reall body of Christ which being flesh and bones it followeth by their Doctrine that there is no bread left in the Sacrament as it is ministred by them which errours of the reall and bodily presence and of the change and transubstantiation of the bread into the flesh of Christ are conuicted to be most absurd and erroneous both by the Scriptures and by common sence and reason For the Scripture euen after the consecration and setting apart of the bread to that sacred and holy vse to bee a Sacrament of the Lords Body doth often call it bread as it appeareth in the first Epistle to the Corinthians Chap. 11. where it is said The Bread that wee breake is it not the Communion of the body of Christ Pillip 2.6.7 Heb. 4.15 And in the Chap. 11. As oft as yee shall eate of this bread and after diuers times This appeareth also in that the Scriptures teach that Christ became Man hauing the true nature of man like to vs in all things sinne only excepted Which prooueth that his body cannot bee in the small compasse of a wafer cake hauing the dimensions and measures of length breadth and thicknesse which other mens bodyes haue And whereas it is pretended to bee so by miracle this is disproued two waies First in that the Scriptures which make expresse mention of Christs miracles doe neuer make mention nor obseruation of any miracle to haue bene done by him in this changing bread into his body Secondly the Scriptures making mention of any miraculous change of one substance into another doe declare that the change hath beene such as was to bee iudged discerned and perceiued by all meanes of vnderstanding both of sence and reason As for example when Christ changed water into wine Iohn 2.9 10 11. the wine was perceiued to be wine by the sight and tast so discerning of it But in this case neither doth the eye see any flesh nor the tast discerne of any but contrariwise that the bread remaineth bread still in substance appeareth by the sight smelling sauour and the taste thereof by the effect of nourishing by the place where it is on earth and by the accidents of whitenesse smalnesse roundnesse and by that it becometh in time to bee subiect to bee mouldy and that it may bee eaten by Mice and Vermine But it is most false erronious and blasphemous to affirme that the body of Christ which is most glorious in heauen can bee subiect to any of these accidents Besides how great is that blasphemy whereby it is said vnder pretence of this transubstantiation that the Priest is the Creator of his Creator maker of his maker But it would aske a long time to lay out the arguments reasons that confute this absurd damnable error and this labour is already partly bestowed in answer to another question of this kinde Therefore thus much may heere suffice to shew that by the errour of transubstantiation there is not left any bread vpon the Lords table by them that affiâ—me the bread to bee changed into flesh and therefore that this part of the Sacrament is wanting in the Masse Now for the other the same may bee said concerning the wine which they doe likewise teach to bee turneâ— into the very blood of Christ But it appeareth also further in that they haue sacrilegiously robbed the Lords table of that blessed cup that belongeth to it For although they suffâ—r the Priest to drinke of the cuppe and the people also to drinke wine yet the wine that they giue the people is not consecrated nor any part of the Sacrament Therefore in such administration is committed a sacrilegious abuse in robbing the Lords table and his people of the cuppe of blessing which is the communion as the Apostle Paul speaketh of the blood of Christ and contrâ—riwise our administration of the Lord Supper in both kinds of bread and wine is according to the Doctrine practice and commandement of our Sauiour Christ and of his Apostles Furthermore as by this meanes the Sea of Rome hath abolished both parts of the Sacrament so hath it peruerted the right end and vse for which it was instituted For tâ—at being as hath beene declared and as it is made knowne to the people in our administration of it to bee a Sâ—cramâ—nt whereby wee celebrate the memory of the death of Christ for our sinnes to the signing and confirming vnto vs our spirituall communion with him to the participation of all his giftes euen to life euerlasting The Church of Rome hath transfigured this Sacrament into a sacrifice propitiatory for the sinnes of the liuing and of the dead And to this end they haue brought into the Church of Christ contrary to his word a Priest and an Altar that nothing might bee wanting to the offering of their sacrifice In which sacrifice they teach that the Priest doth offâ—r Christ euery day vnto his Father as a sacrifice to take away sinnes Of which propitiatory Sacrifice our Sauiour Christ his Apostles haue made no mention at all but onely of a commemoration of the death of Christ in the celebration whereof wee magnifie God and our Sauiour for such vnspeakeable mercy and goodnesse and so offer as it were a Sacrifice of thanksgiuing pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ Iesus But of offering a sacrifice propitiatory to take away our sinnes and that daily and by the Priest there is no word in the Scripture for it Contrariwise the Scriptures teach directly the contrary and declare this Doctrine to bee full of errour and Blasphemy