for there we haue no commandement to honour him but wee rather choose to worship him according as we ought and that is in spirit and truth Iudge now good Madames where reason abydeth most on your side or ours and whether your Priests commit not manifest Idolatry in their actions when they receiue and admit the people to the communion of a Sacrament which neuer was ordained by Iesus Christ May not wee then well and truely say that they haue no communion at all but what is of their owne inuentions And that which they carry about the streets going in a solemne Procession is but a round Cake being closed vp in a Boxe or Pixe which they cause to be adored with great veneration It remaineth now that wee come to the third propertie which I haue obserued in the Masse to wit Sacriledge which already hath beene sufficiently discoursed in our former proceeding and yet we will note a fewe obseruations more This holy and diuine Sacrament was instituted to make a Communion of the faithfull in the body and bloud of our blessed Lord and by celebrating it commonly in remembrance of his death and passion But Noble Ladyes your Priests doe conuert all to a contrary end not onely in that which they doe in the sacrifice but in meere robbery and stealth beside For they take from the people the Communion in chiefe yea that which is the principall fruite of this Sacrament restraining it to the Priests onely And the people there present are made no more but silly spectatours of that which the Priest doth alone by himselfe without knowing or vnderstanding what hee saith or doth I know you will answere me as God forgiue me for it I my selfe haue often done that the priest beeing the publike Minister doth communicate in the names and behalfes of all that are present at his Masse Why then let me faire Ladyes mooue this question Where is any such commandement throughout the whole booke of God that wee should see the Priest to haue one Supper for himselfe first then at his leasure to communicate another to vs â—urely as we cannot liue by that which another eateth but of and by that which wee our selues doe eate Euen so as needfull is it for vs that wee should communicate in this holy and diuine Sacrament to liue in the true life of Iesus Christ who hath giuen himselfe therein to vs Not that any other there should receiue it for vs but that wee ought and should receiue it our selues thereby to haue Christ make his dwelling in vs. Alas good Ladyes let vs not seeke to bee wiser then our Lord and Maister for if wee doe it is but in vaine And well you know that hee neuer saide Behold the Priest or Minister of the Church bee eateth and drinketh for you and I haue so appointed it But hee spake plainely without any sophistication and said Take eate drinke you all of this And after him his faithfull Seruant Saint Paul writing to the children by adoption among the Corinthians said Wee are many partakers of one and the same bread And againe Let euery man eate of this bread and drinke of this cup. The countersaite pretence then which they doe alleadge can no way couer or maske their sacriledge because the commaundement is precisely to all faithfull people to take eate and drincke in this holy Supper And Saint Chrysostome hath spoken very well to this purpose Wee are no longer saith hee vnder the olde Law where the Priest did eate his portion and the people had the rest But here one body is giuen to all and likewise one cup And what soeuer is in the Eucharist Sacrament is common as well to the people as the Priest And gratious Ladyes desire them but to satisfie you in this one particular poynt namely that if they beleeue or giue any credit to the Canons of their owne Popes they cannot then but confesse and acknowledge their sacriledge for these bee their owne words All they that are present at the Masse and communicate not confesse themselues to bee excommunicated For their Canons further say That the consecration being ended all are to communicate or else they are depriued of entring into the Church For so did the Apostles set downe the ordinance and wee hold the same in the holy Romaine Church Moreouer in the Canons that beare the title By the Apostles it is thus ordained That all they which continue in the Church to the end of Mosse and doe not receiue the Sacrament ought to be corrected as perturbers and disquieters of the Church According to that which was ordained in the Counsell of Antioche That all they which entred into the Church should behaue themselues well and heare the Sermon and if they abstained from the Sacrament they ought to bee excommunicated vntill they had bin sufficiently chastised for that vice And therefore Saint Chrisostome in his Homilies vpon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians doth reproue them very sharpely that in his time would be present in the assembly at the Communion and yet not communicate What say you to this sweete Ladyes when you see how many are present with your selues at their daily Masses and yet none of you are suffered to communicate but the Priest himselfe onely Besides all this the prayers which they yet vse to say in their Masse do likewise very sufficiently conuince them for when the Church retained her wonted puritie the people were then receiued to the Communion and behold what their prayers then contained and yet doe Lord thou hast filled and satisfied thy familie with thy holy giftes to wit the Sacrament And another speaks thus We being filled and satisfied with the sacrifice of thy pretious body most holy bloud c. And another We pray thee lord that these things may be carryed by the hands of thy holy Angell vnto thy high Altar speaking of the oblations of the faithfull in receiuing the bread and wine vsed in the Sacrament To the end that all others as well as wee that shall receiue the participation of the Altar in the blessed body and holy bloud of thy Sonne may be filled with all happy benedictions These are the very true words dere Ladies vsed in their prayers wherein if you will not credit me I desire you to reade them your selues for your further satisfaction And doubtlesse they would neuer haue spoken in this manner if the Priest onely had then communicated as now a dayes you see he doth Otherwise it had beene to say one thing and performe the contrary as you may perceiue hath happened since for now they haue vtterly depriued the people of the Communion Tell me then I intreate yee is it not a mockery of God and of the people to tell them that they are pertakers in those giftes of the Altar and yet all the while to giue them iustnothing at all In
