BX 5149 C5 PA
Perry, Thomas Walter, 1815-
1891.
Some historical
considerations relating to
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in 2015
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SOME
HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS
RELATING TO THE
DECLARATION ON KNEELING,
APPENDED TO THE
Cnminuninn dMfiit nf i\t fnglisjj fmkuf (Cnmrnnn ^rntjfr:
A LETTER,
ADDRESSED PRIVATELY IN 1858, TO
THE RIGHT REV. CHARLES H. TERROT, D.D.,
BISHOP OF EDINBURGH AND THEN PRIMUS.
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
% JJostsrrijjt of fur%r ^u%rifrcs mxit %x$\xmmt$ ;
INCLUDING AN
EXAMINATION OF STATEMENTS IN A WORK & SUPPLEMENT ON THE EUCHARIST,
BY THE VERY REV. W. GOODE, D.D., DEAN OF RIPON.
BY THE
REV. THOMAS WALTER PERRY,
ASSISTANT CURATE OF S. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, BRIGHTON.
LONDON:
JOSEPH MASTERS, ALDERSGATE STREET,
AND NEW BOND STREET.
OXFORD: J. H. & J. PARKER; CAMBRIDGE: DEIGHTON, BELL, & Co.;
EDINBURGH: GRANT & SON.
MDCCCLXIII.
LONDON :
PRINTED BY W. J. PERRY,
WARWICK LANE, CITY.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The origin of the following Letted, and of the Postscript whereby
it has expanded into this Volume is sufficiently stated, at pp. 1, 2, and
76, to render needless any further explanation here, as to the reason for
preparing and now publishing these " Historical Considerations," be-
yond saying — that the writer was encouraged, in pursuing the investi-
gation and in deciding to make public its results, by the reliable opinions
of some who were cognizant of the Pamphlet when, five years ago, it
was only privately circulated.
But it may be desirable to mention, with reference to the main lino
of argument therein adopted, — touching the belief of the leading
English Reformers, on the Eucharistic Presence, having been unchanged
subsequent to 1549 — That, though perhaps somewhat novel, it is very
important to be established, provided an appeal to Evidence strictly
warrants such a conclusion. That there is prima facie ground for con-
tending the point, may be most reasonably inferred from the consider-
ation of a Doctrinal identity really subsisting, and here shewn, between
the First and the Second Liturgies of K. Edward VI., notwithstanding
that the case is commonly believed to be, and apparently is, otherwise:
it strengthened the writer's convictions on this point to find that Mr.
Freeman's independent examination of these two Eucharistic Services,
( Principles of Divine Service. Vol. i.) led him to a similar opinion
concerning them.
Further, it is of very material consequence to point out, that — in
order to determine accurately the precise opinions, regarding Eucharistic
Presence, held by those who are cited as witnesses in these pages — it is
essential to bear in mind constantly the exact sense in which the
words are used which are printed throughout in a prominent Egyptian
type.
A few additions have been made to the original Letter, these are
distinguished by being inserted within square brackets.
iv
ADVERTISEMENT.
Some inconvenience may probably attend tbe, unavoidable, absence
of a systematic arrangement of tbe Postscript which forms tbe bulk
(if tbe Volume ; but tbis is, perhaps, in part remedied by a copious
Table of Contents.
It is only respectful to tbe Dean of Ripon, some of whose state-
ments and arguments are herein contested, to explain that — a portion
of the remarks having been printed before he was elevated to his
present Dignity, it was thought he would be best identified by con-
tinuing to call him " Mr. Goode."
The Reader will see that the Letter when first issued was signed
" Presbyter Anglicanus " ; this anonymous subscription was adopted
no less from the writer's own wish, than in deference to the counsel
of others. In subsequently determining to own its Authorship he
was influenced, chiefly, by the knowledge that the Letter had been
attributed to one whom it would be a serious injustice to hold re-
sponsible for any errors of fact or argument it may contain.
The Author's thanks are especially due, and are hereby tendered, to
the Hon. G. F. Boyle, of Cumbrae, for much pains most kindly
bestowed in attentively perusing and obligingly criticizing, at different
stages of its progress, the Volume which is now presented to the
candid judgment of those who may be induced to give it a patient
perusal.
T. W. P.
Feast of the Ascension, 18G3
ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA.
e 2, line 7, for "from those usually held" read "from those opinions usually
held."
35, Note, line 10, for "consecrated" read " unconseerated."
67, line 3 from bottom, for "organicas" read "organical."
71, line 20, for "vol" read "fol."
120, line 11, for "if by is meant" read "if by this is meant."
128, Note, line 4, for "prace" read "peace" ; and, line 6, for "Corp" read
" Conf."
142, line i,for "given" read "give."
145, line 6, for "kind" read "principle."
201, line 8 from bottom, insert "to" after "papist."
218, Note, after "Lambeth Library" add "nor yet at C. C. College, Cam-
bridge."
262, Note, line 3, for " Edw. had" read " Edw. vi. had"; and for "235"
read " 211."
272, Note, line 10 from bottom, for " Line " read " Line."
289, lines 3 and 7 from bottom, for " Bishop " read " Doctor."
309, Note, line 6 for " without the Declaration " read " without Adoration."
358, line 16,/or "Declara" read "Declaration."
391, Note, line 2, for "a sungvdnis" read "ac sanguinis."
CONTENTS.
PACE.
Occasion of The Letter ; viz. contemplated Synod in reference to the
Bp. of Brechin's Charge ..... 1
Questions likely to be discussed, probahly affected by the Declaration
on Kneeling in English P. Book .... 2
Form of Declaration in 1552 and 1662 compared . . .3
History shews that both Forms had the same object . . 4
Popular view of the Real Presence indicated in the Declaration, shewn
from ;—
Bp. Shaxton's recantation Articles, 1546 . . 5
Stat. 1 Edw. VI. c. i. A.D. 1547 ... 6
Conversation beween Abp. Cranmer and Bp. Bonner 1549 . ib.
Prayer Book of 1549 designed to secure Ancient Doctrine, proved by : —
Letter from Duke of Somerset to Cardinal Pole, June 4, 1549 7
A Carnal Prestnce the main dread of the Reforming party, exemplified
Peter Martyr's Disputation at Oxford, June 1549 . 9-12
Three Disputations at Cambridge, June 1549 . . 13-18
Bp. Ridley's " Determinations " on the Disputations . 18
Abp. Cranmer's " Answer to Gardiner " . . . 19-26
Bp. Gardiner's opinion of the P. Book of 1559 . 26
Articles exhibited by Gardiner, Jan. 21, 1550-1 . . 27
Deposition of John White, Warden of Winchcs'er, Feb. 3,
1550-1 ..... ib.
Dr. Redman's Statements to Wilkes, Nowel, and Young, Nov.
1551 . . . . . 28-30
Bp. Hooper's Visitation Book, 1551-2 . . 30
Articles ministered to W. Phelps by Bp. Hooper, Ap. 1551 . ib.
Profession of John Wynter in Gloucester Cathedral, Nov. 1551 31
Art. xxix. of 1552-3 represented the then authoritative belief of the
Church of England as to a Carnal Presence . . 32
Second Bk. of Edw. vi. not designed to teach a lower Eucharistic Doc-
trine than the First Book, proved by : —
Act of Uniformity 5 and 6 Edw. VI. 1552 . . 33
Testimony of Bp. Latimer, 1554 ... 34
Contemporary belief and probable acceptance by the Pope
when re-producfd in Elizabeth's Book . . .35
The Declaration on Kneeling first appeared in P. Book of 1552 . ib.
Apparent cause of it, viz. the new Rub. ordering Kneeling at reception 36
viii
CONTENTS.
Probability that some thought the Rubric favoured Transubstantiation,
inferred from : —
Bucer's complaint of the 1st Book ... 37
Articles against Bishop Ferrar, Jan. 1553-4 . . ib.
Continued fear of a revival of the Doctrine of a Carnal Presence and
therewith of Transubstantiation, shewn in : —
Disputation in Convocation House, Oct. 1553 . . 38
Conference between Bp. Ridley and Secretary Bourn, 1553 . 39
Disputation at Oxford between Latimer and others, Ap. 18,
1554 . . . . 39-41
Examination of John Bradford, Jan. 29, 1554-5 . . 41
Second Examination of John Rogers, Jan. 29, 1554-5 . 42
Conferences between Ridley and Latimer . . ib.
Ridley's " Brief Declaration of the Lord's Supper," 1555 43-5
Cranmer's Disputation at Oxfoid, Ap. 16, 1555 . . 45-52
Disputation at Oxford, Dr. Smith and others v Bp. Ridley, 1555 52-61
Summary of preceding "Writings, Disputations, Conversations, and
Documents . . . . . . 61
Comparison of Terms allowed and disallowed therein . . 62
These Considerations the safest guide to the meaning of the Declaration 63
Absence of the Declaration from the P. Book of Elizabeth— probable
cause of it . . . . . ib.
Previous question (to Bp. Guest) " Whether the Sacrament were to be
received standing or Kneeling P" . . . .64
The Puritans (now so-called) proposed standing or prostration instead of
lauding ...... 65
Parker and Grindal wished to secure Reverence — ordered Wafer Bread ib.
Grindal's view of the Real as distinct from a Carnal Presence . 66-8
Parker's view not. likely to have been lower : but no Writings of his on
the subject . . , . . .68
Incidental proof of the Doctrine then held, found in iElfric's Ang. Sax.
Horn, re-published by Parker and other Bishops in 1556 . 68-9
Omission of the Paragraph=the Declaration, in Art. xxix. 1571 . 69
The Declaration restored to the P. Book in 1662, though thought un-
necessary by the Bishops .... 70
Burnet's account of the cause of their yielding . . . ib.
Changed language of it due to Bp. Gunning . . . 71
The restoration of it proposed by Bp. Gauden . . .72
Probable co-operation of Gauden and Gunning to clear it of words
which were seemingly not actually against the Real Presence . ib.
Presumable concurrence of the other Bishops . . .73
Transubstantiation the only opinion of the Real Presence excluded
by the Declaration ..... ib.
High language on the subject sanctioned by Cranmer, Ridley, and others ib.
Near approach to agreement between Cranmer and Gardiner, in 1550 . 73-5
Importance of this illustration from the Sun - used also by Ridley . 75
CONTENTS.
ix
Reference to unpublished Letter of Cranmer to the Privy Council, " de-
fending the practice of Kneeling at the Sacrament," Oct. 7, 1552 . r.s. 76
Postscript. No. 2.
I. The Letter of Cranmer, referred to in p.s. No. 1 . . 77-9
It confirms the suggestions of p. 36 . . .79
Cranmer's reasons for Kneeling, no proof that he did not hold the Real
Presence ...... 80
Politic nature of his argument .... 80-2
The Letter no proof of his alleged disbelief (in 1552) in Consecration 82-4
His belief on that subject shewn in : —
Foxe's " Life, State, and Story of Thomas Cranmer," 1^53 . 84
Cranmer's " Defence of the True and Catholic Doctrine of the
Sacrament." 1550 .... 85
Bp. Cosin on Calvin's belief . . . Note 86-7
Cranmer's Answer to Gardiner, 1551 ■ . . 87-9
Rubric in the P. Book of 1552 as to the unconsecrated Elements
— Mr. Cheyne's error as to it . . Note 89
Proceedings at Trent and difficulty of agreement with Calvin and others
might have induced Cranmer to publish Art. xxix., 1552, in part as a
protest and defence ..... 90-1
Moderation of the Article — Vehemence of the Trent Decree . 92
John Knox probably the actual complainant of the Rubric on Kneeling,
though representing others ; gathered from : —
Strype's notice of his appointment (as one of the Six Chaplains)
to revise the Articles— 1552 . . . .93
Letter of John Utenhovius to Hen. Bullinger, Lond. Oct. 12,
1552 ..... ib.
Duke of Northumberland's Letter to Cecil, Oct. 28, 1562 . 94
Knox's " Admonition to the professors of God's truth in Eng-
land," 1564 . . . . . ib.
Duke of Northumberland's 2nd Letter to Cecil, Dec. 7, 1552 . 95
"Memoranda of matters to be brought before the Council,"
Oct. 20, 1552 .... 96
Entry in Council Book, Feb. 2, 1552-3 . . ib.
Letter from Knox, Ap. 14, 1553-Laing's life of Knox . 96
The Chancellor (Goodrick Bishop of Ely) not likely to have been opposed
to the Doctrine of the Real Presence, shewn from : —
His character given in Chalmer's Biog. Diet. . . 98
Burnet's opinion of him, Hist. Ref. ... ib.
Further proof of Knox being the objector to the Rubric, in Weston's
language to Latimer, Disputation at Oxford, Ap. 18, 1554 . . ib.
Probable error of Townsend, Wordsworth, and Strype in supposing
that Weston referred to Aless and not to Knox . ■ 99-102
Incidental proof from Foxe's Note on Weston, that the Doctrine of the
Real Presence was recognized in 1554 . . . 102-4
b
X
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Knox probably did not object to Kneeling at Sacrament aa being an act
of Adoration ...... 104-5
Nor on account of his opinions on Eucharistic Presence . . 105-8
But from his antipathy to Transubstantiation and dread of a Carnal
Presence ...... 108-9
Knox approved and signed Articles of 1552 at the time he objected to
Kneeling at the Sacrament . . • .109
Eucharistic Article of 1552 opposed Transubstantiation, Ubiquitarian-
ism, and Zwinglianism : not the Real Presence . . UO-lll
Knox's objection to Kneeling probably not Doctrinal but Ecclesiastical . 112
Cranmer felt it necessary to meet, not yield to, the objection . ib.
This done by trjAj explanation in the Declaration . . . 113
Apparent policy of Cranmer in framing the Declaration upon the
language of the Eucharistic Article which he probably knew Knox,
and the King's other five Chaplains, to hare approved . 114
Comparison of Art. xxix. and the Declaration . . . 114-18
The well-considered terms of that Article (especially as compared with
Hooper's 10th Art.) favorable to the Real Presence . . 118-19
Conclusion from these considerations— That the Original Declaration
was only designed to deny the Presence commonly held to be in-
volved in Transubstantiation . . . . .119
Cranmer' s Letter corrects Dr. Cardwell's supposed Royal Authority of
the Declaration ..... 120
Dr. Cardwell's mistake as to the Editions in which the Declaration ap-
peared, and as to the Order in Council giving evidence of alarm about
the Real Presence . . . . .121-22
Cranmer's Letter seems to shew that " reverently " in the Rubric of
1662, as to Consumption of the remains of the Sacrament, means
Kneeling ...... 122
No direction on the point needed in the Books of 1549, 1552, and 1559,
owing to the existing custom .... 123
But a Rubric touching it was put in Scotch P. B. of 1636-7 . 124
The Rubric of 1662 probably traceable to this . . .125
Cranmer would probably have used the Rubrical term " reverently " : —
for, though he held that the Presence is in the Ministration, he must
also have considered the consumption of the remains of the Sacra-
ment as part of the Ministration . . . ib.
Therefore ho would have required from all the same posture at Com-
munion and Consumption .... 126-7
Standing, the proper and reverent posture of the Celebrant : Kneeling
that of all others . . . Notes 126-127 128
The Reviewers of 1662 could not have held less than Cranmer on this
point ...... ib.
This shown in the new or altered Rubrics of 1662 — all designed to pro-
mote Reverence . .... 128-9
CONTENTS.
The Instructions to the Commissioners shew this ; and point to Ancient
Liturgies for interpretation of doubtful Rubrics . . 1 30
" Reverently "=Kneelino, in the Rubric " Whilst these sentences" etc. 131-4
" Reverently "=Standing, in the Rubric " When all have communi-
cated" etc. ...... 134-5
" Reverently "= Kneeling and Standing, in the Rubric " the Priest
and such other of the Communicants as he shall then call " etc. . 136
Further proof that the Communicating posture is also the posture of
Consumption, inferred from the known opinions of Bp. Cosin and
from other considerations ..... 137-52
II. Cranmer's Letter does not furnish Theological Arguments for
Kneeling at Communion : these, therefore, to be sought elsewhere in
his writings . ... . . 153
His Catechism of 1548 teaches the Real Objective Presence . . 155
Examination of doubts raised as to this . . . 157-8
Cranmer held the same Doctrine of the Presence in 1548 and 1551 . 158-9
Mr. Goode's error in claiming Cranmer's changed opinion in 1548 as
proof that when he put out the 1st Bk. of Homilies (in 1547) "he had
not then embraced the true doctrine of the Eucharist " . 160-2
Examination of a suggestion by a Prelate— that the phrase "under the
form of bread and wine," in the Advertisement of 1st Bk. of Homi-
lies, was " surreptitiously introduced " . . . 162-5
Cranmer not in, what he himself calls, the " error of the real presence"
when he published the Catechism of 1548— shewn from statements of
Strype, Dr. Burton, and Mr. Fisher . . . 165-71
Cranmer's real opinion then, gathered by comparison with that of Bp.
Hooper and with a statement of Bp. Gardiner . . .171-5
Doubtfulness of the assumption that Cranmer's opinions on the Eucha-
ristic Presence were influenced by Bucer . . . 175
Yet, if so, Bucer would have led him towards Objective Presence . 175-6
Cranmer's own definition of the word "Corporal" . . 177-8
Cranmer's own statements as to the nature of the Presence, when (in
1552) he had gone farthest towards low views of Eucharistic Doc-
trine ....... 178-86
Further proofs from his contemporaries —that the Physical Presence, held
to be involved in Transubstantiation, was the great point of opposition
by the Reforming party .... 186-9
Proceedings in 1559, at the review of the 42 Articles under Elizabeth, as
stated by Bp. Burnet and others, illustrate Burnet's account of the
omission of the Declaration from the P. Book of 1659 . . 189-91
But there is evidence that the Declaration continued to be published in
some other way ...... 191
The retention in it, at that time, of "real and essential," implies that it
only condemned "the Corporal presence" ... 192
Bp. Geste's Letter of Dec. 22, 1566, on the Real Presence, is evidence
of the meaning atta< lud t<> the Declaration at that time . . 192-4
xii
CONTENTS.
Doubt thrown by Mr. Goode on the value of that Letter, in producing
portions of another (supposed) Letter from the same Bishop to Lord
Burghley, dated May 1571 . . . . 194
The entire Document now printed in order to clear up the difficulty . 195-204
Mr. Goode's remarks upon the Letter of 1566 not supported, as he
alleges, by §{ 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Letter of 1551 : for : —
No proof that Bp. Guest and the Convocation passed the Articles
with contradictory objects . . . 206
Art. xxix, as understood by Guest, not, as Mr. Goode says, " Entirely
irreconcilable with his view of the Presence " — there is a difference
of language . . . . . . 207-8
The Articles did undergo changes during the Convocation of 1571 208
Re-adoption of Art. xxix probably then discussed . . 209
Parker perhaps removed Guest's objection to its language, for Guest re-
asserts, in § 9, the statement of Letter of 1566 . . 210-11
Guest's consideration for Cheney, no proof that "Parker and the Bishops"
differed, as Mr. Goode says, from Guest . . . 212-14
The non-insertion of " profitably," proposed by Guest, no proof that it
was rejected, as Mr. Goode says .... 214-15
Unlikely that, as Mr. Goode thinks, Bp. Guest was the objector to Art.
xxix, referred to in Abp. Parker's Letter to Lord Burghly, June 4,
1571 — more likely to have been Bp. Cheney . . . 215-17
An error to suppose, as Mr. Goode does, that the absence of the names
of Guest and Cheney from the signatures of the Fifteen Abps. and
Bps. to the Preface of iElfric's Anglo-Saxon Homily, implies a disa-
greement as to its Doctrine .... 217-20
Bp. Guest's objections to other Articles which nevertheless were not
altered, a further probable proof of his acquiescence in Art. xxix . 220-4
Cheney perhaps availed himself of the apparent freedom of the Bishops
from subscribing the Articles .... 224
Mr. Goode's conclusion not proved — that Bp. Guest's interpretation of
Art. xxviii is " inadmissible " . . . ib.
Further light thrown upon Guest's opinions (hen, in the rest of the
Letter of May 1571 where he argues against the Bill "toching coming
to y c Church, and receiving y e Sacrament"' . . 224-6
Important distinction which he made between the two propositions-
resisting the latter on the ground that it was " to go aboute to des-
troye" "the papistes" who did not believe " y c Sacrament " in the
Church of England to "be y e Lordes body" . . . 226-9
The withdrawal of the Bill an indication that his Doctrine of the Real
Objective Presence was then a recognized one . . 229-30
Examination of Mr. Goode's assertion that Bp. Guest did not Subscribe
the Articles of 1562 -reasons for doubting it . . . 231-5
Analysis of Bp. Jewel's controversy with Harding on the Eucharist 235-41
No proof from it that, as Mr. Goode says, his belief on the Real Presence
differed from that of Bp. Guest . . . . 241-2
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Analysis continued ...... 243-9
Mr. Freeman's opinion of the Presence noticed . . Note 248-9
Conclusion— that Bp. Jewel's main purpose was to oppose a physical,
carnal Presence ...... 250
Mr. Goode's accusation disproved— that Dr. Pusey has made "a double
attempt to mislead the reader" in his reference to S. Isidore . 251-5
Reply to Mr. Goode's complaint of Dr. Pusey's Eucharistic " terminology " 255-7
Observations upon Mr. Goode's remark that the Bp. of S. David's has
noticed condemningly Dr. Pusey's Work on the testimony of the
Fathers ....... 257-9
Examination of Mr. Goode's complaint that Dr. Pusey in his " discussion
of the meaning of the Advertisement at the end of the first Book of
Homilies" does not "notice" a passage which he had cited from
Cranmer's reply to Gardiner .... 260-2
Answer to Mr. Goode's assertion that " it cannot be supposed that
[Cranmer] inserted " the Advertisement . . . 262-4
Bp. Jewel's use of the phrase in the Advertisement, coupled with the
belief that he edited the 2nd Bk. of Homilies, indicates that he con-
sidered it authoritative ..... 264-70
The employment of the Phrase, though with variations, in the Reformed
Primers 1545-75, a forcible reason for believing that it was fully re-
cognized by authority ..... 270-4
The fact that the Editions from 1545 to 1551 were issued during Cran-
mer's Episcopate — a period when Eucharistic Doctrine was continually
discussed — implies his cognizance of their publication . . 275-7
The Primer sanctioned by Statute 1549-50 . . .276
The harmony of language between the Advertisement of 1547 and the
Primer of 1551, an indication that Cranmer approved the Advertise-
ment . . . . . » . 277
The Reformed Frimer not being reprinted in Q. Mary's reign, though
an Unreformed one was, implies that the Phrase in the Prayer was
not adequate to express Transubstantiat ion . . . 278-9
Its re-issue in 1559, under Abp. Parker, together with a new Ed. of the
Homilies containing the Advertisement, an argument that Abp. Parker
approved the Phrase ..... 279
The fact that Jewel was not then ( 1559) Bishop, no proof that he would
have objected ; for he did not disown it in his publications of 1565 and
1567 . . . . . . .280
The noticeable omission of the Phrase in the Ed. of 15C6 or 1575 (which-
ever is the true Date) implies its allowance until then . 281
This omission of it in the Primer though not in the Advertisement, no
inconsistency, but rather a proof that it was not abandoned . 282-3
Necessity of noticing the additions to the Catechism under K. James i. —
Mi. Fisher's opinion of them .... 283-5
Statement of the Doctrine of the Real Presence in the Irish Articles of
1615 . . . . . . .285
xiv
CONTENTS.
Examination of Mr. Goode's objection to the allegation that "the faith-
ful " in the Catechism " merely means .... every body who comes
to communicate 286
Analysis of his quotations from twenty one Commentaries, 1623 — 1790,
which he says "have agreed in interpreting the words as referring to
true believers " — they do not support his statement . . 286-90
Mr. Goode's definition of "the faithful" opposed to its use in the Apos-
tolical Epistles ..... 291
And to passages in the Ancient Liturgies . . . 291-3
And to the testimony of Ecclesiastical Writers or Historians . 293-4
And to the places in which the term has been or is employed in the
English Prayer Book .... 294-301
Resumption of Enquiry at p. 72 whether Bp. Gauden " did not hold
high views of the Real Presence, through denying Transubstantiation" 301-2
Affirmative answer from his "Tears, Sigh?, Complaints and Prayers of
the Church of England" &e. 1659 : and his " Counsell which the Bp.
of Exeter delivered to xlix Presbyter and Deacons " &c. 1660 . 303-6
Agreement of this " Counsell" with the Answer of the Bishops (of whom
Gauden was one) in the Savoy Conference . . . 307 8
Yet, though the " Counsell" and the " Answer" both maintain Kneeling
at the Eucharist, the Bishops (probably including Gauden) refused the
Puritans' request to restore the Declaration . . . 308
But afterwards Gauden "pressed" and it was inserted: apparently only
as a protest against Transubstantiation . . . 308-9
Bp. Gunning's proposal to alter "real and essential" had probably met
the difficulty . . . . . .309
Bp. Gauden's Eueharistic belief not at variance with this change in the
Declaration, shewn from his "Whole duty of a Communicant" &c.
1681 . ■ . . ... 309-20
Eleven Propositions, drawn from the above passages, involving the ques-
tions discussed in recent controversies on the Eucharist . . 320-2
Examination of the opinions of Bp. Morley who supported Bp. Gauden
when pressing the restoration of the Declaration — his "Vindication
of the Argument diawn from sense against Transubstantiation." 1683 322-6
His belief further tested by his general reference to Bp. Morton — Ex-
tracts from his (Morton's) "Institution of the Sacrament of the
Blessed Bodie and Blood of Christ" &c. 1631 ; his "Catholic Appeal "
1610 ; and his " Defence of the innocencie of ... . Kneeling at the
receiving of the Blessed Sacrament," 1619 . . . 326-9
Dr. Heylin's statement that the Declaration was omitted in 1559 "lest
under colour of a carnal ... a real presence " should be denied, and
his probable consent to its changed language, testify that it is now
only a protest against " a gross and carnal Presence " . . 330-1
Bp. Cosin's opinions probably influenced the Review of 1662: bis
" History of Popish Transubstantiation" Chap, iii., a guide therefore
to the sense in which the Declaration was re-inserted 331-6
CONTENTS.
XV
PAGE.
Comparison of hia language with the Declaration . . 336-8
Examination of Mr. Goode's statement that the Church of England, by
the Declaration forbids " the doctrine that there is a presence of
Christ's natural body in the Supper, either in a natural or super-
natural or spiritual manner, and either adjoined to the elements or
distinct from them " ..... 339-41
The illustration, from the Presence of the Sun, used by Mr. Goode (and
formerly by Bucer, Cranmer, Jewel, and Ridley) considered . 341
Enquiry — Can the Presence of the Sun in the earth be truly regarded as
anything more than what is called a virtual Presence ? . . 341-47
The answer applied to explain and illustrate the Real Presence in the
Eucharist ...... 347-55
Examination of the reason assigned by Mr. Goode for the exclusion of
the Declaration from the P. Books published between 1552 and 1662 355-58
Examination of Mr. Goode's quotations from Abraham Woodhead to
prove that those post -reformation Divines of the Church of England
"who held the highest doctrine of the Real Presence" only held "a
Presence to the receiver, but not to the Elements." . . 359-79
Reply to Mr. Goode's notice of Dr. Pusey's argument — that the Rubrical
direction as to the remains of the Sacrament teaches the Objective
Presence . ... . . 380-3
Investigation of Mr. Goode's statement that "the whole object of the
Declaration is to point out, that the act of Kneeling is not an act of
adoration to Christ" present as "God and Man" . . 383-6
His reference to the 7th Canon of 1640, in support of this opinion, shewn
to be inapplicable ..... 386-8
His seeming implication — that as the Canon was " drawn up under the
presidency of Abp. Laud " he concurred in this meaning of it, dis-
proved . . . . . . . . 388-93
III. Notice and application of the Puritan proposal, in 0.. Elizabeth's
reign, to prostrate at the Sacrament . . . 393-4
Fallacy of Mr. Goode's argument — that "if Christ" and "the Bread"
are " one whole" it is "a proper object of worship " . . 395-6
Reply to his objection — that Bread and Christ's Body united cannot pro-
perly be called by either name alone . . . 397
Answer to his statement— that Bread " is the Body of Christ" only " as
a picture is the person whom it represents " . . 398-404
Beer's Letter to P. Martyr, June 20, 1549, on P. Martyr's Propositions,
in his Disputation at Oxford, touching the " real and substantial
Presence of Christ in the Sacrament " . . Note 398-402
Liberty of belief on this subject allowed by him, and probably in the
Church of England .... Note 402
P. Martyr's " Confession ... to the Senate of Strasburgh, . . . May
1566," on the mode in which the Body of Christ is given in the
Sacrament . . . . . Note 402
Mr. Fisher on the influence of Bucer and P. Martyr upon Cranmer Note 403
XVI
CONTENTS.
Comparison of remarks by Mr. Gorham and Mr. Goode on Bucer's
opinion of the Invocation in the Liturgy of 1549 . Note 403-6
Bucer's observations on Ubiquity, Letter to P. Martyr, June 20, 1549
Note 406
Mr, Goode's statement — that " This is my Body " must mean *' This is
really and substantially my Body," — how to be considered . . 404-7
Examination of his assertion — That all the expressions in P. Bk. of 1549
which indicate a Presence " in the Consecrated Elements " disappeared
in the subsequent P. Books .... 408-10
Mr. Fisher's remarks on the hindrance to the Reformation caused by the
Doctrine of lies Sacramenti, considered . . Note 409-10
Bp. Cosin on Objective Presence in the Elements . . 410-11
The statements of the Bps. in 1661— " That the sense of " the Declaration
" is declared sufficiently in the 28th Article," — supported by com-
paring the two ..... 411-14
Calvin on the exhibition of Christ in Sacraments . Note 413
The comparison sanctions Objective Presence and Adoration . 414
Alleged danger of localizing Christ's Presence on earth, not real . 415
Nine Propositions (with References) as to Historical belief in the Church
of England, on the Real Presence, drawn from the preceding Testi-
monies and Arguments . . . . . 416
General Statement gathered from these Propositions . . 420-21
Examination of a Note (pp. 479-82) in Mr. Freeman's "Priuciples of
Divine Service," vol. ii. pt. 2 . . . 421-42
Conclusion ...... 442
Index ...... 443-56
SOME
HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS,
•ETC.
My Lord,
Scarcely a fortnight ago I heard, with much concern,
that a Synod of the Scottish Bishops had been specially
summoned for the 27th of this month, to consider whether
any and what steps should be taken by their Lordships in
consequence of grave complaints which have been made
imputing heterodoxy to certain statements in the Bishop of
Brechin's Primary Charge.
In common with others I was aware that these charges
(which, as is publicly known, were brought before the Synod
of Bishops by the Bishop of Glasgow some months ago)
threatened to occupy their Lordships' attention in the coming
September : though, indeed, we indulged a hope — that the
excitement and agitation, so strangely caused, becoming
allayed and the Bishop of Brechin's own explanations and
proofs of his statements in his recently published 2nd Edition
being attentively considered, ' either the promoter or pro-
moters of the Charges might be led to withdraw them, or
that the Synod would deem it best not to entertain them.
In this hope we have been unhappily disappointed ; and
we cannot but be doubly anxious as to any statement which
may be put forth by the Synod now summoned, so unex-
pectedly and suddenly, to debate certain Propositions, which
it is understood the Bishops are to be asked to affirm, condem-
natory of points in that Charge.
2
There seems reason to think that the questions to be dis-
cussed may be materially affected by the meaning which the
Synod might attach to the well known Declaration on Kneeling
which is appended to the English Communion Office.
Some little time since I happened to mention to a friend
that I had reason to think there were grounds for forming an
opinion of this Declaration different from those usually held ;
my observation having been quoted by him at a meeting of
gentlemen assembled in consequence of the announcement of
the coming Synod, I was asked by them to put together at
once any statements or facts which had led to that opinion.
This, my Lord, I now proceed to do in the form of a Letter
to yourself: only premising that the very limited time allotted
to me will I fear prevent so ample an examination of the sub-
ject as its great importance demands.
The Declaration in question, as it originally appeared in
the 2nd Prayer Book of Edw. VI., A. D. 1552, commences
thus : —
" AHhoughe no ordre can be so perfective deuysed, but it may
be of some, eyther for theyr ignorance and infirmite, or els of
malice and obstinacie, mysconstrued, depraued, and interpreted in
a wrong parte. And yet because brotherly charitie willeth, that so
muche as conueniently may be offences should be taken awav :
therefore we willing to dooe the same."
Then follows the form which (with such verbal changes as
will be seen by a comparison of the two texts) also appeared
in the revised Book of Charles II., A. D. 1662. The words
printed here, and throughout the following pages, in Egyptian
type, indicate the expressions on which the present contro-
versy turns.
1.552. 1662.
" Whereas it is ordeyned in " Whereas it is ordained in
the Booke of Common Prayer, this Office for the administration
in the administracion of the of the Lord's Supper, that the
Lordes Supper, that the Com- Communicants should receive
municantes kneelynge should re- the same kneeling; (which Order
ceiue the Holye Communion : is well meant, for a signification
whiche thynge beynge well mente of our humble and grateful ac-
for a sygnificacyon of the hum- knowledgement of the benefits
s
ble and gratefull acknowledgeyne
of the benefites of Christe, given
unto the woorthye receyuer, and
to auoyde the prophanacion and
dysordre whiche about tlie Holye
Communion myghte elles ensue.
Lest yet the same kneelynge
might be thought or taken other-
wise, we dooe declare that it is
not mente thereby, that any
adoracion is doone, or oughte to
bee doone, eyther unto the Sacra-
mentall bread or wyne there
bodelye receyued, or unto any
reall and eSSeilCiall presence
there beeyng of Chrystes ua-
tlU'all fleshe and bloude. For
as concernynge the Sacramentall
bread andwyne,theyremaynestyll
in theyr very e natu rail substaunces
and therefore may not bee
adored, for that were Idolatrye
to be abhored of all faythfull
Christians. And as concernynge
the natlirall bodye and bloud of
our Sauiour Christ, they are in
heauen and not here : for it is
agaynst the trueth of Christes
true natlirall bodye, to be in moe
places then in one at one tyme.''
Two opinions have, more or less, prevailed with regard to
this Declaration ; the one — that, in both its forms, it was de-
signed to exclude any doctrine of a Real Presence : the
other — that the earlier form had this object, but that the
later, by the substitution of the word " corporal" for the
words " real and essential" was meant to maintain the
Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence, as opposed to that
doctrine of the Real Presence which is held to be involved in
the dogma of Transubstantiation.
I venture to think that neither of these views is the true
one: but (1) That both forms of the Declaration were intended
to express the same thing ; and (2) That the precise object of
both was, neither more nor less thau— To disclaim for the Church
of England a belief in any visible or invisible Presence of
Christ's natural Body and Blood locally in the Eucharist.
of Christ therein given to all
worthy Receivers, and for the
avoiding of such profanation, and
disorder in the Holy Communion,
as might otherwise ensue ;) Yet,
lest the same kneeling should by
any persons, either out of igno-
rance and infirmity, or out of
malice and obstinacy, be mis-
construed and depraved ; it is
here declared, that thereby no
Adoration is intended, or ought
to be done, either, unto the Sa-
cramental bread or wine, there
bodily received, or unto any cor-
poral presence of Christ's natu-
ral Flesh and Bloud. For the
Sacramental bread and wine re-
main still in their very natural
substances, and therefore may
not be adored : (for that were
idolatrie to be abhorred of all
faithful Christians ; ) and the
natural Body and Bloud of our
Saviour Christ are in heaven, and
not here ; it being against the
truth of Christ's natural Body
to be at one time in more places
than one."
4
Any tone of faith, however strong ; any terms conveying it,
however exalted ; these, I humbly believe, were designed to
be allowed ; provided they did not involve that Doctrine
which, I allege, was disavowed in the Declaration ; while a
definite Corporal Act was prescribed, adequate to express the
highest belief, and that the act of kneeling.
Now, the real question to be considered is not, — What can
this Declaration be fairly made to mean by strict, much less
by ingenious, criticism ? but — To what conclusion shall we be
led by an induction of Historical facts and opinions connected
with its promulgation at both periods?
It is my present conviction that the interpretation I
have alleged is that interpretation which Documentary evi-
dence goes to prove ; and this is what I purpose now to en-
deavour to establish in the following Historical enquiry.
I have suggested that the earlier, equally with the later,
form of the Declaration was designed only to exclude any
doctrine of a local natural (i.e. a carnal, physical, organical)
Presence in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The question
then obviously arises,, and must first be answered, Was such
a Presence maintained by any in the Church of England in
15.52, when this Declaration was put forth? History proves
that it was ; and moreover it also proves that the Declaration
under consideration (though issued, as will be seen hereafter,
by way of explanation to the Puritan, rather than as a protest
against the Roman party) was only one in a series of endea-
vours to extirpate a doctrine which had taken root,, and had
propagated itself widely among both clergy and people.
The period which this enquiry must embrace commences
naturally with the reign of Edward VI. ; but it may be use-
ful to notice the doctrine which was authoritatively insisted
upon just prior to his Accession ; perhaps this may be conve-
niently done by referring to the test then applied to Shaxton,
Bishop of Salisbury. This Prelate, as his Injunctions of
1538 prove, was in the matter of Ceremonies, a Reforming
Bishop ; and Burnet, writing of 1516, says : —
"Nicholas Shaxton, that was bishop of Salisbury, had been
Long prisoner ; but this year, he had said in his imprisonment,
5
in the Counter in Bread-street, that Christ's natural Body ivas not
in the Sacrament, but that it was a Sign and Memorial of His Body
that was crucified for us. Upon this be was indicted and condemned
to be burnt. But the King [Hen. viii.] sent the Bishops of London
and Worcester to deal with him to recant ; which on the 9th of
July he did, acknowledging," That, (to quote his letter to the
King as given by Foxe) " within this yere I have fallen into that
niooste detestable and mooste abhomynable heresye of them that
bee callid Sacramentaries denyeing wretchedlie the presence of
Chryst's bleassed body in tholye Sacrament of the aultare."
Among the recantation Articles, which he says, " I with
my harte doo believe, and with my mouthe doo confesse," are
the following :
" The fyrste. Allmightie God by the power of His woorde
pronounced by the Priest at Masse in the consecration, turneth the
breade and wyne into the very liatui'all body and blood of oure
Saviour Jhesu Chryste. Soo that after the consecration there
remayneth noo substaunce of breadde and wyne, but onely the
substaunce of Cryste, God and man.
" The thyrd. The same bleassed Sacrament being consecrate
ys and ought to be worshipped and adored with godly honour where-
soever yt ys : forasmoche as yt ys the bodie of Cryste inseperably
unyted to the Deitie.
" The fyfte. The same body and blonde whiche ys offered in the
Masse ys the very propitiation and satisfaction for the synnes of the
woorlde forasmoche as yt ys the selfsame ill Sllbstuaiice whiche
was offered upon the crosse for oure redemption.
" The nynth. The Masse used in this Realme of Englande ys
agreeable to thinstitution of Chryste. And wee have in this Churche
of Englande the verie true Sacrament whiche ys the very body and
bloudde of oure Savyour Chryste under the forme of bredde and
wyne."— Burnet, Hist. Ref. vol. 1, bk. 3, p. 325, fol. 1715; and
Foxe, Acts and Hon. vol. v., app. 17. Ed. 1846.
Now whether Shaxton held (as is probable) the more refined
view which is implied in what was then known as the invisible
Corporal Presence, these Articles do not enable us to deter-
mine : but that a grosser view of the Presence of Christ's
natural Body was extensively held, is plain from one of
the earliest acts of Edward's Council after his Accession.
On Nov. 4th, 1547, was passed the statute 1 Edw. VI. c.i.
intitled " An Act against such as shall unrcverently speak
against the Sacrament of the Altar, and of the receiving
thereof in both kinds." The Act recites that, owing to
" certain abuses heretofore committed of some," others had
6
" contemptuously depraved, despised, or reviled the same
"most holy and blessed Sacrament." {Stephens' Eccl. Stat.,
vol. ]., p. 292). What had in part produced this re-actionary
irreverence may be gathered from the Royal Proclamation,
founded upon this Statute, which was issued on the 27th
December following. It relates that :
" Some of " the King's " subjects, not contented with such words
and terms as scripture doth declare thereof and that the Body
and Bloud of Jesu Christ is there search and strive unreverently
whether the Body and Bloud aforesaid is there really or fi» U]';ltt'h ,
locally or circumscriptly, and having quantity and greatness, or but
substantially and by substance only, or els but in a figure and
manner of speaking ; whether His blessed Body be there, head,
leggs, armes, toes, and nails, or any other ways, shape and manner,
naked or clothed ; whether He is broken and chewed, or He is
always whole ; whether the bread there remaineth as we see, or how
it departeth ; whether the flesh be there alone, and the blood,
or part, or ech in other, or in th'one both, in th'other but only
bloud ; and what bloud ; that only which did flow out of the side,
or that which remained "
Consequently all persons were prohibited from open con-
troversy and strife on the subject, and from
" affirming any more termes of the said blessed Sacrament, than
be expressly taught in the Holy Scripture, and mentioned in the
foresaid act,"
until authority should
" define, declare and set furthe an open doctrine thereof, and
what termes and words may justly be spoken thereby, other than be
expressly in the Scripture contained in the Act before rehearsed."
— Gardwell, Doc. Ann. vol. I, pp. 35-7.
In proof of the existence of this very carnal opinion, two
years later, I may cite a Conversation between Cranmer and
Bonner, Bishop of London, on Sept. 10, 1549: the Arch-
bishop, in consequence of some remarks which Bonner made,
"... .said unto him, ' My Lord of London ! ye speak much of a
presence in the Sacrament ; what presence is there, and of what
presence do you mean?' Wherewith the Bishop spake again
to the Archbishop very earnestly, and said, ' What presence, my
Lord ? I say and believe that there is the Very true presence of
the Body and Blood of Christ. What believe you, and how do you
believe, my Lord V Upon which words the Archbishop asked
him further, whether He were there, face, nose, mouth, eyes, arms,
and lips, with other lineaments of His Body i"
7
Bonner, indeed, apparently disavowed such a physical
notion,for, besides aprevious complaint that Hooper misunder-
stood him, he, shaking his head observed, as Foxe says,
" Oh ! I am right sorry to hear your Grace speak these
words." (Acts % Mon. vol. v. p. 752). Yet the very fact of the
Archbishop mooting the point argues his knowledge that
it was still held even by some in authority, if not by Bonner.
Against, then, this prevalent doctrine of a carnal Presence
in the Eucharist, Cranmer, Ridley, and others who were,
more or less directly, concerned in preparing the First Book
of Common Prayer, watchfully and determinedly set them-
selves. Ridley since 1545 when he began to study Ratramn's
book " on the Body and Blood of the Lord," and Cranmer
since 1546, when Ridley told him of his changed views on
the Eucharist, had been carefully investigating the subject of
Transubstantiation, and the errors of doctrine or practice
which it theoretically or practically involved.
It was under such circumstances that the task of revising
the Public Service Books was completed ; and this fact on
the one side, coupled with the fact on the other side — that
Edward's first Prayer-book was thought to be, and was, of
such a character that even the unreforming party and the
adherents of the Pope could and did use it — may serve to
shew that its language was accounted both an adequate
exponent of ancient doctrine and a security against popular
corruptions of it.
That it was so accounted may be gathered, I think, (1) from
a Document (Domestic Edw. VI. vol vii.) in the State Paper
Office, (hitherto unpublished I believe) viz. : A letter from
the " Duke of Somerset to Cardinal Pole, dated 4th June
1549, replying to his letters " of the Sixth of Maie." In this
Epistle, which mainly relates to questions arising out of the
then relative claims and positions of England and the See of
Rome, reference is made to the new Service Book in the
following passage : —
" The conclusion and that yt ye make thextreme peryl] and
daungier maie peradventure be knovven to you at Rome, of a dis-
sencion amonges our Busshops uppon the chiefeestpoyntes of Religion,
We here do knowe no such tliinge, but on the contrary, by a com-
8
mon agreement of all the chief learned men in the realme, the thing
of longe time and maturely debated emonges them which had most
opinyon of learninge in the scriptures of God, and were likeliest to
give lest to affeccon as well Busshops as other equaly and indifferently
chosen of judgment not coacted with superior authorise, nor other-
wise invited but of a common agreament emonges them ther was first
agreament on pointes, and then same cominge to the judgement of
the hole parliament, not severaly devided, but all men admitted to
the hearinge and debatinge at large, before all states and persones
hearinge what could be said against it by one hole consent of
thupper and nether house of the parliament finally concluded and
aproved, and so a forme and rite of service, a trade and doctryne of
relligion by that authoritie and after that sort allowed, set forthe
and establisshed by act and statute, and so publisshed and divulged
to so great a quiet as ever was in Englond, and as gladly received
of all partes, whereof ye your self if ye had bene here and did bere
that affeccon ye pretend to your contrey shuld have had great
cause to rejoise. Yf yet in a schole poynt or two som one or two
peradventure will be singuler in opinion and not be satisfied in
thinges which be not in that boke, Whither he be Busshop or other,
as ever hitherto it hathe bene sene in all metinges of learned men,
What doth that derogate the quyet of the Realme when thei receyve
the lawe and be obedient unto it.
" And to thintent ye may the better know of our doeings We
have delivered to those which brought you letters the Boke of Com-
mon service, the same whereof heir before we have spoken, agreed
on in the Parliament. In the which yf ye can fyend eny faulte we
shall gladly receyve yor lettres and here yor judgment given ther-
upon, and shall as gently cawse the reasons to be rendred unto you,
wherewith we do not fere ye shalbe satisfied."
The Duke concludes by inviting the Cardinal to return to
England —
" Not dowbting but sufficient reason grounded uppon Godes word
shalbe given unto you for every poynt betwixt us and you in variance.
And we are not in muche feare but that it may vvelbe if ye did se
thinges here with your eyes and conferred with learned men the
reasones and causes of our doinges the which now ye do not learn,
but by report, which in tyme and distaunce encreaseth, and made
of them which favoreth not the thing ys exaggerated to the worse, ye
wold peradventure condiscend your self and be in all poyntes satis-
fied as at this present many bothe of Busshops and other learned men
be, which at the first did miche repyne, fare you well. From
Greenvviche, the 4th of June, 1549.
Yor lovyng freende if you
acknowledge yor dutie to
the Ks. Mat'.
E. S."
Such a letter and invitation could not, surely, have heen
sent to Pole if the first reformed Liturgy had not bespoken
itself with sufficient plainness to he Catholic in its character
and language.
(2) Next, Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, who may be
taken as a fair type of a large party not favourable to the
Reformation, did nevertheless, as we shall see hereafter, testify
to the fitness of most of what was done and, in particular,
frequently quoted the new Prayer Book (whether always
effectively or not is another question) in support of his own
Doctrinal opinions which yet were vigorously combated by
Cranmer and others.
Now it is important to notice that in the very month in
which Somerset's letter to Pole was written, Public Disputa-
tions were held in the two Universities, before the King's
Visitors and Commissioners, on the Eucharistic controversy;
and moreover that in those Disputations language was occa-
sionally employed by the Reforming party which (if it stood
alone and were criticized apart from the Prayer Book, which
they professed to accept, and upon which some of them had been
engaged) would certainly favour the notion that they held a
most lax and indefinite view of the Real Presence : yet I
think it will appear from a careful examination of their
arguments and a generous interpretation of their words, that
their great anxiety was — not to lend themselves in any degree
to an apparent support of that doctrine of a carnal Presence
which was then sought to be eradicated ; and that this accounts
for much of their seemingly contradictory "language. In saying
this I am neither defending it nor attempting to reconcile it.
First of all, considering his public position and his relations
to the English Reformers at this time, it will be well to
notice Peter Martyr's Disputation at Oxford, June 11th to
15th 1549.
Foxe's opinion of the object and purport of P. Martyr's
discussion is shortly stated in these words : it was, he says :
" that the substance of bread and wine was not changed
in the Sacrament, and that the Body and Blood of Christ were not
carnally and bodily in the bread and wine, but united to the same
sacramentally." — Vol. v., p. 800.
10
The following is an analysis of it.
" Peter Martyr being called by the king to the public reading of
the Divinity Lecture in Oxford, amongst his other learned exercises
did set up in the public schools three conclusions of Divinity, to be
disputed and tried by argument; at which disputations were present
the King's Visitors, to wit, Henry, Bishop of Lincoln ; Dr. Coxe,
Chancellor of that university ; Dr. Hains, Dean of Exeter ; Master
Richard Morison, Esquire ; and Christopher Nevinson, Doctor of
Civil Law.
" The conclusions propounded were these : —
" First. ' In the Sacrament of Thanksgiving there is no transub-
Stailtiiltioil of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
" Secondly. ' The Body and Blood of Christ be not carnally,
or Corporally in the Bread and Wine, nor, as others use to say,
lHMler the kinds of bread and wine.
" Thirdly. ' The Body and Blood of Christ be united to bread
and wine saeramentally.
" They that were the chief Disputers against him on the con-
trary side v/ere, Dr. Tresham, Dr. Chedsey, and Morgan."
From " The Reasons and principal Arguments of Peter
Martyr," I extract the following : —
" The argument of Peter Martyr upon the first conclusion.
After quoting Holy Scripture, he says —
" Ergo. We also, with the Scriptures, ought not to exclude
bread from the nature of the Sacrament."
Quoting St. Cyprian, he says —
" Ergo. As in the person of Christ, so in the Sacrament, both
the natures ought still to remain."
Quoting Gelasius, St. Augustine, and Theodoret, he says
"Ergo. Like as the Body of Christ remained in Him, and was
not changed into His Divinity ; so in the Sacrament, the bread is
not changed into the Body, but both the SllbStilUCeS remain
whole." — Foxe, Acts and Mon. Vol. vi. p. 299.
In the following "Argument" he appears to contradict
these last two conclusions: —
" The words of the Evangelist, speaking of that which Christ
took, blessed, brake, and gave, do import it to be bread, and nothing
else but bread."
Yet his conclusion agrees with them : for he only says
"Ergo, the substance of bread is not to be excluded out of the
Sacrament :" (p. 300). He does not say that the Body and
Blood of Christ is not in the Sacrament.
1 1
" Arguments of Peter Martyr, disputing with Martin Chedsey
upon the first question.
" Every Sacrament consistetli in two things, that is, in the thing
signifying, and the thing signified."
He contends that Transubstantiation " is false."
" I. First, by these words of the Scripture, when He saith, ' Do
this in remembrance of Me,' forasmuch as remembrance properly
serveth not for things corporally present, but for things rather
being absent, [i.e. corporally absent.]
" II. Secondly, where He saith, ' Until I come ;' which words
were vain if He were already come [i e. corporally] by consecra-
tion.
" IV. Furthermore, whereas the Lord biddeth them to take and
eat, it is evident that the same cannot be understood, without a
trope, forasmuch as He cannot be eaten and chewed with teeth, as
we use properly, in eating other meats, to do.
" The second cause why the words of Christ, ' This is My Body,'
cannot be literally expounded without a trope, is the nature of a
sacrament ; whose nature and property is to bear a sign or significa-
tion of a thing to be remembered, which thing, after the substantial
and real presence is absent
" The third cause why the words of consecration are figuratively
to be taken, is the testimony of the ancient doctors.
" Tertullian saith, ' This is My Body ;' that is to say, This is a
figure of My Body.
"Augustine saith, ' Christ gave a figure of His Body.' Also he
saith, ' He did not doubt to say, This is My Body, when He gave
a sign of His Body.'
"Jerome saith, ' Christ represented unto us His Body.'
" Augustine, in his book, ' De Doctrina Christiana,' declareth
expressly that this speech of eating the Body of Christ, is a figura-
tive speech.'
" Ambrose saith, ' As thou hast received the similitude of His
Death ; so thou drinkest the similitude of His precious Blood.' "
" Argument.
"The Death of Christ is not present really in the Sacrament,
but by similitude.,
" The precious Blood of Christ is present in the Sacrament, as
His death is present.
" Ergo. The precious Blood of Christ is not present really in the
Sacrament.
" The minor of this argument is proved before by the words of
Ambrose."
" The argument of PeUr Martyr, upon the Second Conclusion.
" The true liatlirul body of Christ is placed in Heaven.
" The true natural body of man can be but in one place at once,
where he is.
" Y.rgo, The trne natural Body of Christ can be in no place at
once, but in heaven where He is.
" The major is plain by the Scriptures." — St. Mark xvi. 19 ;
St. John xii. 8. and xvi. 28 ; St. Matt. xxiv. 23 ; Acts iii. 21 ;
Coloss. iii. 1.
" The minor, likewise, is evident by St. Austin, who speaking of
the glorified Body of Christ, affirmeth the same to be in one certain
place, ' Propter veri corporis modum,' that is, for the manner of a
true body."
" Argument.
" Every true natural body requireth one certain place.
"Augustine saith, Christ's Body, is a true natural Body.
" Ergo, Christ'sBody requireth one certain place." — p. 302.
" Argument.
" We must not so defend the Divinity of Christ, that we destroy
His humanity.
" If we assign to the Body of Christ plurality of places, we
destroy His humanity.
" Ergo, we must not assign to the body of Christ plurality of
places."
" Argument.
" If Christ had given His Body substantially and carnally in the
supper, then was that Body either passible or impassible.
" But neither can you say that body to be passible or impassible,
which He gave at supper.
" Ergo, He did not give His Body substantially and carnally at
supper."
" Argument.
" Bodies Ol'ganical, without quantity, be no bodies.
" The Pope"s Doctrine, maketh the Body of Christ in the Sacra-
ment to be without quantity.
" Ergo, The Pope's Doctrine maketh the Body of Christ in the
Sacrament to be no body." — p. 303.
Strype, in relating this Disputation, quotes P. Martyr as
reporting of it to the Archbishop, thus: —
" 1 That his doctrines he then maintained might not altogether
square with Bucer's judgment. But he said in his own justification,
that he granted the Body of Christ was present to us by faith,
and that we are incorporated into Him by communication
that we do partake of the matter of the Sacrament, namely, the
Body and Blood of Christ ; but he meant it in mind and faith . "
18
that the Holy Ghost is efficacious in the Sacrament, by virtue of the
Lord's institution. But that which he especially endeavoured to
assert was, that they mixed not the Body and Blood of Christ car-
nally with the bread and wine by any COlHOl'eal Presence. Nor
yet would he have the Sacrament to be symbols without honour and
reverence. Another thing he asserted, which he thought might
offend Bucer, was, that it was not agreeable to the Body of Christ,
however glorified, to be in many places at once. — Strype's Cranmer,
Bk. ii., c. 14.
Next, in order of time, we come to the Disputations at
Cambridge on the Eucharist : of these there were three, con-
ducted by the persons named in Ridley's " Determination."*
" The first disputation holden at Cambridge, the 20th day of
June, A.D. 1549, before the King's Majesty's Commissioners, by Dr.
Madew respondent, . . . ."
In his Declaration against transubstantiation he says : — " . . .
some papists dream and fancy, such a COl'poral, real, and gTOSS
presence of Christ's Body in the Sacrament, as they affirm it
to be there, even as verily as it was upon the Cross. Indeed
the bread is changed after a certain manner into Christ's
body ; for Christ gave not His own natural Body to His Disciples at
His last supper, but only a sign, or figure thereof. Christ's Body is
there With the Bread ; our senses cannot be deceived about the sub-
stance of bread, but they do judge there to be but one body, that is
of bread : ergo, so it is. Also the very definition of a Sacrament
doth plainly repugn unto transubstantiation
Now, indeed, there be two manner of signs ; one that signifieth
only, the other that doth exllibit the thing itself. The first is
applied to the old law chiefly, the other to the law of grace
" Even as we are changed into Christ by receiving the
Sacrament, so the bread is changed into the Body of Christ. But
our Substance is not changed into Christ's substance. Ergo, the
substance of the bread is not changed into Christ's Body " —
p. 307.
One of the Disputants, Dr. Glyn, pressed upon Dr. Madew
that—
" St. Austin saith thus, ' Lo no man eateth of that bread, except
he first adore and worship it.'
" Madew. ' By your patience, St. Austin, in that place, speaking
of the honouring of Christ's Body now sitting in heaven.'
" Olyn. ' Yea, master doctor, think you so? And why not also
of His blessed Body in the Sacrament, seeing that He saith It is
there? And why then ought we not to honour It in the
Sacrament? or how many bodies hath Christ, seeing you do grant
His Body in Heaven to I e honoured, but not his Body here in the
Sacrament !'
• Sec p. 18. x
1 i
" Madew. ' Forsooth He hath but one very Body and no more ;
but the same is sacranientally in the Sacrament, and substan-
tially in Heaven : here by faith and there in deed.'" — p. 310.
Glyn next repeated his argument, upon which Rid'ey, then
Bishop of Rochester, said —
" I do grant unto you, master opponent, that the old
ancient fathers do record and witness a certain honour and adora-
tion to be due unto Christ's Body, but they speak not of It ill
the Sacrament, but of It in Heaven at the right hand of the Father,
as holy Crysostom saith, ' Honour thou It and then eat It:' but that
honour may not be given to the outward sign, but to the Body of
Christ itself in Heaven. For that Body is there Ollly ill a sign
Virtually, by grace, in the exhibition of It in spirit, effect, and
faith, to the worthy receiver of It. For we receive virtually only
Christ's Body in the Sacrament."
" Glyn. ' How then if it please your good Lordship, doth Bap-
tism differ from this Sacrament ? for in that, we receive Christ also
by grace and virtually.'
''Rochester. 'Christ is present after another sort in Baptism than
in this Sacrament ; for in that, He purgeth and washeth the infant
from all kind of sin, but here, He doth feed spiritually the receiver
in faith with all the merits of His blessed death and passion. Aud
yet He is in Heaven still really and substantially, as for example :
the King's Majesty, our Lord and Master, is but in one place,
wheresoever that his royal person is abiding for the time; and yet
his mighty power and authority is everywhere in his realms and
dominions : so Christ's real Person is only in Heaven substantially
placed, but His might is in all things created effectually : for
Christ's Flesh may be understood for the power or inward might
of His Flesh.'"*— p. 311.
" Glyn. ' Holy St. Ambrose saith, the Body there, made ly the
mighty power of God's word, is the Body [tahcii] of the Virgin
Mary.'
" Rochester. ' That is to say, that by the word of God the thing
hath a being that it had not before, and we do conseerate the body,
that we may receive the grace and power of the Body of Christ in
Heaven by this sacramental body.' — p. 312.
" Glyn. ' So, I perceive you would have me to grant that the
Sacrament is but a lig'Ul*e, which Theoplylact doth deny.'
" Rochester. ' You say truth, he denieth it indeed to be a
tig'lire, but he meaneth that it is not Only a figure." — p. 313.
After some further discussion between Glyn and Ridley,
* Compare with this argument of Ridlev, the following argument on the
Bonian side: —
" Weston. Now then take this argument: wheresovcr God's authority is,
there is Christ's Body : but God's authority is in everyplace : Ergo. What
letteth the Hody of Christ to be in everyplace ? " — Disputation with Crammer at
Oxford, Aniil 14, looo.
15
the argument was taken up by " Master Longdate" who
quoted Erasmus as saying —
" The Church of Christ hath determined, very lately, transubstan-
tiation. It was of a long season enough to believe Christ's Body
to be either under the bread consecrated, or else to be present after
any other manner."
Madew (accepting, of course, Erasmus as an authority,
seeing that his Paraphrase on the Gospels was then in public
use in the Churches by the King's Injunctions of 1547) said
in reply : —
" it is most constant and sure, that Erasmus was of that
mind and opinion, that it was enough for a Christian to believe
Christ's Body and Blood to be ill the Sacrament, in what manner or
condition soever it were." — p. 314.
Then Langdale asked —
" whether that this sentence ' This is my Body,' be
spoken of Christ figuratively or not?
" Madew. ' After the mind of the common gloss of Cyprian and
Origen, it is so taken in very deed.'
" Langdale. ' That cannot be, by your patience ; for it is taken
there substantially : ergo, not figuratively.
" Madew. ' I deny your argument.'
"Langdale. I prove my argument good, thus: This word
substance doth plainly repugn, and is contrary to, this word
figure: ergo, Substantially, and figuratively do also repugn.
Moreover, I ask of you, whether that this be a true proposition or
not : Bread is Christ's Body.'
" Madew. ' Yea, forsooth it is a true proposition.'
"Langdale. 'Then thus to you : Christ's Body was given for us,
but you say. that bread is Christ's Body : ergo, bread was given for
us.'
"Rochester. 'Not so, sir, for your former proposition is of double
understanding.'
" Langdale. ' Well, yet you, master doctor, do grant that Christ
is Substantially in the Sacrament.'
" Madew. ' No : I deny that I said so ever.
"Langdale. 'Yea, do you so? Well, I pass not thereupon
greatly; for I will prove it by another means. — Christ did suffer His
most glorious passion for us really and Substantially : Ergo,
He is also in the Sacrament Substantially. The argument is good,
because that it is the Same here, that was there crucified for us :
howbeit here invisibly, indeed spiritually and sacra mentally ;
but there visibly, and after a mortal and most bloody manner.'
"Rochester. 'Master Langdale, your argument doth well con-
clude in case that His Body were here, in the Sacrament, after such
a sort as it was when He was betrayed. But that is not so ; for He
16
was betrayed and crucified in His natural Body, substantially and
really, in very deed ; but in the Sacrament he is not so, but
spiritually and figuratively only.'
" Langdale. ' By your good Lordship's favour that is not so ; for
He is there not figuratively, but Verily and Indeed, by the power
of His mighty word : yea, even His very own uatUl'al Body, Under
the Sacrament duly performed by the lawful minister.' " — p. 315.
To this statement Madew and Ridley gravely objected.
In reply to an argument of " Master Segewick," another
opponent, Ridley said : —
" I do grant it [the Bread of the Sacrament] to be Christ's true
Body and Flesh, by a property of the nature assumpted to the God-
head ; yea, and we do really eat and drink his Flesh and Blood after
a certain real property." — p. 316.
Then they proceeded to another point, which was thus
stated by Segewick : —
" Now, as touching our second conclusion, this I say : wheresoever,
Christ is; there is a sacrifice propitiatory; but, in the Lord's Supper
is Christ : ergo, in the Lord's Supper is a sacrifice propitiatory."
Madew. " Christ is not offered in the Lord's Supper, but is re-
ceived spiritually."
'Segewick. " The Priesthood and the Sacrifice be correspondent
together ; but Christ's Priesthood, after the order of Melchizedeck,
is perpetual ; ergo, also so is His Sacrifice.
Rochester " Christ is a Priest for ever ; that is to say, His Priest-
hood and Sacrifice, offered once for all, is available for ever ; so that
no other shall succeed Him."
Segewick. "Where there is no Oblation, there is no Sacrifice :
ergo, if Christ be not perpetually offered, there is no perpetual Sacri-
fice. Item, the same bloody Sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross was
the very fine and end of all the bloody Sacrifices figured in the Law
after the order of Aaron's Priesthood. Wherefore, you must needs
grant that He offered Himself also, at His last Supper, after the
order of Melchizedeck, under the forms of Bread and Wine,
or else you must show the Scripture where He did so, which I can-
not perceive to be done but at His last Supper only, after an un-
bloody manner. Item, He is offered for the remission of sins daily :
ergo, He is a Sacrifice propitiatory still, in the new Law, as St.
Augustine saith, expounding these words of the Psalm, ' Thou hast
not willed to have Sacrifice and Oblation, but,' &c.
"Rochester. "St. Cyprian speaketh much like that sort, where
he saith thus, ' It is the Lord's Passion, which we do offer,' &c." —
p. 317.
In " The second Disputation holden at Cambridge the 21th
day of June, 1549," Dr. Glyn commenced with a Declaration
17
upon eacli of his two Conclusions argued at the former meet-
ing; upon which " Master Perne" said to him : —
" You left transubstantiation, and endeavour yourself to
prove the real Presence in the Sacrament : whereas we deny
nothing less than His Corporal Presence, or the absence of His
Substance ill the Bread." — p. 320.
Grindal then followed, and argued against the change of
the Substance of the Bread, that —
"If it be the real and substantial Body of Christ, because
Christ said ' This is my Body ;' ergo, because the Lord said ' I will
not drink of the fruit of this vine,' and Paul calleth it Bread after
the consecration, it is therefore Bread and Wine." — p. 322.
A little after. Grindal remarked —
" Augustine upon the thirty-third psalm saith, ' Christ bare Him-
self in His own Hands, after a sort ; not indeed or truly,' &c."
—p. 324.
Then Gest followed, and contended against a change of
substance, saying —
" If the bread be changed, it is made the [natural] Body of
Christ; but that is not so ; ergo, it is not changed."
" Glyn. ' I deny your minor.'
" Gest. ' It is not generate or begot :
" Ergo, it is not the Body.'
" Ohjn. ' That followeth not ; as though to be made, and to be
generate or begot, were all one thing ; or as though there were
no other mutation than a generation : and so you impugn a thing
that you know not. But what call you the generation ? '
"Gest. ' The generation is the production of the accidents.'
" Glyn. ' A new definition of a new philosopher.'
" Gest. ' That which he took He blessed ; that which He blessed
He brake, and gave it unto them : ergo,' &c.
" Glyn. ' Christ took bread, brake bread, and gave His Body,
that is the substance of His Body: saying, This is my Body.'
" Gest. 'The Bread is not changed into the Blood of Christ :
ergo, not into His Body either.'
" Glyn. ' 1 deny your antecedent.'
" Gest. ' The Master of the sentences saith it. 1
" Glyn. You understand him not ; for the bread is changed into
the Body of Christ by the power of God's word."
" Rochester. Ye dream of a real presence of Christ's Body in
the Sacrament, by the force of the words spoken ; which the Holy
Scripture doth impugn."
" Gest. If there were any transubstantiation, the accidents should
not remain still ; for they have no matter whereto they may lean or
D
18
cleave. But tlie accidents remain not themselves alone : ergo,' &c."
—p. 325.
In " the third Disputation, holden at Cambridge, as
before," Master Perne, having made his Declaration upon
the two Conclusions, said in his argument against Parker
(not Matthew, afterwards Archbishop) —
" I grant unto you that Christ is in the Sacrament trnly, wholly,
and verily, after a certain property and manner: I deny not His
presence, but His real and corporal presence I utterly deny ; for
doubtless His true and natural Body is in Heaven, and not in the
Sacrament : notwithstanding He dwelleth with us, and in us, after
a certain unity. And also in the sixth chapter of John, He speaketh
not of the Flesh of Christ crucified,' &c.
" Parker. The flesh of Christ as it is in the Sacrament, is quick
and giveth life : ergo, His real and substantial flesh is in the
Sacrament."
"Rochester these words 'This is My Body.' are meant
thus : by grace it is My true Body, but not My fleshly Body, as
some of you suppose." — p. .329.
In reply to Master Vavasor, who had drawn an argument
from St. Augustine, in Ps. xcviii. — ■
" Christ of the earth received earth, and of the flesh of Mary He
received flesh."
Ridley said : —
" I acknowledge not His real substance to be there ; but the
property of His substance." — p. 331.
Supplementary to these arguments we have Ridley's "De-
termination concerning the Sacrament, made at Cambridge,
after three Disputations held there, June 20, 1549."
The King's Commissioners. — Bishops of Rochester [Ridley] and
Ely [Goodrich], Mr. (afterwards Sir John) Cheke, Dr. May,
and Thomas Wendy, Physician to the King.
1st Disputation, Dr. Madew v. Dr. Glyn, Segewick, Langdale,
and Young.
2nd Disputation, Dr. Glyn v. Grindal, Perne, Gest, and
Pilkington.
3rd Disputation, Perne v. Parker, Pollard, Vavasor and
Young.
He decides that Transubstantiation is disproved, as
being
1. "Clean against the words of the Scripture." — viz. St. Matt.
1!)
xxvi. 29; St. Mark xiv. 25 ; Exod. xii. 46; 1 Cor. xi. 24 ; St.
John vi. 27, 28, 29, 50, 54, 55, 62, 63.
2. Against " The Ancient Fathers a thousand years past," —
viz. ; — Dionysius Pseudo Areopagita : St. Ignat. Ep. ad Philad. :
St. Iren. cont. Heres. lib. iv. c. 18 : Tert. adv. Marc, iii : St. Cyp.
ad. Caecil. i. 6 : Theodoret : Gelasius : St. Cyril : St. August.
The places either not named or the same as those in his Treatise on
Transubstantiation.
3. Against " the nature of the Sacrament, which consisteth in
three things, that is, Unity, Nutrition, and Conversion."
4. Because " They which say that Christ is carnally present in
the Eucharist, do take from Him the verity of man's nature. . . .
5. Contrary to the Article of the Creed, " He ascended into
heaven," &c.
And from these premises, together with Heb. ix. 11, 26,
28 ; x. 14, and St. Aug. ad Bonif. Ep. 23 : and Faust, xx.
c. 18, he holds it proved —
" That there is no other [real or carnal] oblation of Christ
but that which was once made upon the Cross." — Works. Parker
Society. — pp. 171-9.
In the next year, 1550, Cranmer published his " Defence
of the True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament:" to
which Bishop Gardiner having made a reply, the Archbishop
printed his "Answer" in the latter part of 1551 : as his
original work and Bishop Gardiner's criticims are sub-
stantially comprised in Cranmer's " Answer " it is desirable
to extract a few passages from it, both as serving to shew ( 1 )
The nature of the controversy with Gardiner ; (2) The
continuous identity of the Archbishop's statements touching
the physical Presence in the Sacrament; and (3) The occa-
sional convergence of the two Prelates' views on points which
are involved in the terms of the Declaration on Kneeling at
the Sacrament.
It is true, indeed, that, in both cases, it is often most
difficult to gain a clear notion of what the respective writers
maintain ; and to determine how far they are consistent with
themselves : yet if this is more especially the case with
Cranmer, from whatever cause, he has furnished certain keys
to this controversial work of his. For in his "Preface to
the reader," he thinks "it good.. to admonish [him] of
certain words and kinds of speeches which," as he says, " I
2a
do use sometimes in this mine answer .... lest in mistaking
thou do as it were stumble at them."
Thus he says : —
" This word ' Sacrament ' I do sometimes use (as it is many
times taken among writers and holy doctors) for the sacramental
bread, water, or wine ; as when they say that, sacramentum est sacrce
rei signum, ' a Sacrament is the sign of an holy thing.' But where
I use to speak sometimes (as the old authors do) that Christ is in the
Sacraments, I mean the same as they did understand the matter ;
that is to say,- not of Christ's canial Presence in the outward Sacra-
ment, but sometimes of His Sacramental presence. And sometime
by this word ' Sacrament :' I mean the whole ministration and
receiving the Sacraments " — Works, Parker Society, vol. i. p. 3.
It may be a fit introduction to any extracts from this
" Answer" and also a legitimate comment upon them where
of doubtful meaning, to notice Cranmer's estimate of Bertram
whose Book I have already alluded to in connection with the
Archbishop : thus in reply to Gardiner he observes : —
" And as for Bertram, he did nothing else but, at the request of
King Charles, set out the true doctrine of the Holy Catholic
Church, from Christ unto his time, concerning the Sacrament.
And I never heard nor read any man that condemned Bertram
before this time : and therefore I can take no hindrance, but a great
advantage at his hands : for all men that hitherto have written of
Bertram, have much commended him. And seeing that he wrote
of this Sacrament at King Charles's request, it is not like that he
would write against the received Doctrine of the Church in those
days. And if he had, it is without all doubt that some learned man,
either in his time or sithence, would have written against him, or at
the least not have commended him so much as they have done."* —
p. 14, see also p. 77.
The following are some extracts from Cranmer's "Answer,"
they are but a few out of many passages to the like purport.
(I) "... .as He giveth the bread to be eaten with our mouths, so
giveth He His Very Body to be eaten with our faith. And therefore
I say, that Christ giveth Himself truly to be eaten, chewed and
digested ; but all is spiritually with faith, not with mouth. And
yet you would bear me in hand, that I say that thing which I say
not : that is to say that Christ did not give His Body, but the figure
of His Body."— p. 15.
"And therefore to answer you plainly, the same flesh that was
given in Christ's last supper, was given also upon the Cross, and is
given daily in the ministration of the Sacrament. But although
* Compare the Bp. of St. Davids' remarks on Mr. Freeman's opinion of Ber-
tram's views, in his eharge of 1857, Appendix B. p. 118.
21
it be Olie tiling;, yet it was diversely iriveil. For upon tlie Cross
Christ was carnally given to suffer and to die ; at His last supper
he was spiritually given in a promise of His death; and in the
Sacrament He is daily given in remembrance of His death. And
yet it is all but one Christ that was promised to die, that died indeed,
and whose death is remembered ; that is to say, the very same
Christ, the eternal Word that was made flesh. And the same flesh
was also given to be spiritually eaten, and was eaten in deed, before
His supper, yea, and before His incarnation also. Of which
eating, and not of sacramental eating, He spake in the sixth of
John : " My flesh is very meat, and My blood is very drink. He
that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in me, and I
in him." — p. 24.
" And, although Christ in His human nature, substantially,
really, corporally, naturally, and sensibly, be present with His
Father in heaven, yet sacraiueiltally and Spiritually He is here
present. For in water, bread, and wine, he is present, as in signs
and sacraments; but He is indeed spiritually in those faithful,
Christian people, which according to Christ's ordinance be baptized,
or receive the Holy Communion, or unfeignedly believe in him. ."
" The papists' say, that evil and ungodly men receive in this
Sacrament the very body and blood of Christ, and eat and drink
the selfsame thing that the good and godly men do. But the truth
of God's word is contrary, that all those that be godly members of
Christ, as they corporally eat the bread and drink the wine, so
spiritually they eat and drink Christ's very flesh and blood. And
as for the wicked members of the devil, they eat the sacramental
bread, and drink the sacramental wine, but they do not spiritually
eat Christ's flesh, nor drink His blood, but they eat and drink their
own damnation." — p. 47.
Gardiner had said, in reply to Cranmer's "Defence," that
it was not true to charge his side with holding. —
" that Christ is ill the bread and wine, but they agree in
form of teaching with that the Church of England teacheth at this
day, in the distribution of the Holy Communion, in that it is there
said, the Body and Blood of Christ to be under the form of bread
and wine. — p. 51.
To this Cranmer rejoins truly enough thus, for the phrase
occurred only as a notice, at the end of the First Book of
Homilies, of an intended Homily; though indeed it was the
alleged physical statement which he was denying : —
" And as concerning the form of doctrine used in this Church of
England in the Holy Communion, that the body and blood of
Christ be [i.e. carnally] under the form of bread and wine, when
you shall shew the place where this form of words is expressed, then
shall you purge yourself of that, which in the meantime I take to be
a plain untruth." — p. 53.
22
" And how sure be you that Christ is in substance present
because He is truly present ? Are you assured that this your
doctrine agreeth with God's word ? Doth not God's word teach a
true presence of Christ in spirit, where He is not present in His
corporal substance ? As when He saith : "Where two or three
be gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."
And also when He saith : " I shall be with you till the end of the
world." Was it not a true presence that Christ in these places
promised ? And yet can you not of this true presence gather such
a corporal presence of the substance of Christ's manhood, as you
unlearnedly, contrary to the scriptures, go about to prove in the
Sacrament ? For when Christ said, ' This is My body,' it was bread
which is called His body in a figurative speech, as all old authors
teach, and as I have proved in my third book, the eighth and eleventh
chapters. And the manner how Christ cariied Himself in His own
hands, St. Augustine declareth it to be figuratively." — p. 61.
" They say that Christ is really and corporally in the sacra-
mental bread being reserved, so long as the form of bread remaineth,
although it be an whole year and more ; but after the receiving thereof,
He flieth up from the receiver into heaven, as soon as the bread is
chewed in the mouth or digested in the stomach. But we say, that
after what manner Christ is received of us, in the same wise He
remaineth in us, so long as we remain the members of Christ." — p. 61.
" And as for the Book of Common Prayer, although it say, that in
each part of the bread broken is received the whole body of Christ
yet it saith not so of the parts unbroken, nor yet of the parts or
whole reserved, as the papists teach. But, as in Baptism we receive
the Holy Ghost, and put Christ upon us, as well if we be christened
in one dish full of water taken out of .the font, as if we were chris-
tened in the whole font or river ; so we be as truly fed, refreshed,
and comforted by Christ, receiving a piece of bread at the Lord's
holy table, as if we did eat an whole loaf. For, as in every part of
the water in baptism is whole Christ and the Holy Spirit, sacramen-
tally, so be they in every part of the bread broken, but not cor-
porally and naturally, as the papists teach." — p. 64.
" Who is so ignorant that hath read anything at all, but he knoweth
that distinction of three eatings ? But no man that is of learning
and judgment, understandeth the three diverse eatings in such sort as
you do, but after this manner ; that some eat only the Sacrament of
Christ's Body, but not the very Body itself : some eat His Body,
and not the Sacrament : and some eat the Sacrament and Body both
together. The Sacrament (that is to say, the Bread,) is cor-
porally eaten and chewed with the teeth in the mouth : the very
Body is eaten and chewed with faith in the Spirit. Ungodly men,
when they receive the Sacrament, they chew in their mouths, like
unto Judas, the sacramental bread, but they eat not the celes-
tial Bread, which is Christ. Faithful Christian people, such as be
Christ's true disciples, continually from time to time record in their
minds the beneficial death of our Saviour Christ, chewing it by
83
faith in the cud of their spirit, and digesting it in their hearts, feed-
ing and comforting themselves with that heavenly meat, although
they daily receive not the Sacrament thereof; and so they eat
Christ's Body spiritually, although not the Sacrament thereof. But
when such men, for their more comfort and confirmation of eternal
life, given unto them by Christ's death, come unto the Lord's holy
table, then, as before they fed spiritually upon Christ, so now they
feed corporally also upon the sacramental bread : by which sacramen-
tal feeding in Christ's promises, their former spiritual feeding is in-
creased, and they grow and wax continually more strong in Christ,
until, at the last, they shall come to the full measure and perfection
in Christ. This is the teaching of the true catholic church, as it is
taught by God's word. And, therefore St. Paul, speaking of them
that unworthily eat, saith, that they eat the bread, but not that they
eat the body of Christ, but their own damnation " — p. 71.
■ " The papists say, that the body of Christ that is in the Sacra-
ment, hath His own proper form and quantity. We say, that the
body of Christ hath not His proper form and quantity, neither in
the Sacrament, nor in them that receive the Sacrament ; but is in the
Sacrament sacraineiltally, and in the worthy receivers spiritually,
without the proper form and quantity of His body " — p. 72
" I never said that Christ is utterly absent, but I ever affirmed
that He is truly and spiritually present, and truly and spiritually
exhibited unto the godly receivers ; but corporally He is neither in
the receivers, nor in or under the forms of bread or wine, as you do
teach clearly without the consent of master Bucer [whom Gardiner
had quoted] whowriteth no such thing." — p. 127.
" As for the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament, I grant
that He is really present after such sort as you expound really in
this place, that is to say, ill deed, and yet but Spiritually. For you
say yourself, that He is but after a spiritual manner there, and so is
He spiritually honoured, as St. Augustine saith." — p. 127.
" For my doctrine is, that the very body of Christ, which was
born of the Virgin Mary, and suffered for our sins, giving us life
by His death, the same Jesus, as concerning His corporal presence,
is taken from us, and sitteth at the right hand of His Father ; and
yet is He by faith spiritually present with us, and is our spiritual
food and nourishment, and sitteth in the midst of all them that be
gathered together in His name. And this feeding is a spiritual
feeding, and an heavenly feeding, far passing all corporal and Car-
lial feeding; and therefore there is a true presence and a true
feeding ill deed, and not ' in a figure only, or not at all,' as you
most untruly report my saying to be. This is the true under-
standing of the true presence, receiving and feeding upon the Body
of our Saviour Christ ; and not, as you deprave the meaning and
true sense thereof, that the receiving of Christ truly and veilly is
the receiving corporally with the UlOUtll corporal, or that the
spiritual receiving is to receive Christ Ollly by His Divine Nature,
which thing I never said nor meant." p. 185.
" • • • • what made the people to run from their seats to the
altar, and from altar to altar, and from sacring (as they called it) to
sacring, peeping, tooting, and gazing at that thing which the Priest
held up in his bands, if they thought not to honour that thing
which they saw ? What moved the priests to lift up the Sacrament
so high over their heads ; or the people to cry to the priest, ' Hold
up ! hold up ! ' and one man to say to another, ' Stoop down before ;'
or to say, ' This day have I seen my Maker ; ' and, ' I cannot be
quiet, except I see my Maker once a day V What was the cause
of all these, and that as well the priest as the people so devoutly
did knock and kneel at every sight of the Sacrament, but that they
worshipped that visible tiling which they saw with their eyes, and
took it for very God ? For if they worshipped in spirit only Christ
sitting in heaven with His Father, what needed they to remove out
of their seats to toot and gaze, as the Apostles did after Christ, when
He was gone up into heaven ? If they worshipped nothing that they
saw ; why did they rise up to see ? Doubtless, many of the simple
people worshipped that thing which they saw with their eyes.
" And although the subtle papists do colour and cloke the
matter never so finely, saying that they worship not the sacraments
which they see with their eyes, but that tiling which they believe
with their faith to be really and corporally in the sacraments ; yet
why do they run from place to place, to gaze at the things which
they see, if they worship them not, giving thereby occasion to them
that be ignorant to worship that which they see ? Why do they not
rather quietly sit still in their seats, and move the people to do the
like, worshipping God in heart, and in spirit, than to gad about
from place to place to see that thing, which they confess themselves
is not to be worshipped ?
" And yet, to eschew one inconvenienee, (that is to say the wor-
shipping of the sacrament,) they fall into another as evil, and wor-
ship nothing there at all. For they worship that thing, (as they
say) which is really and corporally, and yet invisibly present
Ullder the kinds of bread and wine, which (as before is expressed
and proved) is utterly nothing. And so they give unto the ignorant
occasion to worship bread and wine, and they themselves worship
nothing there at all. — p. 229.
" And where you say that 'it were not well' to worship Christ in
the Sacrament, if nothing be there (as you say I teach,) if you
mean that Christ cannot be worshipped but where He is corporally
present, (as you must needs mean if your reason should be to
purpose,) then it followeth of your saying, that we may not worship
Christ in baptism, in the fields, in private houses, nor in no place
else where Christ is not corporally and naturally present, But
the true teaching of the holy Catholic Church is, that although
Christ, as concerning His corporal presence, be continually re-
sident in heaven, yet He is to be worshipped not only there, but
here in earth also, of all faithful people, at all times, in all places,
and in all their works.
" Hear now what followeth further in my book :
"But the papists, for their own commodity to keep the people still
25
in idolatry, do often allege a certain place of St. Augustine upon
the Psalms, where he saith, that ' no man doth eat the flesh of
Christ, except he first worship it,' and that 'we do not offend in
worshipping thereof, but we should offend if we should not worship
it.'
" That is true which St. Augustine saith in this plaee. For who
is he that professeth Christ, and is spiritually fed and nourished with
His flesh and blood, but he will honour and worship Him, sitting
at the right hand of His Father, and render unto Him from the
bottom of his heart, all laud, praise, and thanks for His merciful
redemption ?" — p. 230.
" These words of St. Augustine, with the other before recited, do
express his mind plainly, that Christ is not otherwise to be eaten
than spiritually, (which .spiritual eating requireth no corporal
presence) and that he intended not to teach here ally adoration,
either of the risible sacraments or of any thing that is corporally
ill them. For indeed there is nothing really and corporally ill
the bread to be worshipped, although the papists say that Christ is
[corporally] in every consecrated bread." — p. 231.
" But this doctrine, which the holy doctors do teach, is agreeable
to holy scripture, necessary for all Christian persons to believe
for their everlasting salvation, and profitable for their spiritual com-
fort in this present life ; that is to say, that the sacrament of Christ's
body and blood in the natures and substances of bread and wine
is distributed unto all men, both good and evil which receive it, and
yet that only faithful persons do receive spiritually by faith the
Very body and blood of our Saviour Christ. So that Christ's natu-
ral 'body is not in the sacrament really, substantially, and cor-
porally, but only by representation and signification, and in His lively
members by spiritual and effectual operation.'' — p. 283.
" And howsoever the body and blood of our Saviour Christ be
there present, they may as well be present there with the substance
of bread and wine, as with the accidents of the same, as the
school authors do confess themselves, and it shall be well
proved, if the adversaries will deny it. Thus you see the strongest
arguments of the papists answered unto, and the chief foundation
whereupon they build their error of traiisubstailtiatioil utterly
subverted and overthrown." — p. 304.
" And where you allege, that in the book of Common Prayer it is
set forth, how in each part of what is broken of the consecrated
bread is the whole body of our Saviour Christ, what could you
have alleged more against yourself ? For if the consecrated bread
be broken in parts, how can you ' answer truly by faith, as a
believing man,' which answer you make straightways after, that,
' that which is broken is no bread V And if you would answer, as
you be wont to do, that the accidents of bread be called bread, yet
that collusion will not serve you in this place. For seeing that this
place speaketh of consecrated bread, answer me to this, whether
F.
26
the substance or accidents be consecrated ? And if you say the
accidents, then for as much as consecration, by your doctrine, is
conversion, it must follow that the accidents of bread be converted,
and not the substance ; and so should you call it transaccidentation,
and not transubstantiation ; and if you say, that the substance of
bread is consecrated, then forasmuch as that which is consecrated is
divided into parts, and in every part is the whole body of Christ, you
must confess that the substance of bread remaineth with the parts
thereof, wherein is received the body of Christ." — p. 327.
Other passages of a kindred character will be found at pp.
22, 47, 73, 79, 112, 188, 190, 227, 228, 366, and elsewhere
throughout the volume.
Gardiner (according to the custom of those times, pursued
by both sides alike, towards their opponents, when they had
the power,) was now in prison, on charges such as were not
uncommon in that age, and which may, perhaps, be best de-
scribed as politico-ecclesiastical nonconformity: his several Ex-
aminations show what I have already remarked — that he was
of a numerous party in those days who (while they had been
more or less averse, on various grounds, from helping on
the changes which had taken place) yet acquiesced in the ec-
clesiastical arrangements, with a good or a bad grace, content
to think or believe that they were comprehensive enough to
include their faith and practice.
This Prelate had already in his sermon before the King on
the Feast of St. Peter, June 29, 1548, expressed his approval
of the Act and Proclamation already mentioned, enforcing
Communion in both kinds, and condemning the irreverent
talkers of the Sacrament : morover, he added " That if
Chantries were abused by applying the Mass for the satisfac-
tion of sin, or to bring men to Heaven, or to take away sin,
or to make men, of wicked — just, I like the Act [that sup-
pressed them] well." And again, " I like well the rest of
the King's Majesty's proceedings concerning the Sacrament."
— Foxe, vol. vi. pp. 89 and 92.
In " The 4th Session against him, Jan. 8, 1550-1, in his
' Long Matter Justificatory,' Art. lxiv. we read : —
"... .The said Bishop then told them why he liked the said book,
and noted unto them how, notwithstanding the alteration, yet
touching the truth of the very presence of Christ's most precious
Body and Blood in the Sacrament, there was as much spoken in
that book as might be desired ; and that although the elevation was
taken away, yet the alteration in one special place, was indeed
reserved : and showed it them, adding, it must needs be so ; affirming
also, that there was never more spoken for the sacrament than in
that book, wherewith might be confuted all that spoke against it, if
they would take it for authority." — p. 114, see also pp. 169, 200,
201, 203, 204, and 322, for the confirmatory testimony of the various
witnesses as given in the several sessions.
In the 9th Session, Jan. 21, 1550-1, among the " Articles,
additional exhibited by Gardiner," he declares : —
" First, that the Bishop of London that now is [Ridley], then
being Bishop of Rochester, did openly in his sermon made at Paul's
Cross, in the month of November or December, or thereabouts, in
the first year of the King's Majesty's reign* that now is, very
earnestly and vehemently preach and teach the true presence of
Christ's most Precious Body to be ill the Sacrament of the Altar.
" Item, That Dr. Redman, in a sermon which he preached before
the King's Majesty in Lent, the second year of his Majesty's reign,
did preach and teach to be believed for the true Catholic Faith,
that the true presence of Christ's Body and Blood was in the
Sacrament of the Altar.
" Item, That my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, about the time
that the Bishop of Winchester aforesaid [viz. himself] preached a
sermon on St. Peter's Day, at Westminster, before the King's Ma-
jesty, in a booke by him translated, called Catechism, "f" did affirm,
publish, and set forth, the true presence of Christ's most Precious
Body and Blood to be ill the Sacrament of the Altar " — p. 125.
The Articles also contain similar statements as to others.
Again, in the 20th Session, Feb. 3, 1550-1, "John White"
Warden of Winchester, being "sworn and examined" before
the King's Commissioners, deposed concerning the 37th Arti-
cle, in which Gardiner had pleaded that he had not infringed
any authorized prohibitions by preaching of " the very Pre-
sence of Christ's Body in the Sacrament."
" . . . . that ever since his time, that doctrine of the Presence of
Christ in the Sacrament hath been received, acknowledged, and
agreed upon, by the whole Clergy and temporalty learned of this
Realm, and by Acts of Parliament and synods established, and by
the Prelates and other learned men set forth in books and open
sermons, until within two years since [i. e. after Edward's First
Book came into use], or thereabout, one Peter Martyr, in Oxford,
in his Lectures (as this deponent hath heard say), called the thing
again in question ; whereupon ensued contention, and afterwards dis-
putation ... .p. 24. See also other testimonies in pp. 222, 225, 22G,
231, and 239.
* i. e. Almost two years after he had begun to study Bertram's book,
t «. e. Justus Jonas's Cateehism.
28
On the other hand it should be observed that, in this same
Session, " The Lord Paget," another witness, said that, in
the Sermon in question, the Bishop's advocacy of the Mass
went to prove "a carnal Presence." — p. 162.
"But," as Foxe says, "against this Dr. Gardiner, we
will sit and watch, on the contrary side, Dr. Redman." In
a Document called
" A Note of the Communication that I, Richard Wilkes, had
ivith Master Doctor Redman, being sick at Westminster on his
death bed, but of good memory, the 2nd day of November, 1551, in
the presence of Master Young, and another whom I did not knovj,
and tivo of Master Doctor Redman's servants, the one called Ellis,
and the other unknown," occur the following passages : —
" Then I asked him of the presence of Christ. — He said, Christ
was present with His Sacrament, and in those that received it as they
ought. And there was ' mira unitio,' a wonderful union (for that
word was named), betwixt Christ and us, as St. Paul saith : . . . .
' Ye be bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh :' the which union
was ineffable.
" Then I asked him what he thought of the opinion that Christ
was there [i. e. in the Sacrament] corporally, naturally, and
really. He answered, ' If you mean by corporally, naturally,
and really, that He is there present (vere,) I grant.
" Then I asked, how he thought of that which was wont
commonly to be spoken, that Christ was there flesh, Mood, and
bone; as I have heard the stewards in their Leets give charge when
the Six Articles stood in effect, and charge the inquest to inquire,
that if there were any that would deny that Christ was present
in the Sacrament of the Altar, in flesh, blood, and bone, they
should apprehend them. He said that it was too gross, and could
not well be excused from the opinion of the Capeniaites.
" Then I asked him, ' Inasmuch as Christ is there (vere,) how do we
receive Him ? in our minds and spiritual parts, or with our mouths,
and into our bodies; or both V He said, ' We receive Him in our
minds and souls by faith.'
" Then, inasmuch as he was much on this point, that there was
'mira unitio,' ' a marvellous union ' betwixt us and Christ, in that
we were ' caro ex carne ejus, et os ex ossibus ejus,' ' bone of His
bone and flesh of His flesh ; ' I desired to know his opinion, whether
we received the very body of Christ with our mouths and into our
bodies, or no ? — Here he paused and held his peace a little
space ; and shortly after he spake, saying, ' I will not say so ; I
cannot tell ; it is a hard question : but surely,' saith he, ' we receive
Christ in our souls by faith. When you do speak of it otherways, it
soundeth grossly, and savoureth of the Capernaites.' " — Foxe, Acts
and Monuments, vol. vi., p. 267. ed. 1846.
29
So again in
" Another Communication between Dr. Redman, lying in his
death-bed, and Master Nowel, then schoolmaster in Westminster, and
certain others, with Notes of his Censure and Judgment touching
certain points of Christ's religion," we read : —
" V. Item — That the wicked are not partakers of the body of
Christ, but receive the outward Sacrament only.
" VI. Item — That the Sacrament ought not to be carried about
in procession ; for it is taught what is the use of it in these words,
' Accipite, manducate, et bibite,' and ' Hoc facite in mei memoriam j'
' Take, eat, and drink,' and ' Do this in remembrance of Me.'
" VII. Item — That nothing which is seen in the Sacrament, or
perceived with any OUtWvtrd SeilSe, is to be worshipped.*
"VIII. Item — That we receive Dot Christ's body, ' corporaliter,
id est crasse,' corporally, that is to say, "TOSSly, like other meats,
and like as the Capernaites did understand it.
IX. Item — That we receive Christ's body, ' sic spiritualiter, ut
tamen vere ;' so spiritually that nevertheless truly."
The following Declaration of John Young, (one of the
witnesses who attested these items,) as to No. V., is given by
Foxe :—
" Imprimis— That Dr. Redman said more, whereas St. Augus-
tine said ' Quod Judas idem accepit quod Petrus,' ' that Judas
received the same that Peter did,' he said, that he understood that
of the Sacrament, and that after the same phrase a man might say
' Quod Simon Magus idem baptisma recepit quod apostoli,' ' That
Simon Magus received the same baptism that the Apostles did,'
when he did receive only the outward Sacrament to his condem-
nation ; for he said that he thought Christ would not vouchsafe to
give His holy flesh to an ungodly man : and this, he said, was
always his mind, though he knew well that other men did otherwise
think." — Ibid pp. 269-70.
