The Answer that the Preachers of the Gospel at Basile, made, for the defence of the true administration, and use of the holy Supper of our Lord▪ Against the abomination, of the Pa●yshe Mass Translated out of Latin into english by Geo●ge Ba●crafte. 1548 ❧ Imprinted at London by John Day and William Seres, dwelling in Sepulchres Parish at the sign● of the Resurrection a little above Holborn Conduit. ☞ Cum gratia & privilegio adimprimendum solum. ¶ To the right worshipful and his singular good Master Silvester, Butler, George Bancrafte, Wishethe prosperity and health, both of body and soul. WHen I considered with myself the great & dangerous, abuses in the administration of such sacraments as our saviour jesus Christ left to his mystical body, the church of the faithful, to be extern signs, and tokens of such gifts as God hath, and doth daily work in us, to his own glory, and salvation of our souls I can find, perceive, and prove none to be somuch abused, as the holy and sacred supper of our Lord. For where as he ordained, that holy sacrament of his body, and blood to he eaten and drunken in remembrance of his passion whose fruit they taste therein, which have there steadfast faith in him. And thereby show forth the lords death until he come, and as breed is made, of many grains, & wine of many grapes, so the membres of the congregation of Christ's church, having one God, one faith, and one Baptism, are put in remembrance in eating and drinking the t●●y are one body, whereof Christ is the head. The beally bishops of Babylon the romish Antichrist, have annulled extripate, & clean abolished the ordinance of Christ and use of thapostless, in the administration thereof. And have of their own brain excogitated, devised and brought in to the church a new, and straying ordinance for the same, which is as contrary to Christ's will, and purpose, touching that blessed supper as heaven to earth, light to darkness, life to death, and they call it the blessed Mass but it may be truly called a diluesh Masking, for means eyes, are masked there with that they cannot see the truth, but through that detestable abomination, have been, brought to most miserable perdition, for they apply it to soldiers in war, for fair weather and rain, for the plague, pocks, a●● such other diseases, for beasts sick of that murrain for preservation of health, and for remission of sins, both for the quick and dead. I will not speak how God is mocked therein and Christ had in derision, they play booe pepe, with seste me, or seste me not. My pene abhorreth to write what ducking knellenge licking kissing, or Crossing and breathing, these divilles' apes have devised in this whorish Mass there diguising In apparel at Mass, hath picked many a poor man's putteth, and hath robbed their souls of the true fruits of the spirit, for all such sums of money that men should have bestowed on their power parents, children and needy neighbours, was to little for their vestimenres, albes, stoles, chalices, corporaces, altar clothes, Massbockes, and such other, wherein Christ hath no delight, for Christ and the Apostles usede none such disguising in the admininistration of this blessed Sacrament of Christ's body and blood, but were conten●●d with such rament as they were accustomed daily to were, & so these shameless Idolaters, showing them selves of what generation they are, dare so boldly face out such manifest lies against gods glory the plain truth, and ordinance of christ▪ What shall I speak of these holy mumers (I would have said holy Mass mongers) that when they here of any rich manes death, they stock together like ravennes to a dead Carrion. Not to comfort them that mourn for the dead, with hope of the resurrection of the flesh, not to give thanks to God for them that are departed in the faith of Christ nor to pray that we, departing in the same faith, may with them receive like reward, but to get money with Requiem eternam, and pro quorum memoria corpus Christi simuter, with censing, dashing of holy water, & such other like jugglings, so that the right use of it is clean altered, as thought christ had never ordained it in remembrance of his death, and passion, and for as much as in this treatise following, the true use of the lords supper and also the devilish patching of the popish Mass is in few words lively declared, I have thought it good to translate the same into the english tongue, to the edifying of my dear brethren in Christ, praying God, the father of our saviour jesus Christ, that these things may shortly be reform, that the poor stock of Christ be no more deceyvede with such crafty conveyance, to keep them in contenual blindedes for lucre's sake, to the great danger of their souls, and pernicious derogation of god's glory, to whom be honour and glory for ever AMEN FOr asmuch as God hath commanded us by his Apostle i Pet. iii. Peter (Oh ye fathers of our country) in wisdom gravity and godliness to be ready at all times to give an answer to every man, that asseth us a reason of our faith it is met● that we should more gladly answer to a question proponed being required of you our most Sovereign Magistrates to whom we know also what is our duty in other things. We have affirmed and upon sure ground, and reason proved, in our public sermons, that the popish Mass, is not an offering for the quick and dead but a most detestable abomination before god And therefore a man will not believe how glad we are, which love the truth, that you our most prudent senators require of us an answer to this question for we conceive great hope that God which moveth you to desire to attain the knowledge of the light and truth, will of his infinite mercy increase his grace in you that after the example of the godly kings, Ezechias and jolias when the truth diligently searched out and truly known, you will take away, abolish and utterly destroy all such traditions of man as be repugnant to the word of God. And all such things as are taught and set fourth contrary to the ordinance of god and wholesome doctrine of Christ, which things stir up the anger and grivouse displeasure for God against us miserable creatures for in so doing, you shall nourish confirm and establish peace unity and concord in this noble city of basel, and bring your subjects to a sincere & godly form of living, that at the day of judgement the blood and condemnation of most detestable sinners shall not be required at your hands being our Magistrates and governors but rather you shallbe rewarded of God and receive in this world praise and glory both of your subjects & of strangers for nothing can rather win the favour of subjects to their Magistrates and rulers & bring them to obedience then the word of God, and his commandments freely preached and without danger of punishment, as you may evidently perceive by joshua Ios. ●. and the people of God committed to his governance. And strayngers are moved with nothing so much as when the●se the truth, the glory of god and an honest order of living magnified & had in reverence, for God doth keep the city that seeketh his glory. first of all we protest that in our puklyke sermons and in this writing we neither speak nor write against the most holy ordinance of Christ or the Apostles in the administration of the Lords supper, but we both speak & write against the abuses the be crept into the church, & are obstinatli defended, by continuance of time without the holly scriptures, to the great hindrance of the fruits of Christ's passion & craftle deceiving of the unlearned people contrary to Christ's ordinance & administration of the apostles the common rumour is through the malicious envy, & false forged lies of some popish preachers & of some other the are even against us which know the truth, the we go about to let abolish, and bring to nought all good works, they feign this on their own head, as they do all other things for nething, can be more grievous to us then, to here that men do not live after the commandments of God. And we know through the grace of God. What ceremonies, & what part of the ceremonies is profitable & meet for christian men & our purpose, maintained with a good conscience, is to use well, sincerely, & without any fau●sly devised traditi●s, so much of this sacrament of our Lords sit per, as was most perfectly begun, and ordiened of Christ our master and there can no man prove that our intent was other wise at any time and this by the assistance of god's grace, we will affirm by the only scriptures of God. Now we will in gods name declare, & show forth our reasons, for this questi on proponed. Vndoubtely all such as do not regard & care for the only glory of god, teach nothing that is godly, true, or in anywise profitable. Math. i● For god saith by Malachi. the prophet. And now, Oh ye priests this commandment toucheth you if you will not hear it nor regard it my name, sayeth the Lord, of hosts ● wyil send accuisse upon you, and will Curse your blessing yea ●ursse them will I if ye do not take heed It is therefore manifest that God being grivousely displeased curseth them that regard not his name and glory, for God is gellouse and a consuming f●er. He will have his name magnified ●eut. v. and pray●sid the jews and gentiles did fall into lewd minds Rom, i. and corrupt judgements because they knew God, and did not glorify him as God. The lord ●sa. i. 42 himself sayeth, I will give my glory to none other. finally ●ath, 12. he that seeketh not god's glory doth neither desire to increase it nor doth speak, live, nor is of God out is abomination before God. For whosoever is not with 1. Cor. ●. Christ as who saith the God may be glorified, he is abomination before God and is his enemy, when the ●a●. ●3. natural man perceiveth not the things that pertain to the Ro. ●●. spirit of God. And his thought is ●s fare in sunder, from the will of God, as the earth from heaven for in deed man touching his own knowledge, doth know nothing less than the will of God. Who therefore Luc. xvi. can tell what is the will of God and his true glory Christ sayeth, that which is highly estimede, among men is abomination before God, for men are ever prone and ready to fall, and forsake the truth, to follow & cleave to there own profit, and inventions whereof Idolatry & other abominations, come up and have Prove. ●●● there begining wherefore the wise man saith, trust in the lord Deut. xi●. with all thine heart, and not in thine own, wisdom. And