I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me This is the Gospel-communion here was no outward Bread nor Wine Cup nor Chalice but here is that which the bread and wine pointed at the cup of blessing If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 Joh. 1.7 In the Light Fellowship with the Lord is known and Fellowship one with another and the Word is known which became Flesh and tabernacles in man this the Redeemed eat feed on discern and though it be said The Flesh profitteth nothing Joh. 6. and that Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. yet 't is said Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you and he that eateth my Flesh and drinks my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him Joh. 6. And Paul said We are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Ephes 5.30 And these are no contradictionâ— but fulfilled in the ground of Self-denyal in the cross to the mortal the Lords Death is shewed forth till he come who lives forever who abolishes Death and brings Life and Immortality to light thorow the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 yea and Joh. 3.13 The same that descended the same is ascended and is flesh and bone and nourishes the Soul to eternal Lise here the end of Shadows is known Augustin said truly if truly and livingly read To eat Christ is to believe in Christ why providest thou a Tooth and a Belly believe only and thou hast eaten Faith centers in the eternal Word in the quickning Word so that is revealed which fulfils outward Shadows other things as well as Bread and Wine were not of perpetual continuance nor needful to be practised in the Church after their bounds and season John 13.14 15. Acts 15.28 29. Jam. 5.14 Paul testified saying Henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth we know him no more 2 Cor. 5.16 Paul was so spiritualized as that he centered in nothing below the eternal Substance he stickt not in Bread and Wine or any other Shadow but in fervency of spirit waited to be comprehended in the prefixed Life as a man that so looks for a lost Jewel that he overlooks all besides it outward things reach no further then fleshly Knowledge but a spiritual Understanding is revealed in by and thorow that which is spiritual Of Transubstantiation Though Israel saw the Wonders of the Lord in Aegypt the Execution of his Judgments for their Deliverance though the Lord went before them by Day in a Pillar of a Cloud and by Night in a Pillar of Fire though they passed thorow the Red Sea as upon dry Land and saw the Aegyptians drowned so that thorow a sense of his Power and mighty Acts they sang a Song of Praise and Thanksgiving unto the Lord saying He was glorious in Holiness fearful in Praises doing Wonders yet coming unto Mount Sinai on to which Moses was called and continued 40 Dayes and 40 Nights Israel fell into a spiritual Lethargy to forget the Lord and his Noble Acts and losing the sense of the pure living invisible eternal God they cryed for artificial Gods Gods of Mans making saying to Aaron Vp make us Gods which shall go before us for as for this Moses that brought us out of the Land of Egypt we wâ—â— what is become of him Exod. 32. Aaron made them a Calf and they said These be thy Gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt thus losing the sense of the Living and Life-giving God they turned to cryed up and ascribed their Deliverance to a Molten Calf fashioned with a Graving-Tool In the Apostles days and primitive times while their Garments were undefiled being Branches of the Heavenly Olive kept their Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus they had the Bread of Life Water of Life Heavenly Manna the Word that became Flesh in the persumed Houses of sanctified Hearts they drank of the Cup of Salvation the Cup of Blessing they were come to Mount Sion they were Members of the New Jerusalem they were in the spiritual Worship they came to the Life Sum Substance of all Types Figures Shadows and all thorow the Operation of Christ Jesus in them who led them from the Aegyptian-Bondage of Hellish Pharaoh old Abaeddon the Destroyer they knew the Prince of Peace Christ Jesus and their Labour and living concern was that in all things he might have the Preeminence But in dayes succeeding the Apostles when the Mystery of Iniquity which the Apostle saw inwardly working in his day was more and more manifested the Star faln from Heaven Sun and Air darkned the Purity of the primitive Church spoiled through the Smoke of the bottomless Pit through the Darkness and Delusion of this Smoke they lost the bread of Life the cup of blessing within so came to reassume bread and wine without and let in a Sea of Confusion about the same some ministring it to all some to Believers only sometime to Young Children sometime to Dead People c. and the more the Smoke arose out of the Pit the greater Darkness entred the Professors of Christianity till at length like as Israel having lost the sense of the living God called for Gods without so had a Molten Calf and worshipped the same ascribing