all other prayers both in their priuate and publicke writings 3. Of S. Gregories addinge diesque nostros in tua pace disponas and dispose our dayes in peace and graunt wee bee deliuered from eternall damnation and numbred in the flock of thy elect I haue spoken before here only I add that S. Bede whome this Protestant Bishop Io. Bal. l. de scriptor Britan. centur 1. in Beda Girwino doth equall or rather preferr before S. Gregory S. Augustine S. Hierome and S. Chrisostome those great lights of Christs church doth say that these wordes which S. Gregory added in the holie Masse are words ful of greatest perfection Beatus Papa Gregorius in ipsa Missarum celebratione tria verba maximae perfectionis plena superadiecit diesque nostros in tua pace disponas atque ab aeterna damnatione nos cripi in electorum tuorum iubeas grege numerari Beda Eccles histor l. 2. cap. 1. in which place hee also commendeth him for causinge in the churches of S. Peter and S. Paul at Rome Masses to be said ouer their bodies Fecit inter alia beatus Papa Gregorius vt in Ecclesijs beatorum Apostolorum Petri Pauli super corpora eoruÌ„ Missae celebrarentur Which sacred bodies of those two glorious Apostles this lewde protestant superintendent therin as his phrase teacheth a Vâ—…gilantian hereticke calleth the deade â—…arcasses of the Apostles so as wee terme the deade bodies of beastes and therefore disliketh S. Gregory for that institution super Apostolorum mortua cadauera Missas celebrari mandauit Bal. l. 2. de Act. Pontif. Rom. in Gregor Magno but though it doth not belonge to this place and my promise yet to free S. Gregory from all pretended error in any matter I wil shew in the next chapter when I come to speake of the brittish preists and Bishops of this age that they were as farr engaged in this doctrine of reuereÌ„ce to holie relicks as either S. Gregory or his disciples hee sent hither were or the Catholicks of the present Roman church bee at this time The same I wil demonstrate concerning the doctrine of Indulgences an other preteÌ„ded blott which they would gladly find out to staine and blemish the glory of that great Doctor Pope and Saint 4. And whereas this protestant Bishop saith of this holy Pope Hee admitted Masses for the dead Missas pro mortuis admisit I haue often shewed by these protestants that this was vsed from the beginninge And whereas hee obiecteth Bal. supr in Greg. Magno that S. Gregory first instituted Candelmasse day and palme sonday with solemnitie of procession though these bee but ceremoniall yet he contradicteth himselfe knowinge and acknowledginge that processions were longe before in vse and that Candelmasse day was kept with candels in the time of Pope Vigilius and by his approbation candelaruÌ„ festum instituit Bal. in Vigilio l. 2. Act. Pontific Rom. whereas this man saith in S. Augustine S Gregories disciple that hee brought hither altars vestiments holy vessels relicks and bookes of ceremonies introduxit altaria vestimenta vasa sacra reliquias ceremoniarum codices Bal. l. de scriptor Britan. l. 1. in Augustino Monocho I haue shewed already that all these were in vse with the ChristiaÌ„ Britans longe before and this protestant obiector among others so acknowledgeth in diuers both Scots and Britans in this Iland and in the life of S. Patrick he receueth as S. Patricks the epistle written in his name Patricius scripsit ad Aualonios Inculas epistolam Bal. centur 1. Gild. l. de excid Bed l. v. histor Eccles Bal. centur 1. in Brigida Lagin Kentegern Patric Iona. Monacho alijs in which hee proueth both S. Patricke S. Pope Celestine S. Pope Eleutherius and his Legates S. Damianus and Fugatianus in Kinge Lucius time and all the Britans in those times to haue beene as great Patrons and practisers of these doctrines and customes which hee disliketh in S. Gregory his disciples as any of them theÌ„ was or any learned Catholicke at this present is Thus fâ—…rr these protestants exceptions against the doctrine of S. Gregory and his disciples all turning to theire glory and confusion of the protestant accusers by their owne sentence 5. To which I will add one thing more from our holy contrimaÌ„ S. Aldelmus scholler to S. Gregory as his words import who thus relateth an addition of S. Gregorie to the canon of the Masse which our protestants doe not remember in their oblations S. Adelmus l. de laudib Virginitat cap. 22. mihi operae pretium videtur vt Sanctae Agathae rumores castissimae Virginis Luciae praeconia subsequantur Quas Praeceptor pedagogus noster Gregorius in canone quotidiano quando Missarum solemnia celebrantur copulasse cognoscitur hoc modo in Catalogo Martyrum ponens Faelicitate Anastasia Agatha Lucia It is a thinge worth labour that after speach of S. Agatha he speaketh of the praise of virginitie the praises of the moste chaste Virgin Lucia should follow which our Master and Instructor Gregory is knowne to haue coupled in the daily canon when the solemnities of Masse are celebrated placing them thus in the Catalogue of Martyrs Faelicitas Anastasia Agatha Luciae But this rather maketh against protestant quarrels in this kinde for they contendinge against the