Moses saith, you shall not do after all things that we do here this day every man what seemeth hy●n good in his own eyes, it is therefore foolishly spoken to say, what thing soever that a man doth for god's sake is a good work, and worthy to be rewarded, for then every man might have knowledge sufficientli without any teaching or doctrine of the word of God. But how should a man be then of an undoubting conscience or with what hope, might a man live to please God. Where the knowledge of the will of God wanteth, there most also hope and faith want▪ namely in trouble and affliction what so ever truly is not of faith is sin where Sign is there is abominaon before God. Therefore god hath declared his will and mind, by th'apostles. And Christ himself (that our knowledge may be sure, and our opinion undoubtful) how god ought to be truly worshipped. Moreover he hath given us astrayght command meant to keep his law, that we shall turn neither to the right nor yet to the Deut. xvii l●ste hand that we shall neither add nor take away any thing from it, he that will not hearken to the prophet that I will raise up sayeth the Lord, I will require it of him, after the law was given and the truth was known, God would be worshipped, as his word teacheth and the offence was then much more grievous. Albeit king saul did kill and offer fat Oxen, i R. xv. to the true living God which was a good work in appearance: yet because the scripture of God did not teach him so to do, God therefore was grivoslye displeased with him. For although he offered his sacrifice to God, yet that accounted he to him for Idolatry. two. Re. ●● Oza died suddenly because he tuched, the ark against the lords commandment, yet h●● thought it had been agood deed. Did not the earth swallow up Corah and his adherents because they would ●ume. xvi. take upon them the office of the priests. The Israhelites, did think it a godly and goodly thing to ●eut. xvi. have pleasant groves night unto the altar of God, but him did it not please. They though it agoodly fact at Tophet in jerusalem, ●ome. seven. to kill and offer there own sons but the more they did so the greater was their abomination before god For god saith he never commanded them neither came it ever into his jose. ●. thought. God commanded joshua to be strong and bold, that he might observe, and do according to all the law, which Moses commanded him, and that he should turn their ●rom, neither to the right nor to the left hand that he might do wisely in all things Esa. thirty. he took in hand, god by his prophet Esaias saith, alas for the disobedient children, that will take counsel without me and will take, asecerete advise, and not out of my spirit, therefore add they Math. ● sin unto sin, and Christ saith in vain do they serve me, teaching the doctrines and precepts of men, the proud hearted jews did stand so well in there own conceit for their traditions and inventions, that for love they had to them, they despised hated, and at last killide our master Christ john. xxi our adversaries dare say that Christ and the apostles taught many things, which are not written in the scripture, and that Christ said his Disciples could not bear away all that he had taught this cavil repugnant to the true understanding of the scripture may be an occasion, and cause of great errors for there with all lies and heresies may be confirmed they will say albeit it is not written, yet the apostles taught it by word of mouth, and also the scriptures of God, should be an unperfect doctrine, which thing to offirme, is blasphemy against the holy ghost considering that then all the doctrine of our faith should be put in question. Therefore surely so much is contained in holy scripture as is necessary unto salvation to every one that believeth They say could the church err so long time as it hath? If your doctrnie be true, the▪ true church hath not erred, which hath the word of god only. The church verily must be tried by the word of God, and not the word of god by the church, whether the church that believeth be of many or of few, for the church is known by the fruits, and not because, it consists of many, and hath her begining of the word of God, and her fruits, are tried by the word, whether the tr●e christan church brought them forth or no if it be the true christian church john. ●. she heareth no nother voice but Christ's her shepherd and bride gro●e, which the apostles preached to the church, and if an angel came out of heaven teaching any other doctrine than this, let him Gala. ●. be accursed, if we love and follow the doctrine that Christ taught and being his disciples, we shall not be excluded, from the true church so long as we keep with us the word of God. But he is puffed up with pride and doth i Timo. ● know nothing at all that will not obey the word of God, he therefore which doth know nothing, can not teach us religion, and the true worshipping of god, if the Mass be used as it hath been hitherto, it can in no wise agree with, the word of God, but is so much repugnant as what thing is most. The Mass therefore is a devilish Idolatry, and detestable abomination, against God, and the maintainers thereof, shall incur, his displeasure▪ for ever this thing we will prove two ways first because the popish Mass, is used in nothing like the supper that Christ orde●ned, and differeth noless from it then black to white they sin therefore so grinouslye as did Achas that made an altar at jerusalem eg●●. ●vi. like that which was at Damascon, and cast the aultare of god out of the temple so they have, left the true use of our lords supper, And in stead of it have instituted and ordeinede the Mass of their own foolish devise, and opinion which is a great and blasphemous abomination before god. Moreover we will prove by their errors and abusing of the mass, which they call an offering for the quick and dead, that it is an horrible abomination, for if the Mass were ordained of Christ, which is false, yet by there abusing of it they would make it a blasphemous, & hemous abomination before god, undoubtedly we ought to follow truly, and sencelye, that thing which is absolutely Deut. vi. sufficient of itself already. first let us consider and expend the manner and order that Christ used at the institution of this holly and sacred supper, and then we will confer the abuse with the truth. But we ought to learn all these things of the Evangelists, and of saint Paul, and of none other. Verily the true Mass, which is worthy all kinds of praieses, is the Mass which Christ ordained, at his last supper before he should suffer, Luk. ●● for when the hour was come, he sat down and the twelve apostles with him, and he said unto them, I have inward lie desired to eat this passover with you, before that I suffer, for I say unto you hence forth I will not eat of it any more until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God and he took the cup and gave thanks and said, take this a●d divide it among you, for I say unto you, ● will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of god come, and he took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it, and gave it unto them saying, this is my body which is given for you, this do in remembrance of me. Like wise also when he had supped he took the cup saying, this cup is the new, testament, in my blood which is shed for you. These words Saint Luke ●●●it. ●h. xxvi. writeth, the other evangelists writ the same, but they differ in some words, as Math said, Drink all of this, for this is my blood, which is the new testament that is shed for many, for Mar. ● the remission of sins, and saint Mark saith, they all drank of it meaning the cup. Saint Paul doth expound Christ's words saying this do as oft as you drink it in remembrance of me for as often times, as you shall eat this bread and drink this cup ye shall show forth the lords death tell he come, but let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup, Saint john doth not declare the ordinance of this sacrament. ●. But he teacheth, from the xiii john, ●●●v. xvii. x Cap. to the▪ xviii. how Christ did use his supper and what he did at it, he washed his disciples, feet, he preached to them and commanded them to be in charity he exhorted them to patience, he strengthened confirmed, and established their faith toward god and prayed for them to his father, but especially he rebuked judas the traitor. S. Paul saith we being many are one bread, and one body in so much we all are partakers, of one bread and the Evangelists, report that Christ did finish his holy supper with thanks giving. The some and ground of the hole matter proponed, consists in the sentences of scripture now rehearsed, but because Christ saith, search the scripture we therefore will are counsel, of the word of God in other plases and debate how the lords supper ought to be used let us first divide thes questions into four parts, first some things are common, both to the minister, and receiver of the Sacrament, moreover some things belong only to the ministers thirdly some things pertain to the receiver only, and finally some things must be observed in the sacrament alone. First let us expend and consider what is the dutes of the ministers and laity together at this holy supper. Christ was the minister and the xii apostles, were the receivers & laity Luke. xx for S, Luke saith when the hour was come Christ and the. ru. apostles i. ●o. xiii● sat down to be an example to us to do all things in the congregation with comeliness and order. For we see, that Christ, observed both time & place but yet those ought not to be understanded that we shall leave the true meaning, and follow the bare letter, that time and place was most mite, for him to go about that godly work, and thanks giving, both because the easter lamb ought to be eaten in the evening, & the night of Christ's passion was at hand but it is most meet, to us to minister that sacrament, before dinner that the laity shall receive it standing and not sitting, & also that it be broken in two pieces, before the administration to the laity & not when it is ministered, for the evangelists, commanded and decrered nothing in these extern thing, but an honest order, for it is unpossible that we should do and observe, the self same order of receiving the sacrament that the apostles did for them no more then. xii. should receive it at once And ●hat of one minister it should also be received in the evening. Moreover Christ did eat the easter lamb with his disciples, and refused that bodily meat and drink saying be would eat no more, of that, until it were ●, xx●●. fulfilled, in the kingdom of God, nor drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God come, that we after his example should neither seek, for a carnal supper to fill the belly, nor be addict & given to the observance o● the juish ceremonies and shadows of the truth, but that with an unfeigned faith we should with thanks giving receive the spiritual food in the word and promises of God. Also both the minestres and receivers ought to come to the lords table, in charity, & protest true mutual love, one to an other, for Saint john sayeth Christ did earnestly preach, charity john. 