Substance Of his Benefits as well those which are conferred vpon vs by Imputation alone as by reall efficacy of his Substance because all the benefites and that quickning power which sustaineth our soules vnto life eternall cannot bee plucked asunder from the body and bloud of Christ to which it inhereth and so from Christ himselfe no more then the Effect can from his cause which containeth it or the quality from the Subject from which it issueth The Form of the Lords Supper which is inward and proper is the ioyning together of the Signes and the thing signified not naturall eyther by a substantiall touching and knittting together or by the vnion of the Accident and Subjects not locall by a neerenes or beeing in of one thing in the other but Relatiue and Sacramentall wholy consisting in this that the same beeing declared according to Gods ordinance by the Sacramentall word the Signes and the thing signified bee one certaine thing not in number not in speciall not in generall but by an Analogy and a reciprocall relation between themselues This conjoyning of the Relation doth chiefly consist in three thinges in the signification the sealing and presenting of the thing signified and sealed In Signification because of the Analogy or similitude of the properties and effects of the signe and the thing signified both in the very Substances and in the singular attributes of the Substance In the Substances because they haue â— great affinity betweene themselues for that as the bread and wine are the most fitte and chiefest Instrument of carnall nourishment so are also the body and bloud of Christ the onely â—nd alone food of the hungry soules wherevpon it is largely declared by S. â—ohn that the Flesh of Christ is meate â—ndeed and that the bloud of Christ is â—tinke indeed which whosoever shal â—ate and drinke hee should never â—unger nor thirst a Ioh. 6.31.32 and it is most vsuall in the Scriptures that the names â—f the Signes and of the thing signified â—re diversly changed by a kinde of Saâ—ramentall speaking b Exod. 12 11. 1. Cor. 5.7 In the singular Attributes of the â—ubstance because both the breaking â—f the bread and the powring of the â—ine into the cuppe doe mystically lay â—nd represent vnto vs before our eyes â—he truth power and efficacy of the â—illing of Christs body and the shedding of his bloud by which to wit he faithfull behold with the eyes of their mind Christ himselfe as it were beaten and broken vpon the Crosse with exceeding great torments and as though dropping clutters of bloud c 1. Cor. 11 14. Esa 53.3 In Sealing because the Bread Wine both are are to be calâ—d the seales or stampes of his body and bloud both for that they confirme the truth of the Similitude betweene the signe and the thing signified and also because they doe most certainely seale the efficacy of the vnion and conjunction of both together in the lawfull vse for we doe not simply and properly consider the Signe and the thing signified as they are things materiall and substantiall but as mysticall things d Entia rat onis and thinges that haue their being of the manner not naturall but of divine ordination seeing that Faith considering the Signes not in their owne nature but in the sacramentall word of Institution vseth them for the sealing of the partaking fruition of the thing signified In the Presenting or offering because that in very deed is offered which by the Signe is figured for the Sacramentall signes are exhibitiue for that by them Christ yeeldeth Ioh. 6.35 and exhibiteth himselfe the heavenly bread vnto our soules Wherefore in the Supper of the Lord things very different earthly and heavenly are proposed and delivered together in time though not together in place There is then no essentiall changing of the signes in this conjunction as if they should eyther by a dissolution bee resolved into their first matter or even into nothing or if by a simple or absolute change or according to substance they should bee converted into the substance of the true body and true bloud of Christ for the substance and nature of the signs being removed or taken away the affinity relation and Analogy of them to the thing signified should perish but it is wholy Sacramentall that is a change of the quality or condition of the vse and end of the Elements The end of the Lords Supper is two-folde Primary and Secondary The Primary is that wee in the lawfull vse of the Signes celebrating the memory of Christs death may bee confirmed both concerning our communion with him and our nourishmeÌ„t in him f Ioh. 6.57 1. Cor. 5.8 1. Cor. 10.17 vnto life eternall The Secondary that it might be a tokeÌ„ of our resurrection and testimony of our thankefulnesse a pledge of our mutuall loue lastly a publicke note or marke of difference and profession This resolution of the Definition by causes three additions or Corollaryes doe follow one of the Presence the other of the Communication the third of Adoration of the Lords body and bloud For the Presence of Christ in the Supper it is needefull that it bee distinguished and considered two waies First according to the verity thereof Then according to the maner of the verity thereof The Verity of Christs presence in the Supper in that the Supper of the Lord is coÌ„sidered not as an earthly actioÌ„ only but as a heavenly is that whereby in his Body and bloud hee is beleeved to be truely and really present in the Supper and that both in respect of the signes and in respect of the Communicants Of the Signes because the body and bloud of Christ are truly present together with the bread and wine the sacramentall signes not in respect of co-existence and place but in a Sacramentall manner in respect whereof this presence in the Schooles is commonly tearmed Relatiue Of the Communicants because Christ is in very deed present in the heartes of them that beleeue even altogether with the same and such a presence as the communion of his body is exhibited vnto them in the Supper g Mat. 18.20 and this presence is Reall yet neyther presence is corporall for by faith as Ambrose sayth Christ is touched not by body Of this Verity there are two grounds The Divine Promise and the Sacramentall Vnion The Promise for sith Christ in the instituting of his Supper hath promised the eating of his body and bloud and therefore also his Presence we must verily beleeue that Christ accomplisheth and performeth what hee hath promised h Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 1. Cor. 19.23 The Sacramentall Vnion for the Essentiall Forme of the Sacraments i that which maketh Consistence requireth that in the Supper the thing signifyed be no lesse certainely conferred then the very present signes are offered The manner of this Verity is not corporall naturall or Locall eyther by a conversion of the whole Substance
of the bread and Wine into the Lordes body and bloud or by k Impanationem a passing into the bread or by locall inclusion or lastly l â—nex stentâ—am IndistantiaÌ„ by a beeing in or closenesse but it is Sacramentall and Spirituall which Gods will and authority declared by the worde of Institution effecteth Sacramentall because according to the nature of Sacraments it consisteth in a disposition and relation by which Christ together with the signe exhibiteth the thing signified to the Communicants and sanctifyeth the breade and wine that they may be the signes of the thing signified being conjoyned together by a Sacramentall vnion Spirituall because the body and bloud of Christ being not simply and as they are in themselues things subsisting but Intellectually and vnderstandingly to be considered are proposed in these mysteries and are offered to the mind not to the body to Faith not to the senses being also with the mind and with faith alone to be taken and receyved Of this maner there are three grounds The Institution the Verity and Manner of Christs body and the Nature of the Sacraments The Institution for Christ instituted the Sacrament of our communion with his body and bloud whereof wee are spiritually partakers by Faith for after no other manner can it bee beleeved that the present body of Christ is exhibited in the Supper but as it is truely receyved as the spirituall meat of the soule vnto life The manner and verity of his body for seeing the body of Christ being coessentiall with ours is circumscriptiuely in Heaven wheresoever he will and cannot be in earth by a maner invisible incircumscribed infinite indefinite al and every of which maners overthrow the verity of a body we must altogether confesse that Christ being bodily in heaven is neverthelesse after a Sacramentall manner in body present in the Supper m Heb. 2.17 Luc. 24.29 The Nature of the Sacraments for Faith should cease in the Sacraments if the very thing which is beleeved were otherwise present then after a sacramentall manner n 1 Cor. 11.17 neyther indeed doth the omnipotency of God or a miracle invert or evert this sacramentall manner of presence Not Gods Omnipotency because when there is speech made of that effectuall and actuall power of God the will of God revealed in the word must needes goe before To which will if any thing be contrary it is from it necessarily excluded as that also which is by nature contradictory not a Miracle because neyther miracles which are indeed aboue nature should be sayde to be against nature taking away and withall leaving a substance or naturall quality nor is it probable that a thing which is extraordinary is done in an ordinary Sacrament of the Church And these things haue wee spoken concerning the Presence of Christes body and bloud in the Supper Now are we to see concerning the Communicating and the eating It is needfull that both the ground and the manner of the Communicating of Christs body be considered and discerned The Ground is the vnion in the Supper and the same two-fold the one of the body and bloud of Christ with the bread and wine which is called Sacramentall and pertaineth to the Forme of the Sacrament the other of the same body and bloud of Christ with the beleevers pertaining to the end of the Sacrament The Former consisteth in 2. thinges in the conjoyning of the Signe and the thing signified whereof wee haue spoken and in the