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A10197 A quench-coale. Or A briefe disquisition and inquirie, in vvhat place of the church or chancell the Lords-table ought to be situated, especially vvhen the Sacrament is administered? VVherein is evidently proved, that the Lords-table ought to be placed in the midst of the church, chancell, or quire north and south, not altar-wise, with one side against the wall: that it neither is nor ought to be stiled an altar; that Christians have no other altar but Christ alone, who hath abolished all other altars, which are either heathenish, Jewish, or popish, and not tollerable among Christians. All the pretences, authorities, arguments of Mr. Richard Shelford, Edmond Reeve, Dr. John Pocklington, and a late Coale from the altar, to the contrary in defence of altars, calling the Lords-table an altar, or placing it altarwise, are here likewise fully answered and proved to be vaine or forged. By a well-wisher to the truth of God, and the Church of England. Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 1637 (1637) STC 20474; ESTC S101532 299,489 452

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before By M. Cartwright in his Confutation of the Rhemists Heb. 13. 10. sect 6. we have an Altar The writ●r to the Hebrewes exhorting them to seek establishment of their hearts in the grace which was brought unto them in the Gospell not in the discretion of meates alleadgeth this for profe that even as those which seryed the Tabernacle were not partakers by eating of those beasts whose blood being brought into the holy place their bodies were burnt without the campe Even so those which holding fast the Ceremonies of the Law are even yet as it were in the Tabernacle cannot be partaker of our Saviour Christ who suffered out of the gates of Jerusalem and is the truth of the shadowes figures which were burnt without the camp This being the very naturall meaning of the Text let the Reader observe how not childishly only but absurdly also the Jesui●es apply this place to prove a Reall Altar and consequently a Sacrifice of Christ in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper For first what is that which the Jewes are threatned to be deprived of the eating of If the Jesuites will answer according to their drift heere of proving an Altar of stone and not a Communion Table they must say that for reward of their obstinate cleaving to the Ceremonies of the Law they shall not eat stones a small punishment for so great a finne which if the Jesuites were put unto they would I thinke cry for a Communion Table as of some better digestion then the Popish Altar whereby it is evident how sottish it is which they straine so much at touching the proper signification of the Greeke word and the Hebrew answering there unto which as if those words which properly signifie one thing cannot by borrowed speech signifie another thing unproperly And as though they were ignorant that the word as properly signifieth a reall Sacrifice as this word signifieth an Altar were not in this very Chapter translated from the property of it to signifie a spirituall Sacrifice Wherfore by the Altar is meant our Saviour Christ so called for that as he is the Preist and Sacrifice so also he is the Altar which sanctified himselfe to be offered unto his Holy Father as the Altar did sanctifie the gift which was upon it And it is Christ not sacrificed upon an Altar of stone by a Preist but which offered himselfe upon Mount Calvary without the gates of Jerusalem as is expresly mentioned here in this place Neither doth the writer to the Hebrewes meane Christ suffering in a Mysterie but that oblation of himselfe which he once offered wherein the fire of Gods anger fed upon his body and soule to have as were the Sacrifices of beasts consumed them if that his humanity had not been supported and borne up by the eternall spirit of his God head wherein he offered himselfe unto his Holy Father And Isychius l. 6. c. 21. in Lev. saying that Christs body is the Altar confuteth you plainly that hereof would ground an Altar of stone and saying that the Jewes for their incredulity must not behold him he giveth you another blow thereby declaring that the eating of Christ is the beholding of him and not the ●arn all eating of him or swallowing him downe the throate the beholding of Christ he placeth in the eye of faith which the incredulous Jewes wanting must not behold him What cursed spirits therfore are these which upon the confidence of this place making as much for their Altars as for Baals scoffe at the Holy Table of the Lord in calling it a common prophane board which must needs unlesse they have heardned their faces to all impudency grant that the first and last time that ever our Saviour Christ ministred the Eucharist in his owne person did it at a Table and not at an Altar and at the same Table also at which he eat his common repast which notwithstanding we doe not nor in the peace and quiet of the Church thinke meet to be done But of this matter let the Reader see more before upon 1. Cor. 11. 29. where also he shall see how unworthily the ancient Fathers are abused for maintenance of Massing Altars And let it be here observed how the evidence of the truth presseth them which are faine to confesse that the Fathers call it as well a Table as an Altar but say they that is unproperly in respect of the heavenly food of Christs body and blood received And I pray you what should let us to say that when they call it an Altar they doe it unproperly because of the spirituall Sacrifice of thankes giving that is offered at it Set aside the truth of the cause triable by other reasons what warrant have you for your answer which we have not for ours Nay we may much trulyer say it then you can which having shewed it before will heere content our selves with one place and the same taken from your owne allegations And from him who may well be in stead of all the rest for August Epist. 