their Deliverances thereunto even so apostatized Christianity having lost the Bread of Life the Cup of Blessing Christ Jesus thorow the in-steamings of the bottomless Pit they must have an artificial Christ how is that since the Apostles dayes when the Life and Power of Godliness was lost then this Doctrine came to be preacht That Bread and Wine after it be consecrated by the Priest is no more Bread and Wine but the very Christ that was born of the Virgin so to be worshipped that the Bread and Wine by the consecration of the Priest is transubstantiated that is changed into the very Body and Blood of Christ from this came the word Transubstantiation this Doctrine is grounded upon those words This is my Body for from these words Papists say Christ is present transuâ—stantially Lutherans say consubstantially Calvinists say He is present sacramentally Author of the Naked Truth Whether the Bread and Wine after consecration be transubstantiated or not hath been and is much controverted betwixt Papists and Protestants One said Corpore de Christi lis est de sanguine lis est Lis est de modo non habitura modum How Bread and Wine the living Christ should be 'T is controverted much men disagree The Council of Trent begun in the year 1545. and others taught That Bread and Wine being consecrated by the Priest is turned into the true real substantial Body of Christ Flesh Blood Bones c. even the same that was
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
baptized put on White Garments Of the Chrisom Of old the Custom was when the Earthly Mind turned to Earthly Rudiments and Elements to baptize none till at years of Discretion and the Baptized for certain dayes put on a white Garment in Imitation hereof when Infants are now baptized they have on their Heads a White Cloth called a Chrisom why called a Chrisom because a white Cloth at the first Institution of it was put upon a Childs Head newly anointed with Chrisom a hallowed Oyntment among Papists after Baptism so from this Oyntment this Chrisom the White Cloth as 't is said was called Chrisom now 't is taken for the White Cloth put upon a Child newly christned as 't is called in token of its Baptism and it s usually brought to the Church so called at the day of Churching the Woman and pinned behind her Head and in many places it is bestowed upon the Priest and in some places Money instead thereof Thus the In-dwellings of Truth being lost and turned from after the primitive times ceremonies inventions customs human traditions as Sprinkling of Infants Godfathers Godmothers Gossâ—ps Gommothers Chrisom Chrisoms Sign of the Cross c. sprung up among the Professors of Christianity as Weeds in untilled Grounds yet to gain acceptance they are stiled by many Commands of Christ or at the least Apostolical Traditions Now after Rantism that is sprinkling of Infants was received into the Churches as a Doctrine meet to be observed and also Supream Authorities and Church-Liturgies in divers Countries commending and commanding it hence the Clergy so called judged themselves concerned to propogate and defend the same it being that Nonconformity is not the Way to Preferment yet in divers Ages several who had Glimpses of Heavenly Light in them questioned Infants-baptism yea and esteemed it as Counterfeit Coyn as such may see who trace the steps of Ecclesiastical Writers some of whose Testimonies I shall mention Tertullian as 't is said opposed some Introducers of Infants-baptism saying That Confession of Sins Faith Repentance and Renouncing of the Devil was required of the Baptized which Infants are not capable of Tertull. de baptismo Walafridus Strabâ— who lived about the year 840. in his Book of Church Affairs chap. 26. said to this purpose That in the early Ages of the Church Baptism was administred on the Adulâ— only When the Substance say I was turned from then they re-assumed the Shadows But afterwards saith he Christians understanding Original Sin and left their Children should perish without any Means of Grace they began to baptize them by the Decree of the Council of Africa and then Godfathers and Godmothers were invented This I say is carnal Reasoning and charging the Apostles of Christ as not understanding Original Sin or as denying Means of Grace to Children but I say such as reason thus they reject the Lord's means of Increase in Grace and entertain Inventions of men in place thereof Zuing lius speaking of Infants-baptism saith There is no plain words of Scripture where the same is commanded The Magdiburgenses in their learned History tell us That as to the baptizing of Infants they read of no Example in the Scriptures Cent. 1. Lib. 2. They also therein declare against consecrating of Water before Baptism as also against Fonts Baptisterions and against baptizing at two times in the year Easter and Whitsontide so called against Gossips or Sureties for the Adult and Infant giving of Names in Baptism Exorcisms Chrisms or Anointing Consignations that is Sign of the Cross Albs Salt Spittle giving or receiving of Gifts Confirmation of Bishoping these things were