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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13142	A summe or a briefe collection of holy signes, sacrifices, and sacraments instituted of God euen since the beginning of the world, and of the true originall of the sacrifice of the Masse; Sum or a brief collection of holy signes, sacrifices and sacraments.	Ling, Nicholas, fl. 1563.; Brett, John, Sir, attributed name.; Devonshire, William Cavendish, Earl of, 1590-1628, attributed name.	1609 (1609)	STC 23434; ESTC S113014	129,473	362

in his bookes of Leuiticus and Numbers The Arke of witnes Ex. 25.27.28 Another signe sacrament instituted of God by the Arke of the couenant described in Exodus being a holy signe dedicated to receiue the holy and heauenly answers to the end to bring the people to the remembrance feare and obedience of God to honour accompany the Arke of the couenant Many other exterior signes were ordeyned of God as the ornaments and consecration of Priestes Ephod specially the ornament called the Ephod the which and the sacrifices the Israelites did abuse by their Idolatries Another holy signe there was of the purging and sprinkling water ordeined by God to Moyses and Aaron the high Priest Purging water consecrated Numb 19. This sprinkled water was consecrated with ashes gathered by a clean person of the sacrifice offered in Holocausta To witte of a Cowe all redde without any spot and which had neuer bin laboured The Wood ordeyned to make the fier for the burnt offering was Cedar Hisope Purple with Crimsin With this water were sprinkled polluted persons for the purging and cleansing of their corporall defilings Exod. 38. At the entring of the Temple or Tabernacle was a Lauer made of Brasse forged first with the images of the women of Israell in this Lauer was put the sprinkling water wherewith the sacrificers are sprinkled before the celebrating of their sacrifices to the end they might be purified and obtaine grace remission of their sinnes After the death of the great Priest Aaron the people of Israell vnthankfull to God for the goodnes sent them of him murmuring as annoyed with the heauenly Manna freely giuē vnto them for their noriture were punished by the biting of venemous serpēts But the merciful God gaue vnto them an holy signe whereby they should be saued and restored to health to wit the brasen serpent lifted vp in the aire a figure of Iesus Christ crucified Brasen serpent Iohn 3.7 These were in summe the most part of the signes sacrifices and sacraments ordeyned of God in the first Church of the Israelites figures of the true and perfect sacrifice performed by Iesus Christ the true Messias and euerlasting Priest sitting at the right hand of God the Father Sacraments brokē by Adam Gene. ● Now resteth the summe to bring forth how man by his owne proper fault did fall in obliuiō and disobedience of God his creator abusing Gods fauour and corrupting the holy signes sacrifices sacraments ordeyned to him What perswaded our first father and his companiō to bide themselues at the hearing of Gods voice but because they had abused the holy signe and broken the lawe of the fruits to them forbiddē This holy signe which our first and vniuersall father had abused was the originall of other vices and corruptions hereafter described into the which all men are fallen sauouring of the corrupted lumpe of Adam Leauing the particuler corruptions of the signes Corruption of the sacrifice by Aaron Exo. 32 Deut. 9. sacrifices and sacraments before the law written by Moyses we will begin to bring forth briefly the most notable error committed by the most great sacrificers as Kings Priests and others hauing the chiefe gouernement of the people When Moyses was abiding in the mount Synay to receiue the commandements of God his brother Aaron the high Priest forged a calfe of gold of the golden earings giuen vnto him by the people of Israell he builded an aulter offered incense and celebrated sacrifice causing the common people to worship the molten Image Was not this an abusing of the Sacrifices ordeined of God and a corrupting of the true vsage of the same in causing the calfe to be worshipped in place of the slaine and offered sacrifice as it was appointed in the law Corruption of the sacrifice by Nadab Abihu Leui. 10 Numb 11. His sonnes also Nadab Abihu were not they cōsumed with fire for abusing the vse of sacrifices in taking vnhallowed wood and corrupting the law The people of Israel vnthankfull for the goodnes done vnto them in being deliuered from the Pharaōical captiuity did they not murmure against the holy sacrament of heauenly Manna when they did disdaine and contemne this bread of life Iosua and demanded flesh to eate Achan the sonne of Charmes did not he violate the lawe of the holy signes when he committed sacriledge and kept backe the spoyles of Ierico vowed consecrated to God for sacrifices If any more curiously desire to see the continuall abuses and corruptions of the people themselues Iudg. 2.3.6.8.9 let him reade the histories of the Iudges of Israel and in all times he shall find man neuer to be content with the true worshipping ordeined