86. speaking of that which under the Gospell succeeded that under the Law saith thus One Altar ought to give place to another sword to sword fire to fire bread to bread beast to beast bloud to bloud whereby the same reason that the beast which is offered must needs be an unproper speech and the fire that consumeth it a metaphoricall fire it followeth that the Altar whereupon the beast is layd and consumed must needs be an unproper speech And indeed this unproperty of speech in the Altar is yet further confirmed When in the same place Augustine objecteth to one as an Ignorance that he understood not the name of Altar to be more used in the vvriting of the Law of the Prophets then under the Gospell but most evidently of all in that the proving that there is mention of an Altar in the New Testament alleadgeth the place in the Apocalipse which the Jesuites themselues interpret of our Saviour Christ. Yow were heere also greatly over-seen to bring this place seeing he against whom this ignorance is objected affirmed that in stead of a beast we have now bread in the Sacrament and in stead of blood we have the cup where yow would beare the world in hand that Beringarius was the first that denied Transubstantiation And S. Augustine answering it and affirming that bloud succeeded to bloud yet doth evidently declare that he meant a figurative and Sacramentall bloud in that where the other sayd we have in stead of a beast bread Augustine answereth that as the Jewes had the presence bread so we in the Supper of the Lord and when he sayth that every one taketh a peece of the Immaculate Lambe it is evident that he meaneth by the Lambe the figure Sacrament of the Lambe unlesse you will dare to say that our Saviour Christ in the Supper is cu● or broken in peeces but as for your shift it is not so honest for presupposing as you
If any thinke I have gone to farre in this Let him know That it is only the zeale of doing your Majesty my Country and Mother Church of England faithfull service without feare or flattery it being now no time to mince things or dissemble longer which hath thus farre transported me In whose just important cause and quarrell how faint hearted soever others shew themselves I shal be ever ready through Gods assistance not only to spend my Li●e my Limbes my Fortunes and Liberty but my very Life and Soule Chusing rather to hazard all or any of these then to behold my God my Soveraigne my Country my Rel●gion secretly undermined abused betrayed trampled upon or ruined and yet sit mute neither discovering the contrivers the instruments nor close cariages of such Antichristian treacherous disloyall designes for feare of any danger person or Prelate whatsoever● And if J did it not when I had meanes and oportunity I should neither deeme my selfe a faithfull Servant to my God nor a loyall Subject to your Majesty my Soveraigne And now since I have lanched thus farre out into this tempestuous Ocean perchance with hazard of drowning or Pyrats unlesse your Majesty rescue me by a Patent of safe conduct and calme these boysterous Seas when they arise to overflow me give me leave to wade but one step further to acquaint your Highnes with the evill dangerous fruites of these lewd practises Bookes Innovations and then I shall cast anker in the secure Harbour of your Royall Grace and Protection 1. First they have produced aboundance of Schismes Factions ●arres discontents quarrels heart-burnings if not mutuall malice hatred and reproaches among your people in all places of your Realmes and quite rent asunder that ancient unity peace love and mutuall charity which flourished among them before these Innovations crept into the Church 2. Secondly they have not only grieved vexed the righteous soules but even quite dejected the spirits and broken the hearts of many thousand godly L●ts and most faithfull Subjects to your Majesty who even pine away and languish under them for griefe and sorrow of heart 3. Thirdly they have bred a generall feare in the hearts an over-great jealousie in the heades of your Loyall Subjects of an approaching alteration of Religion and totall Apostasie unto the Sea of Rome They having little left to secure or arme them against this feare and jealousie but the syncerity of your Majesties owne Royal heart to our Religion your comfortable pious Declaracions now trampled by these Novellers under feet in open scorne and the zeale of divers of your Nobility to whom Gods truth and our Religion are dearer then their soules Which no doubt they will now declare by their actions in this time of need To your Majesties great joy and ease and the daunting of these strange audacious Innovatours though hitherto many of them have been over-silent 4. Fourthly they have caused many to turne Atheists Skeptickes or Newters in Religion seeing our Church so wavering and unconstant Many to fall off to Popery and hundred thousands of Papists from conversion by encouraging and hardning them in their Antichristian Errours and Superstitions to which they see us running if not flying so fast of late that they say they need not come towards us since wee are posting so fast to them 5. Fiftly they have caused thousands of godly Christians the best Preservatives against Plagues and Iudgments to flie out to forraigne Countries and Plantations Hundreds to seperate from our Church as now quite Romish and Antichristian And made thousands ready for to seperate it being now a common received opinion among many That our Churches especially our Cathedrals are now so farre Popish in all respects Latine Service only excepted which they say is countervayled by their merry all-sung never-wept Service which the people understand no more then Latine that we have now the same or at least as just cause to seperate from them as our godly Martyrs and Church had to seperate from Rome in the beginning of Reformation And though the same reasons hold not alike