doctrine of prayer to Saints are taught here that it was the auncient custome of Gods church to pray vnto them euen in their publick Masses can Miss § nobis quoque peccatoribus for S. Gregory did here onely add S. Agatha and S. Lucia vnto the others which were in the canon before copulasse cognoscitur and bee very many in particular as appeareth in that place besides all the Apostles and holy Martyrs in generall cum tuis Sanctis Apostolis Martyribus and the words in canone quotidiano in the daily canon of Masse are an euident conuiction that the daily canon of Masse was vsed and this honor of Saints also therin before this time as wee see in all old Masses Greeke Latine or Syriake And I haue before proued that this holy doctrine was euer from the beginning of Christianity in this kingdome reuerently obserued Of the truth and excellency of S. Gregories and S. Augustines Religion planted amonge the Saxons I haue spoken sufficiently in all things in my ecclesiasticall historie at large 6. To proue it breifly in this place more sound and perfect then the Religion of the Christian Britans so dignified by our protestant writers I first vse them for witnesses thereof And first the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury D. George Abbots the director of Master Frauncis Mason and this his directed scribe thus write producinge the Brittish Bishops themselues at that time so acknowledginge George Abbot and Franc. Mason l. 2. of consecrat of Bish. cap 4. pag. 59. The brittish Bishops confessed that they vnderstood that to be the true way of righteousnes which Augustine had preached Yea the faith which S. Augustine brought and
hee directed his epistles to Pope Eleutherius diuers Epistles and consequently diuers Ambassadges soe reade the old Brittish historie Ponticus Virunnius Matthew Westminster as they ar published and allowed by our Protestants and others And these soe diuers epistles were onely to become a Christian to haue his kingdome instructed in the faith of Christ and all things thereto belonginge ordered by his highest papall authoritie petens ab eo vt christianus efficeretur And none of these epistles was that which our Protestants tell vs hee wrote vnto that holy Pope for lawes to gouerne his kingdome by which were distinct from this of which I shall speake hereafter Wherby it is euident that this blessed kinge his wisest councell at that time by soe often writinge both to this holy Pope Eleutherius and some others of his predecessors before as appeareth by that I haue written alreadie did fully and constantly informe themselues that the highest directing power in things religious was onely residing in the Popes of Rome otherwise they were all straungers vnto him far distant and aboue all Bishops of the world more persecuted all of them before this time and longe after sufferinge cruell deathes and Martyrdome for Christ Therefore it was for the due honor and right belonginge to that holie See and not temporall glory or countenance as a Protestant Bishop would glosse the matter Godwyn Conuers of Britanie c. 3. pag. 36. but the supreamacy of the Roman Bishops which these Protestants haue giuen to all the Popes before And because to speake in the words of the first Protestant Archbishop in England The renowne of the popes of Rome at that time was most famous in all the world for their often martyrdome and constancy sincere discipline of faith quorum tunc fama crebro martyrio constantia ac sincera fidei disciplina per totum Christianum orbem celeberrima fuit Matth. Parker antiquit Brit. pag 5. This was that which moued kinge Lucius to giue this due honor to the See of Rome and appeale vnto it for instruction for he saw that by that holy See the faith of Christ was dilated into all these nations as the recited Protestant Archbishop thus witnesseth Parker supr pag. 4. Cognouit complures nobiles Romanos candem fidem à pontifice Romano accepisse eorumque exemplo Christianum nomen in singulas prouincias sparsum disseminatum fuisse statuit in eadem fide sub Eleutherio tunc Romano pontifice inaugurari When Kinge Lucius knew that very many noble Romans had receaued the faith of Christ from the Pope of Rome and by their example the Christian name was dispersed and sowen abrode into all prouinces hee did resolue to receaue the same faith from Eleutherius the Pope of Rome Where it is euidently confessed that if kinge Lucius had not acknowledged this highest spirituall dignitie in the See of Rome and haue sued to haue the Christian Religion settled here by that authoritie hee should haue beene singular in that kinde as our Protestants now are all other prouinces giuing then that honor to Rome and hauinge their faith in Christ established from thence And this is euidētly declared by the maner of the sending writting of this kinge to that Pope S. Eleutherius S. Bede saith hist eccl l. 1. c. 4. that K. Lucius did humbly beseech Pope Eleutherius by his letters that by his cōmaundement hee might bee made a Christian. Obsecrans vt per eius mandatum Christianus efficeretur The Roman Tradition saith In the beginninge of the papacy of Eleutherius there came humble letters