of God But in steed of outwarde signes ordeined of God to draw the people to feare and obediēce they haue forged inuentions And in place of reuerencing the alters and arke couenant in the name of the only God being outward sacred signes The Israelites infected with the Idolatries of their neighbours the Syrians Iudges 10 Sidonians Moabites Ammonites and Philistines did erect alters vnto their strange Gods The vngentle sacrifice of Iephtha Iudg. 11. Baal and Astaroth Ieptha Iudge and Captain of the Israelites did not he corrupt the lawe of Sacrifices when he sacrificed his owne proper daughter excusing himselfe by a vow which hee made Iudg. 8.9 Idolatry by the Ephod Iudg. 17.18 which was not appointed to him of God The holy signe ordayned of God for the high Priest to celebrate sacrifices in called Ephod the vppermost garment was not it abused by Gedeon captaine of the Israelites when as of the spoiles of the Madianits and of their earings he made an Ephod of gold whereby the people fell into great idolatrie How long time was this holy outward signe Ephod abused an Image being erected by the mother of Michas in Silo Priests sacrificers appointed expresly to sacrifice thereunto an Altar builded and the true vse of sacrifices corrupted So long as the temple continued in Silo into what wicked manners did the Priestes and sacrificers fall which were ordeined of God for the ministrie of sacrifices and holy sacraments when they vsurped by long possession to haue this priuiledge of the people 1 Sam. 2. that when they did sacrifice the flesh of the offered sacrifice was seething their boy or seruant hauing a three grained flesh-hooke of yron in his hand had liberty to catch out of the potte or caldron all that he could cary with his hooke Further the leuiticall tiranny was such that this seruant of the Priest had libertie to demand of the sacrifice giuer flesh to roste for the sacrificer otherwise to take it by force euen as he would Was not this a great abuse and detestable corruption practised by the Pristes and chiefe sacrificers vnder the pretēce of sacrifices What greater corruption can be declared then that of the sonnes of the chiefe Priest

this holy sacramēt the child baptized feeleth no grief as he did feele in cutting of the skinne This signe of water to represent vnto vs the purging and cleansing of our sinnes by the bloud of Iesus Christ was common not onely to the Iewes which were wont to vse their cleansing water but also to the Gentiles and all nations who had in vse the cleansing and washing with this water called Lustrall Expiatorie as may appeare by reading of auncient histories To the end then that the grace of God by Iesus Christ might extend to all the world generally to all nations countries and prouinces as well circumcised as vncircumcised Iewes as Gentiles God did choose the signe of water most common so much the more applying it to the comm●ditie of man to draw him to feare and obedience Tit. 3. Galath 3. By the which signe hee instituted the holy sacrament of baptisme for a note assured marke of our regeneration and purifying represented sacramentally by the vertue of the holy ghost in the which sacrament God doth assist and assure vs to be borne a new and made one with Christ Iesus to be renewed made members of his members and that he will receiue vs as clad and incorporate into him and by him Like reasons might be brought for the other holy Sacrament ordeined of God by his new Testament to wit Sacrament of the holy supper of Iesus Christ of bread and wine Which signes tokens figures and notable formes all nations haue beene accustomed to vse in their sacrifices oblations ceremonies concerning their religions as well circumcised as vncircumcised aswell Iewes as Gentiles Also the two kindes of foodes for the nourishmēt of man are cōtained vnder bread and wine For these causes our good God desiring to drawe vnto him all nations to nourish and minister most necessarie food vnto thē did institute the cōmunion of the body bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ vnder the formes holy signes and sacramentes of bread and wine For as we are assured by the marke and element of water in baptisme to be regenerate and renued in the body and bloud of Iesus Christ represented by the sacrament of holy water by the vertue of the holy Ghost Euen so are we nourished by the communion of this body and bloud represented really by the Bread and Wine consecrated for spirituall foode nourishment euerlasting and quickening by the power of the holy ghost wherin God fauoured vs much in discharging vs of bloudy sacrifices ordeined in the first Church of the Israelits which were wont to be charged with many and diuerse sacrifices celebrated with the shedding of the bloud of earthly beastes after the diuersity of offences and persons offending All which sacrifices were ended and put away by the shedding of the bloud of the iust and innocent Lambe Heb. 9. Iesus Christ which by his perfect sacrifice hath vtterly abolished all other sacrifices reseruing vnto himselfe the dignity of the great and euerlasting Sacrificer sitting at the right hand of God his