intolerable pride be claimed of any man other then of Christ himself how much and plainly it repugneth unto the manifest words the true sense and meaning of holy Scripture in many places and especially in the Epistle to the Hebrews the matter is too long and others have written in it at large that my mind is now not to entreat thereof any further Yet there remaineth one vain Quiddity of Dunse in this matter the which because some that write now do like it so well that they have stripped it out of Dunse's dusty and dark Terms and prickt and painted it in fresh colours of eloquent stile and therefore may deceive more except the error be warily eschewed Dunse saith in these words of Christ This is my Body that this Pronoun Demonstrative meaning the word this if you will know what it doth show or demonstrate whether the Bread that Christ took or no he answereth no but only one thing in substance it pointeth whereof the nature or name it doth not tell but leaveth that to be determined and told by That that followeth the word is that is by the Praedicatum as the Logicians doth speak and therefore he calleth this pronoun demonstrative Individuumvagum that is a wandring proper name whereby we may point out and shew any one thing in substance whatsoever it be That this Imagination is untruly apply'd unto those words of Christ this is my Body and the vanity thereof may appear plainly by the words of Luke and Paul said upon the Cup in Matthew and Mark. For as upon the Bread it is said of all this is my Body so of Matthew and Mark it is said of the Cup this is my Blood Then if in the words this is my Body the word This be as Dunse calls it a wandring name to appoint and shew forth any one thing where of the name or nature it doth not tell so must it be likewise in those words of Matthew and Mark upon the Lords Cup this is my Blood But in the words of Matthew and Mark it signifieth and pointeth out the same that it doth in the Lords words upon the Cup in Luke and Paul when it is said This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood Therefore in Matthew and Mark the pronoun Demonstrative This doth not wander to point one thing in substance not shewing what it is but telleth it plainly what it is no less in Matthew and Mark unto the Eye then is done in Luke and Paul by putting to this word Cup both unto the Eye and to the Ear. For taking the Cup and demonstrating or showing it unto his Disciples by this pronoun Demonstrative This and saying unto them Drink ye all of this it was then all one to say This is my Blood as to say This Cup is my Blood meaning by the Cup as the nature of the speech doth require the thing contained in the Cup. So likewise without all doubt when Christ had taken bread given thanks and broken it and giving it to his Disciples said Take Eat and so demonstrating and shewing that Bread which he had in his Hands to say then This is my Body and to have said This Bread is my Body is all one thing as it were all one if a man lacking a knife and going to his Oysters would say unto another whom he saw to have two Knives Sir I pray you lend me the one of your Knives were it not now all one to answer him Sir hold I will lend you this to eat your meat but not to open Oysters withall and Hold I will lend you this Knife to eat your meat but not to open Oysters This Similitude serveth but for this purpose to declare the nature of speech withall whereas the thing that is demonstrated and shewed is evidently perceived and openly known unto the Eye But O Good Lord what wonderfull thing it is to see how some men do labour to teach what is demonstrated and shewed by the pronoun Demonstrative This in Christs words when he saith This is my Body This is my Blood And here the Transubstantiators do not agree among themselves no more than they do about the words which work the Transubstantiation some attributing the work unto the word Benedixit and the most part to Hoc est corpus meum Innocentius therefore Duns and that Sect which putteth the change in the word Benedixit say that this word This was then indeed Christs Body tho' the word did not import so much but only one thing in substance which after Duns now the Bread being gon must needs be the substance of Christs Body The other which do say that this change is made when the whole Sentence This is my Body is fully finished and not before cannot but say that Christs This did demonstrate and shew Bread indeed which so remain'd till the Sentence was fully pronounced But how can they make and verifie Christs words to be true demonstrating the substance of Bread and saying thereof This is my Body that is as they say the Natural substance of Christs Body except they will say that the Verb is fignifieth is made or is changed into and then in Christs words upon the Cup rehersed by Luke and Paul the Cup or the Wine in the Cup must be made or turned into the New