〈◊〉 xiiii. x●. x● xvii. to his disciples and loved them to the end, for we being one congregation are membres of one body & brethren in deed, by Christ. For as saint Paul saith though 1. Cor. ●. we be many, yet are we one body when we are partakeres, of one bread, finally it is meet that one, tarry for another, except some matter of great importance let us, and that we continued in prayer to th'end judas alone, departied away before the other to his own destruction. Saint Paul saith, brethren when you come together ●or●●, to eat, let one tarry for another and if any man be hungry let him ●th. xxvi. ●●e. xiii●. eat at home. Faint Mathewe and Saint Mark say that after they had said grace, they went up into the hill of Olives Now let us learn what is the function and office of the minister, and stuard of the mysteries of God this we are ta●ght of Christ himself in the administration of the sacrament to his disciples wherein divers and sundrt things are to be diligently noted & observed. First how he did give himself to all his disciples and ministers and in especially to the preachers, being an example in washing of their feet, that they should do the same and be prompt and ready at all times to minister, and do service to everiman. Moreover here is to be noted that Christ did willingly and of purpose shone and abhor all extern and outward pomps and solemn sights, that he might print in our hearts things of greater importance, also when he had washed their feet▪ he went again to the table and put on john. xi● his accustomed raiment teaching his disciples by this example to go about such things as aught to be most chifflye regarded, for he then earnestly preached the Gospel admonished and rebuked judas the teaytoure, and taught his disciples, to be in charity patience, and hope of things to come, so john. xv plainly & manifestly, that they said you speak not now in parables. Note also that Christ gave Math. x● thanks to God the father, before he gave the sacrament to his disciples, exhorting them to remember i. Cor xii. and show forth thereby his passion until he come. Finally he called upon his father with a fervent john. ●● desire, and prayed for all them that believe. Now touching the ●. xvii. receivers, of our lords supper, they gave great attendance, to the word & doctrine of Christ, and with obedience received the sacrament of the body and blood, of Christ, Saint Mark sayeth they all did drink, by his saying no man is excepted. Finally let us ●●. x●ii●. expend & consider of what thing the sacrament is made, undoubtedly it is made of bread wine, & the word, for there cannot be the sacrament of our lords supper where any of these lacketh, Christ verily t●ke material bread and wine, choosing them for the use of the sacrament, we read not that he took water grapes or any such other thing, and he say these words. This is my body which ●e. xxi●. shallbe given for you, and this cup is the new testament, in my blood which shallbe shed for you by these words the bread, & wine are made the sacrament, & holy tokens of Christ's body & blood, these words offer to us the promesses of the joyful Gospel, which if we receive, with a true faith, we eat spiritually in spirit the flesh, & blood of christ & thereby obtainlife eternal. The sacrament is like a written Testament, that promiseth great gifts and is sealed with two seals, that aught to be kept hole & unbroken if all these things afore rehearsed, were observed and kept then the lords supper should be truly used, the Mass (as they call it) should perfectly be holy, for god praised therein, would regard it, & we should receive of it, great fruits & goodness, for thereby we are instructed to believe in god, & love our neighbour excluding all-sedition, and disobedience that peace patience and concord, may take place and rule, against this doctrine, nothing can be proved, and debated by the holy scripture for it is grounded on most sure principles, and foundation, referring, all things to faith and ●i. i. john. i. ●. iiii. v. charity, by the which two all things ought to be tried, peradventure they will answer, that noman can find fault with our saying, but yet it is, expedient to join other ceremonies with the approved use in the administration of this sacrament, of our lords supper as have been, used hitherto, and so the holly thing shallbe worthei the greater praise. We answer that it is nomattex though these ceremonies, were omited and left which were excogitate, and found out by man's reason and a true christian man will not be offended there with, as lighting of candles singing, ringing of bells, decking of ault●rs gilding of Images, velvet and embroidered ornaments, relics of saints, Organs pricksonge descant and such other, which do not edify the congregation that they may increase in godliness faith and charity, for as Saint Paul Art. xv. sayeth bodily exercise, is little profitable, but rather when these extern things, are highly esteemed and defended with tooth and nail, as we have seen, by experience: these percepts of god, saith, humility charity and preaching of the word are little regarded, when these true good things that please God, & are taught us of the scripture do wonderfully work in us godliness, & justice. If this multitude of ceremonies had pleased God and been thought profitable to bring men to godliness and virtuous living. No doubt but Christ would have taught them, The apostles would have observed and kept them, and S Paul would have greatly magnified and praised them and if god would that his noble works should have been had in reverence, set furth and extolled, with sumptuous ceremonies, he would have thought our fathers of the private church to use them after a most gorgeous fashion, as they did, in jerusalem when solomon's temple was dedicated beg'st. viii. where many fat Oren, were slain, and much money spent also when Aaron the high priest was consecrated, and when the ark of covenant was made if god would that we should do so, this multitude of ceremonies had been lawfully instituted in the primative church but christ would that we should be occupied with weightier matters, & less regard this ●rtern● pomp, then heavenly and, celestial for ceremonies, are nothing but figures, to shadow and hide the truth from the unlearned. A man therefore can use no better, order in the administration of our lords supper, then that which Christ himself used, but we are not pleased with Christ when we are not pleased with the order and way, that he taketh. Naaman when he dispiced that plain way to wash himself in jordan remained always a leper, and when he did wash him i Cor. iii. self as the prophet commanded him he was helped. Verily men's wisdom in matters of god, is foolishness we cannot set forth, and minister the lords supper, more purely then when we follow there in Christ, & his disciples for that which men put to of there own brain, without authority of s●riture is merlie false, albe it they ascribe the same to the holy goost. What fool hardiness is this to adjoin their dreams to the spirit of God, doth it of necessity follow that when two or three Bishops are assembled together, that the holy ghost doth decree and make laws by them? we must examine and try there constitutions, and decres, whether they agree with Christ's doctrine, and do extol teach and establish faith, and charity or no, for in so doing a man may easily perceive that the holly ghost is not the author of such dirty traditions and lousy laws, but rather that it is blasphemy, to think that the office of the holly ghost is to institute and ordain such superstitious, and unprofitable ceremonies. They that know the nature of the holy ghost, by the word of God are assured that he commanded not such trifles and superfluous things, to be done, as have been constituted, and decreed, in many general counsels for he doth not renew, the shadows, of the unperfit old law nor laith on christian men's shoulders, the yoke, that neither the apostles nor fathers of the old Math. ix. testament could bear, for noman doth put new wine into old botteles, neither soweth a piece of new cloth into an old garment but our adversaries most blasphemously affirm that although they constitute and ordain many ceremonies contrary to the liberty of the Gospel and repugnant to Christ's ordinances yet they are made and ordained by the holy ghost. Now we have declared the true doctrine of Christ, touching the administration of the sacrament of our lords supper we will also consider the popish Mass with it. Let us first show and declare the abuse both in the function and office of the minister, and of the receiver for this is the chief error of the papisties', not because they do not observe time & place but forasmuch they regard not the liberty of a christian man whom Christ set at liberty with shedding of his own blood. And lay snares for men's conscience with precepts in extern things as in ornaments oyleing a superstitious auricular confession, and in other like things innumerable, for both the ministers and receivers of the sacrament think it a capital offence if they omit & leave any of these beggarly traditions of men behind and undone descending them under pretence of good order, when there can be nothing more confuce and out of order then to make the lords supper subject to men's constitutions and precepts in extrene things from which Christ our master made it free. They judge it a much more h●inouse offence, to omyte any of the vain traditions of man undone, then if a man should be a fornicator, a dicer a dronckeard a blasphemer of god, or in any other such vices, an abominable sinnercondeminge of heresy all such as neglect these