joynt receyving of both in the lawfull vse because in the vse instituted they are receyved o Simul licet non similiter together though not alike both conjunctions are not naturall nor corporall nor yet simply obligatory or binding but Sacramentall whereby the thing signified is conjoyned to the Signe and the matter of the Sacrament to the Sacrament and are ioyntly perceyved in the true and lawfull vse thereof The Latter is our Essentiall Reall and spiritual communion with Christ p Eph. 3.16.17 5.29.30 1. Cor. 6.15.17 1. Ioh. 3.24 Essentiall if the things which are vnited be respected Reall if the truth of the Vnion Spirituall if the manner whereby the vnion is made bee considered The things which are vnited are Christ and his Church the Verity thereof the name of Vnion confirmeth and divers similitudes in Scriptures doe shadow forth the Manner is not simply Intellectuall or vulgarly Supernaturall but plainly Spirituall Divine and Heavenly whereof the question that it is is manifested vnto vs by the word of God both simple and Sacramentall but the question how it is is so mysticall and secret that even an Angell cannot comprehend the mystery thereof r Ep. 5.30.32 From this two-fold vnion a twofold manner of Communicating also ariseth The one is Sacramentall or Externall of the Signes which is made by the taking of the bread and wine as according to the Institution ordinance of Christ they are the holy signes of his body and bloud Å¿ 1. Cor. 11 26. For as the bread and the cuppe of the Lord is corporally eaten and drunke so is the same eaten and drunke Sacramentally wherof the bread and the cuppe are a Sacrament even after that manner as the Sacrament of his body is called his Body and the Sacrament of his bloud is called his Bloud by a Sacramentall manner of speaking And this maner of eating is Temporall and may bee iterated The other is Spirituall and mysticall to witte the very receyving of Christs body and bloud in veritie by the Spirite by which Christ is spiritually applyed vnto vs that wee beeing made one with him might by his spirite be quickned to life eternall t Ioh. 6.46 48. and so this spirituall communicating doth not onely signifie Faith but also application which is made by faith our communion with Christ whereupon sometimes it is called faith in Christ sometime the communion of Christes benefites and sometimes our ingraffing and incorporating into Christ Now it is called Spirituall partly because it is effected by the worke of the holy Spirite u 1. Cor. 12.13 Partly because it is by faith onely receyued and partly also because it pertayneth to the Spirituall life And this manner of communicating is dayly continuall incessant From both we exclude the corporall or all communicating of Christs body and bloud in the Supper From the First because the signe is receyved with the mouth and not the thing signified From the Second because a spirituall thing cannot be receyved bur Spiritually The Adoration or Bread-worshipping remayneth which by a false supposition both of the presence and of the communicating of Christs body bloud superstition hath devised For albeit all the godly doe worthily confesse that this Sacrament is to be handled with great Religion and Reverence which Reverence the Fathers sometimes called by the name of Adoration and Christ himselfe is to bee worshipped in the mysteries both as hee is God as he is
cited as that of the Councell of Carthage and of Milevitum out of Augustine For those Councels doe treate against the Pelagians who at that time denied the baptisme of children and some are suspected as that of the Tridentine Councell and the Testimonies of the Popes III. INfants ought two wayes to bee considered eyther according to common nature or the singular manner of the covenant and grace that way they are conceived in sin but this way they haue obtayned remission of sinnes by the promise In Defence of the Effects of baptisme against the same Cap. 4 and the rest that follow I. SInne dwelling in vs is by baptisme taken away by three meanes and degrees First because it is not imputed Secondlie because by little and little the body thereof is destroyed Thirdly because in death it shall vtterly bee taken away by the power of the same bloud of Christ wherewith wee are washed in Baptisme II. IT is one thing to speake of the cause of Iustification and another thing of the Instrument thereof lastly an other thing of the sealing the cause is the merite of Christ the Instrument is Faith and the sealing is Baptisme III. THe new and vncertaine devise of the Schoolemen concerning the Character or Marke which cannot bee defaced is with the same facility denyed as it is affirmed chiefly whereas neyther Scripture teacheth nor necessary reason sheweth nor authoritie of Fathers proveth any such Character Adde further that the chiefe reason why Baptisme is not iterated is not the impression of the character but Gods onely Institution OF THE LORDES Supper The Part Confirming CHAP. XIII THe other Sacrament of the christian church immediately instituted of Christ for the perpetuall vse thereof is The Lords Supper whereof though there be divers appellations both in Scriptures and with the Fathers for in the Scriptures it is called The body and bloud of the Lord The New Testament The Communion The breaking of bread The Lords Table The bread and the cup The Communicating of the body bloud of Christ a Mat. 26.28 Luc. 22.20 Act. 20.7 1. Cor. 11.25 1. Cor. 10.21 1. Cor. 10.16 which by the Fathers First it is called a gathering together The Eucharist or Thankesgiving Publâ—â—g Administration Secondly the Latâ—â—â— Offering because of collections and sacrifice for the remeÌ„brance of Christs Sacrifie yet most properly by this appellation Of the Lords Supper the thing it selfe hath most fitly beene expressed and indeed it is called The Supper with respect had both of the thing and of the time because it is a holy banquet of the soule and not of the belly instituted of the Lord and that in the Evening but the Lordes in respect both of the Author who is the Lord and of the End which is the remembrance of the Lord. Now it is defined to be A Sacrament of the New Testament instituted of Christ consisting of the Signe and the thing signified proportionable by an Analogicall Relation and action of themselues betweene themselues whereby the full growne members of Christ and his church are trayned vp and taught in the lawfull vse of the visible signes concerning the true and spirituall communication of the body and bloud of Christ vnto life eternall The Efficient Cause of the Lordes Supper ought to be considered eyther as instituting or as vsing and administring the same that is the principall cause but this is the serving or administring cause The Principall or Instituting cause is the Lord from whome it hath beene customably called the Lordes Supper to wit Christ God and man our onely Redeemer instituting the mystery of his body and bloud by the oblarion whereof hee redeemed vs b Rom. 15 18. 1 Cor. 11.23 Of this mysticall and divine Institution there are two parts Christs Deeds and his Words by the one wherof hee limitted and left an example of Administration by the other a doctrine of Institution Of Christs Deeds wherby the manner of the lawfull publicke office or administratioÌ„ is declared there are three partes according as concerning both signes which Christ receyved he orderly vsed holy and ceremoniall actions c Mat. 26.26 Mat. 14.22 Luc. 22.19 1. Cor. 11 24. The first is Blessing and Thankesgiving for the Scripture vseth those two words the one Mathew Marke vseth the other Luke and Paul both signifying the one selfe same thing to witte how Christ by prayers to God by thanksgiving and all that holy action prepared appointed and sanctified the Bread and Wine to a holy vse that they might bee a Sacrament of his Body and Bloud not by their owne nature but by divine Institution and this is that true Consecration or Sanctification of the Sacrament whereof mention is made among the Fathers The Second is The breaking of the Bread and the powring of the wine into the Cuppe which Christ vsed not onely for the cause of dividing and distributing thereof but for the representing of his death for it is an Essentiall and Sacramentall Ceremony of the Lordes Supper pertayning to the end forme thereof d Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 Luc. 22.19 1. Cor. 11.24 The third is the offering and distributing of the Bread broken and the Wine powred in For Christ gaue not the same to his Disciples that they should distribute but that they should receyue that which was distributed e Mat. 26.26.27 Mar. 14.22 Luc. 22.56 because they were in that Supper not the dispensers of Gods Mysteries but the Guestes But Christ as being the Feast-maker with one labour instituted and with his owne hands dispensed the Sacrament of his Grace and withall sanctified the Ministeriall dispensation thereof And all these Actions are Sacramentall and ought diligently to be considered as farre forth as they are vsed for the signifying and sealing of Spirituall things by divine Institution To these Actions that wee may come to the second part of the Institution Christ added Words whereof some include a Commaundement some a Promise and lastly some an Explication These in Schooles haue vsually been tearmed Preceptiue the other Definitiue and Sacramentall Lastly these Expositiue The Words Preceptiue are those by which hee hath injoyned both vpon the dispensers a necessity of their administration and vpon the communicants a necessity of taking and hath prescribed vnto both a forme of both Administration by his deed whereof we haue aboue spoken and by his commaundement of Imitation ioyned therevnto e Mat. 2 6 26. 1. Cor. 11.24 Of Communicating by a double Precept by the one To take by the other To eate and to drinke The Taking is a Sacramentall Rite prescribed to him that commeth to the Lords Table whereby wee receyue with our hand the Bread and Cuppe of Thanksgiving for it cannot bee gathered eyther from the Story of the Institution of the Lordes Supper oâ— froÌ„ the fashion of Christs sitting down and his Apostles that Christ in the first Supper did put those signes into the mouth of every of the Apostles by which