of all Churches for the present yet that they hold as firme in regard of the future since now wee and all our Churches are taught and commaunded to imitate our Prelates and Cathedrals in all their Romish Rites and Ceremonies as their Mother Churches and true patternes of Imitation So that unlesse a speedy Reformation follow of these late Corruptions and Innovations halfe the Kingdome for ought I can conjecture are like either to turne professed Seperatists or else to leave the Realme To such a passe have your busy Prelates lately brought things by their new Devises Bookes Articles Ceremonies Superstitions and their Suppressing of Lectures Preaching and godly comformable Ministers Sermons of Lords-dayes after-noones Repetition of Sermons and the like 6. Sixtly they give a great occasion to Iesuites Seminarie-Priests and Friers of which there are now swarmes in England there being above 60. Benedictine Monkes only besides other Orders in England Anno 1624. as appeares by the Letter of Rudesindus Barlo President of the English FRIERS of that Order to the C●lledge of the Cardinals at Rome dated the 12. of December 1624. and many more no question of that order now Who at this present use few other Arguments to seduce your Majesties Subjects from their alleagiance and Religion to Popery then the fore-named Jnnovations and new printed Popish Bookes which they buy up with greedines Resi●dus Barlo in his fore-cited Letter to the Cardin●●s of Rome to institute either Dr. Kellyson or Dr. Smith two of his order or both of them Bishops over the Priests in England writes very confidently That if one of these were made a Romish B●shop here Latio●es intra unicum biennium fructus in Angl●cana missione aspecturi sitis quàm hactenus in ●adem nullo existente Episcopo per sexaginta jam elapses annos conspexoritis They should see more joyfull fruites in this English mission within one two yeares then before they had seen in three-score when there was no Bishop And I may as truely say that since these Innovations have growen publike and got head among us these new Bookes been licensed and all Confutation of them stopped at our Presses the Priestes Iesuites and Popish Monkes who have now a Bishop or two at least have perverted more by meanes of them alone for they could never hurt or wound us but with our owne men and weapons then in sixtie yeares before As therefore the encrease of Papists was one maine ground and chiefe cause lately alleadged in the Star-chamber of resuming the London-Derry plantation into your Majesties hands So the selfe same reason should now move your Majesty to recall these severall Innovations and burne up these late Novell ridiculous Pamphlets in affront of our best and solidest Writers which withdraw so many from your Alegiance and give the Priests and Iesuites cause to triumph over us yea to
the Primative Church But there is but one only Altar of the Christians even Jesus Christ the Sonne of God and of the virgine Mary of whom the Apostle speaketh on this manner Heb. 13 We have an Altar whereof it is not Lawfull for them to eate which serve in the Tabernacle Our Altar is not of stone but of God Not Worldly but Heavenly not visible but invisible Not dead but living upon the which Altar whatsoever is offred unto God the Father it can none otherwise be but most thankfully and most acceptable And like as Christ administring the most Holy mysteries of his body blood to his Disciples sat downe at the Table So likewise his Giustes that is so say his Apostles sitting at the same Table receaved that Heavenly food sitting But the Massemonger delivereth not the Sacramentall bread unto the Communicants except they first of all kneele downe with great humility reverence that they may by this their gesture declare shew evidently to such as are present that they worship honour that bread for a God which is so great so notable wickednesse as none can exceed when it is plaine evident by the ancient writers that the Geastes of the Lords Supper long and many yeares after Christes resurrection sat at the Table So farre is it of that they either after the manner of the Jewes stood right up or after the custome of the Papists kneeled when they should receave the Holy mysteries of the body blood of Christ. So in his Cathechisme f. 484. To the same purpose he proceeds thus Father What thinkest thou is it more meet to receave the Supper of the Lord at a Table or at an Altar Sonne At a Table Father Why so Sonne For our Saviour Christ did both institute this Holy Supper at a Table and the Apostles of Christ also did receive it at a Table And what can be more perfect then that which Christ and his Apostles have done All the primative Church also received the Supper of the Lord at a Table And S. Paul 1. Cor. 10. speaking of the Lords Supper maketh mention not of an Altar but of a Table Ye can not be partakers sayth he of the Lordes Tables and of the Devills also Tables for the ministration of the Lords Supper continued in the Church of Christ almost 300. years after Christ universally and in some places longer as Histories make mention So that the use of Altars is but a new invention and brought in as some write by Pope Sixtus the second of that name Moreover an Altar hath relation to a Sacrifice And Altars were built and set up at the Commandement of God to offer Sacrifice upon them But all those Sacrifices doe now cease for they were but shadowes of things to come therfore the Altar ought to cease with them Christ alone is our Altar our Sacrifice our Preist Our Altar is in Heaven Our Altar is not made of stone but of flesh blood of whom the Apostle writes thus Heb. 13. We have an Altar whereof it is not Lawfull for them to eat which serve the Tabernacle Furthermore the Papists have greatly abused their Altars while they had such confidence in them that without an Altar or in the stead thereof a Super-altare they were perswaded that they could not duely truly and in