Redman's views are more fully set out in " The Letter of
Master Young to Master Cheke concerning Dr. Redman,
translated out of Latin into English." Nowell, afterwards
Dean of St. Paul's, came to Dr. Redman during his illness,
to ask his opinion on several points .• —
" When he was asked whether wicked and ungodly people, in the
Holy Communion, did eat the body of Christ and drink His blood,
he answered, that such kind of men did not eat Christ's most blessed
flesh, but only took the Sacrament, to their own damnation ;
saying that Christ would not give His most pure and holy flesh to be
eaten of such naughty and impious persons, but would withdraw
Himself from them ' [they] do receive the Sacrament
• The opposite then is implied.
30
and the selfsame which good and godly men receive ; but the Body
of Christ they do not receive, for Christ doth not vouchsafe to de-
liver it to them.' And thus, he said, was his opinion and belief,
although he knew others to be of a contrary judgment.
" Being then after this demanded, whether he thought Christ's
presence to be ill the Sacrament, or no ; he answered that Christ
did give and offer to faithful Christian men His very real Body and
Blood verily and really, under Sacraments of Bread and Wine ;
insomuch that they which devoutly come to be partakers of that
Holy Food, are, by the benefit thereof, united and made one with
Christ in His Flesh and Body. And therefore, he said, that Christ did
distribute His Body spiritually ; that He gave it truly ; yet not
so, nevertheless, that by these and the like words, we should con-
ceive any gTOSS, carnal intelligence, such as the Capernaites once
dreamed of ; but that (quoth he) we might labour and endeavour
to express by some kind of words, the ineffable majesty of this mys-
tery. For the manner whereby Christ is there present, and
ministereth to the faithful His Flesh, is altogether inexplicable ; but
we must believe (quoth he) and think, that by God's mighty power,
and the holy operation of His Spirit, this so notable a mystery was
made ; and that heaven and earth were joined together in that
moment, as the blessed man, St. Gregory saith, ' the lowest parts
are joined with the highest,' by which is understood that holy food
whereby they which be regenerate by the Holy Ghost in baptism are
nourished to immortality. And further he said, that Christ's Body
was received in the said Sacrament by faith, which being received, both
body and soul were quickened to everlasting life." — Ibid pp.272 — 3.
Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester, may be regarded as
another important witness to the language of this period
on the Real Presence: in his "Visitation Book" of 1551-2,
among his " Articles concerning the Christian Religion," we
read thus : —
" X. Item, that in the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of
the Lord there is no traUSUbStantiation of the bread and wine,
into the Body and Blood of Christ, or any manner of corporal or
local presence of Christ in, under, or with the bread and wine. .
"—-Later Writings of Bishop Hooper, Parker Society,
p. 122.
" Again, in the " Articles whereunto William Phelps,
pastor and curate of Cirencester. . . .consented. . . .ministered
unto him by John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester, the 29th
day of April, in the 5th year of the reign of King Edward
the Sixth, 1551," we find : —
" Item, that the same Holy Word of God doth confess, hold,
defend, acknowledge and maintain, that the very minimi, sub-
stantial, real, and corporal Body of Christ, concerning His
31
humanity, is only and solely in Heaven and not in the Sacrament
and Communion of His precious Body and Blood "
" As for the eating of His Flesh and drinking of His Blood really,
corporally, materially, or substantially, it is but a carnal and
gross opinion of men " — p. 153.
So, too, in " An Assertion and defence of the true
knowledge and use of the Sacrament of Christ's Precious
Body and Blood, made by John Wynter, Master of Arts,
Parson of Stawnton, and professed by him in the Cathedral
Church of Gloucester, 8 November, Anno Domini, 1551."
He says: —
" That in the same Sacrament by no manner of means,
reasons, or ways, the Body and Blood of Christ is carnally,
bodily, really, or substantially present, but only spiritually to
the soul and eye of faith ; And as in the breaking of the
bread in the Sacrament, after the words of Christ whicli be these
' That is given for you,' there is no sensible feeling or painful
passion, nor killing' again of Christ's precious Body, no more is
there ill the bread, or under the bread of the Sacrament, after the
words, which be these, ' This is My Body,' any natural, Corporal,
or substantial presence of the Body that died, or of the Blood that
was shed ; but that the bread and wine remaining in their substance
be Sacraments of Christ's Body and Blood, which be present unto
the eyes spiritually of faith, which is in the receiver, and not
Substantially nor Corporally in the elements of bread and wine.
And whosoever be of the contrary opinion and would defend
transubstailtiation or corporal presence, I do condemn his faith
as an error and opinion contrary to the express Word of God. . . .
.."—p. 155.
Having thus considered the opinions on the Real Presence
prevalent at this time among the leading persons who con-
ducted Ecclesiastical Affairs, we are brought in historical
order to the Articles and the Prayer Book of 1552. For the
purpose of this enquiry, it is not material to ascertain
whether the XXIXth of these 42 Articles had been finally
settled at the time when the Prayer Book was published : there
seems indeed no reason to think the contrary : for although
the Book came into use on the 1st November, and the Arti-
cles did not receive the Archbishop's last corrections until
the 24th of the same month, and were only published in the
May of the following year (1553), there is nothing in the lan-
guage of the Article which (judging from what we have
already seen) could well be a subject of dispute among the
authors and revisers of it. The Article runs thus :
32
(1.) "XXIX. Of the Lord's Supper. The Supper of the
Lorde is not onely a sign of the loue that Christiens ought to haue
among theimselues one to another, but rather it is a Sacrament of
our redemption by Christ's death, insomoche that to soche as right-
lie, woorthelie, and with faieth receiue the same, the breade whiche
we breake is a communion of the bodie of Christe. Likewise the
Cuppe of blessing is a Communion of the bloude of Christe.
(2 ) " Transubstanciation, or the chaunge of the substaunce of
breade and wine into the substaunce of Christes bodie and bloude can-
not be proued by holie writte, but is repugnant to the plaine woordes
of Scripture, and hath giuen occasion to many supersticions.
(3.) " Forasmoche as the trueth of mannes nature requireth,
that the bodie of one, and theself same manne cannot be at one time
in diuerse places, but must nedes be in some one certeine place :
Therefore the bodie of Christe cannot bee presente at one time in
many and diuerse places. And because (as holie Scripture doeth
teache) Christe was taken up into heauen, and there shall continue
unto thende of the worlde, a faithful man ought not, either tobeleue,
or openlie to confess the reall and l)0(lelie [Realem et Corporalem]
presence (as thei terme it) of Christes flesh and bloude, in the
Lordes Supper.
(4.) " The Sacramente of the Lordes Supper was not com-
maunded by Christes ordinaunce to be kepte, carried about, lifted up,
hor worshipped."
Now, it must be plain, I think, that the 3rd paragraph of
this Article is the deliberate judgment of the Convocation*
of 1552 on a point which, as we have seen, had been long de-
bated in connection with the docrine of Transubstantiation ;
and the Church of England, thus speaking Synodically, cau-
tiously limits herself to a negative statement; that statement
is simply and solely a denial and a condemnation of the, then
still prevalent, opinion or belief that Christ's natural flesh
and blood was present in the Sacrament of the Altar in
some " reall and bodilie " i. e., in some carnal, physical
organical, and withal local manner. The expression "as
thei terme it," interpreted, as it must be, by the language
which has been already quoted from controversial and other
Documents of the six preceding years, seems to me to demon-
strate this. Such a belief, and moreover the open profession
of it, was, in the judgment of the Synod, what "a faithful
* The title proves this : — " Articles agreed on by the Bishops and other learned
men in the synod at London, in the year of our Lord God \oo2,for the avoiding of
controversy in opinions, and the establishment of a godlie concord in certain matters
of Religion. Published by the King's Majesty's commandment, in the month of
May, 1553. Rich. Graftonus, typographus regius excudebat. Lond. mense
Junii, 1553."
33
man ought not " to hold or promulge : how much he might
or must hold, or what language he should use to express
his helief in the Eucharistic Presence, the Synod did not
attempt to determine: indeed we may fairly presume that
the various opinions of its members must have been an
effectual bar to any such definition, if it had been even
thought of: all that the Convocation decreed was — that a
specific belief, and its recognized verbal expression, which
were avowedly one logical result of the theory of Transub-
stantiation, " ought not " to be persisted in — all that it
seems to have meant was, to discountenance, discourage, and
prevent the continuance of this belief and form of words.
Coeval with this Synodical decision appeared the 2nd Prayer
Book of Edward Vlth : certain complaints which, as is well
known, had been made by the more eager of the reforming
party in England, and in particular the censures of Bucer, are
stated to have led to the revision of the former Book.
Whether the concessions which this revision implied were
wise or not, it is unnecessary and might look immodest for
me here to discuss. But it is of consequence to ask — was
the new Book, with its altered language and arrangement,
designed to teach another and a lower doctrine than that
embodied in the earlier Book ? To this question I feel no
hesitation in replying, as my firm conviction, that it was not.
Such indeed is but the recorded opinion of many who have
critically compared the two ; though some of them have
thought that the Doctrine of the first Book, on the Eucharist
especially, was but barely saved in the Second. Without
attempting here, however, any proof, from internal evidence,
of the conviction just expressed, it must suffice (and is more
to the purpose probably) to look for some Historical attesta-
tions of it ; and the three following seem enough for the
purpose : —
" First : we have the witness of the Act of Uniformity,
which authorized the Book. In that Statute, the 5 and 6
Edw. VI. c. i. A.D. 1552, which (considering the co-operation
of the Ecclesiastical and Civil Legislatures in those days)
must be held to embody the opinion of both the Bishops
and the Parliament, the First Prayer Book is spoken of as —
34
" .... a very godly order .... agreeable to the Word of God and
the Primitive Church, very comfortable to all good people desiring "
to live in Christian conversation, and most profitable to the estate of
this realm "
And then the Act proceeds to state in the 5th Section
that —
" Because there hath arisen in the use and exercise of the afore-
said Common Service in the Church heretofore set forth, divers
doubts,"
not, be it observed, as to its Doctrinal teaching but —
(1) " for the fashion and manner of the ministration of the
same,"
while even this was not really owing to anything in the
Book itself, but grew
" rather by the curiosity of the Minister and Mistakers, than
of any other worthy cause ; therefore, as well for the more plain
and manifest explanation hereof, as for the more perfection of the
said Order of Common Service, in some places where it is necessary
to make the same prayers and fashion of service more earnest and
fit to stir Christian people to the true honouring of Almighty God :"
(a practice in which, as the Preamble states, " a great num-
ber" of people proved themselves very deficient, by their
choosing to
(2) " Abstain and refuse to come to their Parish Churches and
other places where Common Prayer, administration of the Sacraments,
and preaching of the word of God, is used upon Sundays and other
days ordained to be holy days")
on these two accounts (1 and 2) it was that
" The aforesaid Order of Common service " had been " faithfully
and godly perused, explained, and made fully perfect."
Next: we have the testimony of Latimer, a most com-
petent witness, who (in the " Disputation at Oxford " of 1554,
to be noticed hereafter, when in the course of the argument,
Weston was led to ask him " Which Communion [Book] ? —
the first, or the last" — i. e. the Liturgy of 1549 or 1552 — he
referred to?) said: —
" I find no great diversity in them ; they are one supper of the
Lord: but I like the last very well."
" Weston. Then the first was naught, belike."
"Latimer. I do not well remember wherein they diifer."
" Weston. Then cake-bread and loaf-bread are all one with
you." — p. 504.
Thirdly : there are the two considerations ; (1) First that the
35
Book was not, so far as I am aware, held at the time to teach
a doctrine contrary* to that of the former Book : (2)
Secondly, that it was the same Book, with no material altera-
tions, which satisfied the Roman party in England for the first
ten years of Elizabeth's reign, and which, as we have strong
ground for believing, w ould have received the Pope's confirma-
tion, had the Queen chosen to acknowledge his Supremacy.
I say — with no material alterations ; because it cannot be
seriously contended, I imagine, that the terms used in deli-
vering the Sacrament destroyed its orthodoxy in 1552, and
revived it in 1559; or were so designed by the revisers at
those periods.
Now, it was in this 2nd Book of Edward VI. that the
Declaration on Kneeling first appeared. The history of its
introduction plainly shews that the revisers did not contem-
plate its being there. The book, as settled by Convocation
and authorized by Statute, did not contain it : many of the
copies apparently were printedf without it ; nor was it until
" the 27th of October, 1552," four days before the Feast of
All Saints, the day on which its use was to begin, that, as
Burnet states —
" The Council Book mentions also a letter written to the Lord
Chancellor to add in the Edition of the new Common Prayer Book, a
Declaration touching Kneeling at the receiving of the Communion."
— Hist. Be/or. Part 3, Bk. 4, fol. p. 210.
It is not difficult, I think, to account for this step : the
* The Rubric in Edward's 2nd Book declaring what Bread "shall suffice"
to he used in the Celebration, has often in our own times been appealed to as
demonstrating that those who inserted it made altogether light of Consecration,
because of the concluding words " And if any of the bread or wine remain, the
Curate shall have it to his own use," which they assume to refer to the Con-
secrated elements. But this is wholly a mistake. The new practice permitted
[apparently in 1550 (see passage from p. 64 of Cranmer's " Defence" — sup. p. 22)
and now recognized as a permission,] by the earlier part of the Rubric, no doubt
created the need for this latter part : [since it would naturally become a
question — how to dispose of such consecrated Bread as had been offered,
seeing that it, unlike "Wafers, could not be kept for future Celebrations.] The
Clergy of that day could be at no loss what to do with the remaining Con-
secrated elements when not reserved for sick Communions, as I apprehend,
from the Office for Communion of the sick, they still were when needed.
Be it observed, too, that the same Rubric was continued in Elizabeth's Book.
f " Sept. 27th an order came to Grafton the printer in any wise to stay from
uttering any of the books of the new service. And if he had distributed any of
them among his company (of stationers) that then he give strait commandment
not to put any of them abroad until certain faults therein were corrected." —
Strype, Memorials, Ed. vi.
36
tide, which in the reign of Elizabeth it was found so almost
impossible to stem, had already set in against Ceremonies,
and in particular against external reverence in the ministra-
tion of the Holy Communion : Cranmer and others could not
but perceive this, and may easily have foreseen the evils which
might arise in the use of a Book which, to allay prejudices,
had been shorn of all which it could safely part with consis-
tently with preserving at least a decent ministration of its
Offices, and especially that of the Holy Communion. Remem-
bering, too, the objections which had been made to "knock-
ing and kneeling," at the celebration of the Eucharist, it
was a likely supposition that the accustomed gesture would
be sought to be abandoned by many of the people who, per-
haps, would be encouraged in not a few cases by their Clergy.
To place a direction for " kneeling " before words of deli-
very which certainly sounded less reverential than the old
form, would be a probable security for the continuation of an
external reverence which we must believe the Bishops had
every intention to preserve.
But then, the very fact that this direction was an addition,
and had no counterpart in the Office which had been censured
as too Ceremonial, would easily excite suspicion, and promote
criticism. What more probable^ then, than that objections
were urged upon the Council against the direction, and that
its omission was pressed for ? This may have been the occa-
sion of the order to the Printer to stay the issue, on the plea
of correcting " certain faultes." Yet the considerations
which I have surmised to have prompted the direction were
doubtless equally weighty in inducing the Bishops and the
Privy Council to determine on retaining it in the Book. To
explain however to the objectors that it was not to be con-
strued as in any way countenancing transub9tantiation,
was a natural resort ; and what terms so likely to suggest
themselves as those of the xxixth. Article which had then
been prepared. Accordingly, as I think a comparison of the
Article and the Declaration must show, the latter was framed
upon that model and added to the Book upon the Council's
authority to meet the case of the objectors.
37
We know that one of Bucer's Censures was that the
Consecration Prayer in the 1st Book " favoured Transub-
stantiation too much :" I can conceive nothing so probable
as that the objectors to the Rubric for " kneeling " thought
the same. The Bishops were most desirous to eliminate
that Doctrine : this, as I have already urged, seemed to be
their one aim with regard to the Eucharistic controversy.
Did they mean anything more when they sanctioned this new
Declaration ? I most entirely believe that they did not.
This persuasion derives some strength from such an occur-
rence as the following, which happened only three months
afterwards.
During the reign of Edward VI. (viz. about January,
1553-4) there were, as Foxe relates, certain " Articles and
Informations to the King's Honourable Council, put up and
exhibited by Hugh Rawlins and Thomas Lee, against the
blessed man of God, Master Ferrar, Bishop of St. David's."
Among these were some which charged him with " Mainte-
nance of Superstition contrary to the King's Ordinances and
Injunctions." The Charges were preferred by some members
of his Cathedral. To the XXIst Article, which charged
that "He, being often in Caermarthen, and other places in the
Chancel, at the time of Holy Communion, not only tarried
there himself, neither communicating nor ministering, bare-
headed and uncoifled, reverently kneeling; but also permitteth
the people there to continue, the chancel and choir full,
kneeling and knocking their breasts: which manner is yet
used in all the Diocese, without any reformation or gainsay of
him or any of his officers : — "
" .. ..he saith, that he hath been divers times in the Choir of
Caermarthen, and hath tarried there in the communion-time, not
communicating himself; and that in every church where he cometh
on the holy-day to preach, or to pray, he kneeleth in the choir,
bareheaded, as well at Matins before the communion, as at Even-
song after, without any superstition : he thinketh it not necessary
for the Communion's sake to leave kneeling to Christ, But he
hath diligently taught the people not to kneel nor knock to the
Visible SllOW, or external sllOW of the Sacrament. And the
choirs of Caermarthen and other places there, are not close at the
sides, so that the people may come in and forth at their pleasure.
38
Moreover the King's ordinances do not authorize him to rebuke
the people for knocking on their breasts, in token of repentance
of their sins; nor for kneeling in token of submission to God for
mercy in Christ." — Foxe, vol. vii., pp. 6 and 13.
It is just worth while to remark that Foxe speaks of Ferrar
as " the virtuous and godly Bishop," and calls the charges
" the quarrelling and frivolous articles of his present adversa-
ries:" also that through various delays upon these charges, he
" was detained in prison till the death of King Edward, and
the coming in of Queen Mary and popish religion, whereby a
new trouble rose upon him, being now accused and examined
for his faith and doctrine," (pp. 16 and 21,) for which he was
ultimately put to death.
Still more to the purpose, as showing the continuous iden-
tity of language on the Eucharistic Presence with that used
alike in 1549 and 15.52, are the Writings and Examinations
of such of the Prelates and other Clergy as were put on their
trial during the reign of Mary. It will be found that then,
as before, it was the doctrine of Transubstantiation which was
the key to all their statements against what continued to be
known as the real Presence.
Upon the Accession of Mary, a Disputation was held in
the Convocation House at London, commencing Oct. 18,
1553. On the fourth day, Oct. 25, John Philpot, Arch-
deacon of Winchester, being the Disputant, prefaced his
argument with an oration, in which he said thus : —
" ' But before I bring forth any argument, I will, in one word,
declare what manner of presence 1 disallow in the Sacrament, to the
intent the hearers may the better understand to what end and effect
mine arguments shall tend ; not to deny utterly the presence of
Christ in his Sacraments, truly ministered according to His institu-
tion ; but only to deny that gTOSS and cainal presence, which you
of this house have already subscribed unto, to be in the Sacrament
of the Altar, contrary to the truth and manifest meaning of the
Scriptures : That by transubstantiation of the sacramental bread
and wine, Christ's natural Body should, by the virtue of the words
pronounced by the priest, be contained and included tutder the
forms or accidents of bread and wine. This kind of Presence,
imagined by men, I do deny,' quoth Philpot, 'and against this I
will reason.' " — p. 401.
Dr. Chcdsey, in reply, contended for an " invisible presence''
39
of Christ's natural Body in the Sacrament; and that Christ's
Flesh is visibly ascended into Heaven, and invisibly ahideth
still in the Sacrament of the Altar" — p. 403.
In the argument on the 30th of October, Philpot said
thus : —
" But bodily to be present, and bodily to be absent ; to be on
earth and to be in heaven, and all at one present time ; be things
contrary to the nature of a lllllliau body : ergo, it cannot be said of
the lmmail Body of Christ, that the selfsame Body is both in
heaven, and also in earth at one instant, either visibly or invisibly."
—p. 408.
Again, take the following extract from —
" A Conference between Nicholas Ridley, sometime
Bishop of London, and Secretary Bourn, with others, at
the Lieutenant's table at the Tower." A.D. 1553.
" Mr. Fecknam perceiving whereunto my talk went, ' Why,'
quoth he, ' what circumstances can ye shew me that should move
you to think of any other sense, than as the words plainly say, Hoc
est corpus meum, quod pro vobis tradetur ? This is My Body which
shall be betrayed for you.'
"' Sir,' said I, ' even the next sentence that followeth : Hocfacite
in meam commemorationem. Do this in My remembrance. And
also by what reason ye say the bread is turned into Christ's camal
Body ; by the same I may say, that it turned into His mystical
Body. For as that saith of it, ' Hoc est corpus meum quod pro vobis
tradetur:' so Paul which spake by Christ's spirit saith, ' Unus panis
et unum corpus multi sumus omnes, qui de uno pane participamus.
We being many are all but one bread, and one body, in as much as
we are partakers of one bread.' " — p. 157.
Afterwards Ridley refers them to Bertram's Book, pro-
fessing his agreement with it.
So, too, the same expressions are to be gathered from
" The Disputation had at Oxford the 18th day of
April, 1554, between Master Hugh Latimer, Answerer, and
Master Smith and others, Opposers." I extract the following.
To the first Conclusion, viz : —
"That in the Sacrament of the Altar, by the virtue of God's
word pronounced by the Priest, there is really present the natural
Body of Christ, conceived of the Virgin Mary, under the kinds
of the appearances of bread and wine : in like manner His Blood."
4*>
Latimer replied . —
" I say, that to the right celebration of the Lord's supper
there is no other presence of Christ required, than a spiritual
presence : and this presence is sufficient foe a Christian man, as a
presence by which we abide in Christ, and Christ abideth in us,
to the obtaining of eternal life, if we persevere. And this same
presence may be called most fitly a real presence ; that is a presence
not figured, but a true and a faithful presence : which thing I
here rehearse, lest some sycophant or scorner should suppose me,
with the Anabaptists, to make nothing else of the Sacrament, but
a naked and a bare sign. As for that which is feigned of many
concerning their corporal presence, I, for my part, take it but
for a papistical invention ; therefore think it utterly to be rejected."
—p. 501.
It was asked by Tresham —
" Of what Flesh meant Christ? His true Flesh or no ?"
"Latimer. Of His true Flesh, spiritually to be eaten in the
supper by faith, and not corporally."— p. 506.
Again Seton, quoting St. Cyprian Be coena Domini, enquired,
" where doth it [the New Testament] command the
drinking of Blood ?"
" Latimer. In these words, ' Bibite ex hoc omnes;' i.e. ' Drink
ye all of this?'"
"Seton. Then we taste true Blood."
" Latimer. We do taste true Blood, but spiritually ; and this
is enough."
" Weston. Augustine upon the XLVth. Psalm, saith : ' Drink
boldly the Blood which ye have poured out.' — Ergo, It is Blood."
"Latimer. I never denied it nor ever will I go from it, but that
we drink the very Blood of Christ indeed, but spiritually : for the
same St. Augustine saith, ' Believe and thou hast eaten.' " —
p. 507.
" Latimer. The .substance of Blood is drunk, but not in one
manner.
" Pie. It doth not require the same manner of drinking."
" Latimer. It is the saine thing', not the same manner. I
have no more to say.
" Here Weston cited the place of Crysostome, of Judas's treason :
' O the madness of Judas ! He made bargain with the Jews for
thirty pence to sell Christ, and Christ offered him His Blood,
which he sold.' "
" Latimer. I grant He offered to Judas His Blood, which he
sold, but in a Sacrament."
11
" Cartwright. Linus and all the rest do confess the body of
Christ to be ill the Sacrament ; and St. Augustine also, upon
Psalm xcviii. upon this place, ' Adorate scabellum pedum,' &c,
granteth that It is to be worshipped."
" Latimer. We do worship Christ in the Heavens, and we do
worship Him ill the Sacrament : but the massing is not to be used."
"Smith. Do you think that Cyril was of the ancient Church ?"
" Latimer. I do think so."
" Smith. He saith (in Johan I. x. c. xiii.) ' that Christ dwelleth
in us corporally.' These be Cyril's words of the mystical bene-
diction."
" Latimer. That ' corporally ' hath another understanding than
you grossly take it." — Foxe vi.*pp. 508-9
Or take the two following instances :
(1) First, the case of " John Bradford, Martyr," who, in
his second examination before the Lord Chancellor, Jan.
29th, 1554-5, in reply to his Lordship's question, "Well,
then, how say you to the blessed Sacrament ? Do you not
believe there Christ to be present concerning his natural
Body T* Answered —
" My Lord, I do not believe that Christ is corporally present at
and ill the due administration of the Sacrament. By this word
''corporally' 1 mean that Christ is there present corporally llllto
faith. '' — Foxe, vol. vii., p. 157.
So, too, in his " Last Examination," referring to the for-
mer, the Chancellor said —
" Why ! didst not thou deny Christ's presence in the Sacrament ?"
"Bradford. No! I never denied nor taught, but that to faith,
whole Christ, Body and Blood, was as present as bread and wine to
the due receiver."
" L. Chancellor. Yea, but dost thou not believe that Christ's
Body naturally and really is there, under the forms of bread
and wine ?"
'* Bradford. My Lord, I believe Christ is present there to the
faith of the due receiver : as for transubstantiatiOll, I plainly and
flatly tell you, I believe it not."
" Here was Bradford called diabolus, a slanderer ; ' for we ask no
question,' quoth my Lord Chancellor, ' of transubstantiation, but of
Christ's Presence.' ''
" Bradford. I deny not His Presence to the faith of the receiver ;
but deny that He is included in the bread, or that the bread is
transubstantiate."
12
" Worcester. If He be not included, how is He then present?"
" Bradford. Forsooth, though my faith can tell how, yet my
tongue cannot express it ; nor you otherwise than by faith, hear it,
or understand it." — p. 163.
(2) Next ; in the second Examination of John Rogers,
Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, Jan. 29, 1554-5, he saith —
" I cannot understand 'really and substantially' to
signify otherwise than corporally ! but corporally Christ is only
in Heaven, and so cannot Christ be corporally also ill your
Sacrament." — p. 598.
The like language we find in the
" Conferences between Ridley and Latimer during their
imprisonment, A.D. 1555."
" Ridley, v. They do servilely serve the holy sign, as St.
Augustine speaketh, (de doct. Christ, lib. iii. c. 9.) instead of the
thing signified, whilst the Sacramental Bread (by a solemn or
common error) is adored and worshipped for the flesh taken of the
Son of God.
"Latimer. If ye deny unto them their corporeal presence, and
transubstantiatioil, their fantastical adoration will (by and by)
vanish away. Therefore be strong in denying SUCll a presence, and
then ye have won the field.
" Furthermore, in the first Supper, celebrated of Christ Himself,
there is no mention made of adoration of the elements. Who said,
' Eat ye, and drink ye,' not worship ye. Therefore, against adoration
may be spoken that saying of Christ concerning divorce, ' From the
beginning it was not so '....•• . . — "p. 106.
" Ridley, vi. They pluck away the honour from the only sacrifice
of Christ, whilst this sacramental and mass-sacrifice is believed to be
propitiatory, and SUCll a one as purgeth the souls, both of the quick
and the dead. Contrary to that is written to the Hebrews, ' With
one offering hath He made perfect forever them that are sanctified.'
And again, ' Where remission of these things (that is, of sins) is,
there is no more offering for sin." — p. 107.
" Latimer. 'By His own Person He hath purged our sins."
These words ' by His own Person,' have an emphasis or vehemence,
which driveth away all sacrificing priests from SUl'h office of
sacrificing ; seeing that, which He hath done by Himself, He hath
not left to be perfected by others ; so that the purffm»' of our sins
may more truly be thought past and done, than a thing to come and
to be done " — p. 107.
"Ridley. ' Upon the which vouchsafe to look with Thy merciful
and cheerful countenance.' What meaneth this prayer for the
Sacrament itself, if it be, as they say, the Body of Christ, if it be
f»od and mail? How should the Father not look with a cheerful
countenance upon His only well-beloved Son ? ' — p. 109.
" Latimer. To this let them answer, that so pray; except per-
43
adventure, this prayer was used long before it was esteemed to be
the Body of Christ really and corporally. And then this prayer
maketh well to destroy the popish opinion, that it is not the opinion
of the Church, nor so ancient as they babble. . . . " — p. 109.
To turn now to a published Treatise of Ridley, in " A
brief Declaration of the Lord's Supper," &c. A.D. 1555.
Written " during his imprisonment."
Having quoted St. Matthew xxvi. 26 — 30; St. Luke xxii
19 & 20 ; 1 Cor. x. 16 & 17 ; xi. 23—28; and argued from
these passages —
" That with the receipt of the Holy Sacrament of the Blessed
Body and Blood of Christ is received of every one, good or bad,
either life or death ; he declares (p. 9.) " so far as I know,
there is no controversy among them that be learned among the
Church of England, concerning the matter of this Sacrament, but
all do agree, whether they be new or old ; and to speak plain, and as
some of them do odiously call each other, whether they be Protestants,
Pharisees, Papists, or Gospellers." — Works. Parker Society, p. 9.
Then he proceeds (p. 11) to show
" Wherein the dissension doth stand ; " and says, " It is neither
to be denied nor dissembled, that in the matter of this Sacrament
there be divers points, wherein men counted to be learned cannot
agree as,
" [a] Whether there be any trailSUbStaiiriafion of the bread or no ?
" [6] Any corporal and camal presence of Christ's substance,
or no ?
" [c] Whether adoration, only due unto God, is to be done unto
the Sacrament, or no 1
" [_d~] And whether Christ's Body be there offered in deed unto
the Heavenly Father by the priest, or no?
" [c] Or whether the evil man receiveth the natural Body of
Christ, or no ?"
But he states that
" . . . . All five aforesaid points do chiefly hang upon this one
question, which is, what is the matter of the Sacrament, whether
it is the natural substance of bread, or the natural substance or
Christ's own Body ?"
"For," he argues "if it be Christ's own natural Body, born of
the Virgin ; then assuredly (seeing that all learned men in Eng-
land, so far as I know, both new and old, grant there to be but one
substance) then, I say, they must needs grant
" [a J transubstantiation, that is, a change of the substance of
bread into the substance of Christ's Body :
" [6] the camal and corporal presence of Christ's Body :
44
" [c] then must the Sacrament be adored with the honour, due
unto Christ Himself, for the unity of the two natures in one Person :
" [d~\ then, if the Priest do offer the Sacrament, he doth offer in
deed Christ Himself:
" [«] and finally, the murderer, the adulterer, or wicked man,
receiving the Sacrament must needs then receive also the natural
substance of Christ's own Blessed Body, both Flesh and Blood.
But (p. 12.) " if,. . . .it be found that the [natural] substance of
bread is the material substance of the Sacrament [confessed of all
that be named to learned, so far as I do know in England] ; although,
for the change of the use, office, and dignity of the bread, the
bread indeed sacramentally is changed into the Body of Christ, as
the water in baptism is sacramentally changed into the fountain of
regeneration, and yet the material substance remaineth all one, as
was before ; . . . . then
" [a] there is no such thing indeed and in truth as they call
transubstantiation, for the substance of bread remaineth still in the
Sacrament of the Body :
"[6] ..the natural substance of Christ's human nature, which
He took of the Virgin Mary, is in heaven, where it reigneth now in
glory, and not here inclosed under the form of bread :
" [c] that godly honour, which is only due unto God the Creator,
may not be done unto the creature without idolatry and sacrilege,
is not to be done unto the Holy SaCKlineilt :
" [cTj . . . .Christ's Blessed Body and Blood, which was once only
offered and shed upon the Cross, being available for the sins of all
the whole world, is offered up no more in the natural substance
thereof, neither by the priest, nor any other thing."
" [e] the wicked, I mean the impenitent, murderer, adulterer,
or such like, do not receive the natural substance of the Blessed
Body and Blood of Christ :
Before going on to prove from Holy Scripture " the truth"
of this, he anticipates the enquiry —
" Whether they, that thus make answer and solution unto the
former principal question, do take away simply and absolutely
the presence of Christ's Body and Blood from the Sacrament,
ordained by Christ, and duly ministered according to His holy
ordinance and institution of the same ?" and replies " Undoubtedly,
they do deny that utterly, either so to say or so to mean." — p. 12.
And refers to their Books for proof.
Moreover, he adds (p. 1 3) —
" Now then you will say, what kind of presence do they grant,
and what do they deny ? Briefly, they deny the presence of Christ's
Body in the natural substance of His human ar.d assumed nature,
and grant the presence of the same by grace Even as, for
example, we say the same sun, which, in substance, never removeth
his place out of the heavens, is yet present here by its beams, light
and natural influence, where it shineth upon the earth. For God's
Word and His Sacraments be, as it were, the beams of Christ, which
is sol justitiae (Mai. iv.) the Sun of righteousness."
From the account of the Institution given by the Evange-
lists and St. Paul, he argues thus (p. 15)
" So it appeareth plainly that Christ called very bread His Body.
But very bread cannot be His Body, in very Substance thereof:"
yet it " retaining still its own very natural substance, may be thus
by grace, and in a sacramental signification, His Body : whereas
else the very bread, which He took, brake, and gave them, could
not be in any wise His natural Body, for that were confusion of
substances. And therefore the very words of Christ, joined with
the next sentence following, both enforce us to confess the very
bread to remain still, and also open unto U3 how that Jaread may be
and is thus, by His Divine Power, His Body which was given for
us." — p. 15.
Then he proceeds to argue similarly " of the Lord's Cup,"
from the words of Institution.
And ends by supporting his arguments with the following
Patristic authorities. — Origen, in Matt. xxv. Horn 11 ; Horn,
super Levit. vii. ; S. Chrysostom, in Matt. Horn. xi. (Op.
imp.) Ep. ad Cass. Mon. ; Theodoret, Dial. 1 and 2, cont.
Eut. ; Tertullian, Adv. Marc. iv. c. 40, and i. c. 14. ; St.
Augustine, cont. Faust, xx. c. 21 ; Ps. xcviii ; de Fide ad
Petrum, c. 19; Ps. iii. Ep. xxiii. Quaest. lib. iii. Ep. cii.
Cont. Max. lib. ii. c. 22. Tract, in Johan. c. 12.*
We come now to an important occurrence, considering who
was the chief person in it, namely Cranmer's " Disputation at
Oxford," April 16th, 1555.
The Articles to be disputed were these: —
" I. In the Sacrament of the Altar is the natural Body of Christ
conceived of the Virgin Mary, and also His Blood, present really
under the torms of bread and wine, by virtue of God's word pro-
nounced by the Priest.
"II. There remaineth no substance of bread and wine after
the consecration, nor any other substance but the Substance of
(Christ) God and Man.
"III. The lively sacrifice of the Church is in the Mass, pro-
pitiatory as well for the quick as the dead." — Works. Parker
Society, vol. ii. p. 394.
In answer to Chedsey, who said " His true Body is in
the Sacrament," it was replied by Cranmer : —
* The passages are most of them in Dr. Pusey's Catena. The Parker So-
ciety's Editor has collated them, distinguishing the doubtful, as in fact
Ridley had partly done.
4G
" His tnie Body is truly present to them that truly receive Him :
but Spiritually. And so is It taken after a spiritual sort. For
when He said, ' This is My Body,' it is all one as if He had said —
This is the breaking of My Body ; this is the shedding of My
Blood : as oft as you shall do this, it shall put you in remembrance
of the breaking of My Body, and the shedding of My Blood ; that
as truly as you receive this Sacrament, so truly shall you receive the
benefit promised by receiving the same worthily.
" Chedsey. Your opinion differeth from the Church, which saith,
that the true Body is in the Sacrament : Ergo — your opinion there-
in is false.
" Granmer. I say and agree with the Church, that the Body of
Christ is ill the Sacrament effectually, because the passion of
Christ is effectual.
" Chedsey. Christ, when He spake these words, ' This is My
Body,' spake of the Substance, but not of the effect.
" Granmer. I grant He spake of the Substance, and not of the
effect, after a sort : and yet it is most true, that the Body of Christ
is effectually in the Sacrament. But I deny that He is there
truly present in bread, or that under the Bread in [? is] His
org'ailical Body . . . ," — Writings and Disputations of
Granmer, Parker Society 1844, p. 394.
Then Cranmer handed up a written reply, in which he
said : —
"In the first conclusion, if ye understand by this word 'really,'
re ipsa, i.e. ' in very deed and effectually,' so Christ, by the grace
and efficacy of His Passion, is in deed and truly present to all His
true and holy members.
" But if ye understand by this word ' really,' corporaliter, i.e.
'corporally,' so that by the Body of Christ is understanded a
natural Body and organical,"
this he declared to he opposed to the Scriptures and the
Catholic Church, which affirm —
" Christ to have left the world, and to sit at the Right Hand of
the Father till He come to judgment."
The 2nd and 3rd Propositions he said also differed from the
" accustomed manner and speech of Scripture."
Chedsey held this to mean —
" the Body of Christ to be in the Sacrament only by the way of
participation, insomuch as we communicating thereof, do participate
the gTace of Christ ; so that you mean hereby only the effect
thereof. But our conclusion stand eth upon the Substance, and not
the efficacy only
" Granmer. Thus you gather upon mine answer as though I did
mean of the efficacy and not of the substance of the Body ; but I
mean of them both, as well of the efficacy as of the substance.
17
And forsomuch as all tilings come not readily to memory, to a man
that shall speak extempore, therefore for the more ample and fuller
answer in this matter, this writing here do t exhibit." — pp. 395-6.
In this writing Cranmer states —
I. That " Christ at the time of His Maunday. . . .did institute a
perpetual memory of this His death, to be celebrated among Chris-
tians in bread and wine ; The Sacrament and Mystical Bread
being broken and distributed after the institution of Christ, and the
mystical wine likewise being taken and received, be not only
Sacraments of the flesh of Christ wounded for us, and of His blood-
shedding, but also be most certain Sacraments to us, and, as a man
would say, seals of God's promises and gifts, and also of that holy
fellowship which we have with Christ and all His members. More-
over they be to us memorials of that heavenly food and nourishment
wherewith we are nourished unto eternal life, and the thirst of our
boiling conscience quenched, and, finally, whereby the hearts of the
faithful be replenished with unspeakable joy, and be corroborated
and strengthened unto all works of godliness. ' We are many,' saith
St. Paul, ' one Bread and one Body, all we which do participate of
one bread and cup.' And Christ saith ' Eat ye ; this is My Body :'
and, 'Drink ye; this is My Blood:' and, ' I am the Living Bread
which came down from Heaven. He that eateth me shall also live
for me. Not as your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are
dead. He that eateth Me shall also live for Me.' Thus therefore
true bread and true wine remain still in the Eucharist, until they be
consumed of the faithful, to be signs, and as seals unto us, annexed
unto God's promises, making us certain of God's gifts towards us.
Also Christ remaineth in them, and they in Christ, which eat His
flesh and drink His blood, as Christ Himself hath promised : ' they
that eat My flesh and drink My blood, abide in Me, and I in them.'
Moreover, He abideth also in them which worthily receiveth the
outward Sacrament ; neither doth He depart so soon as the Sacra-
ment is consumed, but continually abideth, feeding and nourishing
us so long as we remain bodies of that Head, and members of the
same. I acknowledge not here the natural Body of Christ, which
is only spiritual, intelligible, and unsensible, having no distinction
of members and parts in it ; but that Body only I acknowledge and
worship, which was born of the Virgin, which suffered for us, which
is visible, palpable, and hath all the form and shape and parts of the
true natural body of man."
"2 the old doctors do call this speaking of Christ [i.e.
' Take, eat,' &c] tropical, figurative, anagogical, allegorical ; which
they do interpret after this sort, that although the substance of
bread and wine do remain, and be received of the faithful, yet
notwithstanding, Christ changed the appellation thereof, and called
the bread by the name of His Flesh, and the wine by the name of
His Blood, non rei veritate, sed significante mysterio ; i.e. ' not that
it is so in very deed, but signified in a mystery;' so that we
4-8
sliould consider, not what they be in their own nature, but what they
do import to us and signify ; and should understand the Sacrament,
not carnally, but spiritually ; and should attend, not to the visible
nature of the Sacraments, neither have respect only to the outward
bread and cup, thinking to see th-re with our eyes no other things
but only bread and wine ; but that, lifting up our minds, we should
look up to the Blood of Christ with our faith, should touch Him
with our mind, and receive Him with our inward man ; and that,
being like eagles in this life, we should fly up into Heaven in our
hearts, where that Lamb is resident at the Right Hand of His
Father, which taketh away the sins of the world
"3. The only oblation of Christ (....upon the Altar of the
Cross . . . . ) was of such efficacy, that there is no more need of any
sacrifice for the Redemption of the whole world Whosoever
shall seek any other Sacrifice propitiatory for sin, maketh the
Sacrifice of Christ of no validity, force, or efficacy "
—pp. 3!)6-9.
After this they proceeded again to argue, Chedsey de-
claring —
"That the natural Body is in the Sacrament."
Cranmer replied. "To your argument I answer : If you understand
by the Body natural, organicum, that is, having such proportion
and members as He had living here, then I answer negatively.
Chedsey then argued from the words of Institution : —
" That thing is here contained that is given for us :
" But the substance of bread is not given for us :
"Ergo. The substance of bread is not here contained.
" Cranmer. I understand not yet what you mean by this word
' contained:' if ye mean really, then I deny your major.
" CJiedsey. If you ask what is the thing therein contained ;
because His Apostles should not doubt what Body it was that should
be given, He saith : ' This is My Body which shall be given for
you,' and ' My Blood which shall be shed for many.' Ergo, here is
the Same Substance of the Body, which the day after was given,
and the Same BlOOd which was shed. And here I urge the
Scripture, which teacheth that it was no phantastical, no feigned, no
Spiritual Body, nor Body in faith, but the Substance of the Body.
" Cranmer. You must prove that it is contained ; but Christ
said not, 'which is contained.' He gave bread, and called that His
Body. I stick not in the words of the Scripture, but in your word,
which is feigned and imagined of yourself." — p. 400.
Weston then quoted S. Chrys., Horn. lxi. ad Pop. Antioch
"Necessarium est" &c, and argued from it thus: —
" The same flesh, whereby Christ is made our brother and
kinsman, is given of Christ to us to be eaten :"
49
" Christ is made our brother and kinsman by His true, natural,
and or«auical flesh :
" Ergo. His true, natural, and orgailical flesh is given to us
to be eaten.
" Cranrner. I grant the consequence and the consequent.
" Weston. Therefore we eat it with our mouth.
" Cranrner. I deny it. We eat it through faith.
Weston repeated his argument; to which it was replied by
" Cranrner. I grant He took and gave the Same true, natural,
and organical flesh wherein He suffered ; and yet He feedeth
Spiritually, and that flesh is received spiritually.
" Weston. He gave us the Same flesh which He took of the
Virgin :
" But He took not His true flesh of the Virgin spiritually, or
in a figure :
" Ergo. He gave His true, natural flesh, not spiritually.
" Cranrner. Christ gave to us His own natural flesh, the same
wherein He suffered, but feedeth us spiritually."— pp. 402 & 3.
" Weston. When Christ said ' Eat ye,' whether meant He, by
the mouth or by faith ?
" Cranrner. He meant that we should receive the Body by
faith, the bread by the mouth."
" Weston. Nay, the Body by the mouth."
" Cranrner. That I deny."
In proof, Weston quoted St. Chrys. on Ps. 50 " Erubescit
fieri nutrix, &c, and Horn. 83 on St. Matt. 26, " Non enim
sujjicit" &c. Cranrner replied —
" I grant we make one nature with Christ : but that to be done
with the mouth we deny."
" Weston. Chrysostom, 2 Cor., cap. xiii. Horn. 29 hath these
words: .... ' No little honour is given to our mouth, receiving the
Body of the Lord.'
" Cranrner. This I say, that Christ entereth into us both by our
ears and by our eyes. With our mouth we receive the Body of
Christ, and tear it with our teeth ; that is to say, the Sacrament of
the Body of Christ. Wherefore I say and affirm, that the virtue of
the Sacrament is much : and therefore Chrysostom many times
speaketh of Sacraments no otherwise than of Christ Himself, as I
could prove, if I might have liberty to speak, by many places of
Chrysostom, where he speaketh of the Sacrament of the Body of
Christ."
" Cole. . . .denied it to be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ,
save only of the mystical Body, which is the Church."
Cranrner defended his position by S. Chrys. de Sacerd.
lib. 8j c. iii —
H
so
" O miracle ! O the good-will of God towards us! which sitteth
above at the right hand of the Father, and is holden in men's hands
at the sacrifice time, and is given to feed upon, to them that are
desirous of Him. And that is brought to pass by no subtlety or
craft, but with the open and beholding eyes of all the standers-by."
Upon which Cranmer remarked —
" Thus you hea» Christ is here in earth every day, is touched, is
torn with the teeth, that our tongue is red with His blood ; which
no man having any judgment will say or think to be spoken without
trope or figure." — pp. 404 & 5'.
Weston then quoted S. Chrys., Horn. 24> —
" I shew forth that thing on the earth unto thee, which is worthy the
greatest honour," &c, and argued (together with Cole and Chedsey)
"that the Body of Christ is shewed us upon the earth," in "Sllb-
stance," not in "figure," "not sacrauientally only, but in very
deed also ;" is touched "as Thomas touched Christ," touching
whom he touched "the Lord God.' "
Cranmer contended that, though
" in the Sacrament only" was That to be seen which is " worthy
greatest honour," yet Christ is not seen "upon the earth" save
"with the eyes of our mind, with faith and spirit;" that Christ is
touched in the Sacrament in the same sense as Thomas touched
God, of whom it is not "sound doctrine to affirm, that God is
touched."— pp. 405-7
Cranmer uses the expression " He touched not God, hut
Him which was God :" yet, looking at the nature of his
argument, and considering the unreserved way in which he
had just before adopted St. Chrysostom's strong expressions as
to the Eucharist, he would seem sufficiently shielded from
any accusation of Nestorianism: not to say that elsewhere
his writings are an adequate defence.
His opponents then pressed him with Tertullian, De
Resurrectione, Carnis, c. viii. "J'ideamus de propria Chris-
tiani hominis forma" &c. and Photius on 1 Cor. xi, 27,
arguing from them thus : —
" The flesh eateth Christ's Body, that the soul may be fed
therewith :
" The soul is not fed with the Sacrament, but with Christ's Body.
" Ergo. The flesll eateth the body of Christ."
To which Cranmer answered : —
"The Sacrament is one thing; the matter of the Sacrament is
another. Outwardly we receive the Sacrament ; inwardly we eat
the body of Christ." And again " the flesll, I say, eateth the
Sacrament ; it eateth not Christ's body. For Tertullian speaketh
of the Sacrament ; and the place hath not inde ' thereof,' but de
Deo ' of God.' " — pp. 407-9.
After some dispute on a passage of St. Hilary, de Trin.
lib. viii. Young said —
" Against him that denieth principles we must not dispute.
Therefore that we may agree of the principles, I demand whether
there be any other Body of Christ than His instrumental Body ?
Cranmer. " There is no natural Body of Christ but His
organical Body." — p. 414.
An argument then arose touching what Christ did in the
Institution of the Eucharist, in the course of which Young
asked —
" The thing signified in the Sacrament, is it not in that Sacra-
ment?" Cranmer. " It is. For the thing is ministered in a sign.
He followeth the letter that taketh the thing for the sign. Augus-
tine separateth the Sacrament from the thing. ' The Sacrament,'
saith he, ' is one, and the thing of the Sacrament another.' " —
p. 415.
Again, Pie said —
" The words of Christ, as Ambrose saith, are of strength to work.
What do they work ? Ambrose saith, they make the Blood which
redeemed the people :
" Ergo. The natural Blood is made.
" Cranmer. The Sacrament of His Blood is made. The words
make the Blood to them that receive it : not that the Blood is in the
cup, but in the receiver."
This expression being demurred to, Cranmer referred to
S. Ambrose de Sacramentis 1. iv., c. iv. (which Weston
quoted) and remarked —
" . . . . But what is that He saith : Thou receivest for a similitude V
I think he understandeth the Sacrament to be the similitude of His
Blood." — p. 418.
Again, Chedsey argued —
" As Christ is truly and really incarnate, so is He truly and
really in the Sacrament :
" But Christ is really and truly incarnate :
" Ergo. The Body of Christ is truly and really in the Sacra-
ment."
" Cranmer. I deny the major."
'* Chedsey. I prove the major out of Justine, in his Second
Apology 'As by the word of God Jesus Christ our Saviour
52
being made flesh had both Flesh and Blood for our salvation ; so we
are taught, that tli3 meat consecrated by the word of prayer instituted
of Him, whereby our blood and flesh, are nourished by communion,
is the Fle^h and Blood of the same Jesus which was made flesh.' "
" Cranmer. You have translated it well ; but I deny your major.
This is the sense of Justin ; that that bread is called the Body of
Christ, and yet of that sanctified meat our bodies are nourished."
" Chedsey. Nay, he saith, of that sanctified meat both our bodies
and souls are nourished."
" Cranmer. He saith not so ; but he saith that it nourisheth our
flesh and blood : and how can that nourish the soul, that nourisheth
the flesh and blood ?"
" Cole. It feedeth the body by the soul."
" Cranmer. Speak uprightly. Can that which is received by
the soul and the spirit, be called the meat of the body?" — p. 420".
" Cranmer. We ought not to consider the bare bread ; but
whosoever cometh to the Sacrament, eateth the true Body of Christ."
—p. 421.
Lastly, we shall do well to consider attentively the
" Disputation at Oxford between Dr. Smith, with his
other colleagues and Doctors, and Bishop Ridley." A.D.
1555.
" Weston, the Prolocutor. Good Christian people and brethren,
we are entering into a controversy, concerning the
Verity of the Body of our Lord Jesu Christ in the Eucharist. . . .
" Dr. Smith. This day, right learned Master Doctor, three
questions are propounded to wit :
" First. Whether the natural Body of Christ our Saviour, con-
ceived of the Virgin Mary, and offered for man's redemption on the
Cross, is verily and really in the Sacrament by virtue of God's
word spoken by the priests, &c.
" Secondly. Whether in the Sacrament, after the words of con-
secration, be any other Substance, &c.
"Thirdly. Whether in the mass be a sacrifice propitiatory, &c.
" Touching the which questions .... I will essay again to demand
your sentence in the first question — whether the true Body of
Christ, after the words pronounced, be really in the Eucharist, or
else only the figure — pp. 191-2.
Ridley then protests his submission to the Church, his lack
of time and books, and his right to correct his statements
afterwards.
" The First Proposition.
" In the Sacrament of the Altar, by the virtue of God's word
spoken of the priest, the natural Body of Christ, born of the Virgin
Mary, and His natural Blood, are really present under the forms of
bread and wine.
S3
Ridley complains (1) that this statement
" is very obscure and dark, by means of sundry words of doubt-
ful signification. And being taken in the sense which the school-
men teach, and at this time the Church of Rome doth defend, it is
false and erroneous. . . ." — p. 195.
(ii.) Of the
" ambiguity in this word ' really,' whether it be to be taken as
the logicians term it ' transcendenter ;' that is, most generally : and so
it may signify ally maimer Of tiling; which belongeth to the Body
of Christ, by any means : after which sort we also grant Christ's
Body to be really in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper or
whether it be taken to signify the very same thing', having' body,
life, and soul, which was assumed and taken of the word of
Cod unto the unity of person. In which sense, since the
Body of Christ is really in Heaven, because of the true manner of
His Body, it may not be said to be here in the earth." — p. 196.
(iii.) Of the
" further doubtfulness in these words, ' under (he forms of bread
and wine,' whether the foiTUS be there taken to signify the only
accidental and outward shews of bread and wine ; or therewithal
the substantial natures thereof, which are to be seen by their
qualities, and perceived by exterior senses. Now the error and
falseness of the proposition, after the sense of the Roman Church
and Schoolmen, may hereby appear, in that they affirm the bread
to be transubstantiated and changed into the flesh assumed of the
Word of God and so they gather that Christ's Body is really
contained in the Sacrament of the Altar " — p. 196.
In " Confirmation of the aforesaid Answer," he puts a syllo-
gism, one proposition of which is that
" This doctrine," which he opposes, "maintaineth a real, corporal
and carnal presence of Christ's Flesh, assumed and taken of the
word, to be in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and that not
by Virtue and grace only, but also by the whole essence and
Substance of the Body and Flesh of Christ." — p. 197.
He goes on to argue that —
" This carnal presence is contrary ' to ' St. John xvi. 7 ; Acts
iii. 21; St. Matt. ix. 15; St. John xvi. 22 ; xiv~ iii. ; St. Matt,
xxiv. 23, 28.
(ii.) Varies from the Creed " He ascended," &c.
{iii.) " It destroyeth and taketh away the Institution. . . .which
was to be used and continued until the Lord himself shall
come . .for a remembrance is not of a thing present, but of a
thing past and absent as one of the Fathers saith 'A
figure is in vain when the thing figured is present.'
(iv.) " it affirmeth that the wicked and faithless,
mice, cats, and dogs also may receive the very real and corporal
Body of the Lord
54
(v.) " It confirmeth that. . . . cruelty of the ' Anthro-
pophagi ' for it is a more cruel thing to devour a quick man
than to slay him.
(vi.) " It forceth men to maintain many monstrous miracles," e.g.
"that the accidents remain without any subject," also " Christ's Body
without His qualities, and the true manner of a body," &c.
(vii.) It gives occasion to such heresies as those of Marcion and
Eutyches.
(viii.) " It falsifieth the sayings of the godly Fathers . . . .Justin,
Irenasus, Tertullian, Origen, Eusebius, Emissenus, Athanasius, Cyril,
Epiphanius, Jerome, Chrysostom, Augustine, Vigilius, Fulgentius,
Bertram, and other most ancient Fathers." — pp. 198-201.
Next he proceeds to deny that he intends
" To take away the true presence of Christ's Body in His Supper
rightly and duly ministered, which is grounded upon the word of
God, and made more plain by the commentaries of the faithful
fathers "
" I say and confess with the Evangelist Luke, and with the
Apostle Paul, that the bread on the which thanks are given, is the
Body of Christ in the remembrance of Him and His death, to be set
forth perpetually of the faithful until His coming.
" I say and confess, the bread which we break to be the com-
munion and partaking of Christ's Body, with the ancient and
faithful fathers.
" I say and believe, that there is not only a signification of Christ's
Body set forth by the Sacrament, but also that therewith is given
to the godly and faithful the grace of Christ's Body, that is, the
food of life and immortality. And this I hold with Cyprian.
" I say also with St. Augustine, that we eat life and we drink
life ; with Emissene, that we feel the Lord to be present in grace ;
with Athanasius, that we receive celestial food, which cometh from
above ; the property of natural communion, with Hilary ; the
nature of flesh, and benediction which giveth life, in bread and
wine, with Cyril ; and with the same Cyril, the virtue of the very
flesh of Christ, life and grace of His Body, the property of the
Only Begotten, that is to say, life ; as He Himself in plain words
expoundeth it.
" I confess also with Basil, that we receive the mystical advent
and coming of Christ, grace and the virtue of His very nature ; the
sacrament of His very Flesh, with Ambrose ; the Body by grace,
with Epiphanius : spiritual flesh, but not that which was crucified,
with Jerome ; grace flowing into a sacrifice, and the grace of the
Spirit, with Chrysostom ; grace and invisible verity, grace and
society of the members of Christ's Body, with Augustine.
" Finally, with Bertram I confess that Christ's Body is in
the Sacrament in this respect ; namely, as he writeth, because there
is in it the Spirit Of Christ, that is, the power of the word of God,
which not only f'eedeth the soul, but also cleanseth it. Out of these
1 suppose it may clearly appear unto all men, how far we are from
55
that opinion, whereof some go about falsely to slander us to the
world, saying, we teach that the godly and faithful should receive
nothing else at the Lord's table, but a figure of the Body of Christ."
—pp. 201 & 2.
" The Second Proposition.
" After the consecration there remaineth no substance of bread
and wine, neither any other substance, than the substance of God
and man."
For the answer to this he refers to his arguments against
Prop. 1, and strongly insists upon the authority of Bertram
as supporting him.
" The Third Proposition.
" In the Mass is the lively sacrifice of the Church, propitiable
and available for the sins as well of quick as of the dead."
Ridley objects (1) that in the
" Words ' the lively sacrifice of the Church,' there is a doubt
whether they are to be understood figuratively and sacramentally,
for the sacrament of the lively sacrifice (after which sort we deny
it not to be in the Lord's Supper), or properly and without any
figure : after the which manner there was but one only sacrifice, and
that once offered, namely, upon the Altar of the Cross.
(ii.) " There is also a doubt in the word ' propitiable,' whether it
signify here, that which taketh away sin, or that which may be made
available [orig. an quod potest reddi propitium. Ed.] for the taking
away of sin ; that is to say, whether it is to be taken in the active or
in the passive signification.
(iii.) That "the words seem to import the quick and
lively body of Christ, flesll, united and knit to the Divinity, to lie hid
under the accidents and outward shews of bread and wine. . . " — p. 207
Among his Arguments against the proposition are these : —
(a) " All remission of sins cometh only by shedding of blood.
" In the Mass there is no shedding of blood :
" Ergo, in the Mass there is no remission of sins ; and so it
followeth also, that there is no propitiatory sacrifice.
(b) " In the Mass the passion of Christ is not in verify, but in a
mystery representing the same.
" But where Christ Sllfferetll not, there He is not offered in
verity,
" Ergo, in the Mass there is no propitiatory sacrifice... . • •"
—p. 209.
Dr. Smith, in reply, objected to Ridley's argument — that
Christ's Ascension and Session "hinder not his real presence
in the Sacrament."
Ridley. " If you take the real presence of Christ accord-
ing to the real and corporal substance which He took of the Virgin,
that Presence being in Heaven, cannot be on the earth also. But, if
you mean a real presence ' secundum rem aliquam quae ad corpus
56
Christi pertinet,' i.e. according to something that appertaineth to
Christ's Body, certes the ascension and abiding in Heaven are no
let at all to that presence. Wherefore Christ's Body, after that sort,
is here present to us in the Lord's Supper ; by grace, I say, as Epi-
phanius speaketh of it.
" Weston. I will cut off from henceforth all equivocation and
doubt : for whensoever we speak of Christ's Body, we mean that
which He took of the Virgin.
" Ridley. Christ's ascension and abiding in Heaven cannot stand
with His Presence." — p. 213.
Then Smith and Weston, in a long argument, contended
that Christ could now be present " corporally and really "
and had thus appeared since his Ascension, viz., to St.
Stephen, St. Paul, and St. Peter. Ridley does not deny
that Christ can thus be present, if He will, but says they
must prove that will ; he disputes that the vision to SS.
Stephen and Paul revealed Christ on earth, and will not deny
that the account mentioned by some Fathers of the appear-
ance to St. Peter may be true; yet he contends (1) that
these are too doubtful to argue from ; and (2) that if true,
they do not invalidate his position ; and (3) requires them to
prove that Christ was corporally in Heaven " at the same
time when He was corporally on earth.''
Weston quoted St. Chrysostom, Horn. xvii. in Heb. c. 10,
and St. Bernard : Ridley, while denying that the latter
makes for his opponents, rejects him as too late an authority:
of the former he says : —
" I remember the place well," but remarks — " And whereas you
allege out of Chrysostom, that Christ is offered in many places at
once (both here full Christ and there full Christ), I grant it to be
true ; that is, that Christ is offered in many places at once, in a
mystery and sacranientaUy, and that He is full Christ in all those
places ; but not after the corporal substance of our flesll which He
took, but after the benediction which giveth life ; and He is given
to the godly receivers ill bread and wine, as Cyril speaketh. Con-
cerning the oblation of Christ, whereof Chrysostom here speaketh
he himself doth clearly shew what he meaneth thereby, in saving by
the way of correction, ' We always do the selfsame, howbeit by the
recordation or remembrance of His sacrifice." — p. 217.
Again, Smith quotes St. Chrysostom de Sacerdotio, lib. iii.
c. 4. Ridley accepts the passage, and says —
" He that sitteth there, is here present in mystery and by grace ;
and is hidden of the godly, such as communicate Him ; not only
sacramentally with the hand Of the bod} , but much more whole-
somely with the hand of the heart, and by inward drinking is
received : bnt by the sacramental signification He is holden
of all men."— p. 223.
Further on, Ward, quoting the words
" Take eat, this is My Body," asks " Gave He bread made of
wheat and material bread V
" Ridley. I know not whether He gave bread of wheat ; but He
gave true and material bread.
" Ward. I will prove the contrary by Scriptures.
" He delivered to them that which He bade them take.
" But He bade them not take material bread, but His own Body.
" Ergo, He gave not material bread, but His own Body.
" Ridley. 1 deny the minor. For He bade them take His Body
Sacramentally in material bread ; and after that sort it was both
bread which He bade them take, because the substance was bread,
and that it was also His Body, because it was the Sacrament of His
Body, for the sanctifying and the coming of the Holy Ghost, which
is always assistant to those mysteries which were instituted of Christ,
and lawfully administered." — p. 228
This argument Ridley says he derived from Theophylact,
on St. Matt. xxvi. and he adds —
" I grant the bread to be converted and turned into the flesh of
Christ; but not by transubstantiation, but by sacramental
converting or turning. ' It is transformed,' saith Theophylact in the
same place, ' by a mystical benediction, and by the accession or
coming of the Holy Ghost, unto the flesh of Christ.' He saith not,
by expulsion or driving away the substance of bread, and by sub-
stituting or putting in its place the corporal substance of Christ's
flesh. And whereas he saith, ' It is not a figure of the Body,' we
should understand that saying, as he himself doth elsewhere add
' only,' that is, it is no naked or bare figure only. For Christ is
present in His mysteries; neither at any time, as Cyprian saith,
doth the Divine Majesty absent Himself from the Divine Mysteries."
—pp. 229, 30.
Again, Ward quoted St. Aug. on Ps. xcvi. " Worship His
Footstool," &c. After some dispute about it, in which
Ridley asserted that he
" never yet spake contumeliously" of " the Sacraments;" adding
" I grant that Christ hath here His Church in earth ; but that
Church did ever receive and acknowledge the Eucharist to be a
Sacrament of the Body of Christ, yet not the Buuy of Christ really,
but the Body of Christ by grace.
" Olyn. Then I ask this question : Whether the Catholic Church
hath ever or at any time been idolatrous ?
"Ridley. The Church is the pillar and stay of the truth, that
il Mm i ! ma a '
never yet hath been idolatrous in respect of the whole ; but, per-
ad venture, in respect of some part thereof, which sometimes may be
seduced by evil pastors, and through ignorance*
" Glyn. That Church ever hath worshipped the flesh of Christ
in the Eucharist.
" But the Church hath never been idolatrous.
"Ergo, it hath alway judged the flesh of Christ to be in the
Eucharist.
" Ridley. And I also worship Christ iu the Sacrament, but
not because He is included ill the Sacrament : like as I worship
Christ also in the Scriptures, not because He is really included in
them. Notwithstanding I say, that the Body of Christ Is present
in the Sacrament; but yet sacramentally and spiritually
(according to His grace) giving life, and in that respect really, that
is, according to His benediction, giving life. Furthermore, I
acknowledge gladly the tme Body of Christ to be in the Lord's
Supper, in such sort as the Church of Christ doth acknowledge
the same. But the true Church of Christ doth acknowledge a
presence of Christ's Body in the Lord's Supper to be communicated
to the godly by grace, and spiritually, as I have often shewed, and
by a .sacramental signification ; but not by the corporal presence
of the Body of His flesh.
" Glyn. Augustine against Faustus [saith] ' Some there were
which thought us, instead of Bread and of the Cup, to worship
Ceres and Bacchus.' (lib. xx. c. 13.) Upon this place I gather,
that there was an adoration of the Sacrament among the Fathers ;
and Erasmus, in an Epistle to the brethren of Lower Germany,
saith, that the worshipping of the Sacrament was before Augus-
tine and Cyprian.
" Ridley. We do handle the signs reverently : but we worship the
Sacrament as a Sacrament, not as a thing signified by the Sacrament.
" Glyn. What is the symbol of the Sacrament ?
" Ridley. Bread.
" Glyn. Ergo, We worship bread.
" Ridley. There is a deceit in this word ' adoramus.' We
worship the symbols, when reverently we handle them. We
worship Christ wheresoever we perceive His benefits: but
we understand His benefits to be greatest in the Sacnillieilt.
" Glyn. • So I may fall down before the bench here, and wor-
ship Christ ; and if any man ask me what I do, I may answer, I
worship Christ.
''Ridley. We adore and worship Christ in the Eucharist
And if you mean the external Sacrament; I say, that also is to
be worshipped as a Sacrament
" Glyn. So was the faith of the primitive Church.
" Ridley. Would to God we would all follow the faith of that
Church !
" Glyn. Think you that Christ hath now His Church ?
" Ridley. I do so.
" Glyn. But all the Church adoiCtll Christ verily and really
in the Sacrament.
'• Ridley. You know yourself, that the Eastern Church would
59
not acknowledge trausubstantiation ; as appeareth in the Council
of Florence."— pp. 235-37.
Then Weston and Curtop argued, after each other, that
" That which is in the cup, is the same that flowed from the side
of Christ."
Ridley admitted that it was,
" but not after the Same manner, after which manner it sprang
from His side: " he said it "is ill the Chalice indeed, but not in
the real presence, but by grace and in a Sacrament.
" Weston. That is very well. Then we . have Blood in the
Chalice.
"Ridley. It is true; but by grace, and in a Sacrament."
—pp. 237, 238.
Watson then asked this question —
" When Christ said in John vi , ' He that eateth My flesh,' &c,
doth He signify in those words the eating of His true and natural
Flesh, or else of the bread and symbol ?
" Ridley. I understand that place of the very Flesh of Christ
to be eaten, but spiritually ; and further I say, that the Sacrament
also pertaineth to the spiritual lliaiulucation : for without the
Spirit to eat the Sacrament is to eat it unprofitably ; for whoso
eateth not spiritually, he eateth his own condemnation." — p. 238.
Further, Watson argued —
" This promise [i. e. of ' Society betwixt Christ and us '] is made
to the Flesh and Blood of Christ, and not to the bread and wine."
" Ergo, The Sacrament is not bread and wine, but the Body and
Blood of Christ.
" Ridley. There is no promise made to him that taketh common
bread and common wine ; but to him that receiveth the sanctified
bread, and bread of the Communion, there is a large promise of
grace made : neither is the promise made to the symbols, but to the
tiling' of the Sacrament. But the thing' of the Sacrament is the
Flesh and Blood." — p. 240.
Next Tresham said — ■
" Evil men do eat the natural Body of Christ : Ergo, the true
and natural Body of Christ is on the altar.
" Ridley. Evil men do eat the very true and natural Body of
Christ sacraiueiltally, and no further ; as St. Augustine saith.
But good men do eat the very true Body, both sacramentally,
and Spiritually by grace." — p. 246.
Again, in reply to Tresham, who quoted St. Aug. cont
Donat. v. e. 8, Ridley said
" It is the Body to them [the wicked,] that is, the Sacrament of
the Body : and Judas took the Sacrament of the Lord to his con-
demnation. Augustine hath distinguished these things well in
another place, where he saith, ' The bread of the Lord, [and] the
bread the Lord. Evil men eat the bread of the Lord, but not the
bread the Lord : but good men eat both the bread of the Lord, and
Bread the Lord.' "
(iO
Then Weston quoted Theophylact —
"... .Judas. . . .tasted the Lord's Flesh," &c. : to which Ridley
replied "This phrase to Divines is well known, and used of the
doctors : He tasted the Flesh of the Lord ' insensibiliter ' ' insensibly ;'
that is, the Sacrament of the Lord's Flesh." — p. 247.
Watson, again, quoted the Council of Nice, c. xxx. ; of
which Ridley said it " is to me a great authority;" when
Watson pressed the sentence " The Lamb of God lieth on the
Table :" Ridley said :
"... .that Heavenly Lamb, is (as I confess) Oil the table ; but by
a spiritual presence, by grace, and not after any corporal substance
of His Flesh taken of the Virgin Mary '' — p. 2 19.
Afterwards Pie asked
" What say you to that Council, where it is said, that the Priest
doth offer an unbloody sacrifice of the Body of Christ?
" Ridley. I say, it is well said, if it be rightly understood.
" Pie. But he offereth an unbloody sacrifice.
" Ridley. It is called unbloody, and is offered after a certain
manner, and in a mystery, and as a representation of that bloody
sacrifice : and he doth lie, who saith Christ to be offered.'' — p. 250.
Weston next referred to St. Chrys. Horn, xxxiv., on 1 Cor. x.,
and urged from it by another syllogism that " the real [t. e.
natural] Body of Christ is in the Eucharist;" on which Ridley
observed — "We worship, I confess, the same true Lord and Sa-
viour of the world, which the wise men worshipped in the man-
ger ; howbeit we do it in a mystery, and in the Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper, and that in spiritual liberty, as saith St. Au-
gustine, not in carnal servitude : that is, we do not worship ser-
vilely the signs for the things : for that should be, as he also
saith, a part of a servile infirmity. But we behold with the eyes
of faith Him present after grace, and spiritually set upon the
table ; and we worship Him which sitteth ahove, and is worshipped
of the angels. For Christ is always assistant to His mysteries,
as the said Augustine saith. And the Divine Majesty, as saith
Cyprian, doth never absent Itself from the Divine Mysteries : but
this assistance and presence of Christ, as in Baptism it is wholly
spiritual, and by grace, and not by any corporal substance of
the Flesh, even so it is here in the Lord's Supper, being rightly
and according to the Word of God duly ministered.
• " Weston. That which the woman did hold in her womb, the
same thing holdeth the Priest.
"Ridley. I grant the Priest holdeth the same thing:, but
after another manner. She did hold the natural Body ; the Priest
holdeth the mj'Stery of the Body." — p. 251.
Weston then dissolved the Disputation, exclaiming, and
calling upon those present to join with him, " Verity hath
the victory."
Other, and equally strong, statements of Ridley, occur in
61
his last examination before the Commissioners at Oxford,
Sept. 30, 1555. To take but one passage :
" . . . . both you and I agree herein, that ill the Sacrament is
the very tine and natural Body and Blood of Christ, even that
which was born of the Virgin Mary, which ascended into Heaven,
which sitteth at the Right Hand of God the Father, which shall
come from thence to judge the quick and dead ; only we differ in modo,
in the way and manner of being : we confess all Olie thill"' to be ill
the Sacrament, and dissent in the manner of being there to the
question thus I answer, that in the Sacrament of the Altar is the
natural Body and Blood of Christ vere et realiter, indeed and
really, for spiritually by grace and efficacy ; for so every worthy
receiver receiveth the Very tine Body of Christ. But if you mean
really and indeed, so that thereby you would include a lively and a
moveable Body under the forms of Bread and Wine, then, in that sense,
is not Christ's Body in the Sacrament, really and indeed/' — p. 274.
We have now seen what was the, apparently, all-absorbing-
topic in the writings, disputations, and conversations of
Cranmer, Ridley, and others (who are known to have been
responsible for the Revisions of the Public Offices of the
Church of England both in 1549 and 1552) prior to the
publication of the contested Declaration on Kneeling: we
have learned that that topic was the Doctrine of Transub-
stantiation and its real or alleged theoretical and practical
results : we have further ascertained that the first Book of
Common Prayer embodied such Eucharistical Doctrine as
satisfied the defenders and (apparently) the opposers of that
view of the Real Presence which was based uponTransubstantia-
tion: we have noticed that the second Book of Common Prayer
was held to teach substantially the doctrine of the former
Book, and as such was accepted : we have found that at and
subsequent to the publication of this later Book (which more-
over contained the famed Declaration), the syr.odical, official,
and personal statements of those concerned in it were precisely
of the same kind, in reference to the chiefly debated questions
on the Eucharist, as those which they had made at and before
the appearance of the earlier Book: and further we have
observed that the statements of others (either but little or not
at all responsible for the authorized changes, yet representing
no doubt the views and opinions of a large number of the
Clergy and probably of many educated laity of that period)
are of a like stamp and character.
62
Further, it can hardly have escaped observation that certain
phrases and words (which, in order to draw attention to them,
I have printed in a distinct type) continually recur through-
out the several Documents already quoted ; and moreover
that they are constantly interchanged and used as equivalents.
On the one hand we have the following : —
(1) Flesh, blood, bone, essence, substance, very substance,
natural substance, corporal substance, same substance,
self-same in substance, form, quantity, corporal presence
of the substance of Christ's manhood, essence and sub-
stance of the body and flesh of Christ, true and natural
flesh, true natural organical flesh not spiritually, real
and bodily presence of Chrisfs flesh and blood, transub-
stantiation or corporal presence, real presence, God and
man, contained and included under the forms or accidents,
there with the bread, mixed: gross, corporal, corporeal,
carnal, real, natural, organical, true, corporaliter id est
crasse, sensible, essential, true natural, very natural, very,
substantial, indeed, selfsame, human, local: naturally,
corporally, grossly, bodily, materially, truly and really,
substantially, locally, circumscriptly, properly, carnally,
invisibly, verily, fleshly, organically, sensibly, not sacramen-
tally only, verily and indeed, killing again, not in figure.
While on the other hand we find these : —
(2) Substance, virtue, efficacy, mystery, very flesh,
full Christ, presence of Christ in spirit, very true and
natural body sacramentally, natural body and blood of
Christ vere et realiter, present in mystery and by grace,
same thing, true natural organical flesh but spiritually :
very, real, indeed, converted, true, mixed not, sacramental,
faithful, spiritual, very real, remembrance, property,
certain real property : very deed and effectually, in deed
and truly, really, spiritually, verily, substantially,
figuratively, properly, sacramentally, virtually, verily
and really, wholly, corporally unto faith, after a certain
property or manner, turned not by transubstantiation but
sacramentally, vere=co?porally naturally really, so spi-
ritually that nevertheless truly.
Now it must be conceded, I think, that these terms so
used all mean the same thing and all point to one conclusion.
The former (I) are simply negations of a certain kind of
G3
Presence in the Holy Eucharist which was, or was alleged to
be, held by (what I may conveniently call) the Papal party ;
and which was declared by the Reforming party, whether
English or Foreign, to be a Presence alike opposed to Scrip-
ture, to the consent of the Ancient writers, to the continuous
teaching of the Church, to philosophy, to reason, and to
faith. The latter (2) are definitions of the sort of Presence
which the English Reformers, as a whole, allowed to be con.
sistent with the tests just named; but they must not, I
venture to suggest, be accounted as exclusive definitions, but
only as a terminology which to their minds was adequate to
teach the Catholic doctrine and (what it seems likely was even
of more importance to their minds then, in their estimate of
what was essential to be done) would effectually supersede the
popular belief in Transubstantiation, and with it would break
down the evils which they pointed to as having flowed from it.
These considerations, I cannot but think, must be the
safest guides to the interpretation of the Declaration on
Kneeling (or Black Rubric as it is commonly but inaccurately
called) appended to the Communion Office in the Prayer
Book of 1552 : if so, it is of the utmost importance that we
should not affix to it a meaning exceeding in the slightest
degree what its framers designed it to convey : we may not
I conceive, narrow its terms or assume them to be positive
definitions of what, and what only, the English Churchmen of
that day were free to hold and to teach : our true course, it
seems to me, is to affix to it only that character which it will
be found Historically tobear: what that character is I described
at the commencement of these remarks, and I am emboldened
to think that the evidences since examined are adequate to
prove that it was not untruly drawn.
It is well known that the Declaration disappeared from
the 2nd Prayer Book when revised for use at the commence-
ment of Elizabeth's reign, and was not restored until the last
revision in 16G2. The cause of its non-appearance in the
Book of 1559 may be easily, and probably accurately, sur-
mised, though I am not aware of any more precise evidence on
the subject than the statement of Bp. Burnet (for which, how-
ever, he gives no proofs) that it " was by Queen
Elizabeth ordered to be left out of the Common Prayer
Book ! since it might have given offence to some, otherwise
inclinable to the communion of the Church, who yet retained
the belief of the Corporal Presence." — Hist. Ref. Pt. ii. Bk. i.
p. 162, fol. 1715.
Now, looking at the general history of the period, no
doubt this remark of Burnet furnishes a most probable reason
for the omission of the Declaration : indeed, we learn from
Collier, who may be regarded as Burnet's Historic rival, that
Elizabeth's Cabinet, on her Accession, impressed upon her
that — " To prevent discontent, the reformed Liturgy ought to
be reviewed, and made as inoffensive to all parties as may
be." (Eccles. Hist., vol. ii. p. 410, fol. 1714) : and this, so far
as the Papal party were concerned, well agrees with another
remark made by Burnet, namely, that " The Queen ■
inclined to have the manner of Christ's Presence in the
Sacrament left in some general words ; that those who believed
the corporal Presence might not be driven away from the
Church by too nice an explanation of it." (Hist. Ref. vol. ii.
bk. 3, p. 376.) Certainly, on the face of it, the Declaration
does look like a denial of the Real Presence, and therefore
must have been an annoyance, if not an obstacle, to the
Roman party, who would naturally construe its terms as a
reproach to views which they held, and against which, as we
have seen, it was directed.
But, it is worth considering whether this alleged wish of
the Queen stood alone, in inducing Abp. Parker and his
Episcopal brethren to omit the Declai'ation : it seems to me
that their knowledge of the tendencies of the extremer
Reforming party in Edward's later years, their fears of a re-
actionary irreverence consequent upon the contemplated
alteration in the Religious Offices, Mary being dead, and
their commencing experience of those whose course after-
wards proved so fertile a source of trouble to both Parker
and Grindal (though the latter somewhat sympathized with
them) — were points which, in all likelihood, assisted to
determine their judgment in favour of the omission.
It was, indeed, made a subject of enquiry, whether kneel-
ing at the Sacrament should be insisted on in the Book then
to be prepared : for, among the questions proposed by Cecil
to Guest (afterwards Bishop of Rochester) the 10th was
" Whether the Sacrament were to be received standing or
kneeling? (Strype's Ann. vol. i. p. 83.) Guest thought it
should be indifferent : this opinion, however, was not acted
63
upon : though, if it had been, that would have furnished no
satisfactory proof of a denial of the Real Presence, seeing
it was the external form of devotion in the Greek Church.
Indeed, the language of Guest, in a controversy already
quoted (p. 17) quite agreed with that of his contempo-
raries, who yet insisted upon kneeling being the rule ; and
unless we are to suppose that his views had become
higher when, in 15C6, he wrote his lately-discovered remark-
able letter to Cecil — a supposition which certainly lacks
proof — we must believe that he advocated what he considered
to be an act of reverence equally demonstrative with kneel-
ing, made the rule of the Church.
True it is that later in Elizabeth's reign the Puritans,as they
had then begun to be called, pressed upon the Bishops to
allow them to receive the Eucharist standing : but this was
only when they found that their demands to be allowed to sit
were again and again rejected : indeed I remember to have
seen -it stated somewhere (by Strype, I think, though the
passage was not noted down at the time and cannot now be
searched for) that some of them even proposed to prostrate
themselves : their object in this, as in their other proposals
apparently being simply to avoid a Rule authoritatively laid
down, and the more so as that Rule was the one also observed
in the rest of the Western Church.
That Parker and Grindal were both concerned to secure
reverence in the celebration of the Eucharist (though the
latter proved himself throughout Elizabeth's reign consider-
ably anti-ceremonial) is plain from the fact that not long
after the publication of the Prayer Book of 1559— indeed
almost contemporaneous with it — the Queen upon their
recommendation (Parker Corresp. p. 378) issued an Injunc-
tion, in virtue of the power vested in her by Sec. xxvi of her
Act of Uniformity, directing Wafer Bread to be used " for
the more reverence to be given to these Holy Mysteries " —
an Injunction which provoked controversy and opposition
during the whole of her reign. These considerations, apart
from others which could be produced did my present limits
permit, seem sufficient to establish the view suggested — that
a fear of its abuse by the Puritan party, as well as an un-
K
GG
willingness to offend the Roman party, concurred to keep out
from Elizabeth's Prayer Book a Declaration which, as it was
verbally obnoxious to the latter so, was not incapable of
perverse and mis-directed criticism by the former.
It is wholly out of my power now, from the want of time,
to attempt any examination of controversial Documents in
this Reign, touching the question of the Real Presence,
similar to that pursued in Edward's reign : it would be much
to the purpose, for example, to analyze Jewel's famous con-
troversy with Harding ; it may be observed, however, that it
would probably yield the like results and, too, would exhibit
more consistent and definite language than some of that
which has been quoted.
But the prominent part taken by Grindal in this Reign, first
as Bishop of London, then Archbishop respectively of York
and Canterbury, renders it desirable not to pass over a tract
of his upon this subject which seems to have been written
just after his return to England upon the accession of Eliza-
beth. We have already seen something of his views in the
discussion given at (p. 17): it is most unlikely that his
opinions on this point became more Catholic during his resi-
dence among the continental Protestants : if this be so, we
are entitled to regard the tract just mentioned as explanatory
of his former statement.
Stnjpe (Life of Grindal, p. 464) having stated that Grindal
was the author, speaks of it as —
« written in a clear method, and with much rational evidence,
against the real, that is, the "TOSS and corporal presence in the
Sacrament.
In this imaginary Dialogue Custom asks at the outset —
M What ! are you so great a stranger in these quarters ? Hear
you not how that men do daily speak against the Sacrament of the
Altar, denying it to be the real Body of Christ ?
Verity pleads in excuse for his ignorance that he has
" returned but of late into this country."
Custom having cited the text " This is my Body," as ex-
pressing the real Presence, Verity proposes to "Declare
the meaning of the words and next in what sense
the Church and the old Fathers have evermore taken them."
07
We are bound, therefore, to assume that Verity means to
speak in a Catholic sense.
In the course of this argument, Custom having alleged
" Christ hath not so gross and fleshly, (as you think) but a
spiritual and ghostly body ; and therefore, without repug-
nance, it may be in many places at once," Verity puts this
Syllogism.
" No body, being real, natural, and org'anical, and not
Spiritual can be in many places at once :
" Christ's Body ill the Sacrament was in the Apostles' hands and
mouths at one time : which were many places :
" Ergo, Christ's Body ill the Sacrament was not a real, natural,
and org'anical Body, but spiritual." — pp. 50 and 51.
Further on, he argues against the real, that is the carnal
presence, from the case of unworthy receivers, summing up
his position in these words : —
" Thus, by the Word of God, by reason, and by the old Fathers,
it is plain that sinful men eat not the Body of Christ, receive they the
Sacrament never so oft: which thing could not be, if in the Sacra-
ment there remained nothing but the Body of Christ." — p. 59.
It is unnecessary to quote more from this Dialogue : but it
is of consequence to notice the expression in the last extract,
" If in the Sacrament there remained nothing but the Body
of Christ."
Grindal's words, " nothing but," taken by themselves,
would naturally convey the belief that he held a Real Objec-
tive Presence ; denying at the same time the truth of the
alleged Roman theory which asserted the absence of the
substance of the Bread and Wine as distinguished from their
accidents which were held to remain. He tells " Custom,"
(p. 42) " I conclude by your own argument, that we ought
not only to say, but also to believe, that in the Sacrament
there remaineth bread" : and then he quotes St. Augustine's
definition "(in Joan, tract. 26) Aliud est sacramentum, aliud
res sacramenti. Sacramentum est quod in corpus vadit : res
autem sacramenti est corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi."
His argument seems to be — that as the res sacramenti is
" spiritual " not " organicas " It can only be matter for
spiritual manducation ; but this being an act of lively " faith,"
which the wicked have not, therefore " Christ's Body cannot
68
be eaten of the wicked : which thing must necessarily ensue,
if the bread were turned into the body of Christ," for then
It must be " eaten with the teeth.... of the body :" which
is impossible. Grindal like the other writers of that period,
especially those whom I have been quoting, was combating
the carnal Presence then, as we have seen, popularly held ; and
then too, as now, imputed to Transubstantiation. If Roman
Catholics now repudiate this view, and try to reconcile diffi-
culties by attributing to accidents the properties which
Grindal assigned to substance; then, however inconsistent
or illogical their argument may be thought, charity at least
should forbid us from endeavouring to fasten upon them
what they now disown ; though, as will have been observed
in the course of these quotations, some of their leading con-
troversialists formerly insisted upon the popular belief.
There are no Writings of Abp. Parker to which we
can turn to ascertain with precision what were his views on
this Doctrinal question ; but so far as we can gather from his
general statements and conduct during his Primacy, it is
certain that they were not lower than Grindal's : his con-
tinued residence in England during the reign of Mary no
doubt preserved him from much of that deteriorated Doctrine
which the contact with Genevan Divines produced in some
of his contemporaries : indeed the accusations made against
him by (the Roman) Dorman on the one hand and by many
of the Puritans on the other hand, of being a Lutheran,
plainly shew that his tendencies were in what we should
term the Catholic direction.
But it is much to the purpose to observe that the Arch-
bishop put forth, in 1556, jointly with Grindal and fourteen
other Bishops, iElfric's Anglo-Saxon Homily of" the Paschall
Lamb," in the Preface to which they state that —
" . . . . almost of the whole sermon is about the understanding
of the Sacramentall bread and wine howe it is the bodye and bloude
of Christ our Saviour, by which is reuealed and made knowen,
what hath been the common taught doctrine of the Church of
England on this behalfe many hundreth years agoe, contrarye unto
the unadvised writing of some none a days."
The Preface specifies, too, certain points in the Sermon
69
which the Episcopal publishers accounted " not consonant
to sounde doctrine," and, throughout the Sermon, notes
indicate their views upon various statements in it: it is just
worth while to notice, however, that the expression " once
suffred Christe by hym selfe, but yet neuertherless his suf-
frynge is daylye renued at the masse through mysterye of
the holye housell " — is not marked as objectionable by the
Bishops, though they do in the Preface take exception to the
sentence which immediately follows — " Therefore the holye
Masse is profitable both to the lyuing and to the dead."
Is it improbable that — having regard to the whole tenor of
the Sermon, based too as it is said to have been upon Ber-
tram's Book — they considered the language sound ? Indeed
a comparison of it with many passages in the Writings
already quoted would perhaps answer this enquiry affir-
matively. Plainly the great value of iElfric's Homily in
the minds of the Elizabethan Bishops was its witness
against Transnhstantiation : if the above expression did not
involve that tenet, and it would be hard to prove that it
does — they would in all likelihood, I think, be unwilling to
condemn it even if they thought it undesirable; though,
indeed, that they did so regard it must first be shewn.
I can only now simply notice one other important fact
in connection with this omission of the Declaration in
Elizabeth's Book, namely, that the third paragraph (p. 32) of
the xxixth of Edward's Articles was omitted in the xxxix
Articles of 1571. Now considering that that paragraph was,
as I have already shown, the probable basis of the Declaration
in the Prayer Book of 1553, this omission seems to strengthen
the notion that not only did the Elizabethan Bishops, of whom
be it remembered Gest the framer of the present xxviiith
Article was one — desire not needlessly to alienate the
Roman party, but that they wished to afford as much
latitude of language as could possibly consist with a denial
of Transubstantiation. What kind of language they ap-
proved may be seen from the Saxon Homily already men-
tioned : but we have no warrant, I think, for supposing that
they wished to limit others to that if only they repudiated
the Roman Doctrine.
70
It was not until the Revision of 1662 that the Declara-
tion again found its way into the Prayer Book. The Non-
conformist party at that time desired these two things, among
others, with reference to the Administration of the Holy
Communion; first: — (1) "....that the kneeling at the
Sacrament (it heing not that gesture which the Apostles
used, though Christ was personally present amongst them,
nor that which was used in the purest and primitive times
of the Church) may be left free, as it was 1 and 2 Edw.,
1 As touching kneeling, &c, they may be used or left as
every man's devotion serveth without blame.' " (2) Next the
restoration of the Declaration on Kneeling.
The Bishops in their "Answer" to these "Exceptions"
of the Ministers defended the " position of Kneeling,"
assigning their reasons in §§ 10 and 15 : to the other
demand they replied : —
§ 12. This Rub. is not in the liturgy of Queen Elizabeth, nor
confirmed by law; nor is there any great need of restoring it,
the world being now in more danger of profanation than of idolatry.
Besides the sense of it is declared sufficiently in the 28th Article of
the Church of England." — Card. Hist. Conf. p. 354.
After this refusal on the part of the Bishops how came it
then to be inserted? Burnet, who as a near contemporary
must be accounted a competent witness, thus answers the
question : he is replying to Colliers criticism on his History: —
" The next, and indeed the last particular that out of many more
1 will mention, is the setting down the explanation that was made
upon the order for kneeling at the Sacrament in King Edward's
time, wrong in a very material word : For in that, the words were :
That there was not in the Sacrament any Real or Essential Presence of
Christ's Natural Flesh and Blood : but he instead of that puts
Corporal Presence. It seems in this he only looked at the Rubrick,
as it is now at the end of the Communion Service, upon a conceit
that it stands now as it was in King Edward's Book ; though it was
at that time changed ; and we know who was the author of that
change, and who pretended that a Corporal Presence signified such a
presence as a body naturally has, which the assertors of Transub-
stantiation itself do not, and cannot pretend is in this case, where
they say the body is not present corporally, but spiritually, or as a
spirit is present. And he who had the chief hand in procuring
this alteration, had a very extraordinary subtilty, by which he
reconciled the opinion of a Real Presence in the Sacrament with
71
the last words of the Rubrick, ' That the Natural Body and Blood
of Christ were in Heaven, and not here ; it being against the
truth of Christ's Natural Body, to be at one Time in more
Places than one. It was thus : a Body is in a Place, if
there is no intermediate Body, but a Vacuum between it and
the place. And he thought that by the Vertue of the Words
of Consecration, there was a Cilinder of a Vacuum made between
the elements and Christ's Body in Heaven ; So that no body being
between, it was both in Heaven and in the elements. Such a
solemn Piece of Folly as this, can hardly be read without Indig-
nation. But if our Author favors this conceit, yet when he sets
down that which was done in King Edward's reign, he ought not to
have changed the word, especially such an important one. I shall
say no more of that work, but that there appeared to me quite
through the second volume, such a constant inclination to favour the
Popish doctrine, and to censure the Reformers, that I should have
had a better opinion of the author's integrity, if he had professed
himself not to be of our communion, nor of the communion of any
other Protestant Church. — Burnet, Hist. Ref. Part iii. preface p. 5.
vol. 1715.
The words "real and essential " of the original Declaration
were, however, changed into " corporal," and it will be seen
that Burnet says "we know who was the author of that
change :" in the margin he puts the letters " D. P. G," meaning
I suppose Dominus, or Doctor Peter Gunning, and then he tells
us why the change was made — a statement which beyond all
question leads to a persuasion amounting almost to certainty,
(1) first, that the term now substituted was meant to remove
any doubt which might hang upon the original words ; (2) next,
that the Declaration not only was not designed to exclude a
very high doctrine of the Real Presence, but was purposely
intended to include those who held it, if only they dis-
allowed Transubstantiation.
But there is another piece of evidence furnished by
Burnet in this matter in the following passage : —
" [Some other lesser additions were made. But care was taken,
that nothing should be altered, so as it had been moved by the
Presbyterians ; for it was resolved to gratify them in nothing.]
One important addition was made, chiefly by Gawdens means ;
he pressed that a declaration, explaining the reasons of their kneeling
at the Sacrament, which had been in King Edward's Liturgy, but
was left out in Queen Elizabeth's time, should again be set where
it had once been. The Papists were highly offended, when they
saw such an express declaration made against the Real Presence,
and the Duke told me that when he asked .Sheldon how they
came to declare against a doctrine, which he had been instructed
was the doctrine of the Church, Sheldon answered, ask Gavuden
about it, who is a Bishop of your own making ; for the King had
ordered his promotion for the service he had done. — Hist . of his
own time. "Vol. I, p. 183, fol. ed. 1724.
" Now who was " the Duke " thus speaking to Burnet? I
suppose the Duke of York, afterwards James II : * if so, did
his views of the Real Presence incline to the Roman or to
the Anglican phase of that doctrine ? His subsequent
history will probably answer that it was to the Roman aspect :
in that case it is easy to understand that he should suppose
the Declaration to be directed "against a doctrine, which he
had been instructed was the doctrine of the Church [of
England] :" but this would tend to shew that it was aimed
at Transubstantiation and nothing more, and this was quite
enough to account for the fact that " the Papists were highly
offended." Is there any evidence to shew that Gawden did
not hold high views of the Real Presence though denying
Transubstantiation ? I am unable at present to answer this
question. If he did, then we must suppose that he and
Gunning (if it was Gunning, as I believe, to whom Burnet
referred in the other passage) co-operated in clearing the old
Declaration of what probably they thought a misleading
term, and substituting a definition not liable to the same
objection and withal only denying Transubstantiation. If he
did not, then we may imagine that though Gawden pressed
for the re-insertion of the Declaration, he only gained his
point by conceding the use of an expression which Gunning
• [For Burnet, writing of the authorship of eIkuv Ba.a-i\ix.m says " .... I
was not a little surprised, when in the year 1673, ia which I had a great share of
favour and free conversation with the then Duke of York, afterwards King
Jauiea the Second, as he suffered me to talk very freely to him about matters of
religion, and as I was arguing with him somewhat out of his father's book, he
told me that book was not of his father's writing, and that the letter to the
Prince of Wales was never brought to him. He said, Dr. Gawden writ it : after
the restoration he brought the Duke of Somerset and the Earl of Southampton
both to the King and to himself, who affirmed that they knew it was his
writing ; and that it was carried down by the Earl of Southampton, and shewed
the King during the treaty of Newport, who read it and approved of it as con-
taining his sense of things. Upon this he told me, that though Sheldon and
the other Bishops opposed Gawden because he had taken the Covenant, yet the
merits of that service cairied it for him, notwithstanding the opposition made to
it."— (Hist, of Own Time, Vol. I. p. 51, fol.; or Vol. I. p. SI, 8vo. Oxford,
1823.)]
