wise it shuld not be so highly estemed If they continewe still in these errours against the plaine trueth they will The belefe of a true christian Ro. iiii deny Christ For he that knoweth Christe is certainely assured that he is god and man the sauiour of the worlde that in hym as in the true sede of Dauid al nacions are blessed and that no maÌ„ can come to the father but by him For the father Gâ— iii. Iohn vi doth so loue him that for hys sake his angre toward vs is pacified for he is our rightuousnes holines Lor. i. and redempcion that nomaÌ„ is saued but bi his name only that he alone fulfilled the worke of our Act. iiii redempcion with out any helper And finally the he did sufficieÌ„tly satisfie Esa c. h for our sinnes on the crosse if we beliue truely on him This is yâ— Heb. x. ground of our christen faith wher on christes church is builded And Math. i he that denieth Christe to be hys perfecte and sufficient redemer by once sufferinge death on the crosse maketh him an vnsufficient priest and vnable redemer And therfore they deny Christ in that they deni his ful power and vertue in our redemptioÌ„ These Maskinge Masse priestes in their often offeringe of Christe denye that we are Iustified by fayth only ascribinge part of oure iustificacion to good workes coÌ„trarie to yâ— playne scriptures of Eph. 〈◊〉 God for we are saued by grace and not of workes And they magnifie and extolle the Masse aboue all other good workes makeinge them seÌ„lues fellowe priestes wyth Christ wherin they shew of what â—eneracion they be euen as they sprynge of Lucifer the father of pride nowe let vs expende and coÌ„sider whether Christe commaunded his disciples to make an offeringe of the sacrament of his holy supper or whether he offered hym selfe therein or no. Vndoubtedly Christes wordes diligently obserued and noted we maye perceyue easlye the Christ offred no sacrifice therein To take and breake bread doth not signifye to offre To geue thankes is not to do sacrifice for elles he hadde done sacrifice in fedynge fyue thousand with the fewe barlye loues to gyue his disciples to eate And to say do this in remeÌ„braunce of me in shewynge fuxth the Lordes death vntyll he come is not an offering To belyue that Christ was giuen vs that he gaue his bodie to death for vs that he shed his bloud not at yâ— supper but on the crosse to redeme vs froÌ„ syn is not an offering Finally to proue the testameÌ„t the beleue on that which was coÌ„maunded in the testament doth not signifie to offre How wyl you nowe proue your offerynge in the Masse We come to the Lordes table we take and eate trusteinge in Christes promesses howe do we theÌ„ gyue to him againe If a king shoulde gyue a ringe to a pore maÌ„ for a gage not that he shoulde be heire of hys landes and goods but that it should helpe hym and that he thereby shoulde remember his liberalitye mercye and yâ— people myght coÌ„mende and prayse hym for that facte the pore man receyueth it to giue it agayne to yâ— king thynkinge to do hym a great pleasure to make hym riche wyth hys own gift wer not this a madmaÌ„ So may alsuch be Iudged as offere to Christ agayne that whych he gaue vs for our owne vse and profite and that thereby we shoulde kepe in remembrauÌ„ce his loue and mercye towarde vs. Christ did not lifte vp the sacrameÌ„t ouer his head as these proude papistes do They obiecte and saye that God caÌ„ giue some thynges and receyue them agayne as the sacrifices of tholde lawe Thoughe they were the giftes Esal x of God Yet they were gyuen to hym agayne and thoughe a coÌ„trite herte is the gyfte of god yet it is a sacrifice to God If we were coÌ„maunded to offer sacrifice as they were then theire obiection shoulde be of some streÌ„gth and efficacie But wee haue no suche commaundemente neyther the scriptures make mencion of these popishe sacrifices For Christ is of greater power and reputacioÌ„ then that these proude popish prelates other can or oughte to offer hym to hys father Christe sitteth on the fathers ryght hande and once satisfied for the synnes of the Atc. vil true Christen church with a most sufficient and perfecte sacrifice Dare we then moste miserable wretches enterprise to do thys thynge agayne He that doth offre vp sacrifice is better theÌ„ the sacrifice They therefore are better theÌ„ Christe their sacrifice he offred vs a sacrifice to God and do we goo about to offer hyme He that offerreth vp sacrifice ought to