disobedient children that wyll take counsayle wythout me and wyll take asecerete aduise and not out of my spirite therefore adde they sinne vnto sinne and Christ saith Math. vi in vaine do they serue me teachinge the doctrines and preceptes of men the proude herted Iewes did stande so well in there owne conceite for their tradicions and inuentions that for loue thei had to them they dispised hated and at last killide oure maister Christ Iohn xxi our aduersaris dare saye that Christ and the apostles taught manye thynges whyche are not wryten in the scripture and that Christe sayed hys Disciples coulde not beare awaie al that he had taught thys cauil repungnauÌ„t to the true vnderstandinge of the scripture maye be an occasion and cause of greate errours for there wyth all lyes and herisies maye be confirmed they will saye albeit it is not written yet the appostles taught it by worde of mouth and also the scriptures of God shoulde be an vnperfecte doctrine which thyng to offâ—râ—ne is blasphemie agaynste the holy gost considering that theÌ„ all the doctrine of our fayth should be put in question Therefore surly so muche is contayned in holye scripture as is necessary vnto saluacion to eueri one that beleueth They saye coulde the churche erre so longe time as it hath If youre doctrnie be true the true churche hath not errede whiche hath the word of god only The church verely must be tried by the worde of God and not the worde of god by the churche whether the churche that beleueth be of manye or of fewe for the churche is knoweÌ„ by the frutes and not because it coÌ„sisteth of many and hath her begynynge of the worde of God and her frutes are tried by the worde whether the true christan churche brought them forth or no if it be the true christen churche Iohn â— she heareth no nother voice but Christes her shepherde and brydgrome whiche the appostles preached to the church and if an angel came out of heauen teaching any other doctrine then thys let hym Gala. i. be accurssed if we loue and folow the doctrine that Christe taught and beinge hys disciples we shal not be excluded frome the true churche so longe as we kepe wyth vs the worde of God But he is puffed vp wyth pryde and doeth i. Timo. vi knowe nothinge at al that wil not obey the word of God he therfore which doth knowe nothinge can not teache vs religion and the true worshippinge of god if the Masse be vsede as it hath ben hitherto it can in no wyse agree wyth the worde of God but is so muche repugnaunt as what thing is most The Masse therfore is a diuilishe Idolatrie and detestable abominacion against God and the maynteners therof shal incurre his displeasure for euer thys thyng we wil proue two waies first because the popishe Masse is vsed in nothinge lyke the supper that Christ ordeined and differeth nolesse froÌ„ it then blacke to white they synne therefore so griuouslye as dyd Achas the made an aultar at Ierusalem iii. ReguÌ„ xvi lyke that which was at DamascoÌ„ and caste the aultare of god out of the temple so they haue lest the true vse of oure Lordes supper And in stede of it haue instituted and ordeinede the Masse of theyr owne folishe deuise and oppinion which is a great and blasphemouse abominacioÌ„ before god Moreouer we wyll proue by ther erroures and abusinge of the masse whyche they call an offeringe for the quicke and deade that it is an horible abominacion for if the Masse were ordeined of Christe which is faulse yet by there abusinge of it they woulde make it a blasphemouse heinous abominacion before god vndoubtedly we ought to folowe truely and sencelye that thynge whiche is absolutly Deut. vi sufficient of it selfe alredie Firste let vs consyder and expende the maner and order that Christe vsed at the institucion of thys holly and sacrete supper and then we wyll confer the abuse with the truth But we ought to learne all these thynges of the Euangelistes and of Saynte Paule and of none other Verely the true Masse which is worthy al kindes of praieses is the Masse which Christe ordeyned at hys laste supper before he shoulde suffere Luk xxii for when the houre was come he sate downe and the twelue appostles wyth hym and he sayed vnto theÌ„ I haue inwardly desired to eate thys passeouer wyth you before that I suffer for I say vnto you hence furth I wil not eate of it any more vntyll it be fulfilled in the kingdome of God and he toke the cup and gaue thaÌ„kes and saied take this and deuid it amonge you for I saye vnto