right forme minister the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ. And this their Altar and Superaltar likewise must be consecrate have prints and charactes made therein washed with oyle wine and water be covered with a cloth of hayer and be garnished with fine white linnen clothes other costly apparell or els whatsoever was done thereon was counted vaine unprofitable The use also of Altars hath greatly confirmed maintained the most wicked error and damnable heresie which the Papistes hold concerning the Sacrifice of the Masse while they teach that they offer Christ in their Masse to God the Father an oblation and Sacrifice for the sinnes of the people both of the living and of the dead and by this meanes they greatly obscure and deface that most sweetsmelling alone true perfect and sufficient Sacrifice of Christes death And therfore all the Altars of the Papists ought now no lesse to be throwen downe and cast out of the Temples of the Christians then in times past the Altars of the Preistes of Baal So far is it of that they be meet to be used at the Celebration of the Lords Supper Finally who knoweth not that we come unto the Lords Table not to offer bloody Sacrifices to the preformance whereof we had need of Altars but to eate and drinke and spiritually to feed upon him that was once crucified and offred up for us on the Altar of the crosse a sweet smelling sacrifice to God the Father yea and that once for all Now if we come together to eate and drinke these Holy mysteties so spiritually to eate Christes body and to drinke his blood unto salvation both of our bodies soules who seeth not that a Table is more meet for the celebration of the Lords Supper then an Altar Father Thy reasons are good and not to be discommended But what sayest thou concerning the gestures to be used at the Lords Table Shall we receave those Holy mysteries kneeling standing or sitting Sonne Albeit I know confesse that gestures of themselves be indifferent yet I would wish all such gestures to be avoyded as have outwardly any appearance of evill according to this saying of S. Paul 1. Thess. 5. Abstaine from all evill apparaunce And first of all forasmuch as kneeling hath been long used in the Church of Christ at the receiving of the Sacrament thorow the doctrine of the Papistes although of it selfe it be indifferent to be or not to be used yet would I wish that it were taken away by the authority of the hier powers Father Why so Sonne For it hath an outward appearaunce of evill When the Papist thorow their pestilent perswasions had made of the Sacramentall bread and wine a God then gave they in Commandment streight wayes that all people should with all reverence kneele unto it worship honour it And by this meanes this gesture of kneeling creept in and is yet used in the Church of the Papistes to declare that they worship the Sacrament as their Lord God and Saviour Whence M. Roger Cutchud in his 1. 2. Sermon of the Sacrament An. 1552. printed Cum Privilegio Anno 1560. writes Many comming to the Lords Table doe misbehave themselves so doe the lookers on in that they worship the Sacrament with kneeling bowing their bodies knocking their breasts with Elevation of their hands If it were to be elevated served to the standers by as it hath beene used Christ would have elevated it above his head He delivered it into the hands of his Disciples bidding them to eate it not to hold up their hands
ordained that they which preach the Gosple where he puts the Preachers and Preaching of the Gosple and the living by it in direct opposition contradistinction to the Preistes Levites ministring about Holy things in the Temple and living of the Temple serving at the Altar and partaking with the Altar to preaching of the Gosple and living by it drawing an argument by way of equity from one to the other in this manner The Preist and Levites under the Law which minister about Holy things live of the things of the Temple and those that wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar that by Gods ordination Therfore by the selfesame reason hath the Lord ordained that the Ministers of the Gosple who preach the Gosple not those who seldome or never preach as our great Prelates doe should live of the Gosple So that if we interpret this Text as this novell Doctor hath done we shall quite overturne the Apostles argument similitude and make it a meere nonsence Tantalogie such as his Sunday no Sabbath is as full almost of Errors and falsehoods as lines 3. To that of Heb 13. 10. We have an Altar it is true that the Bishop of Chichester heretofore in his Conference with Richard Woodman Martyr alleaged this very Text to prove the Popish Sacrament of the Altar and that it is meant of their Popish Altars whereon their Sacrifice of the Masse is offred and the Rhemists in their Notes on Heb. 13. sect 6. conclude thus This Altar sayth Isychius is the Altar of Christs body which the Jewes for their incredulity must not behold 1. 6. c. 21. in Levit. And the Greeke word as also the Hebrew answering thereunto in the Old Testament signifieth properly an Altar to sacrifice on and not a metaphoricall and spirituall Altar Whereby we prove against the Heretickes that we have not a Common table or prophane Communion boord to eate meere bread upon but a very Altar in the proper sense to sacrifice Christs body upon and so called of the Fathers in respect of the sayd body sacrificed Greg. Nazianz. in orat de Gorgonia Chrysoft demonst quod Christus sit Deus Socrat. l. 1. c. 20. 25. August Epist. 86. de Civitate Dei l. 8. c. 27. l. 22. c. 10. Confess 1. 9. c. 11. 13. Contr. fauct Manich. 1. 