allegations No nor by continued succession of Popes and Prelates whereof you heare what daily boast they make But her glory and triumph is in the puritie of doctrine which is as the onely soule of the Church and in the sincere administration of the Sacraments all consonant and agreeing with the voyce of her great sheepheard and Bishop of our soules our Lord Iesus Christ And hee faith That his sheepe do know his voyce and they will not listen or follow a stranger This Ladyes is the true touchstone of iudgement whereby to discerne Golde from corrupted mettall to know the true Church from the false And not by Crosses by Miters Cardinals bonnets or height of Steeples That Reuerend and worthy Bishop of Thouars who hauing forsaken the Sinagogue of Sathans and by his great learning and industrious paines discouered such a hideous heape of abhominations vsed and maintained in the church of Rome hee next vnto Gods good spirit which was the principall and onely motiue was the secondary meanes of my conuersion as God haue the glory for it hee hath preuailed with diuers other Lords and Ladyes beside and in time may prooue to shake the proude Empyre of the Pope His learned labours so lately printed wherein hee opens all the pack of paradoxicall Poperie against Bellarmine and all the Romaine faction of Iesuites conuincing them by their owne arguments and writing I am bold worthy Ladies to send you with this Epistle And where I comfarre too short of such sufficiencie as in such a cause as this is required peruse his paines for your further satisfaction being printed in your owne natiue tongue for your better apprehension and so plainely set downe as it cannot but bee easily vnderstood of you Thus haue I noble Ladyes both briefely and as the nature of an Epistle would permit me declared the grosse absurdities and abuses in the Masse the blasphemies Idolatries and sacriledges therein committed that God in his good time may open your eyes and let you see the way out of that brutish Babylon I haue also in a meane measure shewed you the order and gouernement of our reformed Church as well for the Ministerie and doctrine thereof as also for the neere affinitie and true forme which therein is continually vsed and obserued with the example of the chiefe Schoole-maister Iesus Christ himselfe and confirmed by his blessed Apostles As if it would please God to rancke you with vs the truth should make more manifest to you For heere is nothing done palliated or in secret conspiring to betray poore peoples opinions and deceiue their soules All our actions are openly exposed euen to the apparant view of God and men yea euen in all things that concerne the order and policie of Gods Church Heere women and the weakest capacities may vnderstand whatsoeuer is done or said for here is no strange Language vsed among vs. And S. Paul saith Strange tongues are for a signe not to them that beleeue but vnto Infidels that beleeuenot I confesse honorable Ladyes that my discourse hath extended it selfe beyond the purposed limitation but indeed the merit of the subiect handled may pleade my pardon one way and the endeared affection I beare to you with desire of your conuersion for your soules sauing health I trust will safely support me the other way If God haue chosen me as his meanest instrument to worke but the very least measure of your better instruction his name haue the glory and his powerfull word the deserued praise which carries much more weight and efficacy then mens smoothest eloquence or the very subtillest arguments produced to the contrary whether it bee of antiquitie or vniuersalitie of Counsels of Traditions or whatsoeuer else If now this day you will listen to his voyce and not harden your hearts If you be not carelesse of his gift by me his vnworthy seruant offred vnto you If you close not vp your eyes against the cleare light that shineth euery where If you quench not the spirit which God himselfe hath kindled in you All will redound to your endlesse consolation and you bee renowmed to future posterities Feare therefore deare Ladyes this heauie threat of the diuine wisdome Because I haue called and you haue refused I haue stretched out mine hand and you would not regard But haue despised all my counsell and would none of my correction I will laugh at your destruction and mocke when your feare commeth Then shall you call vpon mee but I will not answere they shall seeke me earely but they shall not finde mee c. From Thouars this 1. of Iune 1608. FINIS After her conuersion she wrote this Epistle Luke 2. 38. A vertuous acknowledgment of a godly Lady She takes on her to note the abuses in the Masse Her course intended in this Epistle Christ his office of Priesthood transferred to men Hebr. 7 9. 23. 24. 25. 26. Hebr. 9. 24. 25. 26. Iesus Christ is the only Sacrificer without any successor or Vicar Hebr. 9. 26. Heb. 5 4. 5. The popish Priests must shewe their warrant out of Scripture No man can offer as Christ hath offered Hebr. 10. 13. 14. 18. No mention is made in Scripture of any new or continued offering Rom. 5. 1◠Hebr 9. 14. She dealeth not with euerie particularerror in the Masse The Priests confession Sacrifice offered before consecration for the redemption of soules liuing The Priest in his Memento The Priests prayer after the consecration The Priests Memento for the dead The Anatomie of the Masse printed in French The Masse ameritorious worke to deface all sinnes Concerning the dead Rom. 3. 25 1. Pet. 1. 9 Iohn 3. 18. Of the prayers said or sung in the Masse Iohn 5. 19. The Priest and peoples opinion present at Masse Hebr. 10. 1. 2. 3. The meaning of the holie Apostle Some perticular Ladies not altogether popish The fruite of the Sacrifice in the Masse Hebr. 10. 9 Some of them say Make this in my remembrance and so they would haue it Luke 22. 19 The Euāgelists record of our Sauiours words Lu. 22. 19. 1. Co. 11. 25. The meaning of Christs words in the Sacrament 1. Co 11. 26. Her admonition to the Ladies concerning the exposition of S. Paule An excellent note well worth the observation Concerning the Greeke word Poiein and the Siriaque Habad Idolatrie in holding vp the bread to be adored as God How Christ promised vs to be partakers of his body and bloud Luke 22.19 Christs commandement is in the first place Christs words to his Disciples is to all be faithfull to the worlds end The promise is made to all and not to the Apostles onely 1 Cor. 10. 17. Take away the communion and the promise is ended The right vse of the Sacrament wherein it consisteth What is don in the Masse How consecratiō ought to be done How the Priest makes his consecration in the Masse Doubt and question may arise vpon such priuie whispering Mark this