Father But he hath fauoured vs so much that in place of the abolished sacrifices he hath instituted the two holy sacraments before mentioned to assure vs of our regeneration our purging our adoption our nourishment eternall life giuen vs by the bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ But as the Israelites too grosse and carnall did rest in the exterior signes Corruption of the Sacramēts corrupting the true vse of the sacramentes and sacrifices giuen vnto them of God Euen so like abuse yea greater corruptions are come vnto our two holy Sacraments left vnto vs by the new testament of Iesus Christ for the sacrament of Baptisme succeeded in the place of Circumcision man conceiued of corrupted clay would not bee contented with Gods holy institution Sacrament of Baptisme corrupted But some haue brewed and corrupted the vse of the holy sacrament of Baptisme with adiurations and coniurings suggling of salt of oyle of tapers creame blowings hoodes or biggins with an infinit number of crosses on the forehead on the eyes Theodor. in his booke of the fables of heretikes on the nose on the backe on the breast on the shoulders on the mouth to chase away Deuils For the Massalians heretikes authors of coniuring and crossing do say that the child borne is accompanied with his Spirit or Deuill which cannot be chased away but by adiuration and coniuring Ca. sine Ca. post quam de consecratione distinct 4. And for this cause this holy sacrament of Baptisme hath beene corrupted so farre that they haue added thereunto strange termes of the Syrian language with spettell and purging sniuell Ephetath per Satyr 2. What greater corruptions coulde there be described then these abhominable inuentions as if the bloud of Iesus Christ had not beene sufficient for our regeneration and purgation And as if God had not beene of power sufficient to perfect and regenerate vs by the holy signe of water representing the bloud of Iesus Christ Gala. 3. Ephe. 4. 1 Cor. 15. if there were not spettell coniured sniuell oiles salt biggins creame torches or tapers or milke or hony inuented by other Heretikes Other more subtill Magicians Tertullian in his booke of the crowned Souldier Pithagorians instructed in the Massalian doctrine haue added moreouer to pronoūce twentie times ouer the man child presented to Baptisme the name of a Deuill which they say doth accompany him by that meanes to adiure and coniure him away And at the Baptisme of a wench to say the same thirtie times Was there euer such detestable corruption in the sacrament of Circumcision Wherefore O Massaliās haue you brued your oiles in the holy Sacrament of Baptisme Following the heresie Marcus Marcosus Epipha lib. 1 tom 3. heres 34 which commanded to anoint the childrē that were to be baptized The holy signe of water instituted by the hand of God was it not sufficiēt to represent the precious bloud of Iesus Christ for our regeneration purification without brewing of greeses of oile of spettel other minglings inuēted by the corruptors of the holy sacraments The body and bloud of Iesus Christ whrewith wee be clad by the holy water of Baptisme was it not sufficient to preserue vs from all tempestes without borrowing of Biggins and Crisomes And for another more great corruption and abuse it was permitted vnto women to baptise Tom. 1. Epipha lib. 1. heres 42. lib. 2. Tom. 1. heres 49. following the error of the Marcionistes Quintilians Cataphriges Montanists Pepuzians Priscillians and Artotirites Was it euer permitted vnto women by the lawe of God to administer the holy sacraments or sacrifice instituted in the first Church of the Israelites or in the newe Testament of Iesus Christ In the History of Moyses it is recited Exod. 4. how that his wife Sephora moued with a womanly rage tooke the stone or knife wherewith she circumcised her sonne but it

Iohn Bishop of that place Who seing the occidentall Empire of Rome ouerthrowne and the other of Constantinople highly exalted Greg. lib. 4. of his epistles cap. 26. hee would also follow the tyrannie of the world and styrre vp a spirituall rule in the Church of Iesus Christ Hee caused himselfe to be declared by a councell holden at his pleasure Bishop Ecumenique The yeere of Christ 604. that is to say generall and head of the whole Church Platin. Sabellic But soone after the great Bishops of Rome gaue such order that by treason the Emperour Maurice in Constantinople was cruely slaine hee his wife and familie by wicked Phocas who to recompence this detestable murder committed by the aduise of the Church of Rome alwaies contrary to Iesus Christ The yeare of Christ 612. hee declared Boniface the third of that name the generall head of the church of God taking vpon him the authoritie of Iesus Christ the great and euerlasting high Priest the onely spouse and head of his church Who can better describe an Antichrist than hee that doth enterprise a tyrannie in the church of God Marke 26 a poligamie in the church the spouse of Iesus Christ attributing to himselfe that power which Iesus Christ hath reserued to himselfe to bee perpetuall with his church by the vertue of his holy spirite to conduct and