taking the spirituall sealing within vs both of Christ himselfe and of his benefites by the Instrument of faith is declared The Eating and Drinking is an outward and sacramentall vse and taking of the signes according to Christes Prescription whereby the inward and spirituall eating and drinking of his body and bloud is sealed by divine ordinance for as first there are two persons administring the Supper the one of the Pastor doing that which is done outwardly and openly the other of Christ effecting by his Spirit that which is done inwardly Secondly as the whole Action of the Lords Supper consisteth in two things the one an earthly bodilie perceyuable for the senses the other heavenly spirituall and intelligible for the vnderstanding of the faithfull Thirdly as there are two partes of man the one the body the other the soule so there are two givings and eatings the one outward which is called Sacramentall the other inward which is tearmed Spirituall yet that was instituted of Christ that it might bee a certaine expresse shape or Image of this The wordes Definitiue and Sacramentall are those which declare the inward matter or thing signified and vtter the same whether it bee of the bread or of the cuppe sacramentally of the bread as This is my body which for you is delivered and broken f Luc. 22.19 but of the cuppe This is my bloud which is shed for many g Mat. 26.28 Both expositions are wont two waies to be considered eyther in each words apart and by themselues considered or in the whole exposition together Being considered apart they note eyther the Subject or the Attributes or the Copula The Subject is the Pronoune demonstratiue this not adjectiuely but substantiuely taken for it doth not signifie h Individuum vagum any singular thing but the verie bread which Christ Tooke Brake and Gaue to his Disciples and the Wine which he held in his hands according as the order of the Text i Mat. 26 26.27 the interpretation of Paul k 1 Cor. 11.24.25 and the Analogy of Faith doe demonstrate The Attribute in the first proposition is the Body of Christ not the mysticall which is the church but the proper and the true which for vs is given and broken and that as it was such a body In the second is the bloude of Christ which for vs is shedde and even that as it was such a bloud according as the other member of these Attributes which is pronounced by an Enallage of the present tense for the future Tense dooth most evidently proue The Copula whereby the Attribute is knit with the Subject is the Verbe Substantiue IS which ought not nor may bee taken Substantially wheras by no meanes at all the vnlike cannot properly and Essentially be affirmed of his vnlike but figuratiuely for a mysticall and Sacramentall Being whereby the thing which signifyeth taketh the name of that thing which it signifyeth because of the Analogy of the one with the other for by that litle word Christ taught not what the bread and wine were by nature or substance but what they were by signification office and vse for by nature they are bread and wine by signification they are the body and bloud of Christ The whole Attribution or Predication is not proper or regular whereas neyther the proposition is Identicall nor the body of Christ can properly be affirmed of the bread to witte wheras the Body of Christ is neyther the Generall nor the Speciall nor the difference nor the property nor the accident of bread but it is Figuratiue and Sacramentall Figuratiue not simply Metaphoricall and Allegoricall but Metonymycall to witte such whereby the name of the thing signified is given to the Signe which Metonymycall speaking is very familiar in the Scriptures Sacramentall because the exhibiting of the thing signified is withall promised and yet there is no swerving from the word spoken or pronounced wheras wee retaine the word spoken being Sacramentall which is altogether different from regular Predications and to bee expounded with an interpretation aunswerable to the nature of Sacraments The Expositiue wordes are these by which Christ expounded or layde open the end of this holy action to witte l 1. Cor. 11 16. the remembrance of his death which is not a naked or idle remembrance of a thing past but an effectuall and healthfull apprehension of Christs merites and an explication of the same privately with our selues or properly vnto our selues and withall a solemne Eucharisticall Thanksgiving in the vse of this Sacrament for so great a benefite and this is the manner of the Efficient Cause being principall or that which instituteth the Supper and of the Institution it selfe The Cause Efficient Administring or Instrumentall are the Ministers of the Church called by lawfull ordination by whome God as by active instruments offereth and representeth vs those things outwardly by the signes of breade and wine which by the inward operation of the holy Ghost hee effecteth in vs. Of these Instruments if you respect the Office it is to administer the Lords Supper with those rites of dispensing them in the very which Christ went before by his owne example If the Quality so they lawfully execute their office in the preaching of the Word the administration of the Sacraments it nothing addeth to or detracteth from the efficacy of a Sacrament sith the authoritie of Sacraments if they bee considered in themselues dependeth not vpon the qualitie of the Minister but vpon the Institution verity and power of Christ The Matter of the Lords Supper is two wayes vsually considered eyther as that which partaketh the Supper or as that which constituteth the Supper whereof the one hath the manner of the Subject the other of the partes The Matter or Subiect partaking the Supper are all they who being by Baptisme made the members of the Church and now being of yeares professe sound doctrine and haue the testimony of a holy life m 1. Cor. 11.20 12.13 From the circumscription of this Subiect are excluded first the dead or they that are departed this life from whome both the power of vsing the Sacrament is taken away and vnto whome all the vse thereof is in vaine ineffectuall as also the vse of the preaching of the Gospell whereof the Sacraments are appendents Secondly the Sicke like to die for Christ would haue this communion not to bee private and domesticall but ecclesiasticall and publicke neyther doth the want but the contempt of the same hurt the partie that doth not communicate though peradventure there bee another respect to bee had concerning them that haue slipped and that are Excommunicated out of the church and concerning prisoners who are to bee punished and are now penitent Thirdly Children and Infants for to speake properly the Supper is meat for the stronger and the further grown in yeares and not for Infants neyther can they yeeld a reason of their Faith nor examine themselues
which not withstanding how needefull it is the Forme End of the Lordes institution as also Tradition doe proue with great likely hood Fourthly they who for heresie or for their dissolute life are lawfully excommunicated for this Supper requireth worthy guests which liue to Christ in Spirit Faith Whence it was that the persons who were excoÌ„municated or did Penance after the Sermon ended were in former time commaunded to goe forth The Matter constituting the holy Supper is two-fold the one Earthly Outward Elementall Visible the other Heavenly Inward and Spirituall wherof that is commonly called the Signe this the thing signified By the name of Signe all that is vnderstoode whatsoever is perceyved by the outward senses in the pure and lawfull administration of the Lordes Supper whether it be the Element or the bodily substance or the action or rite agreeable to Gods institution The Elementall Signes for of the Rites wee haue spoken in the explication of the Efficient Cause are two the Bread and Wine which two albeit materially they are distinguished yet formally and perfectlie as the Schoolmen speake they make but one Sacrament now they so make it that neyther more nor fewer bee required for the entirenesse and perfection of this Sacrament Not more because all refreshing or feeding is by them performed and ours in Christ is perfectly noted forth Not Fewer because if the one fayle or be wanting the Sacrament of perfect refection is taken away And in this defect Offence is committed in the maiming of the Elements or in the communion vnder one kinde onely against the Lords Institution the Apostles Tradition The End and Dignity of the Sacrament and lastly against the Orthodoxall consent of the elder Church Christs Institution because if you respect eyther the action of Christ and of the Apostles in the first Supper both were given and both were receyved or the wordes First Preceptiue of both they include a commaundement Take and Drinke Secondly Definitiue they are pronounced of both the Bread and the Wine This is my body and this is my bloud Thirdly Expositiue In both they propose a promise o Mat. 26.28 Mar. 14 24. Luc. 22.20 Apostolicall Tradition because the Apostle by the authority of the Lord injoyneth vpon the whole Church of Corinth a necessity both of eating the bread and drinking the wine Which p 1 Cor. â— 11.25.26 Tradition that it was proposed not to one age but to all ages to bee observed The consequence of the Text doth easily proueq. The End and Dignity of the Sacrament because the end is to seale the perfect refreshing of vs in Christ which by the cutting off of the other Signe is made vnperfect but the dignity is to set forth the grace of that covenant after a more evident manner then in the olde Testament it was set forth vnto those who did all alike partake of the Paschall Lambe and of the water out of the rocke as the Story and Paules eplication teacheth r 1. Cor. 10.1 2 The Orthodoxall consent of the elder Church because all that ancient and purer Church judged that the communication of both kinds did not pertaine to the Cleargy onely but to the Laiety aswell It knew nothing of Concomitancy which from the bad costome of the Eucharist dipped in the Wine spruÌ„g forth aboue a thousand two hundred and twenty yeares after and afterwards was coÌ„firmed in the Councels of Constance