you â— will not drinke of the frut of the vine vntyll the kingdom of god come and he toke breade and when he hadde giuen thankes he brake it and gaue it vnto theÌ„ saying this is my bodye whiche is giuen for you thys do in remembrauÌ„ce of me Like wyse also wheÌ„ he had supped he toke the cup sayinge thys cupe is the newe testament in my bloude whiche is shed for you These wordes Sainte Luke Luk. xxii Math. xxvi writeth the other euangelestes wrytte the same but they differ in some wordes as Math sayed Drinke all of thys for thys is my bloude whiche is the newe testamente that is shed for manie for Mat. xiiii the remission of synnes and saint Marke sayth they al dranke of it meaninge the cup. Saint Paule doth expounde Christes wordes sayinge thys doo as ofte as you drinke it in remembraunce of me for as often tymes as you shall eate thys breade and drinke thys cup ye shall shewe furth the Lordes death tell he come but let a man examyne him selfe and so let hym eate of the breade and drinke of the cup Saint Iohn doeth not declare the ordinaunce of thys sacrament But he teacheth from the .xiii. Iohn .xiii. xiiâ—â— xv xvii xviii Cap. to the .xviii. how Christ did vse his supper and what he did at it he washed hys disciples fete he preached to theÌ„ and commaunded them to be in charitie he exhorted them to pacience he strengthend confirmed and establyshed their fayth towarde god and praied for them to hys father but especially he rebuked Iudas the traitor S. Paule sayth we beinge many are one breade and one bodye in Cor. â— so muche we all are partetakers of one breade and the Euangelistes reporte that Christe dyd finishe hys holy supper wyth thankes geueyng The some and grounde of the hole matter proponed coÌ„sisteth in the sentences of scripture nowe rehersed but because Christ sayth serch the scripture we therfore Iohn v. wil are counsaile of the word of God in other plases and debate howe the Lordes supper ought to be vsede let vs first deuide thes questions into foure partes firste some thinges are common both to the ministre and receiuour of the Sacrament moreouer some thinges
belonge only to the ministers thyrdly some thynges perteyne to the receyuer onely and finally some thinges must be obserued in the sacramente alone First let vs expende and consider what is the dutes of the ministers and laitie together at this holly supper Christ was the minister and the .xii. aposteles were the receyuers laitie Luke .xxii. for S Luke sayth wheÌ„ the houre was come Christ and the .xii. apostles i. Co. xiiii sate downe to be an exaÌ„ple to vs to do all thynges in the coÌ„gregacion wyth comlynes and order For we se that Christ obserued boeth tyme place but yet those ought not to be vnderstanded that we shall leaue the true meanynge and folowe the bare letter the tyme and place was most myte for hym to go about that godly worke and thankes giuinge boeth because the easter lamb ought to be eaten in the euening the night of Christs passion was at haÌ„d but it is most mete to vs to minister that sacrameÌ„t before dinner that the laitie shall receyue it standyng and not sittyng also that it be broken in two pieces before the administracioÌ„ to the laitie not when it is ministred for the euangelistes commaunded and decrered nothynge in these externe thynge but an honeste order for it is vnpossible that we shoulde do and obserue the selfe same order of receyueinge the sacramente that the apostles dyd for theÌ„ no mo then xii should receyue it at once And hat of one minister it should also be recyued in the euening Moreouer Christ did eate the easter lambe with his disciples and refused that bodily meat and drinke saying he would eate nomore of that vntyl it were Luke xxii fulfilled in the kingdome of God nor dryncke of the fruite of the vine vntyl the kingedome of God come that we after hys example shoulde neythere seke for a carnall supper to fyll the belly nor be addicte giuen to the obseruauÌ„ce of the Iuishe cerimonies and shadowes of the truth but that with an vnfayned fayth we shoulde which thankes giuing receyue the spirituall fode in the worde and promisses of God Also both the minestres and receiuers ought to come to the Lordes table in charitie proteste true mutuall loue one to an other for Saint Iohn sayeth Christe dyd ernestly preache charite Iohn xxiii xiiii xv xvi xvii to his disciples and loued theÌ„ to the ende for we beinge one congregacion are membres of one body bretherne in dede by