gouerne the same May not hee rightly be called Antichrist which doth enforce himselfe directly to goe against the holy gospell of Iesus Christ who commanded his Apostles when he sent them to preach his word that they should not institute a Monarchie in the church as the Princes Kings Math. 23. Luke 11. Marke 2. and tyrants of the earth That none amongst them should enterprise to call himselfe the head or greater then other but all as brethren were humble being assured to haue one head and one heauenly father which will tarrie with them and assist them for euer to inspire and conduct them in his holy will Is not hee of good right Antichrist which will haue himselfe called the successour of Iesus Christ in the great Bishoprick in the high priesthood by him exercised The which dignitie he hath reserued to himselfe abiding a high soueraigne Priest for euermore who hath left no successour in his dignitie as Aaron did and his successours in the dignities of the high Priests of the Iewes But is after the order of Melchisedech a king high priest without any successour in his dignitie Wherfore then O Antichrists of Rome haue you taken vpon you the dignity of the highest Bishops as the heads of the church of God and vsurped also the authority of Iesus Christ causing your selues to be called most blessed most reuerend fathers and Popes hauing instituted a colledge of little purple Bishoppes to choose the great Bishop but onely to the end to renew the auncient Romaine religion of Numa Pompilius the first authour of your Pontificall dignities About the same time that Phocas the cruell murtherer did erect an Antichrist in the Romane Church Mahomet was risen in the Church of Arabia instructed by the Monke Sergius about the yeare 620. for this Apostate Heretike seeing the lawe of God altogether corrupted by the traditions of men and the holy Gospell contemned sectes and diuerse heresies sowed as well by the Iewes Pharisees Esseens Saduces Masbutheans Galileans Hemerobaptists and Samaritans as also by the Christians Simoniaques Nicolaits Cerinthiēs Menandriēs Ebionites Valētinians Cerdonians Marcionistes Montanistes Seeke the Church histories Cataphriges Tatians Eueratits Seuerians Artemonistes Porpherians Helchesaites Nouatiens Sabellians Chiliastes Paulianistes Manicheans Automousiastes Arrians Eunonians Macedonians Euuomiotheophroniens Eunomioentichiens Aetians Donatistes Luciferiens Patripassians or Theophatites Photiniens Marcellians Paulosamosetans Apolinaristes Iouinianistes Pelagians Acariens Olimpiens Quaternitaries Monothelites And other Heretikes hauing corrupted the true vsage of the holy Sacraments ordeyned of God Seeing also specially the Messalien secte to prosper in their ceremonies taken partly out of the Iudaicall lawe and partly out of the heathen Idolatrie he inuented the great Alcoran decree wherein he set many chapters articles called Azoares which are as lawes and rules of the Mahomet Religion This preface briefe discourse of the Romane history me thought necessarie to recite before I would begin to discribe the originall of the sacrifice of the Masse Alwaies to bring the Reader to vnderstand the veritie of the fact How the Emperour of Rome hath bin gouerned vntill the decay thereof about the yeare of Christ 410. And how the barbarous Idolators did vsurpe the same for the space of 300. yeares how also the Antichristes did rise and in the end the Emperour of Rome was transferred to the Almaines which keepe it to this day 500. yeares being passed Of the Masse TO begin this our little treatise of the Masse first of all it is conuenient to interprete this tearme Masse The originall of the tearme of the Masse of the ancient Romaines called Missa Some haue honoured this Missal sacrifice to haue taken his beginning of the Hebrewes bringing in the place of Daniel Daniel 11. speaking of Maozin as if they would signifie the Masse by Maozin But this tearme is very strange frō Missa or Masse And there are other Hebrew words which are more nearer to wit Messa which is as much to say as conculcation or treading downe whereof mention is made in the history of the kinges of Israel 4. Kings 11. Missa Another tearme also is found very comfortable vnto this common tearme Masse namely Messall Iosua 19. Messall that is to say hell or graue But I am well assured that the high Priestes of Rome will not take the originall of their sacrifice of the Masse from the Hebrues acknowledging their Masse and Messall to be a conculcation graue or hell Further to speake the truth the Author of the Romane Religion Numa Pompilius neuer thought of the Hebrues when he first instituted the Masse much lesse this tearme Missa or Masse can haue his originall of the Greekes Messal Hell seeing they haue no sacrifice of that name notwithstanding that some haue made some reason to bring in this terme of Greeke Miz●in that is to say in English to whisper or hide in secret As if the Messalian sacrificers had receiued of the Greekes Idolatours to keepe secret the chiefe and principall words of their Masses to the end they should not bee vnderstood of the assistance but haue obserued to murmure and blow betweene their teeth the Canons and other speciall words which neither they vnderstoode themselues nor other which beheld them Neuerthelesse neither the Hebrue termes nor Greeke vocables in no wise can be appropriated to the missall sacrifice Wherefore it behoueth to haue recourse to the true original of the terme Missa or Masse Masse taken of the ancient Latins Romans taken of the auncient Latines the Romanes which were accustomed to vse these termes Missus