Basil and Trent Now by the name of Bread Wine we specially and properly vnderstand those Elements which by those words are wont amongst vs to bee noted and pointed out To witte being Pure and Common Pure that they be not mingled or confounded together eyther by dipping of the bread in the wine or by adding the same together with the Wine Common or Vulgar that they bee such as are in common vse to wit lest by the matter colour and taste of those signes any superstition should bee bredde in the heart or mind The Thing signified or the matter inward and spirituall in the Supper of the Lord the neerest and principall is the body and bloud of the Lord That as it was crucifyed or broken This as being powred out Then the Secondary is the most strait copling of Christ with vs by faith by the meane whereof wee are made partakers of Christes owne person and all his benefites The First or Principall in the Supper is the Body and Bloud of the Lord both as touching the Substance and as touching the singular Attributes of the Substance As touching the Substance because wee aâ—e made partakers of the true and Essentiall body and bloud of Christ though after a spirituall manner of receyving Å¿ 1. Cor. 10 26. for albeit the Supper be an eating of the body yet it is not bodily but spirituall not in respect of Essence but in the manner of communicating and the spirituall efficacy of nourishing for the Spirite of man by faith alone receyveth the body and bloud of Christ and with them really for even spirituall actions haue also their reallity is nourished to a spirituall life by the effectuall working of the holy Ghost Neyther doe wee exclude whole Christ from the Supper t Gal. 3.27 Rom. 6.3 sith by the denomination of his body and bloud the whole humanity of Christ nay his whole persoÌ„ is synechdochicaly vnderstoode because neyther the humanitie without the Divivity not the Divinity without the humanity nor both without their common Subject can bee a mediatrix The reason of which Synecdoche is that albeit he be the one and the same who suffered for vs even Christ God and man yet suffered he not in the very Divinity but in the Flesh for therefore as sayd Augustine was Christ borne that being man hee might deliver men and being mortal hee might deliver mortall and dead men from death The Particular Attributes of this Substance are the crucifying of his body and the powring out of his bloud u 1 Cor. 11.14 Luc 22.19.20 and the fruit of the merite of Christes Sacrifice conjoyned with these to wit Remission of sinnes Sanctification Redemption whence it is that in the Scripture the whole obedience of Christ and all the benefits thence proceeding haue vsually been signified by one word Death x 1. Ioh. 1.7 1. Pet. 1 19. Mat. â—0 28. The Secondary thing signified in the Supper is the most straite vniting conjoyning of vs all into one mysticall body both with Christ and among our selues y 1. Cor. 10.16.17.12.13 for as wee are tyed among our selues by the holy band of the same faith and brotherly loue as the members of the same body so by the true eating of Christs body wee are most straitely conjoyned with him and from him as from the head life issueth vnto vs as vnto his members z Ioh. 6.5.7 By the meane of this vnion it commeth to passe that wee bee made partakers both of the benefits of Christ and of his
doe in the lawfull vse of the Lords Supper but by neyther of both ways is that Popish consecration proved III. OVr Consecration Christs differ not in Substance but in degree for that which is Christs is nothing else but an appointing or dedicating of the bread and wine to the holy and divine vses made by the word of Institution according to his Free will but that which is ours doth all and wholy depend vpon the verity power and ordinance of God not vpon the secret recitall and muttering of wordes IIII. THe will of Christ consecrating is not to bee separated from the Sacramentall manner and Rite of consecration because as the one is the cause Efficient of the consecration so the other also is the materiall and formall cause thereof If you respect the Efficient Christ consecrated it with his will alone if the materiall and formall he consecrated it with the solemne word of Institution and with those Rites of dispensing which hee himselfe vsed commaunded vs to vse V. TO doe this in the Institution of the Supper is not to consecrate the outward signes or symboles but to doe all that which Christ commaunded his Disciples to doe Neyther did Christ vtter these wordes This is my Body to the end hee might consecrate the signes for he vttered them after the blessing breaking of bread but that he might declare vnto his Disciples the manner or nature of the Sacrament VI. THere is no change made in a Sacrament by vertue of the wordes but of the divine Institution and ordinance And that which is made is not made in Substance in quantity or in naturall qualities but in relation onely that is in vse and office Neyther doth eyther the custome of the church proue any other thing which vsed a shewing holding forth of the Eucharist not for adoration but eyther that they might prepare the people to the communion or that thereby out of the offering of private men a certaine part being set aside for the peculiar vse of the Sacrament might be shewed or the costom of the Greeke Fathers who never vsed this Rite of Elevating since the beginning vnto this day VII IT is manifest that those words which were not spoken over the bread or to the bread but to the Disciples communicating were spoken to instruct the people and not to change the breade neyther doe the most auncient Lyturgies gaine-say this which joyne together the wordes of consecration with the whole action of the Lordes Supper or doe the Fathers who when they affirmed that the Eucharist is made by a mystical Prayer by calling on the name of God by solemne blessing by thanksgiving or some certain consecration had no respect to those fiue wordes alone and that they with them would not haue consecrated the bread of the Sacrament by any Substantiall change their owne most evident expositions doe plainely shew In Defence of the Matter constituting the Lordes Supper and first against Concomitancy Bellar. Lib. 4. Cap. 21. I. AN Argument drawne from the hypostatical vnion of God man and that which is naturall of the Flesh and the Soule to concomitancy is of no force because it is one thing to treate of flesh and bloud which are things substantiall and entire partes of humane nature but another thing as they are given vnto vs for meate and drinke according to the voluntary and Testamentall disposition of Christ neither is therefore the Hypostaticall vnion of God and man broken which was not broken in death howsoever the soule and bloud were separated from the body II. THe spirituall eating whereof onely the order of the Text in the Chapter cited sheweth that mention is made ought to bee distinguished from the Sacramentall eating whereof here the question is neyther ought that which is spoken Synecdochically of eating in some places be taken exclusiuely seeing also in other places there is very often mention made of drinking III. FRom false ambiguous and impertinent Principles a false ambiguous and impertinent consequence is drawn Now the first Principle is false for we doe not acknowledge any reall or visible presence of Christs body bloud in the Supper In respect of the signes it is wholy Sacramentall in respect of the thing signified meerely spirituall IIII. THe second Principle is ambiguous because the body and bloud of Christ are two wayes considered one way as they are the partes of Christes humane nature all which being vnable to bee sundered liveth glorious the other as they are represented vnto vs Sacramentally in this action of the Supper to witte as both the body was offered vnto death for vs on the crosse and his bloud out of the body powred forth for the wordes added to the Institution doe plainely testifie that the body and bloud of Christ as things separated in the sacrifice of the Crosse are offered and exhibited vnto vs in the Supper V. THe third Principle is impertinent and different from the question now in hand because wee treate not here eyther of the vniversall presence of Christs Divinity which pertayneth nothing to the speciall kindes for if the adversary vnderstand the presence of nature Christ shall bee aswell any where else as in the Supper because he filleth all things if the presence of grace he affirmeth nothing that is proper to the bread but what pertaineth to all the faithfull or of the Hypostaticall vnion of the two natures in respect wherof notwithstanding we wil never affirm that the Divinity of Christ is with his humanity by a Concomitancy because that were a Nestorian heresie VI. THe Fathers which are cited eyther spake Synecdochically by the body vnderstanding the whole humane nature of Christ as Cyprian Hillarie Ambrose or of the whole person wherof in the Supper we are made partakers as Basil Hierome Chrysostome Origen the Nicene Synode or Sacramentally they vttered that of the signe which is proper to the thing signified as Augustine Cyril both he of Ierusalem and that other of Alexandria VII The body of Christ vnder the shew of bread is Sacramentally offered vnto vs in the Supper as it was crucified and broken and his bloud as it was shed for Christ instituted the Supper for a remembrance of his death and yet is not his carkasse eaten because Christ by his death purchased merite of life for himselfe and his VIII It is one thing to speake of the body bloud of Christ as touching themselues and another thing according to the manner of a Sacrament as touching themselues the bloud of Christ cannot bee plucked from the body that was done once on the Crosse but as touching the nature of a Sacrament they ought distinctly to be considered partly because in the Supper they represent that vnto vs which was once done and partly also because the perfection of our refreshing in Christ is exhibited in the eating of Christes flesh and in the drinking of his bloud IX MIracles are not to be drawne into vse and rule because every