be as pure as the sacrifice Oh howe pure they make Christ nowe He as a testament maker gaue his disciples the sacrameÌ„t in his supper none other wise theÌ„ as a writteÌ„ testameÌ„t wherin by fayth in Christ we receiue Christes bodie bloude the vertue and frutes of the same If wee gyue hym hys testamente agayne as if he required it of vs should not we haue the testament maker in a contempt And should Aba â— not the promise in the testamente be of effecte Who ahboreth not thys kynde of blasphemie wheÌ„ we consider the hyghnes of Christes priesthod and what this worde sacrifice contayneth in it we maye easlye perceyue what Iniury we do to thynke that we offer Christes bodye as the papistes do S. Paule declareth vnto vs yâ— pristhod of christ saiing it is mete the we â— vâ—â—â— haue suche a godly and vndefiled byshop made higher then heaues whych nedeth not to offre dayly First for hys owne sinnes and theÌ„ for the synnes of the people as the byshop of the olde lawe for Christ dyd thys once in offeringe vp hys owne bodye and in an other place he sayth Christe beinge the hyghe priest of the good thinges to come came by a greater and more perfecte Tabernacle whiche was not made wyth handes that is to saye was not of thys kynde of bulding Neither came he by yâ— bloud of gotes and calues but by hys owne bloude he entred once into thys holly place and founde eternall edempcion for we are made hollie bi godes fre mercie through the offering of christes bodie done once for all For Christe verely beinge one sacrifice offred vp for our sinnes sitteth on his fathers right hand lokeing for the thing that remayneh vntil his enemise bemade his fotestole for wyth one offring he made perfecte those that are saÌ„tified Saynt Paule teacheth vs by Melchisedech That Christ is king of peace rightuousnes By these places of scripture it is Manifest that Christ ought to be offred no more For Christes death is so perfect a sacrifice the by the one offering we are made cleane from sinne for euer And touchinge his bodie he is nomore in thys worlde There is to be noted that Saynt Paule sayeth that Christe is once offered The papistes saye often He saieth all
commaundementes frelye preachede and wythout daunger of ponishement as you may euidently perceyue by Iosue Ios â— and the people of God committed to hys gouernaunce And strayngers are moued wyth nothynge so much as wheÌ„ theâ—se the truth the glorie of god and an honeste order of lyuinge magnified had in reuerence for God doeth kepe the citie that seketh his glorie Fyrste of all we proteste that in our puklyke sermones and in thys writynge we nothere speake nor write against the most holye ordinauÌ„ce of Christ or the Apostles in the administracioÌ„ of the Lordes supper but we both speake write against the abuses the be crept into the church are obstinatli defeÌ„ded bi coÌ„tinuauÌ„ce of time wtout the hollie scriptures to the great hinderauÌ„ce of the fruites of christes passion craftle deceiueinge of the vnlerned people coÌ„trarie to Christes ordinaÌ„ce administracioÌ„ of the apostles the coÌ„mon rumor is through the mali clouse enuie faulse forgid lies of some popish preachers of some other the are euen against vs which know yâ— truth the we goo about to let abolishe and bringe to nought all good workes they fayne this on ther owne heade as they do al other thynges for nethynge can be more greauouse to vs then to here that men do not lyue after the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of God And we know through the grace of God What ceremonies what part of the cerimonies is profitable mete for christen meÌ„ our purpose maintained with a good conscieÌ„ce is to vse well sincerly wtout any fauâ—sly deuised traditiâ—s so muche of this sacrament of oure Lordes sit per as was most perfectly begon and ordiened of Christ our master and there can no man proue that our intent was other wise at any time and thys by the assistaunce of gods grace we wil affirme by the onely scriptures of God Now we wil in godes name declar shewe furth our reasones for this questi on proponed Vndoubtely al such as do not regard care for the only glory of god teach nothing that is godly true or in aniwise profitable Math. iâ— For god saith by Malachi the prophet And now Oh ye priestes this coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t toucheth you if you wil not heare it nor regard it my name sayeth the Lorde of hostes â— wyil