Christ For as saint Paule sayth though i. Cor. x. we be manie yet are we one bodie when we are partakers of one breade finally it is mete that one tarie for anothere excepte some matter of greate importaunce let vs and that we coÌ„tinue in praier to th ende Iudas alone departied awaye before the other to his own destruction Saint Paule saieth bretherne wheÌ„ you come together â— Cor xi to eate let one tarie for annother and if any man be huÌ„grie let hym Math. xxvi Marâ— xiiii eate at home Saynte Mathewe and Saint Marke saye that after they had sayed grace thei weÌ„t vp into the hyll of Oliues Nowe let vs learne what is the function and office of the minister and stuard of the misteries of God thys we are taught of Christ him selfe in the administracion of the sacrameÌ„t to hys disciples wherein dyuers and suÌ„dri thinges are to be diligeÌ„tly noted obserued First howe he dyd gyue hym selfe to al hys disciples and ministers and in especially to the preachers beinge an example in washinge of theyr fete that they should do the same and be prompte and redy at all tymes to minister and do seruice to eueri man Moreouer here is to be noted that Christe dyd willingelye and of purpose shone and abhorre al externe and outwarde pompes and soleÌ„ne sightes that he might printe in oure hertes thynges of greater importaunce also wheÌ„ he had washed theire feete he went agayne to the table and put on Iohn xiii hys accustomed rament teaching hys disciples â–ª by thys example to go about suche thinges as ought to be most chifflye regarded for he then ernestly preached the Gospell admonished and rebuked Iudas the teaytoure and taught his disciples to be in charitie pacience and hope of thynges to come so Iohn xvi plainely manifestlie that they sayd you speake not nowe in parables Note also that Christe gaue Math. xvi thankes to God the father before he gaue the sacrament to hys disciples exhortynge them to remeÌ„bre i. Cor xii and shewe furth thereby hys passion vntill he come Finally he callyd vpon hys father wyth a feruent Iohn xvii desire and prayed for all theÌ„ that beliue Nowe touchinge the Iohn xvii receyuers of oure Lordes supper they gaue greate attendaunce to the word doctrine of Christ and wyth obedience receyued the sacrament of the body and bloude of Christe Saynt Marke sayeth they al dyd drinke by hys sayinge no man is excepted Finally let vs expende consider of what thing Marâ— xiiii the sacramente is made vndoubtedly it is made of breade wyne the worde for there cannot be the sacrament of oure Lordes supper where any of these lacketh Christ verely toke materiall breade and wyne chosinge them for the vse of the sacrament we reade not that he toke water grapes or any such other thynge and he sayede these wordes Thys is my bodie which shal be gyuè for you and thys cup Luke xxii is the newe testamente in my blould whiche shal be shed for you by these wordes the bread wyne are made the sacrameÌ„t holly tokeÌ„s of Christes body bloud these wordes offer to vs the promesses of the Ioyful Gospel which if we receiue with a true faith we eate spiritually in spirit the fleshe bloud of christ therby obtain life eternal The sacrament is like a writen Testament that promiseth great gyftes and is sealed wyth two seales that ought to be kepte hole vnbrokeÌ„ if all these thynges afore rehersed were obserued and kepte then the Lordes supper should be truely vsed the Masse as they cal it should perfectlie be holy for god praised therin would regard it we should receyue of it great frutes goodnes for therebye we are enstructed to beleue in god loue oure neighboure excludinge all sedicion and disobedieÌ„ce that peace pacience and concorde may take place and rule againste thys doctrine nothinge can be proued and debated by the holy scripture for it is grounded on moste sure principles and fundacion referringe all thynges to fayeth and â— Ti. i. Iohn i. â—i iii. iiii v. charitie by the which two al thinges ought to be tried paraduenture they wyll answere that noman can finde faulte wyth oure sayeinge but yet it is expediente to Ioyne other ceremonies wyth the approued vse in the administracion of thys sacrament of our Lordes supper as haue been vsed hitherto and so the hollye thynge