man of the substance of his mother that in the fraile flesh of mankinde hee might take vpon himselfe and suffer all the punishment due vnto sinners that as manie as beleeued or should to the end of the world beleeue in him might not perish but haue euerlasting life For christ in the power of his diuine nature to which hee ioyned our flesh suffered the wrath curse punishment of God due for sinne which no mortall creature beeing only man was or could bee able to beare or ouercome for which cause the sonne of God made himselfe flesh to the end that according to gods infinit iustice the sinnes of the faithfull might be borne away and fully punished in his flesh wherein his infinite Iustice did most brightly shine apeare His infinite mercie herein appeareth that where the sinnes of the faithfull be fully punished through the sufferings of Iesus Christ for the satisfaction of Gods iustice it appeareth plainly vnto them that they are freely forgiuen pardoned because in them as in their owne persons their sinnes are not nor shall euer be punished nor any satisfaction made or to be made vnto GOD by themselues Christ hauing borne the wrath and full punishment of God due vnto them for sinne and quite freed discharged them so that neither their sinnes shall be laid to their charge nor any punishment nor purgation due for the same required at their hāds Which plainly setteth forth and declareth vnto all the faithfull Gods infinite and vnspeakeable mercie whereof this sacramēt communion of his precious bodie bloud is a plain declaration resēblance perfect seale of assurance vnto all the faithfull But the Church of Rome with her followers as by the Doctrine of transubstantiation they do denie the truth of the manhood of the sonne of God so by the same doctrine they denie also and abolish the truth of the Sacrament and the end of the institution of the same which was to put the faithfull in mind of the great loue of God and sufferings of Christ for thē for so saith the Apostle You shall shew the Lords death till hee come It serueth also to put them in mind of all the benifits receiued by his precious body and bloud who gaue his body to bee broken and his bloud to bee shed for their sinnes and by this holy sacrament giueth to all true beleeuers his reall naturall flesh and bloud to bee their spirituall meate drinke to preserue and nourish their bodies and soules vnto lif● euerlasting and to declare testifie and assure vnto them their vnion that they haue with him as members making one body distributing vnto all and euery member the spirituall graces and vertues of his most excellent reall naturall holy body which spirituall and immortall foode of their bodies and soules is receiued from their head Iesus Christ who distributeth and sendeth it downe to the nourishment of all his members euen as the foode of this mortall life is receiued by meanes of the head and sent downe to the nourishmēt of all our earthly members whereof these outward elements are a fulll declaration and a perfect seale of assurance to all the faithfull being by the institution of God made a holy sacrament to represent the same vnto them and by his holy ordinance appointed to carrie the very name of his body which is signified by these elements offered vnto all and giuen to the true beleeuers wherein God of his infinite goodnes and mercy applieth himselfe to the dulnes of the capacities of his children who without these outward pledges being signes tokens and remembrances of his great mercy would neuer haue conceiued and would haue beene ready also to forget the infinite benefits mercies of God purchased for them by the death and passion of his beloued sonne which God in his excellent wisedome hath so liuely declared and set forth in these Sacramentall elements because the reall naturall bodily presence of Christ did not so plainely make the same knowne and open to the vnderstanding of his disciples and the Church For which cause our Sauiour did institute command and celebrate this holy Sacrament whiles hee was yet bodily present amongst his disciples both for that his bodily presence was not long to continue but to depart away from them whereof this Sacrament was to keepe a remembrance amongst them as also of all the benefits receiued and to be receiued by all and euery of the faithfull by his most precious bodie bloud giuen vp to bee crucified broken and shed for their sinnes whereof these sacramentall elements did and would make a more liuely declaration to the senses and vnderstanding of his Disciples and the Church through the grace of his holy spirit working in euery of their hearts then by his bodily presence they were able to conceiue For which cause