vnto him frō Lucius Kinge of the Britans to receaue him and his subiects into the number of Christians Huic initio pontificatus supplices literae venerunt à Lucio Britannorum Rege vt se ac suos in Christianorum numerum reciperet Breu. Rom. in S. Eleuther 26. Maij. Baron hist. Eccl. tom 2. A Protestant Bishop readeth praying that by his direction and appointment hee might bee made a Christian Godwyn conuers p. 20. An other Protestant antiquary saith Desiring Eleutherius Bishop of Rome to send some deuout and learned men by whose instruction hee and his people might bee taught the faith and Religion of Christ. The old chronicle of Lādaffe is implorans vt iuxta eius ammonitionem christianus fiat Humbly entreatinge that by his appointment hee might bee made a christian Annal. Landaf apud com antiq Cantab l. 1. pag. 98. thus our Protestants alleadge that Antiquitie Others of them say Lucius sent an Ambassadge to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome by Eluanus and Meduinus Britans intreating Eleutherius by them that hee would open a passadge by himselfe and his ministers for the fosteringe and cherishinge of christian Religion in Britanie Frauncis Mason l. 2. p. 52. ca. 3. Like is the testimony of other historians both Catholicks and Protestants that kinge Lucius proceeded in this humble and submissiue maner in his writings and Ambassadges to the Pope of Rome at that time in these affayres The which highest authoritie spirituall in the Pope of Rome these our Protestants further confirme in that they teach generally that these two Ambassadors of Kinge Lucius Eluanus and Meduinus receaued all the authoritie they had to preach here in Britanie from Pope Eleutherius whoe consecrated the one Eluanus a Bishop and made the other a Doctor to preach the ghospell Theater of great Brit. l. 6. Stow. hist. in Lucius Godwyn conuers of Brit. Mason l. 2. c. 3. Bal. cent 1. in Eluan And the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury Doctor George Abbot director of Master Mason as hee protesteth and his directed Scribe ar of this opinion that all the Bishops of Britanie after this deriued consecration and succession episcopal from this one onelie Bishop Eluanus consecrated and authorized by Pope Eleutherius Frauncis Mason consecrat of Bish l. 2. c. 3. p. 55.56 Which and more is approued by an other a Protestant Bishop by whome Pope Eleutherius euen in this great busines is termed Paterfamilias the Master of this spirituall howse and familie of Britanie Bal. l. de Act. Pont. Rom. l. 1. in Eleuther and this kingedome was consequently of his family and vnder his rule and commaund and thereupon as a good Master and Gouernour of this familie did confirme and solidate the Brittans and the whole kingedome in the faith receaued by the Apostles Eleutherius vt bonus paterfamilias de thesauro suo noua cum veteribus proferens effecit vt confirmatis consolidatis Britannis in suscepta prius ab Apostolis doctrina totum illud regnum in eius fidei verba iuraret And to make moste euident demonstration further euen by these Protestants aswel as by al other Antiquities that the supreame power spirituall in all proceedinges in this kingedome at that time was wholly and vndeniably in Pope Eleutherius and those his twoe Legats which hee sent hither Damianus and Fugatianus as they are commonly called The
with them sett downe in the 6. article of their Religion confirmed by parlaments and subscribed and sworne vnto by all protestant Bishops and ministers of England The wordes of this their sworne and subscribed vnto Religion in this point are these Articles of Engl. protest Religion ratified by the parlaments and canons of Q. Eliz. and King Iames articul 6. 10. Holy scripture conteyneth all thinges necessary for saluation so that whatsoeuer is not read therin nor may bee proued thereby is not to bee required of any mā that it should bee beleeued as an article of the faith Therfore things so reade in scripture and therby proued must needes bee articles of faith otherwise Religion should bee without articles of faith which is vnpossible for by this protestant Religion there is no other meanes to make or proue them such Being thus directed by these protestants and by their direction I make this Argument and proofe from scriptures as they translate thē Euery high preist is ordeined to offer sacrifice for sinnes Hebr. 5.1.8.3 But Melchisedech was an high preist Therefore ordeyned to offer sacrifice for sinnes The first or maior proposition is the very wordes of S. Paule as our protestants translate him The minor or second proposition is theire translation of the Prophet Moises Melchisedech was the preist of the most high God Gen. 14.18 Where hee is called the preist by excellency and blessing Abraham and called by S Paule better or greater then Abraham Hebr. 7.6.7.9 Who also was a great preist and patriarke and as a superiour receauing tithes of him and so eminent and cheife that the order of which hee was is not onely called the order of Melchisedech but Christ himselfe often termed high preist after the order of Melchisedech and as our protestants also translate after the similitude