a meere imagination of For the promise wherein Iesus Christ offered vnto vs his body and bloud vnder the signes of bread and wine appertaineth to none else as hath beene already prooued but onely vnto the faithfull that receiue the same by faith in the lawfull communion of the Euchariste celebrating the mysterie according to the manner as our heauenly Maister did ordaine it Wherfore they which imagine to haue any other thing then common bread without the lawful vse of our Lords Supper are but abused and beleeue meere dreames as it can be no otherwise because they faile of the promise For seeing that Iesus Christ promised vs to giue vs his body in the Sacrament when the faithfull should communicate together after his institution we may not be so vain or idle-headed as to seeke it elsewhere or according to our fantasies Let such men therfore be admonished that they cannot excuse themselues of idolatry both before God and men when they are made to worshippe as if God himselfe were substantially present a round cake of bread which is lifted vp to be seen aboue the shoulders of the Priest and with exceeding great deuotion to be reuerenced and adored of all there present But Ladies I haue held ye somewhat long in this point because it is of such maine importance yet perswading my selfe to haue said sufficient albeit not halfe so much as I could I will proceed to discouer another wicked Idolatry which they procure the poore people to commit euen without so much as thinking theron And that is wheras in their Masse they should obserue the communion in that kinde as our Lord Iesus Christ did first institute it by inniting the people to communicate with the Preist they fly from his example and indeed once a yeare they are contented to doe so and that is at Easter for then the people shall bee permitted to communicate and yet it is but of one moitie onely of the Sacrament wherein likewise they intermingle many fond inuentions yea and all the accustomed superstitions of their ordinarie Masses without expounding or declaring any part of the mistery to the people According to the institution of our Lord in the Sacrament they should inuite the people and breaking the body of Christ after his example it should be truely giuen to the faithfull Communicants according to the promise of our Sauiour Notwithstanding all this they will obserue their owne deuised manner wherein they can no way exempt themselues from being Idolaters and making the people to commit Idolatry in their giuing worship to the bare signe The reason is because Iesus Christ in the Sacrament gaue his bodie to be lookte vpon with our soules eyes and not to be superstitiously adored in the bread which is no more but the outward signe and by faith to bee eaten to euerlasting life For worthy Ladyes Christ did not say looke vpon this bread then take eate and worship it but he simply said Take eate this is my body Therefore whereas the Sacrament should bee a helpe to list vp the vnderstanding of the faithfull vnto heauen where Christ Iesus is and no where else as concerning his true body from thence giues himselfe in powerfull vertue to enioy and possesse the soules of the faithfull vnder those formes by himselfe assigned your Romanists doe abuse the Supper very vildlie and take it in a quite contrary nature for they are onely pleas'de with looking vpon the bare signe and worshiping it taking the thing it selfe for that which is meerely signified thereby answerable to their doctrine of Transubstantiation meerely forged against the true nature of all Sacraments They seeke not to eleuate mens vnderstandings to the place where Christ sitteth at the right hande of his Father but to lift vp their eies to their God-like Idoll Whereas Christ without all doubt in instituting this Sacrament neuer addressed his promise to the bread and wine simply thereby to make them become his body and bloud as hath beene before declared But to the faithfull communicants and so thereby to assure them that he would giue them the true participation and communion of his body answerable to that which the blessed Apostle S. Paule saith he being a most faithfull expositor of this misterie The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the Communion of the bodie of Christ Me thinkes honorable Ladies these words should resolue you that Christ hath comprised nothing else vnder these signes and elements of bread and wine but what was behoouefull for the faithfull communicants to whom the plaine signification directeth it selfe and whereof true faith dooth make them partakers to vnice themselues spiritually with a meruailous efficacy into the glorious body of our Lord Iesus Christ to participate in the end of all his benefits and deriue from him life and immortality In these fewe words vertuous Ladies you may behold both what we teach and beleeue that our feeding on Christ is by faith onely that is in beleeuing the words of our Sauiour in the vse of the Sacrament wherby we are drawne much neerer to him and more stricktly vnited and incorporated euen by the incomprehensible vertue of his spirit to communicate and partake of all the benefits of his death and to be renewed by him and nourished vnto euerlasting life vntill such time as he shall put vs into full possession that is at the departure of our soules from this world and when our bodyes shall arise againe at the day of our generall resurrection This is the fruit which we make account of and are perswaded to gather out of this Sacrament and wherevnto faith serues vs as the onely instrument Euen as with hand eyes and mouth to beholde take and eate Iesus Christ without any need of his forsaking the heauens or of his reall appearance vnder the formes of bread and wine and so to communicate himselfe vnto vs. Wherefore to go and adore the signe as if the signe onely were Iesus Christ himselfe Or that hee should descend downe from heauen and be newely formed for one of these twoo must needs ensue by their transubstantiation which we mayntaine to be flat Idolatry Neuerthelesse we are taught in Scripture that Iesus Christ ought to be adored in the Sacrament and we doe dayly and religiously worshippe him as being most especially present in the holy action euen in our spirits and faith to vnite vs vnto him and to impart his blessings to vs when the Supper is celebrated according to his institution and wee endeuour to haue it so stil continued and ministred among vs. But the manner of our worshippe and adoration is in hauing our soules eleuated vp to heauen and thither true faith is our onely conduct there to behold him as our soueraigne assurance We looke not for him in the naked elemēts of bread and wine
liuely faith that Iesus Christ is in heauen sitting at the glorious right hand of his Father and all the Communicants in our Christian assembly are so instructed and resolued and to heauen doe they eleuate both their eyes and minds contemplating their Lord and Sauiour there and hoping to partake of eternall life there with him whereof the present action is a sure pledge and earnest pennie Thus doe wee pronounce Christes death and passion thus doe wee acknowledge the effusion and shedding of his bloude whereof the Bread broken and Wine deliuered in the Cuppe or Challice for wee are not Ceremonious of eyther word because in Gods feare eyther of them is to vs indifferent remaineth to vs as a perfect remembraunce and the fruites thereof wee hope doe continue among vs and so with thankfulnesse we all receiue his benefits And worthie Ladyes because it may bee you would gladly know what other obseruatioÌ„s there are in Gods Church which induced my conuersion and in time may draw others As a verie young Scholler scarcely yet well intred I will set yee downe a briefe summarie of so many as my weake memorie and the breuitie of time will permit me Here is no inuocation vpon any Saints no not vpon the blessed Virgin Marie yet both of her and all other Gods chosen Saintes wee hold that reuerend estimation which wee are commaunded