oculis in â—elâ— lifting vp his eies to heaueÌ„ And Eterni Of the euerlasting Also MisteriuÌ„ Fidei The misterie of the fayeth But these are maters of smal weight thei leaue vnsaid wordes of grater importauÌ„ce which is Quod pro nobiâ— tradâ—tur aut frangitur That shal be deliuered or broken for you And meÌ„s eares are stopped with plaing one the organs descante songes When these wordes are spoken leaste they shoulde doubte in any thynge that is saide If the people remembre christes passioÌ„ at the time the priestes are not thankes worthie for they shoulde boeth remeÌ„bre the wordes of the passion and also giue thankes to God for the same but they shall not do so if the priestes can let theÌ„ It is therfore manyfest that the papistes folowe not Christes example in the supper at theyr popishe Masse yet they saye there Masse is holie wheÌ„ there is nothinge more vnhollye They bragge that saynte Iames dyd vse thys Masse at Ierusalem Saynte Marke at Alexandria and Saynte Peter at Antioche but they haue no historie toucheinge thys matter worthy credite Though they vsed our lordes supper as Christe oure mayster dyd and as S Paule also at Corinth yet they dyd not vse it as the pynishe papistes do now the Masse That Ignatius Policarpe Ireneus make mencion of is not like this popishe masse Thei confesse that Basilius Magnus IheroÌ„e Ambros vsede another order in the administracioÌ„ of our Lordes supper then is nowe vsed and that diuerse haue vsed diuerse facioÌ„s therin by ther own wordes Therfore it is manifeste that this kind of massinge is not the ordinaunce of Christe but inuented by mans wyt and policie without the worde of God And nowe I wyll declare by the testimonie of aunciente histories what popes and wheÌ„ they patchilde together this beggerlye Masse of theires ☞ Halowing of aultares and temples ¶ Felix frist pope of that name coÌ„maunded temples and aultars to be hallowed in the yere of oure Lorde God cclxix ☞ Aulters ¶ â—erâ—us firste of that name ordeined aulters and Sayntes in the yere of oure Lorde Cxxiiii ☞ Aultar clothes ¶ Boniface commauÌ„ded aultares to be couered with fyne linnen cloth in the yere of our Lord. cccx Chalices ¶ Vrban and Seuerine ordeined challices of goulde and siluer in the yere of our Lorde ccxv ☞ Albes and corporasses â–ª ¶ Siluester dyd ordayne albes and corporasses in the yere of our Lord. cccxiii ☞ Candeles and ornamentes ¶ Gregory dyd ordayne lyght at masse certaine Ornamentes in the yere of our Lord. ccccclxxxxii ☞ Procession ¶ Agabetus dyd ordayne procession on Sondayes aboute the churche in the yere of oure Lorde cccccxxxii ☞ Holly water ¶ Alexander did ordeine water to be mingled wyth wyne vnleuened breade and holly water in the yere of our Lord. cxii ☞ Confiteor and the office ¶ Pontianus ordeined CoÌ„fiteor before masse in the yere of our Lord. ccxxv And Selestinus the office in the yere of our lord ccccxxiiii ☞ Kyrie eleison Gregori dyd ordayne Kyrie eleson at Masse in the yere of oure Lorde ccccclxxxxii ⧠Gloria in excelsis Telesphorus made Gloria inexcelsis in the yere of our lord cxxix ⧠Collectes and grayle Gelasius made the Collectes Preface and graile in the yere of our Lord. CCCC lxxxx Anastasius ordeined that we shoulde stande when the Gospell is read in the yere of oure Lorde CCCCix Martine made the Crede in the yere of oure Lord cccxxxiiii ¶ The canon is patched together of many and therefore one seÌ„tence is repugnauÌ„t wyth an other many superstouse wordes are in it they call vpon certayne peculiare Sayntes in it And offer for soules in purgatorie thei blesse crosse as if greate vertue and powere were therin and reade nothinge so reuerently as this theyr clouted canon Gregory made the Offertorye Damasus gloria patri They caÌ„ not therfore saye that they minister the sacramentes of oure Lordes supper as the apostles dyd wheÌ„ their doctrine is repugnauÌ„te coÌ„trarie one to a nother Thys is sufficiente to proue that the Masse should be abhorred because it doth laye for mens consience snares of meÌ„s tradicioÌ„s Thei wil haue the priestes to be as the priestes of the olde lawe bring shadows in tyme of light stretching out the armes deuidinge the hostes and such other Ieuish customes It was therfore the dyueles deuise to brynge into the churche suche lewde lawes for the true liuing worde of God If circumcision hurteth as S. Paule witnesseth who can denye that the priesthod of AroÌ„ varietie of ornamentes and anoyntynge do nothinge auaile and profite in thys tyme of the newe law Much lesse profite is therfore receyued of mans inuentions and vayne dreames that kepe men occupied from the exercise of true godlines humilitie of minde And excite mens hertes wyth singynge and