'* the [supposed] author " of it intended to admit his view of
the Presence.
But we cannot fairly presume that either of these courses
was adopted without the sanction of the rest, or at least the
major part, of the Bishops : which of the two views repre-
sented their own, makes no material difference to the con-
clusion which seems to follow from it, and which has been
already stated, namely, That the Declaration is nothing more
than a negation of Transubstantiation.
If, indeed, I have at all succeeded in shewing that this was
all that was designed by the original Declaration, the circum-
stances attending its revision and re-introduction, so far as
we seem to know them, cannot possibly make it to mean
more. Then comes the very natural question — What license
is to be allowed, what limits are to be imposed, in enuncia-
ting the Doctrine of the Real Presence ? Again, I venture
to repeat, that the one cardinal point of Transubstantiation
seems to have been meant to decide it.
The expressions used by Cranmer, Ridley, and others
whom I have quoted : the way in which they professed to
accept the high language of Antiquity : these alike appear
to say that they had no wish to pare down any statement
which should invest the Sacrament of the Altar with the
greatest possible dignity and should secure for it the deepest
reverence, if only it did not run up into an admission of
that particular belief against which they were contending.
Indeed considering some of their staments, especially those
of Ridley, it is hard to say why they were burned for their
alleged recusancy. Can it be shewn that the statements of
the Bp. of Brechin and others, now complained of, exceed
them ? How near Cranmer and Gardiner approached in
1550 may be seen from the following passage :
In his reply to the " Defence" Gardiner quoted a passage
from Bucer, which he thus translated : —
" ' As the sun is truly placed determinately in one place of the
visible heaven, and yet is truly and substantially present by means of
his beams elsewhere in the world abroad; so our Lord, although
He be comprehended in one place of the secret and divine heaven,
that is to say, the glory of His father, yet, nevertheless by His
74
word and holy tokens He is exhibit present truly whole God and
man, and therefore in substance in His holy supper; which
presence man's mind, giving credit to His words and tokeDS, with
no less certainty acknowledgeth, than our eyes see, and have the
sun present, exhibited, and shewed with his corporal light. This is
a deep secret matter, and of the New Testament, and a matter of
faith ; and therefore herein thoughts be not to be received of such a
presentation of the body as consisteth in the manner of this life
transitory, and subject to suffer. We must simply cleave to the
word of Christ, and faith must relieve the default of our senses.' "
— Answer p. 90.
To this appeal on Gardiner's part, Cranmer thus answers : —
" In this comparison, I am glad that, at the last, we be come so
near together ; for you be almost right heartily welcome home, and
I pray you let us shake hands together. For we be agreed, as me
seemeth, that Christ's Body is present, and the same Body that suf-
fered ; and we be agreed also of the manner of His presence. For
you say that the Body of Christ is not present but after a spiritual
manner, and so say I also. And if there be any difference between
us two, it is but a little, and in this point only ; that I say that
Christ is but spiritually in the ministration of the Sacrament, and
you say that he is but after a spiritual manner in the Sacrament.
And yet you say that he is corporally in the SacrameDt, as who
should say that there were a difference between spiritually, and a
spiritual manner ; and that it were not all one to say that Christ is
there only after a spiritual manner, and not only spiritually.
" But if the substance of the Sun be here corporally present with
us upon earth, then I grant that Christ's Body is so likewise: so
that he of us two that erreth in the one, let him be taken for a vain
man, and to err also in the other. Therefore I am content that the
reader judge indifferently between you and me, in the corporal Pre-
sence of the Sun, and he that is found to err, and to be a fool therein,
let him be judged to err also in the corporal Presence of Christ's
Body.
" But now, Master Bucer, help this man at need : for he that hath
ever hitherto cried out against you, now being at a pinch, driven to
his shifts, crieth for help upon you : and, although he was never your
friend, yet extend your charity to help him in his necessity. But
Master Bucer saith not so much as you do ; and yet if you both said
that the beams of the Sun be of the same substance with the Sun, who
would believe either of you both ? Is the light of the candle the sub-
stance of the candle ? or the light of the fire the substance of the fire ?
Or is the beams of the Sun anything but the clear light of the
Sun ? Now, as you said even now of me, if you err so far from the
true judgment of natural things, that all men may perceive your
error, what marvel is it if you err in heavenly things ?
" And why should you be offended with this my saying, that Christ
to
is spiritually present in the assembly of such as be gathered to-
gether in His name ? And how can you conclude hereof, that this
is a plain abolition of the mystery of the Sacrament, because that
in the celebration of the Sacrament I say that Christ is spiritually
present ? Have not you confessed yourself that Christ is in the
Sacrament but after a spiritual manner ? And after that manner He
is also among them that be assembled togethether in His name.
And if they that say so do abolish the mystery of the Sacrament,
then do you abolish it yourself, by saying that Christ is but after a
spiritual manner in the Sacrament, after which manner you say also
that He is in them that be gathered together in His name, as well
as I do, that say He is spiritually in both. But he that is disposed
to pick quarrels, and to calumniate all things, what can be spoken
so plainly, or meant so sincerely, but he will wrest it unto a wrong
sense ? I say that Christ is spiritually and by grace in His sup-
per as He is when two or three be gathered together in His name,
meaning that with both He is spiritually, and with neither cor-
porally ; and yet I say not that there is no difference. For this dif-
ference there is, that with the one He is sacramentally, and with the
other not sacramentally, except they be gathered together in His
name to receive the Sacrament. Nevertheless, the selfsame Christ
is present in both, nourisheth and feedeth both, if the Sacrament be
rightly received. But that is only spiritually, as I say, and only
after a spiritual manner, as you say.
" And you say further, that before we receive the Sacrament, we
must come endued with Christ, and seemly clothed with Him. But
whosoever is endued and clothed with Christ hath Christ present
with him after a spiritual manner, and hath received Christ whole
both God and man, or else he could not have everlasting life. And
therefore is Christ present as well in Baptism as in the Lord's Sup-
per. For in Baptism be we endued with Christ, and seemly
clothed with Him, as well as in his Holy Supper we eat and drink
Him.— Ibid pp. 91-2.
The illustration here used is Ridley's also : I am not com-
petent to decide the nice philosophical question which alone
seemed to divide the belief of Cranmer and Gardiner at that
time : but it appears to deserve a careful consideration. Ab-
solute lack of time hinders any pursuit now of the thoughts
which it involves and of the enquiries which I have only
just been able to indicate in these latter pages : they have
been thrown hastily together, as possibly furnishing some few
suggestions which may shew the importance of further
examination and serious deliberation before arriving at any
conclusions, supposed to be deducible from the Declaration
on Kneeling, adverse to recently promulged and now con-
76
tested statements on the doctrine of the Real Presence in the
Holy Eucharist.
In this crude shape and with all their imperfections I have
ventured, my Lord, to address these remarks to your Lord-
ship, in an unpublished and very incomplete form : thinking
that if they do perchance contain any new fact or argument
they may not he unacceptable to your Lordship at this
seemingly critical time ; and beliving also that in so doing I
am not wanting in due respect to your high and responsible
Office in the Church of Christ.
I have the honour to be, my Lord,
Your Lordship's faithful Servant in Christ,
Presbyter Anglicanus.
P.S. Wholly too late to examine it, and much less to
have it copied and printed in time to accompany this letter, I
noticed in looking through Mr. Lemon's recently published
Calendar of State Papers, an apparently important Document
in " Vol. xv. Domestic. Edward VI. No. 15, Oct. 7, 1552,"
intitled " Archbp. Cranmer to the Council. Has received
their directions that the Book of Common Prayer should be
diligently pursued, and the printer's errors therein amended.
Arguments defending the practice of Kneeling at the
Sacrament ? "
It will be seen that the date of this letter coincides with
the dates from which I have argued at p. 37 that resistance was
probably made by the Bishops to the demand for withdrawing
the order for Kneeling at Communion. I need "scarcely say
that Cranmer's Arguments for Kneeling, contained in this
State Paper, may throw light upon the purpose of the
original Declaration : and this is a strong ground for suspend-
ing judgment upon it. I hope to produce this State Paper
with as little delay as may be : and at the same time to com-
plete this letter.
May 25th, 1858.
77
Postscript, No. S.
Since the above Letter was printed I have been endeavour-
ing to collect any other materials which might confirm or
further elucidate the views and position therein taken : the
result of such searches as time and opportunity afforded,
together with some observations unavoidably omitted in the
Letter, I now submit for consideration in this Postcript ;
only making this further preliminary remark, — that it would
probably be an error to suppose that a longer investigation
would not furnish new or additional facts and arguments of
the like character and tendency.
I. And, first of all, it will be best to produce and notice
the State Paper mentioned in my former P.S. The following
is an accurate transcript of the original Document remaining
in the State Paper Office, and marked : —
" Domestic. Edward VI. Vol. 15, No. 15."
" After my right humble commendations unto yo r good Lord-
shipps — Where I understaunde by your L. ltres that the Kings Ma tie his
pleasure is that the boke of commen service shoulde bee diligentlye
perused and therin the prynters errourse to bee amendid : I shall
travaile therin to the uttermost of my power albeit I had neade first
to have had the boke written w ch was passed by acte of Parliament
and sealed w 4 the greate seale w ch remaynith in the handes of
M r Spilman clerke of the Parlament, who is not in London nor I
cannot learne where he is. Nevertheles I have gotten the copie
w ch M r Spilman delivered to the printers to printe by, w ch I thinke
shall serve well enough. And where I understaunde further by
yo r L. ltres, that some bee offended w l kneeling at the tyme of the
receavinge of the Sacrament, and woulde that I callinge to me the
bushop of London and some other learned men as M r Peter Martyr
or suche like should w l theim expend and waye the said prescription
of kneelinge whether it bee fitt to remayn as a commaundement or to
bee left out of the boke. I shall accomplish the Kings Ma tie his
commaundement albeeit I trust that wee w* just ballaunce waied
this at the makinge of the boke, and not onlie wee but a greate
menny bushops and other of the best learned w'in this realme and
appoincted for that purpose. And nowe the boke beinge read and
approved by thole state of the Realme in the high courte of Parla-
ment w l the Kings Ma ,ie his roiall assent, y* this shoulde bee nowe
altered againe w'out Parlament, of what importaunce this matter is,
78
I referr to your L. wisdome to considre. I kuowe yo r L. wisdome
to bee suche, that I trust ye will not bee moved w l thes gloriouse
and unquiet spirites w ch can like nothing but that is after their own
fansye and cease not to make troble and disquietnes when thinges
bee most quiet and in goode ordre. If suche men should bee
hearde although the boke were made everye yere anewe, yet should
it not lacke faultes in their opinion. But (saie thei) it is not com-
maunded in the scripture to kneele, and whatsoever is not com-
maunded in the scripture is against the scripture and utterly unlaufull
and ungodlie. But this saing is the chief foundation of therro r of
thanabaptists and of divers other sectes. This sainge is a subvertion
of all ordre aswell in religion as in common pollicye. If this sainge
bee true, take awaie the hole boke of service. For what should men
travell to sett an ordre in the forme of service, if no ordre can bee
sett, but that is alreadye prescribed by the scripture. And because
I will not troble yo r L. w* recitinge of manny scriptures or proves in
this matier, whosoever teacheth anny suche doctrine (if yo r L. will
geave me leave) I will sett my fote by his to bee tried by tier, that
his doctrine is untrue, and not onlie untrue but also seditiouse and
p[er]illouse to bee hearde of anny subjectes, as a thinge breakinge
the bridle of obedience and losinge theim from the bonde of all
princes lawes. My good L. I praye youe to considre that there bee
two praiers w ch go before the receavinge of the Sacrament and two
ymmediatlie followe all w ch tyme the people praying and geavinge
thanckes, do kneele ; and what inconvenience there is that it may
not bee thus ordered I knowe not. If the kneelinge of the people
shoulde bee discontynued for the tyme of the receavinge of the
Sacrament, so y l at the recept therofthei shoulde rise up and staunde
or sitt, and then ymmediatlie kneele downe againe, it should rather
importe a contemptuouse then a reverent receavinge of the Sacra-
ment. But it is not expreslye conteigned in the scripture (saie thei)
that Christ ministred the sacrament to his apostles kneelinge. Nor
thei finde it not expresly in scriptur that he ministered it staundinge
or sittinge ; but if wee will followe the plaine wourdes of scripture,
wee shall rather receave it lyinge downe on the grounde, as the
custome of the wourlde at that tyme almost every where, and as the
Tartars and Turkes use yet at this daie to eate their meate lying
upon the grounde. And the wourdes of the Evangelist importe the
same, w ch bee a»ax£i/xai and atatiitnu whiche signifie properlie to
lie downe upon the floure or grounde and not to sitt apon a forme or
stole. A [nd] the same speache use thevangelists where thei sh [ew]
that Christ fead five thowsaunde w' v loves, wh [ere] it is plainlie
expressede that thei satt down upon the grounde and not upon stoles.
I beseche yo r L. to take in good parte this my longe babelinge w ch I
write as of my self onlie, because the bushop of London is not yet
come, and yo r L. required aunswer w' speede, and therfore ame I
constrayned to make some aunswer to yo r L. afore his coming. And
thus I praye god longe to preserve yo r L. and to increase the same
79
in all prosperitie and godlines. At Lambieth This vij" 1 of Octobr
1552.
" Yo r Lordeshipps to commaunde
"T. Cantr
(Indorsed) " To my veray goode Lordes of the Kings most
honorable councell.
"7, octob. 1552 Bish. of Cant'b. to y e Cll. de gennaflect in com-
munio. ivya.^at"
Now it will be seen that this Letter of Archbishop Cranmer
most entirely confirms the suggestions I have offered in p. 36:
for although it makes no allusion to any intended Declaration
on Kneeling to be added to the Book, it proves distinctly, as
I surmized, that "objections were urged upon the Council
against the direction " to kneel at receiving the Sacrament,
" and that its omission was pressed for." It further attests the
conviction there expressed, that "the considerations which "
had "prompted the Direction" to kneel at receiving "were
doubtless equally weighty in inducing the Bishops and the
Privy Council to determine on retaining it in the Book."
Nothing can be plainer than that Cranmer was deeply im-
pressed with the necessity of not yielding this point,- as well
as other points, to the " gloriouse and unquiet spirites " of
that day ; and his language in this Letter ought to have con-
siderable weight with those in our own time who, while pro-
fessing their great reverence for the Archbishop, are treacling
in the very steps of that extreme Reforming party in 1552
whose conduct the Primate thus severely censures. That
Ridley and the other leading Bishops concurred with Cranmer
in this determination as to kneeling at Communion might be
inferred from the consideration that the Archbishop was pro-
bably disposed to go beyond them in consulting the prejudices
of those whom they were all desirous to comprehend if they
could in the Church of England : but here is Cranmer 's testi-
mony that " at the makinge of the boke " this "prescription of
kneelinge" was determined upon by " a great menny bushops
and other of the best learned " : we may be sure, therefore,
that they, like him, refused to alter it. That the King and
Council deferred to the Bishops even if they differed from
80
them (of which, however, there is no proof), is clear from
the fact that the Order was not withdrawn.
Prohably, however, it will be objected — that the Reasons
which Cranmer assigns in this Letter for " Kneeling at the
tyme of the receavinge of the Sacrament" are no proof that
he held the Doctrine of the Real Presence. But surely it
would be fairer to ask — Do they contain any indication that
he did not hold it ? In answering this question, it is of con-
sequence to bear in mind the character of the complainants
and the ground of their complaint : both are described by
the Archbishop in his Letter : he saw clearly enough that
they were not to be satisfied with such a concession as they
required, even if he had been disposed to make it ; and we
may well believe him to have felt that, whatever their faith
or misbelief as to the Real Presence, any argument upon it
would be out of place with those who demanded license to
do as they list because "it is not expressly conteigned in
the scripture (saie thei) that Christ ministered the sacrament
to his apostles kneelinge." It was, then, only prudent and
politic in one who was evidently bent upon carrying his point,
not to risk the loss of it by furnishing the Council with argu-
ments which perhaps some of them might refuse to endorse,
and which, even if all concurred in them, would be no answer
to the opponents of the Rubric, whatever their opinion on
the then debated question of Christ's presence in the Sacra-
ment: for, no doubt, they would have retorted— That the
Apostles did not kneel even when Christ was visibly present.
It would be most unjust therefore to Cranmer, to accuse
him, on such a ground as this, of not holding the Catholic
Doctrine : rather it would be due to him to think that he was
unwilling to peril its acceptance by employing it to defeat an
opposition which, however truly, was not then ostensibly
based upon the non-recognition of it.
Moreover, it would appear that the Archbishop quite
understood the weakness of those who professed to " bee
offended," and well knew how to turn their own inconsistency
into an argument for the rule and practice which he was
defending. For it seems that they limited their objection to
kneeling, to " the tyme of the receavinge of the Sacrament";
81
tliis, no doubt, was highly important in the estimation of the
Zwinglian and stricter Sacramentarian party, who wished to
disconnect from the reception of the Eucharistic elements
every idea of their being the media of conveying to any the
Body and Blood of Christ. To kneel at receiving them
would be the recognition of a belief which even Calvin and
the more moderate Sacramentarians held — that simultaneously
with the participation of the bread and wine the Body and
Blood of Christ were communicated to the elect, or those in a
state of grace. It is obvious, therefore, that if the protesta-
tion thus involved in not kneeling at the time of receiving,
were allowed, kneeling at other parts of the Service would
not be an obstacle with them, though they might prefer some
other attitude. It is easy, then, to conceive, that under
these circumstances Cranmer felt it necessary to meet the
objectors on their own ground, and to furnish the Council
with an answer which (while perhaps it was necessary for
some of the Councillors themselves) should enable it to
appease the complainants without adverting to any Doctrinal
dispute.
The consideration, then, that the objectors acquiesced in
the rule of kneeling at other parts of the Communion Office
(and thus maintained some external reverence in what they
regarded as no more than a commemorative rite) coupled
with their non-belief of any Objective Presence resulting
from Consecration, appears to have provided the Archbishop
with his answer to their cavil : he simply contents himself
with calling the Council's attention to the fact M that there
bee two praiers which go before the receavinge of the Sacra-
ment and two ymmediatlie followe all which tyme the people
praying and geavinge thanckes, do kneele". These four
prayers were, (1) The Prayer of access, "We do not pre-
sume," &c. ; (2) The Consecration Prayer, " Almighty God
our heavenly Father," &c. ; (3) The Lord's Prayer ; (4) The
Prayer of Thanksgiving, " O Lord and heavenly Father," &c,
or, " Almighty and everlasting God," &c, as in our present
Office. On what principle, asks the Archbishop, in effect,
can they kneel during these prayers, and refuse to kneel
M
82
during that act which they would acknowledge as designed to
quicken their intellectual apprehension of Christ — which
perhaps some of them would even regard as the obsignation
of the benefits of Christ's death ? They cannot merely wish,
he virtually says, to exhibit less devotion at the moment
when they would intensify their mental union with Christ,
or realize the sealing of His grace, than when they ask Him
to bestow these blessings or thank Him for having vouchsafed
them ! Even on their own view of the nature and use of
the Lord's Supper, if " at the recept " of the Sacrament the
people " shoulde rise up and staunde or sitt, and then
ymmediately kneele down againe, it should rather import a
contemptuouse then a reverent receavinge of the Sacrament."
This, I think, is the very lowest construction which can
be put upon the Archbishop's Letter : his argument was one
which the necessity of the case appears to have required, and
which, were it needful, might be justified by the example of
an Apostle who said, " being crafty I caught you Avith guile."
Yet it must not be taken as the measure of Cranmer's own
belief : that, to be rightly estimated, must be sought either
in his own positive teaching or in controversies with the
Papal party : in these we should expect to find how much
he deliberately held ; and some tolerable notion of what he
did believe on the Real Presence will have been gathered
from the passages already cited.
I can readily imagine, however, some one appealing to this
Letter from Cranmer to the Council as a proof of what has been
sometimes asserted — that the Archbishop, when he prepared
Edward's Second Book, did not believe in Consecration. It
will be asked, I have no doubt, does not the fact that Cranmer
here speaks of the Prayer of Consecration in precisely the
same language which he applies to the Prayer of Access and
to the two Post-communion Prayers, prove that he could not
have attributed any peculiar value to the act of Consecrating
the Eucharist ?
For the reasons already given it would be enough to
answer — that Cranmer's view of Consecration must not be
gathered from language used on an occasion when to have
83
urged the importance of Consecration would probably have
ofily had the mischievous effect of provoking a clamorous
demand to expunge the Prayer itself from the Book which
had just received the sanction of the Crown and of Parli-
ament ; and that Cranmer had some reason to fear the
Council would not refuse to employ its extensive powers in
altering the Book, if it so pleased them, is plain from his
referring it to their " wisdome to considre " of " what impor-
taunce " it was, even for the Rubric on Kneeling to " bee
nowe altered againe without Parliament." Yet, perhaps, in
that very silence which was only politic, we may trace a
latent defence of Consecration. It can scarcely have been
absent from the Archbishop's mind — that the objectors to the
Rubric must have been fully conscious of the importance
attached to this Prayer of Consecration by, at least, the
greater proportion of a Clergy who had only four years be-
fore been constantly using the old Mass Office, and who at
that very tim%were accustomed to so definite a form of Con-
secration as that in Edward's 1st. Book. His own sagacity
moreover, must surely have suggested to him that (though
the Prayer as altered in the 2nd Book, and especially the
omission of the Rubrics requiring the manual acts, might
satisfy the Clerical as well as the Lay malcontents) the com-
plainants could not disguise from themselves the distinctive
character of a Prayer which " the Priest " was still ordered to
offer " standing up " and which they would certainly believe
him, in the majority of cases, to use with the same intention
which he had always had : not to say that they would expect
to find the Priests, generally, continuing to use those same
Manual Acts to which up to that time they had been accus-
tomed and which, be it observed, they were not forbidden to
employ : for to suppose that the Clergy of ] 552 in any
numbers, and, much more, suddenly, made so great a change
in their habitual practice; is a notion as wholly improbable as
the supposition — that if the present Prayer Book were now
revised and the Rubrics in the Consecration Prayer omitted,
any considerable number of the Clergy of the present day
would cease to Consecrate the Eucharist with the Manual
Acts now prescribed.
84
Now mark how the Archbishop turns to account this im-
pression, which we cannot deny he was likely to have had, of
the objectors' mental consciousness as to the prevailing belief
touching this Prayer : he makes no special allusion to the
Prayer itself ; that would, in all likelihood, have been a
signal for reclamation on their part and would have added
force to their objection to kneeling at the reception, as recog-
nizing a Real Presence due to Consecration : but, ignoring
for the time their own disbelief and their conviction of others'
belief in Consecration, he contents himself with noticing the
fact that at that Prayer and three other Prayers intimately
related to it " the people praying and geaving thanckes, do
kneele ;" leaving it to them to reconcile it to their own con-
sciences how (while objecting to kneel at receiving) they
could unite in an external act which implied acquiesence in a
theory they themselves disavowed. It was no part of his
duty then to sound in unwilling ears the Doctrine of the
Church : enough if he could compel uncandid minds to yield
assent to a Rule which he was not prepared to abandon,
though that assent was secured by an argument which con-
demned their own palpable inconsistency.
But we are not without distinct evidence as to Cranmer's
views at this time touching Consecration : his " Defence of
the True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament " (already
quoted at pp. 19 — 26) will tell us what they were: the
" Defence" was written in 1550 i.e. the year after the publi-
cation of Edward's 1st Book; its object and the Archbishop's
status at that time on the Eucharistical question are thus
described by Foxe, A.D. 1563, in his " Life, State, and
Story of Thomas Cranmer :" the Italics are mine : —
" During all this mean time of King Henry aforesaid, until the
entering of King Edward, it seemeth that Cranmer was scarcely
yet thoroughly persuaded in the right knowledge of the Sacrament,
or at least, was not yet fully ripened in the same : wherein shortly
after he being more groundly confirmed by conference with Bishop
Ridley, in process of time did so profit in more riper knowledge,
that at last he took upon him the defence of that whole doctrine,
that is, to refute and throw down first, the corporal presence ;
secondly, the phantastical transubstanliation ; thirdly, the idolatrous
83
adoration ; fourthly, the false error of the papists, that wicked men
do eat the natural body of Christ ; and lastly, the blasphemous
sacrifice of the mass. Whereupon in conclusion he wrote five books
for the public instruction of the Church of England, which in-
struction yet to this day standeth and is received in this Church of
England.'' — Crawmer on the Lord's Supper. Works, Parker Society
p. xix, or Foxe, Acts and Mon. Vol. 8, p. 34, ed. 1849.
The following is Cranmer's statement upon Consecration,
as quoted by him from The Defence in his Answer to Bishop
Gardiner's strictures upon that Book : —
" And now I will come to the saying of St. Ambrose, which is
always in their mouths. ' Before the consecration,' saith he, as they
allege, ' it is bread, but after the words of the consecration it is the
body of Christ.'
" For answer hereunto, it must be first known what consecration is.
" Consecration is the separation of anything from a profane and
worldly use unto a spiritual and godly use.
" And therefore when usual and common water is taken from other
uses, and put to the use of baptism in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, then it may rightly be called con-
secrated water, that is to say, water put to an holy use.
" Even so, when common bread and wine be taken and severed
from other bread and wine to the use of the holy communion, that
portion of bread and wine, although it be of the same substance that
the other is from the which it is severed, yet it is now called con-
secrated, or holy bread and holy wine.
" Not that the bread and wine have or can have any holiness in
them, but that they be used to an holy work, and represent holy and
godly things. And therefore St. Dionyse ( Be Eccl. Hierar. cap. 3,)
called the bread holy bread, and the cup an holy cup, as soon as they
be set upon the altar to the use of the holy communion.*
" But specially they may be called holy and consecrated, when
they be separated to that holy use by Christ's own words, which He
spake for that purpose, saying of the bread, ' This is my body,' and
of the wine, ' This is my blood.'
" So that commonly the authors, before those words be spoken, do
take the bread and wine but as other common bread and wine ; but
after those words be pronounced over th?m, then they take them for
consecrated and holy bread and wine.
" Not that the bread and wine can be partakers of any holiness or
godliness, or can be the body and blood of Christ, but that they re-
present the very body and blood of Christ, and the holy food and
* ThiB statement of Cranmer's at once suggests that, though in Edward's 2nd
Book the Rubric forthc oblation of the Elements was omitted, the Abp. could not
have contemplated the modern (but now pronounced illegal) practice of neglecting
this act : for, as will be seen presently, his views were the same in 1552.
86
nourishment which we have by him. And so they be called by the
names of the body and blood of Christ, as the sign, token, and figure
is called by the name of the very thing which it sheweth and
signifieth.
" And therefore as St. Ambrose, in the words before cited by the
adversaries, saith, that ' before the consecration it is bread, and after
the consecration it is Christ's body,' so in other places he doth more
plainly set forth his meaning, saying these words : ' Before the
benediction of the heavenly words, it is called another kind of thing ;
but after the consecration, is signified the body of Christ. Likewise
before the consecration it is called another thing ; but after the con-
secration it is named the blood of Christ (Be his qui mysleris
initiantur, cap. ult.) And again he saith : ' When I treated of the
Sacraments, I told you that that thing which is offered before the
words of Christ, is called bread : but when the words of Christ be
pronounced, then it is not called bread, but it is called by the name
of Christ's body.' (Be sacramentis, Lib. v. cap. 4.)
By which words of St. Ambrose it appeareth plainly, that the
bread is called by the name of Christ's body after the consecration ;
and although it be still bread, yet after consecration it is dignified by
the name of the thing which it representeth :* as at length is de-
* It is of importance not to mistake Cranmer'8 use of this expression which,
in other forms also, he often employs : we may be tolerably certain that his
meaning is best represented by the terms " no bare sign, no untrue figure of a
thing absent " which occur in the first part of " An Homily of the worthy re-
ceiving and reverent esteeming of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of
Christ," even if we knew that this Homily of the 2nd Book was not written by
him or at his instance, whereas the probability is lhat he was its author.
In confirmation of this it may be remarked — that Cranmcr could not have held
lower views on this point than Calvin whose doctrine the Archbishop must have
well known : it may elucidate this, and other statements in this Letter, to quote
the following account of Calvin's belief as given by Bishop Cosin; bearing in
mind, however, how it was affected by his theory of Grace already referred to.
" Now because great is the fame of Calvin, (who subscribed the Augustan
Confession and that of the Switzers,) let us hear what he writ and believed con-
cerning this sacred mystery. His words in his Institutions and elsewhere are
such, so conformable to the style and mind of the ancient fathers, that no
Catholic protestant would wish to use any other. 'I understand,' saith he,
' what is to be understood by the words of Christ, that He doth not only offer us
the benefits of His death and resurrection, but His very Body wherein He died
and rose again. I assert that the Body of Christ is really, (as the usual ex-
pression is,) that is, truly, given to us in the sacrament, to be the saving food of
our souls.' (Comm. on 1 Cor.) Also, in another place : 'Item, that word can-
not lie, neither can it mock us ; and, except one presumes to call God a deceiver,
he will never dare to say that the symbols are empty, and that Christ is not in
them. Therefore, if by the breaking of the bread our Saviour doth represent the
participation of His Body, it is not to be doubted but that He truly gives and
confers it. It it be true that the visible sign is given us to seal the gift of an in-
visible thing, we must firmly believe that, receiving the signs of the Body, we
also certainly receive the Body itself. Setting aside all absurdities, I do will-
ingly admit all those terms that can most strongly express the true and substan-
tial communication of the Body and Blood of Christ granted to the faithful with
the symbols of the Lord's Supper ; and that, not as if they received only by the
force of their imagination, or an act of their minds, but really so as to be fed
clared before in the process of transubstantiation, and specially in the
words of Theodoretus.
" And as the bread is a corporal meat, and corporally eaten, so,
saith St. Ambrose {Be sacramentis, Lib. vi. cap. 1,) ' is the body of
Christ a spiritual meat, and spiritually eaten,' and that requireth no
corporal presence. '" — Works, Parker Society pp. 177-8.
Such was Abp. Cranmer's deliberately recorded opinion
on this subject in 1550: Bishop Gardiner in his reply con-
troverted the Primate's views : as however, we are not now
seeking Gardiner s but Cranmers belief, it is not necessary to
quote the argument of the former, especially as it is substan-
tially incorporated with Cranmer's rejoinder in 1551: this
"Answer," as also the " Defence," undoubtedly exhibits
Cranmer's views at the very time he was preparing the Prayer
Book of 1552; for in a Letter to the Secretary of State,
dated Sep. 29, 1551, he asks the King's Licence " for the
printing and selling " of the Book which contained both.
From the " Answer " I cite the following passages : —
" It is not I that wrestle with St. Ambrose, but you, who take
great pain to wrest his words clean contrary to his intent and mean-
ing. But where you ask this question, What can be more plain than
these words of St. Ambrose, ' It is bread before consecration, and
after, it is Christ's body?' these words of St. Ambrose be not fully
so plain as you pretend, but clean contrary. For what can be spoken
either more unplain or untrue, than to say of bread after consecra-
tion, that it is the body of Christ, unless the same be understanded in
thereby unto eternal life.' (Instit. book iv. eh. 17.) Again: ' Wc must therefore
confess that the inward substance of the Sacrament is joined with the visible
sign ; so that, as the bread is put into our hand, the Body of ChrUt is also given
to us. This certainly, if there were nothing else, should abundantly satisfy us
that we understand that Christ in His Holy Sapper gives us the true and proper
substance of His Body and Blood ; that, it being wholly ours, we may be made
partakers of all His benefits and graces.' (Treat, of the Lord's Supper.) Again :
' The Son of God offers daily to us in the Holy Sacrament the same Body which
He once offered in sacrifice to His Father, that it may bo our spiritual food.' In
these he asserts, as clearly as any one can, the true, real, and substantial pre-
sence and communication of the Body of Christ ; but how, he undertakes not to
determine. 'If any one,' saith he, (Instit., book iv. ch. 17, num. 32,) 'ask me
concerning the manner, I will not be ashamed to confess that it is a secret too
high for my reason to comprehend, or my tongue to express ; or, to speak more
roperly, I rather feel than understand it : therefore, without disputing, I em-
race the truth of God, and confidently repose on it. He declares that His flesh
is the food, and His Blood the drink of my soul ; and my soul I offer to Him to
bo fed by such nourishment. He bids me take, eat, and drink, His Body and
Blood, which in His Holy Supper He offers me under the symbols of bread and
wine : I make no scruple, but He dotb reach them to me, and I receive them.'
All these are Calvin's own woids." — Cosin's History of Transubstantiation. Ang.
Cath. Lib. p. 167.
88
a figurative speech? For although Christ's body, as you say, be
there after consecration, yet the bread is not His body, nor His
body is not made of it, by your confession. And therefore the
saying of St. Ambrose, that it is Christ's body, cannot be true in
plain speech. And therefore St. Ambrose in the same place, where
he calleth it the body and blood of Christ, he saith, it is a figure of
His body and blood. For these be his words : Quod est Jigura
corporis et sanguinis Domini nostri Jesu Christi. — p. 179.
" And as for the word ' consecration ' I have declared the signifi-
cation thereof according to the mind of the old authors, as I will
justify.
" And for the writing of Melancthon to CEcolampadius, you
remain still in your old error, taking Myconius for CEcolampadius.
And yet the change of bread and wine in this Sacrament, which
Melancthon speaketh of, is a sacramental change, as the nature of
a sacrament requireth, signifying how wonderfully Almighty God
by his omnipotency worketh in us his lively members, and not in the
dead creatures of bread and wine.
" And the change is in the use, and not in the elements kept and
reserved, wherein is not the perfection of a sacrament. Therefore,
as water in the font or vessel hath not the reason and nature of a
sacrament, but when it is put to the use of christening, and then
it is changed into the proper nature and kind of a sacrament,
to signify the wonderful change which Almighty God by his
omnipotency worketh really in them that be baptized therewith ;
such is the change of the bread and wine in the Lord's supper.
And therefore, the bread is called Christ's Body after consecration,
as St. Ambrose saith, and yet it is not so really but sacranieiltally.
For it is neither Christ's mystical body, (for that is the congrega-
tion of the faithful dispersed abroad in the world,) nor His natural
body, (for that is in Heaven,) but it is the sacrament both of His true
natural body, and also of His mystical body, and for that considera-
tion hath the name of His body, as a sacrament or sign may bear the
name of the very thing that is signified and represented thereby. —
p. 180.
" And I express St. Cyprian's mind truly, and not a whit discrepant
from my doctrine here, when I say, that the Divinity may be said
to be poured, or put sacramentally into the bread; as'the Spirit
of God is said to be in the water of Baptism, when it is truly minis-
tered, or in His word when it is sincerely preached, with the Holy
Spirit working mightily in the hearts of the hearers. And yet the
water in itself is but a visible element, nor the preacher's word of
itself is but a sound in the air, which as soon as it is heard, vanisheth
away, and hath in itself no holiness at all, although for the use and
ministry thereof it may be called holy. And so likewise may be said
of the sacraments, which, as St. Augustine saith, ' be as it were
God's visible word.' — p. 181.
89
"... the bread after consecration is not called Christ's body,
because it is so in deed ; for then it were no figurative speech, as all
the old authors say it is." — p. 182.
Such, then, were Cranmer's views of Consecration at the
date of the publication of Edward's 2nd Book ; for, though
published apparently some months before that Book, it is
certain that he did not subsequently part with them for any
lower standard: yet, whether the Archbishop's statements
fully realized the mind of Catholic Antiquity or not, it will
hardly be contended that the man who could write thus made
light of that part of the Eucharistic Ritual, much less dis-
believed or disavowed the Church's. Doctrine concerning it.*
* Hence, as also for reasons mentioned at p. 35, I cannot accept the interpre-
tation, there referred to, of the Rubric in the Prayer Book of 1552 " if any of the
bread and wine remain, the Curate shall have it to his own use." It is to be re-
gretted that Mr. Cheyne (Six Sermons p. 46, Note), in common indeed with others,
should have (as I think) so mistaken, what I have no doubt is its true meaning, as to
censure " Cranmer and his associates" in strong language for having thus "left"
it. Even Bucer, in his Censures on the Book of 1549, while objecting to the
oblation of the Elements " as implying a superstitious notion of the effect of
Consecration : . . . allows . . . that at a very early period care was taken to
avoid profanation of the remains of the consecrated Elements." (Procter p. 41.)
And when we remember that neither he nor P. Martyr seem to have expected
that their opinions would determine the changes (see their Letters quoted in
Procter pp. 43 and 44), it is very unlikely that the Rubric in question could have
been meant in the least to alter what no doubt was the then practice. It cannot
be reasonably doubted, I think, that, as no Rubric existed in the 1st Book de-
termining what was to be done with the unconsumed Sacrament when not re-
served for the sick, so the Revisers of that Book thought it unnecessary to add a
Rubric in the 2nd Book to determine a point which usual practice must have
settled for a body of Clergy who, if not forbidden, would naturally do as they had
done under the old Ritual. They were not likely, for the most part, to be irre-
verent on this matter.
I have already (Letter p. 35) expressed an opinion that reservation for the
sick probably continued to be practised under the Book of 1552: in support of
that view it may be as well to add here that (apart from the likelihood of the
custom being continued by the Clergy of that day) the Office for the Communion
of the Sick does not forbid it, though the Rubric of the 1st Book, directing it, was
omitted. But in Elizabeth's Book the Office was precisely that of Edward's 2nd
Book, and yet in her authorized Latin version the Rubric is retained, directing
reservation at the public Celebration when notice had been given that a sick
person desired Communion.
It would be no answer, I think, to this argument to say— that the Latin Book
seems to have been designed for the use of the Universities : for the question at
once arises — on what principle could reservation be accounted right in a College
and wrong in a Parish f Besides, it would have to be shown that the sacerdos
who, in the 3rd Rubric, is directed to reserve is not the parochus to whom in the
2nd Rubric the notice is ordered to be sent.
It is worth noticing, too, that P. Martyr in his Strictures on the Book of 1549
expresses his surprise that Bucer had not objected to Reservation for the sick.
In dealing with points of this kind we cannot too carefully bear in mind what
were likely to have been the habits of Clergy accustomed to the Old Offices : by
N
90
Though, however, the Archbishop intended to maintain (as
I believe) the Catholic Doctrine on Consecration; and, as
his Letter to the Council proves, upheld the practice of kneel-
ing at the Sacrament ; we may well conclude that, under the
circumstances of that particular time, he would readily con-
sent to (perhaps suggested) an explanation of the latter act
such as that contained in the Declaration. For, considering
his anxiety as to what the Roman party had recently been
doing at Trent, it was but natural that he should desire not to
have the Church of England charged with upholding the
Roman doctrine while insisting upon this act of external
reverence.
It was barely seven months before, viz. March 20th, 1552,
that he had written to Bullinger, Calvin, and Melancthon
expressing his concern at the proceedings of the Council of
Trent : addressing Calvin he thus writes :
" . . . . Our adversaries are now holding their councils at
Trent for the establishment of their errors ; and shall we neglect to
call together a godly synod, for the refutation of error, and for re-
storing and propagating the truth ? They are, as I am informed,
making decrees respecting the worship of the host [iripi i-if
apTo>iaTpEia?] : wherefore we ought to leave no stone unturned, not
only that we may guard others against this idolatry, but also that we
may ourselves come to an agreement upon the doctrine of this sacra-
ment. It cannot escape your prudence, how exceedingly the Church
of God has been injured by dissensions and varieties of opinion re-
specting this sacrament of unity ; and though they are now in some
measure removed, yet I could wish for an agreement in this doctrine,
not only as regards the subject itself, but also with respect to the
words and forms of expression . . . ." — Original Letters,
Parker Society Vol. 1. No. xiv. p. 24, and Lat. Orig. in Cranmer's
Remains. Pt. 1, p. 431.
To this Letter Calvin replied from Geneva about a month
afterwards, viz. in April 1552; he observes: —
"... I wish it could be effected, that grave and learned
men from the principal churches might meet together at a place
appointed, and, after diligent consideration of each article of faith,
hand down to posterity a definite form of doctrine according to their
united opinion. But this also is to be reckoned among the greatest
doing this we shall probably save ourselves from the common but, I think, most
doubtful and unhistorical conclusion -- that whatever was not ordered in Edward's
2nd Book ceased to be practised. Rubrical omissions must not be confused with
Rubrical prohibitions.
91
evils of our time, that the churches are so estranged from each other,
that scarcely the common intercourse of society has place among
them ; much less that holy communion of the members of Christ,
which all persons profess with their life, though few sincerely honour
it in their practice . . . ." — Orig. Letters. Vol. 2, No. cccxxxvii.
p. 713.
With so little hope, then, of attaining an agreement with
other Churches on the Eucharistic question, Cranmer no
douht was the more desirous of securing concord in England ;
it is likely, therefore, that we see one fruit of this wish in the
xxixth Article of the Synod of this very year (1552) already
noticed in the Letter p. 32 ; and nothing can be more pro-
bable than that the Archbishop had induced the Convocation
to pass the 2nd paragraph (denying Transubstantiation) and
the 3rd paragraph (rejecting "the reall and bodelie presence")
— that very paragraph upon which, as I argued (Letter p. 36)
the Declaration was obviously framed — on account of what he
understood the Council of Trent to have been enacting;
though it is probable he did not know the precise language of
the Decree and Canon which had been passed in its 13th
Session, October 11th, 1551.
The Decree, which immediately follows that " On Tran-
substantiation " and is made to depend upon it, runs thus: —
" Wherefore, there is no room left for doubt, that all the faithful
of Christ may, according to the custom ever received in the Catholic
Church, render in veneration the worship of latria, which is due to
the true God, to this most holy sacrament. For not therefore is it
the less to be adored on this account, that it was instituted by Christ,
the Lord, in order to be received : for we believe that same God to
be present therein, of whom the eternal Father, when introducing
Him into the world, says ; And let all the angels of God adore Him;
whom the Magi falling down, adored; who, in fine, as the Scripture
testifies, was adored by the Apostles in Galilee." — Canons and De-
crees of the Council of Trent p. 79, Waterworth's Translation.
It is not improbable that the Archbishop may have been in-
formed of the substance of this Decree : if so, he would no
doubt consider that the earlier part of it (especially as based
upon the Decree on Transubstantiation) tended to uphold the
popular view of a carnal Presence ; and thus he would be the
more eager to guard the Eucharistic Doctrine in those Articles
92
which were then passing. The Canon, indeed, which was
founded upon this Decree is not, in its first clause, open to
this objection : for it only declares : —
" If any one saith, that, in the holy sacrament of the Eucharist,
Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, is not to be adored with the
worship, even external of latria ; .... let him be anathema."
But then, even if Cranmer had known of this Canon, he
might naturally fear that the way in which it immediately
proceeds to defend the popular practices of adoration would
be likely to obscure this statement and foster the prevalent
grosser belief: for it runs on, after the word " latria," thus : —
" and is, consequently, neither to be venerated with a special
festive solemnity, nor to be solemnly borne about in processions,
according to the laudable and universal rite and custom of holy
church ; or, is not to be proposed publicly to the people to be
adored, and that the adorers thereof are idolators; let him be
anathema." — Canon vi. Ibid. p. 83.
In the Archbishop's judgment the practices thus main-
tained under the Council's anathema, and by it tied to the
Doctrine of Transubstantiation, had been so connected in the
minds of the people with the physical Presence, as to be
neither safe nor profitable ; yet, in marked contrast with the
vehemence of the Council, all that he and his Synod, speaking
in the name of the Church of England, say, is —
" The Sacramente of the Lordes Supper was not commaunded by
Christes ordinaunce to be kepte, carried about, lifted up, nor
worshipped." — Art. xxix of 1552.
He might well, therefore, think it all the more important
to explain by way of Declaration that kneeling as ordered by
the Church of England did not imply any belief in Transub-
stantiation ; especially as he knew that they who opposed the
required practice would, probably, be only too ready to accuse
her of maintaining, by a Ceremonial act prescribed to the
people, what they would be compelled to admit she had dis-
avowed in a Formulary to be subscribed by the Clergy.
Thus far I have argued Cranmer's probable meaning, upon
the supposition that the objections to the Rubric enforcing
Kneeling came from the Zwinglian party, and were based
upon purely Doctrinal grounds: but, though we have no
93
positive information on the subject, we are not left wholly to
conjecture the source whence they proceeded: there is much
reason for thinking that John Knox was really the objector
whom the Archbishop had especially to withstand; yet
doubtless he was the mouthpiece of a party and, too, we
may be sure he would be no unwelcome advocate for those
whom I have already noticed, notwithstanding their Doctrinal
differences.
Knox (who had been ordained Priest about 1530) was
appointed one of the Six Royal Chaplains in December 1551 :
in this character he had, in October 1552, to revise the
Articles then in preparation, as we learn from Strype, who,
quoting the Council Book, says : —
" ... .1 find that ' October 2, a letter was directed to Mr. Harley,
Bill, Horn, Grindal, Perne, and Knox, to consider certain Articles
(which must be these Articles of Religion), exhibited to the King's
majesty, to be subscribed by all such as shall be admitted to be
preachers or ministers in any part of the realm ; and to make
report of their opinions touching the same.' " — Life of Cranmer,
Bk. ii. c. 28.
And in a Letter from John Utenhovius to Henry
Bullinger, dated " London, Oct. 12, 1552," there occurs
the following passage : —
" Some disputes have arisen within these few days among the
bishops, in consequence of a sermon of a pious preacher, chaplain to
the duke of Northumberland, preached by him before the King and
Council, in which he inveighed with great freedom against kneeling
at the Lord's supper, which is still retained here in England. This
good man, however, a Scotsman by nation, has so wrought upon the
minds of many persons, that we may hope some good to the Church
will at length arise from it ; which I earnestly implore the Lord to
grant." — Orig. Letters, Parker Society, p. 591.
Now, though Knox is not here mentioned by name, there
can be little doubt that the passage refers to him; for (1)
First, his office of Royal Chaplain would account for his
preaching before this congregation : (2) Next, the writer
(who does not seem to have known much of the preacher)
may, likely enough, have been ignorant of his recent pro-
motion : (3) Thirdly, though there seems no more reliable
94
record of his having been Chaplain * to the Duke, it may he
inferred that he had been, both from his appointment in 1549
"to a preachership at Berwick-on-Tweed " by "the English
Privy Council," (of which his Grace was then a most active
member,) and also from the circumstance of his preaching " at
Newcastle, April 4, 1550, before the Council of the North
for public affairs" :f (4) Fourthly, Northumberland's interest
in Knox, probably because he had been his Chaplain, is shewn
by his Letter to Cecil about the same time, (Oct. 28, 1552,)
in which he writes : —
" I would to God it might please the King's Majesty to appoint
Mr. Knocks to the office of Rochester bishopric ; which, for three
purposes, would do very well. The first, he would not only be a
whetstone, to quicken and sharp the Archbishop of Canterbury,
whereof he hath need ; but also he would be a great confounder of
the Anabaptists lately sprung up in Kent " — Orig. St. P. Off.
Domestic, in Tytler's Reigns of Edw. vi. &c. ii. p. 142.
That Knox did preach before Edward the Sixth is certain
from the fact that he himself mentions it in his "Admonition
to the professors of God's truth in England", published in
1554: he there relates, too, what he had said in his Sermon,
as to the character of some of the King's councillors, which,
supported as it is by other historical testimony, may fairly
lead us to infer — that the sympathies of leading members of
the Council were not so entirely with the Reforming move-
ment as is commonly supposed, though other motives appa-
rently induced them to forward it, for Northumberland
himself died professing to be a Romanist. Knox repeats
his conviction of the truth of his allegations in these words: —
"I affirme, that under that innocent Kinge pestilent Papistes
had greatest authoritie. Oh ! who was judged to be the soule
and lyfe to the counsel in every matter of weiaghty importance ?
Who but Sobna. Who could best dispatche busynesses, that the
* That he was not Chaplain to Northumberland on the 11th Dec. 1552 may
be gathered from the fact, that on that day the Duke recommended his Chaplain
"for the King's presentation to the Vicarage of Kidderminster, which Mr. Harley,
now Bishop of Hereford, had." (Letter to Cecil. Orig. St. P. Office. Domestic
Edw. vi. Vol. xv. No. 70.) At this time the serious dispute (mentioned below,
p. 95,) had occurred between Northumberland and Knox.
t Hardwicke'a Reformation, p. 148.
95
rest of the Counsel might hauke & hunt, and take their pleasure ?
None lyke unto Sohna. Who was most frantic and ready to destroy
Somerset and set up Northumberland ? Was it not Sobna ?
the Treasurer.' "
By Sobna, i e. Shebna, he " refers to Sir William Paulet, created
in 1551 Marquess of Winchester, who was successively Comptroller,
Secretary, and Lord Treasurer to Edward the Sixth, and was con-
tinued in that qffice by Queen Mary." — Laing's Knox, vol. 3,
p. 283.
It may be thought, perhaps, that the way in which Knox
here speaks of Northumberland is adverse to the supposition
of the latter being his patron; but the fact is, that their
regard for each other (whether ever very sincere or not) had
undergone a material change. Elsewhere in the " Admoni-
tion" Knox calls the Duke " that wretched (alas) and miserable
Northumberlande " ; and, again, he asks " who, I pray you,
ruled the roste in the courte all this time, by stoute corage
and proudness of stomak, but Northumberland?" (Laing,
pp. 277 & 280.) It was barely seven weeks after the Duke
had recommended Knox for the Bishopric of Rochester that
he wrote thus to the Secretary Cecil :
" Master Knox's being here to speak with me, saying that he was
so willed by you, I do return him again, because I love not to have
to do with men which be neither grateful nor pleasable. I assure
you I mind to have no more to do with him but to wish him well,
neither also with the Dean of Durham, because, under the colour of
a false conscience, he can prettily malign and judge of others against
good charity upon a froward judgment. And this manner you might
see in his letter, that he cannot tell whether I be a dissembler in religion
or not : but I have for twenty years stand [stood] to one kind of
religion, in the same which I do now profess ; and have, I thank
the Lord, past no small dangers for it." — Orig. St. P. Off. 7th Dec.
1552, in Tytler's Edw. vi. vol. ii. p. 148.
The breach thus opened was made wider by Knox's
political preaching at Newcastle in the following year, in
which he lamented the fall of Somerset, and thus led North-
umberland to complain of him, in February, to the Council ;
nor was it ever healed.
Another indication that Knox it was who had mainly pro-
voked the Archbishop's Letter, occurs in one line of a
"Memoranda of matters to be brought before the Council" dated
06
Oct. 20, 1552, (St. P. Office. Domestic, Edw. vi. Vol. xv.
No. 20,) which runs thus : —
" Mr. Knocks— b. of Cat""- | y book in y' [or y e ] B. of Durh"
This note is just 13 days after the Primate's Letter
(p. 77), and 7 days before the Letter to the Lord Chancellor
(p. 35) to add the Declaration : the juxta-position of Knox
and Cranmer and the mention of the book, though separated
from their names, I cannot but conjecture to be notes touching
this dispute on Kneeling which was settled at the Council of
Oct. 27th by ordering the Declaration. The remaining part
of the Memorandum probably refers to the subject of
appointing a Bishop of Durham, which Northumberland was
then urging upon the Council : but whether " y e book " re-
lates to some Document connected with the See of Durham,
or refers, as I think, to the Prayer Book then under dis-
cussion, the former part of the Note looks very much indeed
like an allusion to Knox's alleged complaint of the Rubric
on Kneeling and the Archbishop's defence of it.
Further, early in the next year, under date Feb. 2, 1552-3,
the Council Book contains the following entry : —
" At Westminster, the seconde of Fibruary 1552 A lettre to the
Archbusshop of Caunterbury in favour of Mr. Knokes, to be pre-
sented to the Vicaredge or Personage of Allhallows, in Bredestrete,
in his Lordship's disposition, by the preferment of Thomas Sampson
to the Deanry of Chichester."
This occurrence, and certain consequent proceedings of the
Council against Knox, related in the following passage, serve
still more to identify the Northern Reformer with the dispute
as to this Rubric on Kneeling. Mr. Laing remarks : —
" Knox's refusal of this living was one of the grounds upon which
he was summoned to appear before the Privy Council, as we learn
from a letter written by him in April 1553. The letter itself has
not been discovered ; but Calderwood has preserved what seems to
be a full abstract of it, in his larger Manuscript History, in connec-
tion with some extracts from his ' Admonition,' which was written
and published the following year
"'In a letter, dated the 14th of April 1553, and written with his
own hand, I find (says Calderwood) that he was called before the
Council of England for kneeling, who demanded of him these
01
questions. First, Why he refused the benefice provided for him.
Secondly, Whether he thought that no Christian might serve in the
Ecclesiastical ministration according to the rites and lavves of the
realme of England? Thirdly, If kneeling at the Lord's table was
not indifferent ?
"' .. ..To the third he answered, That Christ's action in itself
was most perfect, and Christ's action was done without kneeling ;
that kneeling was man's addition or imagination ; that it was most
sure to follow the example of Christ, whose action was done sitting
and not kneeling.'
" ' In this last question there was great contention betwixt the
whole table of the Lords and him. There were present there the
Bishops of Canterbury and Ely, my Lord Treasurer, the Marquis
of Northampton, the Earl of Bedford, the Earl of Shrewsbury,
Master Comptroller, my Lord Chamberlain, both the Secretaries,
and other inferior Lords. After long reasoning, it was said to him,
that he was not called of any evil mind * ; they were sorry to know
him of a contrary mind to the common Order. He answered, that
he was more sorry that a common Order should be contrary to
Christ's institution. With some gentle speeches he was dismissed,
and willed to advise with himself if he would communicate after that
Order." — Knox's Works. Vol. iii. p. 83. Edinburgh, 1854.
A careful examination of the Council Book,f though it
enabled me to verify the extracts from Burnet and Strype at
p. 35, has failed to furnish any additional particulars illus-
trative of the course pursued by the Council subsequently to
the Archbishop's Letter. The Book contains, in fact, only
short minutes of the Council's Meetings, any transcripts of
Documents connected with the business transacted were kept
elsewhere, and what remain are now preserved in the State
Paper Office and other repositories of the Public Records.
Perhaps the Council's Letter to the Lord Chancellor, Thos.
Goodrich Bishop of Ely, (referred to at p. 35,) may have con-
tained some reason for the insertion of the Declaration on
Kneeling, but this Document does not seem to exist.
From the little we know of Goodrick himself, there is every
reason to conclude that he was not likely to have been a party
* Certainly thia is confirmed by the fact recorded (barely two months later) in
the Council Book, under date June 2nd, 1553, that the Council, including the
Abp. of Canterbury, wrote a Letter in favour of Knox to several gentlemen in
Buckinghamshire. He quotes in his "Admonitiuu" what he had preached at
" Haimnershame," i.e. Amershom, in that county.
t For the facility afforded me in doing this, 1 have to acknowledge the polite
attention of Henry Reeve, Esq., of the Privy Council Office.
O
98
to any statement committing the Church of England to hete-
rodox teaching on the subject of the Real Presence ; there
seems nothing to shew that he was at all a time-serving Pre-
late in the way of, what I may call, Continental Protestantism :
rather his tendencies, as alleged in the following Biographical
notice of him, appear to have been in the opposite direction : —
" he had a hand in compiling the Institution of a Christian
man in 1551, he was made Lord Chancellor of England, in
the room of Lord Rich, which office he discharged with singular re-
putation of integrity, though in matters of Religion he was suspected
by some, of too much disposition to temporize in favour of popery,
upon the accession of Queen Mary ; and Dodd, though somewhat
faintly, claims him as a popish bishop. It is certain he was suffered
to retain Lis bishopric to his death, although the seals were taken
from him." — Chalmers' Bioy. Bid. Vol. xvi. p. 100.
Burnet's opinion coincides with this, though (as is too
often the case with that Prelate who yet was not quite the
person to be thus uncharitable) he indulges in somewhat
severe remarks upon the Chancellor : he says, with regard to
his promotion, that
" .... as Goodrich was raised by the Popish interest in opposition
to the Duke of Somerset, and to Cranmer, that was his firm friend ;
so it appeared in the beginning of Queen Maries Reign, that he was
ready to turn with every tide : and that whether lie joyned in the
Reformation only in compliance to the time, or was perswaded in his
mind concerning it ; yet he had not that sense of it that became a
Bishop, and was one of those who resolved to make as much advan-
tage by it as he could, but would suffer nothing for it." — Hist. Ref.
bk. ii. pt. 1, p. 173, fol. 1715.
Another link, however, in the chain of evidence is supplied
in Foxes account of Latimer's Disputation at Oxford, April
18, 1554, already quoted from at p. 39. Weston, one of his
opponents, thus addressed him : —
" Well, master Latimer, this is our intent, to will you well, and
to exhort you to come to yourself, and remember, that without Noah's
ark there is no health. Remember what they have been, that were
the beginners of your doctrine : none but a few flying apostates,
running out of Germany for fear of the faggot. Remember what
they have been which have set forth the same in this realm : a sort
of fling-brains and light-heads, which were never constant in any one
thing ; as it was to be seen in the turning of the table, where like a
99
sort of apes, they could not tell which way to turn their tails, looking
one day west, and another day east ; one that way, and another this
way. They will be like (they say) to the apostles, they will have no
churches. A hovel is good enough for them. They come to the
communion with no reverence. They get them a tankard, and one
saith, I drink, and I am thankful : the more joy of thee, saith ano-
ther. And in them was it true that Hilary saith, ' Annuas et men-
struas de Deo fides facimus ; ' that is, ' We make every year and
every month a faith.' A runagate Scot did take aivay the adoration
or worshipping of Christ in the Sacrament, by whose procurement that
heresy ivas put into the last Communion-book : so much prevailed
that one man's authority at that time .... — Acts and Monuments,
vol. vi. p. 510.
These last words (which I have italicised) would naturally
be thought to refer to Knox by any one aware of the promi-
nent position which he at that time occupied ; taken with the
statements just before quoted they, apparently, are conclusive
on the point. Moreover, the former part of Weston's accusa-
tion looks in the same direction ; and (making due allowance
for their author and for what we should call, the not very re-
fined language of the period,) describes just such a character
as that depicted by Cranmer in his Letter, where he depre-
cates the " gloriouse and unquiet spirites wch can like nothing
but that is after their own fansye," and who choose to assert
that "whatsoever is not commaunded in the scripture is against
the scripture, and utterly unlawfull and ungodlie."
But Dr. Townsend, the Editor of Foxe, throws a doubt
upon Weston's meaning by appending to the expression, " a
runagate Scot," the following note : —
" Alexander Ales, or Alesius, who translated the first Liturgy of
Edward vi. into Latin. See Dr. Watkins' note in his life of Latimer,
prefixed to his Sermons (Lond. 1824). p. ciii."
I have not succeeded in finding the book here referred to,
and therefore are unable to examine the evidence which Dr.
Watkins furnishes. The Parker Society's Editor of Latimer's
Remains affixes to Weston's expression a note similar to that
of Dr. Townsend : he says —
" The person here alluded to is with reason supposed to have been
Alexander Aless, a native of Edinburgh, and who was for some time
an exile in Germany on account of his adherence to the doctrines of
100
the reformation. He was employed to translate the first liturgy of
King Edward vi. into Latin. See Wordsworth, Eccles. Bioy;r. Vol.
v. pp. 247, note 2 ; 604, note 3, 3rd. Edit." — Latimer's Remains,
Parker Society, Vol. 2. 1845.
Pursuing then the enquiry by this direction what does Dr.
"Wordsworth state ? His note upon Weston's expression runs
thus; I quote from the 4th Ed. 1853, being the only one to
which I have access : —
" ' Strype referring to these words of Weston, says, " But there
was no Scot that ever I could read or hear of, that assisted at the re-
view of ' that Communion Book.' " Eccles. Memor. vol. iii. p. 117.
The person alluded to by Weston, 1 doubt not, was Alexander Aless,
a Scottish exile, of whose good services we met with some account
in the life of Cromwell (see p. 250), and who translated the first
liturgy of King Edward into Latin, preparatory to the review in
question, for the use of Martin Bucer, and Peter Martyr, who did
not possess a sufficient knowledge of the English language, to qualify
them to make their remarks upon the original. See Buceri Scripta
Anglicana."— Eccles. Biog. Vol. v. p. 606. 4th Ed. 1853.
Yet though it is somewhat bold to question the conclusions
of these three modern authorities, supported as they are by
Strype, I venture to believe that a little examination of
Strype's words and a comparison of dates will satisfactorily
shew that Aleslus could not have been the person intended by
Weston.
For, as to Strype, (i.) First,(though he was probably accurate
in concluding that " no Scot .... assisted at the review of
1 that Communion Book,'" historically supporting this posi-
tion, as he does, by adding to Dr. Wordsworth's quotation the
sentence " And indeed Cranmer, Ridley, and Cox, were the
chief that managed that affair, though they consulted with
Bucer and Peter Martyr") he had either mistaken Weston's
allusion and thought he was referring to the revision of
Edward's 1st Book, or else he did not know or had forgotten
at the time that the Declaration on Kneeling (to which Weston
evidently refers) was not added until after the Book as revised
had received the sanction of Parliament and the Crown.
(ii.) Secondly, Strype was apparently only imperfectly ac-
quainted with Knox's movements at this time; for he thus
continues the passage just cited: —
101
" And as for Knox, the Scotchman, he was hardly come into
England (at least any further than Newcastle) at this time, much
less had anything to do with that work."
But as we have seen (p. 93) Knox was appointed a Royal
Chaplain in December 1551 ; the Act of Uniformity was not
passed till April (5, 1552; and Knox, as Strype himself states
(see p. 93), was appointed on Oct 2, 1552, to revise the
Articles of Religion in his capacity of King's Chaplain. So
that here is presumptive evidence of his presence not being
wholly new in London or at the Court when called upon by
the Council to assist in this latter responsible task.
(iii.) Thirdly, Strype was seemingly disinclined to believe
Weston (as is often his wont with regard to Romanist
writers) ; though had he known or remembered John
Utenhovius's Letter (see p. 93) and Cranmer's Letter to the
Council (on which I am now commenting,) it is very unlikely
that he would have written as he did with regard to the alle-
gation that " a runagate Scot " caused the " heresy," as
Weston chose to call it, of the Declaration on Kneeling to be
" put into the last Communion-book." It is much more
likely that he would have coincided with the judgment of the
Editor of Utenhovius's Letter, who says —
" The preacher referred to was probably Knox, though it does
not appear that he was 'chaplain to the Duke of Northumberland':
but possibly this may have been a mistake on the part of the writer."
—Orig. Letters, Parker Society, 1847. Vol. ii. p. 592.
Thus much, then, with regard to Strype's statement. As
to Aless, who is supposed by the writers I have quoted to be
aimed at by Weston, dates seem to put it almost out of the
question that he could have been meant. Indeed it is some-
what surprising that they all, apparently, omitted to enquire
where Alesius was at the revision of 1552: this is the more
remarkable in Dr. Wordsworth's case, for in his notice of
Alesius, in the very volume from which I have been quoting,
he thus speaks of him : —
" After the fall of Cromwell he returned to Germany, and was
made professor of divinity at Frankfort on the Oder, which place he
soon left in consequence of giving offence to the Elector of Branden-
102
burg. He returned to Leipsig, and was there also chosen professor
of divinity, which post he retained till his death in 1565." — Eccles.
Biog. vol. v. p. 250.
I quote also another account of him : Chalmers says —
" The change of religion, which happened in England after the
marriage of Henry viii with Anna Boleyn, induced Ales to go to
London, in 1535, where he was highly esteemed by Cranmer, arch-
bishop of Canterbury, Latimer, and Thomas Cromwel, who was at
that time in favour with the King. Upon the fall of these favorites
[i. e. in 1540], he was obliged to return to Germany [whither he had
retired from his canonry of St. Andrew's some few years before],
when the Elector of Brandenburg appointed him professor of divinity
at Frankfort upon the Oder, in 1540." — Biog. Diet. Vol. i. p. 401.
It appears, therefore, that for 25 years, viz. from 1540 to
1565, that is to say during the latter part of Henry's, the
whole of Edward's, and the former part of Elizabeth's reigns,
Aless was residing on the Continent : nor am I aware that,
beyond his translation of Edward's 1st Book already men-
tioned, there is anything to indicate that he took any part in
or materially influenced the English Reformation movement,
after he left England in 1540. Moreover every tiling tends
to shew that the influence brought to bear upon the Privy
Council, in reference to the question of Kneeling at the
Sacrament was then a local one : and, too, that it was mainly
a sudden movement, subsequent to the completion oi the Book
of 1552, and therefore one from which lack of time alone
must probably have excluded the operation of any such dis-
tant action as that of Alesius.
All these considerations seem, consequently, to make it
almost, if not wholly, a moral certainty that John Knox was,
as I have argued, the person to whom Weston referred, whom
Cranmer answered in his Letter to the Council, and whose
objections led to the Declaration on Kneeling.
There is another noticeable point in Weston's words to
Latimer. To the expression " They will be like (they say)
to the apostles," Foxe appends a note which is specially to be
observed ; the more so as he was a contemporary historian, and
certainly no favourer of Roman doctrine. He asks : —
" Who be these, or who be they, master oblocutor, that will be like
the Apostles, that will have no churches? — that be runagates out of
Germany ? — that get them tankards ? — that make monthly faiths? —
that worship not Christ in all his Sacraments? — Speak truth man
and shame the devil."
Here we have a very just rebuke to Weston, the Prolocu-
tor, whose object plainly was to damage the English Reforms,
by identifying them with certain extreme offshoots of the
Foreign Reformation ; for, while it cannot be denied that the
relations of these latter to the English Bishops were much
too intimate not to be prejudicial to the Church of England,
Weston was too well versed in the occurrences of Edward's
reign not to know that he was libelling the Eucharistic
Offices, which had been prepared under the.King's authority,
and was maligning their compilers. He could not but be
aware that the Doctrinal, Ritual, and Ceremonial changes
sprang mainly from the English Episcopate, and had been
carried on by the Church of England's own organization. It
was quite within the compass of his information — that,
although certain leading Foreigners had been taken into
counsel, yet, the English Ecclesiastical authorities were
guided by principles definite enough to exclude heretical
innovations in Faith and Practice ; nor could he be ignorant
of the fact that, eager as Cranmer and others were to provide
comprehensive forms of Divine Service, they were fully alive
to the danger of seeming to countenance the extravagancies
of certain Continental residents in England who were anxious
to shelter themselves under an apparent shadow of the English
Reformation. Let it be assumed that even Weston's strong
language is not an overdrawn description of some few of these
(though Foxe's comment seems to bespeak a more charitable
view) the acrimonious Prolocutor could not but have been
fully cognizant of their antagonism to the leading Anglican
Reformers. That they were a source of great disquiet to the
Archbishop, notwithstanding all he was disposed to yield,
must have been sufficiently evident at the time : his Letter
to the Privy Council, now produced, furnishes us with im-
portant additional testimony to the same effect.
Though, however, we may fairly claim Foxe's responsive
104
question — " Who be these. . . . that worship not Christ in all
his Sacraments ? " — as a proof that Weston's charge was both
false and malicious when he asserted that the Declaration on
Kneeling (for to that he must have referred) " did take away
adoration or worshipping of Christ in the Sacrament"; it be-
comes all the more important to consider whether Knox
aimed at such a result, now that we may say, I think, that he
was the proximate cause of this explanatory addition to the
Eucharistic Offices of Edward's 2nd Prayer Book.
To determine this point, two enquiries must be made ;
First, What was Knox's alleged objection to kneeling?
Next, Was there anything in his opinions on the Real Pre-
sence which would lead him to deny that worship was due to
Christ in the Eucharist 1
With respect to the first of these questions some informa-
tion has been already furnished in Cranmer's Letter (p. 77)
and Knox's answer to the Privy Council (p. 97) : his language
on three other occasions is of precisely the same character.
Thus, in " A Vindication of the Doctrine that the Sacrifice
of the Mass is Idolatry. 1550", he says: —
" ....All wirschipping, honouring, or service inventid by the
braine of man in the religioun of God, without his own express com-
mandment, is Idolatrie. . . ." — Laing's Knox, Vol. iii. p. 34.
So, again, in his " Faythful admonition unto the Profes-
sours of God's truthe in England," written probably at
Dieppe (where he seems to have remained from the end of
May to the 20th July 1554 in order, as he says, to "learn
the estait of Ingland and Scotland") and "Imprinted at
Kalykow [apparently, as Mr. Laing thinks (Vol. 3, p. 253)
a fictitious name for Dieppe], the 20. daye of Julii 1554";
he writes thus, evidently referring to Edward's 2nd Book: —
" And also God gave boldnesse and knowledge to the court of
Parliament to take awaye the round clipped God, wherein standeth
al the holines of the Papistes, and also to commaunde common
breade to be used at the Lorde's table ; and also to take awaye the
moste parte of superstitions (kneling at the Lorde's table excepted)
which before prophaned Christes true religion." — Laing's Knox,
Vol. 3, p. 279.
Six years afterwards he states his view even more expli-
105
citlyin the " Buke of Discipline May 20. 1560"; his words
are : — ,
" The Tabill of the Lord is then most rychtlie ministred, quhen
it approacheth most ney to Christis a win actioun. But plane it is,
that at that Supper, Christ Jesus sat with his discipillis, and thair-
foir do we juge, that sitting at a table is most convenient to that holie
actioun :. . . .
" That the Minister breik the breid, and distribute the same to
those that be nyxt unto him, commaunding the rest, every one with
reverence and sobrietie, to breake with other, we think it nyest to
Christis actioun, and to the perfite practice [of the Apostles,] as we
read it in Sanct Paull. — Laing's Knox, Vol. 2, p. 114.
Such was Knox's studied and uniform language on five
occasions, at intervals from 1550 to 1560, that is to say before
contemporaneous with, and subsequent to the Book of 1552 :
and it is abundantly plain that he objected to kneeling at the
Sacrament from an alleged (need we doubt it a real, however
mistaken,) reverence for Christ's institution : he accounted it
a mere human (not even an apostolic) polity, and, as such, not
convenient, but superstitious and idolatrous.
Unless, then, it can be certainly affirmed that Knox held
that Christ was neither adorable nor adored when giving
Himself to His disciples at the institution of the Eucharist,
we are not, I conceive, entitled to argue that he refused to
kneel, when the Church commemorated that act, because it
betokened a worship of Christ : rather we ought, I think, to
argue that he designed to render the same honour to Christ
which was due and rendered by His Apostles when receiving
from Himself His Body and Blood ; and that had he been
convinced of kneeling being the " most nigh to Christ's own
action" he would not have accounted it either superstitious or
idolatrous, but just that posture which "is most convenient
to that holy action," because he considered " that it was most
sure to follow the example of Christ" and " the perfect prac-
tice of the Apostles ".
But I proposed also to enquire whether kneeling, as imply-
ing worship of Christ, was obnoxious to the Scotch Reformer
on account of his views of Christ's Eucharistic Presence.
One statement of his opinions, two years before his remon-
p
106
strance against the Rubric of Edward's 2nd Book, occurs in
" A summary, according to the Holy Scriptures, of the Sera-
ment of the Lord's Supper. 1550" ; it is as follows : —
" First, we confess that it is ane holie actioun, ordaynit of
God....
By it " he confirmeth and sealleth up to us his promeis and com-
munion ....
" And also that heirwith the Lord Jesus gathereth us unto ane
visibill bodie. . . .and. . . .calleth us to rememberance of his Death
and Passioun
"And as concerning theis wordis, Hoc est corpus meum.. .. .we
acknowledge that it [transubstantiation] is no artikill of our faith
which can saif us And again, yf we do not believe his bodilie
presence in the bread and wine, that sail not dampn us, but the
absence out of our hart throw unbelief.
" Now, yf thai wold heir object, that . . . .yit ar we bound to believe
it because of God's word.... we answer, That we believe God's
Word, and confess that it is trew, but not so to be understand as the
Papistis jrrosslie affirme. For in the Sacrament we receive
Jesns Christ spilitnallie, as did the Fatheris of the Old Testament,
according to St. Paulis saying. And yf men wold weill way, how
that Chryst, ordeyning this Halie Sacrament of his bodie and blude,
spake theis wordis Sacrailieiltallie, doubtless thai wold never so
gTOSSlie and foolischlie understand thame, contrary to all the Scrip-
tures, and to the exposition of St. Augustine, St. Hierome, Fulgen-
tius, Vigilius, Origines, and many other godlie writers." — Laing's
Knox, Vol. 3, p. 74.
Another evidence of what was uppermost in his mind, at
the time now under consideration, is found in a passage of
his " Admonition," of which I have already (at p. 104) quoted
the conclusion; he exclaims in his own, and indeed the
period's, strong and coarse style : —
" Transubstantiation, the byrde that the Devel hatched by Pope
Nicholas, and sythe that tyme fostered and nurryshed by al his
children, prestes, freres, monks, and other his conjured and sworne
souldiers, and in this laste dayes, chiefly by Stephen Gardiner and
his blacke broode in England, — Transubstantiation (I saye) was not
then clearly confuted and myghtely overthrowen, and therefore God
put wysedome in the tounges of his ministers and messengers to utter
[i.e. to disclose or expose] that vayne vanitie : and specially gave
such strength to the penne* of that reverend father in God, Thomas
Cranmer, Archebysshop of Canterbury, to cut the knottes of develyshe
sophistrie, lyncked and knyt by the Devil's Gardener, and his blynd
bussardes, to holde the veritie of God under bondage, that rather I
• Referring to " Craumer's Defence," &c. 1550.
10?
thinke they shal condemne his workes, (whiche, notwithstanding,
shal continue and remaine to their confusion), then they shal enter-
prise to answer the same." — Laing's Knox, vol. 3, p. 279.
Further ; two years after this ; in " The maner of the Lorde's
Supper" as "used in the Englishe Congregation at Geneva"
1556, "approued, by the famous and godly learned man,
John Caluyn" and which Knox assisted to prepare, the " ex-
hortation" says : —
" . . . . let us not suffer our mindes to wander aboute the
consideration of these earthlie thynges (which we see present to our
eis, and fele with our handes,) to seek Christ bodely presente in
them, as if he were inclosed ill the breade or wyne, or as yf these
elementes were tOUTlied and diailUged into the SllbstauilCe of his
fleyshe and blood."— Laing's Knox, vol. 4, p. 194.
Once more; let me call attention to " The Confessione of
the Faythe," 17 Aug. 1560, where in Chap, xxi, " Off the
Sacramentis" we read thus : —
" .... in the Supper, rychtlie used, Christ Jesus is so
joyned with us, that he becumis the verray nurishment and foode
of our saullis. Not that we ymagine any trailSSUbstailtiatiouil of
bread into Christis naturall body, and of wyne in his natlirall
bloode, (as the Papistes have perniciouslie taught and dampnablie
beleved ;) but this union and communioun whiche we have with the
bodye and bloode of Christ Jesus in the rycht use of the sacraments,
is wrocht by operatioun of the Holy Ghost, who by trew faith caryes
us above all thingis that ar \isibile, camall, and earthlie, and
maikis us to feid upoun the body and bloode of Christe Jesus, whiche
was ones brokin and schedd for us, whiche now is in the heavin, and
appeareth in the presence of his Father for us. And yit, notwith-
standing the far distance of place, whiche is betwix his bodye now
glorified in the heavin, and us now mortall in this earth, yit we
most assuredlie beleve, that the bread which we break is the commu-
nion of Christis body, and the cupp which we bless is the communion
of his bloode But all this, we say, cumis by trew fayth, whiche
apprehendeth Christ Jesus, who onlie maikis his Sacramentis effec-
tuall unto us ; and thairfoir, whosoever sclandereth us, as that we
affirmed or beleved Sacramentis to be onlie nakid and bair signes, do
injurie unto us, and speak against a manifest treuth. But this
liberallie and francklie we most confess, that we maik ane distinc-
tioun betwix Christ Jesus, in his naturall SUbstailCe,* and betwix
the elementis in the Sacramentall signes ; so that we will neather
wirschip the signes in place of that wliieh is signified by
thame ; neather yit do we dispyse and interpret thame as unprofitable
and vane ; . . . .' — Laing's Knox, vol. 2, pp. 114 and 115.
* " In the old printed copies, 'in his eternall substance.' "
108
Now it is unnecessary, for my purpose, to enquire whether
these quotations imply a full appreciation, hy their author, of
the Catholic Doctrine of the Real Objective Presence ; though,
in truth, some of the language exceeds what probably would
be used by many who disclaim all sympathy with Knox, and
would be sorry to lie under the least suspicion of not being
greatly in advance of his Sacramental views. The question
here is — are they inconsistent with such a belief in Christ's
Eucharistic Presence as could accord worship to Him in the
Sacrament of the Altar (" the Supper " as Knox calls it) ;
or must they have excluded all idea of both from the mind
of him who used them ? I humbly think not.
It is abundantly evident, indeed, that a vehement antipathy
to the doctrine of Transubstantiation was uppermost in
Knox's thoughts ; and that he dreaded, as its necessary con-
sequence, the belief of a " carnall," " bodely," " naturall,"
" grosslie' affirmed, presence of Christ "inclosed" in the ele-
ments : though, on the other hand, he advocates the use of
the term " sacrament allie" as being consonant to Holy Scrip-
ture and the " exposition" of the Fathers, whose teaching he
does not shrink from avowing, howsoever he may have con-
strued it ; and he, apparently, accepts Cranmer's published
" Defence" as a true exponent of Eucharistic Doctrine.
But in his Formulary of 1560, which may not with any fair-
ness be assumed to record higher and more Catholic senti-
ments than he held in 1552, he uses an expression which I
cannot but consider as warranting the negative answer just
given to the question suggested by the before-cited passages.
For Knox's "Confession," after pointing out "ane distinc-
tioun betwix Christ Jesus, in his naturall substance, and be-
twix the elementes in the Sacramentall signes," declares this
conclusion — "so that we will neather wirschip the signes in
place of that which is signified by thame ; neather yet do we
dispyse and interprete thame as unprofitable and vane." As,
however, Sacraments are just before declared not " to be
onlie nakid and hair signes" ; but " the bread which we break
is the communion of Christ's body, and the cupp which we
bless is the communion of his bloode,'" " notwithstanding the
100
far distance of place, whiche is betwix his bodye now glori-
fied in the heavin, and us now mortall in this earth," need we
infer that Knox meant to refuse adoration in the Sacrament
to Him Whose Body and Blood he declares (here and in the
"Summary") to be " spirituallie" communicated "in the
rycht use" of the Lord's Supper ? Rather, should we not
endeavour to construe, in the most Catholic sense of which
they are fairly capable, the (necessarily well weighed) terms
of this public Formulary of Faith ; and therefore charitably
assume that he did mean to uphold the worship " of that
which is signified," while rightly condemning the worship of
" the signes." Let it be granted here, for argument's sake,
that the utmost he meant to teach was — that in the act of re-
ception only Christ was sacramentally present to communicate
Himself — and there seems sufficient in such a doctrine to have
led him to kneel at that time in token of adoration of Christ,
if only he could have regarded that posture as consistent with
his theory of legitimate worship and, more especially, of the
pattern to be followed in the Celebration of the Eucharist.
Moreover it is important to recollect that at the very period
when Knox raised his objection to " kneeling at the tyme of
the receavinge of the Sacrament," he must have concurred in
the theological decisions of the English Convocation ; unless
indeed he received the Forty-two Articles of 1552 in a non-
natural sense : for his signature (and the signatures of the
other five Royal Chaplains*) is attached to a copy of them
* As it is of some importance to know whether Knox was or was not one of
King Edward's six Chaplains, it seems worth while to advert to a statement made
by Mr. Barnes the Editor oi a new Edition of Strype's Memorials of Cranmer,
2 vols., Routledge end Co., 1853.
At p. 423, Vol. 1, Strype, after mentioning the application to the Archbishop
(see p. 96) to present Knox to All-hallows Bread-street, makes this remark : —
" This Knox was the man whose name was so dashed in the King's Journal,
where the names of the King's six Chaplains were inserted, that Bishop Burnet
could not read it. (Collect. Vol. ii. p. 42.)"
To this passage Mr. Barnes the Editor, appends the following note " [vol. ii.
part 2, p. 43. Notwithstanding that Knox has been hitherto supposed to have
been one of Enward VI. 's chaplains, upon the authority of Burnet, of which
Strype availed himself, it is now positively proved that his was not the name,
' dashed in the King's Journal,' the Editor of this work for the Ecclesiastical
History Society, with the assistance of Sir Frederic Madden, having discovered
that the name erased was ' Eastwick,' and not 'Knox.']"
It is not clear whether the Editor intends in this note to deny absolutely that
Kuox was one of the Royal Chaplains, or whether he only means to say that this
110
submitted for their consideration by the Privy Council on the
21st October; and in this Latin copy, which is in the State
Paper Office, the Articles (with no very material and chiefly
verbal differences) are found as finally published by Royal
Authority in May, 1553.
Now of these Articles two only, the XXIXth and XXXth
treat specifically of the Holy Eucharist ; the latter being in-
titled (in Latin) " De unica Christi oblatione iu cruce perfecta,"
(in English) " Of the perfeicte oblacion of Christe made upon
the crosse" ; the former being headed (in Latin) " De Coena
Domini", (in English) " Of the Lord's Supper." The English
version of the XXIXth Article has been already given at
p. 32, and consists of four Clauses : in the State Paper Office
Latin version the last three parts are treated as separate Ar-
ticles and denominated thus* (2) Art. XXX. de Transubstan-
tiatione ; (3) Art. XXXI. de Corporali Christi prcesentia in
Eucharistia; (4) Art. XXXII. Sacramentum Eucharistice
non asservandum.
But it seems plain from an inspection of this Article that
its whole aim and drift was against the Roman doctrine: with
this it apparently contents itself: paragraphs 2 and 3 give no
passage in King Edward's journal must not be relied upon in proof of his ap-
pointment. So far indeed as anything I can find in Burnet applies he does not
seem to have had any doubt who the Chaplains were ; for he says ^Part ii. bk.
l,p. 162, fol. 1715) "These were Sill, Harley, Pern, Grindal, Bradford, mi.
Knox :" and this list corresponds with that which he furnishes in his copy of
the King's journal. And though Strype says " Burnet could not read" Knox's
name because it was " so dashed," he does not imply that Burnet was in error.
It is not unlikely that Burnet's rendering may have been founded upon some
contemporaneous evidence. Indeed if the erased name, in the journal of Dec.
18, 1551, was " Eastwick " this need only prove that another was selected in
his stead : why may not Knox have been that other ? That one alteration was
made in the List seems plain, for Strype, in quoting from the Council Book of
Get. 2, 1552, the names of the Chaplains to whom the Book of Articles was sent
for revision, gives Horn instead of Bradford as one of the six — a reference
" verified" as the Editor states (p. 394).
But whatever may be the history of the erasure in Edward's journal, it does
not in the least detract from the evidence that Knox was a Royal Chaplain at the
time of Edward's second Book receiving the sanction of Parliament : this is all
that is necessary to identify him with the objection to the new Rubric on Kneel-
ing. Not indeed that I think Mr. Barnes's remark at all discredits Burnet's
original List which, it is well to observe, is (except in the case of Horn) identical
with the Council's List of Oct 2, 1552, and with the names signed to the State
Paper Office Copy of the Articles of 1552— a fair presumption, at all events, that
Knox was one of the six Chaplains appointed in December 1551.
* See also Marduicke on the Articles p. 300.
Ill
indication of being intentionally directed against two several
views of the Real Presence ; " the reall and bodelie [realem
et corporalem] presence (as thei terme it) of Christ's flesh and
bloude" deprecated in the 3rd Paragraph, seems neither more
nor less than the " Transubstantiation" condemned in the
2nd Paragraph. It may, indeed, have been that the language
of the 3rd Paragraph of the Article, asserting that " the
bodie of Christe cannot bee presente at one time in many and
diverse places", was meant to condemn a supposed ubiquita-
rian doctrine involved in Transubstantiation; if so, it of
course tacitly pronounced likewise against Lutheran ubiqui-
tarianism : though, whether or not its authors contemplated
any allusion to Lutheran doctrine (while an immaterial ques-
tion here) will be best determined by asking — to whom do
the words " as thei terme it" allude ? There can hardly be
a doubt, I think, that they referred exclusively to the Roman
party, considering with whom the Eucharistic controversy in
England had been carried on and recollecting that the language
which has been already quoted shows " real and corporal''
to have been the current phrase which was therein maintained
and opposed.
One other view of Eucharistic Doctrine besides the Roman
seems indeed to have been designedly referred to in the First
paragraph of the Article : of this probably it may be said (as
Mr. Hardwick, p. 104, remarked of Art. xxvi.) that it was
" directed. .. .against the prevailing Zwinglian notion, that
sacraments were no more than empty rites and external
badges": but, as we have seen, the language of Knox alike
condemns this. The object of the Article, then, seems limited
to a denial of the doctrine of Christ's absence from this His
Sacrament; and to a refutation of such a Presence as Tran-
substantiation was accounted to imply : in Mr. Hardwick's
words —
" The twenty-ninth, ' Of the Lord's Supper', while avoiding the
errors of the Zwinglian School, condemns the opposite dogma of a
physical transubstantiation in the elements, as repugnant to the Word
of God, and as inconsistent with the true humanity of our Saviour
and his local residence in heaven." — p. 104.
112
Having regard, therefore, to all these considerations it may
with some certainty he assumed, I think, that Knox's objec-
tion to kneeling at the Sacrament was not at all founded upon
doctrinal grounds and that consequently any question of the
worship due to Christ therein, or of kneeling being the ex-
pression of it, was foreign to his purpose in opposing the re-
quirement of the Rubric ; and this will further account for
the entire absence of theological argument in Cranmer's
Letter to the Council : he, as I think has been proved, had
at that time mainly to resist an innovation ostensibly based
upon a theory of purely Ecclesiastical Order which, in com-
mon with his co-advisers and most of (if not all) the Council,
the Archbishop refused to recognize.
But, reasonably or not, the objection had been raised;
raised, too, by one who was not likely to abandon his opposi-
tion but would probably use his opportunities to repeat it in
public with the vehemence which had already attracted at-
tention in high quarters and would be certain to secure him
a favourable hearing from others also. Further, his indiscri-
minate charges of superstition, inapplicable though they were
to the First Prayer Book, and most inappropriate to the re-
vised English Office, were sure to draw towards the Second
Book, that disaffection which had been already exhibited to
the earlier Ritual by those who had but little sympathy with
Knox save in his denunciation of the Mass.
To yield to Knox's objection was impossible without sacri-
ficing that principle of deference to Antiquity which was a
main feature in the English Reformation movement : Cran-
mer's Letter to the Council shews how hopeless he regarded
the attempt ; " If such men should bee hearde," he says,
" although the boke were made everye yere anewe, yet should
it not lacke faultes in their opinion" : he declares that upon
their theory it were best and necessary to " take awaie the
hole boke of service. For what should men travell to sett an
ordre in the forme of service, if no ordre can bee sett, but
that is alreadye prescribed by the Scripture." This was his
answer to Knox's theory of Church Polity ; and consistently
therewith the Archbishop and his coadjutors dismissed Knox's
objection and decided, as the fact of the retention of the
" prescription of kneelinge," shews, that it was " fitt to re-
mayne as a comniandement" and ought not " to bee left out
of the boke." That the Scotch Chaplain was not satisfied with
their resolution of the Privy Council's question is clear from
the complaint two years afterwards, in his " Admonition"
(see p. 104), that this " parte of superstitions" had not been
taken away.
Yet with the prospect before them of a renewed strife when
the revised Prayer Book should make its appearance ; and
looking to the probability that the new Rubric commanding
" kneeling at the tyme of receavinge of the Sacrament" would
be perversely identified with the " decrees respecting the
worship of the host" which the Archbishop lamented to learn
were being passed by the " adversaries. .. .at Trent;" the
natural inference is — that, though Knox's complaint was un-
heeded, it was deemed prudent that the " some" who were
" offended", and all others who might join their ranks, should
be deprived of any such pretence as this for attacking the new
Eucharistic Office. Accordingly it was resolved that neither
by "ignorance and irrfirmitie" nor by "malice and obstina-
cie" should the order to kneel be " mysconstrued, depraued,
and interpreted in a wrong parte," as though the Church of
England's rule coincided with the Tridentine Canon then
lately enacted (see page 90) " wif>! r'nt, apToXarpitaj" — concerning
the worshipping of the bread with l atria, i.e., divine honour —
for such Cranmer evidently feared would be a sort of popular
" idolatry" resulting from the Decree. " And yet because
brotherly charitie willeth, that so muche as conveniently
may be offences should be taken away :" therefore it was
determined to issue with the Rubric an explanatory Decla-
ration of its object.
To whom, then, was the explanation to be addressed ?
Not, certainly, to the general mass of the worshippers : for,
first, they were not the complainants : and, next, it would
practically be useless to them, placed as it was to be in a
Book of Public Offices, the price of which alone (though
fixed at a low rate by Royal Authority) limited its purchase, ,
for the most part, to just the number of copies required by the
Q
II 1
Parish Priest and his Clerk or Clerks. Plainly, therefore,
the intended exposition of the Rubric on Kneeling was
meant to disarm the theological critics of the day, of what-
ever class, and to furnish the Clergy with an authoritative
reply to any cavillers in their parishes who might invent
objections, or be incited to urge them by some of those dis-
affected spirits whose position or attainments gained them
more or less notoriety.
Such a manifesto, however, needed to be clothed in author-
ized language if it was to have weight with clergy and people :
this in Cranmer's view would, no doubt, be the more necessary
as it had to be issued with the Prayer Book which had already
received the sanction of Parliament. The obvious resource, if
it furnished the requisite materials, was that Book of " Articles
...... for the avoiding of controversie in opinion, and the
establishement of a godlie concorde, in certeine matters of
Religion" which was then about to be imposed upon the
Clergy : it had already undergone the criticism of the Prelates,
if indeed it had not been formally submitted to the Convoca-
tion (though this is not clear) ; and at that very time it was
in the hands of Knox and the other Royal Chaplains for
revision. If the Articles were not returned to the Privy
Council by the 27th October, the day on which the Lord
Chancellor was directed to add the Declaration, Cranmer had
probably learned, during the five-and-twenty days that had
elapsed since they were sent to the Chaplains, what was their
judgment of them ; though, indeed, it is extremely likely
that the views of the six revisers on the points discussed in
the Articles were previously well known. Any explanation,
therefore, of the Rubric on Kneeling, based upon the language
of the Articles, was a course to which Knox could not object,
however dissatisfied he might be at the retention of the Rubric
itself ; and if the theological criticism of the principal objector
was thus disarmed, no plan would be so likely to prove an
effective defence against all other probable assailants from
kindred quarters.
Now, in the XXIXth of these Articles (see p. 32) language
would be found fully adequate to exclude every misinterpre-
[15
tation of the act of kneeling at reception which, so far I
think as we can gather from their expressions, the Archbishop
and his associates thought it of any moment to shut out.
Was it feared that that token of adoration (for such in itself
it really was) might be held to countenance Transubstan-
tiation ? Then, as the second paragraph of the Article con-
demned that dogma, it was only needful to import its teaching
into the Declaration ; this was done in the words " as
concernynge the Sacramentall bread and wine, they remayne
styll in their verye naturall substaunces, and therefore may
not be adored."
Again : would it be thought that this posture of worship
(for no one could doubt it to be such) implied a belief in that
notion of a natural, organical, local presence of Christ's
humanity which the reforming theologians of that day had
been so vigorously opposing ? The third paragraph of the
Article taught the contrary, and, too, in an epitome of
scholastic language,* which could hardly be unfamiliar to
* S. Thomas Aquinas, Summa, Pars 3, quasst. 75, art. 1, " Utrum in hoc
Sacramento sit Corpus Christi secundum veritatem"
It is objected, he says
" 3. Prseterea. Nullum corpus potest esse simul in pluribus locis, cum nec
Angelo hoc conveniat: eadem enim ratione posset esse ubique. Sed corpus
Christi est verum corpus, et est in ccelo. Ergo videtur quod uon sit secundum
veritatem in sacramento altaris, set solum sicut in signo."
To which he answers : —
'• Ad tertium dicendum, quod corpus Christi non est eo modo in hoc sacra-
mento, sicut corpus in loco, quod suis dimensionibus loco corumensuratur; sed
quodam speciali modo, qui est proprius huic sacramento. Unde dicimus, quod
corpus Christi est in diversis altaribus, non sicut in diversis locis, sed sicut in
sacramento : per quod non intelligimus quod Christus sit ibi solum sicut in signo,
licet sacrameutum sit in genere signi ; sed intelligimus, corpus Christi hie esse,
sicut dictum est (in corp. art.) secundum modum propiium huic sacramento."
Quaest. 75, art. 4. " Utrum panis possit conrerto in Corpus Christi."
" haec conversio non est formalis, sed substantialis ; nec con-
tinetur inter species motus naturalis, sed proprio nomine potest dici transub-
stantiatio."
Queest. 76, art. 5. " Utrum Corpus Christi sit iu hoc sacramento. sicut in loco."