20. c. 21. Theophylact in 23. Math. And when it is called a table it is in respect of the heavenly food of Christs body bloud received And other Papists generally inferre from hence as Harding against Jewell Hare in his Conference with D. Rainolds cap. 8. divis 4. that by Altars is not meant Christ himselfe but the very materiall Altar on which they Sacrifice Masse inferring from hence that the Church of Christ hath yet altars Preists and that the Communion table is here termed an Altar But for any Protestant writer of our owne Church or other who interprets the Altar in this Text to be the Communion Table or a materiall Altar I professe I know not any till this new Doctor M. Shelford M. Reeve the nameles author of the Coale from the altar page 47. who yes writes thus dubiously of this Text as applied to the Lords Table and above all indeed S. Paul in his Habemus Altare Heb. 13. 10. In which place whether he meant the Lords table or the Lords Supper or rather the Sacrifice itselfe certaine it is that he conceived the name altar neither to be impertinent nor improper in the Christian Church All the Fathers and ancients on this Text that I have seene yea Isychius whom the Rhemists quote interpret it of Christ himselfe whom the Rhemists themselves in their Notes on Apoc. 6. 9. interpret to be the altar under which the soules of all Martyrs live in heaven expecting their bodies that in these Positive words Christ as man NO DOVBT the altar under which the soules of the Martyrs live in heaven c. which M. Cartwright Doctor Fulke thus resort upon them But if Christ be the Altar here and that without doubt not withstanding that he is not here expresly sayd to be why should not he so be also in Heb. 13. 10. where the name of Altar is more directly applied to him why was it there an Altar of stone which is here of flesh there in proper speech an Altar which is here but a borrowed speech Verily there can be no other reason why that Altar was of stone but that the Jesuites which out of that place framed it either for heavines of understanding to conceive the truth or for hardnes of heart to yeeld unto it were heavier and harder then the very stones themselves whereof they would have the Altar And where in disagreeing themselves they agree with the truth so in that which followeth Christ is the Altar as he is man they are as farre from the truth as they are neere like unto themselves especially if they meane he is the Altar according to his Manhood alone for when his Manhood being the Sacrifice was sanctified by Christ which is the Altar and the thing which sanctifieth is of a Higher nature then that which is sanctified by it Math. 23. 19. Heb 7. 7. it must needes follow that our Saviour Christ must be considered in somewhat else then in his manhood when he is sayd to sanctifie to same How our owne writers have expounded this Text heretofore will appeare First by William Salisbury his Battery of the Popes Bater printed at London Cum Privilegio Anno 1550. But now writes he are we set upon to batter and beate downe the head corner stone of their Popish Batereulx we will first declare yet one grammer terme more for the unlearned sake which though it be no high point of Divinity neverthelesse who so hath not the knowledge thereof his Divinity is but humanity or rather carnality then true knowledge in divine matters And so the grammarians call it a speach spoken by a figure called Metonymia when the thing conteyned is ment by the name of the thing that conteyneth it As when he say reach hither the Cupp meaning to have the drinke conteyned in the Cuppe This figurative speech used Christ himselfe when he sayd Luke 22. This Cupp is the New Testament in my bloud where he ment of the wine and not of the Cup. And likewise Matthew 23. where he speaketh by the name of the Citty unto them that dwelled in the Citty saying Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that stayest the Prophetes c. Such manner of speach is also much used in the old Testament as Esay 1. Heare ● Heaven and harken ● earth And in an other place Howle ye ships of Tharsis And so the Papistes must either grant that that kind of speech is used in the text that we shall anone rehearse hereafter ior els must they grant that the Jewes whose Altars or rather Sacrifices and forbidden meate the writer of the Epistle alludeth unto
doctrine for these present times as the 34. Article tearmed the Homilies with which I shall close up this first quaere QVESTION II. The second Question I would propound to these Novelle●s is this That since they will now stile themselves and be called of others only Preists so Shelford tearmed himselfe 〈◊〉 the Title page of his unlearned Treatises and many others have done in late prin●ed Sermons Pamphlets what kind of Preists they are wherein their Preisthood consists If they say they are only spirituall Preists and have only a spiritual Preisthood ●o●●ffer up the spirituall sac●ifices of prayer 〈◊〉 thanksg●uing almes righteousnesse broken and contr●●● hearts and their owne bodies soules to God that every Christian is as much a Preist even by Christs owne institution a themselves and hath the s●lfesame Preisthood that they 〈◊〉 Rev. 1. 6. 1. Pet. 2● 5 ● Exo● 19. ●● And so they doe all they can ●o ingrosse this Title as peculiar to themselvs which is common to every Christian. If they meane by Preists nothing 〈◊〉 Pres●yters and intend no more by their name and Preisthood but only the Eldershippe Ministrie let them enjoy that Title and office in Peace I quarell not with them Only this I must informe them● That such Preists need neither Altar nor Sacrifice but 〈◊〉 expresly debar●ed from both by G●d himselfe 1. Cor. 9. 13. 14. c. 10. 16. 17. 18. 21. Hebr. 7. 12. 13. 14. But if they meane by the word Preist 〈◊〉 or S●cerd●● a sacrificing Preist or a Preist waiting at or upon the Altar as it is cleare they doe both by their writings their prayers before their Sermont where they pray for the Preist●● 〈◊〉 serve wai● a● the Altar● their erecting and pleading for Altars and Commemorative Sacrifices at least 〈◊〉 evident 〈…〉 and shall then inquire of them what 〈◊〉 Sacrificing Preists they are and of what order their Preisthood is In Scripture I read only of 4 kinds of Preists and Preisthoods Preists Heb. c. 5. 