not in primitive Times but steamed in as the Smoak arose out of the Bottomless Pit Magdib-Cent 1. Lib. 2. Bellarmine de baptismo saith That in Scripture there is neither Command nor Example for Infants-baptism but he refers it to the immaginary Catalogue of Apostolical Traditions Beringarius with the Bishop Bruno in France gave publick Testimony against Infants-Baptism which Doctrine spread through France and Germany Bar. Ann. 1050. Hence they were called Beringarians and Waldenses they testified also against the Real Presence Magd. cent 11. Peter de Brusius taught against Infants-baptism Transubstantiation praying for the Dead for which Testimony he was burned to Death Bar. Ann. 1116. Arnaldus taught against Infants-baptism Transubstantiation Bar. Ann. 1116. Peter Abailardus opposed Infants-baptism so did many of the Clergy this Abailardus was burned to Ashes at Rome for his Testimony In the year 1176. a People was raised up in the Province of Albi in France who preached That Infants-baptism was not necessary to Salvation Bar. â— 310. Calvin saith expresly That Infants-baptism is not mentioned by any of the Evangelists Instit lib. 4. cap. 16. They that baptize Children saith Taylor make Baptism to be wholely an outward Duty a carnal Ordinance it makes us be satisfied with Shadows and to relinquish the Substance and Spirituality of the Gospel pag. 242. Dr. Jerom Taylor saith That the Parents of Augustin Jerom and Ambrose though Christians did not baptize their Children till aged which thing saith he is very effectual for destroying the supposed Necessity of derivation of Infants-baptism from the Apostles Lib. proph pag. 239. Luther in Postill saith Young Children hear not so if the Command be followed they are not to be baptized Erasmus in his Book of the Vnion of the Church saith It is no where expressed in the Apostolical Writings that they baptized Children Bucer upon Matthew saith That Christ no where commanded to baptize Infants Staphilâ—â— in his Epitome saith That it is not expressed in holy Scriptures that Young Children should be baptized Chocleus saith That Jesus took a Child c. but he thinks he did not baptize it Melancton in his Treatise concerning Anabaptists saith That there is no plain Commandment in the Scriptures that Children should be baptized Daniel Rogers saith That he is Vnconvinced by Demonstration of Scripture that Infants should be baptized De bapt part 29. Baxter though much for Infants-baptism yet in pag 3. he confesses That Infants-baptism is not plainly determined in the Scriptures Dr. Taylor saith It is against the perpetual Analogy of Christs Doctrine to baptize Infants Saying further ' That Christ gave no Command for the same neither did he or his Apostles baptize any of them lib. proph pag. 239. Further he saith in pag. 237. of the same Book As there was no Command for Infants-baptism so the Necessity of it was not determined in the Church till the Canon made by the Milevitan Council a Provincial in Affrica Some I grant saith he used it before this time in Affrica having good Thoughts of it yet none of them pretended it to be necessary nor a Gospel Precept and for every Ordinance the Institution is to be eyed and neither to be stretched under nor drawn narrower then the Lord hath made it I have read of a great Papist in London who going to a Dispute about Infants-baptism told his Friend He
a Representation consecrated Bread works not the Works of the true Christ the true and faithful Witness so is not Christ Christ called also Jesus by interpretation a Saviour such is his Name such is his Nature he saves his People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 thorow his inward Operation they become new Creatures God's Workmanship in a word of Beth-aven that is a House of Vanity or Iniquity they become Bethel that is the House of God Sharers in the Riches Peace of the Lords Family consecrated Bread effects not these things in the Receivers though a thousand times consecrated received so is not the Virgins Birth John testified saying The Blood of Jesus Christ clenseth us from all sin 1 Joh 1.7 this is the effectual remedy the Lords Candle finds many a foul Flaw in man such as believe are reduced into the Order of the heavenly Truth the Apostle further bare record saying He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood Rev. 1.5 6. and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God Kings to reign in Truths Dominion over the Earth over the World over Lusts over spiritual Adversaries Priests to offer a Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving unto the Lord to this Dignity Bread and Wine though a thousand times consecrated cannot bring Again The true Christ the Virgins Birth is the same today yesterday and forever incorruptible perishes not immortal the Holy One sees not Corruption but Bread and Wine though consecrated corrupts perishes grows mouldy loses Vertues Taste Savour so is not the Body and Blood of Christ and the Disciples were not to labour for the Meat which perishes but for that Meat which endureth unto