of Melchisedech as both the Greeke and Latine texts also are Therefore Melchisedech of necessitie was an high preist Therefore againe the conclusion which in a true Argument and Sillogisme as this is cannot bee denied that Melchisedech offered sacrifice beeing therto ordeyned is most certaine and an article of faith by these protestants Religion before 11. And because by the rule of their Religion wee may not seeke but in scripture to knowe what sacrifice it was which hee offered it must needes bee that sacrifice of bread and wine which the scripture Rabbins Fathers and forreine protestants haue told vs of before for wee do not find any other sacrifice or matter like a sacrifice in scripture attributed to Melchisedech If any man shall say that S. Paule speaking of all high preists offering sacrifice meaneth sacrifice vnproperly as prayers and such deuotions I answere this is not onely vnproperly but by true consequence blasphemously spoken vtterly denyinge that either the preists of the Lawe of Nature or Moises or Christ did offer any sacrifice and so no sacrifice for sinne beeinge offered by Christ mans redemption was not wrought by Christ but man is vnredeemed and Christ was not the Sauiour of the world for in that place as S. Paul speaketh of euery high preist and preistly orders he also speaketh of the externall sacrifices of of them in their order and time And so doth the protestant publicke glosse vppon those wordes of S. Paule Euery high preist is ordeyned to offer sacrifice expound them in these termes Hee bringeth a reason why it must needes bee that Christ should haue a body that hee might haue what to offer for otherwise hee could not bee an highe preist Protest Annotat. in cap. 8. Hebr. v. 3 Therfore by these protestants S. Paul speaketh of an externall and properly named sacrifice and that therefore Melchisedech as well as other high preists did offer an external sacrifice otherwise by their owne reason the same which S. Paul alleageth hee could not bee an high preist as the holy scripture proueth hee was not offering any externall sacrifice which both by S. Paule so many testimonies before and the publicke and authoritatiue exposition of English Protestants is essentially and vnseparably belonging to al true preists preisthood 12. The Protestant Bishop D. Morton Appeale l. 3. c. 13. pag. 394. plainely graunteth that Melchisedech offered an externall sacrifice wherein there was really bread and wine Hee further proueth from the Rabbins and Bibliander supr cent 1. That at the cominge of the Messias all legall sacrifices should ceise and a sacrifice in bread and wine should onely stil continue And constantly auoucheth for the common doctrine of English Protestants in these wordes The protestants acknowledge in the Eucharist a sacrifice Euc◅aristicall Mort. sup l. 3. c. 13 The present protestant Archbishop of Canterbury director of Master Mason and hee directed by him directly graunt that the words of Christ concerning his body and blood to bee giuen argue a sacrifice to God Franc. Mason lib. 5. pag. 233. And cite and graunt further in this maner pag. 243. Christ hauinge offered himselfe for a soueraigne sacrifice vnto his Father ordeyned that wee should offer a remembrance thereof vnto God instead of a sacrifice An other saith Middle papistom pag. 92.113 The sacrifice of the Altare and vnbloodye sacrifice were vsed in the primatiue church and the auncient Fathers called the sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ a sacrifice And againe pag. 49.137.138.47.45 The primatiue church did offer sacrifice at the Altar for the dead Sacrifice for the dead was a tradition of the Apostles and the auncient Fathers And Isaac Casaubon the knowne french stipendary champion for the Protestants of England writeth thus of our Kinge in this matter Respons ad Card. Peron pag. 51. The Kinge is neither ignorant of nor denieth that the Fathers of the primatiue church did acknowledge one sacrifice in Christian Religion that succeeded in place of all the sacrifices in the lawe of Moses And least any man should doubt what sacrifice hee ment by so speaking hee telleth vs it is The body of Christ in the Eucharist as Catholicks hold and addeth there Haec est fides Regis haec est fides Ecclesiae Anglicanae This is the faiih of the Kinge this is the faith of the English church And writeth to Cardinall Perron in these wordes The Kinge said in the hearing of manic and wished him so to signifie to Cardinal Perron that hee agreed with the Cardinal in his opiniō de duplici sacrificio expiationis nempe commemorationis siue Religionis Concerning two kinds of sacrifice the one of expiation for the world the other commemoratiue or of Religion Which last Cardinall Perron with all Catholicks take to bee the sacrifice of Masse Therefore if the English Protestant church and his maiestie agree so far with Catholicks the attonement wil sooner bee made in this matter 13. Neither did Casaubon here assume for his maiestie and English Protestants any new thinge but the same which they had professed and graunted in their most solemne and publicke decrees and proceedings from the first beginning of