For the Scriptures teach vs that there is but one only Sacrifice that taketh away the sinnes of men which is that holy Sacrifice which our Sauiour Christ offered of himselfe that is of his humane nature assumed for that purpose and that by his eternall Spirit and that also once for all Heb. 9.14.25 26 28. namely dying vpon the Altar of the crosse and by the Sacrifice so offered he hath obtained an euerlasting redemption Wherefore to affirme that the Priest offereth Christ daily in Sacrifice for sinnes derogateth highly from the death of Christ wh reby the sinnes of the faithfull are taken away as if that had not beene sufficient contrary to the whole course of the Scripture attributing our redemption to his death and blood shed vpon the Crosse Secondly This Doctrine highly derogateth from the vertue of the death of Christ in that it teacheth that Christ must bee daily offered for sinne whereas the Scriptures teach expresly the contrary saying that Christ was to dye but once Rom. 3.24 25. Rom 5.8.9 Gal. 2.14 Heb. 9.25 and to be offâ—red but once and so to enter into heauen and not as the High-Priest in the Law once euery yeare offered sacrifice and so entered into the holy place For then as the Apostle there teacheth he should haue suffered often since the beginning of the world But now saith he in the end and consummation of
other Secondly All the commandements promises and examples concerning prayer doe expresly direct vs to make our prayers vnto God Psal 50.14.15 In the day of trouble saith the Lord Thou shalt call vpon mee and I will heare thee and thou shalt glorifie mee Math. 6.9 Luk. 11.2.9.12 3. Math 7.11 When you pray Saith our Sauiour Pray yee thus Our Father which art in heauen c. Likewise Your heauenly Father will giue good things to these that aske him The reason hereof is because as the Apostle teacheth Iam. 1.17 Euery good grace and perfect guift proceedeth from aboue euen from the Father of lights Now this being the honor of God hee endureth not that it should be giuen to any other according as it is sayd I will not giue my glory to Idols Esay 42.8 nor my honor to any other And in the second Commandement hee calleth himselfe a Iealous God Exo. 20 5. and such as communicate his honor with any other hee calleth his enimies and such as hate him and threatneth to punish their sinne in themselues and in their third and fourth generations that shall come after them So highly doth it displease God that Prayer should bee made to any other not onely for the space of few dayes according to the edict of Darius but for any part of the whole time of our life For such is the prohibition of God Dan. 6.7.8 9.10 published in all the Scriptures and the threatning of his displeasure and Indignation which is more to bee feared without all comparison then all the dennes of Lyons Therefore it is playne that whereas in England all our Prayers in diuine Seruice are directed and made to God onely that our Religion herein is that which the Scriptures teach vs and namâ—ly which the Apostles of Christ and the Lord himselfe hath taught and deliuered In like manner whereas all our Prayers are made in the onely mediation of Iesus Christ wee are thus taught to pray by the Scripture euen by Christ himselfe and his Apostles For Christ saith Whatsoeuer yee shall aske of the Father in my name Iohn 14.13 Chap. 15.16 Chap. 16.23.24 1 Iohn 2.1.2 will be giuen you Likewise the Apostle Iohn teacheth vs that the aduocate wee haue with the Father is Iesus Christ the righteous who is also the propitiation for our sins Likewise the Apostle Paul teacheth that this is a principall part of the honour of his Priesthood and that hee liueth now for euer as hee was ordained a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech that hee might make intercession for vs. Heb. 7.24 25 Moreouer hee is said to haue entred into the holyest place of the Sanctuary Heb. 10.12 that is into heauen by his owne blood Heb. 9 24.25 hauing obtained euerlasting redemption for vs Whereby it is declared that after that by the offering of himselfe once hee had redeemed his people hee entred into heauen it selfe that hee may now appeare for vs before the face of God Which doctrine doth manifestly teach vs that to make intercession for vs to procure vs and our Prayers grace and fauour with God for euer is the proper and peculiar honor of our Sauiour Christ and without high treason against his dignity cannot bee communicated with any other For there is one onely high Priest of the New Testament which is Iesus Christ and therefore there can bee no other neither can that office bee made common to him with any other without high derogation to his Priesthood Beside that onely high Priest of the New Testament is made Priest of the order of Melchisedech of whose order none can bee but hee that is without Father and Mother and genealogie and therefore no other man whatsoeuer but hee that is also God Againe he that is a Priest of the order of Melchisedeck must haue beene made Priest by the oath of God but this agreeth onely to Christ as it is said Heb. 7.21 I haue sworne and will not repent that thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedeck Further whosoeuer is a Priest of that order must bee also King of the Church Heb. 7.21 as Melchesedeck was a Priest and also King of Salem and as his name imported a King of