everlasting Life John 6.27 Again Thorow the Body of Christ the faithful become dead to the Law to be married to Christ to be fruitful unto God Rom. 7.4 dead to the Law dead to sin yea and the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus makes free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 10. but the consecrated Host hath not this Operation in man but leaves men alive in Sin dead to God so not Christs bodâ— not his flesh not his blood Christ said to the Jews Your Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderness and are dead such Minds as stick in Visibles are dead in Sins and Trespasses though consecrated by Man they quicken not it is the Spirit that quickneth and he that eats of the Bread saith Christ that comes from Heaven the Word Christ's Flesh he knows a Vivification a Quickning he dyes not but lives forever John 6. and 't is the Lord that gives being and Vertue to all Creatures not mans Consecration which cannot keep Visibles from losing their Vertue Savour Taste 't is evident by their own Constitution that they were conscious of this who enjoyned That Priests on every eighth day should renew the holy Eucharist that is consecrated Bread c. lest thorow Oldness thereof some should be brought into Indevotion to have the Spark of their Devotion as I may say in measure extinguished Summa Concil et Pontif. but Christ is the same today yesterday and forever his Years fail not he waxes not old as a Garment Of giving Bread and Wine to the World for this it is alledged that Judas did eat of the Bread and did drink of the Cup. Answ That was that the Scripture might be fulfilled Mine own familiar Friend which did eat of my Bread hath lift up his Heel against me Psal 41.9 yea and Christ the Store-house of Wisdom and Knowledge said He that dippeth his Hand with me in the Dish the same shall betray me Matth. 26.23 his Fellow-commoner as I may say whereby the Indiguity of the thing was much aggravated as for Judas he was numbred with the Disciples and had obtained part of the true Ministry Acts 1. but fell by Transgression and became a Member of that sinful and unsociable Society which Christ testified against and for giving Bread and Wine the Sacrament as 't is called to the World have you no Example but Judas who sold Christ for Money as many sell Bread and Wine for Money now which after Consecration is truly and really Christ as many in Degeneration affirm Christ gave it to his Disciples only a Shadow of a more spiritual Bread of a more spiritual Cup after to be received Of giving Bread and Wine to Infants After the Primitive Times when thorow the inundation of Apostacy and over-spreading of that foul Leprosie the living Bread and living Cup was lost then streamed in a Sea of Confusion as I said before the Heavenly Key of pure Knowledge and Divine Understanding was lost things of God became as a Book sealed with seven Seals the Opener and Fulfiller of the Scriptures of Truth came in a high measure to be lost then a Cloud of Mis-apprehensions and Mis-interpretations of Scriptures involved the Professors of Christianity then thorow a Mis-apprehension and Mis-understanding of that Scripture of Christ Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you John 6.53 the Fathers fell into that Error that None but Communicants could be saved whereupon they gave the Sacrament so called to Infants and put it into the Mouthes of Dead Men c. Augustine Bishop of Hippo was thus minded as appears by this his following Conclusion tâ—at It is in vain to promise Salvation and Life Eternal to little Children unless they be baptized and receive the Body and Blood of Christ since the Necessity of them both is attested by so many so great and divine Testimonies This Practice of giving the Sacrament to Infants crept in the early Ages of the World became wonderful general and continued above six hundred years in the Church till the time of Charlemain some were so strict in it as that a Canon enjoyned That baptized Infants should receive the Communion before they sucked or received any other Nourishment the same is or hath been observed by the Greeks Aethiopians Bohemians Moravians and that this was enjoyned by Popes Bishops c. these following Authors testifie recourse being had to their Canons Constitutions c. Pope Innocent Paganinus Gaudentius Theol. de moribus seculi Nicephorus in Histor Eccles Johannes Langius Augustin Taylors worthy Communicant chap. 3. Alcninus Maldonate on John 6. Author of the Naked Truth Grotius Notwithstanding Pope Innocent had appointed the Sacrament to be given to Infants and it became in a manner universal of long continuance yet the Council of Trent put out this Canon If any one shall say that the Communion of the Eucharist that is consecrated Bread is necessary for Children before they attain unto years of Discretion let him be Anathema accursed Concil Trident. Sect. 3. Can. 4. Here the Pope who cannot err as 't is said came to be questioned his Doctrine Augustin's Doctrine and the Church Practice for above six hundred years came to be cast out as spurious by the