" Kespondco dicendum, quod sicut jam dictum est (art. 3, hu. quaest. )t Corpus
Christi non est in sacramento secundum proprium modum quantitatis dimcn-
sivsp, s<''l magis secundum modum substantia'. Oinne autem corpus location
est in loco secundum modum quantitatis dimensiva, inquantum scilicet commen-
suratur loco secundum suam quantitatem dimensivam. Unde relinquitur quod
Corpus Christi non est in hoc sacrameuto sicut in loco sed per modum substantias
eo scilicet modo quo substantia continetur a dimensionibus : succedit enim sub-
t "Prseterea. Sicut dictum est (art. praec. and Art. 3. hu. quaest.) in sacramento est Corpus
Christi cum sua quantitate ilimensiva, ct cum omnibus suis accidentibus. Sed esse in loco
c>t accidons corporis : unde et ibi connumeratur inter novem genera accidentium. Ergo
Corpus Christi est in hoc sacramento localiteT."
116
most Priests then — which must have been well known to
Knox, trained, as he was, in the disputations of the School-
men : therefore (when the Declaration embodied this state-
ment, and said, "it is against the trueth of Christes true
naturall bodye, to be in more places then in one at one tyme")
the Catholic and the Protestant party would probably alike
rejoice that they were bidden to defend the Church of
England's view, as against the Papal party, by an appeal to
such a witness as St. Thomas Aquinas, who had said that "in
no manner is the Body of Christ in this Sacrament locally."
Once more : did any dread lest this new command to
'"deliver" the Sacrament "to the people in their hands,
kneeling" (an order needless when the 1st Book was pre-
pared, as then neither Clergy nor Laity presumed to do
otherwise) should contribute to that very danger which
Cranmer apprehended from the Trent " decrees respecting
the worship of the host/' how was their alarm subdued ?
The Archbishop made no attempt to disguise a posture which,
when employed in Public Worship, all knew to imply no
less honour than that due to the Unseen though Present God :
indeed he had himself pointed out in his Letter to the
Council that " the people praying and geavinge thanckes,
do kneele" in ths " two praiers w ch go before," and the
"two" which "ymmediatlie followe" the "receavinge of
the Sacrament" ; and, moreover, he had expressly defended
kneeling, in the act of reception, on the ground, that to
abstain from it then "should rather import a contemptuouse
then a reverent receavinge of the Sacrament" — words which
surely can have but one natural meaning, viz., that such a
change of posture would, at the least, be equivalent to a
verbal denial of that Divine Presence at that time which
stantia Corporis Christi in hoc sacramento substantia panis : unde sicut sub-
stantia panis non erat sub suis dimensionibus localiter ; sed per modum substantias,
ita nec substantia Corporis Christi. Non tamen substantia Corporis Christi est
subjeetum illarum dimensionum, sicut erat substantia panis : et ideo substantia
panis ratione suarum dimensionum localiter erat ibi, quia comparabatur ad locum
ilium mediantibus propriis dimensionibus; substantia autem Corporis Christi
comparatur ad locum ilium mediantibus dimensionibus alienis ; ita quod e con-
verso dimensiones propria? Corporis Christi comparantuT ad locum ilium medi-
ants substantia ; quod est contra rationcm corporis locali. Unde nullo mode
Corpus Christi est in hoc sacramento localiter."
117
was attested to be there, immediately before and directly after,
by the customary (and uncomplained of) act of kneeling.*
But while maintaining this (and therefore necessarily holding
that in whatever way Christ was present in the Sacrament,
external worship was due to Him therein) the Primate had
concurred in the 4th paragraph of the XXI Xth Article which
taught that " The Sacrament [Sacramentum) of the Lordes
Supper was not commaunded by Christes ordinaunce to be
.... worshipped [adorabatur] " — language this which most
charitably and carefully avoids passing judgment upon those
who, upon their view of the Sacramentum being only the
accidents and not the substance of bread and wine, adopted
a different conclusion. Here, too, then, was a warrant for
anticipating the objection by saying in the Declaration (at
no real risk of offending other Churches) that " the Sacra-
• While I am engaged upon this sheet the Bishop of St. Andrew's publishes
his " Opinion on the Appeal of the Rev. P. Cheyne, delivered at the Episcopal
Synod holden at Edinburgh, Nov. 4, 1858.'' As this is the "opinion" of the
majority of that Synod (for the Bishops of Glasgow and Moray expressed their
entire concurrence in it) it becomes the more important to notice a remark
therein touching this act of Kneeling which the Declaration defends, especially
as among the three " passages more particularly objected to", and which the
Bp. of St. Andrew's expressed his earnest hope that Mr. Cheyne would "not
refuse to recall . . . and express his regret for," was this : " 2. When he [the
appellant] further declares that in the Lord's Supper ' we kneel to the Lord
Himself, invisibly present under the form,' or 'under the veils of bread and
wine.' " (p. 36.)
One argument advanced for this judicial request occurs at p. 29 where the
Bishop says — " To order us to kneel in grateful acknowledgment of benefits
received — those benefits being the Sacramental Body and Blood of our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ— this is natural, this we can understand. But in the
actual, substantial Presence of Christ Himself, both God and man, we should
expect to be directed to fall down and worship, not solely nor chiefly out of
gratitude, but from those simpler motives of reverence and awe, which lie at
the foundation of all the Divine honour which we pay to Almighty God."
Here the Bishop denies that the " reverence" due to God was a motive for
ordering the communicant to kneel when he received the Holy Sacrament : but
Cranmer's Letter appears plainly to teach the very reverse of this ; he uses
the precise word " reverent" as the equivalent of that "KNEELrNOE" posture
used by " the people praying and geavinge thanckes" immediately before and
directly after the act of receiving ; therefore when he argues that not to kneel
at that time " should rather importe a contemptuouse then a reverent receavingc
of the Sacrament," he could surely mean nothing less than that to omit at such
a moment the recognized posture of worship would be to withhold then that
" Divine honour," proceeding from "motives of reverence and awe," which, the
instant before and the instant after, they did not refuse as due to the Presence
of God : in fact, while not touching upon the question of the Real Presence in
the Sacrament, he points out the more than inconsistency of doing homage to
God as present in devotions at the Sacrament, and refusing the like homage when
partaking t/"the Sacrament" itself.
113
mentall bread and wyne . . . may not bee adored, for that
were Idolatry to be abhorred of all faithful Christians."
This comparison of the Article and the Declaration seems
to leave no reasonable doubt whence the language was derived
of this explanation of the Rubric on Kneeling which the
Archbishop and his co-advisers deemed it desirable to pub-
lish. And the consideration that it was, evidently, drawn
from a Doctrinal Formulary which was about to be imposed
upon the Clergy, suggests that such a source would be, at
once, a warrant for the acceptance of the Declaration itself
and a guarantee that it contained nothing contrary to Catho-
lic belief. For, when we recollect that the Articles of 1552
had undergone the criticism of the Prelates, and, as there
are good grounds for believing, of the Convocation also ;
it is extremely unlikely, considering how many of these
revisers (though not insensible of prevalent corruptions)
were jealous of changes in the. accustomed Theological lan-
guage, that they would have assented to Definitions which
were opposed to really ancient doctrine ; and their watchful-
ness must naturally have resulted in part from the known
views and tendency of some Bishops and leading Divines
and from the operating influences of the foreign Reformers.
Mr. Hardwick, speaking of the preparation of these
Articles, has observed : —
"... that the original draft of this document was made by
Archbishop Cranmer, and by him submitted to a number of revisions
during an interval of eighteen months. In what particulars it was
modified or augmented by this long and varied criticism we are
unable to ascertain precisely ; and yet the letter of the King to
Ridley, bearing date June 9, 1553, as well as that of the Archbishop
to Cecil in the previous September, would lead us to suppose that
the amount of alteration had been very considerable ; for it describes
the Articles, which were then publishing in their final form, as
' devised and gathered with great study, and by counsel and good
advice of the greatest learned part of our Bishops of this realm and
sundry others of our Clergy.' (Strype, Eccl. Mem. ii. 421.) We
cannot, therefore, resist the conclusion, that they had been exposed
to a searching review, and freely discussed and amended by a num-
ber of auxiliary hands, before the date of their general circulation."
—Hist, of the Articles, p. 83.
119
The "Visitation Book" of Bishop Hooper, 1551-2 fur-
nishes a body of Articles which he endeavoured to enforce
in his own Diocese prior to the promulgation of the 42
Articles by Royal Authority in 1553: Hooper seems to have
drawn them mainly from those which the Archbishop sent
out for review, though they were apparently adapted to the
Bishop's own doctrinal notions : perhaps some of the other
Prelates took a similar course : a comparison of the two sets
of Articles serves to illustrate the jealous caution, just
referred to, which determined the ultimate choice of phrase-
ology. The XXIXth Article is that with which I am alone
concerned here: it so far corresponds with Hooper's Xth
Article as to deny plainly the doctrine of Transubstantiation,
but it is much more guarded in treating of the Presence ; it
contents itself with saying that " a faithful man ought not
either to believe or openlie to confesse the reall, and bodilie
presence (as thei terme it) of Christe's fleshe, and bloude,
in the Sacramente of the Lorde's Supper," whereas Hooper's
Article denies " any manner of corporal or local presence of
Christ, in, under, or with the bread and wine." These words
need not perhaps (as I have supposed at p. 30) mean more
than the rejection of a carnal and natural presence, but
(apart from the fact that Hooper also speaks of what we
receive as being " the confirmation and augmentation of all
the merits and deservings of Christ) obviously they are
sufficiently open to misconstruction, to have presented a for-
midable obstacle to the general acceptance of the XXIXth
Article, had it been couched in the same language.
Upon a careful consideration, then, of Cranmer's Letter,
combined with the illustrations it derives from the contem-
porary circumstances here related, the conviction is strength-
ened in my own mind — that the original Declaration was not
designed to be more than a denial of such Presence in the
Sacrament as was held, by the maintainers of Transubstan-
tiation, to be the legitimate conclusion from that Doctrine ;
though the words "reall and essenciall," if taken in their
usual acceptation and irrespective of their controversial
meaning in 1552, seem to condemn a supernatural no less
120
than a natural Presence " under the form of Bread and
Wine."
Before quitting this Letter of Cranmer's there are two
other points upon which it suggests observations. First, it
corrects a statement made by Dr. Cardwell (and commonly
adopted) as to the insertion of the Declaration on Kneeling
in Edward's 2nd Book ; he says that this " Rubric "
" had been added to the Communion Service by that King on his
own authority after the publication of his second liturgy . . ." —
Hist, of Conferences, p. 34.
But, if by is meant, as would seem — that the Bishops
were not consulted — then the Archbishop's Letter, by re-
citing that the King desired him with others to reconsider the
Rubric on Kneeling, leads to the inference that whatever was
done had their concurrence. The, then recognized, authority
of the King in Council would, in Cranmer's j udgment, warrant
an act which did not contravene anything that the Parliament
had done in authorizing the Book : and as to the Doctrinal
statement in the Royal Proclamation (for such it virtually
was) the Archbishop had already the authority of his Synod
for that, and in fact had more than a fortnight before (on
Sept. 19th) written to Mr. Secretary Cecil saying: —
" I have sent the book of articles for religion unto Mr. Cheke, set
in a better order than it was, and the titles upon every matter, adding
thereto that which lacked. I pray you consider well the Articles with
Mr. Checke ; and whether you think best to move the King's majesty
therein before my coming, I refer that unto your two widoms." —
Cranmer's Remains. Parker Society. Letter cccv. p. 439.
Most likely it is this identical " book of articles," in Latin,
or a corrected copy of it, signed by Knox and the five other
Royal Chaplains, which is still extant in the State Paper
Oflice, (Domestic Edw. vi. Vol. xv. No. 28) dated October
20th, 1552 : at all events that copy contains the 29th Article
as cited in English, at p. 32 ; and the order to insert the De-
claration was not issued until October 27th. This fact there-
fore confirms the conjectures made in pp. 31 and 36.
Further, in a Note {Hist, of Conf. p. 34), Dr. Cardwell
says
" This rubric does not appear in either of the Editions printed by
Whitchurch in 1552, copies of which are now in the Bodleian; but
it does appear in each of two editions by Grafton, printed in August
1552, copies of which may also be seen in the same library. The
act of Parliament, which ratified the second Service-book, was passed
in April 1552; and the order of Council requiring the insertion of
the rubric bears date on the 27th of October, only four days before
the book was to be generally used throughout the kingdom. It is
found accordingly to have been inserted by cancelling the leaf, or
some similar contrivance ; and the issuing of this order is a strong
evidence of the alarm in which Cranmer and the Council were held
on the subject of the real presence, even after the great alteration
they had made respecting it in the service of the Communion."
Upon this I would remark (1.) that the copies of the
WJiitchurch editions which Dr. Cardwell mentions, may
likely enough have got into circulation before the order of
Sept. 27th " came to Grafton the printer in any wise to stay
from uttering any of the books of the new service." Mr.
Pickering's reprint is, however, from one by Whitchurch of
1552 and contains the Declaration: and there is in the
British Museum (468. a. 7.) an old copy of the Whytchurche
Book, with the Declaration : it is printed on a separate leaf,
and follows the Rubrics at the end of the Communion Office.
But indeed, as the Editor of the Parker Society's edition of
the Two Liturgies observes, " Several copies are without it"
of Grafton's edition : though there are two copies containing
it in the British Museum, both evidently the same Ed. 1552 ;
one imperfect, viz. (468. a. 6.) where it occurs at fol. 97
(clearly a misprint for 102 as it occurs between 101 and 103);
the other perfect (468. b. 6.) has it on p. 102; in both copies
it is found between the Rubric, beginning, " And if there be
not above XX persons in the Parish," &c, and that com-
mencing " And to take awaye the superstition which any per-
son hath, or might have, in the bread and wine," &c.
2. With regard to Dr. Cardwell's remark that the Order in
Council is evidence of the " alarm in which Cranmer and the
Council were held on the subject of the Real Presence," I
must, with all respect to so great an authority, profess my
total inability to discover any grounds for his opinion. At
pp. 35 and 36 I had sketched what I conjectured to be the
R
122
real history of this Declaration : Cranmer's Letter to the
Council, now produced, entirely supports that view : and
certainly the tone of that Letter indicates anything but
" alarm :" it implies a settled conviction in the Archbishop's
mind of the Doctrine to be maintained and indicates a reso-
lution to maintain it — nay, it affirms that, so far as a prescribed
act sustained the Doctrine, it had been "with just ballance
waied" by himself and " a greate menny bushops and other of
the best learned " men " at the makinge of the boke." The
Declaration to which he now assented — probably prepared —
was the deliberate judgment of the Church of England by
representation, and no suddenly extemporized statement to
meet a supposed new phase of a state of terror.
(3.) For the reasons already assigned at pp. 33 to 35 and
elsewhere, I must venture to deny that there was any, much
less " any great alteration," on the " subject of the real
presence," in the Prayer Book of 1552.
The Second remaining point which the Archbishop's Letter
leads me to notice is this, — That the way in which he regards
" kneelinge" as the synonym for reverence may fairly suggest
the true interpretation to be put upon the Rubric, in the
present Communion Office, which directs that *"if any
* At p. 89, I have ventured to reject the opinion held by some— that the
earlier part of this Rubric, as it stood in the Book of 1552 (" if any of the bread
and wine remain, the Curate shall have it to his own use") referred to the
consecrated Bread and Wine. It was not until long after those remarks were
printed off that I noticed the following passages in Bp. Cosin's Notes on the
Common Prayer, which, it will be seeD, entirely support the opinion I had
formed : —
1st Series, p. 130 Cosin's Works, Ang. Cath. Lib.— " And if any of the bread
and wine remain, $c] Which is not to be understood of the bread and wine
already consecrated, but of that which remains without consecration ; for else it
were but a profanation of the Holy Sacrament to let the Curate have it home
to his own use. Quam indignt faciunt, qui hac rubrica ad tantum facinus excu-
sandum abuttintur, ipsi viderint. It was Nestorianism once to think, that the
consecrated bread, if it were kept in crastinum, became common bread again, if
St. Thorn, p. 3, q. 72, a. 11, ad 2, (a) quoteth St. Cyril of Alexandria right, Ep.
ad Calen. Vide Maldon, de Sacram. p. 120. 'There was order taken for it of
(a) " [This reference is incorrect. The passage intended is in S. Thorn. Aquinas, Summa
Totius Theologian, pars. iii. qusest. 76, art. 6, ad secundum, where he speaks of ' quidam
ponentes quod Corpus Clmsti non rcmaneat sub hoc Sacramento, si in crastinum reservetur.
Contra quos Cyrillus dicit,' etc The same passage of S. Cyril is cited by him in the Aurea
Catena on S. Luc. c. xxii. with the reference Ep. ad Calosyr. 'Insaniunt quidam dicentes
mysticam benedictionem cessare a sanctiliratione. si qu.c ejus reliquiae remanserint in diem
subsequentim : non enim mutatur sacratum Corpus Christi, sed virtus benedictionis et
vivilicativa gratia jugis in eo est.' The Greek was found by Cardinal Mai in the Vatican MS.
which contains S. Cyril's Commentary on S. Luke, and it is printed by him in the Classici
Auctores, torn. x. p. 375, note .... ]" — Editor's Note.
remain of that [Bread and Wine] which was consecrated, it
shall not be carried out of the Church, but the Priest and such
other of the Communicants as he shall then call unto him,
shall, immediately after the Blessing, reverently eat and
drink the same."
In Edward's 2nd Prayer Book (as indeed in the 1st) no
direction whatever was given for the disposal of the remaining
Consecrated Bread and Wine ; the reasons are obvious, viz.
(1) That, owing to the notice then practically as well as
Rubrically required from those who proposed to communicate,
not more probably remained of what was consecrated than
could conveniently be consumed by the Celebrant : (2) That
it must have been wholly unnecessary to prescribe a rule
on this point for a body of Clergy who had been accustomed
to follow those careful directions of the old Office Books
which made even the cleansing of the Paten and Chalice a
part of the Public Service ; and so (though they should be
considered as needlessly minute) guarded against a negligence
and carelessness which (it must be confessed) is too com-
monly to be found in our own day among Clergy and Parish
Clerks.
The similar absence of any Rubric in Elizabeth's Book
(1559) may be accounted for on the like ground ; for, could
it even be shown that any general lax practice had grown up
in the last year of Edward's reign, the restoration of the
Missal by Mary must have corrected it; while the fact that
James's Book (1604) made no alteration in this respect, may
old in the Church, which were well to he observed still, that No more
should be brought, at least consecrated upon the altar, than would suffice to
communicate the people, and if any remained, that the priests should reve-
rently receive it. Tanta in altari hoioeausta offcrantur, quanta populo suj/icere
debeant. Quod remansirit (nimirum 936 holocaustis et elemcntis consecratisj non
servetur in crastinum, sed cum timore et tremore clericorum diligentia consumetur.
Clem. P. P. Ep. 2. de Consecrat. distinct. 2. c. tribus gradibus." (b)
P. 1 31. — " To his own use.] We read in Clemens, (<■) that after the Communion
was done, the deacons took up that which was left, and carried it in Pastopho-
rium, the room where the priests were lodged. In Origen, (d) that it was not
(6) [" Ap. Decretum, pars iii. de consecratione, dist. ii. c. 23, apud Corp Jur. Canon.,
torn. i. The passage is taken out of a spurious Epistle of S. i lenient, Epist u. ad Jacobum
fratrem Domini de saeratis vestibus et vasis, printed in the Concilia, torn. i. p. 99, A. B.] "—
Ed. Note.
(r) " [ Const. Apost. lib. viii. c. 13. Concilia, torn. i. col. 485. A] "—Ed. Note.
(<*)"[... Origen in Lcvit. cap. V. 7. 15.) Horn. v. s. 8. Op. torn. ii. col. 211. B ] "—
Ed. Note.
124
well lead to the belief that, though the objectors to kneeling
at the reception of the Sacrament were increasing, no novel
practice as to consuming the remains had crept in among those
who adhered to and defended the Rubric.
But when the Scotch Prayer Book was prepared in 1 606-7
the following Rubric was appended to the Communion
Office : — " And if any of the Bread, and Wine remain, which
is consecrated, it shall be reverently eaten and drunken by such
of the Communicants only as the Presbyter which celebrates
shall take unto him, but it shall not be carried out of the
Church." What is the legitimate inference from this?
Surely, that in the preceding 30 years a growing Puritan
irreverence in all that concerned the ministration of the
Eucharist had shown the necessity of such a provision in a
Book intended for use among a people who were deeply
imbued with Knox's prejudices against Kneeling, and who
were using his " Book of Common Order." If it be asked
— why did not Abp. Laud then add a similar Rubric to
the English Book ? the answer is plain — that Ecclesiastical
affairs were far too perilous at that time in England to
adventure what would certainly have been denounced as a
Popish innovation.
kept till the next day. In St. Jerome, (c) that after the Communion, they
that had eaten it in the Church spent all that remained of the oblations. In
Hesychius, (/) that after the example of the old law, all that was left was cast
into the fire. In Evagrius, {g) that it was an ancient custom at Constantinople,
that if any of the Sacrament remained, young children were called from the
school to eat it up ; which was retained in France, (A) as in Conril. Masticon tt
Titron., held under Charlemagne." (i) See also Cosin's other Notes quoted infra.
So, too, Sparrow (whose language I had not before noticed) says — " If any of
the Bread and Wine remain, the Curate shall hare it to his own use. [Rub. 5. after
the Communion Service] that is, if it were not consecrated : for if it be conse-
crated, it is all to be spent with fear and reverence by the Communicants, in the
Church. Gratian de Comecr. dist. 2. c. 23. Tribus Coneil. Constant. Ecsp. ad. Qu.
f>. Monachon. apud Balsam. Thcophil. Akxand. Cap. 7 '." '—Rationale p. 241. Ed.
1672.
(f) " [In ecclesia convenientes oblationes suas separatim offerebant, et post commu-
nionem qujecunque eis de sacriheiis super fuissent, illi in eeclesia coramunem ccenam
comedentes pariier coiiMimebant.— Pseudo-Hieron. in 1 Cor. xi. 20. S. Hieron. Op. torn. xi.
col. 9, 31, D. E] "—Ed. Note.
(/) " [Hesychius in Levit., lib. ii. (in c. viii. 32.) ap. Bibl. Patr. Max., torn. xii. p. 86.
C. Lugd. 1677.]"— Ed. Note.
(0) " [ . . Evagrius, Hist. Eccl., lib. iv. c. 36, p. 416.]"— Ed. Note.
(*)"[... Cone. Masticonense II. A. D. 585. can. 5, Concilia, torn. vi. col. 675, CD."
—Ed. Note.
(1) " [ . . . Con. Turonense III. sub Caiolo Magno A. D. 813, can 19; ibid, torn, ix .
<-ol. 351, D ]"— Ed. Note.
125
To this Rubric of the Scotch Office may, no doubt, be
traced the Rubric inserted in the English Book of 1662:
nor need we wonder that Bishop Cosin and his co-revisers
added this, when it is recollected that, in addition to the
wide spreading Puritanism of the quarter of a century which
had elapsed since the Scotch Office was framed, the last 15
years of the period had witnessed the total banishment of
the Prayer Book from the Public Services, and with it had
abolished Ritual and Ceremonial practices which were very
unlikely to be resumed in the absence of positive directions
to both Clergy and People.
Now it may be safely assumed, I think, that had Arch-
bishop Cranmer thought it needful to give any order for the
consumption of the remaining Consecrated Elements, he
would have used either the word " reverently " or the word
" kneeling ; " for, whether we regard his views on the Real
Presence (see e. g., p. 22) or his views on Consecration (see
p. 85), it seems to me impossible to believe that (even taking
his language in the lowest and loosest interpretation which has
been, wrongly as I think, put upon it) he would have allowed
that not to be The Sacrament which was consumed after the
post-communion prayers, though it was The Sacrament when
partaken of immediately after Consecration.
It seems clear, indeed, that the Archbishop held — that the
Presence is in the Ministration; for, as he says, (see p. 88)
" the [sacramental] change is in the use, and not in the
elements kept and reserved, wherein is not the perfection of a
Sacrament;" and again (answer to Gardiner, p. 271) " he is not
present in the forms of bread and wine out* of the ministration"
but then it is essential to recollect that it was wholly unlikely
for Cranmer (or indeed any Cleric or Laic of that day) to re-
gard the consumption of the remains of the Consecrated
Elements as anything else than a part of the Ministration : "
it is difficult to understand that any one who tries to throw
himself into that period will suppose it presumptuous to
assume that no such thought entered the minds of the
Churchmen of that time ; rather the wonder would surely be
* Which, surely, implies that ho considered Christ was present " in the forms"
in " the ministration."
126
how they could depart, except where distinctly ordered, from
the traditional and rubrical theory and practice with which
they had been bound up so long.
Assuming then, as I do without any doubt, that Craumer so
regarded it ; the conclusion seems inevitable — that in what-
ever posture the Celebrant or his Ministers or the people
made their Communion, in that same posture the Archbishop
would have required them to consume the remaining Con-
secrated Elements when called upon to do so : standing * was
* Bishop Cosin indeed seems, at one time at least, to have thought other-
wise; for in his 1st Seriss of Note3, A. C. L. p. 105, he thus writes — " Then the
Priest standing up, shall say the Prayer of Consecration.'] The transposing of this
after that which goes before, otherwise than it was in King Edward's Book, hath
left the Priest to receive the Sacrament standing, there being no Rubric or
appointment to alter his gesture after this ; and upon this have the Puritans
taken occasion to plead, and say that they may as well be left to their liberty
and stand as the minister, when they receive. But see the answer infra."
The " answer" to which Cosin seems to refer, is the following Note p. 112, 1st
Series — "Kneeling.] Kneeling here, for all the Puritans' objection, (o) hath
reference as well to the minister himself, as to the people and other ministers."
But in this instance, as indeed in many other cases, the Puritans by taking the
literal appear to have caught the true interpretation of the Bubric, though they
argued very inaccurately from it. The Rubric, here referred to, stood thus in the
Books of 1552, 1559, and 1604 :— " Then shall the Minister first receive the Commu-
nion in both kind* himself, and next deliver it to other Ministi rs if any be there present
(that they may help the chief Minister) and after to the people in their hands
kneeling." Bishop Cosin seems to have thought that the variation from the
order of the 1st Book (in placing the prayer of Access before the act of Conse-
cration) apparently changed the position of the Celebrant when communicating
himself: but his error probably arose from his mistaking the meaning of the
Rubric in the 1st Book ; that Rubric, except that it did not contain the words,
" in their hands kneeling," was identical with the Rubric just quoted, and it is
surprising that Cosin appears not to have considered the moral certainty of the
Clergy of 1549 interpreting this Rubric by the practice which they must have
pursued under "the Order of the Communi n" of 1548. That supplementary
Office directed "The time of the Communion" of the people to "be immediately
after that the Priest hath reecivt d the Sacranu at, without the varying of any other rite
or ceremony in the Mass (until other order shall be provided J . . . ." then followed a
longer and a shorter exhortation similar to those now used, the Confession, the
Absolution, the Comfortable Words, and the Prayer of Access ; the very next
Rubric orders " Then shall the Priest rise, the people still reverently kneeling, and
the Priest shall deliver the Communion, first to the Ministers, if any be there pre-
sent, that they may be ready to help the Priest, and after to the other."
Now even if no such directions had been given, we may be sure that the
Celebrant would have continued to communicate himself and the people, after the
accustomed manner: but when told that, with certain variations, the Mass Office
was to be strictly followed in other respects, it is clear that the Celebrant must
have received the Sacrament himself standing " cum inclinativiu," for that was
the posture ordered in the Sarum and other Uses : no " other order" had been
" provided," in this respect, down to the time at which Cosin penned this Note; it
follows, therefore, that the old Rule continued, even though the traditional practice
may have been much invaded by Bishop Cosin' s day, and so may have likely
enough influenced the opinion recorded in his Note.
(o) Editor's Note.—" [' The Priest is expressly directed in the next rub. before, to stand,
and not directly to kneel now.'— Survey, Ex. 22. quaere 57. p. 70.]" A. D. Iti06.
127
the posture of the Celebrant; kneeling, the posture of all others
in making their Communion. The Post-communion con-
sumption was just as much a part of " the use " and " the
ministration " of the Sacrament as what had preceded : what-
ever reverence therefore Cranmer held to he due to Christ's
Presence in the earlier part of " the use," he must necessarily,
it would seem, have thought needful to he rendered so long
as " the Ministration " lasted.
What that reverence was, we now know distinctly from his
Though, however, even Laud's Book of 1638 gave no direction as to the posture
of the Celebrant when communicating, Bishop Cosin seems still to have retained
his view when he wrote his Suggestions for alterations in the Prayer-Book; for
at p. 517 A. C. L. this passage occurs— "58. In the Priest's taking of the Sacra-
ment to himself, there is no direction either for his Kneeling when he takes it, or
for the words which he is then to say; which is therefore needful here to be
added, lest otherwise some contentious minister might say, that he is not
enjoined to Kneel in this holy action himself, nor to say any words at all when
he takes the Sacrament."
Accordingly, as the Editor of Cosin's Notes states " [The rubrics were thus
prepared by Cosin : ' Then shall the priest that celebrateth receive the Holy
Communion in both kinds upon his knees, and when he taketh the Sacrament of
the Body of Christ he shall say, ' The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was
given for me, preserve my body and soul unto everlasting life. Amen. I take
and eat this for the remembrance of Christ who died for me, and I feed on Him
in my heart by faith with thanksgiving.' And when he taketh the Sacrament of
Christ's blood he shall say, ' The blood of onr Lord, &c.' (then in Sancroft's hand,
' which was shed for me, preserve my body and soul unto everlasting life. Amen.
I drink this for the remembrance of Christ who shed his blood for me, and am
thankful.') ' Then shall he stand up and proceed to deliver the Holy Commu-
nion first to the bishops, priests, and deacons, if any be present, in both kinds,
and after that to the people in due order, into their hands, all humbly kneeling,
and so continuing (as is most meet) at their devotions and prayers unto the end
of the whole Communion.']"
But this proposed Rubric was not adopted in the Revision of 1662, though it
is probable (see infra) that Cosin's Notes, &c. (especially his " Suggestions" )
were before the Reviewers at that time ; Dr. Nichol's marginal note upon
Cosin's Suggestion is " This seems to be altered, but still the rubric is not clear
in this point : " looking however at the Rubric as it now stands, the probability
seems to be that the question having been discussed and the old Office books
weighed, either Bishop Cosin changed his opinion or was overruled by his co-
revisers : perhaps there was sufficient difference of view among them to lead them
to adopt here the recommendation of the Royal Commission by making no
change. Anyhow they neither incorporated the old Rubric directing the Priest
to stand ; nor the Words (" The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ," &c.) which the
Old Offices directed the Priest to use when communicating himself, though no
form was prescribed for communicating the people. Clearly, then, we are free to
interpret the Priest's posture by the analogy of the Old English Offices : while as
to the words, probably the natural inclination of the Celebrant when receiving
himself, is to use either secretly or openly (with the requisite change) the
language he is bidden to employ in administering the Sacrament to the people.
Nevertheless the argument I have used in the text is in no way affected which-
ever view may be taken of the Rubric : that argument being — that the same pos-
ture, whatever it is, which is used by the Celebrant or others in making their
Communion, must be also used in consuming the remains of the Sacrament.
own Letter ; " Kneelinge," he considered the true external
expression of it in the Church of England, in common with
the rest of Western Christendom : to refuse this could only,
in his mind, "importe a contemptuouse than a reverent re-
ceaving of the Sacrament." Can it be reasonably supposed
that he would have thought otherwise of any (to whom the
Rubric on Kneeling applied) who should then have offered
to receive the remains of the Sacrament in any other than a
kneeling posture ? I believe it cannot.
Now if this was true of Cranmer, how much more must it
have been true of the last Revisers of the Prayer Book ! Cer-
tain it is that the Reviewers of 1662, to whom we are in-
debted for the Offices as they now stand, could not have
meant less by reverence than the Archbishop did : their
views (especially those e. g. of Sheldon, Cosin, Morley,
Sanderson, Gauden, Heylin, Gunning, Pearson, Sparrow,
and Thorndike) undoubtedly were not lower than Cranmer 's :
their experience of irreverence must have been greater among
priests f as well as people. In, what we may be sure there-
fore was, their desire to promote due reverence among both,
they added the following Rubrics or parts of Rubrics as
being likely, in their judgment, to secure it : —
I. Before the first Lord's Prayer. — . . . the people
kneeling."
II. Before the Nicene Creed. — ". . . . the people all
standing up [at the Gospel] .... the people still standing [at
the Creed] as before."
III. Before the Offertory sentences. — " Then shall
the Priest return to the Lord's Table, and begin the Offertory.
IV. Before the Prayer for Christ's Church Mili-
tant. — " Whilst these sentences are in reading, the Deacons,
Churchwardens, or other Jit person appointed for that purpose }
f A circumstance not surprising, when we find that so early as 1603 it was
stated in the Hampton Court Conference that " the vicar of Ratesdale,
by his unseemly and irreverent usage of the Eucharist, dealing the bread out of a
basket, every man putting in his hand and taking out a prace, to have made many
loath the Communion, and wholly refuse to come to Church." — Barlow's Account
in Card. Hist. Corp. p. 210.
1 29
shall receive the Alms for the poor, and other devotions of the
people, in a decent bason, to be provided by the Parish for that
purpose; and reverently bring it to the Priest, ivho shall
humbly present and place it upon the holy Table.
"And when there is a Communion, the Priest shall then
place upon the Table so much Bread and Wine, as he shall
think sufficient."
V. Before the first Exhortation. — " At the time of the
Celebration of the Communion, the Communicants being con-
veniently placed for the receiving of the holy Sacrament, . . . . "
VI. Before " It is very meet," etc. — " Then shall the
Priest turn to the Lord's Table, and say,"
VII. Before the Prayer of Consecration. — " When
the Priest, standing before the Table, hath so ordered the Bread
and Wine, that he may with the more readiness and decency
break the Bread before the people, and take the Cup into his
hands, he shall say the Prayer of Consecration, . . . . "
VIII. In the Prayer of Consecration. — The manual
acts prescribed, " Here the Priest is to take the Paten," etc.
IX. After the communion of the people. — " Tf the
consecrated bread or wine be all spent before all have commu-
nicated ; the Priest is to consecrate more according to the form
before prescribed" etc.
" Wlien all have communicated, the Minister shall return to
the Lord's Table, and reverently place upon it ivhat remaineth
of the consecrated Elements, covering the same with a fair linen
cloth."
X. At the end of the Office. — . . . but if any re-
main of that which ivas consecrated, it shall not be carried out
of the Church, but the Priest and such other of the Communi-
cants as he shall then call unto him, shall, immediately after
the Blessing, reverently eat and drink the same."
Each of these Rubrics, as will be seen, was directed to a
separate point, some (i. e., Nos. HI., IV., and VII.) brought
out more distinctly the Sacrificial aspect ; others (i. e., Nos.
VIII., IX., and X.,) impressed more clearly the doctrine of
Consecration: but all combined in promoting one object,
viz., a more careful and orderly celebration of the Holy
s
130
Eucharist than had been accustomed ; all tended to invest that
Sacrament with a greater dignity than it seemed to possess
when Rubrically shorn of some of its Ritual directions in the
Offices subsequent to Edward's 1st Book : indeed, in some
respects, the Rubrics of 1662 were fuller and more explicit
than those of 1549 ; for the obvious reason — that the Clergy
of Edward's days, familiar as they were with the Rules of the
Old Offices, had no need of directions upon points which
subsequent negligence or prejudice had obscured or would be
likely to hide from the view of the Clergy of Charles the
Snd's reign, and their successors.
Moreover, the instructions given to the Commissioners
were themselves calculated to favour this end; for, in " the King 's
warrant for the Conference at the Savoy," they were directed
" to advise upon and review the said Book of Common
Prayer, comparing the same with the most ancient Liturgies
which have been used in the Church, in the primitive and
purest times." (Card. Hist. Conf. p. 300) ; and if those who
exercised the most influence in the Conference desired (as
there can be no doubt they did) to conform the Liturgy to
the Ancient Offices as much as they could consistently with
the King's direction to be careful in " avoiding, as much as
may be, all unnecessary alterations of the forms and Liturgy
wherewith the people are already acquainted, and have so
long received in the Church of England" (ibid), there can be
no question in what direction they must have been led : it
would require no very extensive search among those ancient
monuments of Eucharistic Doctrine and Ritual before they
saw that whatever changes or additions they made in the
Book under review must be of a nature to surround and pene-
trate the Communion Office with protections and defences
against Puritanical assaults and betrayals.
It follows, therefore, that any uncertainty which may now arise
as to the construction of expressions, whether in the Rubrics
or in the Substance of the Communion Office, can only be
fairly and safely removed by a reference to those same Ancient
Liturgies which were so distinctly and authoritatively com-
mended to and employed by the Savoy Commissioners : the
131
analogy of those Liturgies (including the old English Uses
which the Reviewers could not but have regarded as the
Church of England's traditional exposition of the Ancient
Liturgies) must be followed in interpreting the language of
the present English Liturgy if we at all wish to comprehend
its letter and its spirit.
The word " reverently," now under discussion, occurs in
three of the Rubrics just quoted, viz : Nos. IV, IX, and
X ; an examination and comparison of these will probably
materially help to define the meaning of the term as used in
No. X. — the Rubric now under consideration.
Rubric No. IV prescribes the mode of collecting and pre-
senting the various Offerings of the people : the cor-
responding Rubric in the Books of 1549 to 1604 made a dis-
tinction in the method of receiving them. " The devotion of
the people" was put " into the poor men's box " either by the
people themselves (as in the Book of 1549), or by " the
Churchwardens, or some other " who had gathered it : " the
due and accustomed Offerings " were to be paid " to the
Curate" by "every man and woman" on " the offering days
appointed." But the Rubric of 1662 made no such dif-
ference ; by that " the Alms for the poor, and other devotions
of the people' were alike to be collected by " the Deacons,
Churchwardens, or other fit person appointed for that pur-
pose," who were to " reverently bring it to the priest : " con-
siderations of convenience no doubt led to this change : the
point however here to be observed is the act intended by the
word "reverently : " I understand it to mean "Kneeling;'"
this belief is confirmed by the fact— that Bishop Cosin so ex-
plained the Rubric of 1604 in his 1st Series of Notes where
(p. 97 A. C. L.) he says, quoting Bishop Andrevves —
" And upon the offering days appointed, every man and woman
shall pay to the Curate the due and accustomed offerings.'] . '! . W. ?
' They should not pay it to the curate alone, but to God upon the
altar ; from whence the curate hath his warrant to take it, as
deputed by Him, and as the Apostle plainly alludes, 1 Cor. ix. 13,
14 ; Heb. xiii. 10. And this is not to be forgotten, though it be
foregone, that whosoever gave any lands or endowments to the ser-
vice of God, he gave it in formal writing, (as now-a-days between
man and man) sealed and witnessed. And the tender of the gift
was super-altare, and by the donor upon his knees."
Again, in his 2nd Series, p. 323, Bishop Cosin says: —
" And upon the Offering-days appointed.'] It was one of the in-
structions set forth by the authority of King Henry VIII. in the
Convocation of his clergy, anno 1536, to be generally observed in
the Church of England, ' That the feasts of the Nativity of our Lord,
of Easter Day, of the Nativity of St. John Baptist, and of St. Michael
the Archangel, shall be accounted, accepted, and taken for the four
general Offering-days.' Which order is in some places among us
still observed. And the King or Queen in their Chapel-royal (or
wherever they be at Church in those days) never omit it, but arise
from their seat, and go in solemn manner to present their Offerings
upon their Knees at God's altar. And then is read by the Priest or
Bishop attending, this sentence here prescribed, 1 Cor. ix. : 'They
which minister about holy things,' etc "
Now if, as is implied in these two passages, Kneeling is
the proper posture in which individuals should present their
offerings ; it seems to follow that, when those Offerings are
presented for them by another, their representative should
also Kneel : * in the absence therefore of any direct evidence
to show the precise intention of the Reviewers of 1662, it is
a very reasonable supposition that the introduction of the
word " reverently " into che Rubric, as then altered, had some
reference to these opinions of Bishops Andrewes and Cosin ;
especially as Bishop Kennett (Register p. 566) has this Note:
" Several Books and Papers, supposed to be laid before the Con-
vocation while they were on this work of revising the Common
Prayer.
" The Collections of Bishop Overall.
" The Notes of Bishop Cosins,
" And his additional notes in Latin.
" Notes of Bishop Andrewes."
* I have since met with the following passage in Jebh's Choral Service, p.
497 : — " According to regular Collegiate usage, the Clergy present their Alms
severally themselves, kneeling in front of the Altar while making their offering.
This custom is, I believe, unknown in Ireland, but it is one so reverential, and
one which so distinctly exhibits the holy nature of almsgiving, and the purposes
of God's Altar, that its revival were much to be wished. In some Colleges, all
the lay members advance to the Altar rails, and then offer, one by one.
"A reverential mode of presenting the Alms 'offered to' God's 'Divine
Majesty,' is distinctly prescribed by the Rubric. Many interpret this to mean
Kneeling ; and certainly the traditional practice of the Church, in the custom
noticed in the last paragraph, would seem to justify the same posture in present-
ing the devotions of the people at large which was observed with respect to those
of individuals."
133
And that such a meaning was designed, appears to he fur-
ther indicated by the other word " humbly," which is employed
to describe the posture of " the Priest," when he has to
" present" the Offerings thus "reverently" brought to him.
That a different posture was intended, is, I think, clear from
the use of an expression which, though kindred in character,
is not synonymous with "reverently" — the latter word im-
plying (even according to the Dictionaries) more respect,
veneration, and awe. Besides (recollecting the principles which
guided the Reviewers) we cannot reasonably suppose that this
choice of terms was made without reference to the directions
of the old Offices; and in them there is nothing to indicate
that kneeling was the Celebrant's posture when presenting
Alms and Oblations, but quite the reverse : no direc-
tion indeed is given except as regards the Oblations
of Bread and Wine ; these, according to the Sarum and
Bangor rubric, he is to place " diligent er" (i. e., carefully,
attentively) "super medium altare" and then " inclinato
parwnper elevet calicem utraque manu offerens sacrifcium
Domino,. .. . :" but, plainly, no other offerings would be
made with more devotion than those which were presented for
the express purpose of being consecrated for the Sacrament,
and that this principle is meant to be retained now, may be
clearly understood from the Rubric in our present Prayer
Book, which merely bids the Priest to "place upon the Table
so much Bread and Wine as he shall think sufficient."
Moreover, it is important to remember that the act of pre-
senting and placing upon the Altar, either the Offertory or
the Elements is not the Priest's formal oblation of them, in
our present Office, though the act of bringing the Offerings
of the people to the Priest is their formal oblation: it is
easy, therefore, to see why only the word "humbly" (equi-
valent to the " diligenter " of the Sarum and Bangor Rites )
is used to prescribe the Priest's act, though the stronger term
"reverently" prescribes the act of the people's representative.
Indeed, some evidence of the intention in this choice of
terms is apparently furnished by a comparison of this Rubric
as it stood in Laud's book of 1687, where it reads "shall
134
humbly present it before the Lord and set it upon the holy
Table. And the Presbyter shall then offer up and place the
bread and wine prepared for the Sacrament upon the Lord's
Table : " the words which I have italicized not being incor-
porated with the Rubric of 1662. The Priest's formal obla-
tion of the Offerings is made in the Church Militant prayer
by the use of the words, " We humbly beseech Thee most
mercifully [to accept ovr alms and oblations, ..]... which
we offer unto thy Divine Majesty ; " and at that Prayer
standing is plainly the posture of the Celebrant — with an in-
clination of his body, according to the above Rubric of the
old Offices.
These considerations go very far, I think, towards proving
that whoever presents the Offerings of the people to the
Celebrant is to do so Kneeling ; but that the Celebrant
when presenting them on the Altar is to do so Standing.
Rubric No. IX prescribes the mode in which the Celebrant
is to return to the Altar " what remaineth of the Consecrated
elements" after 'tail have communicated: " the term used to
describe his action is " reverently."" It is to be noticed that
this is the word which, in Rubric No. IV just considered, I
have interpreted to mean " Kneeling;" it might seem there-
foi - e that the same construction must be put upon the same
word in this Rubric : but this by no means follows, as will
be seen by a reference to the old Uses which, it must always
be remembered, were not likely to be overlooked by the Re-
viewers of 1662 : the truth being that in Public Offices of
Religion the same degree of reverence is not always expressed
by the same action of the Minister and People, e. g., the
Versicles and Responses beginning "O Lord shew Thy mercy
upon us," etc., in our present Morning and Evening Prayer,
where " the Priest" is ordered to be "standing up," though
it is plain that he is engaged in exactly the same devotional
act as the people; and again, in the ante-communion Service,
the Lord's Prayer and two Collects are ordered to be said by
" the Priest standing : " throughout this office indeed, except
where expressly ordered otherwise, standing is the Celebrant's
posture owing to the peculiar nature of that Ministration as a
135
" sacrifice,'' though in fact it is "our" i. e., the people's as
well as the Priest's " sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving."
There is no Rubric in the old Uses strictly corresponding
to this Rubric No. IX, owing to some difference in their
arrangement at this part from the present English Use : the
analagous one in the Sarum and Bangor Offices is as follows: —
Sarum. " Hie sumat sanguinem : quo sumpto inclinet se
sacerdos, et dicat cum devotione orationem sequentem : Gratias tibi
ago, Domine," etc.
Bangor. "Hie sumat totam sanguinem: quo sumpto et calice
altari superposito, inclinans se sacentos cum magna veneratione in
medio altaris et crucem respiciens dicat hanc orationem. sequentem.
Gratias tibi," etc.
To understand this (as applying to the Rubric No. IX) it
must be remembered that the Celebrant had just communi-
cated himself with the Sacrament of the Body which was still
resting on the Altar : then having received in the other kind,
taking the " whole of the Blood " according to the above
Rubrics, he proceeded to communicate (in one kind) any of
the people who desired to receive ; this heing done the ablu-
tion of the Chalice immediately followed and then the post-
communion prayers. But as the Chalice when replaced on
the Altar necessarily contained some remains of the conse-
crated wine (which remains, as the Rubrics shew, were
treated with as much care as the contents of the Chalice im-
mediately upon Consecration) it cannot be reasonably doubted
that any acts connected with returning the Chalice to the
Altar were meant to be most reverential : yet, as has been
seen, Kneeling was not the expression of it ; nay, even in so
solemn a part of the Office as the oblation of the Sacrament,
no more demonstrative act is ordered than (Sarum, Bangor,
Ebor) " corpore inclinato inclinet se devoto " (Hereford)=
profunde inclinatus " in the present Roman Ritual : indeed
in this latter Office the strongest expression throughout the
whole action is " genuflexus adorat," i. e., upon one knee:
though even that does not occur in either of the four old
English Liturgies.
This examination of Rubrics No. IV and IX will pro-
136
bably facilitate the investigation of No. X where " re-
verently" designates the posture alike of Celebrant, Clergy,
and People in consuming the remains of the Sacrament.
"What, then, is the import of the word in this place, seeing
that (as I have argued) it has two distinctly opposite mean-
ings in the Rubrics just considered ? Does it here mean
kneeling, or standing, or some third posture? Clearly, I
think, it means both kneeling and standing ; and was designed
as a general term to cover the special posture whether of
Celebrant or others, for standing is just as much the Priest's
reverential attitude as kneeling is the people's ; if the same
posture had been intended for both it is most natural to believe
that the Rubric would have clearly expressed it, just as e.g.,
the Priest is told to say the Prayer of Access " kneeling
down " — a departure from his ordinary posture being designed,
and one which the Office assumes he would not make unless
so directed : but a common term being employed to state the
Rule for both Priest and People, that term must, I contend,
be interpreted in each case in conformity with the usage of
the Office throughout and according to the analogy furnished
by Rubrics IV and IX.
This view is confirmed, I think, by a similar general use of
the word in the Office for " The Communion of the Sick,"
where the Rubric directs "a convenient place in the sick
mans house, with all things necessary, to be "so prepared that
the Curate may reverently minister for as he is to
" celebrate the Holy Communion " according to the public
rite, except where otherwise ordered, and as that public rite
prescribes various postures for the Celebrant, so it was need-
ful to use a term which should include them all : such a term
is the word " reverently."
So far, then, as the intention can be gathered from this
comparison of the relative meaning of the word — and that
meaning is surely a most important one — the interpretation
proposed at p. 126 seems to be proved, viz., that the posture
in which any one makes his act of Communion must be also
used when the same person consumes the remains of the
Sacrament.
137
But it will materially help to fix this as the intended
meaning, if any support for it can be found in the opinions
of those who are known to have been chiefly consulted or
engaged in the revision of 1662.
One such opinion has already been incidentally noticed in
the passage from Bishop Cosin (Note p. 123) where reciting the
language of S. Thomas Aquinas on the consumption of the
remains of the Sacrament, he translates (or rather paraphrases
the words " cum timore et tremore " (quoted by that author)
by the very expression in question — " reverently : " saying
" There was order taken for it of old in the Church,
if any remained, that the priests should reverently receive it."
The passage, too, is the more noticeable as it may very likely
have led to the insertion of the order in 1662 (though indeed
it appeared in the Scotch Book of 1638) that* "if any remain
of that which was consecrated, it shall not be carried out of the
Church : " for it will be seen that in the passage which St.
Thomas quotes, the remainder of the Sacrament is expressly
ordered not to be kept for the morrow ( " non servetur in
crastinum") — words which we can readily believe to have
been in Cosin's mind at the time of the Revision, though
in the Note referred to he does not include them in his
paraphrase of the original.
Another passage, showing plainly what was Cosin's view
(when he wrote his 1st Series of Notes) of the Effect of
Consecration (and consequently of the reverence due to the
remains of the Sacrament) occurs in another Note upon the
Rubric " if any of the bread and wine remain ; " for, at p. 131,
he says : —
" Bread and wine, etc."] It is confessed by all divines, that upon
the words of consecration the Body and Blood of Christ is really and
substantially present, and so exhibited and given to all that receive
it ; and all this not after a physical and sensual, but after a heavenly
and invisible, and incomprehensible manner : but yet there remains
this controversy among some of them, whether the Body of Christ
be present only in the use of the Sacrament, and in the act of eating,
and not otherwise. They that hold the affirmative, as the Luther-
ans, in Conf. Sax* and all Calvinists do, seem to me to depart
* Editors iVbfc. " [Docentur etiam homines, sacramenta esse actiones divi-
T
138
from all antiq\iity, which place the presence of Christ in the virtue
of the words of consecration and benediction used by the Priest, and
not in the use of eating of the Sacrament, for they tell us that the
virtue of that consecration is not lost, though the Sacrament be re-
served either for sick persons or other. Whereupon Cassander,
Consul. Art. 10, saith, They are mad, qui dicunt mysticam benedic-
tionem Sacramenti cessare, aut virtutern suarn amittere, siquce reliquce
remanserint in dies futuros : non enim mutabitur SS. Corpus Christi,
sed virtus benedictionis, et vivificativa gratia jugis in ipso est. And
this most of the Protestants grant and profess at first, though now the
Calvinists make popish magic of it in their licentious blasphemy.*
Now if these were the only statements of Cosin upon this
point there could be no room to doubt that the post-commu-
nion Rubric now under discussion should be interpreted in
accordance with them, and consequently that the definition
already given of " reverently " must be the true one. But it
would be most unfair to pass over passages which, whatever
ultimate conclusion may be made regarding them, certainly do
seem at first sight to indicate some subsequent change of the
Bishop's opinion. The first of these occurs in his 2nd Series
of Notes, p. 345, and was apparently written about 1656 (see
Note) within six years of the last revision of the Prayer
Book, and is as follows : —
" Kneeling.] .... True it is, that the Body and Blood of Christ
are sacramentally and really (not feignedly) present, when the
blessed Bread and Wine are taken by the faithful communicants ;
and as true it is also, that they are not present, but only when the
hallowed elements are so taken, as in another work (the History of
Papal Transubstantiation)-f- I have more at large declared. There-
fore whosoever so receiveth them, at that time when he receiveth
them, rightly doth he adore and reverence his Saviour there,
together with the sacramental Bread and Cup, exhibiting His own
nitus institutas, et extra usum institutum res ipsas non habere rationem sacra-
menti, sed in usu instituto in hac communione vere et substantialiter adesse
Christum et vere exhibcri sumentibus corpus et sanguinem Christi.— Confessio
doctrinos Saxoniearum Ecclesiarum synodo Tridentinae oblata. A.D. 1551. cap.
15. (p, 282. ap. Syllogen Confessionum, Oxon. 1827.) ]
* NiehoVs Note. " A line is worn out here, on the edge at the bottom of the
page."
f Editor's Note. " [Historia papalis Transubstantionis, etc., cap. IV. s. 5.
Cosin's Works, vol. IV., p. 49. That work was written in 1656, not printed till
1675. This indicates the date of this note. See the preface to volume IV.
Cosin had first written 1 Qui tantum sumentibus adest, et vera fide non destitutis; '
this he altered into ' Quam communicantibus tantum adsit.' See the treatise
itself.] "
139
Body and Blood unto them. Yet because that Body and Blood is
neither sensibly present (nor otherwise at all present but only to
them that are duly prepared to receive them, and in the very act of
receiving them and the consecrated Elements together, to which
they are sacramentally in that act united) the adoration is then and
there given to Christ Himself, neither is nor ought to be directed to
any external sensible object, such as are the blessed Elements. But
our kneeling and the outward gesture of humility and reverence in
our bodies, is ordained only to testify and express the inward
reverence and devotion of our souls towards our blessed Saviour,
who vouchsafed to sacrifice Himself for us upon the Cross, and now
presenteth Himself to be united sacramentally to us, that we may
enjoy all the benefits of His mystical Passion, and be nourished with
the spiritual food of His blessed Body and Blood unto life eternal."
The real difficulty of this passage, so far as it concerns my
present argument, is the writer's seeming denial of his former
apparent belief — that the Body and Blood of Christ are
present in the Sacrament out of its use : indeed his language,
in the passage of his History of Transubstantiation to which
he refers, looks like an unauthorized development of the
cautious expression of the 28th Article, " The Sacrament of
the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved,
carried about, lifted up, or worshipped ; " whereas the
Bishop says (p. 174 Oxford Trans.)" .... we deny that the
elements still retain the nature of Sacraments, when not used
according to Divine Institution, that is, given by Christ's
ministers, and received by His people ; so that Christ in the
consecrated bread ought not — cannot be kept and preserved to
be carried about, because he is present only to the communi-
cants." I hope it is not too presumptuous to think that the
words I have italicized are hardly warranted by the language
of the Article, and it seems a legitimate question whether
Cosin by the use of them does not create as great a difficulty
as that which he wished to avoid ; for, assume that in any
given case * the Sacrament is reserved for a sick person, then,
• This is not a mere supposition, as the writer knows that a member of the
present English Episcopate (and one who would certainly not be said to hold
very high views on the Eucharist) not unfrequently, in his ministrations as a
parochial Incumbent, reserved the Sacrament, at the public Celebration, for the
use of the Sick. And too, it ia no secret that during the cholera in Leeds some
years ago, the Bishop of Eipon, while saying that he could not authorize reser-
vation, did not feel himself justified in forbidding it in that emergency. A real
need for thus acting doubtless has often arisen in the experience of many ; it
140
according to the Bishop's argument, one of three views must
be held (a) that being reserved for the purpose of Communion,
" Christ in the consecrated bread ought " to and can " be
kept and preserved ; " and then this seems to make the Pre-
sence depend upon the intended object of the Priest : (b) or
that the Presence departs from the Sacrament um when the
Ministration is ended, but returns to it when used to commu-
nicate the sick person : (c) or that there could be no presence
at all with the Elements, though consecrated at a public or
private Celebration, if reserved for the use of the Sick, any
more than if " preserved to be carried about."
But while, on the one hand, it is due to Bishop Cosin to
suppose that he could have reconciled the apparent discre-
pancy ; so, on the other hand, admitting its existence, it does
not really militate against the point I am arguing ; for,
whatever may have been his exact opinion touching the con-
secrated Elements when reserved, he only denies to them
" the nature of Sacraments, when not used according to Divine
institution:" the question then is — are they used according
to Divine institution ("that is," as he says, "given by
Christ's ministers, and received by His people ") when they
are consumed, as expressly directed, by those very Commu-
nicants who have just before been partaking of them ? There
seems to me nothing either in the passage from the History of
Transubstantiation or in the Note on " Kneeling," to imply
that Cosin would have returned an answer in the negative ;
and if not, what he says of formal sacramental reception may
surely be applied also to the participation in the remains of
the Sacrament — " at that time when he receiveth them,
rightly doth he adore and reverence his Saviour there to-
gether with the Sacramental Bread and Cup, exhibiting His
own Body and Blood unto them ; " and then it follows that
the same " outward gesture of humility and reverence in our
bodies " is to be used in both cases alike.
occurred once to the writer in a case where the sick person died just as the act
of consecrating the Eucharist was finished; it is morally certain often to present
itself again : but how is any one to resort to the obvious remedy — reservation —
if view (c) suggested by Bishop Cosin' s theory, is thought to be the most con-
sistent one ? iS ay, what is to be thought of the authorized practice of reservation
in the Scotch Episcopal Communion ?
141
There is, however, another Note of this 2nd Series which
must not he overlooked ; it runs thus, p. 356 : —
" And if any of the bread and wine remain, etc.'] which is to be
understood of that bread and wine, that the churchwardens provided,
and carried into the vestry, not of tllat which the Priest consecrated
for the Sacrament ; for of this if he be careful, as he ought to be, to
consecrate no more than will suffice to be distributed unto the Com-
municants, none will remain.
" (Yet if for lack of care * they consecrate more than they dis-
tribute, why may not the Curates have it to their own use, as well as
be given to children, ( Concil Mastic, c. 2. ) or be burnt in the fire
( Isych in Levit.) for though the bread and wine remain, yet the con-
secration, the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ do not
remain longer than the holy action itself remains for which the
bread and wine were hallowed ; and which being ended, return to
their former use again ?) "
If indeed this last paragraph is a record of Cosin's opinion,
it undoubtedly would destroy the support I have been en-
deavouring to claim from him ; unless (as seems probable
from the passage just noticed, see also p. 127) he considered
the consumption of the remains of the Sacrament at the Altar
as part of " the holy action itself :" but from its bracketed
form and the Editor's suggestion, it may be most reasonably
supposed that it is nothing more than the real or imaginary
language of an objector for whom the Bishop thought an
answer should be provided. No such answer, however, seems
to be recorded by the Bishop: but, unless we are to resort to
the very improbable surmise that he was not a consentient
party, it may well be considered that his answer is furnished
in the amended Rubric of 1662.
Yet by way of clearing up the difficulty, it will be well
to consider what answer Cosin would probably have drawn
from his knowledge of Ecclesiastical Antiquity ; and perhaps
that answer can be given in no more concise and satisfactory
way than in the words of Bingham ; for, treating of this very
question, " How the remains of the Eucharist were disposed of,"
he says, Bk. xv., c 7., s. 4 —
* Editor's Note. — "[This part of the note was written after the former, and
because that occupied the page, this is carried down the margin ; it appears to be
a sort of qucro or awoplw in the way of discussion.]"
142
" Sometimes what remained of the Eucharist, was distributed
among the innocent children of the Church. For, as I have briefly
hinted before, whilst the communion of infants continued in the
Church, nothing was more usual in many places than both to given
children the communion at the time of consecration, and also to re-
serve what remained unconsumed, for them to partake of some day
in the week following. Thus it was appointed by the second Coun-
cil of Mascon in France, Anno 588, ' That if any remains of the
Sacrifice, after the Service was ended, were laid up in the vestry, he
who had the care of them should, on Wednesday or Friday, bring the
innocents to Church fasting, and then sprinkling the remains with
wine, make them all partake of them. And Evagrius (lib. iv. c. 36)
says, it was the custom of old at Constantinople to do the same : for
when they had much remains of the Body of Christ left, they were
used to call in the children that went to School, and distribute
among them. And he tells this remarkable story upon it, that the
son of a certain Jew happening one day to be among them, and ac-
quainting his father what he had done, his father was so enraged at
the thing, that he cast him into his burning furnace, where he was
used to make glass. But the boy was preserved untouched for some
days, till his mother found him : and the matter being related to
Justinian the Emperor, he ordered the mother and the child to be
baptized ; and the father, because he refused to become a Christian,
to be crucified as a murderer of his son. The same thing is
related by Gregory of Tours (de. Glor. Martyr, lib. i. c. 10.) and
Nicephorus Callistus (lib. xvii. c. 25), who also adds, that the custom
continued at Constantinople to his own time, that is, the middle of
the fourteenth century ; for he says, when he was a child, he was
often called to partake of the remains of the Sacrament after this
manner among other children."
To what conclusion, then, is it most likely that Bishop
Cosin must have heen led by a consideration of the practice of
the Church and the rule of the Council referred to in his
question? Surely this — that the effect of the Consecration
was held to "remain longer than the holy action itself re-
mains for which the bread and wine were hallowed," for the
children were to consume the remains fasting, this being the
rule laid upon Communicants ; and therefore that being the
Sacrament still, according to Bishop Overall's definition in
the Catechism, and not merely the Sacramentum, "the
Curates" might not "have it to their own use," but it must
be disposed of to the Communicants and with the same
reverence as had accompanied the previous Sacramental action.
143
Again, with regard to the other practice, that of burning
the remains, referred to in Bishop Cosin's note, the testimony
of Bingham is equally explicit ; he says, Ibid s. 5 —
" In some places they observed the rule given by God for dis-
posing of the remainders of the sacrifices of peace-offerings and vows
under the old law, which was to burn them with fire. Lev. vii. 17.
This was the custom of the Church of Jerusalem in the fifth century,
when Hesychius, a presbyter of that Church, wrote his Comment
upon Leviticus, where he speaks of it (lib. ii.) in these words :
' God commanded the remainder of the flesh to be burned with fire.
And we now see with our own eyes the same thing done in the
Church : whatever happens to remain of the Eucharist unconsumed,
we immediately burn with fire, and that not after one, two, or many
days.' From hence our learned writers generally observe two
things : 1, that it was not the custom of the Church of Jerusalem to
reserve the Eucharist so much as from one day to another, though
they did it in some other Churches. 2. That they certainly did not
believe it to be the natural body and substance of Christ, but only
his typical or symbolical body : for what an horrible and sacrilegious
thing must the very Jews and Heathens have thought it, for
Christians to burn the living and glorified body of their God ?
And how must it have scandalized simple and plain Christians
themselves, to have seen the God they worshipped burnt in fire ?
And with what face could they have objected this to the Heathen,
that they worshipped such things as might be burnt, which is the
common argument used by Arnobius, Lactantius, Athanasius, and
most others, if they themselves had done the same thing ? If there
were no other argument against transubstantiation and host-worship,
this one thing were enough to persuade any rational man that such
doctrines and practices were never countenanced by the ancient
Church."
So far, however, from Bishop Cosin thinking this practice
of the early Church any warrant for putting the remains of
the Sacrament to the common uses permitted to the unconse-
crated oblations of Bread and Wine, he must undoubtedly, I
think, have regarded it as a most distinct precedent for a very
reverent dealing with them; for the object was to prevent
any risk of profanation — a precaution wholly needless if the
Church had then held any such notion as that propounded in
Cosin's supposed objection, viz., that the Eucharistic action
being ended "the bread and wine" which "were hallowed
.... return to their former use again." There is no need.
Hi
however, it seems to me, to perplex this subject, as some have
even lately done, by raising questions of a gross and material
character touching the oral manducation of the Sacrament :
thus Mr. Goode {on the Eucharist, vol. i. p. 191,) speaking of
the doctrine of the Real Presence as held by Dr. Pusey, the
late Archdeacon Wilberforce, and Archdeacon Denison, says —
" If the Body and Blood of Christ are so joined to the bread and
wine that the mouth of every communicant in receiving one neces-
sarily receives the other, then brute animals eating and drinkingth e
bread and wine receive the Body and Blood of Christ."
And he complains that Archdeacon Denison, having by
anticipation noticed the objection, can only reply —
" . . . . that we are not told what the consecrated Elements may be
to the brute creation, and therefore cannot affirm anything on the
subject,"
whereas Mr. Goode says (p. 49) —
" . . . . the consistent .Romanists maintain, that brute animals
eating and drinking consecrated Bread and Wine, eat and drink the
Body and Blood of Christ."
Yet, while it is no fair argument to assume — that a con-
sequence connected with the doctrine of Transubstantiation
by some of its maintainers, is also tied to a doctrine which its
advocates assert to be the reverse of Transubstantiation — it
may not be improper to consider how the objection can be
met. Let it be granted that the Roman doctrine of the
change of substance necessarily involves the result named
(though Mr. Goode allows, p. 192, that "this is a view from
which even many Romanists shrink," professing to hold, as
S. Thomas Aquinas says, that " 'as soon as the Sacrament is
touched of a mouse or a dog, the body of Christ ceases to be
there ' ") why should a like result follow from that Sacramental
union which the writers in question hold to be involved by the
Real Presence of Christ's " Blessed Body and Blood under the
form of Bread and Wine ? " I say " from that Sacramental
union which the writers in question hold ; " for perchance Mr.
Goode's -expression — " that the mouth of every communi-
cant in receiving one necessarily receives the other " might
145
be rejected by tbose writers as implying a sensible oral con-
tact opposed to the nature of the res sacramenti as by them
understood. Passing over this, however, let me suggest, by
way of answer, an analogical argument which 1 trust is not
irreverent. The union, then, of the sacramentum and the res
sacramenti is often explained as being in kind like that of
man's soul and body ; and, again, this latter is frequently
used to illustrate the hypostatical union of the Word made
flesh, as being also like it in kind.
Now, if a man is bitten maliciously by another human
being or accidentally by an animal, we do not speak of it as
though only a corpse had been so treated ; yet, though we
say " he was bitten," we do not mean that the man's soul was
subjected to that same physical action which inflicted a visible
injury upon his body : indeed, this is but an application
of that truth conveyed by our Lord's words (S. Matt. x. 28.)
" Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill
the soul."
But we estimate very differently the act of the human
being and the act of the animal : the former we regard as a
crime and a dishonour, because unnatural, and done by a
being who is conscious that it is so ; the latter we treat as
neither an offence nor a degradation, because natural (in
its present state) and done by a creature lacking that reason-
able soul which is the source of moral responsibility.
Applying this to the Holy Eucharist, we may, perhaps, the
better understand how, as St. Paul says, (1 Cor. xi. 27 and
29), "whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of
the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood
of the Lord ; " for such an one, though like the worthy re-
ceiver he cannot " carnally and visibly press with " his
"teeth" more than "the Sacrament [Sacramentum] of
the Body and Blood of Christ," (Art. XXIX) yet, "not
discerning the Lord's Body" does dishonour to that Res
Sacramenti by the very act of partaking with an evil mind,
and therefore to " condemnation," the sign, or Sacrament
[Sacramentum seu Symbolum] of so great a thing [tantae rei.]"
Yet though no such dishonour as this can be done to the
u
I if;
Sacrament (i. e., Sacramentum and Res Sacramenti) save
where this faculty of discrimination exists, but is neglected ;
it is not the less a duty to guard it carefully from risks of seem-
ing irreverence and, much more, of profanation. If, as is the
case, we take precautions to preserve ourselves from harm,
though from no feeling that our spiritual part can suffer
physical injury ; it would seem only the legitimate develop-
ment of a natural instinct so to treat " the outward part or
sign of the Lord's Supper " that " the inward part or thing
signified " should not be subjected to apparent indignity even
under circumstances where no design of disrespect could
possibly exist. Hence, therefore, the precautions taken in the
old English Canons against the Reserved Sacrament being
kept so long as to become corrupt : thus Elfric's Canons,
a.d. 957, prescribe that " The holy housel ought to be kept
with great diligence, and not be permitted to be stale, but
another be always hallowed anew for sick men, in about a
seven-night or fortnight, so as that it may not be musty at
least; " and the Legatine Canons at Westminster, a.d. 1138,
Hubert Walter's Legatine Canons at York, a.d. 1195, and at
Westminster, a.d. 1200, Archbishop Peckham's Constitutions
at Reading, a.d. 1279, Archbishop Reynold's Latin Consti-
tutions, a.d. 1322, alike forbid it to "be reserved above
seven days after consecration : " hence, too, that reverent
" custom of the Church of Jerusalem " to " burn with
fire" such remains "of the Eucharist" as were "uncon-
sumed," which, as furnishing the ground for Bishop Cosin's
enquiry — "Why may not the curates have it to their own
use ? " — has led to these observations. I proceed now to
notice another comment of his upon the same Rubric; it
occurs in his 3rd Series of Notes, p. 481, and is as follows: —
" And if any of the bread and wine remain, the curate, etc.] which
needeth not to be understood of that bread and wine which was blessed
and consecrated, but of that which was brought to the Church, and
not used for the Sacrament. And yet we read of some such things
in the Constitutions of the Apostles, lib. viii. cap. 31, t«; Trepic-c-E-jot^a?
s> Toi? plwnkotfj etc. ' Let the deacons distribute the remains of the
blessings at the mysteries to the clergy, according to the mind of the
1 17
bishop or presbyters. To the bishop, four parts ; to a presbyter,
three ; to a deacon, two ; to the rest, subdeacons, readers, singers,
or deaconesses, one part.' "
Upon this Note it may be remarked — that, if it was
written (as there seems reason for thinking) subsequently to
the one last considered, it may fairly be regarded as indicating
the Bishop's later judgment, even though it were clear that
the ^racketed part of that Note conveyed his opinion at that
time. It must be admitted that the passage presents a diffi-
culty at first sight, and appears to imply some uncertainty in
the Bishop's mind if, when he says, " And yet we read of some
such things in the Constitutions of the Apostles," we under-
stand the "sucb things" to refer to "that bread and wine
which was blessed and consecrated : " but if we read "yet "
in the not improbable sense of " beside '' or " indeed," the
passage is quite plain and entirely consistent with what I have
supposed to have been Cosin's real view. Unless, however,
there is any evidence to show that the Bishop believed the
Constitution to refer to the Consecrated Elements, I see no
reason for supposing that he took what, if Bingham be (as
would seem) correct, is an entirely wrong view of the authority
he quoted. Bingham's statement (Book XV., cap. vii., s. 3,)
is as follows : —
" Some learned persons confound this division or consumption of
the consecrated Elements with that other division of the oblations
among the clergy, and allege the Author of the Constitutions for it,
as if he intended this when he says, 'Let the deacons divide what
remains of the mystical Eulogice, by the orders of the bishop or
presbyters, among the clergy ; to the bishops four parts ; to the
presbyter three parts ; to the deacon two parts ; to the rest of the
clergy, subdeacons, readers, singers, deaconesses, one part. For this
is acceptable to God, that every one should be honoured according to
his dignity.' It is plain he speaks not here of the Consecrated
Elements, but of the division of the people's oblations among
the clergy, as Cotelerius rightly expounds it. For this was one way
of maintaining the clergy in those days, as has been more fully
shown in another place (Book V., chap, iv., s. 1.) And though
he calls these by the name of the mystical Eulogice, yet that does not
determine it to the Consecrated Elements : for, as has been noted
before, eulogice is a common name that signifies both. And
Socrates takes it for the oblations in this very case, when, speaking
LiS
of Chrysanthus, the Novatian bishop, he says, he never received
anything of the Church save two loaves of the Eulogice on the
Lord's day. Where he certainly means, not two loaves of the
Eucharist, but of the other oblations of the people, which it was
customary for the clergy to have their proportional shares in."
There remains to be considered one other statement of
Bishop Cosin on this subject : it occurs in these words, in his
Suggestions for alterations in the Prayer Book, p. 519 —
"65, It is likewise here ordered, 'That if any of the bread and
wine remain, the curate shall have it to his own use.' Which
words some curates have abused and extended so far, that they sup-
pose they may take all that remains of the consecrated bread and
wine itself, home to their houses, and then eat and drink the same
with their other common meats ; at least the Roman Catholics take
occasion hereby to lay this negligence and calumny upon the Church
of England; whereas the Rubric only intends it of such bread and
wine as remains unconsecrate of that which was provided for the
parish, (as appeareth by the articles of enquiry hereabouts in the
visitations of divers bishops.) And therefore, for the better clearing
of this particular, some words are needful here to be added, whereby
the priest may be enjoined to consider the number of them which are
to receive the Sacrament, and to consecrate the bread and wine
in such a near proportion as shall be sufficient for them ; but if any
of the Consecrated Elements be left, that he and some others with
him shall decently eat and drink them in the Church before all the
people depart from it."
How this Suggestion was carried out at the Revision of
1662 we know from that very Rubric which I am now dis-
cussing : Nichol's note upon Cosin's proposal is " The word
' unconsecrated' is now put in ; " not of course that he means
this only was added : perhaps Cosin had in mind the Rubric
of the Scotch Office of 1638, which is in these words : —
" And if any of the Bread and Wine remain, which is consecrated,
it shall be reverently eaten and drunk by such of the Communicants
only as the Presbyter which celebrates shall take unto him, but it shall
not be carried out of the Church. And to the end there may be little
left, he that officiates is required to consecrate with the least, and then
if there be want, the words of consecration may be repeated again, over
more, either bread or wine : the Presbyter beginning at these words in
the prayer of consecration (our Saviour in the night that he was
betrayed, took, etc.)
The form, however, which the Rubric ultimately took in
the hands of the Reviewers is more explicit than this or even
than Cosin's suggestion ; for, whatever it was meant
to imply, the Scotch Rubric certainly did not expressly order
the consumption to take place before the rest of the people;
and Cosin only suggested that it should be made " before all
the people depart," which word "all" may mean that only
some need remain, though I think we can quite fairly regard
it as not emphatic and only intending that the Congregation in
general should stay until the consumption was ended : but the
Rubric, as settled by Cosin and his co-revisers, directs the
consumption to be " immediately after the Blessing," and
therefore gives no opportunity for the people to leave the
Church, not to say that all are clearly supposed to be waiting
to see which of them the Priest " shall then call unto him."
Taking, however, either view of Cosin's language it conveys
the same idea as the Rubric — viz : that the consumption of
the remains of the Sacrament is a public religious act and a
part of the Service ; such it clearly was under the old English
Uses (as was remarked, p. 1 23) ; such we find it to have been
in the early Church ; recollecting, therefore, the terms of
their Commission (see p. 130) it is most unlikely that the
Reviewers of 1662 should have intended to suggest a different
practice : of the rule of the Early Church Bingham thus
speaks, (Book XV., cap. vii., s. 2): —
" If anything remained over and above what was necessary for
these uses [i. e., to communicate the sick, and to testify the commu-
nion of distant Churches one with another], then by other rules
it was to be divided among the Communicants. As appears from
the canons of Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria, one of which is to
this purpose : ' Let the clergy and the faithful, ( that is, the commu-
nicants) divide among themselves the oblations of the Eucharist, after
all have participated, and let not a catechumen eat or drink of them."
Yet it may be objected — that, as the Benediction is given
before the consumption of the remains of the Sacrament, so,
the Service must from its structure be considered to be over,
and therefore that the argument maintained here and at p. 125
fails, inasmuch as the Ministration must be looked upon as
150
ended. But the like might be said of the Liturgy of the
Early Church, for the Bishop's Benediction preceded the
post-communion consumption ; and yet there can be no doubt,
I suppose, that then that consumption was never regarded as
a mere supplementary act which had no connexion with the
Office itself : moreover it seems inconceivable that the
Christians, and especially the Clergy, of that day, should
have drawn a distinction between what was reserved and what
(not being needed for reservation) was consumed; therefore,
treating with the like reverence, as they did, what they
received in their public Communion and what was reserved
for the Communion of the Sick, it follows that they must have
paid the same regard to what the Communicants alone were
allowed to partake of in the post-benediction manducation.
And if this be so, is there the slightest ground for supposing
that the Reviewers of 1662 contemplated a procedure different
from that ancient practice which they took for their principal
guide, when there was nothing in the nature of the case to
call for such divergence, but, on the contrary, a Doctrinal
agreement which summoned them to take pattern by primitive
antiquity, and by the custom of the unreformed English
Church, so far as it coincided therewith ? To me it seems
not, especially when we find Cosin, whose Eucharistic views
were certainly not higher than some of his most influential
co-revisers, writing thus in the 1st Series of those Notes
which we have been considering; unless, indeed, it can
be proved that this language is at variance with his latest ex-
position of Doctrine in his History of Transubstantiation: his
words are p. 155): —
" The Body and Blood of Christ ivhich are verily and indeed
taken, etc.] Neither need there any fault be found with our Church
for thus distinguishing the outward sign from the thing signified,
the bread from the Body of Christ ; for Maldonate affirms that the
Church of Rome never said otherwise, de Sacrum., p. 125 : Respon-
dendum est, nos nunquam dicere, idem esse Sacramentum et rem
significatam ; nam Sacramentum vocamus signum quod videtur, rem
significatam, Corpus Christi quod non videtur; which approves of
our doctrine, and condemns that gross conceit of the ignorant
papists, that think they see, and taste, and chew the very Body of
151
Christ, corporally, which every man abhors to conceive, even the
best learned among the papists as well as we. I cannot see where
any real difference is betwixt us about this real presence, if we would
give over the study of contradiction, and understand one another
aright. Maldonate, de Sacr., p. 143, after a long examination of
the matter, concludes thus at last with us all, so the words be not
taken exclusive, as the Puritans will take them, Corpus Ghristi
sumitur a nobis sacramentaliter spiritualiter, et realitur, sed non cor-
poraliter ; and as I have heard my Lord Overall preach it an hun-
dred times.
There is one other objection which some might perhaps
advance against this view for which I am contending — viz :
that, if what is consumed " immediately after the blessing "
by "the Priest and such other of the Communicants as he
shall then call unto him " be as much the Sacrament as what
they received before the Benediction, then they make a
second Communion in one day, and this is forbidden by the
Canons of the Church, at least to the Laity.
But one (and a sufficient) answer to this plainly is — that, as
the old English Liturgies distinctly provided for the con-
sumption of the remains of the Sacrament by the Celebrant in
just as reverent a way as they ordered his communion to be
made, and that too at a period when the authority of the then
(and still existing) Canons * was recognized and acted upon,
which forbade a Priest to Celebrate (and therefore to Commu-
nicatef twice in one day without necessity ; so, to receive at
any given Celebration of the Lord's Supper, a second portion
of the Heavenly Food there set forth is not to make a second
Communion. Moreover, since whatever the Consecrated
Elements were to the Celebrant under either action, that also
they must have been to those who united with him in those
actions, it follows that if he did not then make a second
Communion, neither did they ; and because the nature of the
* viz: The Canons made in King Edgar's reign, a.d. 960 ; Hubert Walter's
Canons at Westminster, a.d. 1200 ; Archbishop Langton's Constitutions, a.d.
1222; Archbishop Langham's Constitutions, a.d. 1367.
t The old Law of the Church of England, " that it never be that a priest cele-
brate mass, and do not eat the housel himself," (Edgar's Canons, a.d. 9t0) is ex-
pressly re-enacted in Canon 21, a.d. 1603, which orders "that every Minister, as
oft as he administereth the Communion, shall first receive that Sacrament him-
self; " and also by the Rubric in the present Communion Office, " Then shall the
Minister first receive the Communion in both kinds himself."
Eucharist remains unchanged, whatever changes are made in
the mode of its Celebration, therefore the like argument holds
good now ; and thus, (to make the comparison with all
reverence) as he who partakes a second time of the same food
at any repast (though he has returned thanks) is not thereby
accounted to make more than one meal, so, he who (subse-
quent to thanksgiving) eats and drinks again of " that [Bread
and Wine] which was consecrated," does not repeat his for-
mal act of Sacramental Communion, but only continues to
partake of that one " Supper" in which he is receiving the
Body and Blood of the Lord.
Having regard, therefore, to these various considerations
which have now been urged, especially, viz : the language of
Cranmer's Letter; the Order of Communion 1548; the probable
traditional practice through Edward 6th's reign, and in con-
siderable part, at least, of Elizabeth's reign ; the increasingly
reverential character of later Rubrics ; the known opinions,
on the Real Presence, of the leading Reviewers of 1661 ;
Bishop Cosin's Notes and Suggestions ; the comparison of
terms in the present Book ; the directions of the Old Offices
to which the Reviewers were referred, and the practice of the
Early Church ; the terms of the Rubric touching those whom
the Celebrant is to call to him ; the time at which they are to
be called : it seems to me that a sufficiently conclusive argu-
ment is furnished to sustain the theory here advanced — That,
in ordering the remains of the Sacrament to be " reverently "
consumed, the Church of England means them to be partaken
of in that posture which belongs to the act of formal Sacra-
mental manducation.
II. Having thus considered at some length Cranmer's Let-
ter, and examined all the points of it which appear to touch
the Declaration on Kneeling, as well as some other incidental
questions which spring from the Eucharistic Office ; I pro-
ceed now to search for any other evidence calculated to
sustain the position I have ventured to take up in my own
Letter: this is the more necessary, since Archbishop Cran-
mer's Letter to the Privy Council (though of much value, as
throwing a needful light upon the History of the Declaration)
is so far disappointing — that, it does not furnish any
Theological arguments in favour of that rule of Kneeling at
Communion for which he was contending. Knowing, how-
ever, as we now do, the basis on which he urged the opposed
practice, we must be satisfied to look for the gi-ounds of its
support in Craniner's known views at that time on the
Eucharistic Presence. We have already seen that Prelate's
opinions in the extracts given from his controversial language
used contemporaneously with the publication of the Declara-
tion. It is indeed, as I remarked when quoting it, a difficulty
to reconcile some of his language with the rest, so as to make
him speak consistently. It cannot be denied that he did
frequently employ expressions which seem to contradict the
Doctrine of what has been aptly termed The Real Objective
Presence: but then it must always be borne in mind (1) that
he did not scruple to adopt all the high language of Antiquity :
(2) that he was most jealous of all attempts to use Patristic
statements as a covering for the prevalent Roman Doctrine :
(3) and that, owing to his desire of comprehending the
Foreign Reformers, he may have been under the continual
temptation of resorting to a phraseology which should not be
obnoxious to the leading men in the several Reforming Schools.
These considerations seem to suggest that it is due to the
Archbishop to interpret his lower by his higher language,
rather than to resort to the opposite course.
Now it must be allowed, I think, that (whatever expressions
be suffered himself to use in controversy) Cranmer would well
weigh the language he used or sanctioned as the medium of
Catechetical Instruction for the Youth of the Kingdom in the
Doctrines of the Church : we cannot fairly suppose that in
such a Formulary he would permit statements or definitions
at variance with what he believed to be the truth.
It was, then, in 1548 (the very year, be it remembered, in
which the preparation of Edward's first Prayer Book was
completed) that a Catechism, designated by Burnet " an easy,
but most useful work,"* (Hist. Ref., vol. 2, book i., p. 67.)
* Strype calls it " a very useful Catechism ;" and says that " The substance of
this book is grave, serious, and sound doctrine." — Ann. book ii., c. 5.
1 5 I
appeared under Cranmer's immediate authority, indeed ap-
parently revised if not translated by him, which must be held
to express the Archbishop's belief at that time. It is a small
volume, and is entitled : —
Catechismus, That is to say, a shorte Instruction into
Christian Religion for the syngular commoditie and profyte
of children and yong people. Set forth by the mooste
reuerende father in God Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury,
Primate of all England and Metropolitans. Gualterus Lynne
excudebat. 1548.
The following are all the passages which bear materially
upon the subject of the Real Presence : —
[a] "Secondarily Christ saieth of thebreade. this is my bodye, and
of y e cuppe he sayeth this is my bloud. Wherefore we ought to
beleue y' in the Sacrament we receyue tTCWly the bodye and bloud
of Christ. For God is almyghtye (as ye liearde iu the Crede) :
He is able therefore, to do all thynges what he wfl. And as saint
Paul writeth he calleth those thinges whiche be not, as yf they were.
Wherefore when Christe taketh breade, and saieth, Take eate, this
is my body, we ought not to doute but we eat his Yer.lJ' bod)'.
And when he taketh the cuppe, and sayeth, Take drynke, this is
my blod, we ought to thynke assuredly, y' we drynke his veray
blode. And this we must beleue, yf we will be counted Christen
men. And wher as in this perellous tyme, certayne deceitful persons
be founde in manye places, who of very frowardnes, wil not graunt,
that there is the body and bloude of Christ, but denye the same, for
no other cause, but that they compasse by mans blynde reason, howe
this thinge shoulde be broughte to passe, ye good children, shall
with all dilygence beware of suche persons, that ye suffer not your-
selues to be deceaued by them Wherefore eschewe such
erroneous opinions, and beleue the words of our Lord Jesus, that
you eate and drynke his veray body and blode although mans
reason cannot comprehend how and after what manner y e same
is ther present." — Fol. ccxxxv.
[6] " Wherefore (good children) doubt not, but ther is the
bodye and bloud of our Lorde, which we receaue in the lorde's
supper. For he hath sayed so, and by the power of his worde hath
caused it so to be. Wherefore seying Christ saieth do this as often
as ye do it, in remembrance of me, it is euident hereby, that Christe
causeth even at thys tyme, his bodye and bloude to be in the sacra-
ment, after that maner and fashion, as it was at tyme, when he made
his maundye with his disciples And let not the foulyshe
talke of unbeleuers moue you, who are wont to aske this question,
How can the pryest or minister make thebodie and bloud of Christ?
To the whiche I answer that the minister doth not this of himself,
But Christ himselfe doth gyve unto us his fleshe and blode, as his
wordes dothe euidently declare."— Fol. ccxxxvi.
1 55
[c] " For when ye do thus [i.e. examine themselves aright], then
ye worthely receaue the body and bloud of Christ. And he that so
receaueth it, receaueth euerlasting lyfe. For he doth not only, with
his bodyly mouthe receaue the bodye and bloude of Christ, but he
doth also beleue the wordes of Christ, whereby he is assured, that
Christes bodye was gyuen to death for us, and that his bloude was
shed for us. And he y' this beleueth, eateth and drynketh the
bodye and bloude of Christ spiritually." — Fol. ccxxxix.
[dj "Wherefore learne them [i.e. the words he had rehearsed]
dilygently I pray you, y' when ye be asked, what is y e Communion or
the lordes supper? ye may answer, It is the trew body and time
bloude of our lorde Jesus Christe, which was ordeyned by Christ
him selfe, to be eaten and drunken of us Christen people, under the
forme of breade and wine." — Fol. ccxl.
Looking at the language of these extracts, and especially
of b and c, it would be bold to deny that their author or
approver held the Doctrine of a Real Objective Presence in
the Holy Eucharist.
Yet it has been, somewhat obscurely, implied, either that
he did not then maintain " the real [meaning bodily'] pre-
sence" * or that he abandoned it soon after : the proofs
furnished are two-fold ; (1) First, passages in the Letters of
certain contemporaries; f (2) Next, a remark of Cranmer's
own. %
* Gnnde. — " Nature of Christ's Presence," vol. 1, p. 46. The Explanation
in brackets is Mr. Goode's.
t Traheron to Bullinger, Sept. 28, 1548. " ' That you may add yet more to
the praises of God, you must know that Latimer has come over to our opinion
respecting the true doctrine of the Eucharist, together with the Archbishop of
Canterbury and the other Bishops, who heretofore seemed to be Lutherans.' "
John ah TJlmis to Bullinger, Nov. 27, 1548, " speaks of Cranmer as then 'in a
great measure recovered irom his dangerous lethargy' on the subject of the
presence in the Supper, though he had spoken in different language of him so
recently as the previous August."
Traheron to Bullinger, Dec. 31, 1548. " ' On the 14th of December, if I mistake
not, a disputation was held at London concerning the Eucharist The
Archbishop of Canterbury, contrary to general expectation, most openly, firmly,
and learnedly, maintained your opinion upon this subject 1 perceive
that it is all over with Lutheranism, now that those who were considered its
principal and only supporters, have altogether come over to our side.' "
John ab Ulmis to Bullinger, March 2, 1549. "speaking of the Conference on
the Eucharist above alluded to, he, like Traheron, remarks, that the Archbishop
of Canterbury had, ' contrary to general expectation,' spoken on the subject cor-
rectly and clearly."
X Cranmer's answer to Smith, 1551. " ' But this I confess of myself that not
long before I wrote the said Catechism, I was in that error of the real [meaning
bodily] presence, as I was many years past in divers other errors, as of transub-
Btantiation, of the sacrifice propitiatory of the priests in the mass,' &c."
156
But, as to the former, (1) considering the bias of the writers
and their wish to claim Cranmer for themselves, nothing
satisfactory seems capable of being drawn from them, even if
the passages cited represented their sentiments accurately;
I think, however, that all do not. With regard to the Letter
of Sept. 28th, if Traheron meant to describe Latimer as one
of the "Lutherans," then we have his own denial of it.*
Mr. Goode's account of the Letter of John ab Ulmis, of Nov.
27th, has a somewhat different appearance when compared
with the original : its words are : —
" That abominable and silly opinion of a carnal eating has been
long since banished and entirely done away with. Even that
Thomas [Cranmer] himself, about whom I wrote to you when I
was in London, by the goodness of God and the instrumentality of
that most upright and judicious man, master John a Lasco,f is in a
great measure recovered from his dangerous lethargy." — Orig.
Letters. Parker Society, p. 383.
That this passage could prove nothing as to Cranmer's
view at that time on "the real [meaning bodily] presence"
as distinct from Transubstantiation, is plain from the asser-
tion that then, in 1548, it had been " long since banished,"
even if the expression " carnal eating " had not been used by
the writer. That he was competent to vouch for the Arch-
bishop's opinions may well be doubted when we find him (in
that Letter of which Mr. Goode only says " he had spoken in
different language of him [Cranmer] so recently as the pre-
* " Latimer.- I have long sought for the truth in this matter of the Sacra-
ment, and have not been of this mind past seven years : and my lord of Canter-
bury's book hath especially confirmed my judgment herein. If I could remember
all therein contained, I would not fear to answer any man in this matter.
" Tresham. — There are in that book six hundred errors.
" Weston.— Tou were once a Lutheran.
" Latimer.— Tito, I was a papist : for I never could perceive how Luther could
defend his opinion without transubstantiation." — Lisp, at Oxford, 1554. Foxe,
vol. vi. p. 505.
Strype referring to this Disputation says, " It was but seven years before his
burning that he [«. e. Latimer] relinquished that old error," i.e. of the "corporeal
presence," or "transubstantiation," as he there shews. — Life of Cranmer,
bk. i., c. 18.
t "'John ab Ulmis,' observes Dr. Jenkyns (in his Preface to Cranmer,
p. jxxx.) ' is a competent witness respecting the time when the change in
Cranmer's opinions became known, though he was mistaken with regard to the
person by whom it was effected.' This was Dr. Ridley, afterwards Bishop
of Rochester, and his fellow-martvr. See Strype, Cranmer, 97, and above,
p. 13, n. 1."— Editor's Note.
157
vious August") thus wholly misrepresenting the character of
the Archbishop's Catechism : —
" .... I would have you know this for certain, that this Thomas
has fallen into so heavy a slumber, that we entertain but a very cold
hope that he will be aroused even by your most learned letter.
For he has lately published a Catechism, in which he has not only
approved that foul and sacrilegious transubstantiation of the papists
in the holy supper of our Saviour, but all the dreams of Luther seem
to him sufficiently well-grounded, perspicuous, and lucid." — Orig.
Letters. P.S. p. 381.
Now let any one look at the extracts just given from this
Catechism, and say whether they teach Transubstantiation,
as John ab Ulmis so unscrupulously affirms : but, apart from
its actual language, it must have been notorious enough that
— whether its source was regarded, or the design of the Arch-
bishop, or the alterations he made in the Translation, or his
known opinion at that time — Cranmer's Catechism was not
intended to teach the Roman Doctrine on the Eucharist.*
Certainly, then, this writer is no trustworthy witness of the
Archbishop's views.
Of the two Letters dated Dec. 31, 1548, and March 2,
1549,f it seems enough to say that — as all we appear to know
* Else we may be quite certain that Dr. Rowland Taylor (in his Examination,
January 22nd, 1554-5, when "Master Secretary Bourn said, ' Which of the reli-
gions mean ye of, in King Edward's days. For ye know there were divers
books of religion set forth in his days. There was a religion set forth in a Cate-
chism by my Lord of Canterbury : do you mean that you will stick to that ? " )
would not have answered, ' My Lord of Canterbury made a Catechism to be
translated into English, which book was not of his own making ; yet he set it
forth in his own name : and truly that book for the time did much good." —
Foxe, vi. 685.
f But as Mr. Goode's extract affords but a very imperfect representation of
these letters, it seems desirable to give them more at length here : they are as
follows :—
Traheron to Bullinger, Lond. Dec. 31, 1548.—" On the 14th of Decem-
ber, if I mistake not, a disputation was held at London, concerning the Eucharist,
in the presence of almost all the nobility of England. The argument was sharply
contested by the Bishops. The Archbishop of Canterbury, contrary to general
expectation, firmly, and learnedly maintained your opinion upon this subject.
His arguments were as follows : — The Body of Christ was taken up from us into
heaven. Christ has left the world. ' Ye have the poor always with you, but me
ye have not always,' &c. Next followed the Bishop of Ilochester [liidley], who
handled the subject with so much eloquence, perspicuity, and power, as to stop
the mouth of that most zealous Papist, the Bishop of Worcester [Heath]. The
truth never obtained a more brilliant victory among us. I perceive that it is all
over with Lutheranism, now that those who were considered its principal and al-
most only supporters, have altogether come over to our side " — " [Postscript,
added by John ab Ulmis.] Lo ! just as Master Traheron was about to send his
158
of the Disputation at London, on Dec. 14, 1548, is summed
up in those words of King Edward's Journal: " There was a
notable Disputation of the Sacrament in the Parliament
House" — it would be a most unsafe course to determine
Cranmer's views at that time from such notices of such
writers upon a Controversy of which no records apparently
remain.