organplayng to acertayne carnall delite and pleasure rather theÌ„ to the true glory of god as dyd the groue which was by the temple of Ierusalem albeit therefore these cerimonies are glisterynge in meÌ„s eis yet they are vile and of no reputacion before Christ who requireth not the visour and shadow of a thyng but the veri thing it selfe the masse therfore which was ordiened and constituted of Antichrist and maintayned of his most best assured adherentes is an abominacion before God throughe this externe pompe and suche other thinges afore rehersed Finally they fere not to saye that Christes bodie is offered in the masse I wyll not contende and stryue wyth them if they take this word offer to signifie remembre accordinge to the sence and meanynge of Christes wordes albeit the ministers alone pronouÌ„ce and speake these wordes Yet such thaÌ„kes giuing and remembraunce belongeth not only to them alone but also to the whole congregacion We deny not that the Doctoures called the Masse an offeringe whiche is the remembrauÌ„ce of an offering once made as Sainte Augustine doeth playnely declare sayeinge in thys offering is thaÌ„kes giuing and remembraunce of Christes bodie and bloude which he offered and shede for vs But the papistes are not pleased wyth this offering for they wil haue a greater offring which is an offering represeÌ„tatiue when Christe dyed once for euer and caÌ„ die nomore They saye that these wordes do thys in my remeÌ„braunce signifie the consecracion offering and remeÌ„brauÌ„ce but this is a faulsely deuised and forgide interpretation For Christe at hys holly and Sacrete supper Tooke breade and gaue thankes brake it and gaue it to his disciples Commaundynge them to eate and in like wyse the wyne TheÌ„ he preached to them hys death and passion that they shoulde do after hys example wyth a sincere true fayth and there is not one Iotte that can proue the administracioÌ„ of this most blessed sacramente to be an offering represeÌ„tatiue of Christ his owne offering and althoughe Christ woulde haue had his bodie present bodily in this breade yet in no wise his wordes signifie the he offered him selfe
therefore he offered breade and wyne vndoubtedly Melchsedech was the figure of Christe but Saynt Paule manifestly declareth in what thynges he was the figure of Christ In the rehersinge of the honours and dignitye of Melchisedech whiche is that he was an eternall prieste and kynge of peace and ryghtuousnes Ther is not one worde of the offeringe of bread and wyne They cānot finde in the boke of Genesis that Melchisedech dyd sacrifice to God but that he offered breade and wyne to Abrahame for sustenaūce of his people as Christe offered to vs hys worde Melchisedeche broughte breade and wyne and Abrahame payed hym tythes Christe after the same sorte gaue vs the sacrament of his bodye and bloude but he dyd not offer it to God The scripture shewith forth Melechisedech vnder the figure of an eternal an only prieste But the papistes appointe othere priestes to be Christes viccars after his ascēciō in to heauē If a mā shoulde agre wyth them the Christe offered to God breade and wyne yet they cannot proue that he killed hym selfe in sacrifice vnder bread and wyne Also if Christ offered nothyng but breade wine the priestes of the olde lawe dyd muche better in kyllinge of liuing creatures to offer them in sacrifice The papistes cannot tell what to saye and whan they brynge authoritie of scripture it maketh agaynste them and are confuted wyth there owne sayinges as one that is slayne with his owne weapon Moreouer they brynge suche places of scripture as speake of mele and vnleuened breade as of the breade that was euer stādinge one the table of the vnleuened bread and two loues of the first fruites Also where they are iudged holye because they offer to the Lorde an host of bread chiefeli thei make great bragges of the sayinge of Malachias a cleane host is offered to my name in all places for my name is magnified among the gentiles And in what place so euer they fynde the offering of breade and wyne they apply it to signifie the bodely offeringe of Christe in the Masse They beleue that they cannot er and that these dreames are confirmed by the law prophesiyng therby as they did of purgatorie that wher soeuer they sound this word fiere written in the byble they applyed it to signifie purgatory as they do in thys mater when they can bring no probable reason that Christes bodye ought to be offerd in