Testament as was declared before There be some amongst the Transubstantiators which would be Mediators yea rather Newtrals or Ambidexters which can shift on both sides for where the one saith that this word This demonstrateth the substance of Bread the other saith No not so the Bread is gone and it demonstrateth a substance which is Christs Body Tush saith this third Man Ye understand nothing at all They agree well enough in the chief point which is the ground of all that is this Both do agree and bear witness that there is Transubstantiation They do agree indeed in that Conclusion but their proof and Doctrine thereof do even as well agree together as did the false Witnesses before Annas and Caiaphas against Christ or the wicked Judges to condemn Susanna for they did all agree to speak against Christ and the wicked Judges to condemn poor Susanna but in the Examination of their Witnesses they were found false and clean contrary one to the other Thus much have I spoken in searching out a solution to this principal Question which was What was the Material Substance of the Holy Sacrament in the Lords Supper Now lest I should seem to set by my own Conceit more than is meet I have thought good to establish this mine Answer and Opinion by the Authority and Doctrine of the old Ecclesiastical Doctors such I mean as were before the wicked Usurpations of the See of Rome grown so immeasurably great that not only with Tyrannical Power but also with Corrupt Doctrine it began to subvert Christs Gospel and to turn the state of the Church set by Christ and his Apostles clean upside down And I will reherse
or fellowship of the Lords Body whereupon it followeth that after the Thanksgiving it is Bread which we break And how often in the Acts of the Apostles is the Lords Supper signified by breaking of Bread They did per severe in breaking of Bread And again They brake Bread in every house And again When they were come together to break Bread St. Paul who setteth forth most fully in his writing both the doctrine and the right use of the Lord's Supper and the Sacramental eating and drinking of Christs Body Blood call'd it 5 times Bread Bread c. The second Reason The Sacramental Bread is the mystical body and so is called in Scripture 1. Cor. 10. as it is called the natural Body of Christ. But Christs mystical Body is the Congregations of the Christians Now no man was ever so fond as to say that That Sacramental Bread is Transubstantiated and changed into the substance of the Congregation Wherefore no man should likewise think or say that the Bread is Transubstantiated and changed into the natural substance of Christs human nature But my mind is not here to write what may be gathered out of Scriptures for this purpose but only to note here briefly those which seem unto me to be the most plain places Therefore contented to have spoken thus much of the Sacramental Bread now I will speak a little of the Lords Cup. And this shall be my third argument grounded upon Christ's own words The natural substance of the Sacramental Wine remaineth still and is the material substance of the Sacrament of the Blood of Christ. Therefore it is likewise so in the Sacramental Bread I know that he that is of the contrary opinion will deny the former part of my argument But I will prove it thus by the plain words of Christ himself both in Matth and in Mark Christ's words be these after the words said upon the Cup I say unto you saith Christ I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the Vine-tree untill I shall drink that anew in my Fathers Kingdom Here note how Christ calleth plainly his Cup the Fruit of the Vine-tree but the fruit of the Vine-tree is very natural Wine wherefore the very natural substance of the Wine doth remain still in the Sacrament of Christ's Blood And here in speaking of the Lord's Cup it cometh to my remembrance the vanity of Innocentius phantastical Invention which by Pauls words I did confute before and here did promise somewhat more to speak and that is thus If the Transubstantiation be made by this word Blessed in Mark said upon the Bread then surely seeing that word is not said of Christ neither of any of the Evangelists nor of Paul upon the Cup then there is no Transubstantiation of the Wine at all For where the cause doth fail there cannot follow the Effect But the Sacramental Bread and the Sacramental Wine do both remain in their natural Substance alike and if the one be not changed as of the Sacramental Wine it appeareth evidently then is there no such Transubstantiation in either of them both All that put and affirm this change of the substance of Bread and Wine into the substance of Christ's Body and Blood called Transubstantiation do also say and affirm this change to be made by a certain form of prescript words and none others but what they be which make the change either of the one or of the other