in all things it behoved him to bee like vnto his brethren Note then If it behoved him to bee lyke to vs in all things then his bodie must be visible and palpable and contained in one place even as other glorified bodies are Matth. 28.6 Hee is not heere for hee is risen as hee saide Remarke then That according to the Romish doctrine if Christ's bodie may be in manie places invisiblie at once the Angel's reason heere should bee of no force for it might haue beene replyed That altho hee bee risen yet hee might at the same instant haue beene invisibile in the Sepulchre Luke 24.39 Beholde mine hands and feet that it is I my selfe handle mee and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as yee see mee haue Note then That after his Resurrection our Saviour's Bodie was visible and palpable his Resurrection adding glorie to his Nature but no-wayes quite abolâ—shing his Nature as the Papists doe who change not onelie Bread in-to his Flesh but his Flesh in-to a Spirit which hath neither flesh nor bones as the Disciples saw Christ's bodie haue Acts 1.11 This same Iesus vvhich is taken vp from you in-to Heaven shall so come in like manner as yee haue seene him goe in-to Heaven Note then That the Angels testifie that as his going vp from men to Heaven was sensible and visible so should his bodilie comming from Heaven backe againe bee sensible and visible which seeing no such comming hath beene hither-to or can bee seene it is evident that his comming downe invisiblie to bee amongst the Priests fingers when he consecrateth the host is a ridiculous phantasie 2. Witnessing of Antiquitie THe Bodie of Christ sayth Theodoret hath its former shape and figure circumscription and as I may briefly say the same essence of a bodie altho after the resurrection it was made immortall mortall and free from corruption Theod. Dialog 2. And in the same Dialogue from the circumsâ—ription there-of hee proveth the visibilitie there-of and by the visibilitie there-of where it is that it is circumscrybed saying that that onlie is invisible which can-not bee circumscrybed In lyke manner Augustine sayeth that it is prophane not to belieue and professe sayth he the sonne of God according to his humanitie to bee corporeall and locall after his resurrection Aug. 4. tom de essentia divinitatis 3. Confession of Partie HAndle mee and see by this sayeth Lyra on Luke 24. hee shew that he had a true bodie and not an imaginarie And on Acts 1.11 hee shall come sayth hee in the same forme and substance of flesh to judge as hee came to be judged for altho he hath received immortalitie hee hath not lost the true nature of humanitie §. 3. That after consecration the Bread and VVine remaineth in substance in the Sacrament of the Eucharist 1. Authoritie of Scripture MAtth. 26.29 But I say vnto you I vvill not drinke hencefoorth of this fruit of the Vine Note then That Christ calleth it expresselie the fruit of the Vine which hee had drunken with his Disciples at his last Supper Verse 26. And as they vvere eating Iesus tooke Bread and blessed it and brake it and gaue it to the Disciples Note then That it was still Bread after distribution for the word it is still relatiue to the bread which Christ tooke and hee sayde This is not this shall bee by transsubstantiation my bodie which is given for you sayeth Luke 22.19 Now all men know that it is not the host of bread that was crucifyed for vs doe this in remembrance of mee Note then That a remembrance is not of a thing present so neither is Christ's Bodie after the Popish manner 1. Cor. 10.16 The cup of Blessing vvhich vvee blesse is it not the communioÌ„ of the blood of Christ The bread vvhich vvee breake is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ Remarke then How the Apostle expoundâ—th Christ's words calling that the communion of Christ's bodie which him-selfe called his bodie Now the communion of a thing is not the thing it selfe for these two are divers 1. Cor. 11. For as oft as yee eate this bread and drinke this cup yee doe shew the Lord's death till hee come Note then That the Apostle calleth that bread which wee eate in the Sacrament and not humane flesh Next that wee show or represent Christ's death in the Sacrament therefore Christ beeing onelie represented there is not there bodilie And thirdlie it is sayde till hee come therefore it clearlie againe followeth that hee is not alreadie there 2. Witnessing of Antiquitie NEither doth the mysticall signes after sanctification depart from their owne nature sayth Theodoret for they remaine still in their owne substance and figure and shape and may be handled and touched as they were before Theod. 2. Dialog Where-vnto consenteth Ambrose in 1. Cor. 11. saying That it is bread where-of all participate to wit according to its naturall substance As also Gelasius in his booke of two natures saying After consecration that yet the substance and nature of bread and wine doe still remaine 3. Confession of Partie POpe Innocent 3. in his fourth booke of the mysteries of the Masse cap. 27. testifyeth that Christ after consecration calleth that which was in the Cup the fruit of the Vine And Bellarmine granteth that it is probable that there is no expresse place of Scripture that evidentlie can inforce transsubstantiation to bee admitted for that it is by these words which they commonlie adduce he sayth the most learned and sharpest witted amongst them as Scotus was hath thought the cleane contrarie Bell. lib. 3. de Euchar. c. 23. § secundo §. 