miracle is vnwonted and vnusuall but those which are cited were eyther devised of superstitious men or false and put forth to deceyue the simple or lastly brought forth by the helpe and furtherance of the Devil according as Christ and Paul foretold of Antichrist Against the Communion vnder one kinde onely Bellar. Lib. 4. Cap. 24. I. TO reason from the Signes and Sacraments of the olde Testament which differ in the outward adjunctes in the circumstance of time in the maner of signifying and in the quality and number of the Signs to the Sacraments of the New Testament is inconsequent neyther is it needefull to require both kindes in those which eyther were not capable of both or in the lawfull vse whereof there is not extant a commaudement for both II. FRom a particular indefinite propositioÌ„ we badly conclud exclusiuely for albeit in some places there bee mention made of eating the other kinde therefore is not necessarily excluded for there is else where mention made of flesh and bloud together of eating and drinking the same yea foure times in the selfe same chapter III. THe consideration of meate and ordinary bread and of the mysticall and Sacramentall bread is altogether different not as touching the naturall substance quantity or quality but as touching the vse and office Now there was both in that miracle of the feeding of the people and in the Supper at Emaus not a Sacrament of Grace but a feast of nature Neyther haue the Fathers interpreted the bread concerning the true and naturall body of Christ but concerning the mysticall that is the church IIII. SYnecdoche is that which by name of the part compreheÌ„deth the whole very familiar in the Hebrew tongue wherein by the breaking of bread they are wont to signifie a dinner supper any feastes whatsoever from which feastes notwithstanding as drinke neyther ought nor can bee excluded so neyther may it from this Sacramentall feast whereof mention is made in the cited places whence it is also that the same Paul to whome this breaking is attributed expounding the Lordes institution teacheth that this Supper consisteth of bread and of the cup. V. IT is true that the Manichees communicated vnder the one kind of breade onely for they thought that the wine was the gall of a Dragon but that the ancient Church did not therefore reprehend them it is most false even those very men doe proue the contrary whom the adversary would haue to stand on his side to witte Leo the Bishoppe and Gelasius the Pope the former wherof called this mangling a sacrilegious counterfeiting and the latter a great Sacriledge VI. THe Consequence is of no force which is from examples whereof the former is of doubtfull credit as of which Chrisostome himselfe maketh no mention and because of the cunning and craft of a womanish wit ridiculous but the latter of a false and contrary credite as being that which by most certain proofe evidently sheweth that the communion was vsually and necessary vnder both kindes VII FRom extraordinary cases of necessity and those particular there is no conclusion to that which in lawfull ordinary and publicke celebrations of the Eucharist ought to bee observed Adde further that in all those rites and ceremonies though not alwayes yet for the most part there was vse of both kindes according as the constitution and custome of the Primitiue church doth most manifestly proue VIII TO reason from the authority of the Councels and Fathers for the establishing of some error is inconsequent Adde further that in the Primitiue Church the Communion for a long time was retained vnder both kindes even in the monasteries vntill the thousand three hundred yeare the mangling or maiming thereof was first by a publicke decree brought in by the Councell of Constance in the yeare 1484. IX FRom discommodities or inconveniences an argument concludeth nothing both because they leane vpon superstition and because the collection is faultie drawne from particulars and lastly because they being foreseen by Christ and the Apostles hindered not the Institution of the communion vnder both kindes In Defence of the Forme against Transsubstantiation Bellar. Lib. 3. Cap. 19. FRom a bad and insufficient Enumeration of the partes a false conclusion is drawn for every change is eyther Essentiall of the very Substance that is of the naturall matter and forme or Sacramentall of the office condition vse of the Elements both are true but after their manner that true Essentially by the manner of nature but this Sacramentally by the manner of Grace Now whatsoever change is in the Supper it is not essentiall or naturall but Sacramentall that is a Consecration appointment and setting apaâ—t of the Signes from a common to a holy and mysticall vse To the Testimonies of the Fathers which by Bellarmine are cited in the 20. and 21. cap. of the third booke and the whole second Booke I. THose Fathers who called the Eucharist the body and bloud of Christ vsed a Sacramentall manner of speaking wherby it commeth to passe that the names being changed the signe or Symbole is called by the tearme of the thing it selfe Now they vsed this for three causes First that they might declare whereto Christ had ordayned the Eucharisticall bread SecoÌ„dly that they might expresse the Analogy betweene the Signes and the things signified Thirdly That by the change of the names they might teach that there is a most true and indivisible conjunction of the things signified with the signes themselues in the lawfull vse II. THe Fathers who haue called the Eucharist the precious body the reverend mysteries the pledge of Salvation our ransome spake Hyperbolically of the very bread sanctified and not of any other body present by transubstantiation Now they vsed those Hyperbolicall Phrases for three causes First that they might extoll the dignity of the mystery Secondly least eating they should sticke in the outward signes Thirdly that with a great affection of godlinesse and reverence they might approach to that holy Communion III. THe Fathers which affirmed that the Body of Christ is touched seen and chewed with the teeth spake Figuratiuely For there is a double signification of the Sacrament and body of Christ to bee held for as a Sacrament is sometime taken Figuratiuely for one part and sometime properly for both parties so also is the body of Christ sometime properly and somtime Figuratiuely for the outward signe onely and â—n this sense by a figured and Metonymycall vse of speech the Fathers haue affirmed that the body of Christ is touched and seene that is the signe of his body IIII. THe Fathers who spake of the changing of the bread and wine in the Eucharist treated of the Sacramentall change whereof wee haue spoken in the first distinction and therefore willed and taught that their wordes should bee taken Figuratiuely and effectiuely V. THe Fathers who taught that our bodies are cherished nourished and fed with the body and bloud of Christ vsed a
both of his bloud shed are giveÌ„ in Baptisme and of his body crucifyed in the Supper For the passion of Christ is as it were the materiall and meritorious cause of our salvation l 1. Pet. 1.7 2. Pet. 1.19 Mat. 20.28 Of his Benefites because looke what things Christ hath and did hee testifieth m Ioh. 6.53 Ioh. 15.4 Rom. 8.32 by visible signes in every Sacrament that hee had them to our good and did them for vs. Now the Scripture proposeth foure things which in very deed are the benefits of Christs person and the fruites of his merite n 1. Cor. 1.30 Righteousnesse which is the remission of sinnes and the absolution of the sinner before God Wisedome which is the perfect and true knowledge of Gods wil which no man hath without Christ Sanctification which is the denying of our selues joyned together with repentance and new life Redemption which is both a full deliverance from all evils yea even from our last enemy Death as also a small glorification And these are those things which are sealed in all Sacraments which of the Divines are otherwise wonte to bee expressed by the name of an invisible Grace as the signe it selfe by the name of a visible Forme From this consideration of the signe and the thing signified the agreement and difference of both may bee concluded The Difference because they are divers both in nature for the Signe is visible the thing signified is invisible and in the Obiect for the signe goeth but into the body the thing signified into the soule and in the Manner of communication for in respect of the signe the manner is corporall but of the thing signified it is spirituall the Agreement because those things which were otherwise really and very farre separated are joyned together by a Sacramentall vnion The inward and proper forme of a Sacrament is that excellent agreemeÌ„t of the Signe with the thing signified and the mutuall relation of the one vnto the other whereof that properly consisteth in the comparison and similitude of the Effects this in the ordayning of the signe to the thing signified Now this conjunction of the Signes and the thing signified in the SacrameÌ„ts is not naturall by a substantiall contraction or knitting together or by the vniting of the accidents and substances IndistantiaÌ„ Inexistentiam nor locall by the neerenesse and beeing of the one in the other nor yet spirituall as immediately quickning the very signes themselues but it is wholy Relatiue and Sacramentall consisting specially in three thinges in the signifying in the sealing Praebitione and in the exhibiting of the thing signified In the signifying because the signes by a most agreeable similitude and proportion as it were by a certaine introduction doe represent the o Gen. 17 10.11 1. Cor. 11.15.16 Ioh. 6.33 spirituall mysteries that is the things invisible by things visible In Sealing because the Signes are and are called the Seales or stampes of the thinges signified both for that they confirme the truth of the similitude betweene the signe and the thing signified and that also they necessarily and most surely seale the efficacy of both conjunctions in the lawfull vse thereof p 1. Ioh. 1.7 And this is called a coupling of the Sealing In Exhibiting because that in very deede is exhibited which is figured by the signes for God mocketh not by instituting Signes whereof there should be no truth but as in the