the Eucharist then vpon the Crosse the reasons ar many and manifest His oblation vpon the Crosse did not fall vppon the fourteenth day neither at eueninge as the commaundement of this was Exod. 12. Num. 9. but vpon the fifteenth day at none time and not the eueninge Neither was Christ crucified in memory of any passouer or deliuery neither crucified so to bee eaten neither did or might any eate or drinke his body or blood so sacrificed Neither was hee so sacrificed in any house as the commaundement was or in Hierusalem but without the towne in the open feild And not onely the baptized and cleane but all others ought to eate and receaue by faith Christ sacrificed vppon the Crosse which was forbidden in the Paschall Lambe and that which was figured in it as an euerlasting memoriall Exod. 12. v. 14. Leuit. 23. Num. 28. Exod. c. 12. v. 45.46.47.48 Num. c. 9.22 7. And this sacrifice of the Lambe was instituted before Aarons preisthood as that of Melchisedech was and so as Philo writeth l. 1. de vita Moisis The old custome therein continued that the cheife of families should exercise the preistly function and so that sacrifice of the Lambe as wel as that of Melchisedech figures of our most holy sacrifice and Sacrament were eaten and receaued by all whereas the sacrifices of Moises Law offered by the preistes of Aarons order were onely receaued by the preists those of the tribe of Leui. 1. Corinth 9.13 Deuter. 18.1 Num. 10.9 18.20 And of all men our protestantes that would haue the Eucharist celebrated only with a communion for others besides the preist to receaue and communicate should bee of this opinion if they would speake consequently as learned and truely religious men must doe and except they can proue a bit of Bakers breade to bee a more excellent and honorable signe and more perfectly to figure and represent the oblation and death of Christ then an Innocent Lambe so ceremoniously and religiously sacrificed and receiued as that was and say with the blasphemous Iewes that the lawe of Christ is not more perfect then the lawe of Moises and still offer vp a Paschall Lambe they must needes acknowledge that wee Christians haue a farre more excellent sacrifice figured by that Lambe then Caluins communion is And this is plainely proued by our blessed Sauiour himselfe who so soone as hee had celebrated the sacrifice of the Paschall Lambe and imposed an end vnto those sacrifices of the law there presently at the same time and in the same sacrificing wordes wherewith bee ended that which was to cease hee founded and instituted the most holy sacrifice of the law of the ghospell to continue for euer and neuer to bee altered or taken away Matth. c. 26. v. 18. Luc. c. 22. v. 19. And the Hebrue worde Gasha in which language Christ spake at that time is an vsuall sacrificinge word in holy scriptures and must needes bee the same wherwith hee spake in S. Luke and S. Paul thus repeateth Doe this in my commemoration 1. Corinth cap. 11. v. 25. For although wee haue not any Hebrue text of those places yet that sacrificinge Hebrue word beeing the Hebrue to that Greeke and Latine which wee haue seing Christ spake in Hebrue wee must needes affirme they were both alike and is a sacrificinge word so vsed seuen or eight times in one the 29. chapter of Exodus and so many other scriptures as I haue here quoted as likewise the greeke which wee haue and protestants should as they protest to doe follow in the new testament Leuit. c. 16. v. 9. Exod. c. 10. v. 25. Numer c. 6. v. 10.11 Leuit. c. 9. v. 7. c. 16.22 Leuit. 14. v. 18.19.29.30.31 cap. 15. v. 14.15.29.30 c. 16. v. 9.24 c. 17.9 c. 22. v. 23.24 c. 23. v. 11.12.18.19 Numer c. 6. v. 10.11.16.17 c. 8. v. 12. cap. 9. v. 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.10.11.12.13.14 cap. 15. v. 3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.24 cap. 15. v. 29.30 Fr. Mas l. 5. cap. 6. pag. 235.243 9. And our protestants of England freelie acknowledge that both the primatiue Fathers and councels doe so testifie The present protestant Archbishop of Canterbury director to Master Mason together with his directed scribe confesse This is the iudgement of the Fathers Irenaeus saith that Christ did then teach the oblation of the new testament which the church throughout all the world doth vse Chrisostom saith the wordes of the Lord giue strength to the sacrifice vntill the end of the world So they and others write of S. Cyprian S. Ambrose S. Augustine S. Cyrill S. Leo Fulgentius and others Park problom pag. 153.154 Morton appeall 2. cap. 6. Mason l. 5. pag. 243. And for councels say The Nicen first councell in that Canon which Caluine and all others receaue saith plainely that the Lambe of God offered vnbloodely is laide vppon the holy table And for their owne opinion are forced to confesse that Christ did in that place offer his body and blood in sacrifice for beeinge vrged with this Argument Christ said This is my body which is giuē for you or as it is in S. Paul which is broken for you and againe This is my blood of the new testament which is shedd for you is shedd is broken is giuen not to you but to God for you doe not these