righteousnesse But this honor cannot without high treason against the royall dignity of Christ bee communicated with any creature whatsoeuer Moreouer seeing there are two parts and duties belonging to this Priesthood and that the one which is to bee the aduocate that maketh suite and intercession for the Church and the other to offer himselfe to make propitiation for our sinnes and that none can bee our aduocate but hee that maketh propitiation for vs it is playne that wee can haue no other aduocate but the same that dyed for vs. And that this is so may bee proued many wayes The Apostle Iohn saith 1 Iohn 2.1.2 Wee haue an aduocate with the Father which is Iesus Christ the righteous who is the propitiation for our sinnes By which words it appeareth to appertaine to one and the same person to bee the aduocate and to make propitiation and satisfaction for our sinnes But there is no creature that can make satisfaction for our sinnes this being of all parts confessed to belong onely to Christ Iesus Therefore also to bee aduocate and intercessor for the Church cannot belong to any creature either man or Angell but is proper to Iesus Christ And if any should deny it to bee proper to the person of Christ to make propitiation for our sinnes it may bee proued by this that the Apostle Paul saith Act. 20.28 That God redeemed the Church by his blood so calling it the blood of God wherewith the Church is redeemed because in the same person of Iesus Christ are both the nature of man whose blood was shed and the nature of God which made it of inestimable prize and value to bee effectuall to redeeme the Church But the blood of no other Person can bee called the blood of God therefore no other person can make satisfaction for sinne and reconcile vs vnto God Now touching the intercession of Christ it is to be considered that it is by the same his owne blood that he entred into heauen as the High-Priest entred into the holyest place of the Sanctuary with strange blood there to appeare alwayes in the presence of God as our aduocate and to make intercession for vs. Which being the blood of God as hath bene declared whereby he entered into heauen and that because hee is as it were sprinkled with that most precious blood of inestimable value hee is worthy to obtaine fauour for all his redeemed and hearing for all their Prayers It is plaine heereby that no other Person whatsoeuer can bee our intercessor because they are not entered by that blood into heauen nor cannot present themselues sprinkled with it before the presence of God thereby to obtaine fauour with him for
God alone And by like Authority there are learned Homilies set out declaring and prouing that to worship creatures in themselues or in their Images and to haue them in Churches is not lawfull Now in some former time by the authority of the Sea of Rome our Churches Temples in England were wont to bee full of Images some representing God the sacred Mystery of the Persons in the Godhead and some representing Iesus Christ both otherwise and specially as hee was crucified besides these there was also almost an innumerable multitude of Images representing the Saints departed out of this life besides many other of whose Christian vertues there appeared little proofe And as these Images were brought into the Churches so they were by like authority serued and worshiped with garments ornaments kissing kneeling creeping candlelight censing reading their Legends singing Anthemes and making prayers to them and to their honour or at least to their honour that were represented by them Which being so it is to bee considered what our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles taught concerning the subiect of diuine Seruice that so it might appeare that our Râ—ligion and manner of seruing God in England is the same in this respect that was taught by them and that the other of the Sea of Rome is directly contrary to their Doctrine Ioh. 4.23 24. Our Sauiour Chist taught that God is a Spirit and that whosoeuer will worship him aright must worship him in spirit and truth whereby it is plaine that the Godhead or any person of the Godhead cannot be represented by an Image For if no Art of a man can truely represent the soule of a man because it is a spirituall substance which no bodily thing can truly represent much lesse can the spirituall substance of God be represented which without all comparison is more simple Rom. 1. verse 18. to 24 25. For which cause the Apostle saith that the Gentiles representing God by creatures were guilty of lying and turned that which God truely is into a false resemblance In which respect also the Prophets call such Images teachers of lyes Hab. 1.18.19 Ier. 10.8 which is manifest so to be because it is a false represâ—ntation to represent Eternity by that which had a beginning incorruption by that which is corruptible the creator by the creature and that more false then if a man would represent the day by the night light by darkenesse and life by death Rom. 1.24 to the end Moreouer the Apostle there teacheth that God held himselfe so highly dishonoured thereby as for that cause he gaue them ouer to their owne lusts to dishonour themselues with all kinde of shamefull dishonour and abhominable iniquities Whereunto the same Apostle doth adde in another place 1 Cor. 6.9 that Idolaters shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Reuel 21.8 Likewise in the Reuelation it is said that Idolaters together with dogges Inchanters Harlots and Lyers shall not enter into the City of God the heauenly Ierusalem Moreouer our Sauiour Christ teacheth concerning the worship of God agreeably to the Law saying it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serue Math. 4. By which words he declareth it to be vtterly vnlawfull to worship any creature with the worship that is due vnto God and further that all religious kneeling adoration is to be yeelded to God onely Which is agreeable to the ancient commandement that so commandeth God to be worshipped Exod. 20.4 as it forbiddeth by way of Religion to woâ—ship with religious worship the likenes of any creature either in heauen or in earth or in the waters vnder the earth against the transgressors of which commandement the Lord declareth himselfe most prouoked to vengeance in comparing his anger to the anger of a iealous man that will not bee pacified by any meanes but will be auenged vpon the adulterer Likewise in that he addeth further a terrible commination against Idolaters whom he there declareth to hold for his enemies and such as hate him in threatning to visite that is to punish their sinnes in their children and also in their childrens children to the third and fourth generation For which cause the Apostle Iohn exhorteth all Christians to beware of Idols saying 1 Iohn 5.21 Little children keepe your selues from Idols or take ye heede and beware of Images 1 Cor. 10.14 So the Apostle Paul writeth to the Corinthians saying My beloued fly from Idolatry Likewise the same Apostle in al his ministry sought to withdraw as the Corinthians and the Thessalonians 1 Thes 1.9 so all other gentiles from the seruice of Idols to serue the true God Acts 17.16 For which cause also being at Athens and greiued in spirit to see their City wholy addicted to the seruice of Idols did most zealously endeauour both in the Synogogues of the Iewes and in the market place vpon all occasions and in the highest Court of Iustice to disswade them from those vaine and impious seruices and exhort them to worship onely the true God the creator of heauen and earth To which end also in another place he shewing that true Christians because they are the Temples of God ought to haue nothing to doe with Idols saith What participation hath Iustice with iniquitie 2 Cor. 6.14.15 or what communion hath light with darknesse or what communion can Christ haue with Belial or what part can a faithfull man haue with an Infidell or what agreement can the Temple of God haue with Idols Wherefore goe yee out from the middest of them and separate your selues saith the Lord and touch no vncleane thing and then I will receiue you and I will bee your father and you shall be my sonnes and daughters sayth the Lord God Almighty This is that our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles taught concerning the worshiping of God only and the auoyding with all zealous detestation the seruice of Idols and Images and reliques and of any creature Now in times past contrary to this doctrine our Churches were full of Idols and Images and such religious adoration and seruice was yeelded and done vnto them adoration in bodily gestures of vncouering the head vnto them of kissing them and bowing the body and the knee vnto them and such like seruice in couering them with garments adorning them with ornaments incensing of them burning candles before them bestowing gifts vpon them making vowes and going of Pilgrimages vnto them with other such like seruices But the Lord vouchsasing vs mercy stirred vp the spirit of our renowned Princes to reforme such enormities as many vertuous Kings of Iudah had done the like before them and hauing caused the Temples and Churches to bee cleansed from all such Idols and Idolatry straightly charged and commanded all their Subiects abandoning allthese vaine and most impious seruices to Idols to worship the true and liuing God and to yeeld religious adoration and seruice to him
by the intercession of Angels and of men This appeareth in like manner in their Letanies Missalls Anthemes Collects and sundry parts of their Liturgie For in them they desire all the Angels and Arch-Angels to pray for them and by name Gabriel Michaell Raphaell They desire the mediation of all the Apostles in generall and of euery one in particular This petition they make also to all the Martyres in common and to diuers by their proper Names to the Doctors of the Church to Confessors to sundry Popes Bishops Abbots and other Canonized Saints both men and women that they would pray for them to God that by their intercession yea and also by their merrits they may bee freed from their sinnes and the punishment due for the same and may obtaine all grace to euerlasting life In so many sundry sorts doe they dishonor the Sonne of God and rob him of that high glory and preheminence of his Priesthood which standeth in making intercession for his people in communicating it with so many others to whom it cannot in any sort belong For it is hee alone that was made the High-Priest of the new Testament and that with an oath and the same for euer for which cause also his Priesthood is sayd to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as passeth not from his owne person