to doe The adoration and worship here vsed is to the onely euerliuing and eternall God and according as hee hath manifested himselfe in his word to wit the Father the Sonne and the sanctified Spirit or holy Ghost One onely and true God in these three persons or Hypostasis in whose name likewise all heere are baptised Here are no other Images admitted into our Temples but that onely which our great God hath consecrated to himselse for his owne pecuculiar vse and to remaine for euer And that is the Preaching of the Gospell with the true vse of the Sacraments instituted by him whereby wee discerne the nature of God and his good will towards vs more liuely and better figured in the whole Mysteryes of our Redemption then they can bee described in a million of wodden or carued Images or in any other matter whatsoeuer Neyther is there recourse made to any other intercession for obtaining Gods fauour vnto vs but to Iesus Christes intercession onely hee being our alone Mediatour and Aduocate And hee is likewise the onely reconciliation for our sinnes and wee present none other but him to God in all our prayers eyther priuate or publike Nor is heere acknowledged any other purgation or Purgatorie but onely the bloud of the selfe same Iesus Christ Thus are wee cleansed by vndoubted faith in him accompanyed with true and vnfained repentance and that is to bee done in this life onely which is the time both for beleeuing and of well doing In like manner heere is no confession made of any other oblation sacrifice or satisfaction wherby to abolish deface and wipe out our sinnes but that alone which Iesus Christ made once for all vpon the tree of his Crosse to GOD his Father Nor doe wee heere hold it expedient or needefull that there should bee any superstitious countenaunce renewing or dayly reiteration thereof In regarde that hee neuer gaue any such charge to any mortall man For wee are assured that his owne sacrifice is daily fresh and in full efficacy to obtaine grace for vs remission of our sinnes and life euerlasting For though hee dyed once for vs poore wretched sinners he liueth yet againe at this day and for euer and sitteth at the right hand of God his father to make continuall intercession for vs. As for the order of Confession which is here obserued and none other else acknowledged in this Church it is in this manner When wee assemble and meete together wee make a publike and solemne confession of our sinnes to God who giueth vs also true absolution of them by his hâ—ly Gospell when wee being heartily repentant receiue by faith his vndoubted promises according as they are davlie for that purpose preached and deliuered vnto vs by the Pastors and ministers of Gods Church being congregated in our Ecclesiasticall assemblyes In breefe honourable Ladyes heere is neyther taught or beleeued any other meanes for our saluation then that which God himselfe hath reuealed in his holie woord And that is to embrace and receiue in a sanctified fayth Working by loue the graces and mercies of God offered and presented to vs in Iesus Christ by the Gospell The preaching wereof wee receiue and giue attention vnto with all reuerence as beeing that onely doctryne which is able to saue our soules And wee are perswaded that to turne aside how little soeuer it bee from Iesus Christes omnisufficient sacrifice to our owne workes satisfactions deseruings or the merites of Saints and their sufferings or any other meanes whatsoeuer to confide or put any hope at all therein of our saluation were flatly to forsake the cheefe corner stone and to build vpon another foundation then God himselfe hath layde For there is not any other name under Heauen whereby wee can or shall bee saued but the alone name of Iesus Christ For bee was deliuered to death for our sinnes and is risen agayne for our iustification there cannot bee then saluation in another If this doctrine bee hereticall as your Romaine Iesuites and Priests sticke not to proclayme it they must then pronounce the holy Apostle Saint Paule to bee an hereticke Saint Peter and all the rest of the Apostles to bee Heretikes who preached the very same and haue left it so to vs in their owne writings whereof God himselfe will one day be the Iudge Censure now discreete and well-iudging Ladyes if the singlenesse and pure simplicitie of this approoued doctrine maintained poynt by poynt and warranted by the word of God whereunto it hath alwayes submitted it selfe and dare auouch her true title in the face of any Counsell doe deserue those slaunders and calumniations which the Diuell by his blasphemous brood doth daylie belch foorth against it And in the other Scale of your vnpartiall opinion holding an euen hand to poyze the weight and an vpright soule to conceiue the worth of both rightly consider the now Romish Religion the practises blasphemies and abuses therein committed and then let God direct and order your verdict For I will not so wrong the hope I haue of you rashly to forethink that you will be ouerawed with pompe of Ceremonies thunder cracks of curses the case and hollow closure for monstrous impieties Neyther that you will bee scrupulous of spirit as to let the spacious spreading title of their Church without any truth or equitie to warrant it altogether sway you in your opinion For the Church of Christ sets not forth her selfe to sale by the luster and pompe of exteriour ornament or by antiquitie or such like
good Ladyes Hâ—w people may be easily abused S. Augustines words concerning consecratioÌ„ The Priest coniures in sted of consecrating No lawfull consecration in the Masse The Priest hath not any part of Christs body in his bread which he makes an Idoll of The people are deceiued in the Masse They worship a round cake in stead of God She proceedeth to another idolatry commutted by the ignorant people The people doe communicate but in one kinde The Priests are Idolators and make the people to coÌ„mit idolatry Christ did command no worship to the bread The Romanists doe abuse the lords supper Christ directed not his promise to the bread wine only 1. Cor. 10. 16. The summe of our Christian doctrin and beliefe The expected benefit of the Sacrament How we doe adore Christ in the Sacrament We honour god in bread and wine as being his blessings bestowed vpon vs. The Priest carries their Sacrament about the street The third propertie of the Masse The Priests rob and deceiue the people The Priests answere for themselues A witty coÌ„parison of receiuing the Communion We cannot be wiser the our maister Christ. 1. Cor. 10. 17. 1. Cor. 11. 28. Chrysost Hom. 18. super cap. 8 2. Cor. The Popes Canons doe coÌ„fesse their sacriledge Can. peracta de consecraâ—dist 2 Can. omnes fideles de consecrat Dist 1. Chrysost in Hom 3. None suffered to communicate but the priest onely Prayers in their masse making against themsèlues They say one thing do another meerely begutling the people They speake to the people in a strange language God will haue vs confesse our sins to him onely 2. Cor. 5 18 The peoples growing to number their sinnes Where God is neglected one sinne begetteth another The Sacrament is now made no account of Another sacriledge coÌ„mitted in the Masse 1. Cor. 11. 