wordes argue a reall actuall and proper sacrifice They aunswere and graunt in these words They argue a sacrifice to God Prot. Archb. Abb. and Franc. Mason supr l. 5. pag. 233. Therefore of necessitie must also graunt that it is the most holy sacrifice of Christs body and blood figured in that Paschall Lambe as so many authorities haue told vs and except the sacrifice of Christs body and blood be not a propitiatory sacrifice for sinnes which they may not say they must needes confesse that in holy Masse preists doe offer not onely a commemoratiue but a propitiatorie sacrifice The same proued with allowance and consent of Protestants out of the booke of Leuiticus THE III. CHAPTER THe Protestant correctors of Petrus Gallatinus doe assure vs. Franciscus Stancar in l. 10. c. 7. Petr. Gallatin de Arcan Leuit. cap. 21. v. 8. That where our English Protestants trāslate in the 21 chapter of Leuiticus Thou shalt sanctify him therfore for he offereth the breade of thy God They should reade sanctificabis cum quia carnem Dei tui ipse est vel erit sacrificans Thou shalt sanctifie him the preist because hee is or shall bee sacrificinge the flesh of thy God There teaching that the preists of the new law are vnderstood as also their holy sacrifice of Masse wherein they offer the blessed body and blood of Christ our God and therefore great sanctification and sanctitie is required to their callinge And they proue by the Iewes themselues Leuit. c 21. v. 6.8.17.21 That the worde Lehem which our English Protestantes translate bread doth in that place signifie flesh and not bread as it often doth and except those protestants
both by Catholicke and Protestant authoritie that both Christ our Sauiour instituted this holy sacrifice and sacrificinge preisthood and his Apostles receauinge them from him did all in generall both exercise and deliuer the same vnto the churches there can bee no Christian desirous to retaine that name that may oppose against the same yet for a further manifestation of these truthes vnto all that will not desperatly dwell in error I will now proue in particular how euery one of the Apostles and Euangelists both beleeued practised and taught these misteries And first to begin with the foure Euangelists and S. Paule who haue committed these Christian holy secrets to holie writinge I will shew how both in these their sacred scriptures they teach and allowe the sacrifice of Masse and a sacrificinge or massinge preisthood by order and sacred office to offer that sacrifice And to put vs out of all doubt or question that this is and was theire meaninge in those holy scriptures I will proue that euery one of them was a true massinge preist and actually did offer and celebrate the most honorable sacrifice of Masse in essential thinges as the holy Catholicke massing preists of the church of Rome now doe and haue euer most religiously done in all ages The same I will likewise proue of all the other Apostles in their order onely I will craue leaue of S. Peter the first and cheifest to remember him laste in this matter for as I haue proued at large in other places as amonge the Apostles hee was the first and allmoste onely Apostle which planted the faith of Christ in these parts of the world So wee in Britanie did first receaue from him our holy massinge and sacrificinge preists and preisthood neuer hitherto altogether discontinued or interrupted but by him and his successors in the Apostolicke sea of Rome first founded and euer after successiuely in all ages preserued in this kingdome as will appeare hereafter 2. Therefore to begin with the Euangelists and S. Paule which speake of these misteries in scripture S. Mathew the Apostle and first in order amonge the Euangelists writeth of Christs deliuery of this sacrifice in these wordes as our English Protestants by his maiesties priuiledge translate them Matth. cap. 26. v. 26.27.28 Iesus tooke breade and blessed it and brake it and gaue it to his disciples and said take eate this is my body And hee tooke the cup and gaue thankes and gaue it to them savinge drinke ye al of it for this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes The Greeke text which these men say must bee here preferred is word by word as they translate speakinge of Christs body that it was at that present giuen there and his blood in the present tence shed for remission of sinnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore if Christs oblation and giuing his body and blood vppon the Crosse was a sacrifice as all agree seeing it was so in respect it was there giuen and offered for remission of sinnes here beeing the very same body and blood and giuen for remission of sinnes it must needes bee also a sacrifice and not onely eucharisticall or of thanks giuing but satisfactory for whatsoeuer talâ—…eth away sinnes by its owne vertue as the Euangelist here speaketh of this must needes be such and Christs body and blood beeing of infinite value in themselues and of their own nature can not but be satisfactorie for sinnes whensoeuer howsoeuer by whomsoeuer they are offered or giuen for remission of sinnes though the limited power of preists may bringe