4. That Christ Iesus is not received by the bodilie mouth 1. Authoritie of Scripture IOhn 6.35 I am that bread of life hee that commeth to mee shall never hunger and hee that believeth in mee shall never thirst Note therefore That the way how to eate and drinke of Iesus Christ is to belieue in him Verse 53. Verelie verilie I say vnto you except yee eate the flesh of the Sonne of Man and drink his blood yee haue no life in you But remarke that manie haue gotten lyfe eternall who never did eate Christ with the bodilie mouth by the Papists owne confession as the Thiefe on the Crosse and manie moe others which die after Baptisme Ephes 3.17 Christ dwelleth in your hearts by faith Note then That as his dwelling in vs is such is our receiving of him and that the one and the other both are spirituall by fayth 2. Witnessing of Antiquitie WHerefore preparest thou thy teeth and thy wombe sayth Augustine belieue and thou hast eaten Tract 25. in Iohn And even hither-to hee may be touched but by affection not by the hand by desire not by the eye and by fayth and not by the senses sayeth Bernard serm 28. in Cant. So sayeth Ambrose lyke-wise lib. 6. in Luc. c. 8. And therefore concludeth there-after saying Not vpon the earth then nor in
the earth nor according to the flesh must wee seeke Thee if wee would finde Thee Ambr. lib. 10. in Luc. c. 24. 3. Confession of Partie HEE expoundeth sayeth Lyra that which Hee sayde before and what it is to eate His Flesh and drinke His Blood that it is to abyde in Christ and Christ in him Now Christ abydeth in our heartes and that by fayth sayeth the Apostle Ephes 3.17 §. 5. That CHRIST IESVS is not received by the VVicked 1. Authoritie of Scripture IOhn 6.51 I am that Bread of Lyfe which came downe from Heaven if anie man eate of this Bread he shall liue for ever Note therefore That in respect the Wicked get not Eternall lyfe that therefore they no-wise participate of Christ Verse 56. Hee that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abydeth in mee and I in him But the Wicked neyther are in Christ as Members nor is Christ in them by his Spirit but the spirite of Satan onelie whose members they are and therefore they no-wise are partakers of CHRIST IESVS 2. Witnessing of Antiquitie HEe who disagreeth from Christ hee neyther eateth his bodie nor drinketh his blood sayeth Augustine altho hee daylie receiue the Sacrament of so great a thing to his condemnation August 3. Tom. Sent. 339. Et Lib. 21. de Civit Dei Cap. 25. And hee that remayneth not in Mee and I in him let him not say or thinke sayeth Bernard in the person of Christ that hee eateth my bodie or drinketh my blood Bern. Epist ad Fratres de monte 3. Confession of Partie HEe that abydeth not in Christ sayth Lyra and Christ in him hee eateth not Christ spirituallie altho hee participate of the Sacrament corporallie And a little after For the Sacrament it selfe is taken by some vnto lyfe and by some vnto death but the matter of this Sacrament is by all vnto lyfe and by none taken vnto death Lyra in Ioan. 6. §. 6. That Christian People for whom Christ shed His Blood should not be defrauded of the Cup which is called The Communion there-of 1. Authoritie of Scripture MAtth. 26.27 And taking the Cup he gaue thanks and gaue it to them saying Drinke ye all of this Note That where-as Hee sayeth onlie of the Bread Eate yee Hee speaketh more expresselie of the Cuppe saying Drinke yee all that none should bee excepted 1. Cor. 10.16 The Cuppe of Blessing which wee blesse is it not the communion of the Bloode of Christ I aske then Where-fore hinder the Popish Clergie their People from so comfortable a Communion seeing the Precept of Drinking must belong to them to whom the reason of the Precept most belongeth which is the comfort of remission of sinnes and the remembrance of Christ Iesus passion 1. Cor. 11.25 If therefore people should apply the one and remember the other then surelie they should participate of the Cup. 1. Cor. 11.28 But let a man examine him-selfe and so let him eate of that Bread and drinke of that Cap. Noâ— then That as all faythfull Christiaâ—s are bound to prooue and examine tâ—eir owne conscience before communicating so are they ordayned to drinke of the Cup. Therefore yee see that in the two preceeding verses and in the subsequent both Eating and Drinking are ever joyned together and injoyned to all 2. Witnessing of Antiquitie ONe Cuppe is distributed amongst vs all sayeth Ignatius Epist 6. ad Philadelph And to everie one of those that are present the Deacons distribute Wine and Water sayeth Iustin Martyr Apol. 2. And vnto all men what-so-ever is one Bodie and one Cuppe presented sayeth Chrysostome Hom. 18. in 2. Cor. Cap. 8. 