28. They sunder what God hath ioyned together ConcomitaÌ„cy their coâ—ned excuse The bloud separated from the bodie Matth. 26. 27. 28. The contrariety of concomitancy 1. Iohn 1. 7 Traditions are their only foundatioÌ„ Can. Competimus de consecrat Dist 2. Can. Quia Can. In Coena de consecrat Dist 1. Can. Sacerdotes 1. qu. 1. She referreth this matter of the Masse to the censure of the Ladyes theÌ„selues They partake with sin that seek not to auoid it The Apish gesture and behauiour of the Priests How highly God is dishonored in their churches Of Gods vndefiled Church Her desire of their happy vnion in faith The order obserued in the reformed Churches Of the Sacraments of Baptisme the Lords Supper reiecting the other fiue No priuate whispering as is vsed in the Masse How the people are admitted to the communion who are excluded Farre from that which is vsed in Poperie Her further offer to the Ladies No inuocation vpon saints but on the euerliuing God in trinitie of persons No allowance of images but that onely which God hath appointed No intercession but to Christ only 1. Iohn 2. 2. No sacrifice but Christ Iesus onely Rom. 2. 3. What kinde of confession is vsed in this Church Of the meanes of our saluatioÌ„ Galat. 5. 6. 1. Cor. 3. 11 Act. 4. 12. An especiall note to be obserued Of the truth and sincerity of this doctrine The pompe and ceremonie of Poperie The nature of the church of Christ Ioh. 10. 4. 5 A booke of much learning main importance which likewise will bee very shortly published in English Truth needs no secret corners 1. Cor. 14. 22. Her conclusion to the Ladyes Prou. 1. 24. 25. 26. 27.
this first Supper For that which Iesus Christ said to his Apostles Take eate drink ye all of this he spake the very same to all the faithfull euen to the ending of the world As that which he adioyneth sufficiently declareth My body which is giuen for you My bloude which is shed for you so is his bodie giuen and his bloud shed for the faithfull Hence then ensueth that to all the faithfull appertaineth the commaundement of taking eating and drinking because he made the promise generally to all and not only to the Apostles Ministers of the Church And we may see this testified by the Apostle Saint Paule speaking at large vpon this misterie these are his words For we that are many are one bread and one bodie because we all are partakers of one bread Wherefore Ladies it appeareth plainly that the bodie of Iesus Christ and the communion of his bloud likewise are not to be giuen to vs in this Sacrament but when many faithfull shall communicate together according as Christ deliuered vs an example with his Apostles Take away then the communion which Iesus Christ himselfe hath ordained he being the heauenly Lord Maister and Author of this holy Sacrament And then the promise there unto annexed touching his body bloud which he hath giuen for all faithfull communicants hath no place at all but is vtterly voide For it remaineth no longer a Sacrament nor as he ordained it because the right vse of the Sacrament consisteth heerein that the faithfull should communicate together according as he hath commanded saying Take eate drinke yee c. this must be done vpon necessitie if you would haue it to be a Sacrament or the same which Iesus Christ hath instituted namely the communion of many faithfull assistants to eate and drinke all together in this blessed banquet for this is the essence of the Sacrament as you may discerne very apparantly Let vs now come to see what is done in the Masse Surely good Ladies it is so farre off from being any communion as it may be rather tearmed a kind of excommunication For both you and I know and so do all else that know what the Masse is that the Priest separates himselfe from all therest of the assemblie to eate and drinke by him selfe alone the bread and wine which he hath consecrated a part and how doth he consecrate them Insted of consecration which ought to be done by preaching and publishing openly and aloude the promises of our Lord and Sauiour directed not to the bread and to the wine which are proposed but as signes vnto vs But to the faithfull persons assisting the communion present there to communicate Iesus Christ being he that euen then consecrates the bread wine to make them Sacraments of his bodie and bloud by his heauenly Priesthood which yet ceaseth not and when this misterie is celebrated according to his institution But the Priest deales quite contrarie for he as if he were affraid to be heard of the people makes his consecration by blowing or breathing vpon the bread and wine and mutters or mumbles very softly and low all the words of his institution As if it could please the Lord of truth and life to haue his word murmured out of a dead mouth as it were in celebrating his sanctified misteries of whose truth by this behauiour there iustly may arise some doubt or question Or as if it were offence to him that stands in feare of no power whatsoeuer to haue them pronounced with the loudest voyce to be heard and vnderstood of all In the Gospel the vertue nature and vse of Baptisme are expressed clearely and openly Iesus Christ making his Supper did not mutter in any lowe voyce either vpon the bread or wine to deuine or coniure therinto his bodie and bloud But he pronounced aloude and euidently to his Apostles That he gaue them there his body and his bloud exhorting them to perseuere in the selfe same kinde of action at all times or as often as they should meete to reiterate the same The remembrance of his death and passion Euen as if he had beene then certainely assured that no vtilitie or benefit could be had by Sacraments except whatsoeuer was represented to the eye might bee declared and warranted by the word of God For otherwise it were to abuse the people in a fond kind of deuotion to make a shew of ceremonies before them and neuer to deliuer or declare what they signifie and what coherence or agreement they haue with truth Therefore when publike declaration is made of such mysteries with a chearefull predication to edifie the hearers entring into their vnderstanding and winning impression in their hearts by assured perswasion of the promises accomplishment Briefely when the grace of Iesus Christ is pronounced vnto vs and his promises exposed Euen then and in that instant doth his glorious power descend to performe the worke and then is the true consecration acted indeed Hereupon Saint Augustine saith very well That the word of consecration is the word of faith preached And that word conioyned with the terrene outward signe maketh the same a sacrament Adding presently after I meane the word of faith which we preach What consecration then is there in the Masse when insteed of all this namely exposing to the people the recited promises and declaring aloud the words of our Sauiours institution it is done in a manner of secret coniuration and so are the words whispered which behauiour is more proper to charmers then to be vsed in such a holy and diuine Sacrament What