some limitation to their satisfaction the ordinance and institution of Christ so disposing in this sacrifice as it is now daily offered by consecrated preists as the common opinion is otherwise a thing of illimited worth should bee of like deseruinge and satisfaction 3. And this is so euident that not onely all learned Fathers and antiquitie do from hence teach that Christ in this place instituted the sacrifice of the new testament as I haue cited diuers before but our greatest enemies and persecutors as namly the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury the director of Master Mason and hee also with others Mason praefat lib. 5. cap. 6. pag. 235. Abb. ibidem Magdeburgent in S. Iren. acknowledge particularly naminge S. Irenaeus S. Chrisostome and S. Gregorie from them concluding in these words That Christ did then teach the oblation of the new testament which the church throughout all the world doth when shee saith this is my body And they plainly say Mason and D. Georg. Abbots supr pag. 233. that these wordes of Christ recited before by S. Matthew this is my body which is giuen for you and this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for you doe argue a sacrifice to God And if this was not a sacrifice then by protestant Religion admittinge nothing but scriptures in matters of faith Christ Iesus was not the preist after the order of Melchisedech which was promised for exceptinge this the whole new testament is silent of any preistly act of that order which hee performed in all his life and so that being a distinctiue signe of the true Messias they would depriue all mankinde of Redemption and our moste blessed Sauiour of the title and honour of redeeminge vs. Therfore thus they graunt Abbots and Mason supr pag. 243. Christ hauing offered himself for a soueraigne sacrifice vnto his Father ordeyned that wee should offer a remembraunce thereof vnto God in steade of a sacrifice Which they must needes vnderstand of Christs oblation in this place before his passion for they make this before his commaundement and power giuen to his Apostles of celebrating this mistery by these words as these men translate Luc. cap. 22. ver 19. doe this in remembrance of mee So that Christ ordeyninge that we should do what hee did as the words bee manifest and Christ as they confesse there offered himselfe for a soueraigne sacrifice vnto his Father we must offer Christ in the same maner for a soueraigne sacrifice vnto God 4. And for a cleare demonstration that together with the coÌ„maundement a preistlie sacrificinge power was giuen by those wordes to his holy Apostles and they by them made massing and sacrificing preists to sacrifice as Christ by these protestants and the scripture before did at that time his blessed body and body it is not lawfull or validate in either Religion of Catholicks or Protestants for any Christian man or woman to intermeddle to offer or minister in these things whatsoeuer we shall name them or iudge them to bee but a Catholickly consecrated preist by the one or protestant minister by the other therfore those sacred words do this Matth. cap. 26. v. 20. Marc. cap. 14. v. 17. Luc. c. 22. v. 14. gaue preistly and sacrificing power to his Apostles only present by the Euangelists for if they had beene generally spoken vnto all Christians
relate it in these his owne words Manuscript antiq Godwin Catal. of Bish. in Winch. pag. 207. This church as the same Author olde Manuscript saith was hallowed and dedicated vnto the honour of our Sauiour October 29.189 by Faganus Damianus Bishops about the space of 100. yeare the church of Christ had then peace in this land viz. vntill the reigne of Dioclesian who endeauouringe to roote out Christian Religion not onely killed the professors of the same but pulled downe all churches and Temples any where consecrated vnto the exercise thereof Amongest the rest this of Winchester at that time went to wracke the buildings thereof beeinge ruinated and made euen with the grounde and the Monkes and all the officers belonginge vnto it either slaine or enforced to flie for the present time and yet afterward to denie Christ This happened anno 289. not longe after the death of this cruell Tyrant to witt the yeare 309. The church aforesaid was againe reedified and that with such wonderful forwardnes and zeale as within one yeare and thirtie dayes both it and all the edifices belonginge vnto it as chambers and other buildings for the Monkes were quite finished in very seemely and conuenient maner The 15. day of Marche following it vvas againe hallovved and dedicated vnto the honor and memory of Amphibalus that had suffered death for Christ in the late persecution by Constance Bishop as my author saith of Winchester at the request of Deodatus Abbot of this nevv erected monastery The like or greater expedition was vsed in buildinge and dedicatinge a church to S. Alban of great coste sumptuousnes where hee suffered Martyrdome and yet as Matthew of Westminster writeth it was finished or builded within ten yeares of his death and martyrdome Fabricata decem scilicet annis post passionem eius elapsis S. Bede saith as soone