3. Confession of Partie OF olde that the Eucharist was given vnto Laicks vnder both kynds for manie ages sayeth Alphonsus wee are instructed by the Writs of manie holie Fathers Alphon. de Castro contra heres verbo Eucharistia And more particularlie sayeth Cassander thus It is evident that the Vniversall Church to this day sayeth hee and the Occidentall or Romane a thousand yeares and moe after Christ in the solemne and ordinarie administration of this Sacrament did exhibite to all the members of Christes Church both the sortes of Bread and Wine Cass consult art 22. CHAP. XIX OF THE MASSE §. I. That the Popish Priests haue no calling to sacrifice Christ's Bodie in the Masse 1. Authoritie of Scripture HEb 5.4 No man taketh this honour to himselfe but he that is called of God as vvas Aaron Now let vs see then where Christ anie-where called or ordained anie to sacrifice his bodie againe which himselfe did once for ever vp-on the Crosse Luke 22.19 Doe this in remembrance of mee 1. Cor. 11.26 Yee shall declare the Lord's death till hee come Note then That the Lord's Supper was ordained that all Christians should remember his suffering and sacrifice on the crosse and should declare his death till him-selfe come to judgement againe but not that anie should sacrifice Him vp againe daylie as tho hee were alreadie come and were bodilie present amongst the Priests fingers daylie to offer vp Heb. 7.23 And they truelie vvere manie Priests because they vvere not suffered to continue by reason of death but this man because hee continueth for ever hath an vnchangeable Priesthood Note then It being vnchangeable or perpetuall that it admitteth no succession of a subordinate Priest-hood Verse 25. Wherefore hee is able also to saue them to the vttermost that come to GOD by him seeing hee ever liveth to make intercession for them Note then That the Priesthood of Christ consisteth not onlie in that oblation of him-selfe once vp-on Earth but in his continuall intercession for vs ever in Heaven which seeing hee performeth that by him-selfe and therefore admitteth no sort of successour there-in so lyke-wyse by that once oblation of himselfe and the perpetuall recent vertue there-of hee saveth all them to the vtter-most that come to God by him and therefore neither in that part of his Priesthood which hee will haue intire admitteth hee anie suffragan or successour what-so-ever Verse 17. For hee testifieth Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek Note then That as there was no Priesthood secundarie or successiue vnto Melchisedek's which was typicall so there is none secundarie or successiue vnto Christ's which is true and eternall else they could not bee saide through their difference to bee of one order Verse 26. For such an High-Priest became vs vvho is holie harmlesse vndefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the Heavens who needed not daylie as those High-priests to offer vp sacrifice first for his owne sinnes and then for the peoples Note then That if the popish sacrificers succeede to Christ it must bee in his high-priesthood for such a one onlie the Gospell acknowledgeth and to doe that which hee did is an act of the high-priest of the Gospell onelie Now the Gospell requireth the high-priest there-of to haue such qualities as are heere set downe which if the Popish sacrificers dare
no good thing that one can doe but it is expresselie commanded But indeed it is to be granted that the popish works of Supererogation are no-where commanded to wit to eate the bread of yldenesse and liue an impure single lyfe in their monkish Cloisters in respect the one is injust and the other impure and both to bee hated against the fore-named properties 2. Witnessing of Antiquitie FOr the remission of the sinnes of their brethren saith Augustine the blood of no Martyre was ever shed which Christ onelie hath done for vs not that wee should imitate him there-in but congratulate for that which hee hath bestowed on vs. Aug. tract 84. in Iohan. 3. Confession of Partie BEllarmine showeth that not onelie sundrie recent Divines of theirs but also the Divines of Lovane did teach that the sufferings of the Saincts are no satisfactions but that Christ's satisfaction is onlie that vnto vs. Bell. lib. 1. de indulg cap. 4. CHAP. XIII OF GLORIFICATION §. 1. That our good works merit not eternall lyfe or glorie for their owne condignitie and worth as the Papists affirme Bell. l. 5. de justificatione c. 17. 1. Authoritie of Scripture IOB 35.7 If thou be righteous vvhat givest thou him to wit to God or what receiveth hee of thine hand Note then That wee cannot merit at God's hand for to bee righteous is a thing that wee are bound to bee and when wee are so God getteth no profite there-by To this same effect therefore Christ sayeth Luke 17.10 So also yee vvhen yee haue done all those things vvhich are commanded you say vvee are vnprofitable servants vvee haue done but that which was our duetie to doe And holie David confesieth thus of him-selfe saying Psal 16.2 My goodnesse Lord extendeth not to thee Thus wee see then that all our good works is a debt-bound service onlie to God who hath created vs and that when wee haue done them yet hee is not benefited But so it is that a worke that meriteth must not be debt for no man meriteth reward by paying his debt and it must bring some good also or commoditie to the rewarder if it merit at his hand which our works doe no-wise to God Rom. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthie to bee compared with the glorie which shall be revealed in vs. Note then If the verie sufferings and Martyrdomes of God's Saincts merite not eternall glorie because there is no proportion betweene them as ought to bee betweene a worke and the reward that it meriteth much lesse can the actions of anie servant of God's be meritorious at his hands of eternall life Which there-fore if anie-where it is called a reward it is in respect of the time when it is given to wit at the ende of our service and lyfe-tyme as the pennie wages but not in respect of anie meritorious qualitie Rom. 6.23 For the wages of Sinne is death but the gift of GOD is eternall lyfe through Iesus Christ our Lord. Remarke therefore that eternall lyfe is not called the godlies wages as death is called the wickeds wages but death is called the wages of Sinne because sinners them-selues merit it and eternall lyfe is called the free gift of GOD through CHRIST as the worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifyeth because withouâ—â—nie meriting there-of by themselues by grace they receiue it as a free gift through the merit of Iesus Christ allanerlie Ephes 2.8 For by grace yee are saved through fayth and that not of your selues but it is the gift of GOD. Rom. 11.6 And if by grace then is it no more of workes otherwyse grace is no more grace Rom. 4.4 For to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt Remarke then that to obtayne eternall lyfe by grace and to obtayne it by the merit of our works are set as things contrarie even as free gift is contrarie to oblieged debt And yet contrarie to so cleare Scripture such is the pryde of Papall doctrine it peartlie avoweth eternall lyfe to bee a debt and that God is our debter not onelie because of His promise but also because of our works Bellarm. L. 5. de Iustif. Cap. 18. § Sed facilis c. Luke 12.32 Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue to you a Kingdome VVee see then that heavenlie Kingdome called heere a gift and that it is God's good pleasure onlie which is the cause why wee get the same and no merit of ours Ephes 1.5 Having predestinated vs vnto the adoption of Children by Iesus Christ to him-selfe according to the good pleasure of his will to the prayse of the glorie of his grace Note then attentiuelie That if the fore-sight of our merites was not the cause why God predestinated vs to eternall lyfe but onelie his owne good pleasure to the prayse of the glorie of his owne grace Then it is still the same good pleasure of God that is the onelie cause why hee giveth vs eternall lyfe to the prayse of the same glorie of his grace and not of vs or anie of our merites Other-wyse the cause should not bee one but diverse yea contrarie why GOD bestoweth vpon vs one and the same thing which were absurd to wit Eternall lyfe in our election before time and the possessing vs there-with at our glorification in time Remarke lyke-wyse That it is to an inheritance of adopted sonnes that wee are predestinated For if wee bee Children wee are also Heyres sayeth the Apostle Rom. 8.17 If there-fore eternall lyfe bee an inheritance it is no purchase of workes and who-so-ever by such a title claymeth the same hee renounceth the lawfull succession there-to as a sonne and so falleth from Grace Gal. 5.4 2. Witnessing of Antiquitie ALthough the Lord bestow Heaven vpon the Godlie according to their workes yet it is not for their workes sayeth Gregorie on these wordes of Psal 7. Auditam fac mihi c. And first thou must belieue sayeth Bernard tria Bernardi credenda that thou canst not obtayne remission of sinne but by the meers mercie of God There-after that thou hast no good workes but that which is His free gift And last of all that thou canst not merite Eternall lyfe by no workes of thine but that Hee freelie lyke-wyse bestoweth that on thee Bern. Serm. 1. in Anunc Mariae 3. Confession of Partie NEyther are our workes what-so-ever they bee of that worth sayth Ferus that they deserue duelie and condignlie anie such reward Ferus in Ioh. 3. f. 69. So sayeth Alphonsus de Castro verbo meritum Therefore Bellarmine is forced to conclude That for the vncertaintie of our owne righteousnes sayth hee and the danger of vayne glorie it is moste safe to put our vvhole confidence in the onelie mercie and bountie of God Bellarm. Lib. 5. de Iustif Cap. 7. § sit tertia §. 2. That there are no super-aboundant meritorious workes or sufferinges of Saincts left behinde them to