(2.) With regard to Cranmer's own language about himself,
it seems to furnish the best possible evidence that, though
when (in 1548) he published his Catechism, he had abandoned
those particular views on the subject of the Presence, which
(in 1551) he declared to be unsound — yet that, at this latter
date, he maintained the same doctrine which he had delibe-
letter, I happened to come into his room, and can do no otherwise than send you
this brief salutation ; for, owing to the great impatience of the messenger, I am
unable to write more. I will tell you everything in a few days. In haste.
London. The foolish Bishops have made a marvellous recantation."
It is not very clear whether this last sentence is meant to confirm Traheron'a
statement, or to imply some retractation of the opinion which Traheron thought
the Bishops had pronounced : but the doubt does not affect my argument. The
promised letter, however, seems not to exist ; though in the following letter of
John ab Ulmis to Bullinger, "dated March 2nd, 1548-9," and " written appa-
rently from Oxford," he says I had most fully written to you respecting
almost everything that I thought it would interest you to know, three days
before I received your letter ; partly, too, because I was aware that Master
Traheron .... had informed jm of the discussion of the Council respecting the
Eucharist." Afterwards he continues thus : — As to what they have re-
ported respecting religion, namely, that there are great differences of opinion, I ad-
mit that such has been the case to a considerable extent ; but I can now assert that
by the goodness of God, the minds of all good men are disposed to harmony and peace.
For the cause of these dissensions is removed in this present parliament ; namely,
the babbling and dogmas of Antichrist, which are now positively and effectually
banished. I would here write you word what has been done and determined re-
specting the Lord's Supper, only that your most excellent and loving friend, Master
Traheron, has already acquainted you with every particular. From him, therefore,
you will learn the whole mutter more completely, and from me these few things
very briefly. The Archbishop of Canterbury, a man of singular worth and learn-
ing, has, contrary to the general expectation, delivered his opinion upon this subject
learnedly, correctly, orderly, and clearly; and by the weight of his character,
and the dignity of his language and sentiments, easily drew over all his hearers to
our way of thinking. His opponent was that lying and subtle Cerberus, the
Bishop of Winchester, together with a number of other babblers who were
brought in, men who knew nothing else beyond a few quiddities, and those silly
and false. Peter Martyr has openly declared to us all, on this very day on which
I write this letter, what was his opinion upon this subject; and he seemed to all
of us not to depart even a nail's-breadth from that entertained by yourself. Nay,
more, he has defended that most worthy man, Zwingle, by the testimony of your
opinion, and takes part with him against his adversaries, who falsely object to
him that he makes the Sacrament a mere sign : he moreover declares that those
persons are out of their senses, who make the body of Christ to be without any
local habitation, uncircumscribed, in many places at once, void of shape, and other
matters of the like kind. ..." " — Original Letters, p. 388.
159
rately put forth three years before. For (a) when he says,
" I was in that error of the real presence" (whatever that
error was) " not long before I wrote the said Catechism,"
lie plainly means that he was not in that error when he wrote
it; and (b) in another place he distinctly adheres to (in 1551)
the language of the Catechism, only stipulating that no car-
nal sense is to be put upon it such as Gardiner, in his Articles
of January 21, 1550 — 1 (see p. 27) had imposed for his own
justification. His words are : —
" And in that Catechism I teach not, as you do, that the body and
blood of Christ is contained in the Sacrament, being reserved, but
that in the ministration thereof we receive the body and blood of
Christ ; whereunto if it may please you to add or understand this
word ' spiritually,' then is the doctrine of my Catechism sound and
good in all men's ears, which know the true doctrine of the Sacra-
ment." — Ans. to Gardiner.
Moreover, Cranmer refers to and repeats in this part of his
answer to Gardiner's criticisms upon his "Defence of the
true and catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament," what he had
written in that Treatise of 1 550 : the passage is as follows : —
" So doth St. John Chrysostem [in Joann. Horn, xlvi.] say, that
we see Christ with our eyes, touch him, feel him, and grope him
with onr hands, fix our teeth in his flesh, taste it, break it, eat it, and
digest it, make red our tongues and die them with his blood, and
swallow it, and drink it.
"And in a Catechism by me translated and set forth, I used like
manner of speech, saying, that with our bodily mouths we receive the
body and blood of Christ. Which my saying divers ignorant per-
sons, not used to read old ancient authors, nor acquainted with their
phrase and manner of speech, did carp and reprehend for lack of
good understanding.
"Fortius speech, and other before rehearsed of Chrysostum, and all
other like, be not understood of the very flesh and blood of our Saviour
Christ, (which in very deed we neither feel nor see,) but that which
we do to the bread and wine, by a figurative speech is spoken to be
done to the flesh and blood, because they be the very signs, figures,
and tokens instituted of Christ, to represent unto us his very flesh
and blood.
" And yet as with our corporal eyes, corporal hands, and mouths,
we do corporally see, feel, taste, and eat the bread, and drink the
wine, (being the sign and sacraments of Christ's body,) even so with
our spiritual eyes, hands, and mouths, we do spiritually see, feel,
taste, and eat his very flesh, and drink his very blood." — Ibid.
p. 226.
ino
Mr. Goode (vol. 1, p. 46) claims the Archbishop's state-
ment, as to his change of opinion, in proof that when he put
out the first Book of Homilies (in 1547) "he had not then
embraced the true doctrine on the subject of the Eucharist,"
and that, consequently, we are bound to consider him as
having subsequently abandoned the language of his Adver-
tisement at the end of that Book, where a Homily is pro-
mised " of the due receiving of his blessed Body and Blood,
under the form of Bread and Wine." Mr. Goode contends that
the expression, "under the form of bread and wine," neces-
sarily "expresses the doctrine of Transubstantiation ; " though
Cranmer (in 1551) distinctly states that he had, in 1548, "many
years past," abandoned that error : but Mr. Goode presses the
same phrase into covering what he calls " the doctrine of the
Bodily Presence," which doctrine he argues, from Cranmer's
language, the Archbishop " held .... till after " the publi-
cation of the Homilies in 1547. Dates, however, prove, I
think, that the words, "not long before," do not carry down
Cranmer's belief of a " Bodily," i. e., a carnal presence to the
time of their publication, unless, indeed, it can be shewn that
the Archbishop's opinions underwent a most material change
within three or four months of that time. For the Homilies
were prepared on purpose to be lodged in the several
Dioceses, with the Royal Injunctions of 1547 by the King's
Visitors as they proceeded through the kingdom that year :
that Visitation was to have commenced in May or June, but
was delayed until August ; a delay which, it may be, was
partly caused by the difficulties which Cranmer had to
encounter from Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, whose
countenance and assistance he was anxious to obtain in the
preparation of the Homilies, which, however, was ultimately
refused, though he complained much of some parts of them
when they were finished, pretty much because, as Cranmer
thought, "he liked nothing unless he did it himself,"
(Strype's Cranmer, bk. ii., c. 3.) Now there was barely time
for the Homilies to be distributed by the Visitors, before the
Statute 1 Edw. VI., c. i., was passed on Nov. 4th. — " An Act
against such as shall unreverently speak against the Sacrament
161
of the Altar, and of the receiving thereof in both kinds :" to
that Statute the Archbishop was clearly a consentient party,
for in the contemporaneous Convocation, " Session V. Novem-
ber ult. . , . . Mr. Prolocutor exhibited .... a form of a cer-
tain ordinance, delivered by the most reverend the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, for the receiving of the Body of our
Lord under both kinds, viz., of bread and wine." (Ib. c. 4.)
This Act was followed up by the Royal Proclamation of
Dec. 27th, already quoted (see p. 6), the language of which,
while expressly affirming " that the body and blood of Jesus
Christ is there," leaves no room for doubt that one object
which Cranmer aimed at, in procuring the passing of the
Statute, was to suppress the " unreverent " belief then popu-
lar, of a gross carnal presence, whether held in connexion
with Transubstantiation or not ; though it was also directed
generally against those who "go about in their sermons or
talks arrogantly to define the manner, nature, fashion, ways,
possibility or impossibility of those matters." Mr. Goode
may probably have mistaken Cranmer's views at this time
from having, apparently, lost sight of the fact of this popular
belief; for he says (p. 19), " That neither Romanists nor
Lutherans have ever held a gross, visible, material presence,
or a presence of the natural body after a natural manner."
That this is an error, as regards the Romanists, an examina-
tion of the passages at pp. 6 and 28 will, I think, sufficiently
demonstrate. Supposing it, however,to be even true that this
sudden change of opinion did occur, (though, as I have
argued, the evidence seems wholly against it,) it would be no
proof that Cranmer repudiated the phrase, " Under the form
of bread and wine ; " on the contrary, in the Catechism of
1548, which was published shortly after the occurrences just
referred to, he actually employs the same language, (see § d,
p. 155) so that one of two conclusions must follow — (1) Either
he maintained the same doctrine at the publication of the
First Book of Homilies, as well as when the Catechism ap-
peared ; or (2) that he accounted the phrase, " Under the
form of bread and wine," alike suited to express the doctrine
which he held when he abandoned any notion of a carnal
162
Presence. To my own mind, the evidence proves — that the
Archhishop did not hold the doctrine of what Mr. Goode
calls, "the Bodily presence," when he published the First
Book of Homilies ; that as he used the phrase in question
then, so he employed it in his Catechism ; and that, he
neither had occasion, nor intended to disuse or to disown it
afterwards ; — for as to Cranmer's language to Gardiner, upon
which Mr. Goode mainly relies for proof that the Archbishop
did repudiate the phrase, it seems to me foreign to such an
intention, as I have already suggested at p. 21 ; and moreover,
such statements of Cranmer's doctrine as those furnished at
p. 22 and elsewhere, are anything hut inconsistent with a re-
tention of the phrase.
It has, indeed, been suggested by a Prelate (who, like Mr.
Goode, apparently desires to free Cranmer from the respon-
sibility of the phrase) that it may have been " surreptitiously
introduced : " but it seems inconceivable that this should
have occurred, considering Cranmer's personal superintendence
of the publication of the Homilies. Yet if it were so, it is
no less difficult to imagine that the Archbishop should have
been silent on the matter, when Gardiner wrongly quoted
the language as being in the Communion Office of 1549, if a
phrase which he is now said to have repudiated had found its
way into an Advertisement of forthcoming Homilies, both
without his knowledge and against his distinct convictions.
But the same Prelate has further suggested — that " if we
are to refer to the notice at the end of the one book, let us
take with it the title page at the beginning of the second,
and the titles of the two parts of the Homily itself. Neither
here, nor in the words of the Homily, does the expression
'under the form of bread and wine' occur." If, however,
there exists an appai-ent inconsistency, such as is here meant
to be indicated, it may arise from insufficient attention to
the earlier words of the Advertisement, which perhaps have
hardly received due notice, on either side, in the controversy
touching the disputed formula.
The terms, then, of the Advertisement imply that the
object of the promised Homily was to treat "of the due re-
163
ceiving" rather than of the Presence in the Sacrament ; con-
sequently, while the Title of the Second Book recognizes the
Notice of the First Book, there need be no surprise (rather it
was to be expected) that the Title of the promised Homily
should convey the specific purpose of it ; and so in " The
Table of Homilies ensuing," the 15th is called " Of the worthy
Receiving of the Sacrament ," while the " Homily " itself is
intituled not merely " of the worthy receiving," but of the
" reverent esteeming of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood
of Christ : " as if in part to fulfil the promise of the Procla-
mation just noticed to " declare and set forth an open doc-
trine thereof, [i. e., of the Sacrament], and what terms and
words may justly be spoken thereby, other than be expressly
in the Scripture contained in the act before rehearsed," — a
promise which Cranmer may have found it the more needful
to redeem, considering the then growing irreverence on the
subject. If, moreover, the Title be Cranmer's then it would
seem that we may fairly read the word, " Reverent," by the
light of the same language in his letter to the Privy Council
already commented upon ; and, too, may consider these and
the following statements of the Homily as being mutually
expletive : —
Part I. (a.) " . . . . We must address ourselves to frequent the
same [Table] in reverent and comely manner, lest as physic pro-
vided for the body, being misused, more hurteth than profiteth ; so
this comfortable medicine of the soul, undecently received, tend to
our greater harm and sorrow. And St. Paul saith, He that eateth
and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh his own damnation."
(b.) " We must then take heed .... lest of two parts we have but
one."
(c.) " For this table is not, saith Chrysostom, for chattering jays,
but for eagles, who flee thither where the dead body lieth."
(d.) " . . . . Thus much we must be sure to hold, that in the
Supper of the Lord there is .... no bare sign, no untrue figure of
a thing absent."
(e.) " And truly, as the bodily meat cannot feed the outward man,
unless it be let into a stomach to be digested, which is healthsome
and sound ; no more can the inward man be fed, except his meat
be received into his soul and heart, sound and whole in faith."
{f.) " It is well known that the meat we seek for in this supper
is spiritual food, the nourishment of our soul, a heavenly refection,
164
and not earthly; an invisible meat, and not bodily ; a ghostly sub-
stance, and not carnal ; so that to think that without faith we may
enjoy the eating and drinking thereof, or that that is the fruition of
it, is but to dream a gross carnal feeding, basely objecting and binding
ourselves to the elements and creatures."
(g.) " . . . . The unbelievers and faithless cannot feed upon that
precious body."
(h.) " Wherefore let us prove and try ourselves unfeignedly, ....
so that at this His table we receive not only the outward Sacrament,
but the spiritual thing also ; not the figure, but the truth ; not the
shadow only, but the body ; not to death, but to life ; not to de-
struction, but to salvation "
Part II. (i.) " You have heard with what constant faith we should
clothe and deck ourselves, that we might be fit and decent partakers
of that celestial food."
(A.) " St. Basil saith, it behoveth him that cometh to the body and
blood of Christ, in commemoration of Him that died and rose
again, to be pure from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, lest he eat
and drink his own condemnation "
(/.) "Dost thou neither fear God, the maker of this feast; nor
reverence his Christ, the refection of meat ;....?"
(»t.) "For surely, if we do not with earnest repentance cleanse
the filthy stomach of our soul, it must needs come to pass, that as*
wholesome meat received into a raw stomach, corrupteth and marreth
all, and is the cause of further sickness; so shall we eat this whole-
some bread, and drink this cup to our eternal destruction."
(«.) "If they be worthy blame which kiss the prince's hand with
a filthy and unclean mouth, shalt thou be blameless which, with a
stinking soul, full of covetousness, fornication, drunkenness, pride,
full of wretched cogitations and thoughts, dost breathe out iniquity
and uncleanness on the bread and cup of the Lord ? "
Now it is quite true, that neither in these passages, nor in
the rest of the Homily, is the expression used, " under the
form of hread and wine ; " but the point to be considered is,
whether the same thing is not taught in other words — whether
a Real Objective Presence in the Sacrament is not distinctly
set forth in the language of these extracts. It may well
* Is not this precisely the same idea as that conveyed in the Prayer of Access,
contained in all the Prayer Books, from 1549 to 1662, " Grant us therefore,
gracious Lord, SO to eat the flesh of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink
His blood [1549, in these holy Mysteries, that we may continually dwell in Him
and He in us] that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His Body, and our
souls washed through His most piecious blood. [1552-1662, and that we may
evermore dwell in Him and He in us]. Amen." Of what use is the word, SO,
unless it means that there is a right and a wrong way of partaking of the tame
thing— that Thing being the Body and Blood of Christ?
165
enough have been that, in a Homily meant to be put out for
popular instruction, Cranmer may have thought it desirable
to drop that particular formula which to the popular mind
conveyed then a false notion, and which was again and again
employed by Gardiner and others, at that very time, to sus-
tain their own views. But the absence of the particular ex-
pression can be no reliable proof that it was rejected,
especially when Cranmer's Catechism was still in circulation ;
and there is nothing to show (so far as I am aware) that he
wished to cancel that same expression which he had then
used.
Of course if it can be shewn that this Homily was not
written by Cranmer* or with his sanction, but was prepared
or altered by Parker, or under his authority, my argument so
far fails, that nothing can be drawn one way or other from
this later Homily as regards Abp. Cranmer's views : but then
it simply leaves his previous opinions untouched and becomes
a standard by which to test only the mind of the Ecclesias-
tical Authorities of the beginning of Elizabeth's reign, instead,
of the intentions of the Episcopal Rulers of the latter years
of the reign of Edward 6th.
I have urged Cranmer's employment of the phrase " under
the form of bread and wine," in his Catechism, as disproving
the theory that he abandoned that formula subsequently to
his use of it in the Advertisement of the 1st Book of Homilies.
Yet it may be contended, perhaps, that Cranmer was still in
his " error of the real presence " when he published the
Catechism ; for that, as Strype mentions (bk. ii., c. 5,)
" Bishop Gardiner, in his book against the Archbishop, takes ad-
vantage of two things in this Catechism against him, as though he
himself, when he put it forth, was of the opinion of the corporal
presence."
The " two things," Strype adds (lb. ) were these : —
* Though some proof of its being his may perhaps be found in the fact of its
containing the same passage from Eusebius Emissenus (" When thou goest up to
the reverend communion," &c.) which Cranmer quoted in his " Defence of the
True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament," and upon which he lays much
stress in his " Answer to Gardiner," p. 228.
166
" The one was a picture that stood before the book, where was an
altar with candles lighted, and the priest apparelled after the old
sort, putting the wafer into the communicant's mouth. The other
is an expression or two used somewhere in the book, ' that with our
bodily mouths we receive the body and blood of Christ :' and, ' that
in the Sacrament we receive truly the body and blood of Christ :'
and ' this we must believe, if we will be counted Christian men.' "
That Strype did not believe the accusation to be well foun-
ded, is plain from his thus continuing his account : —
" But to both Cranmer in his next book against Gardiner, made
answer, ' That as for the picture, it was that was set before the Dutch
Edition of the book, and so none of his doing ; but that he after-
wards caused the Popish picture* to be altered into a picture repre-
senting Christ eating His last supper with His disciples. 'As for
the expressions,' he said, ' he taught, that we in the Sacrament do
receive the body and blood of Christ spiritually ; and, that the words
really and substantially were not used, but truly? And in his
answer to Dr. Richard Smith's preface, wrote against the said Arch-
bishop, who it seems had twitted him also with this Catechism, he
spake largely of these his expressions in his own vindication." f
• Lost it should be inferred from this that Cranmer was opposed to the Lights
and Vestments (and not merely to the picture as upholding the then popular
view of the Mass as distinct from the Communion) it may be well to add here
the following extract from a letter of " Martin Bucer and Paul Fagius to the
Ministers at Strasburgh, dated at Lambeth April 26, 1549 :" after saying "We
yesterday waited upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, that most benevolent and
kind father of the Churches and of godly men ; who received and entertains us
as brethren," they continue thus — "The cause of religion, as far as appertains
to the establishment of doctrines, and the definition of rites, is pretty near what
could be wished [here they mention the need of a suitable ministry] as soon as
the description of the ceremonies now in use shall have been translated into
Latin, we will send it to you. We hear that some concessions have been made
both to a respect for antiquity, and to the infirmity of the present age ; such, for
instance, as the vestments commonly used in the Sacrament of the Eucharist,
and the use of Candles : so also in regard to the commemoration of the dead, and
the use of chrism ; for we know not to what extent or in what sort it prevails.
They affirm that there is no superstition in these things, and that they are only
to be retained for a time, lest the people, not having yet learned Christ, should
be deterred by too extensive innovations from embracing His religion, and that
rather they may be won over. This circumstance however greatly refreshed us,
that all the services in the Churches are read and sung in the vernacular tongue,
that the doctrine of justification is purely and soundly taught, and the Eucharist
administered according to Christ's ordinance, private masses having been
al» -HslicJ
" At Lambeth, from the house of the Archbishop of Canterbury, near London."
— Or iff. Letters, p. 535.
f The precise words of Cranmer to Gardiner are these — " And as concerning
the Catechism, I have sufficiently answered in my former book [see p. 159.]
But in this place may appear to them that have any judgment, what pithy
arguments you make, and what dexterity you have in gathering of author's
minds, that would gather my mind and make an argument here of a picture,
neither put in my book, nor by me devised, but invented by some fond painter
167
Strype appears to have made some mistake in quoting
Cranmer as to the expressions in his Catechism ; at least I
have not succeeded in finding, either in his Ansiver to
Gardiner or in his Reply to Smith the language here attributed
to him : there are five places in the former where reference
is made to the Catechism viz. pp. 20, 188, 190, 226 and 227,
(Parker Soc. Ed.) but in neither of them does Cranmer
make the answer here imputed to him : Gardiner, indeed,
(p. 20) says,
"Justus Jonas hath translated a Catechism out of Dutch into
Latin, taught in the city of Nuremburg in Germany, where Hosi-
ander is chief preacher, in which catechism they be accounted for no
true Christian men, that deny the presence of Christ's body in the
Sacrament. The words ' really ' and ' substantially' be not expressed
as they be in Bucer, but the word 'truly' is there, and, as Bucer
saith, that is substantially. Which catechism was translated into
English in this author's name [i.e. Cranmer] about two years past."
But Cranmer gives no reply whatever to this, whereas
Strype apparently makes him repudiate the words " really "
and " substantially." It is easy, indeed, to understand that
the Archbishop may have been all the better pleased to trans-
or carver, which paint and grave whatsoever their idle heads can fancy. You
should rather have gathered your argument upon the other side, that I imslike
the matter, because I left out of my book the picture that was in the original
before. And I marvel you be not ashamed to allege so vain a matter against me,
which indeed is not in my book, and if it were, yet were it nothing to the pur-
pose." Then follows the passage quoted at p. 159, " And in that Catechism,"
&c. — Ans. to Gardiner, p. 227.
The Archbishop's answer to Smith (who had said that " Peter Martyr at his
first coming to Oxford, when he was but a Lutheran in this matter, taught as D.
Smith now doth. But when he came once to the court, and saw that doctrine
misliked them that might do him hurt in his living, he anon after turned his
tippet, and sang another song") is in these words : —
" Of M. Peter Martyr's opinion and judgment in this matter, no man can
better testify than I ; forasmuch as he lodged within my house long before he
came to Oxford, and I had with him many conferences in that matter, and know
that he was then of the same mind that he is now, and as he defended after
openly in Oxford, and hath written in his book. And if D. Smith understood
him otherwise in his lectures at the beginning, it was for lack of knowledge, for
that then D. Smith understood not the matter, nor yet doth not, as it appeareth
by this foolish and unlearned book, which he hath now set out : no more than
he understood my book of the Catechism, and therefore reporteth untruly of me,
that I in that book did set forth the real presence of Christ's body in the Sacra-
ment. Unto which false report I have answered in my fourth book, the eighth
chapter," (i.e. the reply to Gardiner just quoted.) Then follows the passage
" But this I confess of myself," &c, (see p. 155). — Works. Parker Society, ii.
p. 374.
168
late a catechism in which these words were not used, con-
sidering the way in which many of the Roman party were
continually employing them to express that notion of a
physical presence which he was ever combating ;* and if he
did in fact prefer the word " truly," this is no sort of proof
that he objected to the other terms when not used in a carnal
sense ; especially when, as I have shewn at p. 62, those and
other equivalent words were admitted to be legitimate by
Cranmer, Ridley, and others, in the course of the Eucharistic
controversy,
It may, morever, be satisfactory to point out how the
charge respecting the Catechism has been dealt with by Dr.
Burton, who, in his Preface to the Oxford Edition of this
Catechism 1829 (pp. xxi. to xxv.,) after quoting the passage
from Cranmer relative to the picture (a fac-simile of which
he gives at p. 174 of the Latin Edition) and remarking that "the
Protestant reader will scarcely observe any thing which could
justly have called for these remarks," says : —
" The Plate, which Crann>er introduced [viz. a Picture of our
Lord and the Twelve sitting at a table ; from a design by Hans
Holbein who was then in England] instead of the one objected to by
Gardiner, will be found in p. 204 of the English Catechism, and is
totally different from that in the Latin. But though his answer is so
far completely satisfactory, it must still be acknowledged, and
Cranmer himself confessed, that he did not all at once shake off his
former errors. The language, which is held concerning the real
presence, in p. 208 of the English Catechism [i.e. the passage com-
mencing " For God is Almighty," &c.] is extremly strong. The
author of the Latin Catechism was undoubtedly a Lutheran and held
consubstantiation, Cranmer is supposed at this time to have held the
same doctrine ; though the difference is remarkable, as has been
already stated, f between the English and Latin Catechisms, the
* e.g. in this part (as in many other places) of his answer to Gardiner (who
had claimed Luther, Bucer, Jonas, Melancthon (Epinus in favour of his own
view) Cranmer says : — " And yet not one of these new men (whom you allege)
do thoroughly agree with your doctrine .... For they affirm not such a
gross presence of Christ's body, as expclleth the substance of bread, and is made
by conversion thereof into the substance of Christ's body, and is eaten with the
mouth."
f Page xviii. where, referring to p. 208 of his Edition of the English Catechism,
he remarks " We may observe however that here it is, ' we receyve trewly the
bodye and blood of Christ :' but in the Latin, p. 177, it is, ' quod vere corpus et
sanguis ejus sit.' "
169
latter speaking of the Body and Blood of Christ being present in the
Sacrament, the latter [st'c query former] only of our receiving them.
Cranmer was charged in his own day with having been first a
Papist, then a Lutheran, and lastly a Zwinglian, in his opinion con-
cerning the Sacrament : and Gardiner made much of the contradic-
tions which appeared between the Catechism of 1548, and the De-
fence of the Sacrament, which was published in 1550. The same
inconsistency appears to have been pointed out by Dr. Richard
Smith in the Preface to a work, which he wrote against Cranmer's
Defence, and which was entitled, Confutation of a certain Booh
called, A Defence, &c. The Archbishop answered this Preface, and
after saying that the writer of it misunderstood Peter Martyr's senti-
ments, he adds, ' No more than he understood my book of the
Catechism,' &c— (See Note, p. 167.)
" But the heaviest charge was brought against Cranmer by Dr.
Martin, in his examination at Oxford ; in which he accused him not
only of versatility, but of actual dishonesty. Part of this dialogue
has already been alluded to at p. vi. [viz. in a quotation from Fox,
Acts and Monuments, vol. ii., p. 1877. ed. 1583.]; but the whole
of it is as follows,
" ' Martin. When King Henrye dyed, did you not translate Justus
Jonas book 1
" ' Cranmer. I did so.
" ' Martin. Then there you defended an other doctrine touching
the Sacraments, by the same token that you sent to Lynne your
printer, that where as in the first printe there was an affirmative,
that is to say, Christes body reallye in the Sacramente, you sent
then to your prynter to put in a not, whereby it came miraculously
to passe that Chrysts bodye was cleane conveyed out of the Sacra-
ment.
" ' Cranmer. I remember there was two Prynters of my sayde
booke, but where the same not was put in, I cannot tell.'
" It is impossible to say, to which sentence in the Sermon on the
Lord's Supper Dr. Martin alluded ; for though we find the words,
' we receyve trewly the bodye and bloud,' and ' we eat his veray
bodye,' yet the word 'reallye' does not occur throughout the whole of
it : and if the reader will look to all the places, which appear to favour
the real presence, he will find it almost impossible for the word not to
have been inserted. Cranmer, it is true, does not actually deny the
insertion, but his words may mean, that if it was made, it was with-
out his knowledge ; and certainly no copy of the Catechism has as
yet been produced, which contains the negative. It has been stated,
that one of the Bodleian copies appears evidently to be a different
edition from the others ; but the negative does not occur in it ; and
the passage, to which Gardiner alluded, as quoted at p. xix.,* is
* viz. " 1 We receave in the Sacrament the body of Christ with our mouthe,
and such spcache other use, as a booke set forth in the archbishoppe of Canter-
buries name called a Cateehismc, willeth children to be taught that they receave
Z
170
not altered. This copy contains no list of Errata : but in the other
copies, the word not is ordered to be inserted in the place which
corresponds to page 139, line 1,* of this Edition, where it is
evidently wanted ; but we can hardly suppose Dr. Martin to have
confounded the two places. Strype (Memorials of Cranmer, p. 396)
has certainly gone too far, when he said, ' In a second edition the
word not was inserted in a certain place of the book, to alter the
doctrine of the real presence, which was asserted in the first edition.'
lie appears to have taken this from the dialogue with Dr. Martin,
in which nothing is said of a second edition ; and upon the whole
there is great reason to conclude, that the charge was altogether
unfounded." f
In a Note Dr. Burton further says : —
" It is not impossible, that Dr. Martin may have remembered a
passage in Gardiner's Answer to Cranmer's book upon the Sacra-
ment, in which, after criticising Cranmer's version of a passage in
Theodoret, he says, ' I wene the Printer left out a (not) and should
have sayd, not changed into the godly substance,' p. 125. Cranmer
denies that he or his Printer had made this omission, p. 322 ; and
since the doctrine of transubstantiation formed the subject of dispute
Dr. Martin may have confounded Cranmer's Defence of the Sacra-
ment with his Catechism."
In further confirmation of these statements of Strype and
Dr. Burton (which I have quoted to show that Cranmer
adhered to the doctrine of his Catechism.) I cannot do
better than cite the language of a recent author}: whose doc-
trinal views are entirely on, what is called " The Evangelical
side," but whose candour obliges him to deny that they can
find support from the Prayer Book on the disputed questions
touching the Sacraments : speaking of Cranmer's views on
Baptism, Mr. Fisher says : —
" We have in the 'Answer to Gardiner,' as well as in the aforesaid
! Answer to Smyihe's Preface ' a complete authentication of the Cate-
with their bodily mouth the body and bloud of Christ, which I allege because it
shall appear it is a teaching set forth among us of late as hath been also and
is by the booke of comen prayer beyng the most true Catholique doctrine of the
substance of the Sacrement, in that it is then so Catholiquely spoken of, whiche
booke this auctor doth after specially allow, howsoever all the summe of his
teachyng doth improve it in that point.' "
* viz., in the Instruction on " The First Petition " of the Lord's Prayer—
" ' The name of God is halowcd also, but lytle regarded and contemned, when
the gospel and worde of God, is not boldely professed before the worlde.' "
t Strype does, indeed, defend Cranmer by adding — "But the Archbishop
professed his ignorance concerning the foisting in of that word. The addition of
which word, indeed, he thought was needless ; still holding the body and blood
truly present in the holy supper, though after a spiritual manner." — Cranmer
p. 396.
% Liturgical Purity our Rightful Inheritance, by J. C. Fisher, Esq., I.ond. 1857.
171
cliism,' as being in the main a faithful exponent of the Archbishop's
sentiments, not only in 1548, but even so late as the close of the
year 1551 — the very time, be it remembered, when under the
especial superintendence of Cranmer, the Second Service Book of
Edward VI. was actually in the course of preparation." — p. 169.
Again, referring to the Archbishop's opinion on the Real
Presence, his words are : —
"... he does not seem to have finally renounced the figment of
the 'corporal presence' until about the year 1548. And it is
further evident, both from the Communion Office of 1552 and the
disputations subsequently held at Oxford, that both he and Ridley
maintained, to the very last, the real presence of Christ in the
Eucharist ; understanding the term ' real,' not of course in its
natural, but in its true and more appropriate sacramental import."*
— Fisher p. 168.
It may help to bring out more clearly Cranmer's view at
this time, if we compare it with Hooper's account of his
own opinion on the subject at the same period ; writing to
Martin Bucer from Zurich, June 19, 1548, after telling him
that some " depart from your opinion in the matter of
Eucharist, as I do myself," he thus continues, later in the
Letter : —
*' You write word, reverend sir, that you cannot believe the
sacraments to be bare signs. Far be such a belief from the most
unlearned Christian ! The Holy Supper is not a bare sign, neither
in it is the true and natural body of Christ exhibited to me in
any Supernatural or heavenly manner : nevertheless, I religiously
and with all honour venerate and reverence the institution of Christ
upon other grounds, because it is a sign of the good-will of God
towards me, and an outward testimony added to the promise of
grace. Not that this promise is applied to me by means of any
sacrament, but because the promise previously applied to me by
faith is thereby confirmed In like manner the Church of God pub-
lickly receives him in baptism, who had been previously received by
grace Thus the holy supper is a testimony of grace, and
a mystery of our redemption, in which God bears witness to the
benefits bestowed upon us by Christ : not that the remission of sins,
which in believers ought to precede all use of sacraments, is there
applied ; nor that the true body of Christ, which is in heaven and
not on earth, is exhibited together with the bread ; but that it
may confirm that faith which 1 have in the death and passion of that
* " This was the doctrine of Ratramn, by whose writings it is well known
that the views of Cranmer and Ridley were considerably influenced."— See Fuxe,
vol. ii., p. 1610.
172
body which was alive, died, and rose again. And the minister gives
what is in his power, namely, the bread and wine, and not the
body of Christ; nor is it exhibited by the minister, and eaten by
the communicant, otherwise than in the word preached, read, or
meditated upon. And to eat the body of Christ is nothing else than
to believe, as he himself teaches in the sixth of John. It is neces-
sary therefore to bring Christ to the sacrament by faith, and not to
look for him there. And thus the promise of grace is received by
faith, as are also the Sacraments, of which faith they are the testi-
monies and the seals. There are many other ends, but this is the
chief ; and those who thus use the sacraments do not make them bare
signs. Thus John the Baptist said, that he baptized with water, but that
there was one to come after him who should baptize with the Holy
Ghost. He had water in his hand, by which remission of sins was
confirmed in those who believed ; but he had not in his hand the
Holy Ghost, that he might give remission of sins to all that were
baptized ; for he baptized many hypocrites. From these sensible
objects therefore faith teaches us to recognize things insensible and
invisible. Regard these things, I pray you, in a godly spirit. I do
not write for sake of dispute, but that I may testify to you, that the
sacraments with us are not bare signs. For if faith shine forth in
the mind of the recipient, the bridegroom is thereby joined* to the
bride, so that none may put asunder what God hath joined together
" — Original Letters, pp. 47-48.
Next to (perhaps even as much as) the Roman doctrine, what
Hooper seems to have dreaded was the Lutheran helief : for
in a Letter to "Henry Bulli/)" the benefits " = Virtus. The original
is " Atqui hsec omnia in sacrosancta ccena pariter existunt. Christus ipse
spiritualiter perceptus et fideles paseens, panis et vinun id nobis demonstrantia
sacramento, et sacerdos horum minister."
184
nor Christ's body : but to lift up our hearts higher unto his spirit
and divinity, without the which his body availeth nothing, as saith
himself : ' It is the Spirit that giveth life, the flesh availeth nothing.'
" And as the same Chrysostom in many places moveth us not to
consider the water in baptism, but rather to have respect to the
Holy Ghost, received in baptism, and represented by the water :
even so doth he in this homily of the holy communion move us to
lift up our minds from all visible and corporal things to things in-
visible and spiritual.
" Insomuch that although Christ was but once crucified, yet
would Chrysostom have us to think that we see him daily whipped
and scourged before our eyes, and his body hanging upon the cross,
aud the spear thrust into his side, and the most holy blood to flow
out of his side into our mouths. After which manner St. Paul
wrote to the Galations, that Christ was painted and crucified before
their eyes.
" Therefore saith Chrysostom in the same homily a little before
the place rehearsed : ' What dost thou O man ? didst not thou pro-
mise to the priest which said, Lift up your minds and hearts ; and
thou didst answer, We lift them up unto the Lord ? Art not thou
ashamed and afraid being at that same hour found a liar ? A won-
derful thing ! The table is set forth, furnished with God's mysteries,
the Lamb of God is offered for thee, the priest is careful for thee,
spiritual fire cometh out of that heavenly table, the angels seraphin
be there present, covering their faces with six wings. All the angelical
power with the priest be means and tntercessors for thee, a spiritual
fire cometh down from heaven, blood in the cup is drunk out of the
most pure side unto thy purification. And art not thou ashamed,
afraid, and abashed, not endeavouring thyself to purchase God's
mercy ? O man, doth not thine own conscience condemn thee ?
There be in the week one hundred and sixty eight hours, and God
asketh but one of them to be given wholly unto him, and thou
consumest that in worldly business, in trifling and talking: with
what boldness then shalt thou come to these holy mysteries ? O
corrupt conscience !'
" Hitherto I have rehearsed St. John Chrysostom's words, which
do show how our minds should be occupied at this holy table of our
Lord, that is to say, withdrawn from the consideration of sensible
things unto the contemptation of most heavenly and godly things.
And thus is answered this place of Chrysostom, which the papists
took for an insoluble, and a place that no man was able to answer.
But for further declaration of Chrysostom's mind in this matter read
the place of him before rehearsed, fol. 26 and 28."* — pp. 314-16.
* i.e. p. 273. " About the same time, or shortly after, about the year of our
Lord 400, St. John Chrysostom writeth thus against them that used only water
in the sacrament. 'Christ,' saith he, ' minding to pluck up that heresy by the
roots, used wine as well before his resurrection, when he gave the mysteries, as
185
The especial design of Cranmer in these passages, as indeed
throughout his whole Answer, may perhaps he best described
in his own words at the commencement of his argument,
where he says : —
" This therefore shall be mine issue : that as no scripture, so no
ancient author known and approved, hath in plain terms your tran-
subtantiation ; nor that the body and blood of Christ be really,
COipoi ally, naturally, and Carnally under the forms of bread and
wine ; nor that evil men do eat the very body and drink the very
blood of Christ ; nor that Christ is offered every day by the priest a
sacrifice propitiatory for sin. Wherefore by your own description
and rule of a catholic faith, your doctrine and teaching in these your
articles cannot be good and catholic, except you can find it in plain
terms in the scripture and old catholic doctors ; which when you do,
I will hold up my hand at the bar, and say, ' guilty,' and if you
cannot, then it is reason that you do the like, per legem talionis." —
Ans. to Gardiner. Book i. p. 13.
And again, at p. 152, his language is : —
And as for pleading of those words, 'really,' 'corporally,'
' Sensibly,' and ' naturally,' they be your own terms, and the terms
wherein resteth the whole contention between you and me ; and
should you be offended because I speak of those terms ? It
appeareth now that you be loth to hear of those words, and would
very gladly have them put in silence, and so should the variance
between you and me be clearly ended. For it you will confess, that
the body of Christ is not in the Sacrament really, corporally,
after at his table without mysteries. For he said, ' of the fruit of the vine ;"
which surely bringeth forth no water, but wine.'
These words of Chrysostom declare plainly, that Christ in his holy table both
drank wine and gave wine to drink, which had not been true if no wine had
remained after the consecration, as the papists feign. And yet more plainly St.
Chrysostom declareth this matter in another place, saying : ' the bread before it
be sanctified is called bread, but when it is sanctified by the means of the priest,
it is delivered from the name of bread, and is exalted to the name of the Lord's
body, although the nature of bread doth still remain.
" ' The nature of bread,' said he, ' doth still remain,' to the utter and manifest
confutation of the papists, which say, ' that the accidents of bread do remain,
but not the nature and subtance.' "
And p. 286 where, having quoted two passages from St. Chrysostom ad Cmsa-
rium Monachum. " When thou speakest of God," &c. and " Wherefore Christ
is both God and man" &c, he remarks " These words of Chrysostom declare, and
that not in obscure terms, but in plain words, that after the consecration
the nature of bread remaineth still, although it have an higher name, and be
called the body of Christ, to signify unto the godly eaters of that bread, that
they spiritually eat the supernatural bread of the body of Christ, who spiritually
is there present, and dwelleth in them, and they in him, although coporally
he sitteth in heaven at the right hand of his Father."
B B
186
SdlSibly, and naturally, then you and I shall shake hands, and be
both earnest friends of the truth.
" And yet one thing you do here confess, (which is worthy to be
noted and had in memory,) that you read not in any old author,
that the body of Christ is really and sensibly in the Sacrament.
And hereunto I add, that none of them say, that he is in the bread
and wine corporally nor naturally. No, never no papist said,
that Christ's body is in the Sacrament naturally nor carnally, but
you alone, (who be the first author of this gross error, which Smith
himself condemneth, and denieth that ever Christian man so taught,)
although some say that it is there ' really,' some ' substantially,'
and some ' sensibly.' "
Having now produced these statements of Cranmer (per-
haps at needless length except for the desire of giving the
context fairly) I proceed to add a few passages from some
of his contemporaries which may serve to illustrate further
that (as I argued in the Letter) the physical Presence held to
be bound up with Transubstantiation, together with its popu-
lar result, was the great point of opposition by the English
reforming party. Thus Ridley, in his "Godly talk with
Latimer in the Tower," a.d., 1555, mentions among the
" things " which he says " do offend me in the Mass " that
" the sign is servilely worshipped for the thing signified,"
{Foxe, Act and Mon. vii. 41 1) thus admitting here as else-
where (see pp. 58 and 60) that adoration is due to "the thing
signified."
So, too, in his Examination at Oxford, Sep. 30, 1555, in
part quoted at p. 61, he thus writes touching the Sacra-
mental change due to Consecration.
" Always my protestation reserved, I answer thus ; that in the
Sacrament is a certain change, in that, that bread, which was before
common bread, is now made a lively presentation of Christ's body,
and not only a figure, but effectUOUSly represented his body, that
even as the mortal body was nourished by that visible bread, so is
the internal soul fed with the heavenly food of Christ's body, which
the eyes of faith see, as the bodily eyes see only bread. Such a
sacramental mutation I grant to be in the bread and wine,
which truly is no small change, but such a change as no mortal man
can make, but only the omnipotency of Christ's word.'' — Foxe, vii.
528.
The next example is from a very different class of persons,
1ST
viz., two "husbandmen" called "John Simson and John
Ardely, of the parish of Wighorough the Great in Essex,"
who where articled by Bishop Bonner, May 22, 1555 ;. two
of his accusations were these : —
" IV. Item, that albeit it be true, that in the Sacrament of the
Altar there is ill substance the very body and blood of Christ
under the forms of bread and wine, and albeit that it be so believed,
taught, and preached undoubtedly in the said Church of Rome, and
all the other Churches aforesaid, yet thou hast not so believed, nor
dost so believe ; but, contrariwise, thou hast and dost believe firmly
and stedfastly that there is not in the said Sacrament of the altar,
under the said form of bread and wine, the very substance of
Christ's body and blood, but that there is only the substance of
material and common bread and wine, with the form thereof; and
that the said material and common bread and wine are only the
signs and tokens of Christ's body and blood, and by faith to be
received, only for a remembrance of Christ's passion and death,
without any SUCll Substance of Christ's body and blood at all.
" V. Item, that thou hast believed and taught, and thou hast
openly spoken, and to thy power maintained and defended, and so
dost believe, think, maintain and defend, that the very true receiving
and eating of Christ's body and blood, is only to take material and
common bread, and to break it, and to distribute it amongst the
people; remembering thereby the passion and death of Christ only."
To these charges they replied thus : —
" To the fourth they answer, that in the Sacrament, commonly
called the Sacrament of the altar, there is very bread and very wine,
not altered or changed in Substance in any wise ; and that he that
receiveth the said bread and wine, doth spiritually aild by faith
Ollly receive the body and blood of Christ ; but not the very
natural body and blood of Christ in substance under the forms of
bread and wine.
" To the fifth they say, they have answered, answering to the
said fourth article, and yet nevertheless they say, that they have
believed, and do believe, that in the Sacrament of the altar there is
not the very SUbstauce of Christ's body and blood, but only the
Substance of the natural bread and wine." — Foxe, vii. 87 and 88.
The last illustration is from " Another Letter written to
the Christian Congregation by Robert Samuel " who was
" Minister at Barholt [i.e. Bargholt] in Suffolk ;" he was
burned Aug. 31st, 1555; in this Letter "he declareth the
confession of his faith " thus : —
188
" The other Sacrament, which is the Supper and Holy Maun-
day of our Saviour Christ, whereby the Church of Christ is known,
I believe to be a remembrance of Christ's death and passion, a seal
and confirmation of his most precious body given unto death, even
to the vile death of the cross, wherewith we ,are redeemed and
delivered from sin, death, hell, and damnation. It is a visible word,
because it worketh the same thing in the eyes, which the word
worketh in the ears. For like as the word is a mean to the ears,
whereby the Holy Ghost moveth the heart to believe ; so this Sacra-
ment is a mean to the eyes, whereby the Holy Ghost moveth the
heart to believe ; it preacheth peace between God and man ; it
exhorteth to mutual love and all godly life, and teacheth to contemn
the world for the life to come, when Christ shall appear, which now
is in heaven, and nowhere else as Concerning' his human body.
"Yet do I believe assuredly, that his very body is present ill Ills
most holy Supper at the contemplation of our spiritual eyes, and
so verily eaten with the mouth of our faith. For as soon as I
hear these most comfortable and heavenly words spoken and pro-
nounced by the mouth of the minister, " This is my body which is
given for you :" when I hear (I say) this heavenly harmony of God's
infallible promises and truth, I look not upon, neither do I behold
bread and wine ; for I take and believe the words simply and plainly,
even as Christ spake them. For hearing these words, my senses be
rapt and utterly excluded ; for faith wholly taketh place, and not
flesh, nor the carnal imaginations of our gross, fleshy, and
unreverent eating- after the manner of our bodily food*, which
profiteth nothing at all, as Christ witnesseth ; but with a sorrowful
and wounded conscience, a hungry and thirsty soul, a pure and
faithful mind, do fully embrace, behold, and feed, and look upon,
that most glorious body of Christ in heaven, at the right hand of
God the Father, very God and very man, which was crucified and
slain, and his blood shed for our sins, there now making intercession,
offering and giving his holy body for me, for my bod}', for my ran-
som, for my full price and satisfaction, who is my Christ, and all
that he ever hath ; and by this spiritual and faithful eating of this
lively and heavenly bread, I feel the most sweet sap and taste of
the fruits, benefits, and unspeakable joys of Christ's death and pas-
sion, fully digested into the bowels of my soul. For my mind is
quieted from all worldly adversities, turmoilings, and troubles ; my
conscience is pacified from sin, death, hell, and damnation ; my
soul is full, and hath even enough, and will no more ; for all things
are but loss, vile dung, and dross, vain vanity, for the excellent
knowledge-sake of Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour.
" Thus now is Christ's flesh my very meat indeed, and his blood
my very drink indeed, and I am become flesh of his flesh, and bone
of his bones. Now I live yet not I, but Christ liveth in me : yea,
I dwell in him, and he in me ; for, through faith in Christ and for
Christ's sake we are one, that is, of one consent, mind, and fellow-
ship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Thus am I
1 89
assured and fully persuaded, and on this rock have I buildcd, by
God's grace, my dwelling and resting place for body and soul, life
and death. And thus I commit my cause unto Christ the righteous
and just Judge, who will another day judge these debates and con-
troversies ; whom I humbly beseech to cast his tender and merciful
eyes upon the afflicted and ruinous Churches, and shortly to reduce
them into a godly and perpetual concord. Amen.
" Thus do I believe, and this is my faith and my understanding in
Christ my Saviour, and his true and holy religion. And this who-
soever is ashamed to do, among this adulterous and sinful generation,
of him shall the son of Man be ashamed, when he cometh in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Robert Samuel."
I pass on now to consider somewhat more fully, than in
the Letter, such occurrences in the reign of Elizabeth as
touch the subject on which the Letter proposed to treat.
It was noticed at p. 63 that the Declaration on Kneeling
did not appear in Elizabeth's Prayer Book, and the reason
assigned by Burnet for the omission is there quoted : the
same Prelate, in writing of the review of the 42 articles in
1559, gives the following account of the way in which the
question of the Real Presence was then dealt with, and so
furnishes a further illustration of the grounds on which he
alleges the suppression of the Declaration itself : —
" In the Article about the Lord's Supper, there is a great deal
left out, for instead of that large refutation of the Corporal Pre-
sence, from the impossibility of a body's being in more places at
once ; from whence it follows, that since Christ's body is in Heaven,
the faithful ought not to believe or profess a Real or Corporal Pre-
sence of it in the Sacrament. In the new Articles, it is said, TJiat
the body of Christ is given and received after a spiritual manner ;
and the means by which it is received, is faith. But in the Original
Copy of these Articles (M. S. S. Cor. Christ, Camb.), which I have
seen subscribed by the hands of all that sat in either House of
Convocation, there is a further addition made. The Articles were
subscribed with that precaution, which was requisite in a matter of
such consequence ; for before the Subscriptions, there is set down
the number of the pages, and of the lines in every page of the Book,
to which they set their hands.
In that Article of the Eucharist, these words are added, Christusin
Caelum ascendens, corpori suo immortalitatem dedit, naturam non
abstulit : Hmnanae enim naturae veritatem, juxta scripturas perpetuo
retinet, quam in uno 8f definito loca esse, Sf non in multa vel
omnia simtd loca diffundi, oportet : Quum iyitur Christus in Coelum
190
suhlatus, ibi usque ad Jinem Seculi sit premansurus, atque inde, non
aliunde, (ut loquitur Augustinus) venturus sit ad judicandum vivos
Sf mortuos, non debet quisquam fidelium, Carnis ejus Sf Sanguinis
realem 8; corporalem (ut loquuntur) praesentiam in Eucharistia, vel
credere vel profiteri. In English thus: 'Christ, when he ascended
into Heaven, made his Body immortal, but took not from it the
Nature of a Body : For still it retains, according to the Scriptures,
the Verity of a human Body ; which must be always in one definite
place, and cannot spread into many, or all places at once. Since
then Christ being carried up to Heaven, is to remain there to the
end of the world, and is to come from thence, and from no place
else, (as says St. Austin) to judge the quick and the dead ; none of
the faithful ought to believe or profess the real, or (as they call it)
the corporal Presence of his Flesh and Blood in the Eucharist.'
" But this in the original is dasht over with minium : yet so,
that it is still legible. The secret of it was this ; the Queen and
her Council studied, (as hath been already shewn) to unite all into
the Communion of the Church : and it was alledged, that such an
express definition against a Heal Presence, might drive from the
Church many who were still of that persuasion ; and therefore it
was thought to be enough to condemn Transubstantiation, and to
say, that Christ was present after a Spiritual manner, and received
by Faith ; to say more, as it was judged superfluous, so it might
occasion division. Upon this, these words were, by common con-
sent, left out : and in the next Convocation, the Articles were sub-
scribed without them, of which I have also seen the original.
" This shews that the Doctrine of the Church subscribed by the
whole Convocation, was at that time contrary to the belief of a Real
or Corporal Presence in the Sacrament ; only it was not thought
necessary or expedient to publish it. Though from this silence,
which flowed not from their opinion, but the wisdom of that time,
in leaving a liberty for different speculations, as to the manner of the
Presence ; some have since inferred, that the chief pastors of this
Church, did then disapprove of the definition made in King Edward's
time, and that they were for a Real Presence." — Hist. Ref., Pt. ii.,
Bk. iii., p. 375. See also Hardwick on the Articles, p. 375.
Mr. Harold Browne thinks that " the clause in the Article"
of 1552 was "omitted in Elizabeth's reign; lest persons
inclined to the Lutheran belief might be too much offended
by it ; and many such " he adds " were in the Church, whom
it was wished to conciliate." — Exposition of the 39 Articles,
p. 708.
Bishop Burnet was quoted as stating that the Declara-
tion was left out of Elizabeth's Prayer Book for the sake of
those "inclinable to the Communion of the Church, who yet
191
retained the belief of the Corporal Presence :" Mr. Browne
(p. 100) assumes that, as with the Clause in the Article, " it
was omitted from a wish not to offend the many
persons of Lutheran sentiments then in communion with the
Church." If, moreover, Mr. Hallam's statement be correct
(and there is much reason for thinking it true) that " Pius
IVth. . .despatched a Nuncio to England, with an invitation to
send ambassadors to the Council of Trent, and with powers,
as is said, to confirm the English Liturgy, and to permit
double Communion .... {Const. Hist. i. p. 155. See also
Strype Ann. i. p. 221) it is likely enough that this* circum-
stance may have had its weight in determining the course to
be followed with regard to both Clause and Declaration.
But though the Clause disappeared from the Article and
the Declaration from the Prayer Book, it would seem that
the object of them was not disregarded and that the Declara-
tion was in some other way kept before the Members of the
Church of England : for in a joint Letter from Grindal,
Bishop of London, and Horn, Bishop of Winchester, addressed
to Henry Bullinger and Rodolp Gualter, " dated at London,
Feb. 6, 1566-7," they write thus:
" We allow of Kneeling at the receiving of the Lord's Supper,
because it is so appointed by law ; the same explanation however,
or rather caution, that the very authors of the Kneeling, most holy
men and constant martyrs of Jesus Christ, adopted, being most
diligently declared, published and impressed upon the people. It
is in these terms : ' Whereas it is ordained in the book of prayers,
that the Communicants should receive the holy Communion Kneel-
ing ; yet we declare, that this ought not so to be understood, as if
any adoration is or ought to be done, either unto the sacramental
bread and wine, or to any real and essential presence of Christ's
natural flesh and blood there existing. For the sacramental
* Mr. Fisher indeed goes so far as to say that " the new alterations [in the
Prayer Book of 1559] were all, without exception in a Homeward direction . . .
. . . How then was this effected ? Not of course by sanctioning directly, and in
terms, the doctrine of Transubstantiation ; but by removing every previous pro-
test against the doctrine of a real or corporeal presence, so as to leave the Service
open in this respect, to a Papistical interpretation.
_ " We say - real or corporeal presence ; for it must be plain to every unsophis-
ticated mind, that these two terms, as employed in the Eucharistic controversy,
mean virtually the same thing ;[?].... Obviously there cannot be a ' real '
presence of Christ's human nature in the elements, without a local presence of
the same being necessarily implied."— Liturgical Purity, pp. 281-2.
192
bread and wine remain still in their very natural substances, and
therefore may not be adored, for that were horrible idolatry, to be
abhorred of all Christians ; and as to the natural body and blood
of our Saviour Christ, they are in heaven, and not here ; it being
against the truth of the true natural body of Christ, to be at one
and the same time in more places than one.' " — Zurich Letters, 1st
Series, p. 180.
It will be found, by a comparison of this statement with
the form of the Declaration in Edward's 2nd Book (see p. 3)
that there is some little difference in the language : whether
this arises from mere accident on the part of the writers of
the Letter, or from their quoting some other then recognized
version of the Declaration, seems only matter for conjecture.
But, however that may be, the fact of the Declaration being
then recognized mainly in the form which it originally had,
notwithstanding its exclusion and the exclusion of the Clause
of the Article containing the words "reall and bodillie " from
the public Formularies out of regard for those who held
(what Burnet calls) " the Corporal Presence," is strong evi-
dence that (as I have all along contended) " real and essential"
simply meant what was then commonly understood by " cor-
poral," and were not the equivalents of the " verily and
indeed " of our present Catechism.
The order of dates brings me now to a Document of consi-
derable importance on the question of the Real Presence,
and therefore on the meaning to be attached to the Declara-
tion on Kneeling as it appears to have been used in Eliza-
beth's days — I mean the, now well known, Letter of Bishop
Geste to Secretary Cecil on the 28th Article which it will be
convenient here to reprint.
The Letter of Edmond Geste [or Gheast], Bishop of Ro-
chester* to Cecil, Secretary to Queen Elizabeth, 22nd
December, 1566.
" Greeting in ye Lord.
"Right Honourable— I am very e sorye yt you are so sicke,
God make you whole, as it is my desyer and prayer. I wold
have seen you er this, accordinge to my duetye and goodwill,
* State Paper Office, Orig. Domestic Elizabeth, Vol. xli. No. 51.
193
but when I sent to knowe whether I might see you it was
often answered yt you were not to be spoken with.
" I suppose you have hard how ye Bisshop of Glocestre
[i.e. Cheney] found him selue greeved with ye plasynge of this
adverbe onely in this article, ' The body of Christ is gyven
taken and eaten in ye Supper after an heavenly and spiritual!
maner onely,' bycause it did take awaye ye presence of
Christis Bodye in ye Sacrament, and prively noted me to
take his part therein, and yeasterdaye in myn absence more
playnely vouched me for ye same. Whereas betwene him
and me, I told him plainelye that this word onely in ye fore-
saied Article did not exclude ye presence of Christis Body
fro the Sacrament, but onely ye grossenes and sensiblenes in
ye receavinge thereof: For I saied vnto him though he tooke
Christis Bodge in his hand, receaved it with his mouthe, and
that corporally naturally reallye substantially and carnally as
ye doctors doo write, yet did he not for all that see it, feale it,
smelle it, nor taste it. And therefore I told him I wold
speake against him herein, and ye rather bycause ye Article
was of myn owne pennynge. And yet I wold not for all
that denye therebye any thing that I had spoken* for ye pre-
sence. And this was ye some of our talke.
" And this that I saied is so true by all sortes of men that
* Compare the following passage from his " Treatise against the Prevee
Masse," 1518. " The last argument that ys alledged for tornekynd is thys, If
Christes bodye be in thee bred (as undoubtedly it is), then it is enbreaded and
his bloude enwyned, which was alway taken for a great heresy, In respect
whereof transubstantiation nedes must be graunted as ryght true and belevable.
To thys I answer in sorte thus, Notwythstandinge Christes Body be presented
in thee bred (as questionles it is) not placely as ther placed spaced and measured,
but ghostly ; as ther unplaced unspaced, and not measured ; Howbeit, it is not
enbreaded no more then the deytie is recomptcd enflcshed fur that it is substan-
cially in us. No more then the sayde Godhede is demed enbreaded, for yt is en-
tirely in eche bred No more then the Holy Ghost is accompted enbreathed
for that He was presented in Christes breathe. No more then the sayd Holy
Ghoste is adjudged embodied or enharted, for yt He is wholly in us and in oure
hartes. Chri>tes Body is adjudged of no man to be accidentcd notwythstandiug
it is presented in the accidentes of the bread. Why then shuld it be adjudged
enbreaded for Hys presence in ye bread. The one is as reasonable as gatherable
as thother is. Some are fule deceyved in the meanynge of these wordes thim-
panacion of Christes Bodye, whyche is not in simple any presence indeferently
of ye sayd Body in ye bred : No more than the incarnation or enfleshing of
Christes Godhede is indifferently any presence therof in mans fleshe and
nature. But only soch a presence of Christes Body in the bread wherewyth
they both shuld be unseverably personed and have al theyr condicions and pro-
perties common and mutuall betwixt them. Soch a presence is the personal pre-
sence of Christes Godhede in Hys Manhode. Soch is ye presence of ye soul in
ye bodye. In respect whereof as Christes Body is not enpersoned in us, not-
withstanding it be enbodied to us : Semblable though the sayd body be presented
in ye bred, howbeit it is not become one person therewith which is properly
termed ye impaning or enbreding thereof " — p. 86, ed. 1840.
L96
plainely shevvethe that what tyme Christ came, God by him
declared and opened y e mysterie of our predestination and
salvation. Therefore thees wordes, suo consilio nobis quidem
occulto, are to be putt out of y* booke. The thirde cause
w ch the saied wordes are to bee putt out of y e booke is, by-
cause by those wordes it is to be gathered that there is a
consell, & cause in God in predestinatinge us wiche is yet
hidden and not knowen by y c scripture, and therefore they
gyve occasion to curiouse persons to searche out causes of
Goddes predestination besides and without y e scripture wich
is a dangerous thinge and not to be used and condemned by
Poule,* in that he saithe that he taught ) e Ephesians all y e
counsell of God Baeaaayage f for he meanethe thereby that
there is no other consell and cause in God to predestinate elect
and save us then he preached to y e Ephesians.
"2. Agayne in y e article of predestination about the
ende there be thees wordes. Furthermore we must receave
Goddes promises in suche wise, as they be generally set forthe
to us in holy scripture. Thees wordes be not playne ynoughe.
For they are spoken for no comfort and remedye against y*
tentation of predestination whereof was spoken in y e sentence
next before. Therefore they be chefely to be understanded
of y e promissees of God made unto us for salvation and life
everlastinge. By y e wiche we ought to learne two necessaire
and comfortable lessons. The first is that God in his
generall promissees of eternall healthe promisethe and
offerethe salvation and eternall life to every man wiche
hearethe them. For that is for y e promisees of God to be
generally set forthe unto us in y e scripture. The second
that every man must beleve that God promiseth unto him
salvation & eternall life when y e promisees of salvation be
preached unto him. For that is to receave the promisees of
god as they be generally set forthe in y e scripture but it is to
harde for y e meane learned or y e simple people to gather out
thees nedefull lessons out of thees wordes folowynge. We
must receave Goddes promisees in suche wise as they be
generally set forthe in y e scripture. Wherefore for ye better
understandinge of them. I wolde wishe some more wordes
to be putt unto for y e expressinge of suche a meanyng. As
thus, We must receave and beleve the promissees of God in
Christ for eternall health and life to belong to every man as
they generally be set forthe to all men in the holy scripture
so that every man wiche beleveth to y e ende in Christ shall
* Act. xx.
t Sic in MS.
197
be saved. And they wiche beleve not in him shall be
damned,* Qui credit filio habet vitam eternall. f J But he that
beleveth not in y' name of \ e onely begotten Sone of God.
" 3. In y e ende of y' article of predestination there be thees
wordes In our doyenges that will of God is to be folowed
wiche we have expressely declared unto us in y e worde of
God. In that it is here saied that in our doyenges that will
of God is to be folowed wiche is expressed in y e scripture ; it
playnely gyveth us to understande that there be two willes of
God, one in the scripture an other without y e scripture and
that those two willes be contrarye or els why should it be
forbidde to folowe any will of God in our doyenges. There-
fore the foresaied wordes be dangerous bycause to teache two
willes to be in God and them to be contradictorie the one to
will one thinge and y e other not to will the same but y e con-
trarie is a doctrine wich must nedes cause y e comp tempt § of
Goddes will that it foloweth hereby, that what a man dothe
he dothe it by y e will of God either open or secrete Where-
fore I wold wishe y" above rehersed wordes and sentence to
be quyt put out. And in there place this to be placed as
necessaire to y e mattier.
" We ought not to judge nor speake of predestination and
election nore of the causes of them, but as they be playnely
taught us in y e worde of God.
"4. In y e article of sacramentes, whereas it is writen a
litle after y e begynynge in this wise, By the wiche he dothe
work invisibly in us, if there were putt in this worde (' salva-
tion ') then y e vertue of y e sacrametes of baptisme and of y c
Lordes supper shuld be more fully expressed bycause they
doe not onely conflrme our faithe but also be meanes whereby
God worketh in us eternall healthe.
" 5. And whereas a litle after it is saied, There are two
sacramentes ordeyned of Christ our Lorde in y" gospell that
is to saye baptisme and y c supper of y c Lorde. In my
judgemet it were better saied thus. In this sort there be but
two sacrametes baptisme and y e Lordes supper and y" reast to
be lent out bycause thees wordes (in this sorte) have a respect
to that wiche was spoken of before, whereby thees two sacra-
mentes are showed to have no felowes.
" 6. It folowethe in y e booke. Thees fyve comonly
called sacrametes that is to saye confermation penance orders
matrimonie and extreme annoylinge are not to be accompted
for sacramentes of y e gospell. This is not true in all poyntes :
* Joan iii. J- Joan iii. t Sic in MS. § Sic in MS.
For it is certein that Christ did order his apostles by thees
his wordes, Sicut misit me pater ita ego mitto vos, haec cu
dixisset flavit in eos et dicit eis.* Accipite spiritu sactii
quorucuq3 remiseritis peccata remittitur eis, quorucuq3 re-
tinueritis retenta sut. Here Christ did not onely order and
admitte his apostles to be preachers of his worde and to be
ministers of his sacramentes but also by his breathinge gave
them y e Holy Ghost whereby they had y e more grace to
execute there office. It is nothinge worthe that is here ob-
jected that he wiche dothe order can not gyve to him wiche
is ordered y e Holy Ghost. For by Calvine (who is y" autour
of this sayenge) granteth that by orderynge he that dothe
order dothe gyve unto him wiche is ordered authoritie to for-
gyve syne wich is as great a worke as to gyve y e Holy Ghost
yea it can not be gyven with out y e Holy Ghost. Poule in
steade of breathinge used in orderynge y e iaynge on of
handes. Stirre up saithe he to Timothie y e gift of God wich
is in y c layenge on of handes.f He hath y' same in an other
place whereby we learne that we ought to be ordered by im-
position of handes and that thereby grace is gyven to him
wiche is ordered.]: So that it can not be well denyed but
that orderynge is a sacramet of y e gospel ; but yet not such
one, as baptisme and y e Lordes supper be bycause by
orderynge to the person wiche is ordered no forgynes§ of
synes is offered, nor his faith he~e || herein is confirmed.
" 7. Novve further in y e booke Being suche as have
growen partely of y e corrupt folowynge of y e apostles. It is
ment by thees wordes that confirmation, penance, orders,
matrimonie have growen of y e corrupt folowyng of y e apostles,
but this I see not to be true bycause they be all godly
thinges, and maye be used with great profitt and godlynes.
therefore there is no corruption but a puritie in usinge of
them as the apostles did. Yeat as good and as godly as they
be they are no suche sacramentes as baptisme and y e Lordes
supper are. Bycause none of them have appoynted of God
y e visible signe of His healthfull grace, and all of them
(save penance) want that grace and so they are not to be ac-
compted for suche sacraments as baptisme and y e Lordes
supper are, wiche have bothe y e signe and Goddes heathfull^f
grace. Therefore by my judgemet, whereas it is saied those
fyve comonly called sacramentes, that is to saye, confirmation,
penance, orders, matrimonye, extreme annoylinge are not to
be accompted for sacramentes of y' gospell beinge suche as
* Joan xx. t 2 Timo. i. X 1 Timo. iv. § Sic in MS.
|| Sic in MS. U Sic in MS.
199
have growen partly of y c corrupt folowynge of y' apostles,
and so forthe to y e ende of the sentence I wishe all out
of y e booke and to be in there stead of thees wordes folow-
yenge confirmation penance orders matrimonye and
extreme annoylinge are not to be taken for suche sacramentes
as baptisme and y e Lordes supper be bycause none of them
hathe appoynted of God the visible signe of his healthfull
grace and all of them save penance want that grace And so
they are not to be accompted for suche sacramentes as bap-
tisme and y e Lordes supper are, wiche have bothe y e signe
and Goddes healthefull grace ordeyned of God to be signified
and gyven by it.
"8. [[In y* Article of y c Lordes Supper it is thus said.
The bodye of Christ is gyven taken & eaten in y e Supper
after a heavenlye & spuall maiier onely. Thoughe it be true,
that y e bodye of Christ can not be gyven taken & eaten in his
supper, but it must nedes be truely gyven taken and eaten in
) e supper, yet bycause some men for a more playnes wold
have added this worde truely or in-dede, in this wise, The
body of Chi'ist is in dede gyven, taken & eaten in y° supper,
it were well to putt it in, and Calvine agreethe thereunto for
thus he writethe in his comentaries upon these wordes of
Poule, hoc est corpus meii. Concludo realiter ut vulgo
loqimtur hoc est vere nobis dari in cena corpus Christi. And
my L. of Sarisburie hath thees wordes. That we verelye &
undoubtedly receave Christis bodye in y e sacrament it is
neither denyed, nor in question.]]
"9. [[In that, in y e booke it is further saied after a
spirituall & heavenly maner onely some be offended withe
this worde onely, as my L. of Glocester, as thoughe this
worde onely did take awaye y e reall presence of Christis
bodye, or y e receavinge of y same by y e mouthe, whereas it
was putt in onely to this ende, to take away all grosse & sen-
sible presence, for it is very true that when Christis bodye is
taken & eaten, it is neither seen, felt, smelt nor tasted to be
Christis body, and so it is receaved and eaten but after
a heavely & spirituall & no sensible manner. And whereas
it is saied bycause y e mouthe receavethe Christis bodye,
therefore it is sensibly receaved, The consequent is not true
bycause y e mouthe in receavinge Christis bodye, doeth not
feele it nor taste it, nor we by any other sence do perceave it.
Yet for all this to avoyde offence & contention y e worde
onely maye be well left out, as not nedeful. My L. of
Glocester is pronouced excomunicate by my lorde of Canter-
burie & shall be cited to answer before him, and other
200
bishoppes to certein errours whiche he is accused to holde. I
think if this worde onely were put out of y c booke for his
sake it were y c best.]]
" 10. [[It foloweth in y e booke, But y e mene whereby y e
bodye of Chi-ist is receaved & eaten in y e supper is faithe. If
this worde profitably were put hereunto in this sort, But y e
mene whereby y e body of Christ is profitably receaved &
eaten in y e supper is faith, then shuld the occasion of this
question, whether y* evill do receave Christis body in y e
sacrament, bycause they lacke faithe (wiche risethe of y e
forsaied wordes & cause the miche strife) shuld be quyte taken
awaye, for that hereby is not denyed the unfrutefull re-
ceavinge of Christis body without faithe but y e frutefull onely
affirmed.]]
[["My L. grace of Canterburie is purposed to present to y*
Quenes Ma tie y e first copie of y c booke of articles (to the
wiche y c most part of bishops have subscribed) to have it
authorised by Her Ma tie , and there is this article.]]
" 11. [[Evill men receave not y e bodye of Christ, which
article is not in y e prynted bookes either in Laten or
Englishe. If this article be confirmed and authorised by y e
Quenes grace it will cause muche busynes, bycause it is quyte
contrarie to y e scripture & to y e doctrine of y e fathers, for it
is certein that Judas as evill as he was did receave Christis
bodye,* bycause Christ saied unto him take eate this is my
bodye. It is not saied, if chou be a good or a faithefull man,
take eate this is my bodye, but simply without any suche
condition, take eate this is my bodye. So that to all men
wiche be of y e churche & of the profession of Christ, whether
they be good or bad, faithfull or unfaythefull (for to them
onely Christ spoke thees wordes take eate this is my body
and not to y e jewe turke, miscreant beast or birde) Christis
body is gyven & they do receave it.-j- That is y e cause that
poulesaith whosoever shall eate of this breade & dryncke of y e
cuppe of y e Lorde, unworthely, shall be giltie of y e body &
bloude of y e Lorde, for he that eatethe or drynkethe unwor-
thely eatethe & drynketh his owne danation, bycause he
makethe no difference of y c Lordes body. Note well thees
wordes y e Lordes body. It [sic] not here saied y e signe
or sacrament of y e Lordes body nor y e grace or fruite of
the Lordes bodye, nor y c memorie of the Lordes passion,
but plainely y e Lordes bodye, to teache us that y e evill
men of the churche doo receave Christes bodye. Therefore
» Matt. xx.
t 1 Cor. xi.
201
Theodoretus (that anciant fatlier) in his comentarie upon
y* saied wordes thus writethe, Illud aute, Erit reus cor-
poris et sanguinis domini, hoc significat, quod queadmodu
tradidit ipsu Judas, Ipsi autem insultaverut et eum probris et
convitiis affecerut Judei, Ita eum ignominia et dedecore
afficiut, qui sanctissimum ejus corpus immundis manibus
accipiut, et in pollutu incestuque os imittut. God grant us
unitie in true & sounde doctrine for Christis sake. Amen ]]
[II.] "1. [B] Touchinge y e first part of y e bill wich is to
dryve men* papistes to y'churche, I thinke it both lawful!
& necessarie, for y e pnp'"*" 1 " h e r n r~-~- jnr* """^ t" -f but
withall to enforce them to receave I think it utterly to be
unlawful!. For if we knowe y l the papistes doo thinke y' y"
coihunion wiche we doo minister is no comunion or no lawful
comunion (as certainly they doo) and we do knowe it, then we
ought not to gyve it thein bycause they receavinge wichj such
an evill opinion of y e comunion shuld take it to theire codena-
tion and so to gyve them y' comunion what were it els, but to
go aboute to destroye them. And we have no power saith Poule
to destroye but to edifie.
"2. [B] Poule willeth no man to receave before he dothe
first examyn him selve, whether he judgeth right of y* sacramet
or no and hath a pure faith and a good and a cleane conscience
or no. Let a man saith he examyn him selve and then leitt him
eate of that bread and drynke of that cuppe whereby he
teachethe us that no man shuld receave so long as he judgeth
not well of y" sacramet Gferi §
" 3. [B] Christ forbiddeth us to gyve an holy thing unto
dogges«ti*be|| and is not y e comunion an holy thinge and those
papistes wich judge ill of our comunion be they not in respect
of theire ill j udgfhet as evill as dogges withe reverence I speake
it. Therefore we ought not to gyve y e comunion to those
papistes wiche judge evill of y e comunion.
" 4. [B] Poule willeth us to shone an heretique after ones
or twise warnynge. And doo we not take the stoute papist
be an heretique. Then we ought to shone him leaving his
companye and not to gyve him y c comunion the chefest
token of fellowshippe. If he will not heare y e churche saithe
Christ Lett him be unto thee as an ethnicke and a publicane.
" 5. [B] Chrisostome saith, that he had rather dye then he
wold wittingly gyve y e sacramet to any man whom he knewe
wold take it unworthely. And will we gyve y e sacramet to y c
* Sic in MS. t Sic in MS. J Sic, query with,
i Sic in MS. || Sic in MS.
D D
202
stoute papist, whom we knowe doth thinke evill of y e sacra-
ment, and so when he taketh it must nedes receave it to his
danation. Suerly if we gyve him y e sacrament we can not
with out repentance escape the perill that Chrisostome feared
thereby.
6. [B] " The comunion booke willeth none to receave wiche
is a blasphemer of God, or an hinderer, or a slanderer of * of
His worde. And do we not take the obstinate papist to be
suche. Therefore by the comunion booke, we ought not to
gyve y e coinunion to y e obstinate papist.
7. [B] " The papist knoweth that he doth syne yf he should
receave that for y e comunion wiche he judgethe to be no
one.
8. [B] " And so if we shuld enforce him to receave we
shuld cause him to syne against his conscience wiche is deadly
syne. Qui edificat contra conscientiam edificat ad gehenna
he that buildeth against conscience buildeth to hell.
" But it is here said y, Austene wold that y' Donatistes
shuld be enforced to receave. Therefore why shuld not y e
papistes be dryven to receave also. To this I answer
Austene confesseth y' y e Donatistes had y e same word and
sacramentes that y e Catholiques had. For y e Donatistes
did confesse y c an evill man did preache y e same worde y' a
good ma did and did minister y° sacrametes that a good man
did ; but they denied y 1 y e word wiche was preached by an
evill man, and y* sacramentes wich were ministered by an
evill man were profitable to y hearer and y* receaver as y e
worde preached by a good man and y "sacrametes ministered
by a good man were. As y e papistes grant y* baptisme
wich is gyven to him wich is out of y e churche is not profita-
ble untill he wich hathe it come to y e churche And yet y*
papistes take it for a true and perfitt baptisme in substance
notwithstandinge. Therefore Austene might well enforce y*
Donatistes to receave as agreeinge with y e catholiques in y e
substance thereof. [9. B] But ye papistes thinke y* we have
no consecration and so no comunion or sacramet as the
catholiques have. Therefore y e example #f f or consell of
Austene in forcynge y c Donatistes to receave maketh not to
enforce y e papistes to receive our comunion as a true and
a perfitt comunion wich - e ;}; bycause in there conscience they
take it to be no one. [HI-] That wiche for hast I wrote
confuselyand unperfitly befoi'e, I have sent k§ you amended.
[1. Bb] The bill for bynding men to come to churche I
* Sic. in MS. t Sic. in MS. % Sit . in MS. $ Sic. in MS.
203
thincke it both lawfull and also necessarie for the papistes
have no just cause to absent them fro~ it bycause they can
not denye but it is y e word of God wiche is there redde and
the prayers wiche be there saied be accordinge to y' same
worde. And bycause y e saied worde is y e meane appoynted
of God to bring us fro~ errour to trueth and prayer is
there made to desyre God to bringe them fro" errour wiche
be deceaved Therefore y e papistes wiche be in an errour
ought to be dryven by y e lawe to come to y* churche to
heare y e worde of God there redde and preached and with
all y e cofhon prayers y' they may be brought from it.
Whereas y e bill enforceth them to y c coihunion ever that
be not well persuaded therein that is unlawful and that
in two respects. The one touchethe the comunicantes The
other fcfett* concernethe them that shall minister unto thein.
[8. Bb] As touchinge them wiche judge not well of y"
coihunion (as it was ministred and consecrated) this I have
to saye It is decreed by y e counsell of Trident (as it was
before by y° counsell of Florence) that y e sacramete must
be consecrated and ministred with y* entention as the
churche dothe holde them but ye papist knowethe y' we
doo not consecrate nor minister y c sacrament withe y e entent
of y e churche, bycause y e churche saithe that the bread is
transubstantiated and y' Christis body is there really. And
our ministers doo consecrate and mir.iater f but to this ende
and entent, to make ye sacramet of Christis body as it is in
heaven and not as it is in y e sacrament. Therefore if y e
papist be enforced to y e J receave y e sacrament he taketh it to
liis condehation bycause he judgeth it not to be y e Lordes
body and so receaveth it unworthely (as it is in Poule).
9. [Bb] " The papist thinketh that we have no consecra-
tion bycause we speake not the wordes of consecration over
y" breade by takynge it in our handes or by appoyutynge
unto it when these wordes are in utterynge, as Austine re-
quyreth Accedat verbum ad eleihetu~ et sit sacramentu~
And to prove this to be true it is saied in y e coihunion booke
Heare us O mercifull Father we beseech thee and grant y c
receavynge thees creatures of bread and wyne accordynge to
thy sone our Saviour Jesus Christis holy institution in re-
membrance of his deathe and passion maye be partakers of
his most blessed body and bloude. He saith not that we
maye be partakers thereby partakers of his body and bloude.
Note this worde thereby or y e like is here left out, wiche
* Sic. in MS. t Sic. in MS. $ Sic. in MS.
204
shuld applye y e wordes to y* breade and wyne to make them
to be meanes to reeeave by, ye body and bloude of Christ ;
wiche giveth us to understande that it is ment there that
Christis body is not given us by ye sacrafhet but otherwise
spiritually onely by faith wich is deeu both when we re-
eeave and when we doo not. As for the wordes wiche doo
after folow in y e booke they seme to to * be spoken in y e
waye of a storie and not for entention of consecration.
["8.] As concernynge the ministers if they know any men
to be suche papistes, wiche holde that the coihunion wich they
gyve is either no coihunion or an unlavvfull coihunion he
ought not to gyve it them bycause he knoweth that he
shold gyve it them to there condemnation And we have
no power saithe Poule to destroye but to edifie. [5. Bb]
And Chrisostome saithe he had rather dye then he wold
wittingly gyve y e coihunion to any man, that wold unworthely
reeeave it. [3. Bb] And Christ coihandeth that we shuld not
dare sanctu canibus. [4. Bb] And Poule saith hereticu post
una aut alteram admonitionem de vita. If we ought to
shone y e copaynye of him that is an heretique or of a con-
trarie opinion then we ought not to gyve him y e cofhunion
y e chefe signe of felowshippe. Therefore it is saied of Christ
Si ecclesiam non audierit sit tibi ethnicus et publican. [6. Bb]
The coihunion booke willethe that none wiche is a blasphemer
of God or an hinderer or a slanderer of his worde etce shuld
reeeave And doo we not take y e obstinate papist to be suche
Therefore if we enforce y* papistes to y e coihunion we doo it
against Goddes lawe and y» lawe of y e realme and against
there e tr r cwiw j- conscience and ours fciit pap it. I w.^ Et qui
edificat contra conscientia edificat ad gehenna wherefore for
y c honour of God for y e reverence of y e sacrament and saftie
of mens solles cause the enforcement to y e coihunion to be
quyte putt out of the bill.
[IV.] " To ye other mattier Poule saith y* corpora nra
siit membra Christi. Of y° wiche it is to be gathered that
our bodies also be partakers of Christ as it is well seen by y'
coihunion. There y e first consell of Nice I reade Cyrill and
Calvine also thtrt§ saye that our bodyes shall rise againe to
life ©*«>r|| everlastynge bycause they be partakers of Christis
imortall bodye."
* Sic. in MS. f Sic. in MS. | Sic. in MS.
§ Sic. in MS. || Sic. in MS.
205
Now Mr. Goode, remarking upon Bishop Geste's Letter
of Deer. 22, 1566, says^p. 6) :—
" From this letter it seems, that the words, ' the body of Christ,'
etc., inserted in the 28th Article in the revision of 1562, were pro-
posed by Bishop Geste, and proposed by him (with a subtility to be
regretted) under the notion that they admitted his doctrine of the
presence of our Lord's body in the elements.
" This is the utmost that the advocates of Bishop Geste's doc-
trine of the presence can extract from this letter in their favour."
But need they wish to " extract " more ? It is enough
surely for those who hold the doctrine of the Real Objective
Presence, to be able to maintain — that they are entitled to
hold and teach that doctrine because the terms of the Article
do " not exclude" it, and that this is affirmed by the Bishop
who drew up the Article. They demand, and justly demand,
complete toleration, at least, for^what they believe to be much
more than an opinion, yet certainly (as they think) an opinion
meant to be comprehended by the language of the Article.
Nor will they object to be accused, with Bishop Guest, of
" subtilty," if by that is meant refinement; convinced that
nicety of definition is not inappropriate to the subject of the
Eucharistic Presence : though they would repudiate any in-
tention of cunning or artifice, and might think it unbecoming
in Mr. Goode to impute it to Bishop Guest, «/here, as else-
where, he is indulging that license of judgment which un-
fortunately he is apt to betray towards the motives of his op-
ponents.
Mr. Goode admits, indeed (p. 7), that,
"... under some circumstances, it might have been difficult to
show, that those who agreed to the Articles in the Convocation of
1562, did not use these words in the same sense as that attached to
them by Bishop Geste. But," he adds, " fortunately these Articles
were passed in Convocation with the addition of another, namely
the 29th, which I shall now show, hy Bishop Geste's own testimony,
to be entirely irreconcileable with his view of the presence, and
which therefore excludes his interpretation of the 28th. And ac-
cordingly we find that he did not subscribe the Articles in the Con-
vocation of 1562. (See Lamb's Historical Account of the xxxix.
Articles.)
"Now what Bishop Geste himself held to be the doctrine main-
206
tained in Article 29, lie himself shall inform us : as also how far he
would have been glad subsequently to modify the phraseology of
Article 28." •
In proof of his statements he then proceeds to quote §§8,
9, 10 and 11 of the Document above printed.
But, first of all, Mr. Goode (unless I mistake his words)
argues upon an assumption which, to say the least, is quite
unwarranted by the commonly received theory of the prin-
ciple which guided the framers of the Articles, viz., a desire
of comprehension. If that theory be true (and there seems
no reason to dispute its accuracy) it surely was not requisite
that all " those who agreed to the Articles in the Convocation
of 1562 "should use these words ['after an heavenly and
spiritual manner onely '] in the same sense as " Bishop Guest
did. Considering the various opinions which were then held,
as to the nature and mode of the Presence, all that the accep-
tors needed to secure was — that the language of the Articles
did not condemn such diversities as, it was understood, were
meant to be tolerated. To imagine that Guest's doctrine was
unknown to the Convocation, or that (as Mr. Goode says, p.
11) he "penned the words . . . with the secret intention of
understanding them as he has explained them in his letter to
Cecil ;" and that, consequently, he and the Convocation passed
the Article with entirely opposite objects, is a notion wholly
devoid of foundation, and totally alien to the important po-
sition he occupied in the revision of both the Prayer Book
and the Articles : the opinions of the man who was intimately
associated with Cecil and Parker in that work, and who was
substituted by Cecil, in the time of the Archbishop's illness,
to aid in preparing the Prayer Book of 1559, were not likely
to be hidden from the Convocation of that day. That those
opinions ran in, what would be called, a Roman direction, is
sufficiently disproved by the fact that, in his answers to the
Secretary touching certain proposed emendations in the
Prayer Book, (1) he thought it needless to use the proper
Eucharistic Vestments ; (2) proposed such a division of the
Eucharistic Office, that non-communicants should not remain
throughout ; (8) considered it not convenient " to continue
207
the use of praying for the dead in the Communion ;" (4) ad-
vised the omission of the Prayer of Consecration as it stood
in Edward's 1st Book ; (5) said that the Sacrament should be
received in the hand and not in the mouth ; (6) and deemed
it " indifferent " whether the communicants partook of it
standing or kneeling. — Strypes Ann. Vol. i., p. 83.
Mr. Goode further contends that the 29th Article, as un-
derstood by Guest, was " entirely irreconcileable with his view
of the Presence," (p. 7), and " consequently was fatal to his
mode of interpreting the 28th," (p. 11).
But it is noticeable that the words objected to by Bishop
Guest, in § 11, are not the words which ultimately appeared
in the Article, or in its title : he complains that in the Book
about to be presented for the Queen's authentication, "there
is this Article. Evill men receave not ye bodye of Christ :"
and he uses the same word three other times in the course of
his objections in this Section, besides three times employing
the expression, "take eat." Yet neither of these words
"receive'' 1 and " take" occur at all, either in the heading or in
the body of the 29th Article of 1 571. Was this a mere over-
sight of the writer ? It is difficult to believe in such an ab-
sence of accurate quotation on the part of one so intimately
acquainted with the Articles as Guest necessarily was, and
that, too, on an occasion when he was complaining of words
and phrases — the more so as, in all the other instances in this
Letter, he cites the Articles exactly. May it not, then, have
been the case that some change was made in the English title*
of this Article before the Articles were presented to the
Queen for ratification ? If so, it must have been before May
11th, as on that day they were signed by the Bishops, in-
cluding Guest himself ; and this fact of his subscription at
that time to the English copy of the Articles (Lamb, p. 80),
helps to determine the dale of this Document now under con-
sideration; for if it be Guest's (and there seems every reason
to believe that he was the author of it) there can be no
* The title of Article xxix., as signed by Guest, on May 11, 1571, is, "The
wicked do not eate the Body of Christe in the use of the Lord's Supper."— See
Lamb's Reprint.
208
reasonable doubt that it was written prior to May 11th, and
that his objections having been then in some way satisfied, he
was able to concur with his Episcopal brethren in attesting,
by his signature, his acceptance of the Articles; though, pro-
bably, not his entire approval of some of their language. Mr.
Goode, indeed, (p. 13) chooses to make a most unfair and un-
charitable insinuation against the Bishop for thus acting : he
says : —
" That Bishop Geste, almost immediately after penning the above
letter to Lord Burleigh, should subscribe the Articles, including the
29th, is, I suppose, to be accounted for from what some modern
writers would style, ' The necessities of his position ;' but it is a fact
which does not seem very creditable to his candour. It did not,
however, go without its reward, for by the end of the year he was
promoted to Salisbury."
Now, as Mr. Goode does not ofTer a particle of evidence to
sustain his inuendo, and as there is notbing, so far as I am
aware, in what is recorded of Bishop Guest's character, to
justify such a surmise ; this suggestion of unworthy motives
may be dismissed with the remark — that that Prelate's con-
duct in signing the Articles is apparently more consistent
with candour than is Mr. Goode's in censuring him for his
act.
That the Articles did undergo a variety of changes of more
or less importance during the Convocation, which began April
3, and ended May 30, 1571, is plain from such slight notices
of its proceedings as remain in the Abstract made by Dr.
Heylin before its records were destroyed in the Fire of
London. Bennett (Hist, of Articles, pp. 261 — 3) has quoted
from this a description of what occurred on the very day when
the Articles were signed by the eleven Bishops, of whom
Guest was one, which seems to suggest that, probably, it was
on this occasion that that Prelate was satisfied : he says : —
" Fryday, May 11, the Bishops being met in a low Parlour at
Lambeth,* de et super rebus Ecclesise et libro articulorum de doc-
trina (ut apparuit) secrete semotis omnibus arbitris tractarunt ;
which may perhaps have been the subject of that two hours Con-
ference, which they had afterwards on Wednesday, May 23. Sess.8."
• Whither, on "May the 4th, the Convocation" had "been adjourned . . .
because of the Archbishop's indisposition, as it seemeth, . . ." — Strype's Parker,
Bk. iv., p. 319.
209
It is, indeed, extremely likely that the question of the re-
adoption of Article 29 occupied a material place on this
occasion (see also Hardwick, p. 154, and Swainson, p. 32),
and that the Meeting was held for the very purpose of dis-
cussing the points raised in Guest's supposed Letter to Bur-
leigh : the opinions of such a man could hardly he disre-
garded, and as it is not probable that he suddenly abandoned
what, plainly, he had been holding for at least the five years
preceding (apparently very much longer),* yet did then sub-
scribe, there is certainly fair ground for believing either that
some alteration was made, or that he was convinced of the
phraseology of the 29th Article being not at variance with
his belief. That the Archbishop was ready to meet as far as
he could the difficulties which beset this question, seems
plain from the occurrence related in his Letter to Lord Bur-
leigh on June 4th {Parker Correspondence, No. cclxxxix.,
p. 381), when, apparently, the Articles were waiting for the
Queen's ratification. For, though he retained his opinion as
to the applicability of the passage quoted from St. Augustin,
it seems (see Bennet, chap. 24) that he afterwards "removed"
the reference from the margin of the Article, when some
copies had been struck off, and so left the appeal to St.
Augustine more general. It is, moreover, worthy of notice,
that this marginal reference to St. Augustine is not in the
copy (as reprinted by Dr. Lambe) signed by Guest on May
11, 1571. If Guest (though I doubt it) was the author of
this objection, the Archbishop's course further confirms the
view here suggested.
Now Guest's objection to the 29th Article arose from his
opinion that it was " quite contrarie to y e Scripture and
to y e doctrine of the Fathers :" he thought moreover (and
indeed with a kind of prophetic mind, considering what has
since happened) that it would "cause much busynes ;" there-
fore he was anxious for its omission, or for some modification
of it, so as to avoid these evils. But it is quite easy to con-
* For in 1548 he published "A Treatise againste the Prevee Masse," in
which occurs the passage given at p. 193, as illustrating his Letter of December
22, 1566.
E E
210
ceive of Archbishop Parker having satisfied him that there
was nothing in the language of the Article which contradicted
the authorities he had referred to, or the view which he had
expressed in § 11 of his Letter. For it is clear from Guest's
language in this very Section that he never could have re-
garded " all men which be of y e churche, and of the profes-
sion of Christ, whether they be good or bad, faithfull or un-
faythefull," as "partakers of Christ," in the Sacrament, in
that sense wherein our Lord spake when He said to Simon
Peter, " If I wash thee not thou hast no part with Me." If,
then, the Archbishop could convince Guest (as surely was
not difficult) that this expression of the Article was not in-
consistent with his belief — that " Judas as evill as he was did
receave Christis bodye, because Christ saied unto him take
eate this is my bodye " — seeing that the very same Father
(St. Augustine) who was cited in the Article held the same *
belief respecting Judas — Guest might naturally and con-
sistently withdraw his opposition, and unite in a statement
which had obtained the concurrence of his brethren.
Mr. Goode asserts that " Bishop Gestes own testimony "
proves the 29th Article "to be entirely irreconcileable with
his view of the presence " and one " which therefore excludes
his interpretation of the 28th " (p. 7) and is " fatal to his
mode of" explaining it (p. 11). But, first of all, it must be
observed that Guest distinctly repeats in § 9 of this Letter
the precise explanation of the words " after a spirituall and
heavenly maner only" which he had given in his former
Letter ; and he speaks of their introduction into the Article,
in such a way as entirely to destroy Mr. Goode's, not exactly
charitable, theory that " he himself penned " them " with the
secret intention of understanding them as he has explained
them in his Letter to Cecil of December 22, 1566." For it
seems utterly beyond belief that his former assertion should
have remained unnoticed, so far as anything appears to the
* " The Lord Himself endureth Judas, a devil, a thief, and His betrayer : He
allows him to receive among the innocent discipks, what the faithful know to
be our Eansom."— Ep. 43, ad Glor. Elms., $ 23, p. 99. Dr. Pusey's Catena,
p. 503.
211
contrary, and that he should have ventured to assert again (in
a Document obviously not designed merely for the Secretary's
own private perusal) that " it was putt in onely to this ende,
to take awaye all grosse and sensible presence " — thereby, in
fact, as it seems to me, claiming for that interpretation of it
the assent of the Convocation — unless he well knew that such
a statement did not admit of contradiction. If however, this
later Letter was not written by Bishop Guest, then it much
increases the very difficulty which Mr. Goode seeks to re-
move ; for the writer, whoever he was, becomes a most impor-
tant witness to the truth of that positive statement made by
Bishop Guest, but which Mr. Goode ventures to deny.
This consideration alone seems to warrant us in drawing,
from Guest's language about the 29th Article, a conclusion
materially different from that which Mr. Goode has furnished:
for if, as I venture to maintain, the silence of the Bishops ad-
mits the truth of Guest's allegation respecting the 28th
Article ; then if it does not disprove Mr. Goode's assertion
— " that the meaning attached to the words of the 28th
Article by Bishop Guest was not that in which they were
passed by Convocation" (p. 11) — it shows that it was a
meaning not designed to be excluded ; and therefore I sub-
mit that, whereas Mr. Goode says (p. 7) "no sense can be
placed on Article 28, which is not consistent with the doc-
trine delivered in Article 29," it would be truer and more
pertinent to state — that to disallow an interpretation of Art.
29 which is consistent with Guest's explanation of Art. 28,
is to ignore the mind of the Convocation of 1571 which
passed them both.
In further defence, however, of his theory Mr. Goode
contends (p. 11) that —
" Even irrespective of that addition [of Art. 29] it would seem
that the words [of Art. 28] appeared to others to enunciate so
clearly a different doctrine from that which Bishop Geste ascribed
to them, that even Bishop Cheney, who would have been glad to
have subscribed them in that sense could not conscientiously do so.
And Bishop Geste himself, on second thoughts, would have liked to
eliminate the word ' only,' in order to save Cheney from con-
212
demnalion ; which shows that Parker and the Bishops before whom
he was convened did not interpret the word in the sense attached to
it by Geste."