undoubtedly even they which write most sincerely in these our days almost confess plainly that they cannot tell For altho' they grant to certain old Authors as Chrysostom and Ambrose that these words This is my Body are the words of Consecration of the Sacrament of the Body yet say they these words may well be so called because they do assure us of the consecration thereof whether it be done before these words be spoken or no. But as for this their doubt concerning the Sacrament of the Body I let it pass Let us now consider the words which pertain unto the Cup. This is first evident that as Matthew much agreeth with Mark and Luke with Paul in form of words concerning the Sacrament of the Body so in this Sacrament of the Cup the form of words in Matthew and Mark is divers from that which is in Luke and Paul The old Authors do most rehearse the form of words in Matthew and Mark because I ween they seemed to them more clear But here I would know whether it is not credible or no that Luke and Paul when they celebrated the Lords Supper with their Congregations that they did not use the same form of words at the Lord's Table which they wrote Of Luke because he was a Physitian whether some will grant that he might be a Priest or no and was able to receive the order of Priesthood which they say is given by vertue of these words said by the Bishop Take thou Authority to Sacrifice for the Quick and Dead I cannot tell but if they should be so straight upon Luke either for his craft or else for lack of such power given unto him by vertue of the aforesaid words then I ween both Peter and Paul are in danger to be deposed of their Priesthood for the craft either of Fishing which was Peter's or of making Tents which was Paul's were more vile than the science of Physick and as for these Sacramental words of the order of Priesthood to have authority to Sacrifice both for the quick and the dead I ween Peter and Paul if they were both alive were not able to prove that ever Christ gave them such Authority or ever said any such words unto them But I will let Luke go and because Paul speaketh more for him himself I will reherse his words That which I received of the Lord I gave unto you for the Lord Jesus c. and so he fetteth forth the whole institution and right use of the Lords Supper now seeing Paul here saith that he received of the Lord that which he gave them and that which he had receiv'd given them before by word of mouth now he reherseth and writeth the same in his Epistle it is credible that Paul would never have used this form of words upon the Lords Cup except as he saith he had received them of the Lord and that he had given them before and now reherseth the same in his Epistle I trust no man is so far from reason but he will grant me that Paul did use the form of words which he writeth let us then consider Pauls words which he saith Christ spake upon the Cup This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood this do as often as you shall drink it in remembrance of me Here I would know whether that Christ's words spoken upon the Cup were not as mighty in work and as effectual in signification as they that were spoken upon the Bread If this be granted which I think no man can deny then further I
is at hand I trust then these Mass-sayers and Seers shall shalke and cry to the Hills Hide us from the fierce wrath of the Lamb if they repent not in time Then will neither Gold nor Good Friendship nor Fellowship Lordship nor Authority Power nor Pleasure Unity nor Antiquity Custom nor Councel Doctors Decrees nor any Mans Devise serve The word which the Lord hath spoken that day shall judge the word I say of God that day shall judge And what saith it of Idolatry and Idolaters Saith it not Flee from it And farther That they shall be damned O terrible Sentence to all Mass-mongers and Worshippers of Things made with the Hands of Bakers Carpenters c. This Word of God knoweth no more Oblations or Sacrifices for Sin but one only which Christ himself offer'd never more to be re-offer'd but in Remembrance hereof his Supper to be eaten Sacramentally and Spiritually according to Christs Institution which is so perverted now that there is nothing remaining in it simply according to the Judge I mean the Word of God It were good for Men to agree with their Adversary the Word of God now while they be in the way with it lest if they linger it will deliver them to the Judge Christ who will commend these Men to the Jaylor and so they shall be cast into Prison and never come out thence till they have paid the uttermost farthing that is never My dearly beloved therefore mark the Word hearken to the Word It alloweth no Massing no such Sacrificing nor Worshipping of Christ with Tapers Candles Copes Cannabies c. It alloweth no Latin Service no Image in the Temples no Praying to Saints dead no Praying for the Dead It alloweth no such Dissimulations