bee the treasurie of the Church for the helpe of others to Heaven that vvant merits to bee disposed of onlie and dispensed by papall indulgences as the the Romanists teach 1. Authoritie of Scripture THIS errour might seeme alreadie sufficientlie convinced while as it is clearlie proven that no Sainct was ever yet able for them-selues eyther by their workes or sufferinges to merite Eternall lyfe Yet for farder conviction let these places of Scripture raze the foundation of this loftie Errour Isai 43.11 I even I am the Lord and beside Mee there is no Saviour But the Doctors of Rome say That it is no absurditie to say that beside Him there are Saincts also who may bee called our saviours in a part for so sayeth Bellarmine Lib. 1. de Indulg Cap. 4. § sexta and that by the great heape sayth hee cap. 2. § tamen of their super-aboundant sufferings they are able to expiate exceeding manie and great sinnes of other men and so by this doctrine of theirs ye see they giue the Lord flatlie the lie Ezek. 18.20 The righteousnesse of the righteous shall bee vpon him and the vvickednesse of the vvicked shall bee vpon him Remarke then that it shall not bee vpon another but vpon him-selfe and that it is a straâ—ge madnesse in Poperie that so stiffelie they will deny that the righteousnesse of Christ can bee imputed to vs or made ours in justification but will affirme that the righteousnesse of Saincts and her men may bee made ours by their Pope's Indulgences Act. 4.12 Neither is there salvation in anie other for there is none other Name vnder Heaven given amongst men where-by wee must bee saved Loe heere Full salvation attributed to Christ onlie excluding all others vnder Heaven from having anie part in the glorie of that worke 1. Cor. 1.13 Is Christ divyded was Paul crucified for you or were yee baptized in the name of Paul Note therefore That to make Christ's merit and sufferings to expiate some sins and punishments and the merites and sufferinges of Saincts to expiate other sinnes both manie and great and other punishments if this bee not to divide Christ and to divide the worke of man's salvation betweene the Creator and the creature Of whome wee may lyke-wyse inquire at them Were these Saincts crucified for man-kynde or was ever anie man baptized in their name And if not then their sufferings can-not bee our satisfactions nor can anie thing super-abound in them to expiate the sinnes of other men for for this ende onlie Christ was crucified and for this cause are wee in Christ's Name also baptized professing by his blood-shed and sufferings alone that wee haue full ablution and expiation of our sinnes therefore is it sayde by him-selfe I haue troden the wine-presse alone and of the people there was none with mee Isai 63.3 Heb. 10.14 By one offering hee hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified That is as is sayde Heb. 7.25 Hee hath perfectlie saved them Note therefore That he hath left no supplement to bee made by others Coloss 1.19.20 In him all fulnesse dwelleth there is no defect then in his sufferinges nor no neede on our part to goe anie-where else and by him and not by others even by the blood of his Crosse and not by the sufferinges of Saincts are all things reconciled sayth the Apostle Matth. 25.9 But the vvise answered saying Not so lest there bee not eneugh for vs and you Remarke then That the Elect Saincts figured by the wise Virgines haue no more sanctification than will bee found eneugh to them-selues onlie and therefore that the same is not so super-aboundant that they may spare to others 2. Cor. 5.10 For vve must all appeare before the judgement seate of Christ that everie one may receiue the things done in his bodie not then in the bodies of others according to that vvhich him-selfe hath done vvhether it bee good or bad Therefore not according to the good which another hath done and which thorow super-aboundance hath beene left in the treasure of the Church to helpe others to Heaven Revel 14.13 And I heard a voyce from Heaven saying to me Write Blessed are the dead vvhich die in the Lord from hence-foorth yea sayeth the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them Remarke then That their works byde not behinde them-selues to bee applyed or imployed for the helpe of others but they follow them for the witnessing of their fayth and the increase of glorie to them-selues CHAP. XIIII OF PVRGATORIE §. 1. That the godlie are purged from all sinnes what-so-ever heere and that by Christ's blood allanerlie so that there remaineth no sort of sinnes to bee purged after this lyfe in anie fyerie Purgatorie 1. Authoritie of Scripture EZek 18.22 If a sinner turne I will forget all his iniquities Note then At the verie instaÌ„t of our conversion that wee are purged from all our sinnes what-so-ever and so no veniall sinnes are left to bee purged else-where Isai 38.17 Thou bast in louâ—… delivered my soule from the pit oâ—… corruption for thou hast cast aâ—… my sinnes behinde thy backe Note then That none are reserved to bee satisfied for by man him-selfe in anie imagined Purgatorie but all are casten behind the Lord's backe Psal 51.7.9 Wash mee and I shall bee vvhiter than the Snow hide thy face from my sinnes and blot out all mine iniquities Remarke therefore That