sende accuisse vppon you and wil Curssâ— your blessing yea â—ursse them wil I if ye do not take hede It is therfore manifest that God beynge griuousely displeased cursseth theÌ„ that regarde not his name and glorie for God is gellouse and a consuming fâ—er He wil haue hys name magnified â—eut v. and prayâ—sid the Iues and gentiles dyd fall into lewde myndes Rom i. and corrupte Iudgementes because they knewe God and dyd not glorifi him as God The lord â—sa i. 42 hym selfe sayeth I wyll gâ—ue my glorye to none other Finallye â—ath 12. he that seketh not goddes glorye doeth nother desire to encrease it nor doeth speake lyue nor is of God out is abomination before God For whosoeuer is not wyth 1. Cor. â— Christ as who sayth the God may be glorified he is aâ—ominacioÌ„ before God and is hys enemye when the â—aâ— â—3 naturall man perceyueth not the thynges that pertayne to the Ro. â—â— spirite of God And hys thought is â—s fare in sunder from the wyl of God as yâ— earth from heaueÌ„ for in dede man touchinge hys owne knowledge doeth knowe nothing lesse theÌ„ yâ— wyl of God Who therfore Luc. xvi can tell what is the wyll of God and hys true glorye Christe sayeth that whiche is highly estimede amonge men is abominacion before God for men are euer prone and readye to fall and forsake the truth to foloâ—e cleaue to there owne profite and inuencions whereof Idolatrie othere abominacions come vp and haue Proue â—â—â— there begynynge wherefore the wise man sayth truste in the lord Deut. xiâ— wyth all thyne herte and not in thyne owne wisdome And Moyses sayth you shall not do after al thinges that we do here this day eueri maÌ„ what semeth hyâ—n good in his owne eies it is therefore folishely spoken to saye what thing soeuer that a man doeth for gods sake is a good worke and worthey to be rewarded for then eueri maÌ„ myght haue knoledge sufficientli without any teaching or doctrine of the worde of God But howe shoulde a man be then of an vndoubting coÌ„science or wyth what hope myght a man lyue to please God Wher the knoledge of the wyl of God wantethe there moste also hope and fayeth want â–ª namely in trouble and afflictioÌ„ what so euer truely is not of fayeth is sinne where Syne is there is abominaon before God Therfore god hath declared hys wyll and mynd by thapostles And Christe hym selfe that our knowledge may be sure and our oppinion vndoubtfull howe god ought to be truely worshiped Moreouer he hath gyuen vs astrayght coÌ„mauÌ„de meÌ„t to kepe his law that we shal tourne nother to the right nor yet to the Deut. xvii lâ—ste hande that we shall nother adde nor take awaye any thynge from it he that wyll not herken to the prophet that I wil raise vp sayeth the Lorde I wyl require it of hym after the lawe was gyuen and the trueth was knowen God would be worshipped as his word teacheth and the offence was theÌ„ much more greuouse Albeit king Saull dyd kyll and offer fat Oxen i. R. xv to the true liuing God whiche was a good worke in apparauÌ„ce yet because the scripture of God dyd not teache hym so to do God therfore was griuoslye displeased wyth hym For althoughe he offered his sacrifice to God yet that accoÌ„pted he to him for Idolatrie ii Re. â—â— Oza died sodenly because he tuched the arke againste the Lordes commaundement yet hâ—â— hought it had ben agood dede Dyd not the earth swallowe vp Corah and his adhereÌ„tes because thei would â—ume xvi take vppon them the office of the priests The Israhelites did think it a godlye and goodlye thynge to â—eut xvi haue pleasant groues night vnto the aulter of God but hym dyd it not please Thei though it agoodly â—acte at Tophet in Ierusalem â—ome vii to kyl and offer ther owne sounes but the more they did so yâ— greater was ther abominacion before god For god sayth he neuer coÌ„mauÌ„ded them nether came it euer into his Iose â— thought God commaunded Iosue to be stronge and bolde that he myght obserue and do accordinge to al the lawe which Moyses commaundyd hym and that he should turne ther â—rom nither to the ryght nor to the lefte haÌ„d yâ— he myght do wisely in al thynges Esa xxx he toke in hande god by hys prophet Esaias saith alas for the disobedient children that wyll take counsayle wythout me and wyll take asecerete aduise and not out of my spirite therefore adde they Math. â— sinne vnto sinne and Christ saith in vaine