as a great many use now outwardly If any Man withdraw himself my Soul saith the Holy Ghost shall have no pleasure in him It alloweth not the Love of this World which maketh Men to do many times against their Consciences for in them that love the World the love of God abideth not It alloweth not Gatherers elsewhere than with Christ but saith they scatter abroad It alloweth no Lukewarm Gentlemen but if God be God then follow him if Baal and a piece of Bread be God then follow it It alloweth not Faith in the Heart that hath not Confession in the Mouth It alloweth no Disciples that will not deny themselves that will not take up their Cross and follow Christ. It alloweth not the seeking of our selves of our own Ease and Commodity It alloweth not the more part but the better part It alloweth not Unity except it be in Verity It alloweth not obedience to any which cannot be done with obedience to God It alloweth no Church which is not the Spouse of Christ and hearkeneth to his Voice only It alloweth no Doctor that speaketh against it It alloweth no General Council that followeth not it in all things It alloweth no Angel much less then Man that should teach any other thing than Moses the Prophets Christ Jesus and his Apostles have taught and left us to look upon in the written Word of God the Holy Books of the Bible but curseth all that teach not only contrary but also any other Doctrine It saith they are Fools unwise proud that will not consent to the sound Word and Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and it biddeth and commandeth us to flee from such Therefore obey his commandment company not with them specially in their Church-Service but flee from them For in what thing consent they to Christs Doctrine He biddeth us pray in a Tongue to edify they command contrary He biddeth us call upon his Father in his Name when we pray they bid us run to Mary Peter c. He biddeth us use his Supper in the Remembrance of his Death and Passion preachng it out till he come whereby he doth us to wit that Corporally he is not there in the form of Bread therefore saith Paul Till he come He willeth us to eat of that Bread calling it Bread after Consecration and drink of that Cup All making no exception so that we do it worthily that is as the Sacrament of his Body and Blood broken and shed for our Sins and not as the Body it self and Blood it self without Bread and Wine but as the Sacrament of his Body and Blood whereby he doth represent and unto our Faith give and obsign unto us himself wholly with all the Merits and Glory of his Body and Blood But they forbid utterly the use of the Supper to all but to their Shavelings except it be once in the year and then also the Cup they take from us They never preach forth the Lords Death but in Mocks and Modes They take away all the Sacrament by their Transubstantiation for they take away the Element and so the Sacrament To be short they most horribly abuse this holy Ordinance of the Lord by Adoration Reservation Oblation Ostentation to drive away Spirits to drive away Tempests c. in nothing they are contented with the simplicity of Gods Word They add to and take from at their pleasure and therefore the plagues of God will fall upon them at the length and upon all that will take their part They seek not Christ and his Glory for you see they have utterly cast away his Word and therefore as the Prophet saith There Jer. 8. is no wisdom in them They follow the Strumpet-Church and Bawdy Spouse of Antichrist which they call the Catholick Church whose Foundations and Pillars is the Devil and his Daughter the Mass with his Children the Pope and his Prelates Their Laws are Craft and Cruelty their Weapons are Lying and Murder their End and Study is their own Glory Fame Wealth Rest and Possessions For if a Man speak or do nothing against them tho he be a Sodomite an Adulterer an Usurer c. it forceth not he shall be quiet enough no Man shall trouble him but if a Man speak any thing to Gods Glory which cannot stand without the overthrow of Mans Glory then shall he be disquieted imprison'd and troubled except he will play Mume and put his Finger upon his Mouth although the same be a most quiet and godly Man So that easily a Man may see how that they be Antichrists Church and sworn Soldiers to the Pope and his Spouse and not to Christ and his Church for then would they not cast away Gods Word and be no more Adversaries to his Glory which chiefly consisteth in obedience to his Word Therefore my dear Brethren in the Lord seem not to allow this or any part of the pelf of this Romish Church and Synagogue of Satan Halt not on both Knees for halting will bring you out of the way but like valiant Champions of the Lord confess confess with your Mouth as occasion serveth and as vocation requireth the hope and Faith you have and feel in your hearts But you will say That so to do is perilous you