ceremonies and ungodly constitutions of theirs, and Christ's ordinance being nothing worth or without there cererimonies invented of their own brain, it must therefore be a detestable abomination, to trouble christian men's liberty after this sort, for if it might continue still free, men might let ornaments pass and such other extern things, for the holy ghost doth not teach, them which set things out of order, after this sort. The true honour and service, of God is subject neither to time place nor person charity in edefiing thy neighbour, in these things, ought to rule all congregations. For all christian congregations use not one kind, and order in their ceremonies. Themperor Charles first of that name did labour to bring all churches to agree in one kind and order of ceremonies but he could never bring it to pass, for it was against god, and therefore it could never be brought to effect. If we should be compelled to observe and keep such precepts of men being profitable neither to faith nor charity, men may judge that we have not yet eaten the easter lamb, that is to say. That greater burdens, are laid on our necks, them ever was on the jews which thing is abomination before God, and that they have done so to us, the diversity of ornaments, and many other foolish cerremonies, which they have borrowed of the jews, do manifestly declare and testify as it shall appear hereafter. Also they contemn their neighbours which believe in Christ, and desire to be incorporate, to him by charity and excommunicate, curse, and suspend them for not observing some of their vain ceremonies wherein they break charity which ought chiefly to remain among them that, are partakers of the lords supper. There is no true christian church, where charity is not, all that church therefore with the Mass, is obominable before god. The prayers of that congregation, are not hard of God which feareth not to come to the communion of Esal. ●. Christ's body & blood, with hearts full of envy malice & hatred, and with hands full of blood finally if any thing be abominable before god it is the mass, for it oppresseth the christian liberty, it hath borough in a great multitude of jueshe Gala. iiii. ● cereimonies, and hath no regard to christian charity. s Paul speaking of the consciens exhorteth us to persist, in liberty, and suffer not ourselves to be lead under the yoke of bondage. Also he teacheth us, that our works are unprofitable without charity. Now let us declare and open the abuses of the ministers We freely knoledg and confess that all though many ministers of the sacrament be unmeet and reprovide of god, through their abominable and vicious living, yet the sacraments remain sacraments, through the ministration of the word, but this we affirm, that the virtue and efficacy of the sacraments is not like, neither the holy ghost worketh like effect when a man receiveth the sacraments of an ungodly, and impudent sinner, and when he receiveth them of agodlye, and true christian man, for albeit the sacrament is present, yet there is in it neither grace nor virtue for both the sinner & he that consentth are equally punished as both the byeres, and sellers of Doves were driven out of the temple: so both the minister of the sacrament, and the receiver shallbe guilty of Christ's Luke. xv● body and blood. These minister is guilty because he doth minister unwortheylye for truly i Co. two. his service is abominable before god for if there were, no worse things than the living of the ministers to make the Mass and an abomination before God, yet their impurity of life, is enough to make it unpure and filthy before the face of God. By what place of scripture can they prove, that the Mass is holy, accepted of god, and a profitable work for the quick and dead of what ministry so ever it be said? In deed by none for how can the dead help the dead, either a sinner make a sinner righteous, every man knowing that sin pleaseth not god, may perceive what they can do with God, for what so ever is not of faith is sin. Their Mass therefore ●●. x●ii● is sin and abominable before God. Now let us consider what function and office Christ through his own example committed to the ministers ● stewards of the sacrament when he washed his disciples feet, it was done to teach the ministers of god's word that they should not exavite themselves as Lords and masters over the laity, for saint Peter sayeth, the●ders, aught to be an example and mirror to the stock of Christ for pride is a great abomination before God Christ iruly can not be pleased with servants that are puffed up with pride. But where is there any humility amongs them? none at all. I will not speak of there shaven crowns, mitres, silver staves, by shops rings, or other such costly, and rich robes, and ornaments, In deed they are much more precious, than Christ's power simple garments but truly: the remembrance of Christ's passion, cannot be showed forth after the right way in such more than princely apparel. For neither gold nor silver was seen at Christ's death albeit they by this rich raiment have invented and devised, a glistering pretence, of mystical understanding, Saint. i. P●. ●●. Peter could not, suffer excess of apparrile in gentlewomen, much less in the administration of our Lorddes' Supper, and in them that should be an example to all other in Godly conversation and living, their prydde can not be hid, for they believe, and labour to perswadde other that by the bishops anoyneting a mark is printed in their souls, whereby they are made of greater authority, than angels or s. mary that virgin. yea, and this mark them say they, can by no means be put away They extol therefore, them themselves, above all men and set themselves at liberty, from all burdenes, and bondage, that other men are charged with all their will is to be Lords over all men & all service due to them. They magnifis & extol, their prayers in there holy Mass and set the pope's name before thee, kings in their canon, if a man yea a good, and godly man touch the Chalice nor the sacrament by chance, it is a Capital offence, they judge it an heinous abomination, to minister the sacrament to the laity under both kinds. And why because they are not anointed, and made popish priests. Their pride also is opened and showed forth nothing more than in their offering and sacrifice for they are fully persuaded that they offer to god, his son jesus Christ, for remission of sins, both for quick and dead. This presumptuous arrogancy, must needs be an abomination before god, amam cannot find in these proud papists, neither liberality in doing of good deeds, or service to other where unto they are chiefly chosine. But it is their property to serve dame Aueris, and their own bealis. If reward be promised, they are ready to sing Mass, but if no reward come then will they neither sing nor say. For no penny, no pater noster. Undoubtedly Eph. vi. every covetous man is an Idolater. For where covetousness reigneth, as saint Paul sayeth, there is Idolatry, which is abomination before god These covetous popish priests are therefore, abominable before god. And another sort of these papists will sing Mass, not for money, but for fear of losing their fate promotions But what great sin is this to do these things against their conscience? For they do it fearing least other wise they should want a living. Oh what mistrust have they in God who feedeth and clotheth birds, and other living creatures, and thus have they made a banquet of the most holy supper of our lord, for filthy lucre and gains. If aman should desire one of the laity, which is a good and godly man, to receive the sacrament, and he should have for his labour a couple of groats or a testarne, he would not only refuse it, but grievously taking the matter, that any man should have such an opinion in him. Notwithstanding these Mass mongers think it great honesty to receive money for their Masskinge, when it is to their great shame and rebuke. This saying of Saint Paul, he that serveth the altar must live also thereof: doth not make for them for S. paul i Cor. ix. doth teach nothing elses by this saying, but that the preachers of the Gospel may without groudge of conscience provide of the gods of the church, for such things as they lack. And this argument, is taken of the priests of th'old law. That as they had there living, for offering of sacrifices, so the ministers, of the gospel should have their living, for preaching of the same. For Saint Paul did no more mean by this text, that priests should sing Mass for the quick and dead than he purposed, to teach men, how to war Their intent, is not to serve Christ our true altar, but the god there ●eb. iii. own bellies woe be to them, that maintain, this patched popish Mass, either with rewards counsel or any other way, for in so doing they give no less occasion to these papists to commit most heinous offences than the Pharisees & rulars of the people, did to judas the traitor. Here we omyte and passover their filthy, whoredom, continual hate malicious, envy unfruitful idleness, and such other abominations which make them reprovable, both before god and man, and through this their ungodly conversation, all men for the most part, are driven from the true service of God a man therefore cannot think how much god abhorreth them & theirdedes. If these proud impudent papists, had never so little remorsse of conscience, they would abhor, and be ashamed of themselves. Fain these Mass mongers the pope's creatures, to be godly liberal, and that they are not proud in their ornaments and ceremonies, but walk in christian liberty notwithstanding the contrary is plainly seen in them, yet they would men, should have such opinion in them. And let us come to their function and office wherein they can do nothing well and truly, neither with good will, nor in knowledge. Our lords Supper ought never to be ministered with out the remembrance of Christ's death, nor without a sermon, or exhortation, and that in a language that the congregation may perfictly understand, to their edification, ●. Co●. xii● as Christ also taught, his disciples. In the mass is nothing but mocks, and they make Idolatry of the Gospel and Epistiles which the holy ghost gave us for our consolation correction and exhortation But these popish, priests have made of them an extern pomp, extolling themselves above the jews and Gentiles, with there glistering shows, of vain ceremonies the Jews