thinges are coÌ„summate made perfecte by one sacrifice The papistes wil haue moneie masses Note also that Christe offered hym selfe and so dyd not the churche byshoâ—es nor priestes and thys worde coÌ„summate or made perfecte doeth blanke them that they haue nothing to answere for the holy gost confuteth theyr sophistrie and cauilacions wyth so manifeste and playne argumentes as can not be denied Note also thys worde euerlastinge Christe is an euerlastynge prieste for he made satisfaction for all the synne of the whole worlde and this sacrifice hath a continuall efficacitie and vertue in all theÌ„ that beleue in it and shew it forth wyth thaÌ„kes giuinge for the same It is truely agreat vnthaÌ„kfulnes to say it is necessarie to offer christ againe an other waye for yâ— sinnes of the worlde They seke manye euations to defende their often offring One is thys they say Christ of freth hym selfe Sacramentally thei are but ministres But thei declare not this worde sacrament what thyng it is leste they should vtter the truth The sacrament is no nother thynge then a token for vs to remembre that Christ being an only sacrifice toke awaye oure synnes once on the crosse If they woulde declare it after thys sorte we shoulde sone agre But when no man doeth resiste them herein they maye doo wyth there Masse what so euer pleaseth them They rule fortune at theyr owne pleasure Victorie in battaile is optained bi their Masse satisfaction for sinne what thinge is it that the Masse cannot do And they make theyr bostes that they deserue by this holi worke what thing so euer is needful But wheÌ„ they are put to there answer theÌ„ thei fly to this euacioÌ„ afore reherssed Christe offeâ—eâ—h hym selfe therin we are notâ—ynge elles but ministers theyr cannon which they magnifie and eâ—toll aboue the gospell doeth manifestlie opeÌ„ and detecte theire vn godlines and blasphemi for before they come to the consecracion thei saye I offre presente and gyue to God an holye and vndefiled sacrifice for the peace of the whole congregacion of holly churche when as it is nothynge but breade and wyne And it is named the sacrament And albeit they beliue that it is not then oure Lordes bodye yet they offer it fore all the world This must nedes be plaine Idolatrie to gyue to breade and wyne the honour and glorie of Christe who gaue hymselfe for the church to reconsile and make hys father atone wyth vs. Howe can Christe offre himselfe in the sacrament before he is ther I thinke men maye nowe easlye perceyue howe muche their lies and answere differ froÌ„e their dedes and masses What an heinouse offence is thys to offre a peice of breade a litle wine for the onely Sacrifice of Christe the highe prieste And shal yâ— bread and wyne be of lyke efficacitye and power to redeme synne with yâ— bloud of Iesus Christe But they are muche more blasphemouse after yâ— consecracion sayng that the bread and wyne are tourned into the naturall bodye and bloude of Christ for they saye we offre to thy holly maiestye an holly offeringe holy breade of lyfe euerlasting and cup of euerlastynge health whiche we praye the vochsafe to regarde and loke vpon wyth thy moste merciful eies and cherful countenauÌ„ce and let them be as acceptable to the as yâ— reward of rightuouse Able sacrifice of our father AbrahaÌ„ Make theÌ„ an hollye cleane sacrifice that thei may be brought to thin altar by yâ— handes of yâ— angel These are the wordes of the caÌ„non If they speake of Christe as they coÌ„moÌ„ly vnderstaÌ„d it how caÌ„ their Imaginacion take place where they saye that Christe offred hymselfe in the sacramente For they praie for Christe and desire of god that he maye be in suche fauoure wyth God as Abel and Abraham and that the Angell maye brynge hym to the aultar of god For they caÌ„ not take bread of eternal life to signifie the people although christ were in the breade bodelye yet he shoulde not be offered to God for that were great derogacioÌ„ to the honour of hys priesthod Great in conuenience doeth folowe to saye that the Masse is a sacrifice for sinnes For saynt Paule sayeth forgiuenes of synnes is not without sheddinge of bloude Howe is Christ then offered in the Masse when there is no offeringe wythout bloude for if there be any sacrifice that suffereth not and is without bloude Saynt Paules ArgumeÌ„tes are folishe and of no strength or vertue saying Christ offreth hymselfe no more or elles he muste necessarily dye once agayne and must haue died often tymes sens the begininge of the worlde