it pleased our Sauiour to giue to this Sacrament the name of his bodie because in this Sacrament the true reall and naturall holy body of Christ is offered to all giuen to the true beleuers receiued of them by a true and liuely faith with praise and thanksgiuing as before hath beene remembred Of which true real natural holy body the wicked and vnbeleeuers are not nor cannot bee partakers either worthily or vnworthily as th● church of Rome imagineth by their doctrine of Transubstantiation or as the Lutherans imagine by their doctrine of Cōsubstantiation but comming to this holy Sacrament without true faith they receiue the same sacrament vnworthily whereby they eate and drinke their owne damnation as the Apostle saith in the 1. to the Corin. ver 29. He that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh his own damnation because he discerneth not the Lords body but reiecteth despiseth the same by receiuing the holy Sacramēt vnworthily without true faith For whē they presume to receiue the holy Sacramēt without a true faith to be thereby made partakers of the true natural holy body and bloud of Christ they receiue as Augustine saith by their vnworthy receiuing the holy Sacrament without true faith the bread of the Lord but not together by and with the same the bread the Lord that is they receiue the Sacrament but not that which is signified declared offered vnto all and giuen through the worke of the holy Ghost by and with the Sacrament vnto all the true beleeuers and seeing the wicked vnbeleeuers haue wilfully put from them reiected and despised that which they might haue receiued if they had come with true faith they doe worthily eate drinke iudgement to themselues as the Apostle saith for not discerning the body of the Lord. Wherby it doth also most euidētly appeare that there is neither consubstantiation nor transubstantiation in the Sacrament for seing the wicked eate drinke iudgement to themselues by their vnworthy receiuing the holy Sacrament it must therefore needs follow that they are thereby no partakers of the true naturall bodie bloud of Christ of which

one member bee had in honour all the members reioyce vvith it Novv you are the body of Christ and members for your part By which words the Apostle sheweth that all the faithfull both in heauen in earth make but one mystical body of Christ and that the whole Church together make but one Christ being all in particular the seuerall members of his said mystical body wherof he himse●fe is the head of which firme and stedfast coniunction Baptisme the Lords supper are an effectuall declaration and resemblance and perfect seales of assurance to all the faithfull for by Baptisme is declared their new birth into one spirit and by their participation of the body and bloud of Christ is manifestly shewed opened sealed assured vnto them their newe planting incorporating into Christs body who b●●ng made liuely members of the same they are guided gouerned and ruled by one selfe same spirit of Christ according as the Apostle affirmeth in the 4. chapter of the epistle to the Eph●sians There is one body and one spirit euen as you are called in one hope of your vocatiō There is one Lord one faith one Baptisme one God father of all which is aboue all through all and in you all That we be henceforth no more children wauering and caried about with euery winde of doctrine by the deceit of men and craftines whereby they lie in waite to deceiue but let vs follow the truth in loue and in all things grow vp vnto him which is the head that is Christ by whom all the body being coupled and knit together by euery ioynt for the furniture thereof according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euery part receiueth increase of the body vnto the edifying of it selfe in loue till we all meete together in the vnity of faith and knowledge of the S●nne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ And in Gal. 3. it is thus said For yee are all the Sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus for all yee that are Baptized into Christ haue put on Christ. By which words the Apostle noteth that all the whole church are but as one man in Christ Iesus making but one mysticall body of Christ whereof the sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper are a declaration resemblance testimony perfect seale of assurance so that Christ being now head of his church and the Church which is the company of the faithfull being made one body with him he nourisheth and feedeeth all and euery member of the same and through the worke grace of his holy spirit ioyneth them together by their particular ioints so that euery part hath his iust proportion of foode that at length through the vertue receiued extended from him as from their head euery part may grow vp to perfection in which communion and fellowship of the members of Christ together with their head great comfort is laide vp to a true Christian soule For as the Apostle saith if one member suffer all suffer with it and if one member be had in honour all the members reioyce with it because that which is comfort and honour to one is comfort and honour vnto all