to any other Hee obtained this honor to enter into heauen Heb. 7.16.17.20.21 Heb 7.23.24 to make prayer and intercession for vs by the shedding of his most pretious blood by the merâ—it whereof hee presenteth himselfe continually in the presence of God to obtaine all grace needfull for his Church Heb 9.7.12 Ver. 12.14 which honor hauing beene obtained by blood it cannot agree to Angels which are only spirits neither haue flesh nor blood This blood whereby hee obtained this honor 1 Pet 1.19 Iohn 1.29.36 Heb 9.14 is the blood of the Lambe immaculate vndefiled without spot or blemish that is of one perfectly innocent and righteous in the sight of God But such is not the state of any man whatsoeuer Esay 53.6 Psal 14.3.2 Wee haue all erred and gone astray saith the Prophet Esay And the Propher Dauid likewise Enter not into Iudgement with thy Seruant O Lord for no flesh shall bee iustified in thy sight Psal 14.1.3 Rom. 3.10 And againe There is none that doth good no not one Which is also the testimony of all the Prophets and Apostles wherefore all men are subiect to death by reason of sinne and are not able to procure fauour for themselues how then should they bee mediators and intercessors to procure fauour for others who themselues stand in neede to bee saued by the intercession and merrits of Iesus Christ But if there were any of them righteous yet the shedding of their blood could no more procure fauour for vs with God then the shedding of the water in the streetes For it is by the blood of God as saith the Apostle whereby the Church is bought and purchased A â— 20.26 by which blood as hee made propitiation for our sinnes so it is by the same blood being of inestimable value because of the infinite dignitie of his person by which hee is entered into the presence of God to make intercession for vs. It is therefore of no vse that is said that hee is the onely mediator of propitiation but not of intercession For as it hath bene shewed by these reasons hee hath as good right to bee honored with this glory to bee the onely intercessor for his Church as hee hath to bee the onely giuer of all satisfaction for our sinnes Finally it behooueth that our intercessor bee God that hee may know the necessities of this people and vnderstand their groanes which cannot bee vttered but this agreeth not to any creature onely much lesse to men Thus then it appeareth in how high degree the Liturgie of the Church of Rome is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and derogatory to the honor of God and of his onely Sonne in that prayers are made to any other then to God onely and that resting vpon the Prayers and intercession of many others and not onely of Iesus Christ Contrarywise hereby it may appeare that our Religion and diuine Seruice in England in these two last and excellent poynts concerning Prayer is according to the Doctrine of Christ and of his Apostles that wee pray to God onely and that by the onely mediation of Iesus Christ the righteous who is also the propitiation for our sinnes Thus it hath beene shewed both in the word whereunto the Sacraments are annexed and also in prayer in which two parts principally consisteth the whole seruice of God that our Religion professed in England is the same which was taught by Iesus Christ and by his Apostles which was desired to be proued and further that the Liturgie of the Church of Rome in all the poynts heere debated is directly contrary to the Apostolicall Doctrine and that which was deliuered by the Lord Iesus himselfe Which being so performed heere might bee an end â—f this Treatise but that it is further desired to bee shewed if any of the Martyres haue giuen testimony to that Religion which in England is professed For satisfaction wherein here is added that which followeth CHAP. X. Of Martyrs MArtyr is originally a Greeke word and signifieth in English a witnesse which generall signification by an elegancy of speech is vsed by the Church to note such as testifie and beare witnesse of true Religion and of the right Seruice of God and of faith in Iesus Christ euen by the suffering of death rather then to deny the truth of God So as in this sence Martyr is a witnesse of true Religion by his suffering of death for it Such in the time of the Prophets were Daniel and his three noble kinsmen of the tribe of Iudah Dan. 3.20.21 For these three rather then they would worship Nebuchadnezzars golden Image and yeeld to an Idoll the honour due to the onely true God enduâ—ed to bee cast into the furnace of fire From which though God by miracle deliuered them yoâ— are they worthily accounted Martyrs for their most constant resolution Dan. 6.16 Likewise Daniel rather then hee would not yeeld vnto God the honor of prayer endured to bee cast into the denne of Lyons for his noble Profession In the new Testament our Sauiour speaking of Martyrdome saith Math. 5.11 Blessed are yee when men persecute you for righteousnesse and for my sake And sorewarning his Disciples of such Persecution saith Iohn 15.27 Iohn 16.2 You shall beare witnesse of mee and they will put you out of their synagogue and whosoeuer shall kill you shall thinke hee doth God good seruice The Apostle Peter saith If any man suffer because hee is a Christian 1 Pet 4.16 let him not bee ashamed let him rather glorifie God on this behalfe Thus also wrighteth the Apostle Paul