audible word so also in the signe that is in the visible word he in very deed performeth what he promiseth and sheweth q 1 Pet. 3.2 Rom. 4.11 Eph. 3.7 And yet the exhibiting or receyving of the the thing signified are not referred to the Instruments of the body but to the heart of the beleever because it is spirituall according as the exhibiting and receyving of the Signes is corporall wee say spirituall for a double respect both by reason of the Efficient that is the hidden operation of the holy Ghost which is done in very marvailous maner that by the means of Christs flesh mystically communicated to vs the bloud and vertue of Christ-merite pearceth even vnto our soules Å¿ Col. 6.7 Ioh. 1.26 and by reason of the Instruâ—ent be cause faith by which we rece ue them is a spirituall instrument by the bond whereof the spirit most straitly conjoyneth those things together Col. 26.7 Ioh. 1.26 which otherwise are very faire distant each from the other t Eph. 3.17 From this inward forme of a Sacrament and the mutuall disposition of the signe and the thing signified doe arise two speciall kinds of Sacramentall Predications vsed in the Scriptures the first when the signe is pronounced of the thing signified that is when the signe is sayde to be the very thing signified as when Christ is called our Circumcision our Covenant our Paschall Lambe u 1. Cor. 5.7 Gen. 17.10 Act. 7.8 the other when the thing signified is pronounced of the signe that is when the very thing signified is sayde to be the signe as when the bread is called the body of Christ the wine the bloud of Christ x 1. Cor. 11.24 Mat. 26.28 And these Predications are wont to bee called Relatiue Analogicall and Metonymycall Relatiue because when the one separated thing is pronounced of the other a mutuall relation and respect of things like the one to the other is necessarily presupposed Analogical because the changing of the names is made in regard of the Analogy and exceeding great agreement betweene themselues Metonymycall because the signe is put for the thing signified so contrariwise The reason of these Predications in the mater of a Sacrament is the vnion which as it coÌ„sisteth in three in the signifying sealing and spirituall exhibiting so it maketh these Sacramental Predications true because of the signifying sealing and exhibiting The End of a Sacrament is two-fold Proper and Accidentall The Proper is eyther Primary or Secondary That is the visible sealing of Gods invisible grace and our conjunction with Christ y Rom. 6.4 1. Cor. 10.16 Gal. 3.27 This is a testifying of godlinesse towards God of loue towards our neighbour and of open profession whereby as by a marke wee are severed from other Synagogues of Sathan z 1 Cor. 10.17 Eph. 4.5 1. Cor. 11.29 The Accidentall is the condemation of them that vnworthily communicate for albeit the vnfaithfull receiue the SacrameÌ„ts yet for the abuse of the signes reproachful contempt against the thing signified they are made guilty of the contempt of Christ and therefore also of everlasting death and condemnation By this a An alysi opening of the definition through all the causes it may easily be coÌ„cluded what those things are which most properly may hold the name and nature of a Sacrament to witte those wherein there may be a concurrence of all these causes and of the conditions that issue out of these Such Sacraments as these are
of the very Institution Neyther must we referre the words of the Promise in the Supper to Christs Sacrifice but to the Sacrament which hee instituted neyther also in Baptisme is the efficacy of the Sacrament simply expressed but the promise given concerning the efficacy V. THe m Concionale word pertaining to the congregation the word of Institution are not opposite but both in Baptisme and the Supper there is the same worde for that which is n Or of Preaching for the congregation in Baptisme the same is of the Institution and that which is of the Institution in the Supper the same is for the congregation VI. IN every Sacrament two things must needes bee distinguished the Substantiall and the Accidentall thereof the one whereof is properly required for the being the other for the well being of the same Now the Preaching of the same is no part of the Essence of the Sacrament but pertayneth to the manner of Administration VII THe Consecration of Sacraments consisteth in two thinges in the Institution or ordinance blessing sealing of the word and in the promise of God himselfe then in the holy vse thereof which is done by prayers and thanksgiving VIII THe chaunge of the Sacramentall word is twofold Substantiall and Accidentall the one properly pertayneth to the sense the other to the wordes and order of the wordes and yet a conclusion from the change of wordes to the change of the Element is of no force because this cannot bee changed without corruption but those may easily be changed the sense neverthelesse remayning Distinctions in Defence of the Cause Materiall I. SIgnes are eyther of things past or thinges present or things to come and they all eyther pointing out or sealing vp or presenting of all which the Sacramentall signes are mixt II. THe signe signifieth eyther the Element or the Action or both wherefore in a Sacramentall thing all that is called the signe which is perceyved by the fences whether it bee seene or heard for the Element is perceyved by the sight but the action by the sight and hearing III. THe thing signified in the sacrament is both a substance and action the substance is eyther properly whole Christ or Synecdochically the body of Christ delivered vnto death and his bloud shed the Action is Gods alone and is eyther Iustification or Regeneration IIII. THe thing and the signes are both offered eyther joyntly and truely in respect of God who promiseth or distinctly in respect of the faithfull to whome without the sacramentall coÌ„munion the thing signified is truely and spiritually given or of the vnfaithfull to whome even in the Sacramentall Communion the Signes indeede are offered but the thing signified is not given Distinctions in Defence of the Forme and Effect of a Sacrament Bellarmine proveth by ten reasons that the Sacraments of the New Law are the causes of Iustification by the worke done Cap. 8. Lib. 2. de Sacram. Ex opere operato I. THe Sacramentall Signes are sayde to bee practicke not for that they worke by the deede done but because they are effectuall Instruments whereby the truth of Gods Grace in Christ is sealed vppe vnto vs and because Infantes are baptized the Sacramentes doe not therefore immediately effect Sanctity for in respect of the Infants Baptisme is properly a Sacrament of entrance as in respect of them that are growne to full age it is a Sacrament of Sanctification not by effecting but by binding II. GOds institution or authority hath â—ot put a power of effecting in the Sacraments which is proper to the Principall Agent but of signifying sealing and presenting neyther hath humane instirution any place in divine matters sith the nature of those things which concerne faith and religion lerneth vpon the alone word of God III. THe Institution and vse of a Sacrament consisteth in two things first in the Relation of the Signe vnto the thing signified Secondly in the lawfull administration and receyving the verity and vertue of the Relation doth wholy depend vpon the Institutor of the lawfull administration God is the Author according to his will but man is the Minster of the same according to the rule of Gods will and his owne calling IIII. THe Sacraments depend vpon God and Christs Passion after a divers respect vpon God as the cause vpon Christs death and Passion as the object for the Passion of Christ cannot properly be called the cause of the Sacrament but the object and the thing signified wherevnto it is carried V. WE are made assured of the remission of sins by the Sacraments through an assurance not absolute but relatiue not from the former but from the latter not by the Principall but by the Instrumentall not properly by effecting but by scaling VI. THe Sacraments the word haue reference vnto faith not after a contrary but after a subalternall manner because as faith is begotten by the word so it is nourished by the Sacraments both are Instruments yet distinct by manner of working VII SAcraments profite not except they bee well applyed now there are two meanes of Application the one outward the other inward the outward are the Signes and the Word the vse of the Signes is perceyved by the touching but the vse of the Word by hearing the vnderstanding of both is required because the Signes and the word not beeing vnderstood doe not profite the inward is faith which bringeth the vse of the Signes and the word to the Soule VIII THe subordinate Instruments of the stirring vp of faith is the word of preaching or the Scripture and the visible word of the Sacrament neyther doth the one disanull the other but rather settle and establish each other Adde further that the vse of the picture and outward Signes of Baptisme is one and of the Signe is another whereas that hath neyther the worde nor promise this both IX THe profite of the Sacraments is both Generall and Particular in a diverse respect Generall in respect of the entrance and the whole outward action Particular in respect of the Application the one Generally is performed by the Signes and the word the other particularly by faith X. THe Difference of the Sacraments of the olde and new Testament consisteth not in the thing signified but in the manner of signifying and other outward Adjuncts and circumstances whereof wee haue aboue spoken The same Point doth Bellarmine proue by eight Testimonies of Scripture Cap. 4. The First Place is of Mathew the 3. Answ There is no difference made between the Efficacy of Iohns Baptism and Christs but betweene the Persons whereof the one by the outward Ministery onely giveth the water as the Signe of the Remission of sinnes the other by the Inward Efficacy giveth the Spirite as the earnest of the thinges signified And hee vseth the future Tense speaking of Christs Baptisme because he hath respect to the very Ministery of Christs Preaching which he was about to take in hand neyther doth the Place