and Genttiles therefore laughed them to scorn using them as fools and madmen. The Enangelestes require an other kind of working, and exercise, then sensing wasting of candles, singing of pricksong and kissing of golden books. It were more meet to preach the grace of our lord jesus Christ, but Christ is not spoken of at all, amongs them and the light that should be set upon the candlestick, is hide under the bushel. Now where the word of God, is kept under and hid away there is nothing, but darkness and error we have therefore plainly declared and proved that this hindrance of God's word is an heinous abomination in the sight of God. And this is out of question that every Mass where in the word of god is not preached and that in a language that the congregation may understand it, is a most peevish idolatry. But as they follow not Christ in there sermons and preaching, so do they not observe his order & manner, of thanks giving, and prayer. For they have such a rabble of vain ceremonies, that devout prayer, can have no place they have also many collects, that true christian men ought not to say. Many read, that which they understand not. When they Mass for money & other causes afore rehearsed, how can it be possible, that they being whore mongers and all together carnally minded, should pray and give thanks with a devout and pure conscience. Though they also seem to themselves, to be devout Math. ● men yet in praying, they make much lip labour and their Mal. two. hearts are far of. They are therefore abominable before god. For as he sayeth, by Malachias, there blessing shallbe accursed. When they come to the distrubution of the sacrament, they break it, in there pieces one prece for the quick, another for them that are in heaven and the third for the dead being in purgatory, and at last eat all themselves but it were more meet to feed others, and be without themselves. They ordain a feast, and call no gests to it, nor will eat of one loaf, and one cup among themselves: but every man will have his own aultare his own lof and cup. Wherein do these things agree with our lords supper. Neither Iwe nor gentile, can mock and delude Christ's ordinances, more than these ungodly wretches, it is marvel that the eareth openeth not to swallow them quick in to hell. Now touching the laity it were against reason, to rebuke them but rather to be sorry, and bear with their weakness, and ignorance. Whosoever cometh to our lords table, ought to hear the word of God, as the apostles did. But how can they here, when no man preacheth They ought to make an answer, and say Amen to their prayer. But they neither know nor under stand, what they say and so they extol and magnify noughty and vain tri●eles for fruitful and godly matters, and for the lively word of God they believe in fond foolish fables. It is necessary the we pray to God that his people may be delivered, from the hunger of god's word, that they may know how miserabli, they have been deceived by these false preachers. What shall the unlearned people do, when lies and errors so much prevail, and they being captives, and prisoners under Antichrist, gods enemy. They receive the sacrament but once in the year, and in one kind contrary to Christ's, ordinance. It must therefore be unthankful, and abominable before God when his church is spoiled and destroyed after such sort. Finally there are some errors and abominations found in the very sacrament. For the material substance of it ought to be bread and wine, as it is in deed, as S. Paul Cor. xi. so calleth it both before the consecrati on & after. But the papists, teach thee, not her bread nor wine remain after the consecration but accidents only the is, colour savour taste ruddiness and such other. And which such manifest lies they blind men's eyes to believe that, the thing is in the sacrament which is not there, and that, that is not in the sacrament which his there in deed. alexander first pope of the name decreed and ordiened. That water should be menglide, with wine, which thing is repungnaunie to Christ's ordinance. For he commanded no such thing to be done. If we will expend, and consider, the words of Christ our Master, touching this sacrament we may easily perceive what Satan goeth about. The papists mumble in latin, & the bells make such ringing that the hears, can not understand what is said, or song. They have put to also, in the consecration words that are not in the Gospel as Enim truly, & Elevatis oculis in celsi lifting up his eyes to heaven. And Eternt Of the everlasting. Also Misterium Fidel. The mystery of the faith. But these are matters of small weight, they leave unsaid words of grater importance which is Quod provobis tradetur aut frangitur That shallbe delivered or broken for yond. And men's ears are stopped with playing one the organs, & descant songs. When these words are spoken least, they should doubt in any thing that is said. If the people remember Christ's passion at the time the priests are not thanks worthy, for they should both remember the words of the passion, and also give thanks to God for the same, but they shall not do so, if the priests can let them. It is therefore, manifest that the papists follow not Christ's example in the supper at their popish Mass yet they say there Mass is holy when there is nothing more unhollye. They brag that saint james did use this Mass at jerusalem saint Mark at Alexandria, and saint Peter at Antioch: but they have no history toucheinge this matter worthy credit. Though they used our lords supper, as Christ our master did and as S Paul also at Corinth: yet they did not use it as the pyvishe papists do now the Mass. That Ignatius, Policarpe & Ireneus make mention of, is not like this popish mass. They confess that Basilius Magnus Therone & Ambros used another order, in the administration of our lords supper, then is now used and that diverse have used, diverse fashions therein, by there own words. Therefore it is manifest, that this kind of massing is not the ordinance of Christ, but invented by man's wit, and policy without the word of God. And now I will declare by the testimony of ancient histories what pope's, and when they patchilde together this beggarly Mass of theirs. ☞ Hallowing of aultaces and temples. ¶ Felix, first pope, of that name, commanded temples and altars to be hallowed in the year of our Lord God. cclxix. ☞ Altars ¶ Sextus, first of that name, ordained altars and Saints, in the year of our Lord. Cxxiiii. ☞ Altar clothes. ¶ Boniface commanded altars to be covered which fine linen cloth, in the year of our Lord. cccx Chalices. ¶ Vrban and Severine ordained chalices of gold and silver, in the year of our Lord. ccxv. ☞ Albes and corporasses ¶ Silvester did ordain, albes and corporasses in the year of our Lord. cccxiii. ☞ Candeles' and ornaments, ¶ Gregory did ordain, light at mass, & certain Ornaments in the year of our Lord. ccccclxxxxii. ☞ Procession ¶ Agabecus did ordain procession on Sundays, about the church in the year of our Lord. cccccxxxii. ☞ Holly water. ¶ Alexander did ordain water to be mingled with wine unleavened bread and holly water in the year of our Lord. cxii. ☞ Confiteor and the office ¶ Pontianus ordained Confiteor before mass in the year of our Lord. ccxxv. And Selestinus the office in the year of our lord. ccccxxiiiis ☞ Kyrie eleison. Gregori did ordain, Kyrie eleson at Mass in the year of our Lord. ccccclxxxxii. ❧ Gloria in excelsis Telesphorus, made Gloria inexcelsis, in the year of our lord. cxxix ❧ collects and grail Gelasius made the collects Preface, and grail, in the year of our Lord. CCCC. lxxxx. Anastasius ordained that we should stand, when the Gospel is read in the year of our Lord. CCCCix. Martin made the Crede in the year of our Lord cccxxxiiii. ¶ The canon is patched together of many, and therefore one sentence is repugnant with an other many superstouse words are in it they call upon certain peculiar Saints in it. And offer for souls, in purgatory they bless & cross as if great virtue and power were therein, and read nothing so reverently as this their clouted canon. Gregory made the offertory & Damasus gloria patri. They can not therefore say, that they minister, the sacraments of our lords supper as the apostles did when their doctrine is repugnant & contrary, one to another. This is sufficient to prove that the Mass should be abhorred because it doth lay for men's cons●ence, snares of men's traditions. They will have the priests to be as the priests of the old law & bring, shadows in time of light, stretching out the arms, dividing the hosts, and such other jevish customs It was therefore, the dyveles devise 〈◊〉 bring into the church, such lewd laws for the true living word of God. If circumcision, hurteth as S. Paul, witnesseth, who can deny that the priesthood of Aron, variety of ornaments, and anointing, do nothing avail and profit in this time of the new law. Much less profit is therefore received of man's inventions and vain dreams, that keep men occupied from the exercise of true godliness, & humility of mind. And excite men's hearts with singing and organplaing to ascertain carnal delight and pleasure, rather than to the true glory of god as did the grove which was by the temple of jerusalem albeit therefore these ceremonies are glistering in men's eyes yet they are vile, and of no reputation before Christ, who requireth not the viso and shadow of a thing, but the veri thing itself the mass therefore which was ordiened and constituted of Antichrist, and maintained of his most best assured adherentes is an abomination before God, through this extern pomp and such other things, afore rehearsed Finally they fear not to say, that Christ's bodies is offered in the mass I will not contend, and strive with them if they take, this word offer to signify remember, according to the sense and meaning of Christ's words, albeit the ministers alone pronounce and speak their words. Yet such thanks giving, and remembrance belongeth not only to them alone, but also to the whole congregation. We deny not that the Doctoures called the Mass an offering, which is the remembrance of an offering once made as Saint Augustine doth plainly, declare saying in this offering is thanks giving and remembrance of Christ's body, and blood which he offered and shed for us. But the papists are not pleased with this offering for they will have, a greater offering which is an offering representative