to be regenerate borne again But the nourishmeÌ„t must be often done again according to the order of nature other differences largely discribed by the holy apostles and ministers of the worde of god Yet the same end the same god the same Iesus Christ is shewed declared aswel in baptisme as in the supper By the blood of Iesus christ we be regenerat by the same blood nourished By the blood of Iesus christ we are renewed set graffed by the same blood we are kept preserued froÌ„ hunger thrust for euermore By the blood
ornaments and consecration of priestes speciallye the ornament called the Ephod Ephod the which the sacrifices the Israelites did abuse by their idolatries Another holy signe there was of the purging sprinckling water Pourging water cōsecrated Num. 19. ordeyned by god to Moyses Aaron the high prieste This sprinckled water was consecrated with ashes gathered by a cleane person of the sacrifice offered in Holocausta To witte of a Cowe all redde with out any spot which had neuer ben laboured The Wood ordeyned to make the fyer for the burntofferyng was Cedre Hisope Purple with Crimsin With this water were sprinckled poluted persons for the purging cleansing of their corporall defylings At the enteryng of the temple or tabernacle was a Lauer made of Brasse Exod. 38. and forged first with thimages of the women of Israell in this Lauer was put the sprinckling water wherew t the sacrificers are sprīkled before the celebrating of their sacrifices to the end they might be purified obteyne grace remission of their synnes After the death of the great priest Aaron the people of Israel vnthankfull to god for the goodnes sent them of him murmuring as anoyed with the heauenly Manna frely geuen vnto them for their norriture were punished by the biting of venemous serpents But the mercifull god gaue vnto thē an holy signe whereby thei shuld be saued restored to helth to witte the brasen serpent Brasen serpēt Iohn 3.7 lifted vp in the ayre a figure of Iesus Christ crucified These were in sūme the most part of the signes sacrifices sacramentes ordeyned of god in the first church of the Israelites figures of the true perfect sacrifice performed by Iesus Christ the true Messias euerlasting priest sitting at the right hand of god the father Sacramentes broken by Adam Gene. 3. Now resteth in summe to bring forth how man by his owne proper fault dyd fall in obliuion and disobedience of god his creator abusing gods fauour and corrupting the holy signes sacrifices and sacramentes ordeyned to hym What persuaded our first father and his companion to hyde them selues at the hearing of gods voyce but because they had abused the holy signe and broken the lawe of the fruites to them forbidden This holy signe which our first and vniuersall father had abused was the originall of other vices corruptions hereafter described into the which all men are fallen sauoring of the corrupted lumpe of Adam Leauing the perticuler corruptions of the signes sacrifices and sacramentes Corruption of the sacrifice by Aaron Exod. 32. Deute 9. before the law written by Moyses we wil begin to bring forth briefly the most notable errours committed by the most great sacrificers as kinges priests and others hauing the chief gouernment of the people When Moyses was abiding in moūt Synay to receiue the commaundementes of God his brother Aaron the high priest forged a calfe of gold of the golden earings geuen vnto him by the people of Israell he buylded an aulter offered incens and celebrated sacrifice causing the common people to worshyppe the molten Image Was not this an abusing of the sacrifices ordeyned of god a corrupting of the true vsage of the same in causing the Calfe to be worshipped in place of the slaine offered sacrifice as it was appoynted in the lawe Corruption of the sacrifice by Nadab and Abiu Leui. 10. Num. 11. His sonnes also Nadab Abiu were not they consumed with fyer for abusing the vse of sacrifices in takyng vnhallowed Wood corrupting the lawe The people of Israel vnthankfull for the goodnes done vnto them in being delyuered from the Pharoanicall captiuitie did they not murmour against the holy sacrament of heauenly Manna when they did disdeyne and contempne this bread of lyfe demaunded fleshe to eate iosua 7. Acham the sonne of Charmes did not he violate the laws of holy sygnes when he committed sacrilege and kept backe the spoyles of Hierico vowed consecrated to god for sacrifices If any more curiously desyre to sée the continuall abuses corruptions of the people them selues let hym read the histories of the Iudges of Israell iud 2.3.6 8.9 in all times he shal fynd man neuer to be content with the true worshipping ordained of God But in stead of outwarde signes ordayned of god to drawe the people to feare obedience they haue forged inuentions And in place of reuerēsing the aulters arke of couenaunt in the name of the onely god beyng outwarde sacred signes Iudg. 10. The Isrelites infected with the Idolatries of their neighbours the Sirians Sidonians Moabites Ammonites Philistines did erect alters vnto their strang gods Baall and Astaroth Iephtha iudge captaine of the Isralites did not he corrupt the law of sacrifices when he sacrificed his owne proper daughter excusing himselfe by a vowe whyche he made which was not appointed to him of god The vngentle sacrifice of Iephtha iud 11. The holy signe ordayned of god for the hygh priest to celebrat sacrifices in called Ephod the vppermost garment iudg 8.9 idolatrye by the golden EPhod Iudg. 17.18 was not it abused by Gedeon captayne of the Isralites whan as of the spoiles of the Madianites of their earings he made an Ephod of gold wherby the people fell into great idolatrye How long time was this holy outward signe Ephod abused an ymage beyng erected by the mother of Michas in Silo priestes sacrificers appointed expressly to sacrifice therevnto an alter buylded and the true vse of sacrifices corrupted So longe as the temple contynued in Silo into what wicked maners dyd the priestes and sacrificers fall which were ordained of god for the ministery of sacrifices holy sacramentes when they vsurped by long possession to haue thys priuilege of the people that when they did sacrifice and the fleshe of thoffered sacrifice was seathing 1. Samuel 2. their boye or seruaunt hauing a three grained fleshoke of yron in his hand had liberty to catche out of the potte or cawdron all that he cold carry with his hoke further the leuiticall tirranny was such that this seruant of the priest had liberty to demand of the sacrifice geuer fleshe to roste for the sacrificer otherwise to take it by force euen as he wold Was not this a great abuse detestable corruption practised by the priestes chiefe sacrificers vnder the pretence of sacrifices What greater corruptiō can be declared than that of the sonnes of the chiefe priest Ely called Ophni Phinees Ophni Phinies corruptera of the sacrifices 1. Samuel 4. Who vnder pretence of deuotion committed shamefull whoredom with the couered wemē behinde the holy Tabernacle instituted of god for the whiche wickednes they were miserably slayne and the arke of couenaunt taken awaye by the Philistines 1. Samuel 5.6 Which they set in the temple of their god dagon The arcke of the holy couenaunt but god