the Masse And whē they find any mencion of bloude and other sacrifices they wraste thē to Christes bodie takynge witnesse of the olde doctours when thei no better vnderstande them then they doo the byble Nowe we wyll briefely make answer to theyr allegations and declare the true maintenaūce of such places as they alledge to make for theyr purpose And firste we wyl declare the saiyng of Malachias whereby it maie be perceiued what the other places signifie He rebuked the I wishe priestes who gaue them selues all together to couetuousnes when they shoulde haue occupied them selues to offer a pure people to the Lorde and to fassion there maners after gods commaundementes as the Chapiter folowinge doeth testifye They oughte to haue taught the people godlines and all kyndes of vertue but they fed the people with foleshe and vayne tradicons of men offered to the Lord an vngodly people folishe herted Here is named the filthye breade the blind lame and broken sacrifice They maye perceiue that the vncleane bread can not signifie the pure bodie of Christ that breade and sacrifice therfore doeth signifie the people as saynt Paule sayeth we are one breade and one bodye and that he doeth seruice to God in preachinge the Gospell to make the Gentiles an acceptable sacrifice to God Whē the priestes therefore made an vngodlye and sinfull people by there doctrine and euill example God rebuked them and thretneth that he woulde ordeyne other priestes in theyr stead that shoulde offer a pure Sacrifice not only amonge the Iewes but also a monges the gentiles that is to saye they should enstructe the people wyth true godlines and wyth true honoure and worship of god He therfore dyd prophesy of the priestes whiche shoulde come to offer sacrifice of iustice that is to say the holye apostles and all other faythful ministers of gods word And therfore the people of God whiche is Christes spiritual bodie is brough and offered by their doctrine to God as S. Paule sayeth I haue spoused the Corinthi to Christe meaning no other thinge by these words but that by his preaching and miracles he hath brought and offered in sacrifice to god the Gentiles whiche were before carnal and fleshly mynded And therfore Ro. xii be exorteth the Romains thorowe the mercie of God to gyue theyr bodies to be aliuely facrifice Iohn iiii holly and acceptable to God The people of God is spirituallye the meate which Christe desired most and are the twelue loues of swete breade whiche beinge conuerted by the preachinge of the twelue apostles doeth continually appere before the face of God These are the true preistes And the they maye bringe to effecte there enterprice it is mete that they be holly that is ▪ That they absteine frome all thynges that pluckethe them frō the true worshipping of god This breade is called somtyme vndefiled For christē mē ought to walke in the trueth wythout Hypocrisie and fayned lies and to be anoynted with oyle that is to saye wyth the grace of the hollye goste true charitie and mercie this is the true sence and meaninge of thys texte of scripture declared and proued by other plases of scripture But the papistes thoughe they alledge the doctors yet they can proue the meaning vnderstanding of this text by no place of al the scripture Beade in the scripture betokneth the word of God For Christ saith man doth not lyue onely by bread but euery word that procedeth from the mouth of god The priests ought sincerly to minister this breade to the people and in thys significacion the spirituall bread is not a sacrifice but the administracion of the word of the ministres of god This is the true manna angelles fode which was giuen to men frō heauē to be their sustenaūce By these thynges a man may easly perceiue what offeringe the Apostles and true priestes made Vndoubtly a faithful people whō they brought to god with holsome doctrine but they offered not the natural bodie of Christ after the opinion of these fleshly minded papistes for that were done to crucify christ againe Thei beleue Daniel his saying maketh muche for there purpose where he sayth that their daylie sacrifice called in 〈…〉 ▪ shoulde cease for aliene by this they vnderstand their Dayly sacrifice The Masse that nowe beginneth to cease this application is falsely deuised For the sacrifice that Daniel speake of was offered eueri day at two seueral Exod xxix times which was in the morning and euening that sacrifice with other I wyshe sacrifices ceassed when Christ the