in asmuch as all be made partakers therof through Christ their head who by the lace of loue hath vnited and fast ioyned them one with another and coupled them all to himselfe through his exceeding charitie spreading it selfe and ouershadowing them all that in all good things as also in their euill afflictions and sorrowes Christ himselfe with all his members do partake and common together according as by himselfe is affirmed in his word that whatsoeuer is done to the least lowest of his members in his said mysticall body be it good or euill it is done vnto him he being the head of that body frō whence euery member draweth his life and feeling for how can a man offend the least part of the body being a liuely and quicke member and the whole body and head not feele it and what suffereth the furthest part of the foot that the whole body and head suffereth not seeing that it is the head that giueth m●tion sense and perfect feeling to all the body euery member of the same and what suffereth the furthest lowest and least part of the foot that the whole body and head suffereth not and what benefite also can be done vnto any litle part of the foot in which all the body and specially the head taketh not comfort and reioyceth So then if any one member be feeble and weake in faith yet the churches faith which is the company of all the faithfull ioyned to and with their head is stable and assured strong and if the repentance of some one member be suddaine small and short yet the repentance and sorrowes of the church ioyned with her head is plentifull deepe large and sufficient whereof this short and suddaine repentant this poore and little but yet truly greeued member hath communion if the loue and charitie of any one member be languishing and faint but yet true and vnfained yet the loue of the church and spouse and head of the church whereunto that member with all the rest is laced and lincked is infinite exceeding feruent and strong of whose infinite loue the weakest feeblest hath as full partaking communion as the strongest lastly if any one member bee spotted and stained and defiled with the filthines of sinne yet the head and rest of the members to which it is ioyned by a true though neuer so little and weake faith and in whom it reioyceth through the bond of true and vnfained loue though neuer so languishing faint and cold loue springing of that weake and yet true faith this head I say Iesus Christ through whom it hath communion with the rest of the members and partaketh of all that the head and the rest of the members haue from the head are faire and beautifull by which faith and loue flowing of the same through the speciall and alone working of the holy Ghost whatsoeuer the head or any of the members haue had haue or shall haue by distributiō of grace from the head is made common to the beautifying of the weakest feeblest the most defiled and fowlest member for so the head hath distributed to all the members to helpe one another that the most honest parts doe couer keepe and honour the lesse honest according as the Apostle affirmeth To all the true beleeue●s then that haue true faith true charitie true honesty without hypocrisie though neuer so weake cold and smal in comparison of others the faith the charitie the prayers the fastings the almes deeds the vertue the temperāce the patience the chastitie the cleānes the weakenes the broth●●ly kindnes the loue and whatsoeuer else may be named of the benefits and graces of the head our Sauiour Iesus Christ or distributed by him by any speciall

is not written that shee or any other her like hath at any time beene permitted to minister the holy sacraments by such corruptions of the holy sacrament of Baptisme Many heresies haue sprong vp by the Catabaptists Anabaptistes Antipedobaptists and other heretikes scismatikes which not contented with the pure and sincere institution of God did more rest in the outward signes then in that which by them was represented in spirit He that desireth to know more particularly the abuses and corruptions inuented at diuerse times by diuerse humours of men let him read our Ecclesiastical cōmentaries It remaineth presētly to come to the corruptions of the other holy sacrament of the supper and communion of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ By this short discourse a man may cleerly know how variable and fraile man is alwaies hauing abused the grace of god For like as from the beginning of the lawe and instruction giuen vnto them the people of Israel did euer corrupt the true vse of sacrifices holy signes and sacraments ordeined of God euen so is it come to passe of the lawe of God by Iesus Christ hauing instituted the maner to communicate his body and bloude vnder the figures and holy signes of bread and wine The which holy sacrament was abused in the time of the Apostles by the Corinthians Against whom the holy Apostle did write epistles Sacrament of the supper corrupted 1 Cor. 11. to the end to bring them to the true sincere obseruation of this holy Sacramēt Let no man therfore hereafter thinke it strange if the successors of the Apostles from time to time haue corrupted the true vse of this holy Sacrament And the more they were distant from the time of the Apostles of Iesus Christ the more they fell into corruption Yea abhominable turning the vse of the Sacrament into a depth of idolatry First into what contentiō fell the Church that was next vnto the Apostles Ecclesiasticall historie about the determining of the daies wherein the holy sacrament should be celebrated Sabatius the heretike did institute the celebration of Easter with vnleauened bread after the maner of the Iewes Histo tripart lib. 9. cap 37. lib. 11. cap. 5. Certaine of his sect did ordaine the vse of the holy Sacrament to bee celebrated the 14. Moone Euseb lib. 5. cap. 24. Histo tripart lib. 9. cap 38. 