where God purgeth the partie purged is made so cleane that there remaineth not the least spot behinde to bee taken away by anie after Purgatorie and it is not some of our greater sinnes onelie but hee blotteth out all our iniquities what-so-ever where hee showeth mercie so that the partie is made whyter than the Snow Col. 2.13 And yee being dead in your sinnes and in the vncircumcision of your flesh he hath quickened together vvith him having forgiven all your trespasses Note then That none are excepted Heb. 10.14 By one offering hath hee perfected for ever them that are sanctified That is as Heb. 7.25 is sayde Hee hath perfectlie saved them And if this bee it followeth that hee hath left no sinne nor no punishment heere-after for sinne vntaken away and so no supplement to bee made to his satisfaction by any sufferinges of ours in an imagined Purgatorie 1. Iohn 1.7 And the Blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne purgeth vs from all sinne Note then How clearlie this errour of Poperie is heere-by convinced that sayeth that his blood purgeth vs onlie from mortall sinne and that there is a fire after this life that purgeth vs from veniall sinnes and temporall punishments where-as the Spirit of God sayeth that Christ's blood purgeth vs from all sinne and so giveth flatlie this spirit of errour the lie Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay anie thing to the charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth Or who shall condemne seeing Christ hath died Note If Christ's death then and the merite there-of hath abrogated all
not claime to then let them not claime succession to that office which requireth those qualities nor to the proper act there-of which is the sacrificing to God his owne onelie Sonne Heb. 9.14 Who through the eternall Spirit offered him-selfe vvithout spot to God Note then That our high-priest iâ—… both the Sacrificer the Altar and thâ—… vnspotted sacrifice it selfe These theâ—… who claime that they succeede him in his priesthood must bee these threâ—… lyke-wyse els his priesthood and their are no-wayes one and so their priesthood must bee a new one of their owne but not a succeeding to his Ephes 4.11 Hee gaue some to bee Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers Note then That the Apostle in nominating all these offices which Iesus Christ had ordained in his Church maketh no mention at all of anie sacrificers of his bodie Againe at large in the Epistles to Timothie and Titus hee showeth all the dueties of a Bishop or Pastor in Christ's Church but hee maketh no part of his charge the sacrificing of Christ Revel 1.6 Who hath made vs Kinges and Priests vnto God his Father Note heere That all Christians are called Priests in respect of their spirituall sacrifices of prayer and praise c. that they offer vp vnto God but no-where are pastors of the Church particularlie so called the holie Ghost fore-seeing that some would aryse that would vsurp that stile onlie to them-selues in an injurious sence vnto the Sonne of God 2. Witnessing of Antiquitie TO this our doctrine that the popish Priests haue no calling to sacrifice Christ's bodie which they claime vnto from Christ's fact and institution of them to succeede there-in to him in the last Supper the cleare confession of our Adversaries jumping there-with shall serue to convince them for there is no expresse mention in the Historie of the Gospell sayeth Suarez of a sacrifice or oblation as also the fact of Christ which is declared might haue beene done by him without anie sacrifice to wit by consecrating the Bread and Wine and giving the same to his Disciples without anie intention of sacrificing and therefore hee concludeth that it is conjecturall onlie to thinke that anie such thing is agreeable either to the words or deeds of Christ Suarez in 3. part D. Thomae tom 3. disput 74. sect 1. § secundo potest In lyke manner the same Suarez reporteth that the Bishop of Bitonto and others did defende that Christ in that night of the celebrating his last Supper offered vp no sacrifice Suarez ibid. § 2. Pag. 949. For if hee had offered vp an expiatorie sacrifice then where-by the sinnes of the World had bene done away then in his last Supper hee behoved to haue died and so needed not to haue died the day after according to Hebr. 10.10 §. 2. That the Masse is no propitiatorie sacrifice but al-together derogatorie to Christ's propitiatorie sacrifice offered on the Crosse 1. Authoritie of Scripture HEb 9.22 Without shedding of blood there is no remission Note then Seeing they call the Masse an vnbloodie sacrifice that therefore the same is no-wise propitiatorie for the remission of sinne Verse 25.26 Not that hee should offer him-selfe often c. for then must he often haue suffered Remarke then That it is all one thing in Scripture Christ to bee offered and Christ to suffer and therefore to offer Christ daylie is all one as Christ to suffer daylie which is both absurd and blasphemous Verse 26. But now in the â—…nde of the Worlde once hath hee appeared to put away sinne by the sacrifice of him-selfe