But vndoubtly S Paul doeth knowe the true sence and meaneinge of holly scripture better theÌ„ any of al the papistes For a sacrifice for sinne is neuer offred without bloud This saying therfore that some thing was offered in the olde lawe as breade wythout bloude maketh nothinge for there purpose For when the bodyes of lyuinge creatures are slayne and sacrifice is offered for sinnes bloude must be shed Thei cannot therefore proue by scripture that Christes bloude is offered in the Masse otherwyse then in remembraunce and thankes giuing And thys is done both of the ministers and receiuours For as prayer so thankes giuing also belongeth to al men He that geueth thankes sayeth not I offer any thing more than a thanfull herte and prayse to God If the people were taught thys doctrine They woulde not bestowe somuch monie on masses and vpoÌ„ the fouÌ„dacions of chauntries and fraternities as they haue done throughe persuacion that remission of synnes is obtayned in the Masse not by grace promised to them that beleue but by offering of Christe the sonne of God and by prayeinge for hym Phie I am ashamed to rehersse thys abominable balasphemie of theirs in maters of God The papistes in as muche as in them lyeth kill and crucifie Christe agayne in there sacrifice of the Masse doinge no other wyse then if Christe as yet were not ascended into heauen to hys father he that doeth thys maketh Christe subiecte to death and crucifieth hym agayne For Christe entred not nor entreth in to the hollye place of heauen but by his bloud Let vs labour that Christ maye dwell in oure hertes They obeicte yâ— if it be derogacion to Christes honour and dignitie and that the merite of hys passion be not perfecte because we offer Christe agayne fayeth Baptisme and kepinge of godes commaundementes maye diminishe the dignitie of Christe and full merites of his passion and therefore it should not nede to do any good workes This is a folish and an vnmete comparisioÌ„ The offeringe verely of Christe agayne is contrary to fayeth and good workes For they glorifye yâ— merittes of Christes passion when the offeringe of him agayne is greate derogacion to the same They do as a man that lyghteth a candle in a bright sunnye Daye saynge all thoughe the sunne giueth a light cleare inoughe it of selfe yet it is
necessarye and profitable that more lyght be put thereto But a man maye answere sayeing why do you mocke your selfe You haue the bryghte daye in derision as if the sunne were not sufficiente wyth out your lyght So although yâ— merites of Christes passion are sufficient to forgyue synne as the soÌ„ne is to make a light daye yet the popishe massmoÌ„gers wyll offer him vp againe The sacrifice of the Masse for remission of synnes thoughe there be none such is like a candel lighted in a bright sunny daye and so slander the true sacrifice to be vnperfect But as we se by yâ— brightnes of the daye so by yâ— knowledge of Christes merites we perceyue the goodnes of God towardes vs and fayeth is profitable to vs as a gifte of God and throughe faith we do good workes wyilinglie as obediente childerne but no other good workes then suche as are coÌ„maunded by God We haue nowe declared the sacrifice of the Masse to be agaynst godes commaundement the wordes of God and hys glorie And nowe we wyl proue these argumentes and assertions to be dreames of scriptur preposterously vnderstaÌ„ded playne lyes which not onely cannot proue and affirme the Masse to be a sacrifice but also whollye make againste it It is therfore euidently perceyued that thys popishe Masse is an horrible abominacion before God That they ought to dispute proue and affirme by Christes ordinaunces wyth sure demonstracions and plaine textes of scripture that the Masse is a sacrifice But there is not one worde or example that maketh for them as I haue before declared They woulde wrast and turne thys sayinge Do thys in my remembraunce to mayntayne there lyes as who say God would these wordes shoulde signifie to offre or do sacrifice When they muste be this vnderstanded what so euer you haue seene hearde or done do it in remembraunce of me but they cannot fynde in all the supper That Christe dyd offre vp sacrifice They obiecte that euerie byshop chosen of men and appointed for men â–ª touchinge these thinges that belonge to god doeth offer gyftes and sacrifices firste for hymselfe and then for the people Thys assercion is of no vertue or