Upon this passage I remark (1) First, that if it he meant that
Cheney concurred with " others" in construing the disputed
words differently from Guest, it by no means follows that he
and they spoke the mind of those who passed the Article :
from the little that seems known of Cheney's opinion it ap-
pears that he held a somewhat physical notion of the Real
Presence, though not maintaining Transubstantiation : for
Strype {Cranmer p. 461) says, that, in the Convocation of
1553, he "owned the Presence with the Papists, but denied
the Transubstantiation;" and again {Ann. 1. 282), after re-
marking that Goodman accused him of being a Papist, says,
"But I do not find anywhere that he was indeed of that
faith, any further than that he was for the real, that is the
corporal, presence of Christ in the Sacrament." This seems
confirmed by Guest's words in his letter of December 22,
1566, where he states that he told Cheney he " wold speake
against him herein," i.e., apparently, for advocating that the
Body of Christ in the Sacrament was in some kind of way
cognizable by the senses as distinct from faith ; and his re-
marks in § 9 of the letter of 1571 seem to imply the same
opinion as being still held by Cheney: for he observes,
"And whereas it is saied bycause y e mouthe receavethe
Christis body, therefore it is sensibly receaved ; the conse-
quent is not true bycause y e mouthe in receaving Christis
bodye, doeth not feel it nor taste it, nor we by any other
sense do perceave it." Moreover Campian the Jesuit,
writing to Cheney in Nov., 1571, exhorted him to return to
the Church for " that he was more tolerable than the rest of
the heretics, because he held the presence of Christ in the
Sacrament" {Strype Ann. i. 282) i.e. his, Campian's, view of
the Presence.* If this were so it would sufficiently account
» A consideration this which surely suggests how Mr. Goodo really answers
himself when be says (p. 16), "Another testimony that the bishops of that day
did not bold the doctrine of the real presence of Christ's body and blood in the
elements, may be found in the fact that Campian, one of the Komisb divines of
213
for Cheney's objection to the phrase and for his continuing
still to oppose it, notwithstanding Guest's explanation of its
design : he " could not conscientiously " subscribe it in
Guest's " sense" if, as would seem, he held a notion of
" grosseness and sensibleness in y e receaving" of the Sacra-
ment, which Guest told him the words were meant to " ex-
clude."
That Cheney did (about the date of Guest's Letter of
1566) hold some opinion on the Eucharistic Presence ma-
terially different from the opinions of his Episcopal brethren,*
seems clear from a Letter written by Jewel to Bullinger on
Feb. 24, 1567, in which he says — "One alone of our number,
the bishop of Gloucester, hath openly and boldly declared in
Parliament his approval of Luther's opinion respecting the
Eucharist, but this crop will not, I hope, be of long con-
tinuance." (Zurich Letters, 1st Series, p. 185.) But as
Guest, both in 1566 and 1571, quotes Jewel's language as
being confirmatory of his own statements touching the Real
Presence, we are necessarily led to conclude that there was a
difference between the belief of Cheney and Guest on this
subject.
(2.) Next, I would observe that Guest's willingness " to
eliminate" the word " onely" or, as Mr. Goode also expresses
it (p. 7) "to modify the phraseology of Art. 28," on Cheney's
account, is no proof at all that " Parker and the Bishops"
held a different interpretation of it from Guest ; rather I
conceive it shews their agreement. Because (a) though he
thought (§ 9) " if this worde onely were put out of y c booke
for his [Cheney's] sake it were y e best," he clearly held that
that period, speaks of Cheney as more tolerable than the rest of the heretics,
and distinguished from them as holding the true presence of Christ on the altar
. . . ." The Italics are Mr. Goode's. Compare Ridley (p. GO)— "That Heavenly
Lamb is" etc. See also Bishop Guest's " Treatise against the Preevce Masse,"
1548 ". . . . the worthy counsayle of Nice wryteth to the disalowance of tran-
substantiation in sorte thus, let us not grossely beholde the bread and wyne
proposed and set before our eyes but in faythe consider the Lambe of God in
that hys sacred table having our heartes elevated and uplifted. . . ." — P. 82.
Ed. 1840.
• Mr. Goode himself allows this, for he says (p. 16). "And Camden speaks
of Cheney as distinguished from his brethren by being Lalluro addictissimum,
a warm adherent of Luther."
214
it made no real difference to the meaning of the Article, for
in this same section he repeats distinctly that interpretation
which Mr. Goode denies to be the true one. Again (b) there
is nothing to shew, so far as I know, that Cheney was in
danger of " condemnation" by the Bishops' for holding
Guest's interpretation of the Article, though he may have
been cited for teaching the doctrine which I just now sug-
gested that he maintained : he had been excommunicated in
Synod, in April, " for absence and contumacy" (Strype Ann.
i. 281) ; but I have failed to discover anything to shew what
were the " certain errours whiche he is accused to holde" and
which Guest says he was to " be cited to answer before the
Archbishop and other bishoppes."
It may, further, be noticed that § 8 also manifests Guest's
real object in proposing any alteration in the terms of the
28th Article, though he himself was fully content with its
wording : his design clearly was to obviate the difficulties of
others by using language which, while not obnoxious to
them, should yet convey the sense in which he declared the
Article to have been framed : thus "bycause some men for a
more playnes wold have added this word truely or in-dede,"
he said " it were well to putt it in" thus — " The body of
Christ is in dede gyven taken and eaten in y e supper;" and
he quotes the language of Calvin and Jewel as a reason for
admitting the proposed phrase. Probably, in this suggestion,
he designed also to meet the objection of Bishop Cheney.
Mr. Goode still further endeavours to fortify his position
by the following observation (p. 12) : —
" It is worthy of remark, also, that the very word which Arch-
deacon Denison would wish us to suppose is to be understood in the
interpretation of the words, that we receive the body of Christ by
faith only, namely ' profitably,' was proposed for insertion by Bishop
Oeste, but was not inserted."
But the non-insertion of this word is no proof that it was
rejected; if, indeed, it could be shewn that this was done,
and done on the plea — that to insert it would alter the sense
of the Article — some ground would be furnished for the
215
notion (winch I suppose Mr. Goode means to impute to the
Bishops) that a " lively faith" is the necessary condition for
reception of the Body of Christ. Guest's design in proposing
the word, was to hinder the " miche strife" which the words
of the Article caused in reference to "this question, whether
y c evill do receave Christis Body in y c sacrament, bycause they
lacke faithe :" yet the very form of his proposal shews that
he did not consider the word to be necessary to such a con-
struction of the Article as included his own belief ; and if
this was his view, it is not difficult to understand that, even
supposing his Episcopal brethren did not share his interpre-
tation (though I am not admitting such to have been the
case) they would prefer to retain language which covered
their diverse opinions on what was not a matter of essential
belief ; whereas the addition of the word would be a very
likely bar to the Subscription of those who did not hold the
doctrine of reception by the wicked ; and might even raise
difficulties in the case of those who held that, Christ being
present in the Sacrament, His Body was given to all, and all
received It, but that It was not eaten of the wicked because
from such He then withdrew Himself. Besides, they might
well think that the language they had adopted was most
consonant to the general character of the words both of our
Lord and of St. Paul, and therefore the more advisable to be
retained, considering the range of opinions which, it is well
known, the Articles were designed to include.
Mr. Goode, however, (p. 13, discovers another proof
" that Archbishop Parker disagreed with Bishop Geste in his
view of the doctrine of the Eucharist," from the language of
the Archbishop's Letter to Lord Burleigh, of June 4, 1571,
in which he " expressly defends the 29th Article against
those who had endeavoured to prejudice him [Burleigh]
against it."
But this is assuming, what has to be proved, — that Guest
was the objector on this occasion — a most improbable thing,
seeing that he had signed the Articles, including the 29th, on
May 11th, nearly a month before. So then, when Parker
says that St. Augustine's language " doth plainly affirm our
216
opinion in the Article to be most true, however some men vary
from it," the very word " our" would most naturally seem to
include Guest, and therefore to recognise his interpretation of
the Article as not disagreeing with the Archbishop's " view
of the doctrine of the Eucharist."
It must be remembered, too, that Guest had expressly cited
Theodoret, in § 11 of his letter, as supporting his doctrine of
reception by the wicked, in these words : —
"But 'he shall be guilt)' of the Body and Blood,' showeth this,
that like as Judas betrayed Him, and the Jews insulted Him, so
they dishonour Him, who receive His all-holy Body with impure
hands, and bear It to their defiled mouth."
Yet St. Augustine, whose authority Archbishop Parker
appealed to in the Article, and defended when it was de-
murred to, had said the same thing ; his words are: —
"Ye remember of what it is written, 'Whoso shall eat the
Bread or drink the Cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of
the Body and Blood of the Lord.' And when the Apostle said this,
the discourse was upon the subject of those who, treating the Lord's
Body like any other food, took it in an undiscriminating and negli-
gent way. If then this man is rebuked who does not discriminate,
that is, see the difference of, the Lord's Body from other meats, how
must he be damned, who, feigning himself a friend, comes to His
table as a foe." — Horn. lxii. on St. John. Dr. Pusey's Catena,
p. 516.
Further, in one of the Homilies of 1562, circulated under
the express sanction of Archbishop Parker, it is distinctly
said : —
" If they be worthy blame which kiss the prince's hand with a
filthy and unclean mouth, shalt thou be blameless which, with a
stinking soul . . . dost breathe out iniquity and uncleanness on the
bread and cup of the Lord ?" — Second Part of the Sermon concerning
the Sacrament.
Comparing these three statements, I would ask — is there
any such contradiction or discrepancy between them as
would argue a serious difference of doctrine among those
who appealed to them ? rather, are they not of such sub-
stantial identity as to encourage, if not to compel, the belief
217
that Parker and Guest could have had no difficulty whatever
in interchanging them as consistent expressions of the
opinions which they held on this subject ?
It is possible, indeed, that the person, who suggested the
objection to Burleigh, was Cheney or some one holding the
opinion ascribed to him at p. 212 : in that case, what I have
just said touching the opinions of the Archbishop and of
Bishop Guest would be strengthened, and Parker's language in
adhering to the quotation from St. Augustine would be
satisfactorily explained.*
Mr. Goode produces " a still further testimony" to prove
what were Archbishop Parker's views on the Real Presence,
and to shew that those views were opposed to Bishop Guest's :
but certainly it is not a little surprising that that "testimony"
should be the Anglo-Saxon Homily of vElfric on the " Pas-
chall Lamb" to which I have referred at p. 68 — a Homily,
the "agreement" of which "with the tract of Ratramn is [as
the Editors of the Oxford Edition of Ratramn, 1838, ob-
serve] not only doctrinal, but very often verbal :" this con-
sideration is one reason why, as I suppose, it has commonly
been regarded as an important witness to the English Church's
belief of the Real Objective Presence in contradistinction to
that mode of Presence which Transubstantiation is held to
involve.
First of all, Mr. Goode draws attention to the circumstance
— that the Preface to the Homily is "signed by Archbishop
Parker and the Archbishop of York, and thirteen other
Bishops (but not by Guest or Cheney):" meaning, I suppose,
thereby to imply that they disapproved the Homily. But to
this three answers may be made: (1) That the Preface from
which Mr. Goode quotes, states the names attached to have
been j oined "With divers other personages of honour and credit :
subscribing their names, the record whereof remains in the
* It seems to me a point quite open to discussion whether the objection to
St. Augustine's authority came from this side of the controversy at all. In another
publication ("Lawful Church Ornaments," p. 251) I ventured, in 1857, to raise
this question, in opposition to Strype's statement that "some Papist had been
nibbling at this new Article." The information requisite for deciding the point
is still undiscovered.
F F
218
hands of the most reverend father Matthewe Archbishope of
Canterburye :"* therefore Guest and Cheney may have been
among those " personages." (2) That while Guest and Cheney
are not found among the published subscriptions, neither
does so important a name as that of Jeivel appear, nor are the
names of some other Bishops attached, e.g., Chester, Bath and
Wells,Exeter, Peterborough, St. Asaph, Oxford. (3) That the
signatures were appended not, apparently, to recommend the
doctrine of the Homily, but, as the Preface states, to shew
that —
" these here under written upon diligent perusing and comparing
the same [Homily and old auncient bookes] have found by con-
ference, that they are truely put forth in print without any adding
or withdrawing anything for the more faithfull reporting of the
same, and therefore for the better credit hereof have subscribed
their names."
Next, Mr. Goode inaccurately includes in what he terms
the " condemnatory notice" in the Preface, " of some things
in this Homily," the sentence 'where it speaketh ... of the
mixture of water with wyne :'" but the note at p. 40, upon
the words, "Holy bookes commaund that water be mengled to
the wine which shall be for housell," is in these word, " No
Scripture inforceth the mixture of water with the wyne":
plainly shewing that the intention was not to condemn the
ancient practice, but to guard against what the Preface seems
to consider as "greate ignoraunce and superstition," viz., that
the " command" had a Divine as well as an Ecclesiastical
authority, and therefore made the mixed Chalice essential to
the Sacrament.
Further, Mr. Goode remarks (p. 14), that —
" The doctrine of the Homily in the part here [i.e. the Preface]
referred to with comparative approbation, is undeniably not that of
a real presence of Christ's body in or under the elements, but that
the elements become in a mystical and spiritual sense Christ's body
and blood, as having a spiritual power and influence imparted to
them."
In proof he quotes pp. 15 to 23, italicizing, as shewing the
* The MS. docs not appear to bo among the MSS. in the Lambeth Libiary.
219
sort of Presence he speaks of, the words which I have so dis-
tinguished in the following sentences from his extract : —
(1) "Now saye we to suclie men, that some ihynges be spoken of
Christ by signification, some by thyng certain." (2.) " Truely the
bread and the wine whicli by the masse of the priest be halowed,
shewe one thyng without to humayne understanding, and an other
thing they call within to believing minds. Without they bee sene
bread and wine both in figure and in tast : but they be truely after
the halowing Christes body and hys bloude through ghostly mystery ."
(3.) " Much is betwixte the invisible myghte of the holye housel,
and the visible shape of hys proper nature. It is naturally cor-
ruptible bread and corruptible wine : and is by myghte of God's
worde truely Christes bodye and hys bloude : not so notwithstanding
bodeley, but ghostly." f4.) . . . . nothing is to be understoode therein
bodelye ; but all is ghostlye to be understood."
But surely these italicized words which Mr. Goode regards
as adverse to, are rather confirmatory of, " a Real Presence
of Christ's Body in or under the elements : " they plainly in-
deed declare against any " bodely," i.e., physical Presence,
but they no less clearly pronounce for a Presence which is
" ghostly," i.e., spiritual, though withal Real. In truth, the
word " within," which occurs in the second sentence may not
unfairly be claimed as a witness for that " in or under " which
Mr. Goode rejects ; and the italicized words in sentences (3)
and (4) may well be deemed the equivalents of Bishop Guest's
"after a heavenly and spirituall and no sensible manner."
(§ 9).
Mr. Goode has, however, omitted to call attention to the
important word " truely," which occurs three times in these
same sentences — the very word which Bishop Guest (§ 8) was
willing to have inserted in Art. 28 to meet the case of some
who desired "a more playnes" in its terms. Neither has he
particularly noted the words " is in " which I put in italics in
the following sentence which he quotes : — " Whatsoever is in
that housel which giveth substance of life, that is of the
ghostly might, and invisible doing " — words again which can-
not well be summarily dismissed as condemning the " in or
under" which is supposed to be so obnoxious to "the doctrine
of the homily."
220
It would seem, however, that Mr. Goode is not satisfied
with the doctrine even as he interprets it ; for he says, " This
is not precisely the doctrine of our best divines," quoting
Hooker, Eccl. Pol. V., lxvii. 6, and then he adds " But it is
very different from what is called the doctrine of the Real
Presence, and the difference between it and the sounder doc-
trine delivered by Hooker, is comparatively of secondary im-
portance." Yet if this Homily is, as Mr. Goode says, a
" testimony of Archbishop Parker's views ; " if its doctrine is
spoken of " in the way of commendation " by him and the
other fourteen Bishops who signed the Preface ; if, moreover,
the doctrine so approved is to be taken, as Mr. Goode implies,
as explanatory of the meaning of that 28th Article which
these Bishops agreed upon — what is this but saying that
Hooker held " a sounder doctrine," touching the Eucha-
ristic Presence, than the Elizabethan Bishops delivered in
the Article which they Subscribed themselves and put forth
to be Subscribed by all the Clergy of the Realm ? Would
Hooker have admitted this ? Can the answer be doubtful ?
Having thus considered at some length, and I hope satisfac-
torily answered, Mr. Goode's remarks upon those passages in
this Letter, which relate to the 28th and 29th Articles, I now
proceed to notice some other statements in the same Letter,
which, I think, further tend to shew the fallacy of those con-
clusions which Mr. Goode has drawn from it.
It will be seen that Bishop Guest, (the supposed writer) does
not confine his objections to these two Articles; for the
xviith and xxvth are alike the objects of his censure : he
commences his Letter (§ 1) by urging that "Thees wordes
(suo consilio nobis quidem occulto)*" are to be put out of y"
book for three causes" which he then mentions: again, (§ 2)
he complains that the words " Furthermore we must receave
Goddes promises in such wise, as they be generally set forthe
to us in holy Scripture," which occur in the last clause of the
Article, " be not playne ynoughe ; " and, once more, (§ 3) he
expresses his opinion that the words " In our doyenges that
* These words are not in the English version, in the Fac-siinile of the " Little
Booke," printed by Dr. Lambe.
221
will of God is to be folowed wiclie we have expressly
declared unto us in y c worde of God," forming part of
the same clause, " be dangerous." But all these three ex-
pressions (which are found in our present 17th Article) were
retained in that English copy of the Articles which Bishop
Guest signed on May 11th, 1571.
So, too, in regard to the 25th Article, the Bishop wished
(§ 4) to insert the word " salvation" in the sentence " By the
which he dothe work invisibly in us." Again, he proposed
(§ 5) that the second clause — " There are two Sacraments
ordeyned of Christ our Lorde in y e gospel" — should read
thus: " In this sort there be but two sacraments, baptisme and
y c Lordes supper." Further (§ 6) he considered it was "not
true in all poyntes " to declare, as stated in the third clause,
" that thees fyve commonly called sacramentes that is to saye
conformation penance orders matrimonie and extreme
annoyling are not to be accompted for sacramentes of the
gospell ; and (§ 7 J he also saw it "not to be true" to speak of
them as " Beinge suche as have growen partely of y e corrupt
folowynge of y e apostles" if " thees wordes" were "ment" to
refer to " confirmation* penance orders matrimonie." This
clause of the Article he therefore wished to be altered in the
form he gives at the end of § 7, " Confirmation," etc.
But, as in the case of the 17th Article so, in this, the
phraseology was adhered to, and Guest signed the Articles
notwithstanding the objections put forward in the Letter.
Now how are we to account for this ? Mr. Goode's solu-
tion of the difficulty, in respect of Articles 28 and 29, has
been already noticed (pp. 205, 208) ; I must presume he would
* It is -worth observing that tho same objection, so far as regards Confir-
mation, was made by the Puritans at the Hampton Court Conference, 30 years
later. (Cm-dwell Hist. Con/., p. 181.) — " In the third point (which was about
Confirmation) was observed either curiosity or malice, because the Article which
was then presently read, in those words ; ' These five, commonly called sacra-
ments, that is to say, confirmation, penance, orders, etc., are not to be accounted
for sacraments of the gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt fol-
lowing of the apostles,' etc., insinuateth that the making of confirmation to be a
sacrament is a corrupt imitation ; but the Communion Book, aiming at the right
use and proper course thereof, makes it to be according to the Apostles' example ;
which his Majesty observing, and reading both the places, concluded the objection
to be a meer cavil. And this was for the pretended contradiction." — 2nd Day's
Conference, January \ilh, 1603.
222
resort to the same explanation in reference to Articles 17 and
25 : I prefer the more charitable and the more likely opinion
— that he became convinced of the language not being
unsound, though it was not what he considered the most
appropriate to obviate difficulties and to meet objections. It
would needlessly encumber these pages, and would be quite
foreign to their purpose, to discuss the points raised in this
Letter upon the 17th and 25th Articles, with a view to
reconcile their language with the objections of Bishop Guest :
but it will be convenient to cite the words of tbe Homily
" Of Common Prayer and Sacraments," as bearing upon his
remarks on the 25th Article. —
" Now with like, or rather more brevity, you shall hear how many
sacraments there be, that were instituted by our Saviour Christ, and
are to be continued and received of every Christian in due time and
order, and for such purpose as our Saviour Christ willeth them to be
received. And as for the number of them, if they should be con-
sidered according to the exact signification of a sacrament, namely,
for the visible signs, expressly commanded in the New Testament,
whereunto is annexed the promise of free forgiveness of our sins,
and an holiness and joining in Christ, there be but two, namely,
Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. For although absolution hath
the promise of forgiveness of sin ; yet by the express word of the
New Testament it hath not this promise annexed and tied to the
visible sign, which is imposition of hands. For this visible sign (I
mean laying on of hands) is not expressly commanded in the New
Testament to be used in Absolution, as the visible signs in Baptism
and the Lord's Supper are : and therefore Absolution is no such
sacrament as Baptism and the Communion are. And though the
ordering of ministers hath his visible sign and promise ; yet it lacks
the promise of remission of sins, as all other sacraments besides the two
above named do. Therefore neither it, nor any other sacrament else
be such sacraments as Baptism and the Communion are. But
in a general acception, the name of a sacrament may be attributed to
that thing, whereby an holy thing is signified. In which under-
standing of the word, the ancient writers have given this name, not
onely to the other five, commonly of late years taken and used for
supplying the number of the seven sacraments ; but also to divers
and sundry other ceremonies, as to oil, washing of feet, and such
like ; not meaning thereby to repute them as sacraments in the same
signification that the two forenamed sacraments are And
although there are retained by the order of the Church of England,
. . . certain other rites and ceremonies about the institution of
ministers in the church, matrimony, confirmation of children
and likewise for the visitation of the sick ; yet no man ought to take
these for sacraments in such signification and meaning as the sacra-
ment of Baptism and the Lord's Supper are : but either for godly
states of life, necessary in Christ's Church, and therefore worthy
to be set forth by public action and solemnity, by the ministry of the
Church, or else judged to be such ordinances as may make for the
instruction, comfort, and edification of Christ's Church."
Now, comparing this passage with § § 4, 5, 6 & 7 of the
Letter to Burleigh, is there not such identity of language as
to shew that the same hand might have written both ? But
this 9th Homily had been set forth by Archbishop Parker
and the other Bishops nine years before, and was now again
authoritatively recognized as containing " a godly and whole-
some doctrine," in the 35th of those very Articles then awaiting
the Royal Sanction. Is it at all an improbable conjecture
— that Guest was referred to the Homily for proof that the
25th Article did mean what he thought it might, in words,
more clearly convey 1 Would not this be quite sufficient to
account for the relinquishment of his objection, and for his
consenting to sign the Article ? If so, does not this con-
sideration support the theory for which I am contending —
that Guest was convinced that the language of the Articles,
to which he had been demurring, was not repugnant to the
doctrine which he held, and, therefore, that he could consis-
tently attach his signature ?
No doubt, too, Guest felt that having made this last attempt
to get, what he considered, a more accurate phraseology intro-
duced into these Articles, it was simply the path of modest
duty to concur by his signature in the decision of " y e most
of [the] Bishops," and to set an example of Subscription
(though it was not required from the Bishops by the 13th
Eliz. c. 12), unless he was convinced that those Articles
really embodied unsound doctrine. Bennet, indeed, thinks
(p. 187) that Guest's Subscription at this time proves that he
" came off from those notions afterwards " which he had held
about the Real Presence " (as divers persons in those early
daies entertained different opinions at different times about
the Sacrament)" : but then Bennet, apparently, was entirely
ignorant of the existence of these Letters of 1566 and 1571,
222
resort to the same explanation in reference to Articles 17 and
25 : I prefer the more charitable and the more likely opinion
— that he became convinced of the language not being
unsound, though it was not what he considered the most
appropriate to obviate difficulties and to meet objections. It
would needlessly encumber these pages, and would be quite
foreign to their purpose, to discuss the points raised in this
Letter upon the 17th and 25th Articles, with a view to
reconcile their language with the objections of Bishop Guest :
but it will be convenient to cite the words of the Homily
" Of Common Prayer and Sacraments" as bearing upon his
remarks on the 25th Article. —
" Now with like, or rather more brevity, you shall hear how many
sacraments there be, that were instituted by our Saviour Christ, and
are to be continued and received of every Christian in due time and
order, and for such purpose as our Saviour Christ willeth them to be
received. And as for the number of them, if they should be con-
sidered according to the exact signification of a sacrament, namely,
for the visible signs, expressly commanded in the New Testament,
whereunto is annexed the promise of free forgiveness of our sins,
and an holiness and joining in Christ, there be but two, namely,
Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. For although absolution hath
the promise of forgiveness of sin ; yet by the express word of the
New Testament it hath not this promise annexed and tied to the
visible sign, which is imposition of hands. For this visible sign (I
mean laying on of hands) is not expressly commanded in the New
Testament to be used in Absolution, as the visible signs in Baptism
and the Lord's Supper are : and therefore Absolution is no such
sacrament as Baptism and the Communion are. And though the
ordering of ministers hath his visible sign and promise ; yet it lacks
the promise of remission of sins, as all other sacraments besides the two
above named do. Therefore neither it, nor any other sacrament else
be such sacraments as Baptism and the Communion are. But
in a general acception, the name of a sacrament may be attributed to
that thing, whereby an holy thing is signified. In which under-
standing of the word, the ancient writers have given this name, not
onely to the other five, commonly of late years taken and used for
supplying the number of the seven sacraments ; but also to divers
and sundry other ceremonies, as to oil, washing of feet, and such
like ; not meaning thereby to repute them as sacraments in the same
signification that the two forenamed sacraments are And
although there are retained by the order of the Church of England,
. . . certain other rites and ceremonies about the institution of
ministers in the church, matrimony, confirmation of children
223
and likewise for the visitation of the sick ; yet no man ought to take
these for sacraments in such signification and meaning as the sacra-
ment of Baptism and the Lord's Supper are : but either for godly
states of life, necessary in Christ's Church, and therefore worthy
to be set forth by public action and solemnity, by the ministry of the
Church, or else judged to be such ordinances as may make for the
instruction, comfort, and edification of Christ's Church."
Now, comparing this passage with § § 4, 5, 6 & 7 of the
Letter to Burleigh, is there not such identity of language as
to shew that the same hand might have written both ? But
this 9th Homily had been set forth by Archbishop Parker
and the other Bishops nine years before, and was now again
authoritatively recognized as containing " a godly and whole-
some doctrine," in the 35th of those very Articles then awaiting
the Royal Sanction. Is it at all an improbable conjecture
— that Guest was referred to the Homily for proof that the
25th Article did mean what he thought it might, in words,
more clearly convey 1 Would not this be quite sufficient to
account for the relinquishment of his objection, and for his
consenting to sign the Article ? If so, does not this con-
sideration support the theory for which I am contending —
that Guest was convinced that the language of the Articles,
to which he had been demurring, was not repugnant to the
doctrine which he held, and, therefore, that he could consis-
tently attach his signature ?
No doubt, too, Guest felt that having made this last attempt
to get, what he considered, a more accurate phraseology intro-
duced into these Articles, it was simply the path of modest
duty to concur by his signature in the decision of " y e most
of [the] Bishops," and to set an example of Subscription
(though it was not required from the Bishops by the 13th
Eliz. c. 12), unless he was convinced that those Articles
really embodied unsound doctrine. Bennet, indeed, thinks
(p. 187) that Guest's Subscription at this time proves that he
" came off from those notions afterwards " which he had held
about the Real Presence " (as divers persons in those early
daies entertained different opinions at different times about
the Sacrament)" : but then Bennet, apparently, was entirely
ignorant of the existence of these Letters of 1566 and 1571,
224
else he must have sought for some other reason to account for
Guest's signature to " that very [29th] Article in the Convo-
cation of 1571."
With regard to the question of Cheney's subscription,
Bennet says : —
" Nor do I believe, that Bishop Cheney did ever subscribe the
Twenty-ninth Article. For tho' the 13 Eliz. c. 12 obliged the in-
ferior Clergy to Subscription ; yet the Bishops are exempted from
that necessity by the very Letter of the Act."
It may be quite true that, as Mr. Goode supposes, Cheney
" would have been glad to have subscribed " the Articles, as
as well Guest ; though not, as I have argued at p.212, "in that
sense " which Guest puts upon the 29th ; but, unless he was
constrained to do so by any other authority than that of the
Statute, it can hardly be doubted that he would be anxious to
avoid Subscription himself (though obliged to enforce it upon
his Clergy), if he continued to hold that opinion of the Real
Presence, which there seems ground for believing that he did
maintain in May, 1571.
Having regard, then, to the various considerations now
offered, I must confess myself unable to think with Mr.
Goode, that " the question thus raised " by Bishop Guest's
Letter of Deer. 22, 1566, which "has been appealed to as
determining the sense of the 28th Article in a direction very
different from that which has been ordinarily attributed to
it," can " be easily set at rest, and the interpretation thus
given to the 28th Article be shewn to be inadmissible " (p. 1) :
on the contrary, it seems to me that, although some obscurity
still overhangs the subject, the view I have now presented
will, at least, bear a favourable comparison with that which
Mr. Goode has drawn, and requires some strong shadow to be
thrown upon it, before it can be dissolved into his picture.
Some additional light is, however, cast upon, what I have
represented as, Guest's opinions at this time, in Parts II.
and III. of his Letter to Burleigh (see pp. 201 — 4), wherein he
argues " toching coming to y e Church, and receaiving y e
sacrament." The Bill to which these words relate is con-
veniently referred to in the following passage of Mr. Swain -
225
son's Essay on Article xxix. : I have verified the dates, and
added the words enclosed in brackets: speaking of the Par-
liament which met on April 2, 1571, he says (p. 15): —
" The Queen intended to bring at least one Bill concerning Re-
ligion before the House. That Bill was against the introduction of
Popish Bulls into the country. It is uncertain whether she sanctioned
" The Bill concerning coming to Church, and receiving the Holy
Communion," which was read a first time, April 4. The Bill may
have been a Government measure, and it may be desirable to trace
it through the Houses. It was read the second time, April 6, and
committed (D'Ewes, p. 157). Mr. Fleetwood, a ' Church Reformer,'
speaking against some of its provisions, it came in a new form from
the Committee, April 9: [and again "was read the first time"
(D'Ewes, p. 1 59), it seems also to have had another reading, and
was discussed, April 11th (D'Ewes, p. 161),] was read a second
time, April 20 (D'Ewes, p. 176): re-committed [with additions,]
April 21 ; ingrossed, April 30 : read a third time and passed, May
4 : received in Upper House, May 5 : [probably] read first time,
May 7 : second time and committed, May 9 : third time (with
amendments) [" conclusa dissentientibus Comitibus Wigorn and
Southampton, and Dominis Windsor, and Vaux] May 17 : received
in the Lower House and conference ordered, May 19 : ' ordered
upon the question to be general as to the body thereof,' May 22 :
[in the Lords, May 24,] another conference, May 24 : again in the
Lords, May 25. In the Journals of the Lords it is here marked
conclus. But, for some cause or other, the Bill did not become law.
No Act answering to the description received the Royal Assent this
Session."
I may add, that no similar Act was passed during the rest
of Elizabeth's reign, though two Acts were made, so far like
it, as to require attendance at Church, but not enjoining the
reception of the Sacrament : viz., 23 Elizabeth c. 1, a.d. 1581,
"An Act to retain the Queens Majesty's Subjects in their Due
Obedience and 35 Elizabeth c. 1, a.d. 1593, bearing the
same title.
Now an examination of this part of Guest's Letter, to
which I have just referred, will probably shew the true
" cause " why " the Bill did not become Law :" if, as I have
argued, p. 207, it was written before May 11th, that date
corresponds with the date, May 5th, at which the Bill was
received in the Lords: there it was amended, on May 17th,
upon the third reading; and when it got back to the Com-
226
mons there was a Conference " as to the body thereof." All
this looks very much as if the Amendments of the Upper
House materially affected the value of the Bill in the eyes of
the Lower; and, when we come to read the objections of
Bishop Guest, the conclusion seems almost unavoidable —
that the Bill did not pass in consequence of his remonstrances,
which, probably enough, took form and substance in the
"Amendments" noticed.
It will be seen that this portion of Guest's Letter consists
of two Parts, the latter of which (marked [III.], p. 202) is
mainly a repetition and enlargement of Part [II.] :* the writer
himself supplies the reason for this ; he says, " That which
for hast I wrote confusely and unperfitly before, I have sent
you amended." This circumstance confirms, moreover, the
suggestion just made — that the Letter was called forth by
the introduction of the Bill into the House of Lords — and,
further, helps to fix the date of the Letter itself, which I
think may now be fairly held to lie between May 5th, the
day on which the Bill reached the Lords ; and May 11th, the
day on which Guest signed the Articles.
Two things are clear from this remonstrance of Guest :
first, that he was no favourer of the Roman party ; for so far
as the Bill was meant " to dryve papistes to y e church I
thinke it," he says, " both lawfull and necessaire :" next, that
he was entirely opposed to compelling them to communicate ;
for he says, " To enforce them to receave I thinke it utterly
to be unlawfull."
Whence arose this important distinction which he drew in
their case ? Plainly because, as he himself shews, the two
acts involved such very different consequences : he said ([III.]
[l.B b] ) that " ye papistes wiche be in an errour ought to be
dryven by y e lawe to come to y c churche to heare y e Worde
of God there redde and preached and with all y e comon
prayers y' they may be brought from it ;" whereas, he adds
* For facility of reference I have marked by similar numbers the correspond-
ing arguments in the two Tarts : the Numbers not bracketed are in the MS. It
will be seen that all the arguments are repeated in Part [III.] (though in a some-
what different order) except No. 2. [B], shewing that self-examination is a con-
dition of worthy receiving.
227
([ II.] [8.Bb] ), " If y e papist be enforced to receave y c Sacra-
ment he taketh it to his condemnation by cause he judge th it
not to be y e Lordes body and so receaveth it unworthily (as
it is in Poule);" and, as he had said before ([II.] l.[B]),
" what were it els but to go aboute to destroye them, And
we have no power saith Poule to destroye but to edifle."
But, upon what doctrinal ground did the writer thus urge
this danger to " the papistes " in being " enforced to receave
y c Sacrament?" Clearly, it seems to me, because he be-
lieved the Real Objective Presence : whereas " the papistes"
believed the Sacrament, as then celebrated in the Church of
England, to be no Sacrament ([II.] 7. [B]) : because, (1),
they alleged ( [II.] [9. B] and [III.] 9. [B b] ) there was "no
consecration," owing to the absence in " y e Communion booke"
of certain manual acts ([III.] 9.[B b]): because (2) they further
held (Ibid) that the absence of the word " thereby," in the
Prayer of Consecration, shewed that " the wordes " of that
prayer were not meant to " applye . . to y e breade and wyne
to make them to be meanes to receave by the body and
bloude of Christ ; wiche giveth us to understand, that it is
ment there that Christ's body is not gyven us by y c Sacra-
ment but otherwise spiritually onely by faith wich is deeu
both when we receave and when we doo not :" because (3)
they also said (Ibid) that the rest of the Prayer was " spoken
in y' waye of a storie and not for entention of consecration :'
because (4) they argued, and the writer admitted ([III.]
[8. B b] ) that the Sacrament was not consecrated or ministered
with " y e entent of y* [i.e., that] churche " which "saithe that
the bread is transubstantiated, and that Christis body is there
really ;" whereas, says the writer, " our ministers doo con-
secrate* but to this ende and entent, to make y e Sacrament
of Christis body as it is in heaven and not as it is in y e Sacra-
ment." f
* He had written here "and minister," but afterwards erased it; shewing
how accurate he wished to be in his language.
t Compare the following passage from Guest's "Treatise on the prevee
masse," 1548 : — " These wordes, take, eat, in these wordes of the institution of
the Lordc's Supper, take, eate, this is My bodye, be no wordes of makinge of
228
The writer of the Letter, however, disallowed (as his lan-
guage plainly implies) these objections of " the papistes " to
be any disproof of the validity of the Sacrament ; thereby, in
fact, claiming that Presence which was wholly independent of
the faith or misbelief of the receiver, and so rendered the un-
worthy partaker obnoxious to the judgment to which the
writer deprecated exposing " the papistes " by a Legal enact-
ment.
It was, then, in consequence of this entire belief of the
writer in the reality of the Church of England's Eucharist,
that he pleaded against the enforced communion of " the
papistes" on these grounds — That ([II.] 3. [B] and [III.]
[3. B b]) it was to disobey the command of Christ, who
" forbiddeth us to give an holy thing unto dogges:" that
([IL] 2. [B]) it was to disregard St. Paul's warning of
their danger, who, neglecting self-examination, received
unworthily ; and ( [IL] 4. [B] and [III.] [4. B b] ) to neg-
lect his admonition " to shone an heritique after ones or twise
warnynge:" that ( [IL] 5. [B] and [III.] [5. B b] ) it was
to despise the example of St. Chrysostom,* who " saith, that
the Lorde's body, but of presenting and exhibiting the same to the reeeauers of
the ryghte supper of the Lord. So that it is full open that the prieste can neither
consecrate Christis body, neither make it. Howbeit this is alwaye grauntable,
ye minister both consecrateth and maketh, though not Christes body and bloud,
yet thallottcd bread and wyne ye Sacramentes exhibitive of the same. For
where as ye bread and wyne used at the Lordes Supper were prophane and un-
holy, before the wordes of the institution of the sayd supper were duely reported
upon them. Nowe after thee due reporte and utterance of thee sayd wordes by
thee minister, upon thee before-named bread and wyne, they be consecrate and
made of prophane the holy sacramentes exhibitues, of Christes body and bloud.
Thus also meaned the fathers by these words, consecration and making in this
Sacramente. Nowe to transubstantiatyon or tornekynde, thee next entreatable
matter, which is no lesse disallowable, then disceaueable. How can thys stande
with our fayth that Christes body (whose creatyon is unrentable) shulde be
again made of the nature of bread (a vyle creature) through the exchange of the
nature thereof into hys," etc. P. 79. Ed. 1840.
* " Let no one communicate who is not of the disciples. Let no Judas re-
ceive, lest he suffer the fate of Judas. This multitude also is Christ's body.
Take heed, therefore, thou that ministerest at the Mysteries, lest thou provoke
the Lord, not purging this body. Give not a sword instead of meat.
" But if thou darest not do it thyself, bring him to me ; I will not allow any
to dare to do these things. I would give up my life rather than impart of the
229
lie had rather dye then he wold wittingly gyve y e Sacrament
to any man, whom he knewe wold take it unworthely :" that
([II.] 6. [B] and [III.] [6.B b]) it was to give no heed to " The
Communion booke " which " willeth none to receave wiche is a
blasphemer of God or an hinderer or slanderer of his vvorde :"
that ( [II.] 8. [B] ) therefore it was to make light of " syne
against his conscience wiche is deadly syne."
Wherefore, because of these weighty considerations — that
([III.] [6.Bb]) to " enforce y e papistes toy" Communion we do
it against goddes lawe and y e lawe of y e realme, and against
their conscience and ours," he entreats Lord Burleigh " for
y e honour of God, for y e reverence of y e sacrament andsaftie
of men's solles, cause the enforcement to y e Communion to
be quyte putt out of the Bill."
Nor did he, as it seems, plead in vain ; for, as I have
already remarked (p. 226), the proposal to compel the adhe-
rents of the Pope to Sacramental Communion was entirely
abandoned.
It cannot, surely, be reasonably doubted (considering es-
pecially the reference to St. Chrysostom's strong language)
that the writer believed distinctly the doctrines of the Real
Objective Presence and of Reception by the Wicked ; but
these are precisely the doctrines advocated by Guest in the
former portion of this very same Letter : what, then, is the
legitimate inference ? Certainly, as I must think, that the
man whose counsel, apparently, prevailed to arrest this Bill
by the Doctrinal pleas which he advanced, could hardly have
had his proposals, as to the 28th and 29th Articles, rejected
because his belief on the Eucharistic Presence was opposed to
that of the rest of the Episcopate, as Mr. Goode contends :
on the contrary, if, as it seems extremely probable, his in-
fluence defeated this Parliamentary attempt to coerce the
Romanists to Communion, by his assertion of the practical
consequences of a doctrine which he obviously assumes to be
Lord's Blood to the unworthy ; and will shed my own blood rather than impart
of such awful Blood contrary to what is meet." — (Horn, lxxxii., § 6, p. 1094)
Dr. Pitscy's Catena, p. 572.
230
the recognized, one ; it may very fairly be thought that, as I
have already argued, his advice upon those Articles was only
not adopted, except, apparently, as to the important altera-
tion in the Title of Art. xxix. (see p. 207), because the
changes he proposed were not needed to bring them into
harmony with the Theological belief of himself and of his
brethren, who unitedly signed them on May 11th, 1571.
The concluding paragraph of this Letter ([IV.]) suggests
that some " other mattier " was also under discussion at that
time, and that Bishop Guest's opinion was asked or offered in
reference to it : the passage does not afford the means of de-
ciding what the precise point was ; but, from the apparent
reference to those words of the prayer of access in " y e Com-
munion" Office, "grant us, therefore (gracious Lord), so to
eat the Flesh of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His
Blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His Body
. . ." it would seem that some question had been raised
touching the corporal relation between Christ and Christians
in virtue of the Incarnation. But, whether this conjecture is
right or not, the answer shews the writer's belief — that in the
reception of the Eucharist there was a participation of Christ
so real as to affect not the soul only, but the body also : a
belief which he might well treat (for his words imply it) as
being the received doctrine, considering the language of the
Homily* then in circulation. Yet, does not this further in-
volve the same writer's belief of a Real Objective Presence in
that Sacrament ? And, if so, have we not here Bishop Guest
again proclaiming, in fact, (in no hesitating manner, as if it
were merely his own opinion) that belief, with all its conse-
quences, just as he had done before in treating specifically of
the 29th Article ?
If this supposition be true respecting this last portion of
the Letter, it confirms what I have said concerning Guest's
* "... thus much we must be sure to hold, that in the Supper of the Lord
there is ... . the Communion of the body and Wood of the Lord, in a marvellous
incorporation .... wrought in the souls of the faithful, whereby not only their
souls live to eternal life, but they surely trust to win to their bodies a resurrection
to immortality." — Horn, of Set., parti-
231
opinions as developed in the previous portions : yet, if this be
not its purport, there is nothing in the passage at variance
with the rest of the Letter, or calculated to weaken what he
had before advanced.
Before passing, however, from this Document, it seems
desirable to notice Mr. Goode's thrice repeated assertion
(pp. 7, 11, 26), that Bishop Guest* did not Subscribe the
Articles of 1562; it makes no difference, indeed, whether he
did or not, to the preceding remarks upon that Prelate's two
Letters; though, if it were absolutely certain that Guest did
sign in 1562, those remarks would be so far strengthened
as Mr. Goode's argument would be weakened, in the disproof
of the allegation (that Guest did not then subscribe) by
which he endeavours to sustain his opinion as to the rejection
of Guest's opinions in the Convocation of 1571.
It must be admitted, indeed, that there are grounds for
doubting whether Guest did subscribe before 1571 : Bennet
certainly has shewn (Essay ch. 5) that there are reasons for
thinking that Strype was mistaken in asserting that he "did,"
upon the authority of " extracts " taken " out of the Regis-
ters of Convocation " (Ann. i. 325 — 326) before their destruc-
tion in the Fire of London : but it does not seem to me that
he has produced sufficient evidence to warrant his conviction
that Guest (as well as Cheney) was " stedfastly resolved
* In considering this question of Guest's Subscription it should not be for-
gotten that no less a person than Dean Nowell did not sign the copy of the
Articles subscribed !>y the Lower House of Convocation in 15G2, of which he was
then Prolocutor ; that copy, like the one Guest did not sign, contained the 29th
Article. In 1571, he like Guest, did sign ; but the printed copy of the Articles
attached to the Bodleian MS.,t where his name appears, does not contain the
29th Article : yet as there seems to have been a second subscription of the Lower
House to the Articles, as finally settled, including the 29th, he may, likely
enough, have subscribed that. But this places Nowell and Guest in exactly the
same position : is there any thing to show that Archbishop Parker arrd Nowell
disagreed in the Real Presence ? I think not : yet, if so, how would Mr. Goode
account for Nowcll's non-subscription in 1562? Perhaps, what would explain
Nowell's course then, would explain Guest's also at that time.
t Dr. Lambe (p. 40) has a curious note about this Bodleian MS. he says, "There is
one copy, of which I ouRht to make some mention, viz., that of Wolfe'* edition of 1563.
with the names of the Convocation of 1571 on a sheet of parchment sewed on to its cover!
It is not at all clear that these names wi n- subscribed to am Articles If they were, they
must have been attached to an English copy in 1571, from which they have been sepa-
rated and sewed to this book." But there is nothing about the book to indicate this; and
what reason can be assigned lor such a surmise? It would seem that Dr. Lambe had not
taken into account the second subscription mentioned by Bennet, pp. 273 and 315.
232
against it." There is nothing to shew, so far at least as I can
discover, that Guest changed his belief on the Real Presence
between 1562 and 1571 ; on the contrary, the two Letters of
156G and 1571, which have been here considered, strongly
attest his persistence in it. It is likely enough, therefore,
that he had the same objection to the wording of Art. xxix.,
in 1562, which he stated to Lord Burghly when it was pro-
posed to publish it in 1571 : probably enough, therefore,
Guest did hesitate to sign, as, indeed, the absence of his sig ■
nature from the Parker Latin MS. of January 29, 1562-63
attests. It by no means follows, however, that he would
have refused to sign, had it been then determined to promul-
gate that Article with the rest : but the fact that it was
allowed to remain dormant among the Convocation Records ;
that it did not appear in the Latin MS. (State Papers, Dom.
Eliz., Vol. xxvii. 41a) apparently sent to the Secretary
Cecil ; and that, as the English contemporary MS. states of
it, "this in y' orynal book not prynted " {Ibid. 40, January
31, 1563) would furnish adequate reasons for Guest con-
tinuing to decline Subscription, indeed for his having no
occasion to further consider the subject until it was re-opened
by the proposal to publish this Article with the rest in 1571.
Though, however, these considerations would obviate any
necessity for his Subscription in 1 563, they do not prove, nor
does it by any means follow, that he did not subscribe : it is
not improbable that, as has been suggested, he may have done
so in some subsequent Session : but perhaps the Original
Records themselves would not have determined the point any
more than the Extracts which have been preserved ; for it
does not follow that any notice of additional Subscriptions
would have been entered in the Convocation Register : if the
Parker MS. had remained with the Convocation Records, in-
stead of being taken, apparently, to Lambeth by the Arch-
bishop, it would in all likelihood have shared their fate; in
that case what evidence would there have been as to who sub-
scribed or who did not ? Possibly, then, Guest (it might
also be true of Cheney) subscribed some other copy of the
Articles which was destroyed with the Records themselves.
233
For the reasons above stated, however, I need not pursue the
inquiry further; indeed it would seem nearly profitless to do
so in the absence of other Documents than those known to
exist : in fact, it does almost appear that the point could only
be finally settled by the discovery of another copy of the
Parker MS., with the Signatures lacking in that original. I
close these observations therefore with the following remarks,
which shew Mr. Hardwick's latest (published) opinions on
the subject: —
" But formidable doubts have been excited as to the supreme
authority of the Parker Manuscript, by collating portions of it with
an extract taken from the actual Register of Convocation in the time
of Archbishop Laud, and formally attested by a public notary to
satisfy or silence his accusers. Besides exhibiting a different
version of one Article ' On the authority of the Church,' .... the
extract from the Convocation-records has preserved a catalogue of
the assentient prelates, varying in some noticeable points from that
surviving in the Parker Manuscript :* and fresh perplexity is added to
* "This MS. contains the subscriptions of the Archbishop of Canterbury,
and the Bishops of London, Winchester, Chichester, Ely, Worcester, Hereford,
Bangor, Lincoln, Salisbury, St. David's, Bath and Wells, Coventry and Lich-
field, Exeter, Norwich, Peterborough, and St. Asaph,— besides the three above-
mentioned [Young of York, Pilkington of Durham, Downham of Chester] who
belonged to the other province. The copy of the Record produced by Arch-
bishop Laud omits the three northern prelates, as well as those of Chichester,
Worcester, and Peterborough. It, however, includes the name of Guest, Bishop
of Rochester, although some persons have doubted whether he subscribed or not
(Bonnet, p. 184), — a suspicion which is somewhat strengthened, so far as
Parker's draft is concerned, by what is known of Guest's opinions on the
Eucharist. But when the 3rd clause in the Art. 1 De Ccena Domini ' [' Foras-
rouche as the trueth of mannes nature reqtiireth,' etc., see p. 32] appearing to
favour Zwinglian views as to the nature of the Presence, was struck out by the
Convocation, Guest might be entirely satisfied, and so might subscribe; — which
strongly favours the conclusion that the extract produced at Laud's trial was
taken from a later and more authoritative document. On the other hand,
Cheynie, Bishop of Gloucester, though occasionally present at meetings of the
Synod, never acquiesced in some of the decisions, which explains the omission
of his name in all the lists, (Strype, Annals, I. 5G3). The Bishopric of Oxford
was not full ; and Kitchen of Llandaff (apparently from want of sympathy) took
no part in the proceedings."
This fact of the withdrawal of the Clause of Art. 29 here referred to by Mr.
Hardwick, tends to shew (if his argument about Guest is well-founded, as it
would seem to be) that there was not that great discrepancy between the
opinions of Archbishop Parker and Bishop Guest, which Mr. Goode maintains to
have existed, and which I have ventured to doubt. It confirms, too, I think
what I have all throughout this Letter contended for— that " real and essential"
in the Declaration of 1552, " reall and bodelie" [Realem et Corporalcm] in the
Article of 1552, meant no more than carnal and physical — else how could Arch-
bishop Parker have consented to abandon so important a clause as this, which be
had inserted in his draft of the Article of 1562, as copied from that of 1552 ?
H H
234
this question by the circumstance that both the series of episcopal
signatures are said to have been appended to the Articles on the
same day, and in the same place.
" If one may safely hazard a conjecture in the midst of these
clashing statements, it is possible that after the House of Bishops
had subscribed the Primate's copy on the 29th of January, it was
transmitted to the northern Convocation, without waiting for the
criticism of the lower house, who had continued their discussions for
another week ; and that on its return it was deposited, like other
private papers, with the Parker Manuscripts, where it is now sur-
viving; while the copy of the Articles as left when finally authorized
by the whole Synod on the fifth of the following month had found its
natural place among the other records of Convocation, viz., in the
registry belonging to the See of Canterbury, at St. Paul's Cathedral."
— Hist, of Art., p. 135. 2nd Ed.
For if the language was intentionally Zwinglian, and Parker knew it so to be,
then he must have been a Zwinglian in re-producing it: but no one, that I am
aware, has ever accused him of holding this view of the Eucharistic Presence :
it follows, therefore, that in proposing to re-impose that part of Article 28 of
1552, which denied "the reall and bodilie presence (as thei terme it) of Chrisfs
fiesh and blood," he knew full well be was only excluding a carnal presence. It
is, however, quite consistent with this to suppose that the Archbishop consented
to abandon the paragraph because the language might be (and was by some)
misunderstood to favour Zwinglian doctrine.
That some were dissatisfied with the change is plain from the Letter of
Humphrey and Sampson to Bullinger, in July, 1566, where, speaking of "some
blemishes which still attach to the Church of England" they say, " 13. Lastly,
the Article composed in the time of Edward the Sixth respecting the spiritual
eating, which expressly oppugned and took away the real [realem] presence in
the Eucharist, and contained a most clear explanation of the truth, is now set
forth among us mutilated and imperfect." — Zurich Letters, I., p. 165.
After all, however, was this the reason for the alteration in the Article ? Is it
not much more likely that the paragraph was omitted because the Declaration,
which corresponded with it, had already been omitted in Elizabeth's Prayer
Book ? This seems to me to be the true explanation of the change ; for though,
as I have noticed at p. 191, the Declaration seems to have been in some way
used ; yet the omission of its language from the Prayer Book and the Article
implied an intention not to constrain opinions too much on this point, by any
publicly imposed formulary. The following extract from a Letter of Archbishop
Parker to Sir William Cecil, on Feb. 6, 1570-71, will serve to shew what
opinions the Archbishop did not hold, and also that there was a considerable una-
nimity of belief upon the Eucharistic question only two months prior to the
opening of the Convocation, on April 3rd. — "Sir, As you desired, I send you
here the form of the bread used, and was so appointed by order of my late Lord
of London * and myself, as we took it not disagreeable to the injunction. And
how so many churches hath of late varied I cannot tell ; except it be the prac-
tice of the common adversary the devil, to make variance and dissension in the
Sacrament of unity. For where we be in one uniform doctrine of the same, and
* The allusion is to Grindal, who, acting with Parker upon the Queen's Injunction,
and the 26th Section of Elizabeth's Act of Uniformity (which gave power to the Queen by
advice of the 1 eclesiastical Commissioners or Metropolitan " to publish such further cere-
monies " as tended to "the due reverence of Christ's holy M> steries and Sacraments") had
ad\ ised the substitution of Wafer Bread for Common Bread. The instance is not favourable
to those who now propose to revive this power to suppress or control Ceremonial or Ritual
developments.
23.5
These Records it must be recollected, perished in the great
fire of London ; and therefore Mr. Goode is not quite war-
ranted in saying so positively (p. 26), in contradiction of Dr.
Pusey's statement gathered from Strype, that " Neither
[Cheney nor Geste] signed those Articles [of 1562], and the
Articles of 1571 were never signed by Cheney. This is an
important fact in relation to our present subject."
At p. 66 I suggested that it might be useful to examine
the language of Bishop Jewel, as being a leading Elizabethan
Prelate, to ascertain whether his arguments touching the
Real Presence were not, like those of the Edwardine Divines,
directed chiefly against the prevalent popular belief of a car-
nal, physical presence : this I proceed now to do, especially
as Guest's reference, in both Letters, to his contemporary,
makes it all the more important to learn what he held on the
Doctrine for which Guest quotes him ; the controversy with
Harding furnishes numerous passages to support this opinion :
Jewel, in his "Sermon at Paul's Cross," 1560, had challenged
the Roman party to " bring any one sufficient sentence out
of any old Catholic doctor, or father, or out of any old
general council, or out of the holy scriptures of God, or
any one example of the primitive Church. . . . For the
space of six hundred years after Christ," to prove the truth of
twenty-five several Doctrines or Practices which they used or
held. Harding took up the challenge in 1563; and Jewel
replied in 1565: the following are a few out of many pas-
sages which might be cited as shewing the language which
runs throughout the disputation.
One proposition which Jewel denied to be proveable from
the first six centuries was : —
" that the people was then taught to believe that Christ's body is
ao cut off much matter of variance which the Lutherans and Zwingliaus do hate-
fully maintain, yet because we will have some matter of dissension, we will
quarrel in a small circumstance of the same, neither regarding God in His Word,
who earnestly driveth us to charity, neither regarding the love and subjection
we should have to our prince, who zealously would wish the devout administra-
tion of the Sacrament, nor yet consider what comfort we might receive ourselves
in the said Sacrament, if dissensions were not so great with us." - Parker Cor-
respondence, No. 286.
236
really, substantially, corporally, carnally, or naturally in the
Sacrament."
Harding began his proof by saying that: —
" Christian people hath ever been taught that the body and blood of
Jesus Christ, .... is present in this most holy Sacrament, and that
verily and indeed."
And he adds :—
" . . . . that the words of institution of this Sacrament admit
no other understanding, but that he giveth unto us in these holy
mysteries his self-same body and his self-same blood ill truth of
substance, which was crucified and shed forth for us." — Of Ileal
Presence; Works, Farker Society, Vol. 1, p. 44-5.
Jewel (though indeed he seems here somewhat to overlay
Harding's language by his own interpretation of it) says in
reply : —
" The question is here moved, ' whether Christ's body be really
and corporally in the Sacrament.' His answer is, that Christ's
body is joined and united really and corporally unto us."
Then he proceeds to argue thus : —
"And, albeit M. Harding lay such hold upon these words of
Christ, as if they were so plaiu, yet others of his friends, by their
diverse and sundry constructions touching the same, have made them
somewhat dark and doubtful, and cannot yet throughly agree upon
them. Some of them say, ' Christ's natural body is in the Sacra-
ment, howbeit not naturally ;' some others say, 'It is there both
naturally, and also sensibly :' some of them say precisely, ' Never
man used either of these two terms, naturally or sensibly, in this
case of Christ's presence in the Sacrament.' Yet others of them put
the matter out of doubt, and say, ' Christ is there present naturally.'
And in the council holden in Rome under Pope Nicolas the Second,
it was determined, and Berengarius forced to subscribe, that Christ
is in the Sacrament sensibly : or as they then grossly uttered it in
Latin, sensualiter. Some of them say, ' Christ's body is not divided
or broken in the Sacrament, but only the accidents.' But Pope
Nicolas with his whole council saith, ' Christ's body itself is touched
with fingers, and divided, and broken, and rent with teeth, and not
only the accidents.' . . .
" Now, if this article cannot be proved, neither by any words of
the Scriptures, as Doctor Fisher saith, and as it further appeareth by
the dissension of the teachers, nor by any one of all the old doctors
and fathers, as M. Harding granteth by his silence, then may godly
and catholic christian people well stay their judgments, and stand
in doubt of this Ciimal and fleshly presence. Indeed the question
between us this day is not of the letters or syllables of Christ's
words, for they are known and confessed of either party ; but only
of the sense and meaning of his words, which, as St. Hierome
saith, is the very pith and substance of the Scriptures. ... If it
be true that M. Harding saith, that this is the only sense and
meaning of Christ's words, that his body is in such g'l'OSS sort
really and flesllly in the Sacrament, and that, unless Christ mean
so, he meaneth nothing; it is great wonder that none of the an-
cient catholic doctors of the Church, no, not one, could ever see it ;
or, if they saw it, yet, being so eloquent, lacked words, and were
never able to express it. — Ibid. pp. 446-7.
"And whereas M. Harding thus unjustly reporteth of us, that we
maintain a naked figure and a bare sign or token only, and nothing
else ; ... he knoweth well that we feed not the people of God
with bare signs and figures, but teach them that the Sacraments of
Christ be holy mysteries, and that in the ministration thereof Christ
is set before us even as he was crucified upon the cross ; and that
therein we may behold the remission of our sins, and our reconcilia-
tion unto God : and as Chrysostom briefly saith, ' Christ's great benefit
and our salvation.' Herein we teach the people, not that a naked
sign or token, but Christ's body and blood indeed and verily is
given unto us ; that we verily eat it ; that we verily drink it ; that
we verily be relieved and live by it ; that we are bone of his
bones, and flesh of his flesh ; that Christ dwelleth in us and we in
Him. Yet we say not either that the Substance of the bread or
wine is done away ; or that Christ's body is let down from heaven,
or made really or fleshly present in the Sacrament
" To conclude, three things herein we must consider : first, that
we put a difference between the sign and the thing itself that is
signified.
" Secondly, that we seek Christ above in heaven, and imagine not
him to be present bodily upon the earth.
" Thirdly, that the body of Christ is to be eaten by faith only,
and none otherwise.
" Now consider then, good Christian reader, with thyself, whether
it be better to use this word ' figure,' which word hath been often
used of Tertullian, St. Augustine, and of all the rest of the ancient
fathers, without controlment ; or else these new-fangled words,
'really,' ' Corporally,' 'carnally,' etc., which words M. Harding is
not able to shew that, in this case of being really in the Sacrament,
any one of all the old fathers ever used." — Ibid. pp. 448-9.
Harding continued thus : —
"Again, we cannot find where our Lord performed the promise
he had made in the sixth chapter of John, ' The bread which I
will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world,'
238
but only in his last Supper : where if he gave his flesh to his
Apostles, and that none other but the very same which he gave for
the life of the world, it followeth that in (he blessed Sacrament is
not mere bread, but that same his very body in substance. For it
was not mere bread, but his very body, that was given and offered
up upon the cross."
To which Jewel replies : —
" This principle is not only false in itself, but also full of dan-
gerous doctrine, and may soon lead to desperation. For if no man
may eat the flesh of Christ, but only in the Sacrament, as here by
M. Harding it is supposed, then all Christian children, and all others
whosoever depart this life without receiving the Sacrament, must
needs be damned, and die the children of God's anger. For Christ's
words be plain and general : ' Unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of
man, ye shall have no life in you.' .... But our doctrine, grounded
upon God's holy wofd, is this, that as certainly as Christ gave His
body upon the Cross, so certainly He giveth now the self-same body
unto the faithful ; and that, not only in the ministration of the
Sacrament, .... And therefore St. Augustine saith, (De. Civ. Dei.
Lib. xxi. c. xx.) 'They eat Christ's body, not only in the Sacra-
ment, but also in very deed.' Here St. Augustine saith, contrary
to M. Harding's doctrine, that we eat Christ's body, not only in the
Sacrament, but also otherwise; yea, and so far he forceth this
difference, that he maketh the eating of Christ's body in
THE SACRAMENT TO BE ONE THING, AND THE VERY TRUE EATING
THEREOF INDEED TO BE ANOTHER THING.* .... To be short, of
Christian children, and other faithful that never received the Sacra-
ment, he writeth thus (in Serm. ad Inf. Citat. a Beda 1 Cor. x.),
' No man may in any wise doubt, but that every faithful man is then
made partaker of the body and blood of Christ, when in baptism he
is made a member of Christ : and that he is not without the fellow-
ship of that bread and cup, although before he eat of that bread,
and drink of that cup, he depart this world, being in the unity of
Christ's body. For he is not made frustrate of the Communion
and benefit of that Sacrament, while he findeth that thing which is
signified by the Sacrament.' " — Ibid. pp. 449-50.
Again, Harding had said: —
" If the words spoken by Christ in St. John of promise, that he
performed in his holy Supper, ' The bread that I will give is My
flesh,' had been to be taken, not as they seem to mean, plainly and
truly, but metaphorically, tropically, symbolically, and figuratively,
so as the truth of our Lord's flesh be excluded, as our adversaries
* The words which I have printed in Capitals are very observable as shewing
Jewel's opinion of the language of St. Augustine, and may fairly be appealed to
in support of Guest's language, touching reception by the wicked, in his Letter,
§ 11, p. 200.
239
do understand them, then the Capernaites had not any occasion at
all of their great offence." — Ibid. p. 450.
To this Jewel, quoting St. Augustine, St. Basil, Origen,
Tertullian, and St. Chrysostom, replies : —
" Hereby it is plain that Christ's meaning is spiritual, as Christ
Himself and all the old fathers and doctors of the Church have ex-
pounded it; not real, Carnal, gTOSS, and fleshly, as M. Harding
imagineth. M. Harding will say, that the eating with the mouth
and the grinding with the teeth is a work spiritual. By this sense
he is a good proctor for the Capernaites, and must needs say, that
they had a spiritual understanding
" Now let us see what sense the Capernaites gathered hereof.
Origen saith 'It happeneth sometime that simple men, being
not able to put difference between those things in the Scriptures that
pertain to the inner man, and those that pertain to the outer man,
are deceived by the likeness of words, and so fall into foolish fables
and vain fantasies.' So saith St. Hierome, .... Whereas they are
taken for the elders in the Church, and the chief of the priests, by
following the plain letter, they kill the Son of God.' Even thus it
happened unto the Capernaites: that Christ spake spiritually of
eating with faith, they understood gTOSSly of eating with the teeth;
as though they should swallow down His flesll into their bodies, as
other meats; even in such gTOSS sort as M. Harding would now
teach the people to eat Christ's body." — Ibid. p. 452.
The better to sustain his position Harding said thus: —
" .... if Christ would have been so understanded, as though He
had meant to give but a figure only of his body, it had been no
need for him to have alleged his omnipotency and almighty power
to his disciples, thereby the rather to bring them to belief of his
true body to be given them to eat ' Doth this offend you V
saith he "
Upon which Jewel remarks : —
" And again, would M. Harding make all the world believe, if
Christ's body be not fleshly and grossly in the Sacrament, according
to his fantasy, that then God therefore is not omnipotent ? Verily the
old catholic fathers acknowledge God's omnipotency in the water of
baptism ; yet is not Christ therefore really present in the water." —
Ibid. pp. 453-4.
Then instancing SS. Chrysostom, Augustine, and Leo,
he concludes : —
" It appeareth by these authorities, that Christ in the water of
baptism sheweth his invisible and omnipotent power. Yet will not
M. Harding say that Christ is therefore really and flesllly present
in the water of baptism.
240
" Therefore it was but vain labour to allege Christ's omnipotent
power to prove this fleshly presence in the sacrament." — Ibid.
p. 455.
Further, Harding stated : —
" These places of the scripture, and many other reporting plainly
that Christ at his supper gave to his disciples his very body, even
that same which the day following suffered death on the cross, have
ministered just cause to the godly and learned fathers of the Church
to say, that Christ's body is present in the sacrament really, Sub-
stantially, corporally, carnally, and naturally. By use of which
adverbs they have meant only a truth of being, and not a way or mean
of being. And though this manner of speaking be not thus expressed
in the scripture, yet it is deduced out of the scripture. For if
Christ spake plainly, and used no trope, figure, nor metaphor, as the
scripture itself sufficiently declareth to an humble believer, and
would his disciples to understand him, so as he spake in manifest
terms when he said, ' This is my body which is given for you ;' then
may we say, that in the sacrament his very body is present, yea,
really, that is to say, indeed, substantially, that is in substance,
and corporally, carnally, and naturally; by which words is
meant that his very body, his very flesh, and his very human nature,
is there, not after corporal, carnal, or natural wise, but in\isibly,
unspeakably, miraculously, supernaturally, spiritually, divinely, and
by way to him only known." — Ibid. p. 455.
Mr. Goode (p. 12) endeavours to depreciate the value of
Guest's reference (in his Letter of 22nd Dec. 1566) to these
words of Harding; he says : —
" How different were the views of Bishop Geste on this point
from those of Bishop Jewel, may be seen by comparing the way in
which the former notices the passage he has quoted from Harding,
and the remark of the latter on the same passage. Bishop Geste, as
we have seen, quotes it as conformable to his own doctrine. But
this very same passage is treated by Bishop Jewel i n the following
way."
Then Mr. Goode proceeds to quote Bishop Jewel's
answer, which (except the part in brackets) I had also
selected, as illustrative of the position for which these ex-
tracts were made : —
[" M. Harding saith these words, ' This is my body,' must needs
be taken without metaphor, trope, or figure, even as the plain letter
lieth, and none otherwise. So saith M. Harding only upon his own
credit. But the old catholic doctors of the Church, of whom, he
saith, he hath such store, say not so. St. Augustine, St. Ambrose,
St. Hierome, St. Chrysostom, St. Basil, Tertullian, and others call
241
the Sacrament a figure, a token, a sign, an example, an image, a
similitude, a remembrance ;] Upon these grounds of his
own M. Harding reareth up this conclusion : ' Thus,' saith he,
' may we say, that Christ is in the Sacrament really,' etc. Indeed,
a man may say much, that hath no regard what he say. But if he
will say, as the old godly Fathers said, then must he say: Hoc est
corpus meum, hoc est figura corporis mei: This is my body, that is to
say a figure of my body. For so the old learned Father Tertullian saith,
Then must he say . . . . ' Christ delivered unto his disciples a figure
of his body.' For so the old learned father St. Augustine saith.
Then must he say : ' The sacrament of Christ's body after a
certain phrase or manner, or trope, or figure of speech, is the body of
Christ.' For so again St. Augustine saith.
" Here M. Harding, seeing the inconveniences and absurdities of
his doctrine, thought good to heal it up with some plaister. By
these words, really, Carnally, etc., ' the godly learned fathers,' saith
he, ' meant that Christ's very body and flesh is there, but not in any
natural or carnal wise.' And thus M. Harding's doctors wrote one
thing and meant another. For M. Harding knoweth that all
adverbs, taken of nouns, signify evermore a quality, and never the
substance ; which thing children are taught to know in the grammar
school ; and may be resolved thus : Viriliter, virili modo : mulie-
briter, muliebri modo
"But what are these old learned fathers, that say Christ's body is
really and fleshly in the Sacrament? Where be their words?
What be their names ? If they have neither names nor words, how
can they be allowed for sufficient witnesses. M. Harding well
knoweth that the old learned fathers never said so : yet must he
needs imagine both causes that moved them so to say, and also ex-
positions, what they meant by so saying " — Ibid pp. 456-7.
But what is there in this language of Bishop Jewel which,
as Mr. Goode says, makes his views " different" from "the
views of Bishop Geste?" Guest, stating his disagreement
with Cheney, says that " y e doctors doo write " the expres-
sions " corporally naturally reallye, substantially and car-
nally :" he does not say, as Harding asserted and Jewel
denied, that " the godly and learned fathers of the
Church " wrote thus : he neither quotes Harding's reference
to these Fathers, nor gives the remotest hint that he con-
sidered such reference accurate ; in fact, he does not use, or
even allude to, this portion of Harding's argument at all:
what he does is merely to use, as against Cheney, an expia-
tion to which Harding himself was compelled to have
recourse when claiming a Patristic authority for the terms in
242
question. Guest argues that " though .... Christ's Bodye ''
were " receaved .... corporally naturally reallye substan-
tially and carnally as ye doctors do write, yet he did not
for all that see it, feale it, smell it, nor taste it" in any
physical manner : and he fortifies his position not only by
claiming for it the sanction of "all sortes of men," but
especially by citing an important admission of the leading
Roman controversialist of that day, who, as Jewel says of his
doctrine, "thought good to heal it up with some plaister,"
by saying that Christ's "verye humane nature is there [in the
Sacrament] not after corporall carnall or naturall wise, but
invisibly unspeakably supernaturally spiritually divinely and
by way unto Him on lye knowen." Guest, quoting as he did
from " Jewel's controversy with M. Harding, of real Pre-
sence," could not be ignorant of this reply of the Bishop of
Salisbury to which Mr. Goode refers us : nor can it be
reasonably supposed that he would carelessly, much less
wilfully, misrepresent Jewel as coinciding with him on a point
upon which both their opinions were sufficiently well known,
and therefore easily capable of comparison by the important
personage to whom he wrote. Moreover, Guest was surely
in a somewhat better position than we can be to understand
the published language of his living contemporary ; and
therefore he may well enough have been persuaded of what
seems to me to be true — that when Jewel says " thus M.
Harding's doctors wrote one thing, and meant another," his
objection was not to the words " corporally, carnally," etc.,
but to that popular perversion of them which was still very
current, and which was fostered in the use made of them by
such a writer as Harding. I will only further express my
conviction — that it requires no very careful comparison of
Jewel's Eucharistic statements with Guest's Treatise on the
"Prevee Masse," already quoted, to shew the coincidence of
their judgment, and to prove the improbability of that dif-
ference of opinion on the Real Presence which Mr. Goode
ascribes to them.
Harding, however, proceeds to specify authorities ; and
243
having quoted from St. Chrysostom, St. Hilary, Gregory
Nyssen, and St. Cyril, he sums up thus: —
" Now this being and remaining of Christ in us, and of us in
Christ naturally and carnally, and this uniting of us and Christ
together corporally, presupposeth a participation of his very body,
which body we cannot truly participate but in this blessed sacra-
ment. And therefore Christ is in the Sacrament naturally, car-
nally, corporally, that is to say, according to the truth of his
nature, of his flesh, and of his body. For were he not so in the
Sacrament, we could not be joined unto him, nor he and we could
not be joined and united together corporally,
"Divers other ancient fathers have used the like manner of
speech ; but none so much as Hilarius and Cyrillus ; whereby they
understand that Christ is present in the sacrament, as we have said,
according to the truth of his substance, of his nature, of his flesh, of
his body and blood." — Ibid. p. 472.
To which Jewel rejoins: —
" Now at the last M. Harding draweth near the matter, and
bringeth forth the old fathers with these very terms, 'really,'
' substantially,' ' corporally,' ' carnally,' &c, and allegeth these
few, as he saith, instead of many, having indeed no more to
bring. And although these fathers speak not any one word that is
either denied by us, or anywise serveth to this purpose, yet he cun-
ningly leadeth away the eyes of the ignorant with the shew of old
names, and, like a juggler, changeth the natural countenance of
things, and maketh them appear what he listeth.
" For whereas he hath taken in hand to prove that Christ's body
is really and fleshly in the Sacrament, he finding his weakness and
want therein, altereth the whole case, and proveth that Christ's body
is really, fleshly, and naturally within us. But this matter was
not in question, and therefore needeth no proof at all." — Ibid.
p. 472.
The Bishop, after examining Harding's authorities, goes on
to discuss what is meant by this corporal union of Christ and
us : one of his remarks is : —
" Further, that we be thus in Christ, and Christ in us, requireth
not any corporal or local being, as in things natural. We are in
Christ sitting in heaven, and Christ sitting in heaven is here in us,
not by a natural, but by a spiritual means of being Yet
notwithstanding, the same conjunction, because it is spiritual, true,
full and perfect, therefore is expressed of these holy fathers by the
term corporal, which removeth all manner, light and accidental
joining ; and natural, whereby all manner, imagination, or fantasy,
and conjunction only of will and consent, is excluded: not that
Christ's body is corporally or naturally in our body, as is before
244
said, no more than our bodies are corporally or naturally in Christ's
body ; but that we have life in us, and are become immortal, be-
cause by faith and spirit we are partakers of the natural body of
Christ.
" M. Harding saith : We are thus joined unto Christ, and have
him corporally within us, only by receiving the Sacrament, and by
none other means. This is utterly untrue, as it is already proved by
the authorities of St. Augustine, St. Basil, Gregory Nazianzene,
Leo, Ignatius, Bernard, and other holy fathers ; neither does either
Cyrillus or Hilary so avouch it. Certainly, neither have they all
Christ dwelling in them that receive the Sacrament, nor are they all
void of Christ that never received the Sacrament. Besides, the un-
truth hereof, this doctrine were many ways very uncomfortable. For
what may the godly father think of his child, that, being baptized,
departeth this life without receiving the Sacrament of Christ's body ?
By M. Harding's construction, he must needs think his child is
damned, for that it had no natural participation of Christ's flesh,
without which there is no salvation ; which participation, as M. Har-
ding assureth us, is had by none other means, but only by receiving
of the Sacrament. Yet St. Chrysostom saith : 'In the Sacrament
of Baptism we are made flesh of Christ's flesh, and bone of his
bones.' *
" For better trial hereof, understand thou, gentle reader, that both
Cyrillus and Hilarius in those places dispute against the Arians
whose error was this, that God the Father and the Son are one, not,
by nature, but only by will and consent. Against them Hilarius
reasoned thus : —
" Christ is as really joined unto the Father as unto us :
" But Christ is joined unto us by nature :
" Therefore Christ is joined to God the Father by nature."
After some explanation of this syllogism, Jewel concludes
thus : —
" Christ's body is not naturally or corporally present within
us ;
" Therefore much less is it corporally present in the Sacrament."
—Ibid,, pp. 477-8.
The disputants then go on to discuss another point, viz. : —
" That Christ's body is or may be in a thousand places or more at
one time."
Harding alleged that —
" the ancient fathers of the Church have confessed and
taught both these beings, of Christ in heaven and in the Sacrament
together " — Ibid., p. 485.
245
Jewel, in his reply, says : —
" But first, for the clearer conceiving of the answer hereunto, un-
derstand, good Christian reader, that by the record of the old fathers
Christ is present among us sundry ways : by his Holy Spirit, as
Cyrillus saith ; by his grace, as Eusebius Emissenus saith ; by his
divinity and majesty, as St. Augustine saith ; by faith dwelling in
our hearts, as St. Paul says. Thus is Christ most comfortably
present in his holy word, in the mystery of Baptism, and in the Sa-
crament of his body. We deny only that gTOSS and fleshly pre-
sence that M. Harding here defendeth ; wherein we have the autho-
rity and consent of the old learned fathers. For, to allege one instead
of many, St. Augustine saith The body wherein Christ rose
again must be in one place.' " — Ibid., p. 486.
Farther on in the argument, Harding quotes the passage
from Bucer (already given at p. 73, as cited by Gardiner
to Cranmer), comparing Christ's Presence in the Sacra-
ment to the Presence of the sun in the earth : Jewel thus
comments upon it : —
" . . . . the very similitude or example that he useth of the sun
putteth the matter out of all question. For like as the body or
compass of the sun, being in one certain place of the heavens,
reacheth out his beams, and giveth influence into the world ; even
so Christ, the sun of justice, being in heaven in one place at the right
hand of God, likewise reacheth out his beams, and giveth hts in-
fluence into the faithful, and so feedeth them, not by bare imagi-
nation or fantasy, but truly, substantially, and indeed. And as
the sun is more comfortable, and more refresheth the world, being
absent, by his beams, than if his very natural substance and compass
lay here upon the earth ; even so the body of Christ, being in the
glory of his father, in the very substance and nature of our flesh, and
there evermore entreating mercy for our sins, is much more comfortable
unto us, and more quickeneth both our bodies and souls by his heaven-
ly and spiritual influence, than if it were here present fleshly before
our eyes. And as the sun, not coming down from heaven, nor
leaving his place, is nevertheless present with us in our houses, in
our faces, in our hands, and in our bosoms ; even so Christ, being
in heaven, not coming down, nor leaving his room there, yet never-
theless is present with us in our congregations, in our hearts, in our
prayers, in the mystery of baptism, and in the Sacrament of his body
and blood." — Ibid., p. 499.
Moreover, Harding, rejecting a. physical presence, says : —
" And that all absurdities and carnal gTOSSlieSS be severed from
our thoughts, where true Christian people believe Christ's body to
be in many places at once, they understand it so to be in a mystery
"—Ibid., p. 504.
246
Jewel, in his answer, makes this remark: —
" Again he [St. Augustine] saith : . . .'. 'Christ by his Godhead
is ever with us ; but unless he had departed away bodily from us, we
should evermore carnally see his body.' These words are specially
to be noted. If Christ were bodily here, he should carnally be
seen : therefore, by St. Augustine's judgment, if Christ werebodily
present in the Sacrament, we should see him carnally in the Sacra-
ment." — Ibid, p. 505.
Another proposition which Jewel challenged the Roman
party to prove was : —
" That the people did then fall down and worship the Sacrament
with godly honour."
Harding, in taking up the challenge, cited St. Chrysostom ;
Jewel, in examining the passage, says : —
"In this wise therefore, having removed the people's hearts into
heaven, and placed them even in the sight of Christ, he saith further
unto them : For this body's sake thou art no longer dust and ashes ;
this body hath made thee free ; this body was broken for thee upon
the cross ; this body must we adore, as the wise men did ; this body
not now upon the earth, but at the right hand of God in heaven ;
this body that thou seest with thy spirit, and touchest with thy
faith, whereof the Sacrament that thou receivest is a mystery. So
saith JSmissenus : .... 'With thy faith behold the holy body of
thy God, touch it with thy mind, receive it with the hand of thy
heart.'
" But M. Harding will reply, Chrysostom saith : 1 As Christ was
in the stall, so he is now upon the altar ; and as he was sometimes
in the woman's arms, so he is now in the priest's hands.' True it is
Christ was there, and Christ is here ; but not in one or like sort of
being. For he was in the stall by bodily presence ; upon the holy
table he is by way of a Sacrament. The woman in her arms held
him really ; the priest in his hands holdeth him only in a mystery.
So saith St. Paul : ' Christ dwelleth in our hearts ;' and no doubt
the same Christ that lay in the stall. It is one and the same Christ ;
but the difference standeth in the manner of his being there : for in
the stall he lay by presence of his body ; in our hearts he lieth by
presence of faith." — Ibid., p. 539.
Once more ; Harding quoted the comment of SS. Am-
brose and Augustin upon Psalm xix. 5 : Jewel ends his
answer in these words : —
" But they will reply, St. Ambrose saith : ' We do adore Christ's
flesh in the mysteries.' Hereof groweth their whole error. For
St. Ambrose saith not, We do adore the mysteries, or the flesh of
Christ really present, or materially contained in the mysteries ; as
247
it is supposed by Mr. Harding. Only he saith, ' We adore Christ's
flesh in the mysteries,' that is to say, in the ministration of the mys-
teries. And doubtless it is our duty to adore the body of Christ in
the Word of God, in the Sacrament of baptism, in the mysteries of
Christ's body and blood, and wheresoever we see any step or token
of it, but especially in the holy mysteries ; for that there is lively
laid forth before us the whole story of Christ's conversation in the
flesh. But this adoration, as it is said before, neither is directed to
the Sacraments, nor requireth any corporal or real pre-
sence. . . . ." — Ibid., p. 542.
Another point in the controversy was this : —
" that in the Sacrament, after the words of consecration, there re-
main only the accidents, and shews without the substance of bread
and wine."
In answering one of Harding's arguments, Jewel says : —
" The question between us is not, whether the bread be the body
of Christ, or no ; but whether in plain and simple manner of speech
it be fleshly and really the body of Christ." — Ibid., Yol. II.,
p. 570.
So, too, when discussing the 12th Article : —
" that whosoever had said the Sacrament is a figure, a pledge, a
token, or a remembrance of Christ's body, had therefore been
judged for an heretic."
The Bishop, in reference to a quotation which Harding
made from S. Hilary, remarks : —
" Further, we may say that Christ's body is in the Sacrament it-
self, understanding it to be there as in a mystery. But to this man-
ner of being there is required neither circumstance of place, nor any
Corporal or real presence." — Ibid., p. 604.
Again, comparing a passage from St. Gregory with one
which Harding had cited from St. Augustin, Jewel ob-
serves : —
" Now, as Christ dieth in the Sacrament, so is his body present in
the Sacrament. But Christ dieth not there really and indeed ;
therefore Christ's body is not there really and indeed." — Ibid.,
p. 618.
"And thus St. Augustine's meaning may well stand upright
without any new secrecy or real or fleshly presence." — Ibid.,
p. 619.
Further, in arguing the 17th Article : —
" that the priest had then authority to offer up Christ unto his
Father."
248
Jewel remarks thus upon a sentence of St. Chrysostom : —
" Thus the death of Christ is renewed before our eyes. Yet
Christ indeed neither is crucified, nor dieth,nor sheddeth his blood,
nor is Substantially present, nor really offered by the priest." —
Ibid , p. 710.
Later, in the same argument, he observes thus: —
" Therefore St. Gregory saith Christ, living immortally
in himself, dieth again in this mystery. His flesh suffereth (in the
mystery) for the salvation of the people.' I reckon, M. Harding
will not say that Christ dieth indeed, according to the force and
sound of these words, or that his flesh verily and indeed is tor-
mented and suffereth in the Sacrament." — Ibid., p. 726.
And, once more, he says: —
" In like manner the ministration of the holy communion is some-
times of the ancient fathers called an ' unbloody sacrifice ;' not in
respect of any corporal or fleshly presence that is imagined to be
there without blood-shedding, but for that it represented! and re-
porteth unto our minds that one and everlasting sacrifice that Christ
made in his body upon the cross."— Ibid., p. 734.
Moreover, in their dispute touching the 21st Article : —
" that then any Christian man called the Sacrament his Lord and
God."
The Bishop of Salisbury replies to his opponent thus : —
" In the end, M. Harding confirmeth this doctrine by flie confu-
tation of an error, which, for the novelty and strangeness of it, may
easily seem to be his own ; and therefore ought of right to be called
' M. Harding's error :' for I believe it was never neither defended
nor imagined by any other.
" He surmiseth there be some that either have said, or else may
say, that Christ's flesh is present really in the Sacrament ; howbeit
dead and bloodless, and utterly void both of soul and Godhead.
This is a new error, never tamed or touched before this time.*
* I should be most sorry to misrepresent, in the least degree, Mr. Freeman,
and therefore I do not venture to say that he has made the kind of statement
which Jewel here condemns ; but, in common with others, one hopes to see some
explanation in his expected volume of certain passages contained in Sect. xii.
(pp. 143 — 145) of his published "Introduction to Part ii." (J. H. & J. Parker,
1857). I subjoin the following as indicating what I refer to: —
" .... The Presence of Christ is assumed, without entering into any argument,
to be a necessary result of the Presence of His Body and Blood." — p. 149.
" . . .His [Christ's] Death being as real as any man's, His broken Body and
His Blood poured out in Death were no more the Man Christ Jesus, than the
body and blood of any other man are that man. True it is that from neither
His Body nor His soul was the Divinity ever separated, but was so present with
Both that neither could the One be left in Hell, nor the Other see Corruption
"—p. 149.
249
"As for us we do constantly believe and confess that Christ, the
very natural Son of God, received our flesh of the blessed virgin,
and that, wheresoever that flesh is, there is also both the Godhead
and the soul.
" Of this undoubted truth M. Harding gathereth an impertinent
conclusion. For thus he reasoneth : 1 If Christ be verily under the
form of bread in the Sacrament, then is he there entire and whole,
God and man.' Indeed, the first being granted, the rest must needs
follow. But how is M. Harding so well assured of the first? What
old doctor or ancient father ever taught him that Christ's body is
really and fleshly present under these forms or fantasies of bread
and wine?" — Ibid., p. 770.
Other passages, of a like character with these now quoted,
With much deference I cannot but ask Mr. F. — did not this Presence of the
Divinity make exactly that distinction of union between Christ's Body and Soul
after death, and man's body and soul after death, which points towards one
answer to his following question ? —
" And next, if the broken and poured-out Body and Blood of Christ, in Their
natural condition and manner of existence, were not Christ, —as certainly they
were not, — have we any reason for saying or conceiving that in Their supra-
natural and sacramental manner of existence they are Christ ? . . . ." — p. 150.
To my mind Ridley seemed to think so when he said (see p. 60), " ... .that
Heavenly Lamb, is (as I confess) on the table ; but by a spiritual presence," &c.
And again — " I grant the Priest holdeth the same Thing [which the woman did
hold in her womb], but after another manner."
Pursuing the idea, Mr. F. further says : —
" The unreceived Elements are the Body and Blood of Christ, and no
more : but ' he that eateth and drinketh ' of them aright hath in him Christ
Himself, and no less, and is united to Him." — p. 164.
But, again, to quote Ridley (see p. 56), ". . . . I grant .... Christ is offered in
many places at once, in a mystery and sacramentally, and that He is full Christ
in all those places," etc.
Once more Mr. F. writes : —
".. The natural Body of Christ, once slain, .... was, nevertheless, after
being received into the receptacle of God's appointing, the heart of the Earth,
reunited to That Soul by the operation of the interposed Divinity; and so
Christ Himself was once more truly alive, and rose again. And even so, when
His Body and Blood, existing in a new and specially provided manner, have been
received into the duly qualified bodies and souls of men, does the same vital re-
union, as it should seem, take place, and so Christ Himself, in Body, Soul, and
Divinity, is in them of truth, and raises them, together with Himself, to a glo-
rious immortality." — p. 154.
But Jewel says (see above), "... .we do constantly believe and confess. . . .
that, wheresoever that flesh is, there is also both the Godhead and the soul :"
Mr. F. admits the " Body and Blood " = Flesh, to be " existing in a new and
specially provided manner," i.e., I suppose, in the Sacrament; and Jewel only
denies the fleshly presence of " Christ's Body. . ..under these forms or fantasies
of bread and wine." therefore it seems necessarily to iollow that the Sacra-
mental Body and Blood of Christ is Christ, and that, as the Declaration seems
also to teach, " Christ " is " therein given to all worthy Receivers," not formed
in them, as Mr. F.'s language appears to teach.
K K
250
will be found in pp. 167, 464, 467, 475,* 483, 490-3, 500-4,
520, 548, 551, 601, 620, 708, 711-18, 733, 760, 765, 781,
185, 797, 798. In common, however, with the extracts here
given, it will be found that they alike mainly aim at destroy-
ing the notion of a physical, carnal Presence ; as if that were
the point continually prominent in Jewel's mind and the one
which he felt he must ever present to his adversary ; though
it must be owned that he did not always avoid, at least seem-
ing, inconsistencies which blunted its sharpness, or, at least
apparent, exaggerations which weakened its force ; and
though, like other anti-Roman writers of that period, he not
only at times deals with his opponent as though he thought
it impossible for him to employ a fair or sound argument ;
but also often himself uses language which seems barely, if
at all, capable of, what the advocates of the Real Presence,
would consider a Catholic meaning. But, I repeat, it is
essential to a fair judgment of his words (as also in the case
of Cranmer and other writers of the same period already
quoted) to bear constantly in mind — that he was ever aiming
at the destruction of that belief in a natural Presence, which
had become so popular, and which was extremely likely to be
sustained by any concession, however small, to the current
phraseology of its advocates. It is, therefore, both fair and
necessary, whenever possible, so to interpret what may be
called his lower and laxer Doctrinal statements as to make
them harmonize with his stricter and higher ones ; while it
would be an error, and unfair to Jewel himself, to interpret
his statements by the opposite method, unless we determined
wholly to ignore his repeated professions of submission to the
teaching of the Catholic Church during the first six centuries.
Perhaps Mr. Goode, like other writers on his side of the con-
troversy, is not wholly free from this erroneous mode of
dealing with Jewel and his sixteenth century contempo-
raries.
* " That we verily and undoubtedly receive Christ's body in the Sacrament,
it is neither denied, nor in question." — This is the sentence quoted by Bishop
Guest [I.] 8. (See p. 199).
25)
In noticing Mr. Goode's "Supplement" my purpose was
not to make any general answer to it, but only to consider his
observations upon Bishop Guest's Letters : it seems to me,
however, not out of place here to advert to some other pas-
sages which bear upon the subject of this Letter ; this rele-
vancy must be my excuse for noticing Mr. Goode's criticisms
upon the statements and arguments of those for whom it
would, else, be a presumption in me to attempt any reply :
though, indeed, Mr. Goode himself invites it ; for in no less
than seven places within the short compass of twenty-four
pages (23 to 47) does he " leave" points, which (as in fact his
own notice of thein proves) are far from unimportant, to " the
reader to choose " between, or " to be disposed of " by him,
or "to pass judgment" upon, or "to make his own com-
ments " on, and the like.
First of all I must notice a strange oversight on the part
of Mr. Goode ; he complains (p. 18) of Dr. Pusey having
written thus : —
" Mr. Goode frequently excepts against the belief in the oral
reception of the Holy Eucharist. Isidore, embodying in his own
statement the words of St. Augustine, states it as explicitly as
words could express it : ' that in honour of so great a Sacrament the
Lord's Body should enter the mouth of a Christian before any other
food.' ( [Real Presence] p. xxv.)"
Mr. Goode says that : —
" in this passage there is a double attempt to mislead the reader ;
[l] for according to the sense in which the terms ' Holy Eucharist'
and ' the Lord's body' are used by Dr. Pusey 's opponents, I have,
of course, never excepted against the belief in the oral reception of
the former ; [2] and Isidore states nothing of the kind imputed to
him by Dr. Pusey."
But surely Mr. Goode need not fear that any reader of
ordinary discernment could be misled by Dr. Pusey's words :
the passage itself plainly shews that he there used the term
" the Lord's Body" as equivalent to " the Holy Eucharist ;"
and that it was in " the sense" of Its being " the Lord's
Body" that he spoke of Mr. Goode's exception to "the
belief in the oral reception" of It : the whole context of the
passage makes this still clearer.
252
To prove the second [2] part of the "attempt to mislead"
Mr. Goode says (p. 19) : —
" As to the extract from Isidore, if the context had been given,
there could not have been quoted, as I have already shown,* a
passage more clearly showing the error of Dr. Pusey in affixing the
meaning he does to the words he has cited ; for Isidore immediately
afterwards says : — 'Bread, inasmuch as it strengthens the body, is
therefore called the Body of Christ ; but wine, inasmuch as it pro-
duces blood in the flesh, is therefore referred (or, likened) to the
blood of Christ."
The Italics are Mr. Goode's.
Now will it be believed that Dr. Pusey had actually given
this very " context" and that it is only separated by two lines
from the passage (" Mr. Goode frequently," etc.) of which
Mr. Goode complains ? The two lines are these, they follow
the words " the blood of Christ," and Mr. Goode would have
done well to quote them in order to assist his readers in un-
derstanding his " context" from S. Isidore : —
" These, then, as being visible, yet sanctified by the Holy Ghost,
pass into the Sacrament of the Divine Body." — (Real Presence,
p. xxv.)
It is, however, very unfortunate that while Mr. Goode
calls the passage he has cited from Dr. Pusey " an apt
specimen of the unfairness of the mode of argumentation
usually adopted by Dr. Pusey and his party" and blames Dr.
Pusey for not quoting a context which he had quoted — (or
perhaps, to be accurate enough for Mr. Goode, I ought to
say — for not ?-e-quoting a context which could ,only have
benefitted the Printer) — it is, I say, unfortunate that Mr.
Goode himself should have been guilty of a more serious
omission than the one he deprecates : he tells us that
" Isidore immediately afterwards" he had used the words
" the Lord's Body should enter the mouth of a Christian
before any other food,'' says, " ' Bread inasmuch,' " etc.
Now, really, when Mr. Goode alleges that it is " the un-
fairness of. . . . Dr. Pusey and his party, which renders it im-
possible for any one, perusing their works alone, to have an
« " See my Work on the Eucharist, p. 242, where other testimonies will be
found of the sense in which such terms were used by the Fathers."
253
idea of the nature of the points in dispute" (p. 19), he ought
not to have made it incumbent upon his own readers to refer
to Dr. Pusey's own extract from S. Isidore in order to ascer-
tain whether he (Mr. Goode) has used the word "imme-
diately " in an exact, or in a loose " sense." Yet what does
the reference reveal ? Why that S. Isidore interposes the
following most important words between the two passages
which I put in brackets to shew the connexion of the whole
paragraph — passages which Mr. Goode says follow " imme-
diately" upon each other : —
" [For this took place then, as a mystery. I mean, that the disci-
ples at first did not receive the Body and Blood of the Lord fasting.