Note then That once onelie hath hee suffered and therefore once onlie was hee sacrificed and that by that sacrifice once made by him-selfe alone our sinnes are put away and therefore no other sacrifice but that onlie is alone propitiatorie Againe verse 26. Where hee sayth That once hee hath appeared to put away sinne by the sacrifice of him-selfe We remarke that a propiatorie sacrifice should bee ever apparent and visible and therefore seeing Christ nor his sacrificing is not apparent nor visible in the Masse therefore it followeth that in the Masse there is no sacrifice at all let bee propitiatorie Verse 27.28 And as it is appointed to men once to die but after that the judgement So Christ vvas once offered to beare the sinnes of manie Note then That to say that Christ is offered daylie is as absurd as to say that a dead man dieth daylie Heb. 7.27 Who needeth not daylie as those High-priests to offer vp sacrifice c. Heb. 9.12 But by his owne blood hee entered once in-to the holie place having obtained eternall redemption for vs. Note then That the repetition of Christ's sacrifice daylie importeth a-like imperfection there-of as the daylie offering vp of sacrifices vnder the Law imported the imperfection of that legall priesthood which is both absurd and blasphemous to affirme of Christ's Againe Remarke that the Apostle showeth that Christ's bloodie sacrifice where-by hee entered in-to the holie place is of an infinite worth having obtained eternall redemption for vs where-as all Papists grant their sacrifice of the Masse to bee but of a finite worth and therefore is not one but farre inferiour to the sacrifice of Christ and consequentlie also then priesthood to his From whence also it followeth that they succeede not to Christ in his priesthood after the order of Melchisedek but haue a new one of their owne coyning farre differing from Christ's and millions of degrees inferiour there-to Heb. 10.18 Now vvhere remission of sinne is there is no more offering for sinne Verse 14. For by one offering hee hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Note then If that one and once offering of Christ availeth for ever to the remission of sinne and perfecting for ever of them that are sanctified it followeth necessarilie as the Apostle sayeth that there is no more offering for sinne and consequentlie no more needc of sacrifices propitiatorie nor anie furder immolation of Christ for the remission of sinne And therefore wee conclude That seeing the sacrifice of the Masse is neither the reiteration of Christ's sacrifice for that were to accuse it of imperfection as Heb. 7.27 nor yet the continuation of it for so hee should daylie die as Heb. 9.25.26 nor that it is visible bloodie nor of an infinite worth as His was Therefore it is no-wyse Christ's sacrifice propitiatorie but a blasphemous idolatrous abhomination flat derogatorie there-to 2. Witnessing of Antiquitie TO this our doctrine That the Masse is no reall and properlie a propitiatorie Sacrifice witnesseth thus Antiquitie Because wee are delivered sayth Ambrose by Christ's death as myndfull there-of in eating and drinking wee represent that Bodie and Blood which was sacrificed for vs. Amb. in 1. Epist. ad Cor. cap. 11. So lyke-wise testifyeth Eusebius After that Christ offered vp that admirable and excellent sacrifice to his Father for the salvation of all hee instituted that wee should
the 5. gaue one a dispensation that married his owne Sister and showeth that Sainct Antoninus is a conjunct recorder of this with him Lyke-wyse Villa Scotus and Orbellis all three on the fourth Booke of Sentences reporte howe that Pope Lucius dispensed with Panormitan an Archbishop to haue two Wiues at once out of the fulnesse of his power say they against that Apostolicall precept 1. Tim. 3.2 Villa f. 195. dist 27. Scotus f. 255. d. 33. q. 2. Orbellis d. 33. § 2. 3. Last that hee vsurpeth the proper stiles of the Sonne of God and so is that Beast Full of the names of blasphemie let these instances testify 1. Hee is called That light that came into the world and which the world received not Iohn 1.10 for so the Bishop of Bitonto in his oration before the Counsell of Trent publicklie proclaimed him Which title to bee onlie competent to Christ alone both the text manifesteth verse 8.9.10 and 12 and their owne Authors Carthusian Lyra Ferus and manie moe on that place testify 2. Hee is called The Husband of the Church by Bellarmine lib. 2. de Pont. cap. 31. which Aquine Lyra and Lombard on 2. Cor. 11.2 showeth to bee the proper stile of Christ Iesus allanerlie 3. By the same Bellarmine in his Preface De summo Pontifice hee is called That corner stone proved and precious which title of Christ's alone Lyra Hugo de S. Charo Pintus and Perusin on Isai 28. showeth to be incommunicable to anie what-so-ever hee being called the corner stone because hee coupleth say they both Iew and Gentile in one vnitie of fayth proven by the passion of his crosse and precious in respect both of the infinite value of his person being God and Man as also of the merite of passion which redeemed the whole World And last hee is called by Turrecremata lib. 3. summae cap. 9. King of Kings which is onlie proper to our Saviour Revel 19.16 and due to him allanerlie §. 