when Christ died once for ever, and can die no more. They say that these words (do this in my remembrance) signify the consecration, offering and remembrance, but this is a faulsely devised and forgide interpretation. For Christ at his holly and Sacrete supper, took bread and gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples. Commanding them to eat, and in like wise the wine. Then he preached to them his death and passion that they should do after his example, with a sincere & true faith, and there is not one jot, that can prove the administration of this most blessed sacrament to be an offering representative of Christ his own offering, and although Christ would have had, his body present, bodily in this bread, yet in nowise his words signify that he offered himself in this holy supper for he would have given his body to them really, & not in the sacrament. It is not enough, for these peevish papists to offer Christ's body to God except they offer it also for remission of sin, for health of the body and for hope of eternal life. For other wise it should not be so highly esteemed. If they continue still in these errors, against the plain truth, they will The belief of a true christian. Ro. iiii. deny Christ. For he that knoweth Christ, is certainly assured that he is god, and man the saviour of the world, that in him, as in the true seed of David, all nations are blessed and that no man can come to the father but by him. For the father G●. iii. john. vi. doth so love him, that for his sake, his anger toward us is pacified for he is our righteousness, holiness Lor. i. and redemption that noman is saved, but by his name only that he alone fulfilled, the work of our Act. iiii redemption with out any helper. And finally, the he did sufficiently satisfy Esa c. h for our sins on the cross if we believe truly on him. This is the Heb. x. ground, of our christian faith, where on Christ's church is builded. And Math. i he that denieth Christ to be his perfect, and sufficient redeemer by once suffering death on the cross maketh him an unsufficient priest and unable, redeemer. And therefore they deny Christ in that they deni his full power and virtue in our redemption. These Maskinge Mass priests, in their often offering of Christ deny that we are justified by faith only ascribing part of our justification to good works contrary to the plain scriptures of Eph. 〈◊〉 God for we are saved by grace, and not of works. And they magnify and extol the Mass above all other good works, making yourselves fellow priests, with Christ wherein they show, of what veneration, they be even as they spring of Lucifer, the father of pride, now let us expend and consider, whether Christ commanded his disciples, to make an offering of the sacrament, of his holy supper or whether he offered, himself therein or no. Undoubtedly, Christ's words, diligently observed and noted we may perceive easily the Christ offered no sacrifice, therein. To take and break bread doth not signify to offer. To give thanks is not to do sacrifice, for else he had done sacrifice in feeding, five thousand with the few barley loves, to give his disciples to eat. And to say do this in remembrance of me, in showing fuxth the lords death, until he come, is not an offering. To believe that Christ was given us that he gave his body to death for us, that he shed his blood, not at the supper, but on the cross to redeem us from sin, is not an offering. Finally to prove the testament & the believe on that which was commanded in the testament, doth not signify to offer. How will you now prove your, offering in the Mass. We come to the lords table we take and eat, trusteinge in Christ's promesses, how do we then, give to him again. If a king should give a ring to a poor man for a gage, not that he should be heir of his lands and goods, but that it should help him, and that he thereby should remember his liberality, & mercy, and the people might commend, and praise him for that fact, the poor man receiveth it to give it again, to the king thinking to do him a great pleasure, to make him rich with his own gift, were not this a madman. So may alsuch be judged, as offer to Christ again, that which he gave us for our own use and profit, and that thereby we should keep in remembrance his love, and mercy toward us. Christ did not lift up the sacrament over his head as these proud papists do. They object and say that God can give some things, and receive them again, as the sacrifices of th'old law. Though they were the gifts Esal. x, of God, Yet they were given to him again, and though a contrite heart is the gift of god, yet it is a sacrifice to God. If we were commanded, to offer sacrifice as they were, than their objection should be of some strength and efficacy. But we have no such commandment neither the scriptures make mention of these popish sacrifices. For Christ is of greater power and reputation then that these proud popish prelate's, other can or ought to offer him to his father. Christ sitteth on the father's right hand, and once satisfied for the sins of the Atc. vil. true Christian church, with a most sufficient and perfect sacrifice. Dare we then most miserable wretches enterprise, to do this thing again. He that doth offer up sacrifice is better than the sacrifice. They therefore are better than Christ their sacrifice, he offered us a sacrifice to God, and do we go about to offer him He that offerreth up sacrifice, aught to be as pure as the sacrifice. Oh how pure they make Christ now. He as a testament maker, gave his disciples the sacrament in his supper, none other wise than as a written testament, wherein by faith in Christ, we receive Christ's body & blood, the virtue and fruits of the same. If we give him his testament again as if he required it of us, should not we have the testament maker in a contempt? And should Aba. ● not the promise in the testament, be of effect? Who ahboreth not this kind of blasphemy, when we consider the highness of Christ's priesthood and what this word sacrifice containeth in it, we may easily perceive what Injury we do to think that we offer Christ's body as the papists do S. Paul declareth unto us the priesthood of christ saying it is meet the we ●. v●●● have such a godly and undefiled bishop, made higher than heaves which needeth not, to offer daily. First for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people as the bishop of the old law for Christ did this once in offering up his own body, and in an other place he saith Christ being the high priest, of the good things to come came by a greater, and more perfect Tabernacle, which was not made with hands that is to say was not of this kind of building. Neither came he by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, he entered once into this holy place, and found eternal: edemption, for we are made holly, by gods free mercy, through the offering of Christ's body done once for all. For Christ verily being one sacrifice, offered up for our sins, sitteth on his father's right hand, lokeing for the thing that remayneh until his enemise bemade his footstool, for with one offering he made perfect, those that are sanctified. Saint Paul teacheth us by Melchisedech. That Christ is king of peace & righteousness. By these places of scripture it is Manifest that Christ, aught to be offered no more. For Christ's death is so perfect a sacrifice, the by the one offering we are made clean from sin for ever. And touching his body he is no more in this world. There is to be noted that Saint Paul sayeth that Christ is once offered The papists, say often. He saith all things are consummate &, made perfect by one sacrifice. The papists will have money masses. Note also that Christ offered himself and so did not the church bysho●es nor priests, and this word consummate or made perfect doth blank them, that they have nothing to answer, for the holy ghost confuteth their sophistry and cavilations, with so manifest and plain arguments as can not be denied. Note also this word everlasting. Christ is an everlasting priest, for he made satisfaction, for all the sin of the whole world, and this sacrifice hath a continual efficacity, and virtue in all them that believe in it, and show it forth with thanks giving for the same It is truly a great unthankfulness to say it is necessary to offer christ again, an other way for the sins of the world. They seek many evations to defend their often offering. One is this they say Christ of fresh himself Sacramentally, & they are but ministers. But they declare not this word sacrament what thing it is, lest they should utter the truth. The sacrament is no nother thing than a token, for us to remember, that Christ being an only sacrifice, took away our sins once on the cross. If they would declare it after this sort, we should soon agree. But when no man doth resist them herein they may do with there Mass what so ever pleaseth them. They rule fortune at their own pleasure. Victory in battle is obtained by their Mass, satisfaction for sin, & what thing is it that the Mass cannot do. And they make their boasts, that they deserve by this holy work what thing so ever is needful. But when they are put to there answer them they fly to this evation afore reherssed Christ offereth himself therein, & we are nothing else but ministers their cannon which they magnify and extol above the gospel, doth manifestly open and detect their ungodliness, and blasphemi, for before they come to the consecration they say I offer present and give to God an holy and undefiled sacrifice, for the peace of the whole congregation of holy church, when as it is nothing but bread and wine. And it is named the sacrament And albeit they believe, that it is not then our lords body, yet they offer it fore all the world. This must needs be plain Idolatry to give to bread and wine, the honour and glory of Christ who gave himself for the church to reconcile and make his father, atone with us. How can Christ offer himself in the sacrament before he is there? I think men may now easily perceive how much their lies, and answer differ from their deeds and masses. What an heinous offence is this to offer, a piece of bread, & a little wine, for the only Sacrifice of Christ the high priest. And shall the bread and wine be of like efficacitye, and power to redeem sin with the blood of jesus Christ? But they are much more blasphemous after the consecration saying, that the