7. 8. 9. 10. Levit. c. 1. vers 12. Exod. c. 28. 29. 30. after the order of Aaron● Preists after the order of Melchizedech 2 Kings 17. 32. 1 Kin c. 12. 31. 32. c. 13. 33. 2. Kin 10. 18 c. Preists of Baal and Preists of the high places or Idol Preists The two first of divine the two latter of Diabolicall institution Since which there hath sprung up of late in the Church another d●stinct generation of Preists commonly called by the name of Masse-Preists and those are both of Papall Diabolicall institution Other sorts of Sacrificing Preists then these I neither know nor read of The sole question then will be of which of those of 5 sorts of Preists our Novellers Altar-panons are If of the first sort that is directly abolished changed abrogated by our Saviour Heb. 7. 11. 12. c. 8. 6. to 13. cap. 9. 10. throughout Col. 2. 14. 15. 16. And those who crie downe the name and sanctification of the Lords day Sabbath as ●●wish will not I hope tear●ne themselves in the order of Aarons Preists which is farre more Jewish Of which sort of Preists they cannot be vnlesse they are lawfully descended from the tribe of Leui Num. 3. 6 c. c. 16. 1 Iosh c. 13. v. 14. 33. Psal. 135. 10. Mal. 2. 4. 8. Hebr. 7. 5. If of the order of M●chizedech that is peculiar only to our Saviour subsisting personally in him alone and incommunicable to any other as the Apostle directly resolves Hebr. 5. 9. 10. c. 6. ●● c. 7. throughout ● ● 9. 10. As all authors interpret old and new writers acknowledge and among them Mr. David Dickson in his commentarie a short explanation on the Hebrewes 7. An 1634● where he layes downe the conclusion fully warranted by the Apostles text 1. That to make any Preists in the new Testament by special office beside Christ is to rent the Preisthood of Christ and to make it imperfect like Aarons which for the same reason that it had many Preists was weake imperfect inferiour to Christs 2. That to make Preists by office in the New Testament to offer up any corporall sacrifice is to make Christs Preisthood seperable from his owne person which is against the nature of Christs Preisthood which can not pas●e from one to another Hebr. 7. 24. 3. That to make plurality of the Preists in Christs Preisthood Vicars or Substitutes or in any respect partaker of the office with him is to praesuppose that Christ is not able to doe that office alone but is either dead or weake that he cannot fulfill that office contrary to the text which saith Because he continueth for ever he hath an unchangable Preisthood or a Preisthood that cannot passe from one to another Hebr. 7. 24. 4. That whosoever communicateth Christs Preisthood with another besides his owne person maketh Christ not able alone to saue to the uttermost those that come unto God by him 5. That the Scripture knoweth no Preist but the Leviticall Preists of Aarons post●rity for the time of the Law● Or else that one Preist that was made by oath in the time of the Gospell besides these the Apostle knoweth none neither were there any other in his time in the Church 6. That to have Preists now after the similitude of Preists under the Law were to renounce the difference which God hath made betwixt the Law and the Gospell 7. That to make a Preist in the Gospell who is not consecrated by an Oath to abide for evermore in the office but may be changed and another come iu his place is contrary to Evangelicall Preisthood 8. That to make Plurality of Preists in the Gospell is to alter the order of Melchizedech sworne with an Oath and to renounce the worke sett betwixt the Law and the Gospell 9. That to make a man Preist now is to marre the Sonne of Gods priviledge To whome the priviledge only belongeth 10. That to make a sin●ull and weake man Preist now is to weaken the Preisthood of the Gospell and make it like the Law 11. That as long as Christs consecration lasteth which endureth for ever none must medle with his Preistly office 12. That to adde unto it and to bring in as many Preists now as did serve in the Temple of old is to provoke God to adde as many plagues as are written in Gods booke upon themselves and their Preists also All which considered I hope these Novellers dare not say they are Preists after the order of Aaron much lesse of M●lchiz●dech which is peculiar to Christ alone P●reists of Baal or Idol-Preists J presume they neither will nor dare stile themselves If therefore they be Preists of any order they are and can be no other but S●minary or Masse-Preists and if they are such Preists in truth as their writing and practises declare them Then let them be gone
and other pastimes Epist. Dedicat Antiqu Connival l. 1. c. 16. fol. 36. c. 23. fol. 67. c. 25. fol. 74. 75. c. 33. f. 133. to 138. and l. 3. c. 2l 22. so much contested for now of late All which the primitive Christians abandoned as well as Altars But though these Novellers have neither Statute Canon Scripture nor Antiquity for this new invented Ceremonie yet doub●l●sse being reasonable creatures they must have some reasons for it True they thi●ke they have so But if their reasons be but examined they are in truth meer lying 〈◊〉 crackbrainde fantasies of their owne invention not warranted by any Scripture or registred in any Father or Authour no● known to Durandus See Rationale Divinorum 〈◊〉 or Mirologus See De Divinis Offici●s l●b or any other Romanists who have taken upon them to give a reason for every one of their Ceremonies though never so superstitious or ridiculous If any desire to know their Reasons they are these 1. First they say they doe must bow to or towards the High-Altar and Lords-Table because it is the place of Christs speciall presence upon Earth and his Chaire of estate wherein he 〈◊〉 See Giles Widdowes his Lawlesse kneelesse Schismaticall Puri●●●●● p. ●9 Shelfords Sermon of Gods house p. 2. 4. 18. 19. 