But now by the whole Church it is received fasting. For so it
pleased the Holy Ghost through the Apostles, ' that in honour of so
great a Sacrament, the Lord's Body should enter the mouth of a
Christian before any other food,] and therefore is that custom kept
throughout the whole world." For the Bread which we break, is
the Body of Christ, Who said, ' I am the Living Bread which came
down from Heaven.' But the wine is His Blood, and this it is, which
is written, ' I am the true vine ;' but [bread, because it strengthens
the body, is therefore called the Body of Christ : but the wine, be-
cause it produces blood in the flesh, is therefore referred to the
Blood of Christ]." — (Real Presence, p. xxv.)
I would, then, beg Mr. Goode carefully to consider whether
the passage beginning, " and therefore," etc., and ending
" 'true vine;' but" (which, indeed, he has also omitted in his
" Work on the Eucharist, p. 242," to which he refers us —
See p. 252) does not tell much more against him than the,
alleged, omitted " context" makes for him, even though one
could allow that he has so printed that context as to furnish
the true index to its meaning ?
But has he thus truly indicated the purpose of S. Isidore?
I speak only with the diffidence which becomes me when I
say that Mr. Goode appears to me to have entirely missed the
intention of that writer in the latter part of the paragraph.
For, first of all, his way of quoting it is calculated to mis-
lead ; he prints it (See p. 252) as though the word " Bread"
began the sentence, instead of occurring, as it does, nearly in
the middle of it: next, his italicizing of the sentence is quite
partial, for he omits thus to treat the words "referred to the
254
Blood of Christ :" thirdly, he appears not to perceive, what
seems to me observable, that S. Isidore is only explaining why
" bread," and not " wine," is "called the Body of Christ;'
why " wine," and not " bread," is " referred to the Blood of
Christ ;" it matters nothing whether his theory of the relative
nutritious properties of bread and wine would be sanctioned
or not by modern Chemists and Physiologists ; his purpose
was simply to furnish, what seemed to him to be, the reason
for the Sacramental bread being termed " the Body " " of
Christ " which God graciously gives for " the strengthening ;"
and the wine being termed " the Blood " "of Christ " which
is mercifully afforded for "the refreshing of our souls."
There is yet a fourth way in which Mr. Goode seems to me
to have misrepresented (however unintentionally) S. Isidore's
meaning: whether he has merely quoted Dr. Pusey's trans-
lation or not I cannot say ; however, they coincide verbatim,
except Mr. Goode's Italics : but then Mr. Goode has thought
it right to insert the words " (or, likened)," See p. 252, by
way of explaining S. Isidore's expression " referred :" * but
surely to make " likened " the equivalent of " referred"
though it may seem to serve Mr. Goode's argument by
making " referred " the synonym of " called," wholly perverts
S. Isidore's purpose, which, as I think, was only to shew that
the " bread" and the "wine" were each " referred " respec-
tively and only to the "Body" and " Blood" of Christ, on the
grounds which S. Isidore mentions : I cannot doubt that we
were meant to explain (if indeed explanation be needed)
"called" by " referred," and are not to interpret "referred" by
" likened ;" and this, as it appears to me, removes all pretence
for saying that S. Isidore (among the other Fathers whom
Mr. Goode names) in giving " us reasons why the bread in
the Eucharist is called Christ's Body, and the wine His
Blood," shews that he " did not consider them so really, but
only representatively." {The Nature of Christ's Presence in
the Eucharist, p. 241.) On the contrary, it seems well nigh
impossible for him to have spoken of them in stronger terms,
* "Refertur": Mr. Gocde gives the original of this "contest" in his " work
on the Eucharist, p. 242."
255
as being "so really," than in saying "..the Bread which we
break is the Body of Christ, But the wine is His
Blood . . ."*
To pass on now to another of Mr. Goode's remarks : he
says (p. 19) : —
" .... in order to get rid of objections, a terminology is adopted
which may enable Dr. Pusey to hold his doctrine, and at the same
time deliver him from the necessity of meeting the difficulties attach-
ing to it. Thus he says, ' In the Holy Eucharist, the Body and
Blood of Christ do not (as Mr, Goode often represents us as teaching)
form one whole [i.e. with the bread and wine] except sacramentally .
There is no physical union of the Body and Blood of Christ with the
bread and wine.' (p. xvii.) But what is the meaning of the words
except sacramentally ? Dr. Pusey holds that the two are so united
that they necessarily go together into the mouth of the communi-
cant. Whether Dr. Pusey chooses to call this union sacramental,
.... or anything else, is a matter of indifference. The fact of such
a union is the question in dispute. And to give it an ambiguous or
incomprehensible epithet, in order to make it unassailable, is useless,
except to mislead the reader."
But Mr. Goode ought rather to complain of the Refor-
mation writers, who, as he must know, used these very terms :
I will just refer to those already quoted in these pages.
Foxe says — that the third "conclusion" of P. Martyr's
discussion at Oxford was, " The Body and Blood of Christ
be united to bread and wine sacranientally. " — p. 10.
Dr. Madew replied to Dr. Glyn, — " Forsooth He has but
one very Body . . . ; but the same is sacramentally in the
Sacrament . . ." — p. 14.
Cranmer, explaining his uses of the word "Sacrament,"
says, I use to speak sometimes (as the old authors do) ... of
His sacramental presence.' —p. 20.
* Since the above was in type I have met with the following corroborative
passage in Harding v. Jewel:—' 1 Likewise in the Sacrament of the holy com-
munion, as the bread outwardly feedeth our bodies, so doth Christ's body in-
wardly and spiritually feed our souls. Thus is feeding an effect common unto
them both. And therein standeth the resemblance and likeness of the Sacra-
ment. Therefore Rabanus Maurus (lib. i. cap. xxxi.) saith : Quia panis corporis
cor confirmat, ideo ille congruenter corpus Christi nominatur; et, quia vinum
sanguinem operatur in came, ideo illud refertur ad sanguinem : ' Because the
bread confirmeth the heart of our body, therefore is the same conveniently called
the body of Christ ; and, because wine worketh blood in our flesh : therefore the
wine hath relation unto the blood of Christ." '—p. 793.
256
Again, answering Gardiner, his words are — " We say, that
the Body of Christ .... is in the Sacrament sacramentally,
and in the worthy receivers spiritually, without the proper
form and quantity of His Body." — p. 23.
" . . . . the bread is called Christ's Body after consecra-
tion, as S. Ambrose saith, and yet it is not so really but
sacramentally." — p. 88.
"And I express St. Cyprian's mind truly, .... when I
say, that the Divinity may be said to be poured, or put
sacramentally into the bread ; . . . ." — p. 88.
Ridley, replying to Weston, says — " .... Christ is
offered in many places at once sacramentally . . . ." — p. 56.
To Smith he answers—" .... by the sacramental significa-
tion He is holden of all men." — p. 57.
To Ward he replies — " .... He bade them take His
Body sacramentally in material bread . . . ." — Ibid.
" I grant the bread to be converted .... by sacramental
converting . . . ." — Ibid.
To Ghjn he says — " .... the Body of Christ is present in
the sacrament ; but yet sacramentally . . . ." — p. 58.
To Treskam his words were — " Evil men do eat the very
true and natural Body of Christ sacramentally, and no
further, as St. Augustine saith. But good men do eat the
very true Body, both sacramentally, and spiritually by
grace." — p. 59.
Moreover both forms of the very Declaration on Kneeling,
which I am considering in these pages, twice speak of the
"sacramental bread and wine" not, as I think, without a
designed reference to that change, and union with the Body
and Blood of Christ, which Consecration effects ; for, else,
the word sacramental might well have been omitted without
affecting the sense (seeing that no one ever advocated Adora-
tion of the unconsecrated elements) and this, too, seems to
be indicated in the expression "there bodily," i.e. materially
"received," their "substances" still remaining : thus differing
from the res sacramenti Which is incapable of being mate-
rially received. — (See p. 31 line 4.)
These authorities for the use of the words "sacramental" 1
257
and " sacramentally" ought to content Mr. Goode, and to
convince him that " the fact of such a union" was admitted
by the English Reformers however much it may be " the
question in dispute" now.
And when he demands from Dr. Pusey " the meaning" of
these words, he seems to overlook that Dr. Pusey has so far
explained them (p. xvii.) as to point out that ft the character
of the union .... is different" from that of the " two per-
fect Natures" in the " One Person" of " our Blessed Lord,"
and from " the two parts of one and the same nature .... in
the one person of each of us ;" though " the principle" of
the union " is the same." Thus, in saying what it is not, he
states what it is, viz. a union peculiar to the Sacrament, and
therefore properly called Sacramental : Cranmer (See p. 256)
in Scholastic language, defines it to mean " without the
proper form or quantity of His body :" to insist upon more
than these explanations seems to me to be persisting in a
demand which can only be satisfied by denuding the Sacra-
ment of that Mystery which its very name imports.
Mr. Goode proceeds to say (p. 20) that : —
" . ... on the same ground, Dr. Pusey's work on the testimony
of the Fathers, .... is noticed by the present Bishop of St. David's
only as being one of those compilations which are bringing the
name of a Catena into suspicion and disrepute, as equivalent to an
organ of polemical delusion.' (Charge for 1857, p. 26.)"
Now it may be that the Bishop intended to include " Dr.
Pusey's work on the testimony of the Fathers" in this con-
demnatory notice of the " compilations ; " but certainly his
Lordship does not say it is "one of" them, as I think will
appear upon reading the whole passage which runs thus : —
" I believe however that the so-called catholic teaching, under-
stood as I have said, [f. e., (see Charge p. 25) in the sense attached
to it by its opponents] is no less repugnant both to Scripture and to
the whole stream of genuine primitive tradition, though, by means
of compilations which are bringing the name of a catena into suspi-
cion and disrepute, as equivalent to an engine of polemical delu-
sion, it may be made to appear to have a great mass of patristic
evidence in its favour."
It can hardly fail, I think, to strike anyone who reads this
L L
258
passage — that Mr. Goode's quotation of it could never have
suggested that the Bishop points to a, not unimportant, distinc-
tion — viz., "Catholic teaching" as "understood " respectively
" by its opponents " and by its advocates. But I will not dwell
on this, as I cited the passage for a different purpose, viz.,
to ascertain whether Mr. Goode rightly quotes it as a de-
signed condemnation of Dr. Pusey's " Notes " to his Sermon
on ' the Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist." Now
the only ground for so regarding it, is a Note, appended by
the Bishop to the word " favour," which however Mr. Goode
does not give ; it is as follows :
" A very large part of the passages collected by Dr. Pusey, in his
Notes on his Sermon, 'The Presence of Christ in the Holy
Eucharist ' would be deprived of all, even seeming, relevancy and
argumentative value, by the simple insertion of the word sacramental
or sacramentally."
The position thus revealed is at least a curious one : Mr.
Goode, in no very gentle terms, reproaches Dr. Pusey for
the use of " an ambiguous or incomprehensible epithet,"
which he says must "mislead the reader," and which makes
his work " in an argumentative point of view, wholly
useless: " the Bishop would have this very same "epithet"
employed in order to measure the true value of passages in a
book which Mr. Goode could only safely allege the Bishop to
have condemned (so far as the Charge is concerned) by refer-
ing to this Note which seems to me inconveniently opposed
to Mr. Goode's own protest against "sacramental" and
" sacramentally."
But it must not be overlooked here — that Dr. Pusey has
by anticipation done more than even the Bishop proposes :
for he has given a long Note, extending from p. 264 to
p. 314, the running title of which is " Illustrations used by the
Fathers imply sacramental change only:" while at p. 307 he
writes thus explicitly of " the Fathers:" —
" all their instances harmonize in this one point — a power
above nature put forth in things of nature ; and there is a real,
sacramental change, whereby what was before a mere element of this
world becomes sacramentally the Body and Blood of Christ."
In passing now from Mr. Goode's notice of the Bishop of
259
St. David's Charge I cannot forbear remarking — that, whatever
his Lordship thinks of the views of the advocates of " Catholic
teaching," his tolerant and charitable spirit contrasts strongly
with the tone of Mr. Goode towards his opponents on this
subject : his Lordship referring to the prosecution of Arch-
deacon Denison, says (p. 25) : —
" After the closest attention which I could give to the subject, I . . .
have been led to the conclusion that the dispute, though undoubtedly
indicating a wide discrepancy of views and feelings, is in itself
mainly a verbal one, which would either never have arisen, or have
been easily settled, if there had been an earnest desire for mutual
understanding, instead of a disposition to widen the breach."
And again (p. 26) : —
" Every man has a right, especially when he is on his trial, to ex-
plain his own opinions, and to require that they be judged according
to his own interpretation of them, and not by the construction which
may be put upon them by his adversaries. It may be that his ex-
planation is perplexed and obscure ; it may involve manifest
absurdity and contradiction : it may resolve itself into mere non-
sense. But these are things for which, as I conceive, the author is
fairly amenable to the bar of literary criticism, not to a tribunal
which inflicts penalties affecting civil rights. To sustain a charge of
unsound doctrine, involving such penal consequences, nothing as it
appears to me, ought to suffice, but the most direct unequivocal
statements, asserting that which the Church denies, or denying that
which she asserts."*
* I cannot but subjoin bere an extract from Mr. Fisber (wbom I have before
quoted) as shewing also the thoughts of a candid mind upon this subject : re-
marking upon the "guarded circumspection in the use of terms" as employed
by Dr. Pusey and, more particularly, by the lare Archdeacon Wilberforce, he
says : —
"Of the important bearing of this fact upon the case of the Archdeacon, had
his case been actually brought before the Ecclesiastical Courts, those who are
still familiar with the details of that of Mr. Gorham will not need to be reminded.
It will be remembered, that one of the most effective arguments, employed by Mr.
Gorham's Counsel, was an argument that addressed itself in an especial manner
to those fe dings of deference and respect, which mankind are ever disposed to
entertain for the authority of time-honoured names. It was alleged, that opinions,
which could not ' in any imp >rtant particular be distinguished from those of Mr.
Gorham,' had been propounded and maintained, without censure or reproach, by
many eminent and illustrious prelates and divines who have adorned the Church,
from the time when the Articles were first established. Now the question at
once arises — might not this self-same argument have been used, and with equal
effect, had the occasion required it, in behalf of Archdeacon Wilberforce ? We
believe most assuredly that it might have been thus used ; and, if so, what must
in all fairness have been the issue of the proceedings brought against him ? We
are told of Jewel, Usher, Jeremy Taylor, AVhitgift, Pearson, Carlton, and,
260
The next point to which Mr. Goode calls attention
(pp. 21 to 24) is Dr. Pusey's " discussion of the meaning of
the Advertisement at the end of the first Book of Homilies,
to which" he, Mr. Goode, had "already directed the atten-
tion of the reader" in his " Work on the Eucharist, pp. 40 —
47." I have examined the subject at some length in a former
part of this Appendix (See pp. 152 — 171) where will be
found, what seem to me, adequate reasons for dissenting
from Mr. Goode's conclusions — that the Advertisement was
" opposed to the Doctrine established by authoritative For-
mularies subsequently published," (p. 21): that it cannot
have the slightest force or value " except " That it may be
some indication of the views entertained at the time by the
person who inserted it .... " (p. 23) : and that it " is a mat-
Prideaux, as having held views, upon the subject of Baptism, which are undis-
tinguishable from those of Mr. Gorham. Certainly it would not be difficult to
cite a similar array of names in support even of the more extreme opinions of the
late Archdeacon, provided those opinions are taken according to the letter of hie
published works. What, for instance, shall we say of such divines as Overall,
Cosin, Thorndyke, Sheldon, Bramhall, Jackson, and Morley — all men of mark
and eminence in the Church, and some of them Bishops and Archbishops ? Nay,
what shall we say of the notorious Dr. Gunning himself ; the very man at whose
instigation the rubrical alteration, we are now considering, is known to have
been made ?* These divines may not have written upon the subject of the Eu-
charist at the same length, or with the same systematic precision, as the author
of the book we are now considering; but they have all, and especially the last —
the chief actor be it remembered, in the revision of 1662 — given utterance to
sentiments of which it may without hesitation be affirmed, that they cannot, ' in
any important particular be distinguished' from those of Mr. Wilberforee. And
when, moreover, all the other circumstances of the case are duly considered :
when we call to mind the special reason — namely, a compromise with Rome —
for which the Rubric now under consideration was omitted from the Liturgy of
Elizabeth, together with the strong language which has all along been allowed to
exist in certain portions of our present Communion Service : when we consider
the Scholastic phraseology introduced, as we have already seen, into the Church
Catechism by Bishop Overall; and the final removal, even from the Articles, of
the one only clause contained in them, which was condemnatory, in express
terms of the ' Real Presence :' we see not with what appearance of equity, or
even common fairness, the late Archdeacon of the East Riding could, had hia
case been actually brought before any of our Ecclesiastical Courts, have been de-
prived of the honours of his Archdeaconry; Mr. Gorham continuing all the
while unmolested in the vicarical emoluments of Brampford Speke." —
pp. 388—391.
* In a note Mr. Fisher gives the passage which I had quoted from Burnet at p. "0, remark-
ing upon it, " And yet it » as to men capable of such ex travagaiicies as this, that the final re-
vi»ion of our National Service-book was entrusted ; and we, forsooth, are content to accept
their handy -work as the expression of our own religious belief."
26}
ter of secondary importance " to consider " whether the
phrase used in this Advertisement was used to express
the doctrine of the real presence in the bread and wine, their
substance remaining, . . . ." (p. 23).
My only reason for now adverting to this part of the
"Supplement" is Mr. Goode's complaint that "Dr. Pusey,
according to his usual custom of ignoring the strongest points
of his opponents' argument, .... takes no notice " (p. 22) of
his citation of Cranmer's reply to Gardiner who had said
(See p. 21) that the expression "under the form of bread
and wine " occurred " in the distribution of the Holy
Communion."
Why Dr. Pusey did not notice this I do not know; he may
have thought it, as certainly it seems to me to be, one of the
weakest of Mr. Goode's arguments ; for how the fact — that
the phrase did not occur in so improbable a place as the
Communion Office of 1549 — proves its lack of authority
where it stands in the First Book of Homilies, is a position
which I should have thought it impossible to maintain with-
out very different evidence from what Mr. Goode has pro-
duced or, indeed, from any which seems to exist. Mr.
Goode, however, resorts to a singular plea in order to main-
tain what he regards as Cranmer's fatal answer to any Doc-
trinal claim of the Advertisement : he says : —
"If the form of words in question occurred in any formulary of
authority in our Church, that was equivalent to their being in the
' Communion Book. ' "
They did occur, however, as Mr. Goode says, (p. 22) " at
the end of an authoritative Formulary ; " that " Formulary"
(to use Mr. Goode's nomenclature) : being the first Book of
Homilies : but suppose, for argument's sake, they had
"occurred " in either of the Homilies themselves ; would Mr.
Goode really consent to place these " Sermons " on the same
footing as the Communion Office ? If so, is he prepared to
accept all the consequences of such a theory, and to acquiesce
in all the statements of these Homilies as readily as he is
bound to admit the teaching of the Communion Office itself?
It may be so, but I much doubt it. Yet, if not, of what
262
use is his argument at all ? But even if he is willing to be
bound by the legitimate force of his own proposition, it by
no means follows that, in that proposition, he represents the
mind of Archbishop Cranmer or the Convocation : surely it
cannot be seriously maintained that they ever contemplated
such an identification of the Homilies and the Communion
Office. It was a most legitimate and useful thing to propose
to instruct the people in the true meaning of a current
Theological term, by issuing a Homily in which it should be
explained : it would have been, to say the least, a most
doubtful proceeding to employ in a public Liturgy (where
explanation was impossible) — that Liturgy, too, being a re-
formed one — an expression which was well known to be used in
support of different Doctrines by different classes of religion-
ists ; one of these Doctrines being that very one of Transub-
stantiation which the Church of England had ceased to hold
when the Prayer Book of 1549 was issued. It is'easy there-
fore to understand why Cranmer repelled in somewhat strong
terms Gardiner's assertion, that the phrase was used "in the
distribution of the Holy Communion ;" but it seems to me
most illogical to infer from this circumstance, that " Cranmer
evidently repudiates the phrase altogether as one used by the
Church of England." I am content to set against Mr.
Goode's inference the facts — that at this very time (1551)
Cranmer's Catechism of 1548 was still in circulation : that, in
that Catechism, Cranmer had employed this precise phrase
(See p. 155) : that, in his " Answer to Gardiner," (1551) he
used the very phrase (See p. 179 and Note) : that in this same
Book he adhered to the Catechism* (See p. 1 59): and that there
is nothing whatever to show that he ever abandoned it ;
whereas, on the contrary, all that we know goes to prove that
he maintained it to the end of his life.
But Mr. Goode, anxious to deprive the Advertisement of
any possible weight, yet seemingly embarrassed by the con-
* .... this document is, as has already heen shown, authenticated by Cran-
mer himself, no less decisively at the close of the yesr 1551 — when, according to
Burnett, the SECOND Book of Edw. had already been drawn up— than at the time
of its first publication." — Fisher Lit. Pur. p. 235. The Italics and Capitals are
Mr. Fisher's.
263
sidcration, that Archbishop Cranmer's opinions will naturally
be regarded as a fair test of its meaning, further says (p. 23) : —
" And the question as to what Cranmer's precise views were in
1547 will not determine the meaning of this Advertisement, for the
authorship of the Advertisement is not known ; and such a notice,
having no legal authority, might be inserted by any one to whom
the office of editing the first book of homilies was entrusted ; and
certainly few among the authorities of our Church had then given up
the doctrine of Transubstantiation. It is clear, as I have just shewn,
that Cranmer altogether repudiated the phrase occurring in it as
one to which our Church was committed, and shows by his language,
in several places respecting it, what he understood by it. And
therefore it cannot be supposed that he inserted it."
Now we have just seen that the Archbishop did make the
phrase his own, and, in a sense, the Church of England's too,
by using it in his Catechism of 1548 : yet he certainly never
"repudiated" that Catechism, but distinctly upheld it (See
p. 159), in the very "Answer to Gardiner," wherein, according
to Mr. Goode, he " altogether repudiated " it for " our
Church ;" we are driven then to this conclusion — that Cran-
mer held and taught a Doctrinal phrase which he well knew
and openly declared to be opposed to the mind of that Church
over which he was Archbishop ; but, as for my own part I
cannot believe that the Primate would thus dishonestly in-
struct the " children and yong people " of England so, the
merest charity obliges to the persuasion, that Cranmer did
not consider the phrase to be disallowed in the Church of
England, even though he might not think her formally " com-
mitted " to it : if so, it may most fairly and reasonably " be
supposed that he inserted it."
But, says Mr. Goode, "few among the authorities of our
Church had then given up the doctrine of Transubstantiation :"
yet certainly Cranmer had ; and therefore he was not very
likely to entrust the " editing" of the book to any one by
whom, perchance, the phrase in question might be introduced
with the design of supporting that Doctrine. It is, however,
a mere assumption on Mr. Goode's part, that the Archbishop
employed any one to Edit the Homilies : certainly there is no
known proof that he did, though there is sufficient reason for
264
thinking that he did not : yet, if he did, is it in the least likely
that he neglected to look at the Book when it came out of
the printer's hands ? In that case could the Advertisement, or
so important an alteration of it, have escaped his notice? On
the supposition, indeed, that the Book was Edited by another,
it is not impossible that a sentence of seven words might have
been overlooked by the Archbishop, if inserted in the body
of the Homilies ; but assuredly it is most improbable that
he could have overlooked it in so conspicuous a place as it
occupies at the end of the Book. As to Mr. Goode's
assertion, that " the authorship of the Advertisement is
not known," it no more detracts from its value than does the
like ignorance diminish the worth of some of the Homilies
themselves ; and when (to account for, what he considers,
its unwarranted insertion) he says that it had " no legal
authority," it seems to me enough to say — that I believe he
would fail to produce any "legal authority" for the Homilies
themselves which does not equally apply to this Advertise-
ment.
I suppose Mr. Goode would allow that the Doctrine
of Transubstantiation was authoritatively abolished in the
Church of England when the 2nd Book of Homilies was
published in Elizabeth's reign : yet Bishop Jewel, while
denying Harding's doctrine of a carnal Presence, uses the
phrase in question (See p. 249) without any indication that
he objected to it except in the sense which Harding put
upon the word " forms" viz. accidents without substance ,* or
" fantasies" as Jewel calls them:* if, then, as there is good
* Jewel's language to Harding in " The Defence of the Apology" shews
more clearly his meaning in the passage referred to above ; thus he says: —
" But ye tell us further of yourself, that the body of Christ in the Sacrament
.... being (as you sav) a very natural bodv, yet hath neither likeness nor shape
of a body." -p. 2.58 Ed. P. S.
Again, quoting St. Augustine, " Hereof we may conclude that the body of
Christ, which you have imagined to be contained grossly and carnally in the
sacrament, forasmuch as by your own confession it hath neither quality, nor
quantity, nor form, nor place, nor proportion of body, therefore by St. Augus-
tine's doctrine it is no body." —Ibid. p. 259.
So, too, referring to Harding's distinction of "form" and "substance," he
asks — " But now, what if all this great imagined difference be no difference ?
What if these two words ' form' and ' substance,' as they be used by Fulgentius.
be all one ?" — Ibid. p. 261.
265
reason to believe, Jewel edited the Second Book of Homilies,
the natural conclusion seems to be that he could not have
regarded the terms of the Advertisement as being either un-
authorized by, or repugnant to the mind of, the Church of
England :* else, though he might not have felt at liberty to
omit it, he would never have recognized it so distinctly in the
Title of the 2nd Book which declares that the " Homilies"
therein contained were "of such matters as were promised
Then, referring to SS. Athanasius, Chrysostotn, Augustine, and Leo, he
further enquires — " Wherefore say you of your own head, that ' form' and
' substance" be so contrary, seeing the Catholic fathers say they be both one ? "
— Ibid. p. 262. See also his remarks on "forma' and " uatura," pp. 512-13.
* Since writing the above I have read for the first time Mr. Griffiths' copious
and careful Preface to the new Oxford Edition (1859) of the Homilies : his
" collation of" the published editions with what he seems reasonably to regard
as 'I the original form" of the Homily of the Resurrection leads him to the fol-
lowing remarks : — " .... the omission of the words 1 in form of bread' in p.
433, 1. 22, was doubtless intentional, and ought to be borne in mind, when at-
tempts are made to fjund an argument for the presence of Christ in the con-
secrated elements upon the retention of the words ' under the form of bread and
wine' in the promise of more Homilies which closes the First Book : for its im-
port is shewn by another omission, ' now received in this holy Sacrament,' in p.
435, 1. 18."-p. xxxiv.
Now here it is important first of all to observe that Mr. Griffiths (who has very
carefully investigated the subjects of Authorship, Editorship, and Editions of buth
Booksof Homilies) never attempts to question (as Mr.Goodedoes) thegenuinenessor
authority of this Advertisement: speaking of the First Book of Homilies "he
does not hesitate to say (p. xiv.) that " Cranmer intended from the first that
more should follow, and put a promise to that effect at the end of the Book
together with a list of subjects on which they should treat." With regard, how-
ever to the omission of the phrase "in form of bread" (which Mr. Griffiths
seems to consider as now lessening the argumentative value of the expression —
" under the form of bread and wine) it may fairly be supposed that it was con-
sidered best to avoid the incidental use, in "this Homily, of a controverted term
relating to a subject promised to be dealt with in another Homily treating ex-
clusively of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. As to the second
change in the same Homily, viz. the omission of the words which I bracket in the
following sentence—" Yea, how dare we be so bold to renounce the presence of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost [now received in this holy Sacrament],
(for, where one is, there is God all whole in Majesty together with all his
power, wisdom, and goodness,) " &c.— I cannot see how it sustains Air. Griffiths'
opinion as to the former by shewing, as he says, the " import" of the other
omitted sentence : rather it seems to me to have been left out as having beon
already better expressed just before (p. 433, L 28, &c ) in the sentence, " Thou
hast received his body to have within thee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost for to dwell with thee, to endow thee with grace, to strength thee against
thy enemies, and to comfort thee with their presence." Indeed Mr. Griffiths'
conjecture, if correct, would seem to sustain the authority and fitness of the
terms " under the form of bread and wine" as being the equivalent of the phrase
"in this holy Sacrament;" for 1 suppose the objectors to the Advertisement will
not deny that the Church of England might sanction such a formula as this—
" Of the due receiving of His Body and Blood in the Holy Sacrament."
It is convenient, and may be useful (as bearing upon what has been said at
M M
266
and intituled in the former part of Homilies." It is most im-
probable, too, that the History and Authorship of the Adver-
tisement had been forgotten in sixteen years ; for no longer
time had elapsed between the 1st Edition of the First Book
in 1547, and the 1st Edition of the Second Book published in
1563 under the sanction of the Queen and Convocation; yet
in that period no less than twenty Editions of the First Book
are known to have been published ; viz. fifteen in King
Edward's reign, (between 1547 and 1552,) and five under
Queen Elizabeth (between 1559 and 1563) prior to the is-
suing of the Second Book.* The Title of the- 1st Eliza-
bethan Edition informs us also that they were " by her
Grace's aduyse perused and ouersene ;" and, whether Parker
or Cox or Jewel performed this office, the Advertisement
could not have been unnoticed by either of them : what
Bishop Cox thought of its authority we know from the
Preface which Strype tells us he prepared for the Second
Book ; for he there says that " whereas in the said [First]
Book of Homilies mention was made of other Homilies con-
cerning certain necessary points of religion that were in-
tended to be annexed to these, her Highness hath caused the
same to be faithfully drawn" &c. — {Annals c. xxx.) More-
over it cannot reasonably be doubted that the sense in which
Cranmer used the word " form," in the Advertisement, was
p. 2C9, relative to Art. xxix.) to notice here an alteration which Mr. Griffiths
says (Pref., p. xxi. and Note ii., p. 445) w as also made in " The first part of the
Sermon concerning the Sacrament." He states that in " th» original form "
above mentioned (w hich he believes to be the copy presented to Elizabeth of the
2nd Book of Homilies, as settled in the Convocation of 1563) the following
bracketed passage from St. Augustine occurs, though it was omitted in the first
and in all the subsequent published Editions : — " For the unbelievers and faith-
less cannot feed upon that precious Body : whereas the faithful have their life,
their abiding in him ; their union, and as it were their incorporation, with him.
[Whereof thus saith St. Augustine; ' He which is at discorel with Christ doth
neither eat his flesh nor drink his blood, although he receive to the judgment of
his destruction, daily the outward sacrament of so great a thing.'] Wherefore
let us," etc. In the margin was the reference " Lib. 4 de Trinit.," which was
also omitted. It will be recollected that Article xxix. was suppressed, although
it had been passed in the same Convocation of 1-563. The Article was restored
in 1571, but not so this omitted passage of the Homily. Peichance this may
have influenced Abp. Parker in removing, as is said, (see p. 209) the reference
to St. Augustine from the margin of the Article.
* See Mr. Griffiths' Catalogue, pp. 1. to lx.
267
well known at the time the Second Book was prepared; and,
too, that that sense was none other than the anti-roman one,
already quoted from Jewel, viz. substance and not merely
accidents.
I have already drawn attention (pp. 162-165) to a point
which seems not to have been sufficiently regarded by any in
considering the notice of the promised Homily and its sup-
posed production in the Second Book under the title " Of
the worthy receiving and revereut esteeming of the Sacra-
ment of the Body and Blood of Christ." The argument
there was founded upon a probable conclusion (drawn from
Bp. Burnet)* that this Homily was due to Cranmer's own
fulfilment of the promise ; though it was also shewn what
would be the effect of the discovery that the Homily was cer-
tainly not prepared by Cranmer. It is in place here to observe
that (assuming the Homily to have been compiled or revised
by Jewel) what was there suggested (p. 165) as a reason
which might have induced the Archbishop not to use in the
Homily the words " under the form of bread and wine" ap-
plies equally to the Bishop ; for Jewel at that time may have
entertained the like fear of its being popularly accepted in
Harding's sense, which Cranmer in his day probably had of
its being interpreted by Gardiner's definition. Yet such an
act of prudent consideration no more proves of Jewel than of
Cranmer — that he objected to it as being at variance with
the teaching of the Church of England — on the contrary it
seems to me that a further proof of his acceptance of it, in
the sense in which he must have known that Cranmer em-
ployed it, is to be found in " The twenty-sixth Article" of
his controversy with Harding, against whom Jewel maintains
that no proof can be found in the first six centuries " that
the Sacrament is a sign or token of the body of Christ, that
lieth hidden underneath it."
Harding had said : —
" That the outward form of bread, which is properly the sacra-
* " . . . . there were two books of Homilies prepared; the first was pub-
lished in King Edward's time; the second was not finished till about the time of
his death ; so it was not published before Queen Elizabeth's time." — Expos, of
Art. xxxv.
/>
268
ment, is the sign of the body of Christ, we confess, yea, of that
body which is covertly in or under the same, which St. Augustine
calleth camera Domini forma pants opertarn, ' the flesh of the Lord
covered with the form of bread:' "
To this Jewel answers thus : —
" These words of St. Augustine are alleged and answered before.*
That holy learned father never said, neither that the forms and ac-
cidents be the sacrament, nor that Christ's body is really hidden
under the same ; nor in this place speaketh any one word at all of
any accidents.
" But the words wherein M. Harding is deceived are these, forma
panis ; which words signify not the outward forms and accidents, as
he untruly expoundeth them, but the very kind and substance of
the bread. So St. Paul saith : . . . . Christ, being in the form (or
nature) of God, took upon him the form (or nature) of a servant,'
.... I think M. Harding will not say, Christ took a body of forms
and accidents, that he might be conversant and live with men ....
"And as touching the other word operta, 'covered,' St. Augus-
tine meaneth not thereby that Christ's body is I'eally contained and
covered under the said form or kind of bread, but only that it is
there as in a sacrament or in a mystery. In this sense St.
Augustine saith : . . . ' The grace of God lay hidden covered in the
old Testament.' And again : . . . ' The new Testament was hidden
in the old, that is to say, it was secretlv signified in the old.' " — pp.
790-7.
* That is at pp. 618 and 619 of the same Volume : I have given two short
extracts from the answer at p. 247 : but it may be useful to n ake a further
quotation here : thus Jewel says— " In the second word, operta, which signifieth
' covered,' M. Harding wittingly dissemblcth his own learning, and would seem
not to know the manner and nature of all sacraments ; which is to offer one
thing outwardly unto our senses, and another inwardly to our mind. Hereof
there is sufficiently spoken before, in the second and eighth division of this
article." f— p. 618.
"Thus the Sacrament of Christ's flesh, which, according to the doctrine of
St. Augustine, beareth the name of the thing that it signifieth, is called Christ's
flesh, invisible, spiritual, and only to be conceived by understanding. For the
whole work hereof pertaineth, not unto the mouth or teeth, as St. Augustine
saith , but only to faith and spirit."— p. 619.
+ Viz. at pp. 594, 595, C04— e. g. "These things considered, it may soon appear how faith-
fully and how well to his purpose M. Harding allegeth this place of St. Augustine: Hoc est,
quod dicimus, etc: ( De Coiisecr. Dist. 2.) ' This is it that we say, which we go about by all
means to prove, that the sacrifice of the Church is made of two things, and standeth
of two things; of the visible kind (or nature) of the elements, and of the invisible flesh
and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; of the Sacrament, the outward holy sign, and the
thing of the sacrament, which is the body of Christ.' Hereof M. Harding galhereth that
the body of Christ lieth hidden under the accidents. St. Augustine's words be true; but
M- Harding witli hit. guesses ij. much deceived. For of this word specie he concludeth that
the substance of bread is gone, and nothing remaining but only accidents ; and of this word
invisibili he gathereth that Christ's body is there really inclosed. And so he maketh a com-
mentary far beside his text." — p. 594.
" Neither does this word ' visible' import any such external form as is here imagined ; but
only excludeth the body of. Christ, which is in heaven, invisible to our bodily eyes, and
visible only to the eyes of our faith." — p. 595.
For the passage at p, G04 see p. 247.
269
But then, lest this illustration should be thought to prove
too much, it is well to notice another illustration which Jewel
gives, together with it, at p. 618 : —
" But as St. Augustine saith here, Christ's body is hidden under
the form or kind of bread ; even so he saith : . . . ' The grace of
God lay hidden in the old testament.' Even so Gregory saith : . . .
' As the chaff hideth the corn, so the letter hideth the Spirit.' Even
so again St. Augustine saith : . . . ' The new Testament was hidden
in the old.' But he expoundeth himself : . . . ' It was hidden, that
is to say, it was secretly signified.' And thus by St. Augustine's
own words and exposition, we may likewise say : . . . ' Christ's flesh
is privily hidden, that is to say,' as St. Augustine expoundeth it, ' it
is privily signified.' ''
Now Jewel's quotation from St. Gregory in this passage
removes a difficulty which it and the former passage might
else present, and so helps us to see that he might (as I have
argued that he did) accept the phrase " under the form of
bread and wine," allowing a true yet denying a physical
Presence therein and therewith of the Body and Blood of
Christ. For it is clear that the "corn" hidden under the
"chaff" is a material thing; but, as he himself says,* the
like was not true of " the new Testament" which "was
hidden in the old;" why then (besides another) did he use
two illustrations which are thus at variance ? I can imagine
no other reason than that he wished to guard himself from
seeming to unsay what (as Compiler or Editor) he had said
two years before on behalf of the Church of England, in
the Homily of " The Worthy Receiving," &c, viz. that the
Sacrament of the Altar was " no untrue figure of a thing ab-
sent;" and further that (while by one illustration, from the two
Testaments, he sustained his resistance to a Carnal Presence
and by a second, from the chaff and corn, pointed to his
* " Here, lest M. Harding should take these words strictly and grossly, as
he doth the rest, and say, the new testament indeed and really was covered in
the old, St. Augustine himself hath prevented him, and opened his own meaning
in this wise, as it is said before : Occultabatur, . . . id est, occulte siyuijieabalur,
[De Baptism, contr. Donatist. Lib. 1. c. xv. 24.] : ' it was covered, that is to say,
it was secretly signified.' By which exposition, being St. Augustine's, M.
Harding might have learned likewise to expound these words : caro operta
forma panis, id est, oeculte significata : ' The flesh covered in the form or sub-
stance of bread, that is to say, privily signified in the form or substance of
bread.' "—p. 797.
270
belief in a Substantial Presence) in comparing this Sacra-
ment with "the grace of God [which] lay hidden in the old
testament" and with " the letter [which] hideth the Spirit,"
he used a third analogy, which, varying from yet combining
the other two, supported a Sacramental but withal a True
and Real Presence.
There is, however, another reason — and a very forcible one
— for believing that neither Cranmer nor Jewel nor their con-
temporary Authorities in the Church of England repudiated
the phrase in question ; for it occurs in one of the " Prayers
of the Passion" in the first Elizabethan Edition (1559) of
Hen. 8th's reformed Primer of 1545: the Prayer is as fol-
lows : —
"Our [1545. O, Jesu Christ, which] Saviour and Redeemer, Jesu
Christ, which in thy last supper with thine Apostles didst deliver
[1545. consecrate] thy blessed body and blood under the form of
bread and wine ; Grant us, we beseech thee, ever stedfastly to be-
lieve, and kindly to acknowledge, thy infinite and almighty power,
thy incomprehensible love towards us, and that we may alway wor-
thily receive the same blessed Sacrament, according to thy holy
ordinance, that thereby we may obtain increase of all goodness
[1545. godlynes] in unity of spirit with thee our head, and, by thee
and thy Spirit, with all the company of them that be truly thine,
which be thy spiritual and mystical body, and our spiritual and
Christian brethren. Hear us, our Saviour Christ, for thine [1545.
thy name sake. Amen.] name's sake." — Private Prayers. Q. Eliza-
beth. Parker Society, 1851, p. 86.
Now this Prayer first appeared (so far as any known
Edition shews) in Hen. 8th's reformed Primer of 1545:
several Editions of that Book were subsequently published
down to the year 1575; omitting, however, the reign of
Mary: the Book is wholly different both from the Sarum
Primer (of which many Editions were printed, before and
after 1545, in England and on the Continent) and also from
Edward 6th's Primer of 1558; these therefore, as not fur-
nishing any evidence either way, need not here be considered :
but it seemed to me important to compare the different exist-
ing Copies and Editions of the Primer of 1545 and to note
any variations of the phrase now under consideration. The
result of this collation is shewn in the following Table which
271
will, I think, materially aid the enquiry as to the authority of
the phrase itself. The Copies in the British Museum I have
myself examined ; for the rest I am partly indebted to the
kindness of friends upon whose accuracy I can rely.
All the Copies which are noticed in this Tahle were printed
in London : the Continental Editions (of which there are
many), being of no value in this enquiry, are not included.
Size and Printer.
Where kept.
Variations in the Prayer.
1545
June
1545
June
Sept.
1545
1545
1545
1545
154G
Aug.
xx.
154G
1551
prob.
4to. E. Whitchurche.
8vo. Edw.Whitchurche.
4to. Richd. Grafton.
4to.
4to. Grafton.
4to. Grafton.
4to. Whitchurch.
8vo. Ed. Whitchurche,
4to. R. Grafton.
4to. R. Grafton.
4to. R. Grafton.
4to. R. Grafton.
4to. Will. Powell.
B. Mus. C. 35. b.
C. 25. h. 10.
Q. Coll. Oxford.
Bodl. Gough 39.
Bodi. Douce BB 1-23.
Bodl. P. 14. Th. Seld.
B. Mus. C. 35. a.
Bodl. P. Hi. Th. Seld.
C. 25. h. 6.
B. Mus. •
1—2.
Bodl. Donee BB 122
Bodl. Gough 44.
C. 35 b.
B. Mus.
1—2.
C. 25. h. 9.
above p. 27() . .
Ball. Coll. Oxford.
" Our Saviour and Re-
deemer Jesu Christe,
whiche in thy last sup-
per with thyne Apostles
didst consecrate thy
BLESSED BODY & BLOOD
UNDER THE FOURME OF
Graunt" &c.
Ib. lb.
" O Jesu Christ, . . .
Ib. Ib.
" . . . . consecrate . . . ."
" . . . . consecrate . . . ."
" . . . . consecrate . . . ."
" Oure Savioure & re-
demer Jesu Christ . .
consecrate "
" . . . . consecrate . . . ."
" Our saviour & redemer
Jesu Christ, . . . conse-
crate . . . ."
" . . . . consecrate . . . ."
" . . . . consecrate . . . ."
" Our sauiour & redemer
Jesu Christ, . . . deliver
thy blessed body" &c.
lb.
Ib.
i/i liver
Colo-
phon
1575
.... dehjuer the Sacra-
ment of thy Blessed Bodije
and liloude : graunt that
we" &e.
No. 1— Wants Title, supplied in M.S. to agree with No. 2 : the Colophon gives the date.
No 2 — "The Primer set forth by ye Kinges majesty and his eleargy, ami none other to he
used throughout his dominions. 1545." The date '■ xix. (lay of June 154.5'' occurs in the
Colophon.
272
Having thus tabulated the results of the examination of
these Primers, let us see to what conclusion they lead us :
but, first, I must own that, confident as one felt of the
No. 3— "The Primer in Englishe and Latyn, set foorth by the Kynges majestie and his
Clergie to be taught, learned, and read : and none other to lie used throughout all his do-
minions. Lond. Kichd Grafton, vi. Sept. 1545. Cum priv."
No. 10—" The Primer set forth by the Kinges majestie and his Clergie to be taught,
learned, and red : and none other to be used thorowout all his dominions.
" Imprinted at London the last daye of Nouember, in the first yere of the reign of our
souereigne Lorde the Kyng Edward the vi. by Richard Grafton printer to his moste royall
in.ij .tie, cum priv." &c.
No. 13— No title : in Colophon " The ende of the Primer. Imprinted at London by
Richard Grafton, Printer to the Kynges majestie. 1551. cum priv.'"
No. 14 — " The Primer set furth by the Kynges hyghness and hys Clergie, to be taught,
learned and read, of all his louying subjectes, all other set aparte, corrected accordyng to the
Statute made in the third, and, iiii. yere of our soueraigns Lord the Kynges Majesties reigne.
"Cum priuileizio ad imprimendum solum. - ' — Colophon. "Imprvnted at London in Flete-
strete, by me Willyam Powell, dwellynge at the sygne of the George, next to saynt Dunstans
Churche."
The book has no date: it is supposed to be 1551 : it may be later, but it must be sub-
sequent to the Stat, of 1549-50, in pursuance of which it was printed.
The " Statute" here referred to is the 3 & 4 Edw. vi. c. 10. A.D. 1549-50. "An Act for
the abolishing and putting away divers Books and Images." Section v. of which Provides
"... that any person or persons may use, keep. have, and retain any Primers in the Eng-
lish or the Latin tongue, set fonh by the late king of famous meniorv. King Henry the
Eighth, so that the sentences of invocation or prayer to saints in the same Primers be blotted
or clearly put out of the .-.ame ; . . ."
No. 16.— "The Primer and Catechisme, set forth at large, wyth meny godly praiers neces-
sarie for all faithfuil Christians to reade. By Q. BHzabeti [these Italicized words are written
in ink.] Imprinted at London by William Seres. Anno 1566."
The Colophon reads thus—" Imprinted at London, by William Seres, dwelling at the West
ende of Paules Church, at the sygne of the hedgehogge. Cum priuilegio ad iinprimendum
solum. Anno 157.3. ''
Besides this Copy (which is in the Lihrarv of Balliol College, Oxford) there are two other
copies, in the Bodleian Library, of which Mr. Latlibury (Hist. Bk. of Com. Prayer, 185S.) thus
speaks:— "In 1575 another Primer was published .... Of this edition, there are two
copies in the Bodleian. They have indeed usually been regarded as different editions. One
has no title, the other no colophon. The title to the one has the date of 1566 ; the colophon
to the other that of 1575. After a careful examination, I ascertained that they are of
the same edition. The real date of the books is that inthe colophon, 1575 ; and the date
in the title ol one copy is merely that of some other book, for which the woodcut border
had been used in 1566. Such variations between the title and the colophon of books in
these times are very common. The woodcut border bore the date of the year in which it
was first used ; and in taking the block for this Piimer the date was either forgotten to be
removed, or designedly retained, and the proper year given in the Colophon."— p. 67.
Mr. Lathbury informs me that his recollection of these particulars is quite distinct, and
that he still adheres to the same opinion as to the real date of the Book.
The Editor of the Parker Society's reprint of the Primer of 155U (No. 15) also thinks that
1575 " after all, may be the true date even of the former volume," i.e. the book of 1566.
But, having myself carefullv examined these two Bodleian copies (since I communicated
with Mr. Lathbury), and compared them with the Balliol copy, I am strongly of opinion
that 1566 is the true date at which they were originally printed, and that either there was a
jurther issue in 1575 with a Colophon of that date appended, or that (as is just possible) the
type was kept standing and fresh copies were struck oif in 1575 That there was no re-com-
position is clear from little detects of printing (0.17. a lead standing up) w hich appear in the
With regard to Mr Lathburv's particulars of the Editions I must remark that either he
has fallen into an error, or one of the two copies he mentions is missing from the Bodleian :
for both the copies now there have the Title Page, whereas Mr. L states that only one, of
the two he saw, possessed it.
The two copies (which are both imperfect) are marked " Tanner 63 " and " 80. C. 65 Line."
The Title-page of both agrees exactly with the Balliol copy, except in not having like it the
words " Q. Elizabeth" wrttttn : the " Tanner 63 " has no Colophon and ends with a " Prayer.
For the desire of the life to come :" the other copy has an additional page containing
"Another Prayer. Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of dark-
ness," Sec. ; and then comes a notice—
" U Thus endeth the Primer at large now newly Printed with the Kinges Psalmes." On
the back of this page is the Colophon which agrees exactly with the Balliol ropy. The con-
tents of the Bodleian copies and of the Balliol c,>ii> are exactly the same: the Balliol has also
the addiUonal Prayer contained on the last leaf of the Bodleian " 80. C. 85 Line."
273
authority attaching to the dogmatic expression "under the
form of bread and wine," I had no idea that so much ad-
ditional support could be found for it in the successive
Editions of this Book of Devotions ; and, next, I cannot but
Thus, then, it is clear that ail three copies were printed from the same "forms " : whether
they were composed in 1506 or 1573 is the point to be decided : it could only be absolutely
settled that there was an Edition of 15GG by the riiscovery of a copy bearing that date both in
the Title-pace and the Oil", hon. or by ascertaining with certainty that the " Tanner 63" (or
It appears to me, however, that the following Almanack, which is found in all three copies
(but which does not seem to have been considered sutlieie'iitly, if at all, bel'ore)goes very far
to remove any doubt that 156G is the original date of the Books.
11 An Almanack for ix yeares.
Tin;
Easter
The
h
|ta
orde
Day
Sun
15G6.
14 Aprill.
9
F
1567.
30 March.
10
O
15K8.
18 Aprill.
DC
1569.
10 Aprill.
12
1.570.
26 March.
13
A
1571.
15 Aprill.
14
G
1572.
6 Aprill.
15
F C
1573.
22 Maich.
16
D
1574.
11 Aprill.
17
C
Q The yeare haih, 12 months, or 52, weekes and one daye. And it hath in all 3
hundred and, cii dayes, and 7, houres.
Now, looking at this Almanack, the question at once suggests itself— if this Book was
printed in 1575 how is it that the Almanack only comes down to 1574! For all practical
purposes it was wholly useless in 1575 to give the " Easter daye" for the nine previous
years: but it would have been important, in a popular book printed in 1506, to turnish the
date of that Festival for some subsequent years; and, accordingly, this Almanack gives it
for the next eight years after 15GG : it seems hardly possible, therefure, to avoid the conclu-
sion that the Primer must have been originally printed in 1566. Moreover the continuance
of this same Almanack in the copies with the Colophon date of 1575, (viz. the Bodleian
"So. C. 85 Line" and the Balliol copy,) makes me decidedly think that they were simply a
further issue of stock copies to which the Additional Prayer and the Colophon were added
in 1575; and that the Bodleian "Tanner 63" is a copy of the Hook as it appeared in 1566.
This opinion is strengthened by the fact that the Primer of 1559 (No. 15) also contains an
Almanack in which " Easter day" is given for the 15 years next following.
The two Bodleian copies contain the Eucharistic Prayer precisely in the altered form which
occurs in the Balliol copy (No. 16) if, then, my conjecture as to the date of these three
Books is correct (viz. 1566), it is likely that the change in the language of the Prayer was
made then, and not in 1575 ; and this is exceedingly probable, considering the circumstance
mentioned by Mr. Orillillis (see p. 2G5) that similar words, viz. " in form of bread" had been
already omitted in the pitlilisli, d Editions of the Homilv of the Resurrection as it first ap-
peared in laG.'l — just .1 years before this Edition of the Primer was put forth.
Still it is possible (though, 1 think, unlikely) that these copies are & revised Edition pub-
lished in 1575 of one printed in 15bG with the same Title page, and worked off from the old
"forms"; and that, consequently, the Prayer remained unchanged until the later date : but
to establish this it is necessary to find a copy containing the unaltered prayer with the un-
deniable date of 1566.
This Edition of 1575 appears to be the latest authorized Edition of that of 1545 : there are
indeed in the Bodleian four copies of a professed reprint or the Ed. of 154G (see No. 9),
they are marked 8vo. Rawl. 218, and Cough Missal 5,88,93: they have no date however;
the Typography leads to the belief that they are of or about 1701 ; but, as there is nothing to
shew that this reprint was published by authority so, no conclusion can be drawn from the
fact of its containing the Prayer as it stood in 1546.
N N
274
surmise that Mr. Goode did not contemplate the existence of
this kind of evidence, else he must have allowed its force, and
so have modified his language about the Phrase, or he would
surely have produced it in order to shew, if he could, its in-
applicability to the case. Moreover, in weighing the evidence
of these Primers, it is of much consequence to remember —
that (like Authors) Printers, and especially Royal Printers,
were not free in those days to publish what Devotional or
Theological Books they pleased, nor to retain or omit in them
what they chose : the cum privilegio of that day was not only
an inhibition to others, but also a stringent law to those who
received it, binding them to print only what was sanctioned
by the proper authority : so long, indeed, as that authority was
not withdrawn from any given Edition, they were free to print
it as often, and in as great numbers, as the demand for it war-
ranted ; but self-interest alone was a sufficient check to any de-
parture from this rule by those who wished to retain their privi-
lege. It is, then, worse than useless to allege (as Mr. Goode
does of the Advertisement*) or to imply, that the Printers
were responsible for the continuance of this Phrase in suc-
cessive Editions of the Homilies, or of the Primer; for, to
say the least, it is highly improbable that a Royal Printer of
that period would have taken so venturesome a step as to
create a precedent of even such comparative harmlessness as,
it seems, Crown and University Printers have hazarded within
about the last seventy years : viz., to alter, without I believe
any authoritative direction, the Rubrics touching the time of
Publication of Banns, in order to make them accord with an
Act of Parliamentf which was not designed to abolish the
Rubrical time of publication (i. e. after the Nicene Creed) ;
but was only meant to legalize another time in cases where
compliance with the Rubric might lead to fraud.
* " And this Advertisement, though of course forming no part of the Homilies
was repeated by succeeding printers in their editions of the Book, even after the
/Second Book had ban added, in irhieh a Homily had been given on the subject,
maintaining a totally different doctrine from that implied in these icords." — Goode
on the Eucharist, Vol. i., p. 41. But, on this alleged difference, see above,
pp. 162—5.
t Stat. 26 Geo. 2, c. 33. A.D. 1753 "An Act for the better preventing of
clandestine Marriages."
275
Premising thus much, we are bound to regard the Editions
of the Primers set out in the above Table as having that full
Ecclesiastical Sanction which is conveyed, in the Title-Page
of the First and of subsequent Editions, by the words "set
forth by the King's Majesty and his Clergy."
Further, as Cranmer was Archbishop of Canterbury, and
the leading Prelate during the six years which produced the
Editions comprised in the first fourteen copies mentioned in
the above List, it must in all fairness be assumed (in the ab-
sence of any proof to the contrary) that he concurred in
their publication. It can hardly be doubted that he was
a party to the first Edition in 1545, when it is remembered
that — as Strype informs us in writing of that year — {Cranmer
P>k. I. c. 30.) Henry 8th " had of late appointed some
other of his chaplains and learned men," " with the Arch-
bishop, to peruse certain books of Service, delivered by the
King to them, wherein there were many superstitions fit to be
amended. Which the Archbishop, in the name of the rest, at
this time acquainted the King with . . ." For, though it is true
that the Primer could not strictly, perhaps, be included among
these " Books of Service" the fact that it appeared in a re-
formed shape in June, 1545, is a very strong indication that
the Archbishop had to examine this among the other Books.
We have already seen (p. 160 and 263) that the Archbishop
had abandoned Transubstantiation long before this time ; and
therefore if, as I have argued, he authorized the Primer of
1545, he could not have used the phrase, "didst consecrate
thy blessed body and blood under the fourme of bred and
wyne," as being (in Mr. Goode's words) " peculiar to those
who held the Doctrine of Transubstantiation, and main-
tained that the forms or appearances only of bread and wine
remained in the consecrated elements." — Goode on the Eucha-
rist, Vol. i., p. 43.
But it may fairly enough be replied — that as Cranmer
confesses himself to have been, apparently about this time,
" in that error of the reill presence, as I was many years past
in divers other errors, as of transubstantiation," etc. (See p.
155, Note, and compare Foxe's account on p. 84), therefore
276
the Phrase which he sanctioned in Henry's Primer cannot
be regarded as a suitable formula for the Church of England's
present Doctrine ; for that, whatever may now be her real
belief as to the Presence, she certainly does not hold that
"Corporal Presence of Christ's natural Flesh and Blood,"
which Cranmer is supposed to refer to in the above con-
fession. (See also Strype's Cranmer, Bk. I., c. xviii.)
Granting, however, for argument's sake, that Bishop Ridley,
by means of Bertram's Book, had not then brought off the
Archbishop from a carnal view of the Presence, which yet
was not Transubstantiation ; the objection only further proves
that Cranmer could use the Phrase in some other than a
Roman sense ; and, if so, then it may be that it will further
serve to express a Doctrine which is neither Transubstantiation
nor the " Corporal Presence " of the Declaration on
Kneeling.
Facts prove, I think, that Cranmer himself thought thus :
for it is certain, from his own words just quoted, that in 15-18
he had abandoned that " error of the real presence," of which
he speaks : yet in 1549 another Edition of the Primer ap-
peared without the slighest change in this Prayer. Nay more,
the perpetuation of the Prayer was, in fact, sanctioned by the
3 & 4 Edwd. VI. c 10, which passed quite at the beginning
of that year, (See Note No. 14, p. 272) — a Statute which the
Archbishop is commonly supposed to have had a considerable
share in procuring : yet that Statute required no other
change in the Primer than the omission of " the sentences
of invocation or prayer to saints."
But if any one thinks that the Archbishop's language
about himself in 1548 is not clear enough to be wholly relied
upon in this case, there can be no sort of pretence for saying
that he had the slightest leaning towards a " corporal," i.e.
carnal Presence, when he published, in 1550, his " Defence
of the True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament," and
also, in 1551, his "Answer to Gardiner," vindicating that
Book. Yet, in 1551, a new Edition of the Primer was
printed, though not until this Prayer and the Phrase in
question had been re-considered, as is shewn by the sub-
277
stitution of "deliver" for "consecrate." This alteration
however, so far from indicating any doubt on Crammer's part
of the propriety of the terms of the Advertisement to the
Homilies, which had then been four years in circulation, did
but serve to bring the Primer Phrase into a closer verbal
agreement with the Advertisement Phrase : this will be,
readily seen if they are read side by side, thus : —
Advertisement, 1547. Primer, 1551.
" Of the due receiving of His '* . . . . didst deliver Thy
Blessed Body and Blood under Blessed Body and Blood under
the form of bread and wine." the form of bread and wine."
Could language better harmonize than this? The Ad-
vertisement speaks " of the due receiving," by a particular
medium, of that same Thing which the Primer teaches
that Christ did "deliver" to His Apostles through the very
same medium. Is it possible, then, that the Primate of all
England and Metropolitan could instruct the King's " loving-
subjects" to pray in a Phrase which, at that very time, as Mr.
Goode says, he repudiated for the Church of England ?
Whatever people may choose to think of the Archbishop's
want of consistency, in some respects, they will scarcely be
ready to answer " Yes " to this question : yet if any could be
found to take so miserable an estimate of Cranmer's character,
it will not be supposed that Mr. Goode would unite with
them.
So far then as Archbishop Cranmer is concerned it seems
to me that, while it was before shewn to be morally certain
that he was responsible for the original appearance of the
Phrase in the Advertisement to the First Book of Homilies,
it is now proved to be, at least something like, historically
true that he must have sanctioned and approved its con-
tinuance there.
Having regard, therefore, to all the known evidence, I
cannot but think it clearly established — that (as the Arch-
bishop must be held to have acted officially and legally in the
matter, so) down to the end of the reign of Edward 6th the
Formula in question had the complete authority of the Church
of England.
278
It could hardly be expected that this reformed Primer
would he re-printed in Mary's reign : its omission of certain
Invocations would be alone sufficient to prevent its re-issue
then : but it is hardly probable that the Phrase in the Prayer
would have been thought an adequate expression of the
Doctrine of Transubstantiation (then again held) unless it
were accompanied with an explanation to shew that " form "
meant only accidents: yet such an explanation might en-
cumber a Prayer, and therefore make it seem better to reject
it altogether.
The members of Convocation at the Accession of Elizabeth
were of course those who represented the Clergy on the death
of Mary : now the earliest act of the Lower House in Eliza-
beth's reign (Feb. 18th or 28th, 1558-9, under their Prolo-
cutor, Nicholas Harpsfield, Archdeacon of Canterbury) was
to present an Address to the Bishops, to be tendered to the
Parliament, containing " certain Articles in defence of the
religion established under Mary :" the " First" of them ran
in these words : —
" That in the Sacrament of the Altar, by virtue of the words of
consecration duly pronounced by the priest, the natural body and
blood of Christ, conceived of the blessed Virgin, are really present
under the species [=form] of bread and wine."
But it is clear that they did not think this language would
cover Transubstantiation ; therefore they proceeded to add : —
"Secondly, That after the consecration the substance of bread
and wine does not remain, nor any other substance, excepting that
of God and man." — Fuller, Ch. Hist., Bk. ix., § 1 ; and Collier,
Eccl. Hist., Ft. ii., Bk. 6.
In fact they repeated what was done by the advocates of
Transubstantiation in Henry Sth's reign, when they suc-
ceeded, against Archbishop Cranmer and others, in intro-
ducing this very same language into the first of the Six
Articles of 1539, although three years before (15.36) the Con-
vocation had excluded Transubstantiation, while allowing a
physical Presence, by expressing itself in the following lan-
guage which was sanctioned by the king : —
" Fourthly. — As touching the Sacrament of the Alter, we will,
that all bishops and preachers shall instruct and teach our people
279
.... that they ought and must constantly believe, that, under the
Conn of bread and wine, which we there presently do see and per-
ceive by outward senses, is verify, Substantially, and really con-
tained and comprehended the very self-same body and blood of our
Saviour Jesus Christ, which was born of the Virgin Mary, and
suffered upon the cross for our redemption ; and that, under the
same form and figure of bread and wine, the very self-same body
and blood of Christ is corporally, really, and in the very sub-
stance exhibited, distributed, and received unto and of all them
which receive the said sacrament ; and that therefore the said sac-
rament is to be used with all due reverence and honour ; " —
Fuller, Bk. v., § 4.
So then, in what has just been said, is to be found a further
reason for the Primer of 1545 not being re-published under
Queen Mary, though an unreformed Primer was reprinted.
But, so soon as the Archiepiscopal throne was filled by
Queen Elizabeth's appointment of Parker, no time was lost
in re-producing reformed Office Books, and the same year
(1559) which witnessed Elizabeth's Prayer Book, saw also a
new Edition of the Primer, with no other change in the
Prayer than that substitution of " deliver" for " consecrate,"
which was made in 1551. Thus, then, at the commencement
of another distinct period in the Reformation, the Phrase
which is said (though how truly I have already considered)
to have been repudiated for the Church of England by one
Archbishop, re-appears under the sanction of another Primate
whose Theological soundness also is not questioned by those
who object to the Phrase ; moreover, it re-appeared at the
same time in a new Edition of the First Book of Homilies,
which had not been merely left to the Royal Printers to set
up from any old Edition, but which had been (as before
noticed) " by her Grace's aduyse perused and ouersene, for
the better understandying of the simple people." Mr.
Griffiths states (p. lviii.) that " many verbal alterations were
made in the text, partly by substitution, partly by addition :"
so that the Editor must have carefully read the Book ; yet,
either he carelessly passed over the Advertisement at the
End of it, or he knew that it was meant not to be altered ;
can any one reasonably doubt that the latter was his real
condition ?
280
I am not unmindful of the facts that Jewel was only
Elected Bishop on August 21st, 1559, and was not Conse-
crated until the 21st January following: it may therefore be
urged that, as he could not have been a party to the re-pub-
lication of the Primer in 1559 so, he must not be held
responsible for the continuance of the unaltered Prayer, and,
consequently, it ought not to be cited in proof that he used,
either approvingly or as being authorized, the language
quoted from him at pp. 249 and 254 Note. Yet, surely, if
ever " silence gives consent," and use implies approval, it
was so in this case : for his Reply to Harding was not pub-
lished until 1565, nor his Defence of the Apology until 1567,
yet both the Primer and the First Book of Homilies had been
circulating for six years before the earlier of these dates ; nay,
more, for two years the Second Book of Homilies had also
been distributed, under the Sanction of the Crown and the
Convocation, as expressed in the XXXVth Article ; and he,
as a Diocesan Bishop, had to see that all were duly used. If,
however, the Phrase in question was obnoxious to the Church
of England, or even to Jewel himself, could there have been
a better and fairer opportunity for him to have said so than
when discussing with Harding its Theological significance ?
How came it to pass that, instead of merely defining the
word "form " which occurs in it, he neglected so fitting an
occasion to repudiate the Phrase altogether, either for him-
self, or for the Church of England, or for both ? I can
only suppose that he had no wish personally to disown it,
or that, if he had, he felt he was not free to do so for the
Church of England, so long as it remained in any of her
authorized Books.
These remarks are also a further answer to Mr. Griffiths'
observation, already noticed in the Note to p. 265.
But, having insisted so much on the repeated re-publica-
tion in the Primer of the language which Mr. Goode declares
to have had no authority in the Advertisement of the First
Book of Homilies, it would be unpardonable in me not to
draw particular attention to the latest known Edition of the
Primer, which is noticed in the preceding Table ; for a very
281
considerable change was made in the Prayer as given in that
Edition ; no less, in fact, than the entire omission of the
alleged unauthorized formula ; so that the Prayer reads
thus : —
" Our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, which in Thy last
supper with Thine Apostles didst deliver the Sacrament of Thy
Blessed Body : grant that we," &c.
There is some doubt (as I have pointed out in the Note at
p. 212) as to the true date of this Edition of the Primer : the
Title page calls it 1566, but the Colophon marks it as 1575:
it is not unlikely that both dates are correct; the former
(1566) indicating (as I have said) the period when it was first
printed, the latter (1575) the time of its re-print or re-issue;
this may have arisen from the very common practice with
printers at that period of continuing to use an old Title
page, if it was a Block, and printing the real date of an
Edition in the Colophon. It is quite probable that there
may have been an Edition in 1566, though, as no copy is
known with that date only, there is no means of ascertaining
whether the Prayer was altered at that time, or not until
1575: the true date of the alteration is not, however,
material for my present purpose ; though if it be 1 575 it
strengthens my argument, as, in that case, the alteration was
four years after Bishop Jewel's death, and in the last year
of Archbishop Parker's life.
Yet, assuming that the change was made in 1566, the
change itself implies that the old phraseology was allowed up
to that time : why, then, was it changed at all ? As nothing
is known of the history of the change the cause can only be
matter of conjecture, but that, I think, a natural conjecture.
It is well known that nothing better impresses Doctrine on
the mind than the language of prayers which are in frequent
or constant use: but the expression "under the form of
bread and wine " had marked Doctrines which were no
longer held by the Church of England, and which clearly
were intended to be excluded by that Homily on the Sacra-
ment which was authorized in the Convocation of 1563.
But the continued use, in a Prayer, of a Dogmatic Phrase,
o o
claimed respectively by the holders of three different Doc-
trines, viz., Transubstantiation (either with or without a
Carnal Presence) — a Corporal, i.e., & Physical Presence, —
and a Real, i.e., a True, but not a Material Presence, — might
perplex or mislead those who were not Theologians; es-
pecially as at that time the Declaration on Kneeling (which,
as I am throughout contending, was designed to exclude
every possible theory of a Carnal Presence) was not appended
to the Communion Office, and so that authoritative safeguard
was wanting. It has been seen (See p. 213) that Bishop
Cheney (though opposed to Transubstantiation) apparently
held a Material Presence, at this very period, therefore it
may have more or less prevailed in his Diocese of Gloucester
— perhaps elsewhere. To omit from the Primer, then in use,
the Phrase which might be thus misunderstood, may well
have been thought a likely mode of correcting the error, and
of preventing its extension.
Yet, if this were so, why was not the like process of ex-
cision resorted to in the Homilies ? Obviously, I think, be-
cause there was no similar danger of misunderstanding ; for,
(1) the Homilies were not Prayers ; (2) they were not much
in the hands of, or read by, the people ; (3) though they
were read to the people by the Clergy, the Advertisement
of course was not read ; (4) the Phrase did not occur in any
Homily, being probably omitted on prudential grounds, as I
have already suggested at pp. 165 and 267. It was one thing
for the Bishops to remove from a Prayer or a Homily*
language which did not involve any point of essential Faith,
but which might be designedly perverted, or popularly mis-
applied ; quite another to withdraw a Dogmatic statement, of
real Theological value, from a Notice never designed to be
publicly read, or privately meditated upon. The Advertise-
ment at the end of the First Book of Homilies was a kind of
Historic link which bound it to the Second Book, and which
* I am willing to concede to Mr. Griffiths that this feeling may have had its
influence in the omission, from the Homily of the Resurrection, of the words
" in form of bread ;" though, as I have said in the Note, p. 265, I do not think
his argument accounts for it.
283
showed how, and how faithfully, the intentions of those who
authorized the earlier Book had been carried out, either by
themselves, or by their successors, in the later Volume ; and
this alone would be a sufficient reason for its being retained
in every Edition down to the present day, and for faithfully
retaining it hereafter. But it was, and is, still more a duty
not to abandon a Theological Formula which had acquired a
definite meaning in connection with the settled Eucharistic
Doctrine of the Church of England ; though it might not be
thought then, and may not be considered now, needful or
profitable to employ it in the ordinary religious instruction of
the people.
Having thus carefully examined and, I hope, fairly esti-
mated the evidence for and against the contested language of
the Advertisement, it does seem to me, and will I trust
appear to others, clearly established that the Phrase " Of the
due receiving of His Blessed Body and Blood under the form
of bread and wine," is a Theological definition strictly au-
thorized by the Church of England, and therefore one which
may be most fairly and confidently used in controversies
touching the Doctrine of the Real Presence in the Holy Eu-
charist.
Pursuing this Historical Enquiry in the order of time, it
is necessary to notice the very important additions which were
made to the Church Catechism in the reign of James 1st: it
is pretty generally allowed that, considering the known views
of Overall their reputed author, these additional explana-
tions of Sacramental Belief were designed to be in the
direction of what is called High Doctrine. That there was
no intention of being deterred from this by any clamour
about Popish teaching, is plain from what the King said on
the second day of the Hampton-Court Conference, January
16, 1603-4 ; for, in answer to Dr. Reinolds, one of the
Puritan representatives, who " complained that the Cate-
chism in the Common Prayer Book was too brief; . . . and
. . . requested therefore, that one uniform catechism might
be made," it is reported that, —
" His Majesty thought the doctor's request very reasonable : but
284
yet so, that he would have a Catechism in the fewest and plainest
affirmative terms that may be :"
and stating as one rule to be observed " in reforming of a
Church" —
" that there should not be any such departure from the Papists in
all things, as that because we in some points agree with them,
therefore we should be accounted to be in error." — Card. Hist.
Con/., p. 187.
With respect to the nature and tendency of these Cate-
chetical additions, I cannot do better than cite the language
of the same candid but adverse writer whom I have before
quoted.
Mr. Fisher, speaking of them, remarks that —
"Since the revision of 1604 — or, at all events, since the year
1662 — Sacramentalism most decidedly predominates In short,
it is not too much to say, that in the Catechism as it now stands, the
Sacred Oracles, considered as an inspired Code of religious belief,
are completely overshadowed by the prominence given to a Patristic
scheme of sacramental theology." — Liturgical Purity, p. 293.
Again he says : —
". . . . it lets in the whole system of Romish Sacramentalism, by the
insertion of a series of questions and answers, both upon Baptism and
the Lord's Supper, which are at least open to a Papistical interpre-
tation
"For instance — the old and essentially "Romish dogma of 'the
real presence' receives, it may safely be affirmed, a plausible
sanction at least, if nothing more, from the terms of the following
question and answer : —
" ' Q. What is the inward part or thing signified ? '
" 1 A. The body and blood of Christ, which are verily and indeed
taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper.' "
The italics are Mr. Fisher's.
And he argues that it is " assuming the very question in dis-
pute " to reply, as some do, that the 28th Article teaches a
different and the true Doctrine and " that the Church cannot
contradict herself;" Mr. F., on the contrary, insists "that
the Church is, in several important particulars, inconsistent
with herself," — pp. 297-8. Further, he adds : —
" It is a significant fact that the expression ' verily and indeed, is
the very expression used in those definitions of the Eucharistic
presence, which have at different times been adopted, for the pur-
285
pose of bringing the sacramental doctrine of the East into the closest
possible approximation to that of Rome." — p. 299.
In proof he quotes from Neale's Hist, of the Eastern
Church, and Palmer's Dissertations, the Decree of the Coun-
cil of Bethlehem, 1671—2.
It will not he out of place to insert here an extract from
one of the
" Articles of. Religion, agreed upon by the Archbishops and
Bishops, and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland, in the Convocation
holden at Dublin in the year of our Lord God 1615, for the
avoyding of Diuersities of Opinion : and the establishing of consent
touching true Religion."
The passage is as follows : —
" Of the Lord's Supper.
" In the outward part of the Holy Communion the Body and
Blood of Christ is in a most lively manner represented : being no
otherwise present with the visible Elements, than things signified
and sealed are present with the signes and seales, that is to say,
symbolically and relatively. But in the inward and spirituall part,
the same Bodie and Bloud is really and substantially presented
unto all those, who have grace to receive the Sonne of God, even to
all those that beleeve on His Name. And unto such as in this manner
doe worthily and with Faith repaire unto the Lorde's Table, the
Bodie and Bloud of Christ is not only signified and offered, but also
truely exhibited and communicated." — Eccl. Injunctions, 1559-
1732, in B. Museum.
The rest of the Article is composed of the English Articles
28, 29, 30, and 31, with some slight variations. I quote the
passage as an instance of the authoritative use of the words,
" really and substantially" in reference to the inward part of
this Sacrament — the "Bodie and Bloud" of Christ — which
the Article seems to teach is thus "presented" to the worthy
communicant only, though They are " represented" by " the
outward part " to all " in a most lively manner." The defi-
nition is curious, making, apoarently a Symbolical and Real
Objective Presence to one class of Communicants — the
worthy : a Symbolical Objective Presence only to another
class — the unworthy.
Here it will be convenient, as I am referring to the Church
Catechism, to notice Mr. Goode's objection to the sense at-
286
tached to the words " the faithful " by the writers he is op-
posing : he says (Supplement, p. 24) that : —
". . . .where the common sense of every impartial reader tells him,
that the words were meant to indicate that the Body and Blood of
Christ were taken and received by the faithful only* Dr.
Pusey would fain have us suppose, that the Catechism maintains
with him, that all receive the inward part, the Body and Blood, in
receiving the outward ; but the faithful alone receive the grace that
flows from them. But this is directly contrary to what the Cate-
chism really says, for it clearly limits the reception of the Body and
Blood to the 'faithful.'
" The only possible mode of explaining away this statement of
the Catechism is, either to say with Archdeacon Denison, that the
statement does not mean to deny that the Body and Blood of Christ
may be received by the unfaithful just as much as by the faithful ;
or with one of his defenders, that the phrase 'the faithful' merely
means here all the baptized, that is, in fact, everybody who comes
to communicate ; both which explanations I willingly leave in the
hands of the reader."
This last sentence of course means, that no " reader " is
likely to give any credence to these " explanations." But,
as it would be worse than useless to pen a Catechism in lan-
guage of a loose and unauthorized character so, we may be
sure that the terms employed in 1604 were such as had a
definite Theological import. Whether either of these " ex-
planations " indicates the true meaning of the words seems,
at least, worth considering ; and it might have been more to
the purpose if, instead of thus remitting them to his readers,
Mr. Goode had suggested some mode of determining who
are meant by " the faithful " in the Catechism.
Perhaps Mr. Goode might reply that he has examined
this point in the "Work" to which the "Supplement"
belongs ; but, except a short passage in p. 754, I cannot
find anything that really touches the question : Mr. Goode
says : —
" I observe that an attempt has been made to affix to the words
' the faithful,' in that portion of the Catechism commented upon
in pp. 668 et seq., above, the meaning of all baptized Christians
as distinguished from the heathen. To this, indeed, Archdeacon
Denison himself alludes in his Sermon ; but as he declined to
* I omit some rather uucourteous language.
287
1 insist ' upon it, I did not think it worth while to detain the reader
to discuss it. In reply to such an argument, I think it sufficient to
point out, that all the numerous Commentaries on the Catechism
that have ever been written by Archbishops, Bishops, and Divines
of all views and parties, have agreed in interpreting the words as
referring to true believers ; . . . ." — p. 754.
Mr. Goode had previously given (pp. 697 — 726) a series
of extracts from twenty-one such Commentaries, ranging from
1623 to 1790: they appear to me, however, to contribute
barely anything towards the settlement of the points which
he notices in the above passages : an examination of them
seems to furnish the following results: — ■
Eight, not to the purpose, viz. : —
" Dr. Comber, 1683 ; Bp. Ken, 1685 ; Bp. John Williams, 1690 ;
Revd. John Lewis, 1700 ; Dr. Edwd. Wells, 1707 ; Bp. Burnet,
1710; Revd. James Salter, 1753 ; and Bp. Mann, 1790.
Four, inadequate, viz. : —
Bp. Nicholson, 1655 ; Dr. Simon Ford, 1684, who only says
that " none but believers thus [i.e., spiritually and by faith] receive
them [i.e., the Body and Blood of Christ] " ; Bp. Beveridge, 1704 ;
and Revd. John Olyffe, 1710.
Three, only speak of worthy receivers, viz. : —
The Oxford Catechism, 1679; Rev. Joseph Harrison, 1718;
and Archn. Waterland, 1730.
Three support, in different degrees, Mr. Goode's view,
viz. : —
Dr. Mayer, 1623, who speaks of ' faith making Him [Christ]
present unto the worthy receiver ; Abp. Wake, 1697, who says,
" that which is given by the Priest .... The very Body and Blood
of Christ as yet it is not. But being with faith and piety received
by the Communicant, it becomes to him .... the very Body and
Blood of Christ;" and Rev. Peter Newcombe, 1712, who, denying
"Christ's Body and Blood" to be " carnally present in these ele-
ments," asserts " that a real Presence is not to be sought in " them,
" but in the worthy communicant! "
The remaining three seem to me to be favourable to those
whom Mr. Goode is opposing, vis. : —
Revd. James Stillingfleet, 1787; Abp. Seeker, 1771, who says,
288
"... .in one sense, all communicants equally partake of what Christ
calls His Body and Blood, that is, the outward signs of them ; yet
in a much more important sense, the faithful only, the pious and
virtuous receiver, eats His flesh, and drinks His Blood ; shares in
the life and strength derived to men from His incarnation and death :
.... In appearance the Sacrament of Christ's death is given to all
alike ; but verily and indeed, in its beneficial effects, to none be-
sides the faithful. Even to the unworthy communicant He is
present, as He is wherever we meet together in His name ; but in
a better and most gracious sense to the worthy soul ; becoming, by
the inward virtue of His Spirit, its food and sustenance." *
Dr. Sherlock, 1660, is the remaining one of these three;
Mr. Goode quotes him as stating that : —
" .... as the bread and wine are truly taken and received cor-
porally, so verily and indeed is the Body and Blood of Christ taken
and received spiritually of every true faithful soul in the Lord's
Supper if rightly administered."
But, as such language does not necessarily exclude a belief
that those who are not " true faithful " communicants receive
in some way the Body and Blood of Christ so, Sherlock's
own words, published thirteen years later in his " Practical
Christian" (1673) shew that he saw no contradiction in the
two views ; especially as his Catechism was reprinted during
his lifetime (1677): the following passages from the "Prac-
tical Christian (Ed. 1846) seem to me to leave no doubt as
to what he held : —
" The Sacramental Body of Christ is the consecrated elements of
bread and wine in the Sacrament. This is expressly affirmed by our
Lord saying, ' This is My Body, This is My Blood.' Who then
dare say, (as the Fathers frequently observe,) This is not His Body,
but a figure of His Body only ?
" He discerns not this Body of our Lord, 1. who sees not with the
eye of faith, Christ really present, under the species of Bread and
Wine, though he conceive not the manner thereof . . . ."
" Those old verses, expressing the faith of the wisest of our first
* It is desirable to record here Archbishop Seeker's opinion of the meaning
of The Declaration in what it says as to kneeling : — " It is true, we also kneel
at the Sacrament, as they [the Romanisis] do : but for a very different purpose :
not to acknowledge any corporeal presence of Christ's natural flesh and blood;
as our Church, to prevent all possibility of miscunstruction expressly declares ;
adding that Sis body is in Heaven, and not here : but to worship Him, who is
everywhere present, the invisible God " Compare the Note, p. 117, on
the " Opinion " of the Bishop of St. Andrews.
289
Reformers, may satisfy every modest, humble, and sober-minded
good Christian in this great mystery of godliness :
' It was the Lord that spake it,
He took the Bread and brake it ;
And what the Word did make it,
So I believe and take it.'
"2
" 3. He discerns not this Sacramental Body of the Lord, who
prepares not himself to receive the same with all ' reverence and
godly fear ;' with ' hands washed in innocency ;' and into a ' pure
and clean heart;' into a soul 'cleansed from all filthiness, both of
flesh and spirit ;'* and perfumed (as was our Lord's crucified Body)
with the sweet odours of humility and compunction, of love and de-
votion, of obedience and charity.
" And he that receives Christ's holy Body and Blood into his
soul, not first emptied of all his sins by holy faith, and all the sacred
offices of crue repentance, doth, with Judas, betray his Master into
the hands of His enemies which crucified Him : for those were our
sins. And therefore it is said of such unworthy receivers, that
' they are guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ.' " — Vol. I.,
pp. 182-4.f
If, then, Bishop Sherlock could write thus when dealing
expressly with this question (though Mr. Goode's citation of
his Catechism might lead to an opposite inference) it may-
well be that, many at least of, the other writers just
noticed would have coincided with Bishop Sherlock if they
had felt themselves obliged to discuss the point which he
considered. It was one thing for them to write explicitly on,
* The following Prayer (which I do not quote as of any authority note, hut
only as an old explanation of the being " guilty of the Body and Blood of the
Lord) occurs in the Sarum Primer of 1541 * and in Thomas Petyt's Editions of
1543 B. M.-C. 35 c. 1544 B. M. C j^ 5 2 "-
" When thou hast received the sacrament.
"The verye true receyuynge of thy gloryous body of flesshe and bloode : my
soueraygne lorde omnypotent is, that I caste it not forthc agayne to my damp-
nacyon and judgement but that I may optay / e thereby remyssyon of my synnes :
and that 1 may lyue in charytable lyfe Wuylcs I am here lyuynge, so that I
maye hereafter comme to eternall lyfe, by the vertue and grace. So be it."
t Mr. Goode (pp. 864-6) tries, ineffectually as I think, to reconcile this
language with his own views.
* This Primer (with other Books and a super-altare) was found. August 5, 1857, in the
North wall of the (now rebuilt ) chancel of St. Marv the Virgin, Addington, Mucks. The
only other copy, I believe, of this Edition is preserved in the Libraiv of Stonyhnxst College.
In the first Pr.iyer of the Diri-e are the words, "and forgive them all their sins," which
Mr. Maskell says (Mori. Rit, Vol. II., p. 121, Note) do not occur in any of the Editions of
Henry VUIth's Latin and English rrimer.s which he had seen.
P P
290
what I may call, the positive side of the Catechism, seeing
that all concurred in the belief — that worthy Communicants
received (in whatever manner) " the Body and Blood of
Christ" with all Its ''benefits;" quite another thing for
them to argue the negative side, especially as there had
always been great divergency of opinion in the Church as to
the way in which those who discerned not the Lord's Body
in the Sacrament were to be accounted guilty of It.
But it never can be unfair to interpret the language of a
writer by his known opinions, unless there is clear evidence
that he meant to speak in a different sense ; if, therefore, as
is commonly supposed, the Catechetical Questions on the
Sacraments are due to Bishop Overall, his own supposed*
statements elsewhere ought to be a satisfactory proof of his
meaning in the Catechism : one (and the most pertinent) of
these has been already given in full at p. 137 : here, there-
fore, it may suffice to quote the words—" . . . the Body and
Blood of Christ is really and substantially present, and so ex-
hibited and given to all that receive it ; . . ."
In the extracts given from Mr. Goode at p. 286, he ob-
jects to any attempt to "affix to the words 'the faithful'"
* I 8ay " supposed " because Mr. Goode (pp. 827-8) contends that the Notes in
which these passages are contained " were neither written by Overall, nor claim the
authority of being derived from his papers." And he adds, " By whom they
were written canno't now probably be ascertained, but certainly it waa not
Bishop Cosin, who was Overall's chaplain, because his Notes, as we shall see
presently, are of a very different kind."
But the learned Editor of Bishop Cosin's Notes (Ang. Cath. Lib.) carefully
rc-investigated this question of Authorship, and came to the conclusion that the
whole three Series of Notes are Bishop Cosin's ; and thus he more than sup-
ports Dr. NieholPs original remark, which Mr. Goode deems insufficient, that
they are " supposed to be made from the Collections of Bishop Overall, by a
friend or chaplain of his." Until, then, the result of this later enquiry is set
aside by fresh evidence, the Notes may still be used as possessing the authority
hitherto claimed for them.
As to Bishop Cosin's " Notes " being " of a very different kind :" the
example which Mr. Goode gives (p. 855) will be found above, p. 138, where I
have commented upon it : this Note is from the 2nd Series, contained in a
Prayer Book of 1638, and supposed to have been written between 1638 and
1656: the Note cited in the text is from the 1st Series, which is believed to
have been written between 1619 and 1638, and is found in a Prayer Book of
1619 : the 3rd Series occurs in a MS. Book, and is considered to be mostly before
1640. But the very fact of the difference which Mr. Goode notices goes to shew
that the earlier Note was, all the more probably, Overall's ; especially if it be the
case, as is thought, that Bishop Cosin did alter his opinions in some respects in
the course of writing these Notes.
291
the signification of the Baptized or the Communicants : it
becomes necessaiy, therefore, to inquire whether this is at
all a new meaning or is not rather a return to the definite
Theological and Ecclesiastical sense in which the term
has always been employed. In order to trace this, it will be
best to examine — I. The places in which it occurs in the
New Testament. They are the following: —
(a) Epli. i. 1. ". . . . to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to
the faithful in Christ Jesus."
(b) Col. i. 2. " To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ
which are at Colosse."
(c) 1 Tim. iv. 10. " .. .. the Saviour of all men, specially of
those that believe."
(d) 1 Tim. iv. 12. " . . be thou an example of the believers. ."
(e) 1 Tim. v. 1 6. " If any man or woman that belieoeth have
widows, let them relieve them . . "
(f) 1 Tim. vi. 2. " And they that have believing masters let them
.... rather do them service because they are faithful . ..."
(g) 2 Tim. ii. 2. " . . . . the same commit thou to faithful
men "
(h) Titus i.G. " . . . . having faithful children . . . ."
It will hardly be pretended, I suppose, that the first two
passages, (a) and (b) do not refer to the entire body of the
Christians, i.e„ the Baptized, in Ephesus and Colosse : nor
is there anything to shew that the next three (c). (d) and (e)
are to be taken in a more exclusive sense ; or that the
" masters " spoken of in the following passage (f) are the
good " believing " ones as distinguished from Christian
masters in general : the succeeding passage (g) would natu-
rally be taken primarily in the more limited sense of trust-
worth//, no less than well-instructed, Christians ; though, if
they afterwards proved to be unreliable in their conduct, the
word "faithful" would still not be inapplicable in regard of
their Church-membership: while, as to the last instance (h),
it can scarcely be supposed that St. Paul meant to forbid
Titus to "ordain" any as "elders" unless their children
were all true and sincere Christians, as well as being professed
members of the Church, i.e. " faithful."
II. Passages where it is found in the Ancient Liturgies.
1. Liturgy of S. Mark.
292
(a.) " . . bless Thy faithful and orthodox people ; increase them
to myriads of myriads. . ." — Male's Translation, p. 10.
(6.) " Bless Thy faithful and orthodox people, them that do Thy
holy will, with a thousand thousand and ten thousand times ten
thousand blessings." — p. 20.
2. Liturgy of St. James.
(e.) "... Thou only art holy ,'jWho sanctifiest, and art distributed
to, Thy faithful people ; . . ."—p. 32.
(d.) "... the King of kings and Lord of lords, Christ our God,
cometh forward to be sacrificed and to be given for food to the faith-
ful ; . . ."—p. 40.
(e.) "The Lord shall bless us, and make us to receive with the
pure tongs of our fingers the burning coal, and to place it in the
mouths of the faithful, for the purification and renewal of their
souls, and bodies, now and ever.
" O taste and see that the Lord is good : He that is broken, and
not divided, distributed to the faithful* and not consumed, for the
remission of their sins and eternal life, now and ever, and to all
ages.'' — p. 60.
3. Liturgy of St. Clement.
(/.) " And let all the faithful, as they will, pray for them [the
Catechumens], saying, Lord have mercy." — p. 66.
(g.) "And let the Deacons say : Pass forward, ye Energumens.
And after this let him exclaim : Pray, ye that are illuminated. Let
us, the faithful, all pray earnestly for them, that the Lord may count
them worthy, having been initiated into the death of Christ
Thou that .... didst through Christ give them the law of spiritual
regeneration, — do Thou Thyself now look upon the baptized, and
bless them and hallow them, and prepare them so as to be worthy of
Thy spiritual gift, and the true adoption of Thy spiritual m)-steries,
the gathering together with them that are saved, through Christ our
Saviour." — p. 70.
(7i ) "And let the Deacon say : Depart, ye that are in penitence.
And let him add: Let none of those that are not able to pray with
us, pass forward : let as many as are faithful kneel with us." — p. 76.
(i.) "And let the Deacon stand at the doors of the men, and the Sub-
Deacons at those of the women, that no one may go out, and that the
door may not be opened, even though it be by one of the faithful,
during the lime of the anaphora." — p. 76.
4. Liturgy of St. Chrysostom.
(k.) " Deacon. Let all the Catechumens depart ; let not any
of the Catechumens — ; let all the faithful; — ... ." — p. 105.
* Compare this and 2 c. with the following: " The Lamb of God is broken
anil distributed ; He that is broken and not divided in sunder ; ever eaten and
293
(I.) " The first prayer of the faithful, after the unfolding of the
Corporal." — p. 105.
(m.) " The second prayer of the faithful." — p. 106.
5. Liturgy of Malabar.
(w.) " .... Pray, bearing in memory .... all the faithful who
have departed from the living and are dead in the true faith." —
p. 141.
It can hardly be questioned, I think, that in all these
places (except 5 (n.) which refers to those who died in Church
communion; and, perhaps, I. (a.) and (&.), which possibly include
the baptized in general) the word "faithful" means strictly
the Communicants ; i.e. not only those who at any given
Celebration actually communicated, but also all who were not
prevented from communicating by any rule of Discipline.
The expression "the Communicants," in the Liturgy of St.
Chrysostom, which is plainly the synonym of " Thy faithful
people" and "the faithful" in the Liturgy of St. James,
seems to me to prove this : while that (unless in the instances
I have excepted) the term "the faithful" has this limi-
tation, appears, also, to be shewn by the exhortation to them,
in the Liturgy of St. Clement, to "pray earnestly" for "the
illuminated," i.e. " the baptized," as the context shews.
III. The testimony of Ecclesiastical Writers or Historians.
And here it will be quite sufficient to quote Bingham, as
his words do but profess to sum up the testimony of autho-
rities whom he names. Thus he says, " in all which accounts "
it is " proper to be remarked :" —
" That the name believers, nurroi, and Fideles, is here taken, in a
more strict sense, only for one order of Christians, — the believing or
baptized laity, in contradistinction to the clergy and the Cate-
chumens, the two other orders of men in the Church. And in this
sense, the words IIio-Toi and Fideles are commonly used in the
ancient Liturgies, and Canons, to distinguish those that were
baptized, and allowed to partake of the holy mysteries,
never consumed, but sanctifying the Communicants." — Lit. of S. Chrysostom,
p. 121.
It is worth while to notice also this sentence as illustrative of the following
passage in a Rubric at the end of the Communion Office in the Prayer Book of
1549:—". . . every one [i.e, of the Wafer Breads] shall be divided in two
pieces, at the least, or more, by the discretion of the minister, and so distributed.
And men must not think less to be received in part than in the whole, but in
each of them the whole body of our Saviour Jcsu Christ."
294
from the Catechumens, whence came that ancient distinction of the
service of the Church into the Missa Catechumenorum, and Missa Fi-
delium; . . ." — Eecl. Antiq., Bk. I., c. 3, § 3.
" The Uitrroi, or Fideles, being such as were baptized, and thereby
made complete and perfect Christians, were, upon that account, dig-
nified with several titles of honour and marks of distinction above
the Catechumens:" viz., (pom^tvoi, The Illuminate ; 'Oi Mt/inj^bo*,
The Initiated; Tlteiot, The Perfect ; — lb. c. 4, § § 1, 2, 3.
" All these names (and many others might be added, which are
obvious to every reader, such as Saints, and Sons of God, &c.) were
peculiar titles of honour and respect, given only to those who were
riicrroi, or Believers" — lb. § 4.
"And hence it was that, correspondent to these names, the Fideles
had their peculiar privileges in the Church above the Catechumens.
For first, it was their sole prerogative to partake of the Lord's
Table, and communicate with one another in the symbols of Christ's
body and blood at the altar " — lb. § 5.
" Another of their prerogatives above Catechumens was, to stay
and join with the minister in all the prayers of the Church, which
the Catechumens were not allowed to do ; ... ." — lb. § 6.
" More particularly the use of the Lord's prayer was the sole pre-
rogative of the n»<7To!, or Believers ; for then it was no crime, or ar-
gument of weakness, or want of the spirit, to use it ; but an honour
and privilege of the most consummate and perfect Christians . . ." —
lb. § 7,
" Lastly, They were admitted to be auditors of all discourses
made in the Church, even those that treated of the most abstruse
points and profound mysteries of the Christian religion ; which the
Catechumens were strictly prohibited from hearing when the
Catechumens were dismissed, then they discoursed more openly of
their mysteries before the Fideles and in these, and the like
privileges, consisted their prerogative above the Catechumens." —
lb. § 8.
No one can deny that the baptized have as full privileges
in the Modern, as they had in the Ancient Church.
It must be borne in mind, too, that this Greek word ma™
(of which Fideles is the Latin equivalent) is the Originalin all
the places cited from the New Testament and from the An-
cient Liturgies.
IV. The places in which the term has been or is employed in
the English Prayer Book.
These will be most readily seen and compared in the fol-
lowing Tabular collection of them from all the Editions, to
gether with the Latin translation in Queen Elizabeth's Book
of 1560.