shall wee then thinke of them when they dare forsake the rule of their Lord and Maister to follow their owne fantasies Seing then it is so and that in the Masse there is neither any lawfull consecration nor as themselues cannot deny any such Communion as Iesus Christ hath ordained for one alone doth both eate and drinke and that is the priest and one man alone cannot make a Communion It followeth then deere Ladyes and very necessarily that the body of Iesus Christ is not in the Masse where the Priest communicateth by himselfe And therefore the bread which he makes to bee adored then euen as if it were the body indeed of our Lord is no such matter but remaineth still very bread euen as it was before his consecration being neyther more or lesse then as if it were in any other place out of the Churches assembly and the Priests and whosoeuer for his owne pleasure should speake the very same words of their institution vpon any other piece of bread And although they perswade themselues that they haue and do hold in their hands the very body of Iesus Christ vnder the bread or in the bread and therefore make the people to worship it yet it is most certaine that there is nothing else but an Idoll and which without any reason they make
and bee barde wholy from them both For diuision or separation in so sanctified a misterie cannot be committed without very great Sacriledge Another Canon speaketh thus You are with vs in the Challice Wee take this altogether wee doe drink together for we live together And another The priesls which serue at the Eucharist shall distribute the bloud of our Lord to the people there for so he calleth the Sacrament of the bloud Whether can they now betake themselues to seeke for purgation of sacriledge being thus therein condemned by their owne Popes Now honourable and renowned Ladyes by these grosse and most absurde abuses which I haue beene so bold as to lay open to you in this Popish kinde of seruice called the Masse filled full with notorious blasphemies Idolatries and sacriledges as I haue in some weake measure shewen vnto you and in the order as they are rancked you may guesse what a many more there are beside which would aske a larger repetition then this poore Epistle of mine at this time can permit mee Let me put the case to your owne iudgement whether the Masse may be thought to be any lawfull Communion in your Church or no Surely were it but in regard of these alleaged abuses wher of there wants not store besides me thinkes you should abstaine from partaking with such abhominations Considering that in shaking hands with such foule deformed sinnes you pollute your soules with all impieties and by your publike profession of them you consent and adhere to all their blasphemies albeit you are vtterly ignorant of them For heere they meete in a full crowde together and to all of them you cry your selues guilty when you seeke no way to escape out of sinfull Sodome though the flames flye daily and flashe into your faces And I am well assured that some of you are of my minde in many of these recited abuses concerning the Masse though as I haue done you will not yet openly expresse it yea and haue in priuate confessed to mee that your Priests of Romaine pollution doe grosely sinne in infinite superstitions which they colour vnder cloudes of deuotion and sanctitie vsing such Apish carriage and gesticulations both in the celebration of the Masse and their friuolous preachings as are no way conuenable with their profession that are to entreate on the misteries of God And yet in whatsoeuer they doe or say both you and the people doe solemnely assist them as spectatours onely but no vnderstanders and such are the greater part of the assemblie at Masse And because they shall not see into their iugling collusions they can find both their eares eyes and other sences busied with musicke singing and ensensing with diuers other gestures which deliuer some appearance of religious deuotion onely thereby to beguile and retaine simple people And where is all this done but euen in the Church where God is to bee worshipped in spirit and truth and where hee hath ordained the holie assemblie of his Seruants to edifie nourish all faithfull soules in common and publike praying together according as euerie one may well vnderstand by faithfull expounding and interpreting the word of god concerning those misteries which he hath established in his Church To the end that euerie faithfull man and woman maye there receiue effectuall fruit both for the guyding of their liues in christian conuersation and consolation of their soules here and in heauen Into which Church of God swept cleane and purged from all corrupt pollutions and reformed by the rules of his heauenly prescriptions Honorarable Ladyes I haue at length found the happy entrance where euery dilligent Pastour Preacher doe there paynefull and laborious endeuours to expound deliuer Gods word purely to the people And that they may easily vnderstand what is sayde vnto them both for the edification of their faith and further instruction in all piety and wherof I myselfe to my no little comfort haue found a most plentifull encrease among Gods seruaunts into whose fellowshippe I hartilie wish that you were all combined Moreouer among vs there is not so much as one sillable profered either in publike praier or explaining gods word but it is heard vnderstood and most affectuously embraced For nothing is here vttered which hath not his firme fundation on the expresse text of sacred Scripture or what is thence truelie and vnpartiallie deriued necessarilie cohering and agreeing therewith without any repugnancie to the Articles of the Apostles Creede or the direct meaning of the Scriptures For if any of our Pastours shall presume to doe otherwise hee is grieuously censured and reprooued according to good orders established for preseruation of sound doctrine and preuention of intruding mens vaine imaginations As concerning the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper for Gods institution allowing no more wee leaue your other fiue viz. Confirmation Penance Extreame vnction Orders and Matrimonie to your Romaine Sinagogue where they were first deuised And these other before named I say are administred in the same kinde and nature as they were wholie receiued from our Lord and Maister without addition of any thing to their wordes or cutting off any part of their ordinance And intelligence is publikely deliuered to the people of the end efficacie and vtilitie of them farre from those vngodly courses practised among you Nor is there any other consecration here vsed but holy and deuout pravers in the presence of God and his heanenly assembly The Pastor declaring openly and not in any muttering or coniuring manner what is then done and how it stands with the wordes and ordinaunce of our Lord Iesus Christ proposing and deliuering the same so audibly that it may bee heard of the whole Congregation and so conueniently in all poyntes applyed that much godly benefite commeth thereby to the assembled soules at the Sacraments Where Iesus Christ doubtlesse doth sanctifie the Table and the Bread and Wine there decently present to make them the Sacraments of his body and bloud when the forme is thus obserued after his owne institution To this Communion of the Lords holie Supper all the people present after exhortation to prepare their comming thither in true repentance and firme faith in Gods promises are freely and verie louingly admitted And none are excluded from this heauenly Banquet but such as are notoriously knowne for prophane people of wicked and vild life or rebellious to all good orders and Discipline established by authoritie and the Reuerend Fathers of the Church whose care and diligence for the good thereof at all times and seasons is very great and painefull And Noble Ladyes the Bread and Wine in all reuerend manner as our Lord appoynted it is round about distributed to euery assistant without impayring the least iote of the institution There is no request made that those things may bee carryed thence by an Angell and presented vpon the high Altar Our soules doe assure vs by a