God and man yet wee must not stay in the very signes neyther are the eyes of faith to be lifted vp to the place of the bread but vnto heaven x Col. 3.1 That this popish Adoration is Idolatrous both in it selfe and in the Adiunct Ceremonies wee proue divers waies In it selfe by three Arguments drawne from the cause from the manner and from the kindes of Adoration for seeing the cause of the Adoration of Christ is proper in his God-head for nothing is properly to bee adored but that which is God the worshipping eyther of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot be translated to the outward signs theÌ„selues without manifest sacriledge then seeing the manner of Christs adoration requireth that neyther the person be divided nor the natures equalled or the difference of them takeÌ„ away the bread cannot at all bee worshipped or the bodie in the bread but either the nature and the properties thereof should be confounded while the presence of Christs bodie is judged to bee in the bread or that which is not fitte for a humane nature but in regard of the person should Idolatrously bee attributed not onely vnto him simply and as touching himselfe but also vnto his Sacrament Lastly seeing there are two kindes of Adoration Praying Thanksgiving neyther of them can be applyed to the bread neyther properly nor Sacramentally whereas both belong to Christ as being God and man In the Ceremonies it is idolatrous whether you respect the reserving of Reliques the inclosing or carrying about or the Elevation of the Eucharist for albeit there were certain beginnings of these ceremonies in the ancient church yet seeing they were prescribed neyther by Christ nor his Apostles or observed in the most ancient and purest church they were for the good cause taken away in the churches of the Gospell OF THE LORDS Supper The Part Confuting Distinctions in Defence of the Interpretation and signification of the NAME I. THe Supper of the Lord signifieth eyther the signe or the action that is eyther it is taken Relatiuely or Absolutely Being Relatiuely it signifyeth the Symboles or Signes of Gods grace Absolutely taken 〈◊〉 signifyeth the whole Action comâ—â—sed of the visible and corporall 〈◊〉 â—ing of the Signes and of the invisible and Spirituall receiving of Christ and his benefites II. THe Lords Supper is considered eyther abstractly as touching it selfe or applyedly in the lawfull vse this way it is properly called a Sacrament that way it is not but abusiuely and improperly III. THere are fowre formes of speaking concerning the Supper of the Lord the sense whereof and manner of vnderstanding them is the same the First is wherein the Name of the thing signified is layed on the Signe as the Supper is the New Testament The 2. wherein the thing signified of the Supper in respect of the effect and efficacy thereof is given to the Signe as the Supper maketh vs partakers of the new Testament Thirdly wherein the offices of the signes are expounded in their proper signification as the Supper is the signe of the Covenant The fourth when in the lawfull vse of the Supper the Sacrament is conjoyned with the promise of grace as he which receiveth the bread and wine worthily shall eate the body and drinke the bloude of Christ Distinctions in Defence of the Efficient Cause principall and First for the Subiect of Predication against Bellar. Lib. 1. De Sacra Euchar. Cap. 10. I. THe Pronounes demonstratiue and Relatiue aswell with the Greekes as Latines doe not alwayes according to rule agree with the substantiue following but sometimes also with that which goeth before and contrariwise not alwayes with that which goeth before but with that also which followeth Moreover the thing which is only a note in the vniversall and not in the particular according as bread was in the Supper is most vsually vttered by a Nowne vniversall of the Neuter gender II. THose things which are to be vnderstoode Tropically according to the nature of a sacrament ought not or may not be properly and simply taken Now there is a double Trope in the proposition touching the cuppe for by a Synechdoche the cuppe is put for the wine in the cuppe and by a Sacramentall Metonymy the Effect of the thing signified is given to the Signe In Defence of the whole Predication to Cap. 9. I. THe Stile of Scripture doth most manifestly proue that the Sacraments of the olde and new Testament as also Testaments compacts and covenants are found to haue beene instituted in Figuratiue wordes and the precepts to haue beene vttered Figuratiuely II. AN Argument drawne from a Figuratiue speaking to the obscurenesse of the same is inconsequent for it followeth not that if it be Figuratiue therefore it is not perspicuous or on the contrary if it be perspicuous that therefore it is not Figuratiue III. THe Testimonies of the Fathers are Sacramentally to be taken that is to bee expounded according to the maner and Trope which is agreeable to Sacraments Whence it is that they all haue judged that Christs words are to bee expounded not according to the Word spoken but according to his meaning IIII. THe appellation of the Word spoken or the sence of the wordes is taken sometimes in a larger and sometimes in a straiter signification in a strayter in regular Predications in a larger in those which are Figuratiue Wherefore in the very wordes of the Supper we retayne the very word spoken but sacramentall wherein not so much the letter and the sound of the words as the sure and certaine meaning thereof is to bee followed to wit that which may agree with the nature of a Sacrament Of the Wordes of Consecration against Bellarmine Lib. 4. Cap. 13. I. THe wordes of the Institution of the Lords Supper are of two partes some are the words of the Evangelists and some of Christ himselfe those are not onely recited as a history but doe admonish as well the Ministers as the Communicants what Christ did what he commaunded likewise to bee done of both These serue for consecration yet so that neyther the rest ought to bee omitted nor consecration bee circumscribed with foure or fiue wordes onely or lastly Prayers and Thanksgivings bee excluded seeing as well the former as the latter words of the Institution doe finish the consecration and the Substance of Bread and Wine is not changed by a certaine hidden vertue of those few wordes but on the contrary the consecration which is made in the Eucharist is called in the Scriptures a hallowing with thankesgiving II. THere was a double respect of the Apostles in that first Supper one of Pastors and dispensers of Gods misteries but the other of the church or the vniversall company of the faithfull which they represented in the first respect the commaundement to Doe ought to bee referred to all that which Christ did concerning the bread and wine in the second to all that which the Communicants ought to
Sacramentall Trope For as Christ sayed This is my Body when he gaue but the signe of his body so our bodies are sayed to bee cherished nourished and fed with the body and bloud of Christ when in very deede they are nourished with those thinges which are the Signes of the body and bloud of Christ VI. THe Fathers who spake of the Adoration of Christs flesh treated not of that which was done in the mystery but in the celebration of the mystery for that flesh hypostatically vnited to the eternall Son of God is rightly adored of vs as oft as the Supper of the Lord is celebrated VII THe Fathers who required of Communicants a feare trembling and faith did not put any essentiall change of the thing signified into the signes but they required a certain feare least the signes for their vilenes should be contēned but faith they required that that thing which is not seene might yet be beleeved and by faith receyved VIII THe Fathers who affirmed that a myracle was wrought in the Eucharist vnderstood no miraculous Trāsubstantiation of the bread into the body of Christ but the majesty of this mystery which they compared with the greatest miracles and by a Catachresis called it a miracle because by a wonderfull and incomprehensible manner God worketh in the hearts of the godly as oft as by a true faith they celebrate this mystery Of the Presence of Christ in the Supper against Bellarmine Lib. 1. Cap. 1. I. FIgures are eyther so called oppositely as they are opposed to the body as also shadowes to the Image or Relatiuely as in generall they figure signifie some thing else besides that which is seene In the first signification the Figures of the olde Testament are not opposed to the sacraments of the New but to the fulfilling of those things which were prefigured in the second signification the Figures or Sacraments of the old Testament are badly opposed to the Sacraments of the New Testament whether as touching their quality or as touching their excellency Because albeit by the word of Institution they agree in the generall partes the Relation and the end yet they differ in the measure vertue and easinesse of signification In which respect the Sacraments of the New Testament are saide to bee more excellent then the Sacraments of the Olde Testament II. AGainst Bellarmine cap. 5. 