20. Reeve his Exposition of the Catechisme in the Common-Prayer-Booke neare the end Which reason I have already proved falce Only I shall demaund these few Questions of them I. QVESTION By what Scriptures or Fathers they can make good this proposition That the High-Altar or Lords-Table is the speciall place of Gods presence upon Earth and his Chaire of state wherein 〈◊〉 II. QVESTION What they meane by this speciall presence whether his corporall or his divine presence If his corporall that implyes first a Transubstantiation of the Sacramentall bread and wine into the very body bloud of Christ. Secondly a perpetuall reservation of the consecrated bread thus transubstantiated into Christs body on the Altar Lords-Table else the reason holds not but only at the time whē the Sacrament is administred and the consecrated bread wine is standing on the Table And so they ought them only to bow to or towards the Altar Not at other times when there is no Sacrament Bishop Mortons I●stitution of the Sacrament p 463. as now they doe Thirdly it implyeth a denyall of the Scriptures and Articles of the Creed which assure us That Christ in his humane nature and corporall presence is wholy ass●nded into Heaven That he hath quite lest the world and is gone to his Father● That he is sett downe at his Fathers owne right hand That he is no more corporally present upon Earth That he cannot be corporally in many places at once and never was so that wee find in the Scripture That the Heavens must containe him untill his second comming to judgement And the like Acts 3. 21. cap. 1. 10. 11. John 14. 2. 3. 19. c. 16. 28. c. 17. 11. 12. c. 13. 1. 1. Pet. 3. 22. Heb. 10. 12. cap. 12. 2. And it is point-blancke against the Homilies Articles Writers and established doctrine of the Church of England to which these Rebellious sonnes of Belial have subscribed If they meane only Christs Spirituall presence that certainly is as much at the Font the Pulpit the Bible the Common-Prayer-Booke as on the Table as much in the whole Church and Quire as in all or any of these standing in them Yea much more in every pore Christians heart and soule the true Temples of God wherein Christ and his spirit dwell by faith Ephes● 3. 17. c. 2. 21. 1. Cor. 6. 19. 2. Cor. 13. 5. Gal. 2. 20. Therefore if this reason hold firme they must bow alike to or towards all and every of these as well and as oft as to the Table or Altar III. QVESTION Admit the Preposition true I would demaund of them how they can prove this their assertion to be truely Orthodox That men ought to bow and worship to and towards the place of Christs speciall presence What Scripture Councell or Father hath taught them any such Doctrine Certainely if this be good Divinity then when ever they see the Pulpit Bible Font Church or any pious Saint of God though never so pore they must for sooth bow 〈◊〉 thē because Christ is specially present in them then they must no sooner looke up to Heaven but they must bow their knees and bodies to it for that is Gods Throne Christs Chaire of Estate indeed and the place of their speciall residence by the Scriptures expresse resolution Yea then when ever they see the Paten or Chalice which immediately containe the Bread and Wine they must bow to them because they are the place of Christs speciall presence rather then the Table or Altar on which those vessels which conteine the Sacrament only stand IV. QVESTION Jf this reason be folid I would then demaund but this Question whether Christ be not more immediately really and spiritually present yea and corporally too if they hold any such presence in the S●crament as they seeme to doe in the Consecrated B●ead and Wine then in the Chalice or Cup or on the Table or Altar it sel●e If so as all must necessarily graunt then it will inevitably follow from this reason that they must much more adore and bow to the consecrated bread and wine then either to the Altar or Table If so then I would demaund of them First what is the reason they bow only to the Altar or Table not to the consecrated bread ond wine Or in case they answer that they bow to both How their bowing to the bread and wine differs from the Papists adoration of them which our Church condemnes as most grosse Idolatrie Secondly What is the cause why they bow to the Altar or Table before the bread and wine are consecrated when Christ certainely is not there present in that manner as they fansie and yet bow not to the bread and wine after consecration when Christ is specially present in them Thirdly why many of them at the administration of the Sacrament when as they have the bread and wine in their hands bow downe to the ground almost as they come from passe by or goe to the Table or Altar out of their reverence and respect to the Table and Altar and yet bow not at all to the consecrated bread and wine which they hold then in their hands Fourthly whether bowing to and towards the Altar or Table so frequently and devoutly as they deeme it when there is no Sacramentall bread and wine upon it and at the time of the Sacrament even when they hold the Sacrament in their h●nds and their not bowing to or towards and adoring of the Sacrament it selfe which is farre more ho●ourable then either the Table or Altar which serve only for its consecration and distribution and may put them more immediately in mind of Christ be not an advancing a preferring of