strength for here Saynte Paule speaketh of the priestes of the olde lawe whiche were a figure onely of Christ as ye may easly perceiue by these wordes folowing the same texte saying No man muste take vppon hym the dignitye of priesthode cxcepte he be called of God as Aaron and thei which were of the lymage of Aaron But what is be come of these priestes Al thei wer deposed and abolished by Christes death and Christe become a priest in their sted not of the order of Aaron but of Melchisedeche a man therefore maye knowe that thys place of Paule maketh nothynge for their Maskinge sacrifice And if they wyll haue it to a gree both to the priestes of the olde lawe and newe Testamente they most proue whether they be priestes or no. As the name of prieste maketh not a prieste but his dedes like as a begger named prince heringe princes to be rulers of people and countreis If he cleime a people and countrie which he maye rule and gouerne shal he therfore haue a people and countrie to rule So the popishe priestes that are priestes in name onlye hearinge that the priestes of the olde lawe did offer sacrifice for synnes after godes coÌ„maundemeÌ„te if they cleime the same authorite shal thei therefore haue it But thys is a harde sayinge to saye there are no priestes nowe in the newe law Let no man be offeÌ„ded ther wyth for vndoubtedlye there be no priestes nowe appointed of God to offer for synnes but euerie christiaÌ„ man is ordeined of Christe to be a prieste to praye to gyue thankes and prayse to god and to ofâ—re vp them selues in sacrifice Saynte Peter sayeth you are a choseÌ„ generacion a royall priesthode and a holly people meaninge therbye al christen people as by al christian men The holy gost teacheth the priestes of the newe testamente that is to saye al christen people are of muche more honoure and dignitye then weare the priestes of the olde lawe but none of these priestes can offre for synnes Yet they obiecte how can the churche continewe if we shall haue no priestes to teach correcte rebuke and exhort the people We answere that God wyll euer raise vp some in the congregacion to do these thinges And Christ hath ordeined in aâ— congregacions a shepherde and preachers but no massmongers whiche haue brought in to the churche manye errous by theyr vaine ceremonies and maskynge Also where Saynt Paule sayeth if we synne wyllinglye after we knowe the trueth there is no sacrifice left to purchese vs remission of sinnes these papistes gather of this saing that ther is no sacrifice to helpe them that synne wylfullye but that there is a sacrifice yet remayninge for the fayethful which is their masse They â—auâ—sely vnderstande the texte For S. Paule sayeth a litle before yâ— there is nomore sacrifice remayning for them whose synnes are forgyuen al readye and therefore one place expoundeth another and plainly declareth yâ— there is lefte no more sacrifice for them that sinne of set purpose or for the that haue obtayned remission of sinnes alredie for Christ offered himselfe for yâ— syn of those yâ— beleue in him wil not offer him selfe againe for theÌ„ yâ— beleue not but wilfully remayne in their sinnes They obiecte yâ— we haue an aultar whereof it is not leaful for theÌ„ to eate which minister in yâ— tabrenacle meaninge by thys aulter a heape of stones ioyned together whiche they call an aulter but Christe hym selfe is oure aulter wher on we laye oure prayers whiche are oure spirituall sacrifices for no prayers are accepted of God the father but by Christ For he sayth if you aske my father any thynge in my name he wyll gyue it you And saynt Paulle expoundeth his owne sainge Let vs offer sayth he at al times by him a sacrifice of prayse whiche is the frutes of our lippes confessing his name We lye therfore when we call the masse our Lords aulter for Christ is our onely aulter and S Paule in all his Epistle to the Hebrues doth knoweledge none other sacrifice for sinnes but Christ once offred on yâ— crosse The papistes haue no place of the newe testament to make wyth theÌ„ and therefore they seke helpe of the olde testamente And firste of the boke of Genesis they saye Melchisedech Was the Genes â— fygure of Christe for he was the prieste of the hygheste And as Dauid sayeth Christe is an eternall prieste after the order of Melchisedech And therefore he offered breade and wyne vndoubtedly Melchsedech was yâ— 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