Masse Now we say that this is a very great outrage and wronge done to our Lord Iesus Christ and to his true sacrifice First of all in transferring to mortall men or communicating to them the dignitie of his supreme Priesthood we woonder by what authoritie or allowance this should be done For the whole bodie of the Scripture declareth plainly to vs That he is the eternall sacrificer according to the order of Melchizedeck yea and that in such sort As he is the only Priest of that order and permitteth not the receipt of successors or Vicars For as concerning the sacrificers of the Law there were made many to succeede one after another Because they were not suffered to endure by the reason of death But this man saith the Apostle to the Hebrewes because he endureth for euer hath an euerlasting Priesthood Which needed not daily as those high Priests under the Law to enter the holy places yearely with other bloud first for his owne sinnes and then for the peoples Otherwise it had bin needfull for him to haue suffered many times since the foundation of the world But now in the consummation of the world hath he appeared once to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe Being both the offering sacrificer the sacrifice offered for sinne according to the nature of this holy sacrifice of the new Testament that the Sacrifice and Sacrificer should be both one To Iesus Christ then only appertaineth the honor to be the Sacrificer of the new couenant and they doe him intollerable outrage to appoint him any Successors or Suffragans in regard the Apostle saith There is one euerlasting Sacrificer which neuer ceaseth and passeth not from one to another Nor can this honor be attributed to any other but only he that is called of God as Aaron was So likewise Christ tooke not to himselfe this honor to be made the high Priest but he glorified him that saide vnto him Thou art my Sonne this day begate I thee And as in the former place Thou art an euerlasting sacrificer after the order of Melchisedeck It is not I Ladies that haue spoken all this but Gods infallibe word the sacred Scripture And now if the Priests of the Papacie would haue vs to acknowledge them for sacrificers let them shew vs how the charge to sacrifice Iesus Christ is giuen them by God in the holy Scriptures and then we will lend a better eare to them But this is not the proposition only that Christ Iesus is the sole sacrificer of the new couenant but there remaines a far greater matter For his sacrifice neither can or ought to be iterated or performed againe nor can it be by any other because he offered himselfe once for all and it appertaineth to no man whatsoeuer to make the like offering as he hath done Neither could he as of himselfe offer himselfe againe for then he must haue suffered and died againe as I haue prooued before by the Apostle And the offering which he made of himselfe was once only and that sacrifice is of perpetuall efficacie for the clearing and wiping away of our sinnes Whereupon the same Apostle saith We are sanctified euen by the offering of the bodie of Iesus Christ once made And by one sole oblation which he once only offered hath he consecrated for euer them that are to be sanctified And since he hath purchased for vs the remission of our sinnes there remaineth no more oblations to be made for sinne but his blood only is sufficient whereby he is entred into the holy places hauing obtained euerlasting redemption for vs And we haue daily libertie likewise by the blood of Iesus to enter into the holy places in regard that he is the eternall sacrificer to saue all such as he shall present to God liuing there as their continuall intercessor In all which alleadged places the Apostle makes no mention at all of any new oblation or continual offering the bodie of Christ by the hands of men Who will not say then that this is blasphemie not only in transferring to mortall men the dignitie of the eternall Priesthood of Iesus Christ who neuer resigned his office to any other but likewise to reiterate and renew his sacrifice daily as if the efficacie of the sacrifice which himselfe once offered vpon the Crosse were not sufficient to endure and for our reconciliation to God What shall we also thinke of this saying of the Apostle If when we were enemies we were reconcilea to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saued by his life That is to say because he is daily aliue to intercede in our behalfe and procure vs grace and fauour as hath bin before declared Or as he elsewhere saith In regard he appeareth now for vs before the face of God to wit in the powerfull vertue of his sacrifice to communicate the same to all beleeuers There is therefore no neede of any new sacrifice or reiteration thereof Vnderstand good Ladies that I doe not tie my selfe to note euery particular which is condemned thorow the whole passage of the Masle which is very thicke sowen with blasphemies from the beginning to the end therein I should tier both my selfe and you As for example should I speake of the Priests entraunce to the Altar wherein you knowe I vtter no lye First the Priest confesseth himselfe not only to God but likewise both to he Saints and she Saints not so much as naming Iesus Christ Then afterward in the beginning of their Canon and before he goes to any consecration he saith That he offers that Sacrifice to God to wit the bread and wine which are vpon the Altar and as yet not consecrated first of all for the Catholique Church next for the redemption of all their souls that are assistant at the Masse O deare Ladies what a blasphemie is this O that it should euer be receiued among Christians Or that a sinfull man should presume to say That he offers an oblation of bread wine to God and for there demption of soules Nay admit that it were the bodie blood of Iesus Christ yet deare soules you see it manifestly prooued vnto you alreadie that it is not now at this day to be offred againe neither can it by the Apostles testimonie alreadie rehearsed I passe ouer also manyp rayers ful of iniquitie as well before as after the consecration As in the Memento when the Priest requireth the fauour of God by the merits and intercession of Saints As if the sacrisice of Iesus Christ which they say they preferre in the formost place were not sufficient to impetrate such grace of God Then after consecration they commit a sinne whereof by no meanes I thinke they can excuse themselues For the Priest prayeth to God that the oblation which he offereth to wit the bodie and the bloud of Iesus Christ