as the persecution ceased a church of wonderfull worke was builded there vnto his honor Vbi postea redeuÌ„te temporum Christianorum serenitate Ecclesia est miri operis atque eius Martyrio condigna extructa So our histories testifie of S. Iulius and Aaron in particular Bed histor Eccl. l. 1. cap. 7. Matth. Westm. an gratiae 313. Io. Capgrau in S. Albano 6. And to make it manifest vnto vs that there were many Bishops left here after this persecution to consecrate and dedicate so many new builded founded and consecrated churches as were presently after the persecution ended erected in this kingedome and to execute other episcopall functions the best and moste auncient histories wee haue as S. Gildas S. Bede with others testifie that bilustro necdum ad integrum expleto before ten yeares of persecution were ended S. Gâ—…ldas words the ChristiaÌ„s eueryvvhere renevv their churches pulled dovvn to the ground found build finish churches of their holy Martyrs and celebrate their festiuities Bilustro supradicti turbinis necdum ad integrum expleto emercescentibusque nece suorum Authorum nefarijs decretis laetis luminibus omnes Christi Tyrones renouant Ecclesias ad solum vsque destructas basilicas Sanctorum Martyrum fundant construunt perficiunt ac velut victricia signa passim propalant dies festos celebrant And that wee may be assured that among these holy Christian exercises the holy sacrifice of Masse was offered by their sacrificinge and massinge preists it immediatly followeth in these renowned antiquities sacra mundo corde oreque confiâ—iunt They celebrate theire sacrifice with a pure hart and mouth And our antiquaries both Catholicks and Protestants assure vs there were altars for sacrifice in these churches S. Gildas calleth the altars altaria sacrosancta sacred altars whereon the heauenly sacrifice is offered and laied Sacrifieij caelestis sedem And that all the preistes of these Brittish churches were sacrificing or massing preistes at the altars Sacerdotes sacrificantes inter altaria stantes Gild. l. de excid Stovv histor in Constantine 2. Galf. Mon. histor Brit. l. 11. cap. 4. Matth. Westm an gratiae 543. 7. And if we wil appeale to other churches and iudges in this time whether to our Kinge and Emperor now a Christian or to the Popes of Rome yet Saints and holie men by the licence of our protestants or to generall councels the first being celebrated in this time or to the renowned Fathers that liued and wrote in this age wee shall finde these holy doctrines and exercises of the sacrifice of Masse sacrificinge massinge preists and preisthoâ—◠〈◊〉 haue beene in greatest honor as well in all other Christian nations as in this kingdome For CoÌ„stantine our Kinge Emperor and contryman we cannot better learne what minde and Religion hee was of in these matters then from S. Siluester then Pope and his Master and Father in Christian Religion who instructed him therein and from the first generall councell of Nice wherin and wherto hee was present and consented And to make all sure and walke with the passe of protestants in this trauaile wee are told by these men that this massinge Pope declared and decreed in what sacred attire both the preists which offered and the deacons which serued and ministred in the sacrifice of Masse should bee inuested Rob. Barnes l. de vit Pontif. Roman in Siluestro and to speake in a protestant Bishops wordes Huius Siluestri permulta feruntur instituta de chrismate consecrando pueris confirmandis temptis ornandis altaribus tegendis missatoribus constituendis vngendis vestiendis hostijs adorandis seruandis sacrificijs ceremonijs alijsque ritibus Very many institutions are ascribed to this Siluester of consecratinge chrisme confirminge children adorninge churches coueringe altars makinge massinge preists anointinge and vestinge them adoringe and reseruing the consecrated hostes of sacrifices ceremonies and other rites By which no man can doubt but S. Siluester was a massing preist and Pope this renowned Emperor conuerted by him a reuerencer of holy Masse and sacrificinge preisthood 8. which truth and doctrine for this age is more confirmed by the great generall councell of Nice where Constantine present assented and S. Siluester also present by his Legats Victor and Vincentius subscribinge approued in which it is plainely declared that none but consecrated massinge preists haue power to offer that holie sacrifice Concil Nicen. 1. can 14. per al. translat can 18. and to carry our protestants consents with vs herein the present protestant Archbishop of Canterbury director of Master Frauncis Mason together with this his directed secretary warrant vs herin sufficiently in these words The Nicen councell in that canon which Caluine and all other receaue saith plainely that the Lambe of God offered vnbloodily is laide vpon the holy table Fran. Mason in pref of his booke of consecrat pag. 243. therfore this holy councell being by all iudgements generall hauinge besides the consent of the Pope and Emperor the allowance and subscription of 318. Bishops and immediatly in those dayes as our protestants Theater of great Britanie l. 6. with others assure vs