bread and wine are turned into the natural body, and blood of Christ for they say, we offer to thy holly majesty, an holly offering, holy bread of life everlasting, and cup of everlasting health, which we pray the vouchsafe to regard and look upon, with thy most merciful eyes, and cheerful countenance, and let them be as acceptable to the as the reward of righteous Able & sacrifice of our father Abraham Make them an holly & clean sacrifice that they may be brought to thin altar by the hands of the angel. These are the words of the canon If they speak of Christ, as they commonly understand it, how can their Imagination take place, where they say, that Christ offered himself in the sacrament. For they pray for Christ, and desire of god that he may be in such favour with God as Abel and Abraham and that the Angel may bring him to the altar of god. For they can not take bread of eternal life to signify the people, although christ were in the bread bodily, yet he should not be offered to God for that were great, derogation, to the honour of his priesthood. Great in convenience doth follow to say that the Mass is a sacrifice for sins. For saint Paul sayeth, forgiveness of sins is not without shedding of blood. How is Christ then offered in the Mass when there is no offering without blood, for if there be any sacrifice, that suffereth not and is without blood. Saint Paul's Arguments are foolish, and of no strength or virtue, saying. Christ offereth himself no more or else he must necessarily die once again, and must have died often times since the beginning of the world. But undoubtly, S Paul doth know the true sense and meaning of holy scripture better than any of all the papists. For a sacrifice for sin is never offered without blood. This saying therefore, that some thing was offered in the old law, as bread without blood, maketh nothing for there purpose. For when the bodies of living creatures are slain, and sacrifice is offered for sins, blood must be shed. They cannot therefore prove, by scripture that Christ's blood is offered in the Mass, otherwise then in remembrance, and thanks giving. And this is done both of the ministers and receivers. For as prayer, so thanks giving also belongeth, to all men. He that giveth thanks, sayeth not I offer any thing more than a thankful heart and praise to God. If the people were taught this doctrine. They would not bestow somuch money on masses and upon the foundations of chantries, and fraternities as they have done, through persuasion, that remission of sins, is obtained in the Mass, not by grace promised to them that believe, but by offering of Christ the son of God and by prayeinge for him. Phie, I am ashamed, to rehersse this abominable balasphemie of theirs in matters of God. The papists in as much as in them lieth, kill and crucify Christ again in there sacrifice of the Mass, doing no other wise then if Christ as yet were not ascended into heaven, to his father he that doth this, maketh Christ subject to death and crucifieth him again. For Christ entered not nor entereth in to the holly place of heaven, but by his blood. Let us labour, that Christ may dwell in our hearts They obeicte, that if it be derogation to Christ's honour, and dignity, and that the merit of his passion be not perfect because we offer Christ again: faith, Baptism and keeping of gods commandments may diminish the dignity of Christ, and full merits of his passion, and therefore it should not need to do any good works. This is a foolish and an unmeet: comparison. The offering verily of Christ again, is contrary to faith and good works. For they glorify the merits of Christ's passion, when the offering of him again is great derogation to the same. They do as a man that lighteth a candle, in a bright sunny day, saying all though the sun giveth a light clear enough it of self: yet it is necessary, and profitable that more light be put thereto. But a man may answer saying why do you mock yourself? You have the bright day in derision, as if the sun were not sufficient with out your light. So although the merit's of Christ's passion, are sufficient to forgive sin as the son is to make a light day yet, the popish massmongers will offer him up, again The sacrifice of the Mass, for remission of sins (though there be none such) is like a candle lighted in a bright sunny day, and so slander the true sacrifice, to be unperfect. But as we see, by the brightness of the day, so by the knowledge of Christ's merits we perceive the goodness of God towards us and faith is profitable to us as a gift of God, and through faith we do good works, wyilinglie as obedient children, but no other good works. than such as are commanded by God. We have now declared the sacrifice of the Mass, to be against gods commandment, the words of God and his glory. And now we will prove these arguments and assertions to be dreams of scripture preposterously understanded & plain lies, which not only cannot prove and affirm the Mass to be a sacrifice but also wholly make against it It is therefore evidently perceived that this popish Mass is an horrible abomination, before God. That they ought to dispute prove and affirm, by Christ's ordinances with sure demonstrations, and plain texts, of scripture, that the Mass is a sacrifice. But there is not one word or example, that maketh for them, as I have before declared. They would wrest and turn this saying (Do this in my remembrance) to maintain there lies as who say God would these words, should signify to offer, or do sacrifice. When they must be this understanded, what so ever you have seen heard or done, do it in remembrance of me but they cannot find, in all the supper. That Christ did offer up sacrifice. They object, that every bishop chosen of men and appointed for men▪ touching these things, that belong to god: doth offer gifts and sacrifices first for himself and then for the people. This assertion is of no virtue or strength, for here saint Paul speaketh of the priests of the old law, which were a figure only of Christ as ye may easily perceive by these words following the same text saying. No man must take upon him, the dignity of priesthood cxcepte he be called of God as Aaron, and they which were of the lymage of Aaron. But what is be come, of these priests? Al they were deposed, and abolished by Christ's death, and Christ become a priest in their stead, not of the order of Aaron but of Melchisedeche a man therefore, may know that this place, of Paul maketh nothing, for their Maskinge sacrifice. And if they will have it to agree, both to the priests, of the old law and new Testament: they most prove whether they be, priests or no. As the name of priest maketh not a priest, but his deeds, like as a beggar, named prince, hearing princes to be rulers of people, and countries. If he cleime a people, and country which he may rule, and govern shall he therefore have a people, and country to rule? So the popish priests that are priests in name only, hearing that the priests of the old law did offer sacrifice for sins after gods commandment, if they cleime the same authority shall they therefore have it? But this is a hard saying, to say there are no priests now in the new law. Let no man be offended there with, for undoubtedly, there be no priests now appointed of God to offer for sins, but every christian man is ordained of Christ, to be a priest to pray, to give thanks and praise to god and to offer up themselves in sacrifice saint Peter sayeth you are a choose generation, a royal priesthood and a holy people meaning thereby all christian people, as by all christian men. The holy ghost teacheth the priests of the new testament, that is to say all christian people are of much more honour and dignity then wear the priests of the old law, but none of these priests, can offer for sins, Yet they object, how can the church continue, if we shall have no priests to teach correct rebuke, and exhort the people. We answer that God will ever raise up some in the congregation, to do these things. And Christ hath ordained in a● congregations a shepherd, and preachers, but no massmongers which have brought in to the church many errors, by their vain ceremonies and masking. Also where Saint Paul sayeth, if we sin willingly, after we know the truth there is no sacrifice left to purchese us remission of sins these papists gather of this saying that there is no sacrifice to help them, that sin, wilfully, but that there is a sacrifice yet remaining for the faithful, which is their mass. They ●au●sely understand the text. For S. Paul sayeth a little before, that there is no more sacrifice remaining for them whose sins are forgiven all ready, and therefore one place expoundeth another, and plainly declareth, that there is left no more sacrifice for them, that sin of set purpose or for the that have obtained remission of sins already, for Christ offered himself for the sin of those that believe in him, & will not offer himself again, for them that believe not, but wilfully remain in their sins. They object that we have an altar, whereof it is not lawful for them to eat which minister in the tabrenacle, meaning by this altar a heap of stones joined together, which they call an altar, but Christ himself is our altar where on we lay our prayers which are our spiritual sacrifices, for no prayers are accepted of God the father, but by Christ. For he saith if you ask my father any thing in my name, he will give it you. And saint paul expoundeth, his own saying. Let us offer saith he at all times by him a sacrifice of praise which is the fruits of our lips confessing his name. We lie therefore, when we call the mass our Lord's altar for Christ is our only altar and S Paul, in all his Epistle to the hebrews, doth knowledge none other sacrifice for sins, but Christ once offered on the cross. The papists have no place of the new testament to make with them and therefore, they seek help of the old testament. And first of the book of Genesis they say Melchisedech. Was the Genes. ● figure of Christ, for he was the priest of the highest. And as David sayeth Christ is an eternal priest after the order of Melchisedech And therefore he offered bread and wine undoubtedly Melchsedech was the figure of Christ but Saint Paul manifestly declareth in what things, he was the figure of Christ. In the rehearsing of the honours and dignity of Melchisedech which is that he was an eternal priest, and king of