according to the verie words vsed by the Priest may be caried by the hands of his holy Angell into the high Altar before Iesus Christ As if Iesus Christ himselfe had forsaken Heauen stood in neede to be caried thither againe and by the hands of an Angell O honorable Ladies what a blasphemie is this against him that hath all power subiected vnder his feete and sitteth for euer at the right hand of God his Father Also in the Priests Memento for the dead he prayeth for them that alreadie are sleeping in the very height of peace that God would giue them a place of peace refreshing But to what purpose is this when the parties are possessed of such a peacefull place alreadie why should they mooue any such place afterward in vaine There are many other things louing Madames the collection whereof would be very tedious vnto you and which you may see very learnedly confuted ech point by point in the Booke which I shewed you at our last meeting called the Anatomie of the Masse printed for your more easie vnderstanding in our owne language more then thirtie yeares since and neuer all this while answered by the contrarie side But come we now to the especiall point concerning the confidente and peruerse opinion wherein I my selfe haue sinned too often and which you hold as no meane Article of faith That the Masse is a worke meritorious to cancell all our sinnes Ex epere operato as themselues vse to say Which is as much to say as that by the vertue of that worke the labour is performed without making mention of his faith and repentaunce for whom the Masse is sayd and is therein assisted Heereby you may perceiue good Ladies that the efficacie of the death of Iesus Christ whereof by true faith we are all made pertakers is now attributed to a work done by man yea may as wel be applied to the dead as the liuing By which means the Sacraments shall but profit them only which communicated in true saith and repentaunce But then this cannot be spoken thus of them that are deceased and departed out of this world because they haue no more communion with the liuing whereby to participate of their Sacraments As for the Sacrifice of Iesus Christ that is saith the Apostle through faith in his bloud which makes vs partakers of the propitiation thereby obtained Now the dead can haue neither faith nor repentaunce but are gone as they placed before the end of their faith either for the saluation of their soules or to be punished in hell for their incredulitie Iouerslip a great many blasphemies which deserue ech one to be seuerally spoken of For you haue tolde me that some things you giue credit to and others you doe not especially any thing which you conceite to be damnable But you being heerein gouerned only by your Priests opinions you hang your selues on their sleeues and are neuer the neerer when you shall come to make your account And your excuse concerning those prayers which they sing or say in their Masse that they are in Latine and you vnderstand them not but beleeue them to be good and holy Trust me worthy Ladies it is idle and friuolous for you ought to vnderstand them and may if you will thereby to examine and trie the spirits whether they be of God or no. You haue them published in printed bookes and so haue had for many yeares together And the Scriptures themselues remaine for your further instruction which though they forbid you the reading of them yet be you rulde by him that saith Search the Scriptures it is they that doe beare true witnes of me But leauing all other there is one most signall and apparant and such a blasphemie whereof I knowe you are almost daily partakers being present at Masse For both common opinion and intention as well of the Priest himselfe as the persons there in place doe run in this current That it is an absolute sacrifice which is there performed by him wherein all remission of sins is to be sought for and all prosperitie as well of the bodie as of the soule For they auouch it to be the selfe same sacrifice of Iesus Christ which they but renew againe to receiue a further fruite thereby and so they reiterate the same as often as they doe either sing or say Masse euen according as it was done vnder the Lawe But what saith the blessed Apostle to this The law hauing the shadow of good things to come not the very image of the things can neuer with those sacrifices which they offer yeere by yeere continually sanctifie the commers thereunto And it is imposisible that the bloud of Bulles and Goates should take away sinnes For would they not then haue ceased to haue bin offered because that the offerers once purged should haue had no more conscience of sins This is then the reason wherfore euery Priest appeareth daily sacrificing oft times offereth one manner of thing which can neuer take away sinnes But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sinne sitteth for euer at the right hand of God And wherefore one sacrifice only Because saith he in the verse following that by that alone sacrifice he hath consecrated for euer them that be sanctified There is nothing deare Ladies more cleare and euident then these words of the holy Apostle to manifest openly That the sacrifice of Iesus Christ whereby we were once for all redeemed and sanctified cannot neither ought to be reiterated or renewed Therefore in Poperie when they doe enterprise to reiterate or renew or continue the same for they make vse of all these seueral tearmes is it any thing else but a meere renouncing of that only sacrifice remaining fresh in full strength and vigour which Christ once offred vpon his Crosse to sanctifie all beleeuers And the fruite heereof is daily presented to vs in the preaching of the Gospell and we reeeiue the same by a true sanctified faith in him only For to this end was the sacred ministerie of Gods word instituted by God himselfe in his Church and not for any nouell order of sacrifices as your soules heauie enemies doe make you to beleeue I knowe honorable Ladies and haue had such particular interest in some of you during the time of our often conuersing in this manner together that in hart you are far off from these grosse prophanations and haue assured me in soule you doe much greeue thereat Let me then perswade you not to come in such places where the Sonne of God is so highly iniuried be not led by their outward appearaunce of deuotion which serues but to beguile and abuse the simple Euen as is vsed in our ceremonie of meeting and manner of courtship in the streetes or else where a good looke is giuen or an affable conge allowed when falshood and trechery lurketh oftentimes in the hart Make