7. His Idolatrie or spirituall VVhoredome REvel 17.6 And vpon her fore-head was a name written Mysterie Babylon the Mother of Harlots and abhominations of the Earth Now of the veritie here-of in Rome let their owne doctrine and confessions in one instance onelie concerning the worshipping of Images clearlie beare witnesse Their doctrine is this That the same honour is due to the Image of Christ which is due to Christ him-selfe for so say their canonized Saincts in their authorized wrytings Sainct Aquinas 3. parte q. 25. and Sainct Bonaventure Like-wise That the Images of Christ and of the Saincts are to bee worshipped not onlie by accidâ—nt or improperlie but also by them-selues and properlie so that the worship stayeth in the image it selfe and as they are considered even in them-selues and not onlie as they supplie the place of that which they represent So teacheth Bellarmine lib. 2. de reliq c. 21. Their confession of the Idolatrie that is amongst them conforme to this doctrine is such Polydorus Virgilius sayth lib. 6. de inventione rerum cap. 13. that in his tyme it was come to that madnesse and impietie that those carved and painted Images were so worshipped as if they had sense and that the rude people did more confyde in them than in Christ him-selfe or the Saincts Cassander also lib. consuls c. de imag affirmeth that the worship of Images was come to that highest adoration amongst them that ever was vsed by Pagans to bee given to their Idoles and to that extreame vanitie that they haue left no-thing vndone which the verie Heathens performed in dressing and decoring their Images And there after concludeth that as long as the occasion of such errour is not taken away but that Images decked with golde and silke and precious stones are set in Churches and on Altars that so long no ende of superstition is to bee hoped for §. 8. His Crueltie REvel 17 6. And I saw the Woman drunken vvith the Blood of the Saincts and of the Martyres of IESVS This to bee true of the Popes I shall adduce onlie their owne witnesses Platina in the lyfe of Sylvester the 3 testifyeth That the Popedome was at that time come to this passe that hee who exceeded most in pryde and bryberie attained to that degree of honour all good men being oppâ—essed by them which fashion says he I wish our times had not kept and except God prevent it wee are to see worse In lyke manner thus doeth the Author of Fasciculus exclaime f. 49. saying of the 900. yeare O worst time that ever was sayth hee where-in the godlie man is perished and Trueth is decayed amongst the sonnes of men O what contentions are in the Apostolicke seat what emulations sects envie ambition intrusion yea and persecution is now Alace what companie what assemblie yea what man then may bee now secure Also in the life of Boniface the seaveÌ„th he sayth that manie were slaine as in the primitiue Church for that to wit which the Pope called Heresie And in the lyfe of Innocent the third like-wise hee showeth that 100000. of the VValdenses were partlie slaine and put to flight by the Earle of Montferrat assisted at the Pope's command with Bishops and Abbots And that in Mysticall Babylon the blood shed in the whole Earth may bee found Onuphrius in the lyfe of Iulius the second showeth that the Pope was the verie fyre-brand and stirrer vp of Warres everie-where through-out all Christendome This is then that killing of the two Witnesses Rev. 11.3 whom Augustine hom 8. in Apoc. and Beda on that place expound to bee the true professours of Christ's Church and for number called two because sayeth Beda of that illumination by the light of the two Testaments whose trueth they purelie professe and whence sayth Augustine all that suspicion of some is al-together excluded who thinke that those two Witnesses shall bee two men who before Christ's comming had in the Clouds ascended vnto Heaven §. 9. His Simonie or spirituall Merchandize 2. PEt. 2.3 And thorow covetousnesse shall they with feigned vvordes make merchandize of you Therefore Revel 18. amongst the merchandize of Mysticall Babylon is recounted last as most speciall to summe vp all the soules of men Of the practise of this simonie first in an ordinarie custome of buying and selling the Papacie it selfe let that testimonie of the Popes Secretarie Platina in the lyfe of Sylvester the third suffice who sayeth that they who most exceeded in Pryde and Bryberie attained to that degree Next for selling of inferiour cures of soules let first a Pope him-selfe speake to wit Pius the second who before his comming to the Popedome in his fourth Epistle to Iohn Peregall his Procutor at Rome writeth thus There is no-thing sayth hee that the Court of Rome giveth without Money for the verie imposition of hands and the gifts of the holie Ghost are solde neither is the remission of sinne bestowed vpon anie without large Money Here-of also testifieth their Poët and Carmelite