peace, and righteousness. There is not one word, of the offering of bread and wine. They cannot find in the book of Genesis that Melchisedech did sacrifice to God, but that he offered bread and wine to Abrahame, for sustenance of his people, as Christ offered to us his word. Melchisedeche brought bread and wine and Abrahame paid him tithes christ after the same sort gave us the sacrament of his body and blood, but he did not offer it to God. The scripture showeth forth Melechisedech under the figure of an eternal an only priest. But the papists appoint other priests to be Christ's viccars after his ascension in to heaven. If a man should agree with them that christ offered to God bread and wine, yet they cannot prove, that he killed himself in sacrifice under bread, and wine. Also if Christ offered nothing but bread & wine: the priests of the old law did much better in killing of living creatures, to offer them in sacrifice The papists cannot, tell what to say, and when they bring authority of scripture it maketh against them and are confuted with there own sayings as one that is slain with his own weapon. Moreover they bring such places of scripture as speak of meal and unleavened bread, as of the bread, that was ever standing one the table of the unleavened bread and two loves of the first fruits Also where they are judged holy, because they offer to the Lord, an host of bread, & chiefeli they make great brags of the saying of Malachias a clean host is offered to my name in all places, for my name is magnified, among the gentiles. And in what place so ever they find the offering of bread and wine, they apply it to signify, the bodily offering of Christ in the Mass. They believe that they cannot err, and that these dreams, are▪ confirmed by the law, prophesying thereby as they did of purgatory, that where soever they found this word fiere written in the bible, they applied it to signify purgatory, as they do in this matter when they can bring no probable reason, that Christ's body ought to be offered in the Mass. And when, they find any mention of blood and other sacrifices they wrest than to Christ's body taking witness of the old doctors when they no better understand them, than they do the bible. Now we will briefly make answer to their allegations and declare the true maintenance of such places as they allege to make for their purpose. And first we will declare, the saying of Malachia● whereby it may be perceived, what the other places signify. He rebuked the Iwishe priests who gave themselves all together to covetousness, when they should have occupied themselves to offer a pure people to the Lord, and to fashion there manners after gods commandments as the Chap●ter following doth testify. They ought to have taught the people godliness, and all kinds of virtue but they fed the people with foleshe, and vain tradicons of men & offered to the Lord an ungodly people & foolish hearted Here is named the filthy bread, the blind, lame, and broken sacrifice. They may perceive that the unclean bread can not signify, the pure body of Christ that bread and sacrifice therefore doth signify, the people as saint Paul sayeth we are one bread and one body, and that he doth service to God in preaching the Gospel, to make the Gentiles an acceptable sacrifice to God. When the priests therefore made an ungodly and sinful people by there doctrine and evil example, God rebuked them and threateneth, that he would ordain other priests, in their stead that should offer a pure Sacrifice, not only among the jews, but also a monges the gentiles, that is to say, they should instruct, the people with true godliness and with true honour and worship of god. He there fore▪ did prophecy of the priests which should come to offer sacrifice of justice, that is to say, the holy apostles and all other faithful ministers of gods word. And therefore the people of God which is Christ's spiritual body, is borough and offered by their doctrine to God as S. Paul sayeth I have spoused the Corinthi, to Christ, meaning no other thing by these words, but that by his preaching and miracles, he hath brought and offered in sacrifice to god the Gentiles which were before carnal and fleshly minded. And therefore Ro. xi●. he exhorteth the Romans thorough the mercy of God to give their bodies to be alively sacrifice john. iiii. holly and acceptable to God. The people of God is spiritually the meat which Christ desired most and are the twelve loves of sweet bread, which being converted by the preaching of the twelve apostles doth continually appear before the face of God. These are the true priests. And that they may bring to effect there enterprise, it is meet, that they be holly that is. That they abstain srome all things, that plucketh them from the true worshipping of god. This bread is called sometime undefiled. For christian men ought to walk in the truth without Hypocrisy and feigned lies, and to be anointed with oil, that is to say with the grace of the holly ghost, true charity, and mercy this is the true sense and meaning of this text of scripture, declared and proved by other plases of scripture. But the papists though they allege the doctors yet they can prove the meaning & understanding of this text by no place of all the scripture Bede in the scripture betokeneth the word of God. For Christ saith, man doth not live only by bread but every word that proceedeth, from the mouth of god The priests ought sincerely to minister this bread to the people, and in this signification the spiritual bread is not a sacrifice, but the administration of the word, & of the ministers of god. This is the true manna & angels food which was given to men, from heaven to be their sustenance. By these things a man may easily perceive what offering the Apostles and true priests made. Undoubtly a faithful people whom they brought to god with wholesome doctrine, but they offered not the natural body of Christ after the opinion of these fleshly minded papists, for that were done to crucify christ again. They believe Daniel his saying maketh much for there purpose where he saith that their daily sacrifice, called in greek Endethismos. should cease for a time, by this they understand their Daily sacrifice. The Mass that now beginneth to cease this application is falsely devised. For the sacrifice that Daniel speak of was offered every day at two several ●od, xxix. times which was in the morning and evening, & that sacrifice with other Iwyshe sacrifices ceased when Christ the only true sacrifice offered himself on the altar of the cross. You may therefore easily perceive y●, that was not the sacrifice of the mass, for it is not done, both in the morning & thevening, as that other was. and Eusebius saith our lord's supper under some bishops was ministered but once or twice, in the year, the history of the daily sacrifice, that Daniel speaketh of, was fulfilled under Antiochus the tyrant, for in his time there was no sacrifice offered in the temple of god for the space of three or four years In deed this is true. Antiochus, was the figure of Antichrist for he took a way the true worshipping and honour of god. And trust in god, & faith is extinguished, when men trust more, in their own power & works than in god's grace they have certain other dreams and assertions but of no virtue or strength. One is, they say the easter lamb was offered every year, so Christ the true Easter Lamb ought to be offered often times nothing can be more foolish than this Argument. For the easter lamb, was not offered for sins but only was slain and eaten in remenbrance of the deliverance of the Israelits out of Egipte. But now the papists offer for sins the sacrifice of the mass. For they are not contented with th'only remembrance of Christ's death Other sacrifices were offered again, for they were unperfect, but Christ being a perfect & sufficient sacrifice ought to be offered once, for ever. They object that when the preachers & doctors did sacrifice at the election of Paul & fasted, the holly ghost said &c: the greek word the they translate to signify to do sacrifice, hath in this place the signification that it hath in y●. ●iii. Cham to Ro. xiii. the Romans, that is to minister as a magistrate in the common wealth. And therefore after the translation of the papists every magistrate is apreist. But they that willbe esteemed, to be witty and learned amongst them reason after this manner when Christ offered himself) the church also which is his spouse, may offer him for sins in the Mass. For Christ & his church so agree and so consent together. That what so ever the one doth the other agreeth to the same. But this is a lie. For if Christ died for us, than the church must do the same. Christ is the bread & high priest. Ergo we are the bread and high priest also. Christ was offered say they with pain, and suffering of the body. Ergo he can be offered & suffer not. He was once a sacrifice, ergo he can be a sacrifice again. But this their talk is vain and foleshe. For we seek not what Christ might do but what he did. And what the scripture teacheth. Also they object that it is better to give, then to take. In sacrifice we give, & in our lords supper we take it is therefore better to offer. But let them first prove who gave them authority to do sacrifice after this man. It is better to be a saviour than a creature and servant. Therefore as it is a great blasphemy, a man to say he is a god, and saviour, so it is great blasphemy that sinners shall go a bout to offer Christ for remission of sins. So thus it cometh to pass, that the more they defend their errourres the more ungodly they show themselves against God's maiesti● Some of the papists doubt not to say that we sin daily, therefore daily sacrifice is necessary. And they say Christ took away the sin passed only which is called original sin & that satisfation for other sins, must be made other wise, that is by works and sacrifices And they put to many other things that differ so much from the doctrine of faith as any christian man hearing them may easily perceive. For then it were consequent that Christ is neither God nor a true saviour. Now we have declared, what the Mass is. Not a sacrifice for sins but an horrible abomination before God. All Christian men ought therefore to shone and ●●e from it and turn to the true use of our lords Supper according to his most holy ordinance. To whom be honour and glory for ever AMEN Fines