6. The Sermon which treateth only of the matter of the Sacrament and the communion thereof and not of the Signe as the very sence of the place the Interpretation of Christ the Analogy of Faith doe most evidently proue cannot proue the reall presence of Christs body vnder the formes or kindes of the Signes for the Spirituall eating is to be distinguished from the Sacramental because that is internall and invisible this externall and visible and though it bee granted that in that place there is speech made of the Sacramentall eating yet the foure arguments which are from thence drawne cannot proue that presence Not the First because the bread Synecdochically is taken for meat and the meat Figuratiuely for the flesh of Christ Wherefore in the place cited the bread is not the Subject but the predicate of the flesh Not the Second because Christ by correcting reproved and by reproving corrected the Capernaits and his Disciples as verse 61.62.63 doe evidently shew Not the third because the wordes of eating and drinking are taken Figuratiuely and as the Text declareth they are of the same force with these maners of speaking to belieue in Christ and to abide in Christ Not the Fourth because Christ confirmeth his censure before going shewing that then they shal consider their error when they shall see the sonne of man ascending III. THe Arguments which in cap. 9.10 are taken from the words of the Institution are aboue confuted in the distinctions of the Efficient cause IIII. THe three arguments which are drawne out of the 10 chapter of the former to the Corinthians haue no consequence not the first because it is a fallacy of that which is not the cause as the cause For the blessing or consecration is not the cause of the Sacramentall conjunction of the thing signified with the Signe but the Institution onely and the divine ordinance declared and confirmed by the blessing Not the Second for the breaking which is properly sayde to bee of the bread is improperly and Figuratiuely spoken of the Body Not the Third because the word Communion signifieth an Vnion ioyning together in fellowshippe properly of our persons with the person of Christ beeing indeed that same which is spirituall supernaturall if you respect the manner yet reall and true if you respect the bound and object thereof V. LIb. 1. cap. 13. The argument which is taken out of the 11. chapter of the former Epistle to the Corinthians concludeth nothing because the apostle treateth not of the eating of his body but of the outward receyving of the bread and wine which indeede with the former is conjoyned in the lawfull vse thereof but in the vnlawfull vse of them that communicate vnworthily is alone and yet maketh the communicant guilty of the body and bloud of Christ because the vnworthy taking and handling of the signes redoundeth vnto the reproach of the thing signified VI. THe Testimonies of the Fathers which are alleadged throughout the whole Second Booke we haue aboue answered VII LIb. 3. cap. 3. The profes which are alleadged from the omnipotency of God doe inferre no corporall presence of Christ in the Supper Not the First because the omnipotency of God excludeth both things contrary to his nature and things contradictory and not to be able to doe those things is not a point of weakenesse but of infinite power and constancy Not the Second because his first apparition was heavēly which nothing furthereth the presence of Christ on earth The second was in the night which appeared not to the eyes but to the minde Not the Third because the Fathers treated eyther of the presence of Christ as touching his person as Chrysostome or of the Sacramentall presence of his body in the Supper as Ambrose or of the effect of the eating of his body as Cyrill and Theophilact or lastly they spake Hyperbolically as Augustine Not the Fourth because to reason from the divine nature to the humane and from the one part of man which is spirituall to the other which is corporall is even proportionally inconsequent Not the Fift because it is one thing to treate of the mysteries which goe beyond Nature but another thing of the miracles which overthrow nature Not the Sixt because of those things which are equally vnited the one cannot be any where else where the other is not or may not be and to attribute to Christ two bodies equally vnited were a monstrous thing VIII CAp. 6. Lib. 3. The proofes which are taken from the illocality of the body are false The First because the consequence is of no validity from a
if we know which is the true church the other if by meanes of the times wee can adjoyne our selues to the same XI FRom a false definition layed down a false proofe is drawne and therefore both the Antecedent and Consequent of the Argument is denyed XII THe Testimonies of the Fathers which are cited doe eyther treate of the inward forme of the Church as that of Origen and Cyprian or of the Eternity of the Church and not of the Visibility therof as that of Chrysostome or lastly of the Particular Churches of some certaine time as that of Augustine In Defence of the matter of the Church and first that they which are not baptized and the Catechized or novices belong to the Catholicke church Against Bellarmine Lib. 3. Cap. 5. I. COr 5. It is one thing to treate of the not baptized by reason of their vnbeliefe and another of the not baptized because of their vncapablenes eyther of age or profession of faith and to be without and not to be baptized are things different for as they are sometimes without which are baptised so on the contrary they are sometimes within which are not baptized II. ACT. 2. there is a two-fold adding to the church the one according to the judgement of the truth and the inward nature of Christianity the other according to the judgement of charity which is beleeved to be because of the outwarde communion of the Signes that is proper to the Church invisible but this to the church visible and of this but not of that doth the place treat III. THe Body of the Church and Baptisme are so called ambiguously for the body is eyther outward or mysticall and spirituall Baptisme likewise is eyther outward or inward eyther of water or of bloud all which are baptized with water are of the outward body of the Church but all those which are baptized with the bloud of Christ are of the mysticall and spirituall body of the Church IIII THe Catechized or Novices with the Fathers are two wayes distinguished the one according to the opinion of the common people for they were not numbred amoÌ„g the Christians who might not seeme to belieue albeit they beleeved The other according to the forme of the Church To which because they pertain not properly they are thought not to bee of the Church though they bee the members of the Church invisible V. THe respect of right is one and of the fact is another he hath right to the Sacraments which hath faith Now by Fact none are admitted to the outward communion of the sacraments but those which professe faith Secondly that those which are excommunicated belong to the Church Invisible against Bellarmin Lib. 3. Cap. 6. OF Persons Excommunicate there are two sorts for some are justly excommunicated and some vnjustly those which are justly excommunicated are cast foorth out of the particular churches but not simply out of the catholicke Church For Excommunication is a censure not of the catholicke church but of the particular they which are vnjustly are neyther cast out of the visible church by right nor out of the invisible by right or fact Now the Testimonies of the Scriptures or of the Fathers which are alleadged doe eyther treate of those which are iustly excommunicated or of the Excommunication of particular Churches whereof there is no question Thirdly that the predestinate alone pertaine to the Invisible Church against Bellarmine Lib. 3. Cap. 7. I. TO be in the Particular church and to be of the catholicke church are thinges different the one is for a man to adjoyne himselfe to that outward society of the faithfull but the other to bee as a member ingraffed and conjoyned vnto Christ Wherefore also these are two thinges different namely to be cast out of the particular church and to be cast out of the catholicke church That is done by Excommunication but this by no means can ever â—e done Now the places which are cited Mat. 3. Mat. 15. Mat. 25. 1. Cor. 5. 2. Tim. 2. are true concerning the particalar outward churches and not concerning the Catholicke Adde further that the Argumentes drawne from Parables are of small waight beyond the meaning of the Holy Ghost II. A Man is sayde to be of the church two wayes eyther according to Gods Election or Predestination or according to the outward Temporall calling the one way every faithfull man is a member of the catholicke church even from everlasting the other way no man is indeed to be a member of the visible church vnlesse he bee called in time Paul then was of the catholicke church even when he was not of the visible church before his calling but Iudas was not of the catholicke church though hee was of the visible church as touching his outward calling III. PRedestination is two wayes to bee considered eyther abstractly or absolutely as it comprehendeth that decree of God from eternity or compositiuely and Relatiuely as it comprehendeth all the meanes which are necessary for the execution of that decree as Vocation Iustification c. After the first manner every Person Predestinate is called a member of the catholicke church after the latter maner no man is called a member of the visible church but as hee is called Iustified c. IIII. THe Respect of brethren and of the church is not the same For they are called brethren which are eyther joyned together in an outwarde society and profession of faith or who haue the same Right of adoption with vs. Those are knowne these are not In like manner the Church is considered eyther as Catholicke or Particular the Predestinate are called the members of the Catholicke church and not of the Particular generally Of the FORME of the Church first of the Markes thereof against Bellarmine Lib. 4. Cap. 4. to the End of the booke I. THe manner of reasoning from Names is inconsequent For according as the things are certaine so Names which are of Imposition are accidentall voluntary and therefore vncertaine Neyther can that bee a marke of the Church whereby the true may bee discerned from the false which eyther cannot be seene because of the vniversality it selfe which is only to be perceyved by the vnderstanding or is commonly vsed according to that which is spokeÌ„ of others who liue without the Churches II. ANtiquity as beeing a thing accidentall separable common by sense not perceiuable cannot bee a Marke of the Church It is a thing accidentall because it maketh not the Essence of the Church but happeneth therevnto because of the processe of time It is a thing separable because without this the Church was somtimes knowne both the old church in the time of Adam and the churches of the New Testament in the time of Christ and of the Apostles It is a thing common because a lye or heare-say haue also their antiquity It is a thing by sense not perceiuable because antiquity it selfe can be discerned by the vnderstanding and reason onely III. THe