vertues make a compleat Quire Wouldest thou therefore like the Gentiles build an Altar and yet not as did these Athenians to the unknowne God VVhy see matter and stuffe prepared to thine hand the Prophets and Apostles for the foundation Christ himselfe for the chiefe Corner-stone Wouldest thou lay it over with pure refined metall VVhy see the word of God it is like Gold 7. times purified in the fire VVouldst have a Beast to slay Mortify and kill thy beastly affections which otherwise would kill thee VVantest thou a knife to kill them Take the Sword of Preaching not into thine hand but into thy heart that is it which is sharp●r then a two-edged sword cutteth to the dividing and separating of soule and Spirit Are all these things prepared and lackest thou yet fire to consume them VVhy zeale must be that fire without which all these will profit thee nothing O beloved if these were the Sacrifices of the Romanists or these the Altars of Papisme I vvould change my speech and most heartily request you to joyne hands with them and let the seamelesse coate of Christ to suffer rupture and division no more between us No longer should thy blessed name sweet Iesus beare reproach among the uncircumcised infidels for our seperation but if their Altars be but the Popes Exchequers and the Priests but like the Publicanes which sit there at the receit of custome Goe out of Babylon let us treate no longer with her upon Articles of agreement What Erasmus saith of the Altars of our time the same verdict S. Bernard gives of the Altars of his time by the hight of such sumptuous and wonderfull vanities saith he men are more incited to offer then to adore Thus riches are swallowed up by riches thus mony drawes in mony because I know not by what meanes but so it is where men see most there are they most willing to give On Altars therefore is presented the beautifull portracture of some Saint and it is thought so much the more holy by how much the more beautifull Men runne to kisse it they are invited to enrich it and more are astonished at things curious then inclined to adore things religious O vanity of vanities and yet not greater vanity then madnes the Church abounds in the Walls and wants in her poore She cloathes her stones with gold and leaves her Sonne naked to the cold the maintenance of the poore serve to satisfie the eyes of the rich the curious find matter to delight them the distressed find no bread to sustaine them But are these the devotions which Rome so vaunteth of Well might S. Austin in Psalm 43. 49. then wish those of his time to forbeare Sacrificing Altars if this be all the fruit of them Alas he shewes himselfe farre from alowing such impostures saith he If thou hast a fat Bull reserve him not for the Altar as if Iewish or Gentilish Sacrifices were in use but kill him for the poore though they cannot drinke the bloud of Goates yet they cā eate the flesh of Bulls and he which said unto thee If I hunger I will not tell it thee will then tell thee I was hungry and thou gavest me to eate But what Altar then would he have us to erect to God What Sacrifices thinkes he ascend best pleasing in his sight Why he turnes us to the Psalmist Offer unto the Lord the Sacrifice of praise an humble and a contrite heart shalt thou not dispise So then wouldest thou build an Altar VVhy the loftiest Altar thou canst build is a lowly heart VVouldest thou have something to offer see an oblation passing the bloud of Goates and Calves and Sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving VVell might we heare least God should have required something without us something in the house that the M●thes had corrupted something in the Garner which the Mice or vermine had consumed Something in the Field which the Fox or Wolfe had devoured But he sends us to our selves and to our immodest Closet which none but God can unlocke saith Austin thine Altar is thy conscience offer thereon the Sacrifice of praise We are secure we goe not into Arabia for Frank incense neither doe we rip up the bowels of the earth for Stories to beautifie our Altars If Paul could find an Altar abroad Know Christians have it at home within their owne breasts If all these Authorities be not sufficient take but one more for all past all exception fresh in memory To wit the testimony of the reverend learned Prelate D. Thomas Morton Bishop of Durham in his Iustitution of the Sacrament set forth by publike Authority and approbation Anne 1631. and since 〈◊〉 Anne 1635. with enlargements Where L. 6. c. 3. S●ct 8. p. 416. 417. and c. 5. Sect. 15. p. 463. if the latter be his Addition where thus he writes If furthermore wee speak of the Altar you will have it to be rather on earth below and to that end you object that Scripture Heb. 13. 10. VVe have an Altar saith the Apostle whereof they have no right to eate that serve at the Tabernacle This some of you greedily catch at for proofe of a proper Sacrifice in the Masse See the Rhemists in their Annot. upon the place Mr. Breerly in his Booke of the Liturgie Tract 3. Sect. 3. Sub. 4. and are presently repulsed by your Aquinas expounding the place to signify either his Altar upon the Crosse or else his body as his Altar in Heaven Mentioned Apocal 8. and called the golden Altar Aquinas istud Altare vel est Crux Christi 〈…〉 If we our selves should tell you how some one affirmeth that this Altar spoken of by 〈◊〉 the Apostle● is the body of Christ himselfe in Heaven● upon which and by which all Christians are to● often up their Spirituall Sacrifice of Faith Devotion Thankfulness Hope and Charity You would presently answer that this one cea●ainely is some Lutheran or Calvinist● the words are so contradictory to your R●mish Gatbe not with standing you may find all this in the Antididagma of the Divines of 〈◊〉 Antididagm 〈◊〉 de Miss● Sacrificie Post 〈◊〉 Habemus Altare Heb. 13. Et Apoe 8. Aure●m Altare in que per quod omnes Christiani universa Sacrifitia fid●i devotionis gratiarum actionis Spei Charitatis De● Patri debent offerre Atque it a sit ut Christus sit Altare Sacerdos Sacrificium August 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 Besides your Argument drawne from the word Altar in this Scripture is so feeble and lame a Souldier that your Cardinall was content to leave it behind him because many Catholikes saith he interpret it otherwise Bella● Quia non desunt 〈◊〉 qui interpretantur 〈◊〉 vel de Cruce vel de Christo ipso 〈◊〉 L. 1● de Missa c. 14. And indeed who is of so shallow a braine as not to discerne notorious conconscionablenesse of your disputers who confessing that the Apostles in their times did Abstain frō the words Sacrifice