39. as the Iewes did It is sayd there were of this sect Policrates bishop of the Ephesians Philip Hieropolitan Policarp Truseas Melite and Narcissus Bishop of Ierusalem Of the contrary opinion were Victor bishop of Rome Eleuther his predecessor with Theophile Bishop of Palestine This contention continued more thē 300. yeares after the Apostles Some celebrated the feast of Easter after the Equinoctial whē the Sun did enter into the signe of Aries Other obserueth the moneth Nanthisoc called by the Romains Aprill Some sayd to wit the Quartodecio mans that it was instituted by S. Iohn to celebrate in the 14. Moone Others aduanced themselues to be taught by S. Peter whereas yet there was no euident appearance of any thing The Montanists Phrygians condemned the Quarto decimans obseruers of the course of the Moone and that they ought to order themselues by the course of the Sun begining at the Equinoctiall in Prime-tide And by this meanes they celebrated eight Ides of Aprill which is the 14. day of the same moneth Prouided that it fell vpon the Sunday There was not onely contention for the vse of the sacramentes in what dayes it shoulde be celebrated but also there was great diuision among the Christians for ceremonies inuented to prepare themselues to receiue the same worthily Euse lib. 5. cap. 4. For some as the Romains did keep the fast three weekes before Easter The Illyrians and all Greece with the Alexandrians did ordeine a Lent to fast sixe weekes Others ordeined seauen weekes of fasting leauing off from fiue daies to fiue daies More and more to corrupt the holy sacrament of the supper there was restored another Iudaicall ceremony by the differences of meates Histo tripart cap. 8. For some during the time of fast forbade eating of fleshe and fishe Other forbade eating of flesh onely permitting to eate fishe foules which they said according to Moys did take part of the substcāe of the water Some also did ordeine to eate dry bread and water onely Others fasted till noone without distinctiō of meates And to be short there was in the beginning an infinite number of customes corruptions in the vse of the holy sacrament of the supper by ceremonies brought in by the difference of daies and meates abbrogated and put away by the grace and lawe of Iesus Christ Colos 2. Galath 4. Heb. 7. But was there euer any holy Apostle of God which euer left in writing any law or commandement for the distinction of daies or meates to celebrate the holy supper of Iesus Christ their intention was not to institute a religion of feastes and a distinction of daies meates but their doctrine did tend onely to teach good life and the true worshippe of one God onely Wherefore wee must needes conclude that the ceremonie and feast of Easter to celebrate the supper of our Lorde God is proceeded of meere custome Histo Tripart lib. 9. cap. 38. For none of the Apostles hath left any thing in writing touching the same To moderate such dissentions and corruptions many councels were assembled one at Sangaria in Bitine by the which to auoide all contentions it was permitted to euery one to celebrate Easter when he would Euseb lib. 5. cap. 23. Another counsell was holden at Cesaria by Theophile Bishop of that place and by Narcissus Bishop of Ierusalem Another councell in Achay And another councell was holden at Rome by Victor Bishop of that place After these litle corruptions there succeeded greater from time to time In the yeare of Christ 114. according vnto the humours and affections of the Bishops of Rome Alexander the first of that name Platine Sabellieus being come to be superintendent of the Romane Church the first of the successors of the Apostles of Iesus Christ and also the first of the corrupters of the holy sacrament of the supper ordeined to mixe water with the wine before the communion wherein he meant to reforme the Gospell of Iesus Christ which had instituted the communion of his body and bloud to be vnder two kindes Bread Wine but Alexander added a third kind to say Water He restored also the Iudaicall ceremony of vnleuened bread called sweete breade to celebrate the Easter as the Iewes did Euseb lib. 3. cap. 27. lib. 6. cap. 14. following therin the Ebionits which taught that the ceremoniall law of Moyses was necessarie for saluation As also Symmachas an Heretike in Palestine had taught If Iesus Christ was circumcised to accomplish the ceremoniall law is it therefore needfull for vs to be