296
Now it is observable that every one of these passages
(except that out of the Burial Service) is from The Com-
munion Office, i.e. The Liturgy ; for the Collects are, of
course, a part of that Office. In all reason therefore we
ought to interpret the word " faithful " according to con-
tinuous Ecclesiastical usage, unless anything has been any-
where said to imply the contrary ; so far, however, is this
from being the case, that everything we know about the
history of the English Liturgy, whether as first compiled in
1549 or as subsequently Revised, proves that the intention all
along was to make it embody the mind of Primitive An-
tiquity, especially as set forth in the Primitive Liturgies so
far as they were then known, or were embodied in the uses
which had long been familiar in this Kingdom.
The language of the five Collects quoted shews that " the faith-
faithful " there spoken of are they who, being baptized, are Ec-
clesiastically capable of receiving those Gifts of God which are
designed to procure for them the various Benefits of His Grace
supplicated in the Collects themselves; possessing this capacity
they are admitted (according to the Discipline of the Church
as received and exercised in this English portion of it) to
that Communion which is a Divinely appointed means of
conveying the requisite Gifts : but a capacity to receive a
G ift by no means necessarily implies a disposition to profit by
that Gift : and as, in the case now under consideration, it is
obviously impossible that any exercise of Discipline could
absolutely declare the existence of such disposition, so the
terms of a Liturgy must necessarily be limited to that capacity
of which alone the Church can be cognizant. Hence, as it
seems to me, the necessity for those words of the "Exhortation "
given "at the time of the celebration of the Co?nmunion" which
emphatically point out the distinction between Sacramental and
Spiritual participation of " that holy Sacrament ;" asserting
that " as the benefit is great" to those who "receive" It with "a.
true penitent heart and lively faith .... so is the danger
great" to them who " receive the same unworthily" — because
the former " spiritually eat the Flesh of Christ and drink
His Blood," whereas the latter eat and drink .... damna-
297
tion [i.e. judgment], not considering the Lord's Body" ; inas-
much as they " presume to eat of that bread and drink of
that cup" which is " the holy Communion [i.e. communica-
tion] of" It. Hence, again, the need for that most expressive
" SO " in the Prayer of Access (found practically, too, in the
Ancient Liturgies*) which it is impossible to gloss over as
though it was not designed to mean that there is a way " to
eat the Flesh of" God's " dear Son, and to drink His
Blood" in which the Benefits sought for by that Prayer
cannot be obtained.
Again, take the sentence above quoted from the 2nd Post-
communion prayer; it can only be, as I think, by entirely
ignoring the old Ecclesiastical sense of the words that the
"all faithful people," who are there said to be the " mystical
Body" of Christ, can be limited to those really pious and
godly ones of the Church of whom it could scarcely be
doubted that they " be meet partakers of these Holy Mys-
teries."
The passage from the Burial Service may appear at first
sight to present an exception to that meaning of the words
" the faithf ul," which I am here alleging to be the true one.
* Liturgy of S. Mark.— 11 . . . Enlighten our soul with the divine rays of
Thy Holy Spirit, that we, being filled with the knowledge of Thee, may wor-
thily participate in the good things that are set before us, the spotless Body and
precious Blond of Thine oidy-begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;
. . ."—Ncalc's Trawl, p. 26.
Liturgy of S.James. — "Priest, (before communicating) . . . do Thou, who
art a compassionate God, make me worthy by Thy grace to communicate without
condemnation in the holy Body and precious Blood, for the remission of sins,
and eternal life." — p. 61.
Liturgy of S. Clement. — "And let the Deacon say, . . . Having received the
precious Body and precious Blood of Christ, ... let us beseech Him that they
may not be to us to judgment, but to salvation; . . ."—p. 90.
Liturgy of S. Chrysostom. — " The Priest meanwhile saith secretly, . . . make
us worthy to partake of Thy heavenly and terrible mysteries of this holy and
spiritual Table, with a pure conscience, for the remission of sins, forgiveness of
transgressions, participation of the Holy Ghost, inheritance of the kingdom of
heaven, boldness of access to Thee : not to judgment nor to condemnation." —
p. 119.
Liturgy of Malabar. — "The Priest saith : . . . make us also worthy, by Thy
love, that in all pureness and holiness we may receive the gift : and that it may
not be unto us for judgment or vengeance, but for love and piety and the re-
mission of sins, and resurrection from the dead, and eternal life : . . ." — p. 154.
Other passages will be found at pp. 24, 25, 29, 61, 89, 119, 122, 154.
Q Q
298
It will, perhaps, be said that — granting the term, as elsewhere
employed in the Prayer Book, to have the comprehensive
sense contended for ; it must he taken in a more limited
sense here, where " the faithful " are pronounced to be "in
joy and felicity ;" and therefore it may have the like con-
tracted meaning in the Catechism.
But, it seems to me, that the expression as here employed,
so far from having a meaning at variance with its use in the
other places cited from the Prayer Book, is entirely in ac-
cordance with them ; because it is no more limited than they
are to those whom I suppose Mr. Goode includes in the term
" true believers." The way in which it is used in the Liturgy
of Malabar * (See 5 (w.) p. 293) supports this opinion.
A reference to the Table (p. 295) will shew that the term
was first inserted in this Office at the last Review (1662) ;
and was then substituted for the expression " the Elected "
which had been used up to that time in all the Reformed
Prayer Books, and which was taken from the Salisbury
Manual. f Now, though no other key is furnished to the
meaning of the words than the context of the Prayer, it can
hardly be supposed that it was used in a narrower sense than
the words " saints," " faithful," " believers," quoted at
p. 291 from the Apostolical Epistles, or than the word
"elect" as applied to these persons in any of those same
Epistles (Coloss. iii. 12; 2 Tim. ii. 10; Tit. i. 1) or to those
"strangers" whom St. Peter addresses (1 Pet. i. 1 & 2).
Yet, whether this be or be not accepted as the true ex-
planation of " the Elected," we are not left without a guide
to the meaning of " the faithful" ; for, when the former term
was exchanged for the latter, a new Rubric was prefixed to
the Office, distinctly limiting its use by saying, "Here it is
* The same idea is preserved in the following passages.
Liturgy of St. Mark. — "Give rest to ... . every spirit that has de-
parted in the faith of Christ. . . ."—Male's Tram. p. 17.
Liturgy op St. Chrysostom. — " And further we offer to Thee this reasonable
service on behalf of those who have departed in the faith. . . ." — p. 117.
f "Deus, apud quern spiritus mortuorum vivunt, et in quo electorum animse
deposito carnis oneie plena felicitate laetantur," &c— Palmer, Orig. Lit. p. 237.
299
to be noted, that the Office ensuing is not be used for any that
die unbaptized, or excommunicate, or have laid violent hands
upon themselves" So, then, while by not using the Office in
these three cases the Church of England would abstain from
any judgment upon them, and would leave them to the jus-
tice and mercy of God, she intended to regard all others as
"the faithful," and so partakers of "joy and felicity" —
varying, we may well believe, with the varied degrees of
faith and holiness in which they departed this life.
It will be no answer to this view to say — that this Office is
often used for those who ought to be among the " excom-
municate ;" for the Office, as revised in 1662, contemplated the
continued use — or rather, the stricter application — of that Dis-
cipline enjoined in the Laws of the Church — Laws of whose
existence the Canons of 1608-4 alone bear abundant proof;
however much, whether from necessity, or unfitness, or other
causes, they have, to a great extent, fallen into abeyance.
It follows, therefore, that the Church meant to regard as
" the faithful " all validly baptized persons (except such as
"laid violent* hands upon themselves") who had not been
severed from her Communion by a " sentence of excom-
munication pronounced against them " (Can. 65) by an Ec-
* I must confess myself unable to agree with those who think that " violent
hands" must be limited to cases pronounced by a Coroner's Jury to be felo de
se : it is no want of charity, I trust, which compels me to believe that the
Church of England did not contemplate in this Rubric any distinction between
such cases and those in which a verdict of " temporary insanity" is given, but
meant to forbid the use of the Office in both, though not the interment of the
latter in consecrated ground: Wheatley {Com. Prayer, p. 481) supports this
view: Shakspeare, too, represents this as the rule of his day— a rule from
which, as it seems to me, the Church of England has not in theory departed :
Ophelia, though " crowner's quest law" gave her " Christian burial," for else " She
should in ground unsanctified have lodg'd," was only buried with " maimed rites;"
for when Laertes asked, "What ceremony more?'' the Priest answered, " Her
obsequies have been as far enlarg'd as we have warranty : Her death was
doubtful ;" {Hamlet, Act V.)
No doubt there are cases in which the omission of the Office would be a great
trial to the friends of the deceased; but then it should be remembered (and
would so far be a consolation) that, while its omission can be no injury to souls
so passing out of this life (for God is their Judge), it might have a most salutary
effect in deterring from self-destruction others for whom no sound plea could be
urged. It is to be feared that (so-called) charitable verdicts and charitable use of
the Burial Office in cases of suicide may have lessened the dread of the act itself,
and so have encouraged its more frequent commission.
300
clesiastical Judge : the 68th Canon, treating of this impedi-
ment to Burial, says that "No Minister shall refuse" to
bury, "except the party deceased were denounced excom-
municated majori excommunicatione, for some grievous and
notorious crime, and no man able to testify of his repentance."
But it is clear, from an inspection of her Laws, that such a
punishment would not be lightly inflicted even for those
greater offences to which it was limited ; and as, what would
be called, " truly religious people" — those bringing forth
" some sixty, some an hundred-fold" — ever bear but a small
proportion to ordinary Christians — the yielders of " thirty-
fold, so " the faithful" must of necessity have a meaning suf-
ficiently large to comprehend the least and the feeblest of
those who are in any degree willing to do Christ service, as
members of the Household of Faith, however much hindered
by causes which must be remitted to that "Master" to Whom
each " standeth or falleth."
Moreover, unless the Liturgy is to be construed by a
different rule from the Articles, the XIX th Article plainly
supports the sense here alleged to be the true meaning of the
term " the faithful " in the places cited from the Prayer Book
Offices, when it says that " The visible Church of Christ is a
congregation of faithful men ; " and if there could well be a
doubt of the comprehensive meaning of the word here, the last
clause disposes of it by saying that certain portions of this
" congregation of faithful men" " have erred .... not only
in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters
of Faith." Not the less strongly, though even more clearly
for the present argument, the XXXIII rd Article teaches that
every one who is in " the unity of the Church " must be
reckoned in " the whole multitude of the faithful ;" and " that
person" is evidently accounted to be in such unity who has
not been " rightly cut off from" it " by open denunciation of
the Church:" so that here a distinct meaning is authoritatively
assigned to the term " the faithful" by making it the equiva-
lent of those who are not formally " excommunicate."
Besides, the analogy of other similar words which are used
301
in the Prayer Book, serves to sustain that meaning of the ex-
pression " the faithful" to which Mr. Goode demurs : thus —
" make Thy chosen people joyful" {Matins, fyc.) ; " all estates
of men in Thy Holy Church" {Coll. Good Friday); "the
prayers of Thy humble servants" {Coll. \0th Sund. aft. Trin.);
"Thine elect" {Coll. for All Saints Day); "Good people,
these are they whom we purpose," &c. {Ord. of Priests)
— these, one and all, refer to Christians in their corporate
character ; yet they cannot but imply the same truth which
the xxvith Article expresses when declaring that "in the
visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good."
It rests with those who deny that the sense here contended
for is the true sense of the words " the faithful" in the
Catechism, to shew that in that Formulary they were de-
signed to have a meaning wholly different from what I have
argued must, in all consistency, be regarded as the meaning
of " the faithful" in the other instances cited from the Prayer
Book— -fideles (wio-rot) being in every case the Latin equiva-
lent, just as in the examples previously quoted from Eccle-
siastical Antiquity.
At p. 72 of the Letter (after quoting a passage from
Bishop Burnet to shew that it was " chiefly by Gawdens
means " the Declaration on Kneeling was restored to the
Communion Office in the Book of 1662,) I said that I was
unable then to state whether there was " any evidence to shew
that Gauden did not hold high views of the Real Presence,
though denying Transubstantiation : " since that time I have
collected what evidence I could procure respecting his
Eucharistic belief; and this I now proceed to furnish.
But, first, it will be well to produce another extract from
Bishop Burnet, because it gives some additional information as
to the support which Bishop Gawden received in proposing the
restoration of the Declaration : the passage occurs in the MS.
volume* of his " Own Time," now in the British Museum,
and is as follows : —
• Lord Maoaulay, referring to the MS., says, " These memoirs will be found
in a manuscript volume, which is part of the Haileian Collection, and is num-
302
" There were some small Alterations made in y e Book of Common
Prayer, together with some additions), the most important was y l
concerning y e kneeling in y' sacrament, w ch had been putt in y e
Second Book of Comon Prayer set out by Edward y e 6th, but was
left out by Queen Elizabeth, and was now by Bishop Gawden's means
put in at y e end of y e office of y e Communion. Sheldon opposed
it, but Gawden was seconded by Southampton and Morley. The
Duke complained of this much to me, as a puritannical thing, and
spake severely of Gawden, as a popular man, for his procuring it to
be added (tho' I have been told y' it was used in King James's
time)/'— Harhian MSS., 6584.
Bishop Gawden is called by Chalmers (Biog. Diet.) a Pre-
late " of more fame than character:" certainly he does seem
in some degree to have been a time-server. The Biog. Bri-
tannica states, " We are assured that Gawden took the cove-
nant, notwithstanding he seems to deny it,* and published, in
1643, certain doubts and scruples of conscience about taking
the Solemn League and Covenant : he was chosen one of the
bered 6584. They are, in fact, the first outlines of a great part of Burnet's His-
tory of his Own Times. The dates at which the different portions of this most
curious and interesting book were composed are marked. Almost the whole was
written before the death of Mary. Burnet did not begin to prepare his History
of William's reign for the press till ten years later. By that time his opinions,
both of men and things, had undergone great changes. The value of the rough
draft is therefore very great : for it contains some facts which he afterwards
thought it advisable to suppress, and some judgments which he afterwards saw
reason to alter. I must own that I generally like his first thoughts best. When-
ever his History is reprinted, it ought to be carefully collated with this volume."
—Hist, of England, Vol. iii., p. 19, Note. Hearne's opinion of Burnet's History of
his Own Time (which, however, does not make the Bishop an incompetent witness
to facts) is thus expressed : — " Mar. 19, 1733-4. Learning is sunk so very low,
that I am most certainly informed, that nothing now is hardly read but Burnet's
romance or libel, called by him. The History of his Own Time. 'Tisreadby men,
women, and children. Indeed it is the common table-book for ladies, as well as
gentlemen, especially such as are friends to the Revolution scheme." — Hearniana,
ii., 808. See also p. 812.
* The following passage from Baxter's Life seems to imply that Gawden did
take the Covenant, though with certain expressed or understood qualifications
which satisfied his own scruples : —
" § 362. I come now to the non-subscribers' particular scruples, which are
such as these.
" I. They say, That all men confessing that an oath or vow is obligatory, they
must see good proof that this particular vow is not so before they can exempt it
from the common force of vows ; but such proof they have never seen from Mr.
Fullwood, Mr. Stileman, Dr. Gauden, or any that hath attempted it, and on whom
it is incumbent ; but rather admir e that men of so great judgment and tenderness
of conscience should ever be satisfied with such halting arguments ; which they
had long ago more fully confuted, if the law had not forbidden them."— p. 410,
fol. 1696.
303
Assembly of Divines who met at Westminster in 1643 ;" but
appears not to have sat in it, as his name was " struck off the
list, and Mr. Thomas Goodwin put into his room."
The earliest publication of his which I have met with is
intitled —
" Ufa Aaxpva.
" Ecclesice A nglicance Suspiria.
"The Tears, Sighs, Complaints and Piiayeks of the CHURCH
OF ENGLAND : setting forth Her former Constitution, compared
with Her present Condition ; also The visible Causes, and probable
Cures, of Her Distempers. In iv. Books. By John Gauden,
D.D. of Booking in Essex. Jer. 8. 28. ' Is there no Balm in
Gilead? is there no Physician there? Why then is not the health
of the Daughter of my people recovered V
" London, Printed by J. G. for R. Royston, at the Angel in Ivie-
Lane, 1659."
The following passages shew what were his opinions at
this time.
" Chap. xvi. Irreconcilable differences between Reformed Truths
and Romish Errors, which are as manifest and obstinate.
''This is their so great, rude and sacrilegious maiming of the
Lord's Supper, by their partial communicating of the Bread only to
the people, without the Cup ; then their strange racking of Christians
Faith against all sense and reason, nay beyond all scripture-phrase
and proportion of Sacramental expressions, or mysterious predica-
tions, to believe they doe not receive so much as Bread, but another
substance under the accidents and shews of Bread.
" What learned Romanist can deny, but that both Clergy and Laity
did, for above a thousand years receive the Lord's Supper in both
kinds, after the constant use of all Primitive Churches, the Apostles
Practise, and Christ's Institution. Nor is there any more doubt, but
that the ancient Churches received those Holy Mysteries with an
high veneration indeed of that Body and Blood of Christ, which was
thereby signified, conveyed and sealed to them in the truth and
merits of the Passion; but yet without any Divine Adoration of the
Bread and Wine, or any imagination that they were transubstantiated
from their own seeming Essence and Nature to the very Body and
Blood of Christ. Which fancy of (Metemsomasis) changing the
Body and Substance of Sacramental signes into the bodily substance
of the Thing signified and represented by them (as the incomparable
Primate of Ireland hath observed out of Irenasus) began from the
juglings of one Marcus a Greek Impostor, or jugling Presbyter, who
using long Prayers at the Celebration of the Eucharist, had some
device to make the Cup and Wine appear of a purple or red and
304
bloody colour, that the people might think at his invocation the
Grace from above did distill Blood into the Cup. After this the
imagination spred from Greeks to Latins, by popular and credulous
fancies, promoted much by one Puschasius Radbertus, who in a
legendary spirit tells us of Flesh and Blood, of a Lamb and a little
Child, of appearing to those Receivers that were doubtfull of Christ's
corporall presence ; so he tells of limbs and little fingers found in the
hands and mouths of Communicants. From hence Damascen among
the Greeks, and P. Lumbard among the Latins, carried on this
credulity, or vain curiosity, using all their wits to make good this
strange and impossible transmutation of disparate subjects and sub-
stances : in which having nothing from Sense or Reason, Nature or
Philosophy, from Scripture- Analogy, or Sacramentall and Typical!
predications, frequent in Scripture (as the Lamb is called the
Passeover, so Christ our Passeover; Christ the Rock, Vine, Door ;
these drie Bones are the house of Israel; the seven ears of corne are
seven years, &c. the Tree is thou, 0 King) to prove the Miracle,
they flie to absolute omnipotency, whether God will or no, and shut
out all reasoning from Sense, Philosophy, Scripture. Nor do they
regard ancient Fathers and Councils : all which, though highly and
justly magnifying the great Mystery, yea, and the Elements conse-
crated, as related to and united with the Body of Christ, as Signs
and Seals of its Reality, Truth, use and merit to a sinner ; yet
generally tbey hold them to be substantially and physically Bread
and Wine, but sacramentally , relatively or representatively (onely)
the Body and Blood of Christ : as the Council of Constantinople
anno 754 consisting of 338 Bishops, did affirm, the Bread to be the
Body of Christ, not ipucrti, but Sio-n, not in substance, but in resem-
blance, use and appointment. Which Doctrine, as Catholic was
maintained to the Emperor Carolus Calvus, by Bertrannus or
Ratrannus, anno 880, which was also maintained in England by
Johannes Scotus in King Alfred's time, untill Lanfranks days, anno
1060, who condemned that Book of Scotus about the Sacrament
agreeable to the opinion of Bertram ; whose Homily expressing his
judgement at large against Transubstantiation, was formerly read
publicly in Churches on Easter day, in order to prepare men for the
right understanding and due receiving the Lord's Supper.
" Nor did the Doctrine of Transubstantiation obtain in the Church,
untill the year 1225 when Pope Innocent the third in the Council of
Lateran published it for an Oracle, That the Body and Blood of
Jesus Christ are truly contained under the forms of Bread and Wine,
the Bread being transubstatiated into the Body of Christ, and the
Wine into the Blood of Christ, by the power of God.
" Hence followed the invention of Concomitancy , which presuming
that the Communicant received under the accidents and shew of
Bread, the whole Body of Christ, and so his Blood, it was judged
rather superfluous than necessary (yea and lesse safe in some respects)
305
for the Lay-people to receive the Cup or Wine, and Blood of Christ
apart, as lie instituted, and the Church of old, even the Roman,
constantly practised, as do the Greeks at this day, according to what
Christ commanded, and in what sense he gave it, and called it
reall Bread and Wine : for such he took, such he brake, such he
blessed, such he gave to the Disciples, when he said, that is, this
Bread, is my Body, this cup is my Blood; such S. Paul understood
them to be, and so declares this the mind of Christ, as ho had
received it immediately from Christ, The Bread which we break, is
it not the Communion of the Body of Christ ? For we are all
partakers of that one Bread. So, ivhosoever shall eat this bread and
drink this cup unworthily. Let a man examine himself before he
eat of that bread.
" Certainly either the Apostle's expressions must be affectedly
very dark, and his meaning different from his words, or he was
quite of another mind than the Papists are at this day, who durst,
in the all-daring Council of Trent, damn all those who follow Christs
example, use his words, and are of the Apostle's judgment, expressing
their sense of the blessed Sacrament in his words ; which we think
much safer to follow, both in the use of Sacramentall Bread and
Wine, communicated to all Receivers, and in the persuasion we have
of our receiving true Bread and Wine, yet duly consecrated, and so
sacramentally united to the Reall Body and Blood of Christ, which
we faithfully behold, thankfully receive, and reverently adore in that
blessed Mysterie, according to the ancient Faith, Judgment,
Reverence and Devotion of the Church of Christ, void of sacrilegious
novelties, and incredible superstitious, vanities." — pp. 309-11.
Nothing can be clearer than that he distinctly repudiated
Transubstantiation : at the same time the language of the
last paragraph seems very plainly to enunciate his belief in
the Real Objective Presence.
We next meet with him as Bishop of Exeter and learn his
opinion, about Kneeling at the Sacrament, as set forth in a
Folio Tract, called
" The counsell which the Bishop of Excester delivered to
xliv. Presbyters and Deacons, after they had been ordained by
him (with the assistance of other grave Ministers) in the Cathedral
Church of Excester, after the Primitive, Catholic, and lawful way of
the Church of England. January 13, 1660 [1].
" Printed by /. Flesher, and are to be sold by R. Royston, Book-
seller to his Sacred Majesty, MDCLXI."
The following passages, like those just cited, are printed
to correspond with the original : —
" In like sort as if we had contended for our Religion and Pos-
it R
306
terity, or for the main points of State and hinges of Empire, we have
canvassed those questions very sadly and superciliously, Whether God
loohs with more kindness and welcome on those that receive the Lord's
Supper sitting, or standing, or kneeling. In which I conceive the
Christians of the first Ages (for the most part ) used standing, in the
presence and service of God ; and possibly in the holy Eucharist too;
expressing by the uprightness and readiness of that posture the Faith
they had as to Christ's Resurrection, that great Article in which, as
in one center, the whole orb of Christian Faith doth move. Sitting at
Church Tertullian counts rude and reproachful to the Divine Majesty ;
not only as too familiar, but as impudently testifying a weariness in
His Service.
"In after-ages of the Church, when the Arrian Pest had infected
farre and neare, the Orthodox Christians enclined more to kneeling
at the Sacrament, as thereby owning and vindicating the adorable
Majesty and Divinity of Christ, one and equal, as God, with the
Father and the Holy Spirit. A gesture no doubt variable, because not
necessary, having not the mark of precept and institution upon it, so
much as of occasion and custome : yet it is lawful and commendable,
because according to the general tenour and analogy of Divine worship ;
at least it is free, and not to be rigidly exacted, accordiny to the first
gesture of Christ, who followed the civil fashion of the Jewish nation
in their discumbency or lying down at their meales, in a leaning
posture: which few, if any, of the great sticklers against kneeling do
observe.
"Besides this, there is without doubt a vast difference between the
Divine Majesty of Christ, at first instituting these Sacred Mysteries
of the Lord's Supper by his soveraign autority ; and us, poor worth-
less wretches, celebrating them with that reverence and humility which
becomes our vileness and distance, when we are to receive those heavenly
dainties from the table and hands of Christ with that duty and obe-
dience, adoration and gratitude which is meet. Not that the efficacy,
grace and comfort of the Holy Sacrament depends upon the gesture
of the Body ; but upon the faithful, penitent and devout temper of
the gralious heart.
" Only it is for certain no sin in a Christian, both to express and
excite the inward motives of an humble and devout soul, by the out-
ward gestures and sutable motions of the body; as in lifting up the
hands and eyes to heaven, so in the bowing of the head and knees and
whole body toward the earth : By the one we shew the sense of our
own vileness and misery ; by the other our hopes in God's mercy and
benignity." — pp. 19 and 20.
It was only four months after giving this " counsel!" that
the Savoy Conference was held, Gauden being one of the
Episcopal Commissioners : the Answers of the Bishops to
307
the Puritan demand, that Kneeling at the Sacrament " may
be left free," distinctly embody the opinions put forth by
Bishop Gauden in both these extracts ; thus they say : —
" § 15. The position of kneeling best suits at the Communion as
the most convenient, and so most decent for us, when we are to re-
ceive as it were from God's hand the greatest of seals of the kingdom
of heaven. He that thinks he may do this sitting, let him remem-
ber the prophet Mai. Offer this to the prince, to receive his seal
from his own hand sitting, see if he will accept it. When the
Chuch did stand at her prayers, the manner of receiving was ' more
adorantium,' (S. Aug. Psalm xcviii. Cyril. Catch. Mystag. 5,)
rather more than at prayers, since standing at prayer hath been
generally left, and kneeling used instead of that (as the Church may
vary in such indifferent things). Now to stand at Communion,
when we kneel at prayers, were not decent, much less to sit, which
was never the use of the best times." — Card. Hist. Con/., p. 350.
The Bishops say that the ancient custom of receiving the
Communion was "more adorantium," even " when the Church
did stand at her prayers :" Bishop Gauden, one of them, had
published two years before that "we faithfully behold, thank-
fully receive, and reverently adore in that blessed Mysterie,"
the " Reall Body and Blood of Christ" and, too, " according to
the ancient Faith, Judgment, Reverence and Devotion of the
Church of Christ, void of sacrilegious novelties, and incredi-
ble superstitious vanities." Also in his, " counsell" just no-
ticed, he advocates Kneeling at the Sacrament on this very
ground that it is most " suitable" at that time " when we are
to receive those heavenly dainties from the table and hands of
Christ with that . . . adoration and gratitude which is meet."
Moreover, his argument throughout this latter Document is
quite in accordance with the second Answer of the Bishops
upon " The Communion Service," touching Kneeling, in
which they say : —
"§ 10. Kneel at Sacr. Concerning kneeling at the Sacrament
we have given account already ; only thus much we add, that we
conceive it an error to say that the Scripture affirms the Apostles to
have received not kneeling. The posture of the paschal supper we
know ; but the institution of the holy Sacrament was after supper :
and what posture was then used the Scripture is silent. The Rub.
308
at the end of the 1. Ed. C. that leaves kneeling, crossing, &c,
indifferent, is meant only at such times as they are not prescribed
and required. But at the Eucharist kneeling is expressly required
in the Rub. following.'' — Card. p. 354.
But it was at the very same time when these Answers were
given that the same Bishops (for there is nothing to shew
that Gauden did not concur) as distinctly refused to restore
the Declaration on Kneeling, though pressed to do so by the
Puritans, " for the vindicating of our Church in the matter
of kneeling at the Sacrament (although the gesture be left
indifferent):" the Bishops' answer, which it maybe as well
to repeat here, though given at p. 70, is : —
" § 12. This Rub. is not in the Liturgy of Queen Elizabeth,
nor confirmed by law ; nor is there any great need of restoring it,
the world being now in more danger of profanation than of idolatry.
Besides the sense of it is declared sufficiently in the 28th Article of
the Church of England." — Card. p. 354.
How came it to pass, then, that (as Burnet tells us)
Gauden " pressed" (p. 71) the Declaration, and that by his
" means" it was " put in" (p. 302) 1 It may be, as " the
Duke" said " severely," that Gauden did it as "a popular"
measure, though it had been " resolved to gratify [the
Puritans] in nothing" (p. 71) : but then it in no way follows
that he regarded it as anything more than a Protest against
Transubstantiation : nor is there anything to indicate that
the other Bishops viewed it differently ; on the contrary their
statement that " the sense of it is declared sufficiently in the
28th Article," plainly implies a like belief. It is, indeed,
very likely that Gauden thought it would help to neutralize
the effect of Puritan opposition if this Declaration against
Roman doctrine were again adopted ; and it was only what
he had himself stated when he wrote (p. 303) " that the an-
cient churches received those holy mysteries with an high
veneration indeed of that Body and Blood of Christ, which was
thereby signified, conveyed and sealed to them in the truth and
merits of the Passion; but yet without any Divine Adoration
of the Bread and Wine, or any imagination that they were
309
transubstantiated from their own seeming essence and nature
to the very Body and Blood of Christ :" but it is beyond
belief, as it seems to me, that he (or indeed his colleagues)
could have designed thereby to express any concurrence* in
the Puritans' denial of the Real Presence, or in their ob-
jection to Adoration, unless we entirely ignore his other
statements already quoted, or persuaded ourselves that he
had abandoned them.
Yet if this was Gaudens wish and design, Sheldon s oppo-
sition may naturally enough have arisen either from the fear
that it would be accounted a concession to the Puritans
which might prove inconvenient after the refusal which had
been given in the Conference, or from a disinclination to
provoke the Roman party by putting forth a Declaration
which the Conference had said there was no " great need" of
on the score of " danger" from " idolatry." Gunning's pro-
posal to change the words " reall and essentiall" may, most
likely, have met the difficulty and may have led to that agree-
ment between Gauden, Gunning, and the Bishops which I
ventured to assume (p. 73) took place — an opinion which is
certainly confirmed by this additional information which
has been considered.
That Gauden's Eucharistic belief, though most clearly op-
posed to Transubstantiation, not only presented no obstacle
to Gunning's proposed change but readily fell in with it,
may be further concluded from another work of Gauden's
which, after many searches and inquiries in all likely quarters
during some eighteen months, I have fortunately met with in
the possession of a private individual.f When the Book
was written I have been unable to ascertain : the Biographia
* It is with this qualification that we must read the following passage in
Kennett's Register and Chronicle, p. 585 : —
" The Concessions and Alterations that were now made for reforming the Book
of Common Prayer.
" ix. They desired that a Rubrick in the Common Prayer Book in 5 & 6 Edw.
vi. for the vindicating of our Church in the matter of kneeling at the Sacrament,
without the Declaration, &c, might be restored, and it was so."
Kennett's language reads as if he saw no distinction between the old and new
form of the Declaration, whatever he may have thought both to mean.
f John Nealds, Esq., of Guildford, who, in answer to my enquiry in that
most useful publication Notes and Queries, obligingly allowed me the loan of it.
310
Britannica speaks of it as published " Lond. 1681 :" Gauden,
however, died Sep. 20, 1662, so that it was either a posthu-
mous publication or a reprint of an Edition published in his
life time : but from the circumstance that it was dedicated to
" The Lady Rich," who died Nov. 12, 1657, it may most
reasonably be concluded to have been published under Gau-
den's own auspices. The copy from which I now quote is
dated 1707, being the Tenth Edition, and bears the Im-
primatur of Archbishop Sancroft, 1686; whether the A rchie-
piscopal sanction was then for the first time given, or was
appended to the Edition of 1681 or to any earlier Edition*
I have not been able to learn : nor is the point material : the
sanction of Sancroft, whenever appended, is a sufficient tes-
timony of the value of the book itself. The Title is as
follows : —
" The whole duty of a communicant : being rules and directions
for a worthy receiving The most Holy Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper. With Meditations and Prayers for every Morning and
Evening throughout the Week. Also, some Useful Directions and
Considerations, in order to a Holy Life after we have received the
Blessed Communion.
" By the Right Reverend Father in God,
John Gauden, late Lord
Bishop of Exeter.
The tenth Edition.
" London : Printed for N. Boddington, at the Golden-Ball in Duck
Lane ; and H. Hoodes, at the Star, the Corner of Bride Lane, Fleet
Street. 1707."
The Frontispiece represents an Altar vested for the Holy
Communion, with Linen Cloth on the top of the Table — two Fla-
gons, two Chalices with covers — return Rails, so close to the
* I have since met with another, and perfect, copy belonging to the Rev. G.
F. Lee, who has kindly allowed me the use of it : this is an earlier edition; it
has the same Frontispiece, Imprimatur, and Dedication ; the title page runs
thus : —
" The Whole Duty of a Communicant : being Rules and Directions for a
Worthy Receiving the Most lloly Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. By the
Right Reverend Father in God, John Gauden, late Lord Bishop of Exeter.
"He being Bead, yet apeahcth.
" The Fourth Edition with Additions, out of the Reverend Prelate's Original
Copies.
"London; Printed by D. M. for Langley Curtiss near Fleet-Bridge, and Hen.
Rodes, next door to the Swan-Tavern, near Bride-Lane in Fleet-Street, 1688."
Any different readings which occur in this Edition are thrown into Notes.
311
ends of the Altar that, apparently, the Celebrant could not stand
at the north end. Over the Altar appears a company of Angels
amid clouds and radiating light : kneeling on the lower steps
of the Altar are two Angels, looking North and South : — at the
bottom of the Frontispiece are the words, " The Angells ad-
mire the Divine Goodnes." It bears the —
" Imprimatur, Hen. Maurice, Reverendissimo in Chr. Pat.
and Dom. Domino Gulielmo Archiep. Cant, e Sacris Domesticis.
" May the 31st, 1686."
The Dedication is " To The truly Honoured The Lady
Rich," and is signed, " J. Gauden." In it he says : —
" . . , in an Argument of so mysterious a depth, good affections
are rather to be raised and inflamed, than Subtilties searched and dis-
puted. When 1 come short in depth of knowledge, I endeavour to
supply in belief of the truth, in love to the goodness, in thanks for
the benefit, in admiration of the mercy and designation ;* the less I
reach to its height, the more I retire to my own heart, which I can
sufficiently prepare by humility, for the receiving of that, whose
Divine Excellency, tho' I cannot comprehend, yet the benefit and hap-
piness by it I may obtain."
The following are all the passages touching in any way the
subject of the Real Presence: the italics are in the original : —
"That great Solemnity and Angelical feast." — p. 1.
" II. [a]
" A Sacrament is a visible Sign of an invisible Grace, a holy Seal
ordained of God to strengthen our Faith in His promises in Jesus
Christ, for the free Remission of our Sins : Which God, therefore,
annexed to His Word, to confirm us by representing the Sufferings
of Christ to our sight and lasting, as the Gospel preacheth in to our
ears ; and it is called the Lord's Supper, because Christ ordained it
as* His last Supper, Matt. xxvi. 26. Wherein to fulfil the Law He
eat the Paschal Lamb, and to shew the determination and change of
the Levitical Law and Priesthood, He ordained for this New Cove-
nant of Grace, a New Sacrament and Seal thereof, that it succeeding
the Passover, might declare Him to be the Lamb of God which taketh
away the sins of the world, John i. 19, to shew and represent His
Death, until His coming again ; to leave His Church a Badge of
distinction from Infidels, and a parting Token and Pledge of His
great Love, assuring the Faithful of His continual Care of them." —
p. 2.
"Dignation."— cd. 1688.
t "at."— cd. 1688.
312
«« III. [a]
" The visible Signs are Bread and Wine, the thing signified is the
participation of the Body and Blood of Christ, the benefit of whose
Death and Passion being apprehended by faith accrue to us as our
Mystick* Union with Christ, our Incorporation into Him, our Re-
conciliation with God, and the nourishment of our most precious
Souls to Eternal Life, John vi. 54. Whoso eateth my Flesh, and
drinketh my blood, hath Eternal Life, and I will raise him up at the
last day " — p. 3.
" Secondly, TJie Author by whom it was instituted.
"II. [b]
" So that in this great Mystery .... Reason is quite dazled and
blind, .... devolving all the Work of this Holy Mystery to Faith,
which relies upon the Truth, Power and Love of the Institutor, Jesus
Christ, who while He was yet on earth, by a corporal and natural
Presence conversing with men, but chiefly with His choice and do-
mestick Company, the Twelve Apostles, a little before His Death,
instituted this Sacred Mystery, after His last Supper which He made
with them." — p. 8.
"III. [b]
" By the Evidence of this Sacrament, exhibiting himself to them,
and all believing Souls, . . . as . . . after His Ascension might be a
continual Memorial and Seal of the Covenant of Grace, .... a lively
Token and Pledge of His Spiritual Presence with His Church, during
His Bodily Absence, till His second coming, as also a Badge of . ...
that mutual Love and Charity of Believers, who are all united by
Faith to one and the same Saviour, of whom they are all Partakers in
this One Sacrament, as well of the Invisible Grace as the Outward
and Visible Signs, the Bread and Wine." — p. 8.
" Thirdly, The Outward Means suitable to this End.
"I- M
" The Choice of which familiar Signs, made by our Saviour for the
Outward Means, discovered a wonderful Wisdom, .... Things . . .
such as for the Community may be had of all Nations though
where the proper species of Bread and Wine cannot be had, those
means of nourishment, which are proportionable may be used, so that
no Nation or Man may think himself excluded from the use and
comfort of this Sacrament of the Lords-Supper." — p. 9.
"III. [c]
" For their Plainness and Simplicity, it is such as may take off
Christian Minds from placing Piety and the Mysteries of Grace and
Religion in any External Pomp and Vanity, which doth but dazle
" mystical."— ed. 1688.
313
the Eyes and amaze the Senses, and detain Vulgar and Common
Minds, by the Outward Glory of the Senses Objects, from that inward
retiring of the Spirit and Soul to its proper and comfortable objects,
which are Spiritual, Invisible, and Intellectual, and far remote from
the Senses, and abstracted from them, so that Christians cannot easily
be so grossly and stupidly sensual, as to imagine any Efficacy in
these small and simple Elements of themselves, no more than in Wax
or Parchment, which not of their proper Virtue, but only of the Will
of the Conveyer, have Power to Convey an Estate to the Receiver of
them." — p. 10.
Fourthly, The Mystical Union, by which they effectually attain and
convey to us that End and Benefit which is propounded.
" i. m
" For the Sacramental Union of the Outward Signs, which are the
proper objects of our Senses, to the Body and Blood of Christ, which
are the proper Objects of our Faith, this 1 conceive to be not by any
Physical or Natural Union as the Fruit to the Tree, .... nor yet
by any . . . changing the Substance of these Elements into the sub-
stance of Christ's Body and Blood . . . ." — p. 14.
'< II. [d]
" Nor may Omnipotency ... be so far extended by Human Fancy
and Imagination to tell us jointly that they are Bread and
Wine, and yet his Will is at the same, and about the same Thing,
that . . . they are not Bread and Wine, but substantially Flesh and
Blood; . . ."—p. 14.
"VI. [d]
" So that as the Bread and Wine, by their natural Qualities and
Virtues, are fit to represent the spiritual Efficacy of the Body and
Blood of Christ, yet by a natural Power, are no whit able to impart
to a Communicant the Body and Blood of Christ, with the Benefits
of them to the Soul : So 'hat our Blessed Saviour hath made choice
of them for the first, and hath given to them a Sacramental Virtue,
and a Supernatural Efficacy for the Second, which they truly do as
Remembrances, as Signs and Seals ; really conveying to the believing
and prepared Soul, by the concurrent Spirit and Power of the In-
stitutor, Jesus Christ, that which in their Nature they do fitly repre -
sent."- — p. 17.
" IX. [d]
" We deny not a true and real presence and perception of Christ's
Body and Blood in the Sacrament, which in reality even thej r of the
other gross opinion do not imagine is to Sense, but to Faith ; which
perceives its Objects as really, according to Faith's perception, as
the Senses do theirs after their manner. I believe therefore, That
in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, there are both Objects pre-
S S
314
sented to, and received by a worthy Receiver; First, the Bread and
Wine in their own Nature and Substance distinct, do remain as well
as their Accidents, which are the true Objects of our Sense, and fit
Signs to represent by them the inward Grace." — p. 20.
"X. [d]
" Also there are spiritual, invisible, and credible, yet most true and
really present, Objects of Faith ; the Body and Blood of Christ, that is
Christ Jesus himself, whom by Faith I consider as suffering for my
Sins, and cast my soul by His mercy offered me by the Merits of
His Death. These two Materials of the Sacrament are so united,
that it may be truly said (not in a Gross and Physical, but Divine
and Sacramental Sense) the Bread and Wine are the Body and
Blood of Christ, and Christ's Body and Blood are Bread and Wine :
John vi. Meat indeed, and Brink indeed, not by transmutation of
Nature, but by a similitude of Virtues, and proportionable Effects,
by a Sacramental Union and Relation, depending upon the Truth,
Authority, and Divine Power of the Institutor, Jesus Christ." —
p. 20.
" XL [d]
" Whose Appointment of these Elements to such a Use or End,
and uniting them in this near Relation to His Body and Blood, by
the solemn Consecration of them, make up the firm and true Being
of a Sacrament, which requires a Truth and Reality, both of the
Signs and Symbols, and that which is by them represented and sig-
nified ;* a Truth and Certainty of Relation and Connexion one with
another : So that I receive not only Panem Domini, the Bread of iJie
Lord ; but also, Panem Dominum, my Lord Jesus Christ, the true
Bread of Life eternal to my Soul and Body ; this latter, as truly and
really as the former, together with all the benefits which flow from
Christ." — p. 21.
"XII. [d]
" On the other side, whoso unpreparedly and irreverently, and so
unworthily, receives the one, contracts a Guilt of Damnation for
Neglect, Indignity, and Irreverence offered to the other ; that is,
the Body and Blood of Christ, which Faith only discerns and receives
in this great Mystery : And whoso violates and contemns the Seal
and authentick Letters of the King, becomes guilty of Indignity
and Offence to his Authority and Majesty, which is not only re-
strained to his person ; but also inseparably annexed to any Sign or
Token by which he is pleased to Manifest His Royal Will and
Pleasure, thus rightly informed, as I hope, in the Nature of this Sa-
crament, what it is in itself, what it may be to me, of how Divine a
Mystery and Dignity it is in itself to my Soul, either of Comfort and
Salvation in a Worthy Receiving, or of Guilt and Damnation in an
Unworthy Receiving of it." — p. 21.
* "also a." — ed. 1688.
315
" Fifthly, How we ought to prepare ourselves.
"I. [e]
" .... by a Self Examining, see what fitness there is in me,
answerable to these Holy Mysteries, and the Grace of God by these
offered to me, and most Effectually Conveyed, except the Unpre-
paredness, and Indisposition of my Heart do Frustrate and put an
Obstacle." — p. 22.
"XI. [e]
" . . . . the sight of the Promises, and the Seals of the Sacrament
annexed to them, in which I behold Jesus Christ crucified, does
again establish my Heart . . . ." — p. 30.
"XVII. [e]
" The same holy frame, and devout temper of Spirit, I labour to
continue in my receiving, carrying my Faith, by the visible Repre-
sentations before me, and giving* to me to behold its invisible, but
most credible Object, Jesus Christ crucified and dying for sin . . . ."
—p. 34.
" Rules and Directions to a WeeJc's Preparation.
"I- [f]
"When thou hearest the warning read in the Church by the
Minister, consider and contemplate with thyself that God Almighty
hath sent forth His Servant to bid thee to this great Supper, where
not His fat Oxen are killed, but His only beloved Son and thy dear
Saviour (who was crucified on the Cross, for thine, and for the Sins
of the whole World) is offered to thee to feed upon in thine Heart
with Faith and Thanksgiving ; . . . . " — p. 39.
" Monday Morning, a Preparatory Prayer to the holy Sacrament.
"I- [g]
" .... I do hear thy Word, and thy dear Son is offered unto my
Ear ; I receive this Sacrament, and now He is offered unto my Eye,
in the Testimony of these two Witnesses, this Truth is established
in my Heart, that-ny Saviour suffered Death for my Sin." — p. 47.
This copy is defective here, pp. 51 to 58, viz., Self exami-
nation on the Ten Commandments.
" A Prayer for Pardon and Remission of Sins.
IV. [h]
" Cleanse my heart throughly that I may receive
Jesus Christ with all the Benefits of His death and Passion "
" Meditations for Monday Evening on the Holy Sacrament, of the
Lord's Supper, showing the necessity of receiving it."
* "given."— ed. 1688.
316
«ir. [i]
" O most wonderful Sacrament, what shall I say of thee ! Thou
art the life of my soul, and a Medicine to heal all my wounds ! . . . "
— p. 62.
HI. [ij
" Shall I who am loaden with sins, dare to present myself
to that holy banquet ; where Angels wait as ministering Spirits, sent
out for the good of those who are to receive the Earnest of Salva-
tion ? Shall I with lascivious eyes, full of wanton looks, behold that
Lamb without spot or blemish ? With my polluted looks and lying
tongue, shall I touch the Bread of Angels ? or shall I lodge the
King of kings in a heart filled with foul concupiscence ? " — p, 63.
" A prayer for Monday Evening on the Holy Sacrament. "
"IV. [k]
" Grant, O Lord, that I may receive Thee with pure lips and a
penitent Heart, that Thou dwelling in my Heart by Faith, I may
find myself strengthened, comforted, and my Heart inflamed with
the love of Thee ; then shall I prostrate myself before Thee, and
acknowledge in the Assembly of Thy Saints, that it is Thou alone
who hast comforted me, and that there is no salvation in any beside
Thee."— p. 65.
" Meditations for Tuesday Morning on the Holy Sacrament."
"VI. [1]
" . . . . Christ conveyed unto us in this Sacrament." — p. 69.
" Meditations for Tuesday Evening, on the Holy Sacrament."
"I. [m]
" By means of this Divine Food, the soul is united to Christ,
and receives that strength and vigour which continually sets it for-
ward in its Spiritual Ascension. Who can give worthy thanks for
so great a Benefit ? Who will not be altogether dissolved into tears,
when he sees Almighty God united to him ? The more we go about
to consider the Excellency and Virtues of this sovereign Mystery,
the more do we want words to express it, and the more doth our
understanding fail us." — p. 73.
V. [m]
" He hath given us of His own Bread, and of His own Cup ; nay,.
He hath given us His own Body as Bread, His own Blood as Wine,
for the Nourishment of our Souls ; . . . . " — p. 73.
" Meditations for Wednesday Morning, on the Most Holy
Sacrament.
VI. [n]
*' O then receive me a poor sinner at Thy Holy Table : this
317
most Holy Medicine cures all the wounds of sin ; this quickening
Flesh overcometh all mortal sin. This is the most Holy Seal
of Divine Promises, which we may shew before God's Judgment
Seat ; having this Pledge we may glory, and be secure of eternal
life: If Christ's Body and Blood be exhibited unto us, assuredly all
other Benefits by that most Holy Body, and most Blessed Blood,
are prepared for us ; ... . " — p. 82.
" Meditations for Wednesday, a preparation on the Holy Sacrament,"
"V. [o]
" In this blessed Sacrament here, we have an unmoveable Centre
to rest on ; God our Portion, Christ our Fulness, an Object larger
than the Heavens " — p. 92.
" A Prayer for Faith.
" O Almighty God, whose Nature is above our reach ; and whose
secret operations no humane reason can conceive ! Give me that
Faith, without which no man can know Thee, and without which no
soul can please Thee : Lord I believe, but to believe unto righteous-
ness, O God, increase my Faith. Concerning the great Sacrament
of Thy precious Body and Blood, I believe that in the same Night
that Thou, O Lord Jesus, wast betrayed, Thou didst give to Thy
disciples Bread and Wine, which thou didst call thy Body and Blood,
with a charge to eat and drink, and to do the same in remembrance
of thee ; for as thou wast upon thy Departure, thou wouldst leave
them and me a Sign of thy Body, a Figure of thy Blood, and
a Memorial of thy bitter Death and bloody Passion ; lest I should
forget thee, who wast ready to lay down thy life for me, who am
the worst and vilest of sinners." — p. 111.
" II- [P]
" Therefore I take these Elements of Bread and Wine, for holy
Signs of thy Body and Blood, believing that though they remain
after the Consecration in their Substance both Bread and Wine, yet
they are more than commf n Bread and Wine, being made by
prayer and thy holy Word the Figures of thy Flesh and Blood ;
which in the Action and Use of the Sacrament, are really and
effectually taken by the Faithful. So tho' I feel and taste Bread
and Wine, yet by the Eye of Faith, I eat thy Body, and drink thy
Blood, in Remembrance that thou didst Die for me, and for all
Mankind." — p. 112.
" Meditation for Friday Evening, on the Holy Sacrament.
"II. [q]
" And the best way to strengthen our Trust in God, is by renew-
ing our Resignation, and when can we more seasonably do it, than
at our Receiving the blessed Sacrament, in which we have exhibited
jie Fulness of Christ's Merits, as the Propitiatory Sacrament and
Atonement for our Souls, by whom we have Access unto the
Father, . . . ."—p. 113.
318
" Meditations for Saturday Evening, on the Most Holy Sacrament.
" II. [r]
" O that I were now with an humble Heart at the Holy TaKe of
my Lord there is the universal Medicine for all our Dis ses,
and an Ark of Safety against all Dangers ; there, O my soul, thou
mayest by the Eye of Faith behold thy crucified Lord and Saviour,
shedding his most precious Blood upon the Cross for thy sins, and
burning with an unspeakable desire of thy Salvation. There thou
mayest look upon him whom thou dost still crucifie afresh by thy
sins daily and hourly " — p. 112.
This copy is imperfect from here, p. 123 to 131, " When
the Minister is saying the Offertory," etc.*
w
" At the time of the Consecration fix your Eye upon the Elements,
and at the Actions of the Ministers in ordering the Bread and Wine,
we ought joy fully and thanlcfully to meditate after this manner.
" O who can but admire and wonder, that the Son of God should
become food to the souls of Men, and to humble himself so low to be
represented by Bread, which is the Poor Man's Food, though
necessary for the Rich ; it is the staff of our life, and signifies that
Body of thine, which thou gavest for the life of the World ; thou
hast by thy holy Mystery made this Bread and Wine spiritual Food,
as well as temporal ; O Lord, I beseech thee, let the operation of it
be such as to strengthen my soul, that I may withstand all tempta-
tions whatsoever, and evermore serve thee in Spirit and Truth.
Amen.
[t]
" When the Minister breaks the Bread, and pours out the Wine,
use these Meditations.
" O Holy Jesus, thy Blessed Body was torn with Nails upon the
Cross, and thy Precious Blood was inhumanly spilt by thy
Crucifiers ; but I, unworthy Wretch, by my manifold sins have oc-
casioned more torments to thee ; they crucified thee but once, but I
crucifie thee daily ; they Crucified thee because they knew thee not,
but I have known thee ; what thou art in thyself, the Lord of Glory,
and what thou art to me, a most tender and merciful Father, and
yet I have still continued to Crucifie thee afresh : O do thou work
in me, first a great sorrow for my sins past, and then a great hatred,
and a firm resolution against them for the time to come." — p. 134.
* But in the Ed. of 1688 at p. 133 occurs the following :—
"A Prayer before the Sacrament.
"II 0 then, dear Lord, fit me I beseech thee for thyself, that I may
receive with that joy and spiritual comfort, this thy Body that was broken, and
thy precious Blood which was shed for me, whereby I may partake of all the
Benefits of thy bitter Death and Passion "
319
[u]
" When the Minister is drawing near thee with the Elements, say,
" I adore thee, O most righteous Redeemer, that thou art pleas'd
to convey unto my soul thy precious Body and Blood, with all the
benefits of thy Death and Passion ; I am not worthy, O Lord, to
receive thee, but let thy Holy and Blessed Spirit, with all his purities,
prepare for thee a lodging in my soul, where thou mayest unite me
to thyself for ever. Amen.
[v]
" Ejaculations before the Bread.
" This is that Bread which came down from Heaven, whosoever
eateth shall never hunger. Thou dealest thy Bread to those which
hunger after Righteousness : O feed my fainting soul with this
Bread of Life.
"O strengthen my Heart and Hand by a lively Faith, and open
my mouth with fervent desires that I may Eat, not for bodily sus-
tenance, but spiritual relief, and the refreshment of my soul.
" O let my soul feel the spiritual Efficacy of thy grace, that I may
not eat unworthily, or to my condemnation. O Lord, I beseech
thee, enable and direct me by thy holy and blessed Spirit to receive
it worthily. Amen." — p. 136.
" When the Minister gives the Holy Bread, say softly with him
"The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for me,
preserve my Body and Soul unto everlasting life.
" Here take the Bread with reverence, then proceed:
" I take and eat this in Remembrance that Christ died for me,
and will feed on him in my Heart with Faith and Thanksgiving.
Then answer audibly, Amen.
After the Bread, say :
" I give thee hearty Thanks, O Lord most Holy, that thou hast
refreshed my soul at this time, by my feeding upon thy Body which
was broken for me ; If I had lived innocently and had kept all thy
Commandments, yet could I have had no proportion of merit to so
transcendant a Mercy ; but since I have so loved Sin, and added
Transgression to Transgression, thy Mercy is so glorious and
infinite, that I stand amazed at the consideration of its immensity :
O let me not throw off this Wedding Garment, or stain it with
Pollution of deadly Sin, but let me be wholly united to thee, being
transformed according to thy Holy Will and Life, who livest and
reignest for ever. Amen." — p. 137.
Or this I
" O Blessed Jesus, sanctifie this Bread to me that it may be to my
Soul the Staff' of Strength, whereby I may vanquish and overcome
320
all the Assaults of the Devil, the World and the Flesh, and continue
thy faithful Soldier and Servant to my Life's end. Amen.
" When thou receivest the Cup, say after the Minister, softly :
" The Blood of My Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for me.
preserve my Body and Soul unto everlasting Life ; I drink this in
remembrance that Christ's Blood was shed for me, and am thankful,
Amen. — p. 138.
" After the Cup, say,
" O how delightful is this Cup to me, Blessed Jesus, which was
so heavy to thee ! it was thy Agony and bloody Sweat, thy bitter
Death and Passion, which afforded me this Cup of chearfulness ;
thou didst find it bitter, when thou wast appeasing an angry Father,
but thou hast sweetened it by a reconciliation, and hast wrought out
my Redemption and Salvation.
Or this :
"I Praise Thee, I Bless Thee, I Glorifie Thee, O Lord most
Holy, that thou hast at this time so refreshed my Soul, and filled me
with holy Desires ; O let thy tender Mercy always keep me in this
happy temper, that I may never err, nor stray from thy Command-
ments, but keep firm that Covenant which thou hast sealed with thy
most precious Blood for my Redemption ; and direct me, O Lord,
and guide me so here, that I may be a fit Member for thy Heavenly
Kingdom hereafter. Amen." — p. 139.
I have extracted thus fully from this Book, even at the risk
of being tedious, in order that Bishop Gauden's opinions on
such points as touch the subject of the Real Presence may be
fairly judged by the context of those passages in which they
occur ; and that thus he may, in fact, speak for himself. An
analysis of the passages furnishes the expression of the
Bishop's belief on the following Eucharistic statements
which he enumerates : —
1. That the Eucharist is a sacrificial representation of
Christ's sufferings " to our sight and tasting." —
II. [a] p. 311. XI. [e] p.315. XVII. [e] p.315.
2. That it has three parts (as defined in the Church Cate-
chism), viz : (1.) The Sign — sacramentum. (2.) The thing
signified — res sacramenti. (3.) The benefits — virtus sacra-
menti— III. [a] p. 312. VI. [d] p. 313. XI. [d.]p.314.
3. That it is a Mystery explicable only to Faith. —
II. [b] p. 312; and ineffable — I. [m] p. 316.
4. That it is a "lively token and pledge of" Christ's
" Spiritual Presence with His Church, during His Bodily
Absence."— III. [b] p. 312. VI. [n]p.317.
5. That the " Sacramental Union of the Outward Signs
.... to the Body and Blood of Christ" is not "any Physical
or Natural Union," nor yet Transubstantiation. — I. and II.
[d] p. 313. X. [d] p. 314. XI. [d] p. 314.
6. That the Broad and Wine by "a supernatural Efficacy"
really convey what they are designed also to represent, viz.,
The Body and Blood of Christ.— VI. [d] p. 313. V. [in] p.
316. II. [p.] p. 317. [s] p. 318: i.e., Christ Himself Who is
therein offered to feed upon :— I. [f] p. 315. I. [g] p. 315.
VI. [1] p. 316: even "that Bread which came down from
Heaven."— [v] p. 319.
7. That there is " a true and real presence and perception
of Christ's Body and Blood in the Sacrament." — to faith, not
to sense.— IX.,' X. and XI. [dj pp. 313, 314.
8. That such Presence is Objective and irrespective of the
character of the receiver. — III. [i] p. 316. V. [o] p. 317.
Note p. 318.
9. That this Presence is due to Consecration. — XI. [d] p.
314. II. [p] p. 317.
10. That in some sense tbe Body and Blood of Christ are
received by the wicked.— XII. [d] p 314. III. [i] p. 316.
[v] p. 319.
11. That Adoration is due to Christ in the Sacrament. —
[u] p. 319.
It will be at once seen that these Eleven Propositions in-
volve mainly the very questions which were raised in the Case
which originally led to the preparation of this Letter, and
which have been brought into discussion also in other cases ;
it can hardly be denied, I think, that Bishop Gauden's lan-
guage concerning them is sufficiently strong and decided to
shield those who have been accused of employing an unwar-
ranted phraseology ; especially when it is recollected that the
man who thus wrote was one of the principal Savoy Com-
missioners and Reviewers of 1661-62, and that to him is
very mainly owing the re-introduction of that Declaration on
T T
822
Kneeling, which the language condemned has been declared
to contravene, though no proof has yet been furnished that
the Declaration was ever designed to do more than (as I have
argued throughout this Letter) exclude the Doctrine of
Transubstantiation, and any consequences to which it neces-
sarily led.
Bishop Gauden was not, however, the only Prelate who
urged the re-production of this Declaration : we have learned
from Bishop Burnet (see p. 302) that he " was seconded by
Southampton and Morley:" why Southampton interested
himself on the subject, or what opinion he held on the Doc-
trinal question, I have been unable to learn, nor is it of the
least moment in considering the actions and opinions of the
Divines who were concerned in the Revision of 1662. But
it is very desirable to ascertain any particulars as to Bishop
Morley's opinions : little, however, seems to be known of
him :"* Chalmer's {Biog. Diet. Vol. xxii. London, 1815) says
that he :—
• Richard Baxter, in his Account of the Managers of the Conference hetween
the Episcopal and Presbyterian Divines, says of him : — "Bishop Morley was
oft there, hut not constantly, and with free and fluent words, with much earnest-
ness, was the chief speaker of all the Bishops, and the greatest interrupter of us ;
vehemently going on with what he thought serviceable to his end, and bearing
down Answers by the said fervour and interruptions." — Life, p. 363, fol. 1696.
It may be as well to hear his opinion of others, whose names have been men-
tioned in the course of these pages.
" Bishop Cosin was there constantly, and had a great deal of talk with so little
Logick, Natural or Artificial, that I perceived no one much moved by anything
he said. But two Virtues he shewed (though none took him for a Magician) :
One was, that he was excellently well versed in Canons, Councils, and Fathers,
which he remembered, when by citing of any passages we tried him. The other
was, that he was of a rustick wit and carriage, so he would endure more freedom
of our discourse with him, and was more affable and familiar than the rest." —
Ibid.
" Bishop Gauden was our most constant helper ; he and Bishop Cosin were
seldom absent. And how bitter soever his pen be, he was the only Moderator of
all the Bishops (except our, Bishop Reynolds) : he shewed no Logick ; nor
meddled in any dispute, or point of learning ; but a calm, fluent, rhetorical
tongue ; and if all had been of his mind, we had been reconciled : but when by
many days' Conference in the beginning, we had got some moderating Conces-
sions from him (and from Bishop Cosin by his means) the rest came in the end
and brake them all."— Ibid.
" Dr. Pierson and Dr. Gunning did all their work (beside Bishop Morley's
discourses), but with great difference in the manner. Dr. Pierson was their true
Logician and Disputant, without whom, as far as I could discern, we should have
had nothing from them, but Dr. Gunning's passionate invectives mixt with some
Argumentations : he disputed accurately, soberly, and calmly (being but once in
any passion) breeding in us a great respect for him, and a persuasion that if he
323
" .... was sent over by Chancellor Hyde," from the Hague, " to
help to pave the way for" Charles II. 's Restoration : to " the heads
of the Presbyterian party" he "avowed himself a Calvinist, because
he knew that they entertained the most favourable opinion of such
Churchmen as were of that persuasion. His chief business, how-
ever, in this kind of embassy, was to confute the report that Charles
II. was a papist. In this he was probably more successful than cor-
rect." He was author of "An Argument, drawn from the evidence
and certainty of sense against the Doctrine of Transubstantiation,"
and also of a " Vindication of the Argument drawn from sense
against Transubstantiation." London, 1683.
From this latter work I extract the only four passages
which afford any clue to Bishop Morley's opinions, so far as
they relate to the Doctrinal grounds, on which he probably
counselled the insertion of the Declaration on Kneeling : the
Italics, etc., are his own : the first occurs when explaining
the word " Mysteries," where he says : —
" . . . . and in this sense likewise both the Sacraments may be
and are called Mysteries, but especially that of the Lord's Supper,
which none were permitted to be present at, or to see administered,
in the Primitive Church of old, nor are not in Protestant CJiurches
at this day, but such as are receivers and partakers of it. And from
hence the word Missa or Masse came to be taken for the Sacrament
itself ; because when that part of the Divine Service (which was be-
fore the Sacrament, and at which the Catechumeni and others (that
were not to be partakers of the Sacrament might be present) was
done, "the Beacon dismissed that part of the People by saying,
Missa est, that is, Your part of the Service is done, and you are to
depart; and then none staid but such as were to communicate,
whom they called jideles. But that which was not lawful and
counted a profanation of this holy mystery in the Primitive Church,
is now in the Romish not only counted lawfull but meritorious ; I
mean the standing by, and looking on the celebration of the Lord's
had been independent, he would have been for peace, and that if all were in his
power, it would have gone well : he was the strength and honour of that cause
which we doubted whether he heartily maintained."— p. 364.
" Dr. Gunning was their forwardest and greatest speaker ; understanding well
what belonged to a disputant ; a man of greater study and industry than any of
them, well read in Fathers and Councils ; and of a ready tongue ; (and I hear
and believe of a very temperate life, as to all carnal excesses whatsoever) : but
so vehement for bis high imposing principles, and so over-zealous for Ar-
minianism, and Formality, and Church Pomp, and so very eager and fervent in
his discourse, that I conceive his prejudice and passion much perverted his
judgment, and I am sure they made him lamentably over-run himself in his dis-
courses." — Ibid.
324
Supper, or the Masse (as they call it) without receiving of it." —
pp. 17 and 18.
The other passages are found in his refutation of the argu-
ment — that Transubstantiation is a Miracle : upon which he
writes thus : —
" (3rd.) There is no such Miracle as Transubstantiation, because
God never works any miracle, but for some great end, and such a
one, as cannot be obtained without such a miracle, according to the
old and true saying, both in Philosophy and Divinity, Deus nihil agit
frustra, God doth nothing in vain. But supposing a Transubstan-
tiation, or a miraculous change of the Bread and Wine, into the
body and blood of Christ, such a miracle would be to no purpose ;
because, as Christ himself tells them (that though he would have
given them his very flesh to eat) the Flesh profileth nothing: his
meaning is, that the eating of his flesh, or the very substance of his
flesh in that gross and carnal manner, as they then, and the Papists
now, think it is to be eaten, would doe no man any good at all.
For it is not the taking of Christ's body into our mouths, in the very
flesh or corporeal substance of it (if it could be so taken) that can
nourish our souls into everlasting life ; for then all that received this
Sacrament, should be saved ; which yet they doe not, nor dare not
affirm : but it is the Spirit, saith Christ, that quiclceneth, that is, it is
the spiritual eating of his flesh and drinking of his blood, that nou-
risheth us in the life of grace here, and will bring us unto the life of
glory hereafter ; and according to this manner of eating and drink-
ing, it is, that Christ saith, John vi. 54, that ' Hliosotver eateth his
flesh and drinketh his blood, hath eternal life;' and in order to the
eating and drinking of Christ's flesh and CJirist's blood in this
spiritual manner, and to that spiritual end, there neither is nor can
be any need or use of Transubstantiation ; and consequently being
of no Necessity, nor of no Use, there can be no such Miracle.
" (4th.) And lastly, There can be no such miracle as Transub-
stantiation, because all Miracles are possible ; but Transvistantiation
is impossible as implying many real and proved contradictions : as
the being of Accidents without Subjects, the nourishing of Substances
by Accidents, and the generation of other Substances out of the cor-
ruption of Accidents; as likewise that there should be a Body
without quantity, a quantity without extension, or extension without
extending itself in any space or place ; Or lastly, that one and the
same Body should be in diverse phces at one time, and yet not fill
any place, nor be in any of the spaces betwixt those places, and con-
sequently to be united and not united, divided and not divided ; nay,
that the same body which is in Heaven circumscriptive, or tanquam
in loco proprie dicio, should be at the same time out of that place,
and consequently in loco and extra locum, that is circumscribed and
not circumscribed, or circumscribed in one place and not circumscribed
325
in another : Besides many others the like inconsistencies and con-
tradictions, which you may see demonstrated at large in Dr. WhitaJcer,
Bishop Morton, and Mr. Chillingworth. Now that whatsoever im-
plyes a Contradiction cannot be done, no not by miracle, is their doc-
trine, as well as ours ; because, this would rather argue an impo-
tency than an omnipotency in God.
" To conclude all, Whereas the Author of this Pamphlet saith that
all Catholics, he means Romanists, hold that Christ's bodxj and blood
have a spiritual presence in the Sacrament ; and that (saith he) being
once granted, there can be no difficulty in believing that our Saviour's
body and blood may be in many places at the same time, because it
is granted to all Spirits.
" I answer, supposing it were true (as it is not) that all Romanists
hold Christ's body to have a spiritual presence in the Sacrament, and
supposing it were true likewise, that a true humane body (as Christ's
is) could have a spiritual presence, that is, (as I suppose his meaning
to be) could be present as Spirits are present without filling the
place, or space wherein they are ; which is most false. For a Body
cannot be a body and no body, as it must be if it were a Spirit; and
nothing can have the presence or propriety of a Spirit but a Spirit :
and consequently nothing can be anywhere as a Spirit but a Spirit.
But supposing (I say) it were true, that Christ's body were in the
Sacrament in a Spiritual manner, or after the manner of Spirits, yet
would it not follow that Christ's body could be in diverse places at
the same time. For no created Sjririt can be in many, or in more
places than one at the same time, no more than a Body can. Indeed
there is a difference between the presence of a Spirit, and the pre-
sence of a Body, the former being where it is, definitive, and the
other circumscriptive; But that which is definitive, where it is, cannot
be anywhere else than where it is at one and the same time, no
more than that which is circumscriptive ; and consequently, to be in
many places at once, is as inconsistent with the nature of a Spirit, I
mean of a finite and created Spirit, as it is with the nature of a Body.
For the Angel Gabriel was not with the Blessed Virgin at the same
time that he was in Heaven, nor in heaven at the same time that
he was with the Blessed Virgin ; and it was one of the Arguments
whereby the Ancient Fathers prove the Holy Ghost to be God, be-
cause He may be, and is, in many places at the same time, which no
Spirit can be but He only.
" There is therefore no such Miracle as Fransubstantiation, it
being not only a useless thing if it were so, but an impossible thing
that it should be so."— pp. 23-27.
Neither of these passages contains, indeed, any direct state-
ment of Bishop Morley's belief on the Real Presence ; indi-
rectly, however, they furnish some clue to it, and to the
sense in which he must have sanctioned the Declaration on
326
Kneeling : for, in the first place, the argument drawn (in the
passage, p. 323) from the (erroneously alleged*) rule of the
Primitive Church and the custom of the "Protestant
Churches " in his own day, to prove that " both the Sacra-
ments may be and are called Mysteries, but especially the
Lord's Supper" implies the belief of something more distinct
and peculiar about the Eucharist than pertains to the other
Sacrament ; if not, how could Bishop Morley account for the
fact that Baptism was not as secretly administered as he
states the Eucharist to have been in the ancient Church ?
What could account for the desire to secure the Eucharist
from risk of profanation (for that it was which led to the
actual practice of the Early Church) but the belief of Christ's
true Objective Presence therein ? Else surely it mattered
little then, and matters less now that our congregations are
not divided into " Catechumeni and others," who was or is
present at an Office which claimed to be no more than a
memorial of an absent Christ.
But, again, his argument against Transubstantiation, wlule
it supports the language of the Declaration on Kneeling,
(especially in the 4th passage, which is a contemporaneous
commentary on the final clause which condemns Ubiqui-
tarianism), is in no way adverse to such language concerning
the Presence, as I have all along contended the Declaration
did not design to exclude ; for the 2nd passage (p. 324)
shews that what he objected to was any notion of a Real
Presence after what he calls a " gross and carnal manner,"
such as the Capernaites misunderstood our Lord's words to
mean ; and his remark that any oral reception " of Christ's
body " " in the very flesh or corporeal substance of it was
both impossible and unbeneficial," shews that he must have
understood the words of the Declaration — "any Corporal
Presence of Christ's natural Flesh and Blood," — to be simply
the equivalent of gross and carnal, i.e., Capernaiacal.
But in the absence of any more direct proof of Bishop
Morley 's belief, from his own language, it is most natural to
* On this point I venture to refer the reader to " The Anglican Authority for
the Presence of non-communicants during Holy Communion.'"— Masters, 1858.
327
quote the words of Bishop Morton, the only one of his three
authorities whose language, in the lack of any more distinct
reference, I can satisfy myself he may have referred to in the
3rd passage (p. 325). The Book to which Bishop Morley
seems to refer, is the Treatise of Bishop Morton, intitled,
" Of the Institution of the Sacrament of the Blessed Bodie
and Blood of Christ (by some called) The Masse of Christ,'''
London, 1631 ; where, at p. 148, he writes as follows : —
" That Protestants, albeit they deny the Corporall Presence of
Christ in this Sacrament ; yet hold they a true Presence thereof in
diverse respects, according to the judgment of Antiquitie.
"Sect. II.
" There may be observed four Kindes of Truthes of Christ his
Presence in this Sacrament : one is Veritas Signi, that is Truth of
Representation of Christ his Body ; the next is Veritas Revelationis,
Truth of Revelation ; the third is Veritas Obsignationis, that is a
Truth of Seale, for better Assurance ; the last is Veritas Exhibitionis,
the Truth of exhibiting and deliverance of the Reall Body of Christ
to the faithfull Communicants. The truth of the Signe, in respect of
the thing signified, is to be acknowledged so farre, as in the Signes
of Bread and Wine is represented the true and Reall Body and
Blood of Christ, which Truth and Reality is celebrated by us, and
taught by ancient Fathers, in contradiction to Manichees, Marcionites,
and other other old Heretikes ; who held that Christ had in himself
no true Body, but merely Phantasticall, as you yourselves well know.
In confutation of which Heretikes the Father Ignatius (as your Car-
dinall witnesseth) called the Eucharist itself, the flesh of Christ.
Which saying of Ignatius, in the sence of Theodoret (by whom he is
cited against the Heresie of his time) doth call it the Flesh and
Blood of Christ, because (as the same Theodoret expounded himselfe)
it is a true signe of the True and Reall Body of Christ : and as Ter-
tullian long before him had explained the words of Christ himself
[this is my Body\ that is (saith hee) this Bread is a Sign or Figure
of my Body. Now because it is not a Signe, which is not of some
Truth (for as much as there is not a figure of a figure) therefore
Bread being a signe of Christ's Bodie, it must follow that Christ had
a true Body. This, indeed, is Theologicall arguing, by a true Signe
of the Body of Christ to confute the Hereticks, that denied the Truth
of Christ's Body. Which controlleth the Wisdome of your Councell
of Trent, in condemning Protestants, as denying Christ to be Truly
present in the Sacrament, because, they say, he is there present in a
Signe, or Figure; which were to abolish all true Sacraments, which
are true Figures, and Signes of the things which they represent."
Here, again, we have another illustration of the meaning of
328
the word corporal in the Declaration, i.e., if, as it cannot be
reasonably doubted, Bishop Morley (who was, it must be re-
membered, one of the Reviewers of 1662) accepted the lan-
guage of Bishop Morton as written thirty years before ; for
the latter clearly advocates " a true " in distinction from a
" Corporall Presence of Christ in this Sacrament," basing his
judgment upon the teaching of primitive antiquity, and de-
precating the Roman condemnation of those who, " because
they say, that Christ is there [i.e., in the Sacrament] present
in a Signe," are alleged to deny that He is " truly present in
the Sacrament."
This, however, is not the only statement of Bishop Morton
on the Real Presence ; and as Bishop Morley has only given
a general reference to him, it is desirable to know what he
elsewhere says : thus, in another work of his, the " Catholic
Appeal" (p. 93, ed. 1610), he writes (the italics here, too, as
before, are his) : —
" . . . . the question is not absolutely concerning a Reall Presence,
which Protestants (as their own Jesuits witnesse) do also prof esse ;
Fortunatus (a Protestant) holding that Christ is in the Sacrament
most really ; Calvin teaching that the presence of Christ's bodie in
respect of the soules of the failhfull, is truly in this Safhament, and
substantially received : with whom (they say) Beza and Sadael (two
other Protestants) do consent, which acknowledgment of our adver-
saries may serve to stay the contrarie clamours and calumnious accu-
sations, wherein they used to range Protestants with those heretickes,
who denied the true Bodie of Christ was in the Eucharist, and main-
tained only a figure and image of Christ's Bodie : seeing that our
difference is not about the truth or realitie of the Presence, but
about the true manner of the being and receiving thereof."
Such is Bishop Morton's language towards the Roman side
of the Eucharistic controversy : now let us see how he speaks
to the Puritan opponents of the Church of England. In a
book called, " A Defence of the innocencie of the three cere-
monies of the Church of England, viz., the Surplice, Crosse
after Baptismc, and Kneeling at the receiving of the blessed
Sacrament:" London, 1619: — he thus says (p. 299): —
" Sect. xl.
" Our fourth Confutation of the non-conformists, and justification
of ourselves, issueth from the non-conformists owne Practise.
329
" First, by their Intentional Reverence.
" You would account it an extreme injury to bee censured as
contemners or prophaners of these holy mysteries ; or not to cele-
brate and receive them reverently, with the truely religious affections
of your hearts and mindes : which you professe will be the dutie of
every worthy Communicant that shall rightly discerne in this Sacra-
ment the Lords body. This being granted (which without impietie
cannot be denied) it ministreth unto us an argument, whereby you
may be comforted (as I suppose) without all contradiction.
" First, I may reason thus : that manner of Reverence, which
it islawfull for a Christian to conceive in his mind, the same is as
lawful for him (the case of scandall excepted) to expresse in his out-
ward gesture of bodie. But it is lawfull for a Christian to conceive
such a Relative Reverence ; as from the sight of the Sacrament (being
Objectum a quo) to raise his thoughts to a contemplation of the
mysticall and spirituall object of faith, signified thereby : and upon
the understanding of the mysticall, even the body and blood of Christ
Wally (albeit not corporally) exhibited unto us in this Sacrament, to
receive these visible pledges of our redemption, by the death of
Christ, (as the Objectum propter quod) with all holy and reverent de-
votion of heart and mind. Therefore it is lawful to perform a sen-
sible and bodily reverence at our outward receiving thereof."
There are two other Publications by Bishop Morton* which
I have not had the opportunity to examine ; but those already
quoted are, I think, sufficient for the purpose : viz., to ascer-
tain whether he held the Doctrine of the Real Objective
Presence in the Eucharist : the language cited seems to shew
that he did :f if so, then, I think, it must be allowed that
Bishop Morley held it too ; for it is at least a fair presumption
that he did not disapprove the language of Bishop Morton,
considering the general way in which he refers to him as one
of those who demonstrated the " inconsistencies and contra-
dictions" of the Roman doctrine: consequently, Bishop
Morley may well be claimed as one of those Reviewers who,
therefore, could have had no further design in urging the re-
publication of the Declaration on Kneeling, than to guard
against a belief in Transubstantiation, which his own language
shews him to have opposed.
* Viz. (1) " Apologia Catholica," etc., and (2), " Totius doctrinalia contro-
versies de Eucharistiae decisio," etc.
f Though Mr. Goode (Nature of Christ's Presence, &c.p. 831) says, " It would
be difficult to name any one who has more expressly, fully and learnedly refuted
the doctrine he is here [viz. The Doctrine of the Heal Presence as set forth in tkt
tvor/es of Divines and others in the Englisk Church since t/te Reformation. Parker,
Oxford, 1855.] cited in support of." To prove this he quotes from the "Catholic
Appeal" pp. 113, 118, 121 — 131; but the extracts seem to me not to the purpose.
V V
33Q
Among tlie Divines who were engaged in the Savoy Con-
ference and the Revision of 1662, was Dr. Heylin; he thus
writes when noticing some of the changes in the English Re-
formed Communion Office : —
"In the first Liturgy of King Edward, the Sacrament of the Lord's
Body was delivered with this benediction, that is to say, ' the Body
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for the preservation of
thy body and soul to life everlasting; The Blood of our Lord Jesus
Christ,' etc., which, being thought by Calvin and his disciples to
give more countenance to the gTOSS and carnal presence of Christ
in the sacrament, which passeth by the name of traiisubstailtiatioil
in the schools of Rome, was altered into this form in the second
Liturgy, that is to say, ' Take and eat this in remembrance that
Christ died for thee ; and feed on him in thy heart by faith with
thanksgiving. Take and drink this, etc. But the reviseis of the
book [in 1559] joined both forms together, lest under colour of a
Carnal, they might be thought also to deny SUC'll a real presence as
was defended in the writings of the ancient Fathers. Upon which
ground they expunged a whole rubric at the end of the Communion
service, by which it was declared that kneeling at the participation of
the Sacrament was required for no other reason than lor a significa-
tion of humble and grateful acknowledging of the benefits of Christ
given therein unto the worthy receiver, and to avoid that profanation
and disorder which otherwise might have ensued, and not for giving
any adoration to the Sacramental bread and wine there bodily re-
ceived, ' or in regard of any real and essential presence of Christ's
body and blood.' " — Heylin. Hist. Ref. Vol. II. p. 285. Cambridge,
1849.
Now if Heylin was a consenting party to the changes of
1662 (and there is no reason to suppose that he was not) this
passage seems to prove that he did not consider the Decla-
ration, as then re-annexed, to militate against " such a real
presence as was defended in the writings of the ancient
Fathers : " though, apparently, he thought the words " real
and essential," in the older form, might seem contrariant :
and alleges (erroneously, as I think I have shewn) that the
Elizabethan Services "expunged" the Edwardine Declara-
tion as seemingly denying the Patristic Doctrine. No doubt
the change of language proposed by Gunning, as Burnet
tells us, and adopted by the reviewers, satisfied Heylin by re-
moving any doubt which might attach to the meaning of the
Declaration as it originally stood : he must, therefore, be
regarded as another witness — that it is now only a protest
331
against a "gross and carnal" presence of Christ in the Sacra-
ment," whether implied by Transubstantiation or by any
other theory of the mode of Presence ; even if these pages
fail to convince any that it was not designed* to be more than
this in its earlier form.
It is beyond a doubt that Bishop Cosin's Opinions mate-
rially influenced the course taken by the Reviewers in 1662 :
I have already had to consider carefully such of his Notes
upon the Common Pra) r er as bear upon the questions dis-
cussed in these pages : his latest opinions upon the Eucha-
ristic question must be considered to be contained in his
" History of Popish Transubstantiation ; " for that work was
written in 1656, six years only before the last revision of the
Prayer Book, and he consented to its publication only a few
months before his death in Jan. 15, 1572: so that here we
have the matured convictions of the last fifteen years of his
life — convictions be it remembered which he maintained, and
which therefore must have influenced his decisions, while
engaged upon the Review of the Prayer Book in 1661-2 : it
is most natural then to turn to that publication for an expla-
nation of the sense in which he accepted the Declaration
when consenting to append it to the Communion Service ; and
it seeins to me that that sense cannot be better stated than by
quoting at length the following chapter : —
" CHAPTER III.
"What the papists do understand by Christ being spiritu-
ally PRESENT IN THE SACRAMENT. 2. WHAT S. BER.NARD UN-
DERSTOOD by it. 3. What the Protestants. 4. Faith doth
NOT CAUSE, BUT SUPPOSE THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST. 5. THE
UNION BETWIXT THE BODY OF CHRIST AND THE BREAD IS SACRA-
MENTAL.
* Mr. Fisher, like others, seems to have thought (Lit. Pur., p. 382), that it
had a further design, for he says— it will be remembered, that, not only was the
Romanizing dogma of the " Real Presence " virtually abandoned by our" first Re-
formers, when they undertook to revise the Liturgy for the second time in the
reign of Edward ; but that the very word ' Real ' was then deliberately, and with
evident design, repudiated by them, as a word of unsound and most perilous
import. Notwithstanding their lingering attachment to the refinements of
Ratramn upon the meaning of this term, and their occasional use of it in their
own writings."
Mr. Fisher's error in this passage seems to lie in supposing (though I am not
sure he means as much) that the word Real was eschewed as being equivalent to
true ; whereas the object was to avoid a term which the Roman party continually
employed to denote the Fresence implied in Transubstantiation : I think the pre-
ceding pag«s shew that this was the true ground for the avoidance of the term.
332
" Having now, by what I have said, put it out of doubt that the
protestants * believe a spiritual and true presence of Christ in the
• I venture to request the reader's attention to §§ 7, 8, and 9 of the following
document, as shewing how much was held on the subject of the Real Presence
by certain French Protestants only thirteen years after Bishop Cosin'sdeath. The
whole Paper, (which I met with accidentally some five years ago) is so inter-
esting that it seems worth while to re-print it entire : from its allusion to
"the persecution" which its authors were "under," it appears to have been
elicited by the prospect or the fact of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes bv
Louis XIV., on Oct. 12, 1685.
" A True copy of a project for the re-union of both religions in France.
" We whose names are here underwritten, Ministers of the Reformed Religion ;
being desirous to carry our obedience to his Majesties Commands as far as the
great interest of our Consciences will give us leave ; and hoping, from the great
goodness of his Majesty, that in consideration of this our compliance, and the
steps we make towards the Religion he professes, he will be pleas'd to command
the persecution we are under to cease; do promise to contribute, what lies in
our power, to the Religious design which he has of uniting all his Subjects under
one Ministery, and do resolve to re-unite ourselves to the Gallican Church,
which in its Pastoral letter does likewise say that they will yield some of their
right in favour of the publick Peace, and will rectifie those things that want re-
dress, provided the wound of Schism be once heal'd. We do likewise on our
side engage ourselves, that if the following Articles are bona fide granted to us,
we will with all our hearts give his Majesty that satisfaction which he desires.
"1. That there shall be no Obligation upon any body to believe Purgatory,
that all disputes on this Article shall cease ; every one speaking with great
moderation of the state of souls after this life.
" 2. That the pictures of the Holy Trinity shall be taken out of the Churches ;
and those which shall be left shall be only as Ornaments, &c. That the Pastours
shall carefully instruct the people to avoid upon this subject the abuses which
are but too common among the ignorant.
" 3. That such Relicks of Saints as shall be undoubtedly own'd to be true, shall
be preserv'd with respect, but shall not make any essential part of the cult of
Religion, and that none shall be bound to Worship them.
" 4. That it shall be taught that God alone is the true Object of our Adoration,
and that the people shall be warn'd not to attribute to any Creature though
never so eminent, that which is peculiar and proper to God : But nevertheless
since the Saints in Heaven do concern themselves in our miseries we may pray
to God to grant that to the Prayers of the Church triumphant, which the in-
difference and coldness of Ours cannot obtain from Him.
" 5. That amongst the Sacraments of Christian Religion Baptism and the Eu-
charist shall he reputed the chiefest, and that the others shall have the Name of
Sacraments in a more large Sense only.
" 6. That touching the necessity of Baptism the Canon of the Council of
Trent shall be the Rule, and it shall not be intended to any other than the
natural sense of these words. Si guis dixerit Baptismum liberorum ad salutem
»on esse necessarium anathema sit. And therefore there shall be no modification
to the tenth Canon of the preceding Chapter ; which declares, that it is not law-
ful for all persons to administer the Sacraments, that power belonging only to
the Ministers of the Gospel who have received it from Jesus Christ
"7. That Jesus Christ is really present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist,
though the manner of His presence be incomprehensible to the Wit of man, and
therefore none shall be oblig'd to define the manner of His Presence, neither
shall there be any dispute about it, since it passes our understanding, and that
God has not reveal'd it.
" 8. That in receiving the Sacrament One shall be in a posture of adoration,
the Communicants at that time paying to Christ those supreme honours which
333
Sacrament, which is the reason that, according to the example of the
fathers, they use so frequently the term spiritual in this subject, —
it may not be amiss to consider, in the next place, how the Roman
Church understands that same word. Now they (Bell., de Euch.,
1. i. c. 2. § 3.) make it to signify, ' that Christ is not present in the
are only due to God ; but no more shall be exacted from any body for the
species of the Bread and Wine, than that respect we pay to Sacred things.
"9. That none shall be obliged to kneel before the Host, except at the Com-
" 10. That the people shall have the Liberty of reading the Scripture, which
shall be read publikly in the Churches, and that the Service shall be perform'd in
the Vulgar Tongue : That the Cup shall be given to the people, and that no other
Sacrifice shall be own'd, but that upon the Cross, that it shall be taught that
Christians have but one victim which was sacrificed once for all, and that the
Eucharist is only a Sacrifice of commemoration or the representation, which the
true Christian makes to God of the Sacrifice of the Cross.
"11. That before we be oblig"d to receive Auricular confession, all abuses
proceeding from it be redressed, and those necessary modifications added, which
may contribute to the quiet of our Consciences.
" 12. That all Fastings and other Mortifications shall be looked upon only as
helps to Piety, and to preserve us in a state of Grace : That all the Orders of
■Religious Men or Women shall be reform'd, particularly the Mendicants . And
those only shall be preserv'd that are most Antient, such as the Benedictines,
together with the Jesuits and Fathers of the Oratory, all which shall be subject
to the inspection and authority of the Bishops alone.
" 13. That the Ministers shall be preserved in the state Ecclesiastick, and shall
have in the Church a particular Rank ; except only those who have been twice
married, who shall be considcr'd some other way.
" 14. That Jesus Christ having bestowed on his Ministers the power of ad-
ministering the Sacraments gratis, that they shall likewise dispense them gratis,
and without selling them as is now practic'd.
" 15. That the people shall be dispens'd from that great number of Holy Days
which now so burthen them, and shall be oblig'd to celebrate only the Mysteries
of the Nativity and Resurrection ; with those of the Apostles and Saints of the
first century.
" 16. That the limits which the last Assembly of the Clergy of France have set
to the Pope's authority shall be inviolable, and that as to the Rank he is to have
amongst the Bishops, he be look'd upon only, as Primus inter pares.
"17. That those Observations and Ceremonies.which are beneath the Majesty of
the Christian Religion, and of which there is no foot-steps in Antiquity, shall be
abolish' d ; such as Torches at Burials, Canonizations, Processions, Pilgrimages,
and the postures of the Priests at the Altar.
" 18. That upon all questions of the merit of good Works, and the power of
grace, the opinion of St. Austin shall be followed, and the exposition of the
Bishop of Meaux.
"19. That the gaining of Pardons and Indulgences shall be reform'd, & that the
people shall be instructed as much as possible, that they are to hope for the remis-
sion of their sins by the blood of Jesus Christ,
" May the Lord send down His Spirit upon men, that they be all one heart,
and one soul, and that we may in our days see this blessed Reunion. It is the
Vows and Prayers of all good people of both Communions, and to which all ought
to contribute aocording to their talent both by word and writing. Amen fat.
Signed by
Dubourdieu
La Coste.
And above sixty more.
London, Printed by Randal Taylor, 1685."
334
Sacrament, either after that manner which is natural to corporal
things, or that wherein His own Body subsists in Heaven, but^ ac-
cording to the manner of existence proper to spirits whole and
entire, in each part of the host; and, though by Himself He be
be neither seen, touched, nor moved, yet in respect of the
species or accidents joined with them, He may be said to be seen,
touched, and moved ;" "and so (part I.), the accidents being moved,
the Body of Christ is truly moved accidentally, as the soul truly
changeth place with the body ; so that we truly and properly say,
that the Body of Christ is removed, lifted up, and set down, put on
the paten, or on the altar, and carried from hand to mouth, and from
the mouth to the stomach :" " as Berengarius (§ 5) was forced to
acknowledge in the Roman council under Pope Nicholas, that the
Body of Christ was sensually touched by the hands, and broken and
chewed by the teeth of the priest." But all this, and much more to
the same effect, was never delivered to us either by Holy Scripture
or the Ancient Fathers.* And, if souls or spirits could be present, as
here Bellarmine teacheth, yet it would be absurd to say, that bodies
could be so likewise, it being inconsistent with their nature.
" 2. Indeed, Bellarmine confesseth with S. Bernard, that ' Christ
in the sacrament is not given to us carnally, but spiritually :' and
would to God he had rested here, and not outgone the Holy Scrip-
tures and the doctrine of the Fathers. For endeavouring, with Pope
Innocent III. and the Council of Trent, to determine the manner of
the presence and manducation of Christ's Body with more nicety
than was fitting, he thereby foolishly overthrew all that he had wisely
said before, denied what he had affirmed, and opposed his own
opinion. ' His fear was, lest his adversaries should apply that word
spiritually, not so much to express the manner of presence, as to ex-
clude the very substance of the Body and Blood of Christ : therefore,
saith he, ' upon that account it is not safe to use too much that of
S. Bernard, ' the Body of Christ is not corporally in the Sacrament,'
without adding presently the above mentioned explanation. How
much do we comply with human pride and curiosity, which would
* This alleged consequence of the Presence to which Bishop Cosin here ob-
jects may perhaps help to explain his meaning in the passage referred to, p. 138.
With his objection may be compared the language of the Bishop of Brechin,—
" . . . Either Christ is present, or He is not. If He is, He ought to be adored ;
if He is not, endit questio.
" And yet this does not involve those extreme results of the doctrine mentioned
before. It is quite compatible to hold this, and yet not to be able to accept the
ceremonies of the festival of Corpus Christi, or of the Forty hours' Adoration.
One may distinctly believe all this, and yet accept the words of the Article that
" the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance . . worshipped.'
Our Lord oidained the Sacrament to be the perpetual application of His Sacri-
fice, and to be the means of our union with Him. He did not ordain it to be a
Palladium to confine His Presence to certain local bounds. Historically, we
find evidence of the reservation of the Sacrament in the very earliest times, for
the purpose of communicating the sick. The reservation for the purpose of ado-
ration was much later." — Charge, p. 29, 2nd Ed.
835
seem to understand all tilings! Where is the danger? and what
doth he fear, as long a3 all they that believe the Gospel own the true
nature and the real and substantial presence of the Body of Christ
in the Sacrament, using that explication of S. Bernard concerning
the manner, which he himself, for the too great evidence of truth,
durst not but admit ? And why doth he own that the manner is
spiritual, not carnal, and then require a carnal presence as to the
manner itself? As for us, we all openly profess with S. Bernard,
that the presence of the Body of Christ in the Sacrament is spiritual,
and therefore true and real ; and, with the same Bernard and all the
ancients, we deny that the Body of Christ is carnally either present
or given. The thing we willingly admit, but humbly and religiously
forbear to inquire into the manner.
" 3. We believe a presence and union of Christ with our souls and
body, which we know not how to call better than sacramental, that
is, effected by eating ; that, while we eat and drink the consecrated
bread and wine, we eat and drink therewithal the Body and Blood of
Christ, not in a corporal manner, but some other way, incomprehen-
sible, known only to God, which we call spiritual ; for if, with
S. Bernard and the fathers, a man goes no further, we do not find fault
with a general explication of the manner, but with the presumption
and self-conceitedness of those who boldly and curiously inquire what
is a spiritual presence, as presuming that they can understand the
manner of acting of God's Holy Spirit. We contrariwise confess,
with the Fathers, that this manner of presence is unaccountable and
past finding out, not to be searched and pried into by reason, but be-
lieved by faith. And, if it seems impossible that the Flesh of Christ
should descend and come to be our food through so great a distance,
we must remember how much the power of the Holy Spirit exceeds
our sense and our apprehensions, and how absurd it would be to un-
dertake to measure His immensity by our weakness and narrow ca-
pacity, and so make our faith to conceive and believe what our reason
cannot comprehend.
" 4. Yet our faith doth not cause or make that presence, but ap-
prehend it as most truly and really effected by the words of Christ ;
and the faith whereby we are said to eat the Flesh of Christ is not
that only whereby we believe that He died for our sins (for this
faith is required and supposed to precede the sacramental mandu-
cation), but more properly that whereby we believe those words of
Christ, ' This is My Body ;' — which was S. Austin's meaning when
he said, ' Why dost thou prepare thy stomach and thy teetli ? Be-
lieve and thou hast eaten (super Joh. tract, 25).' For in this mys-
tical eating, by the wonderful power of the Holy Ghost, we do in-
visibly receive the substance of Christ's Body and Blood, as much as
if we should eat and drink both visibly.
"5. The result of all this is, that the Body and Blood of Christ
are sacramentally united to the bread and wine, so that Christ is
truly given to the faithful [credentibus], and yet is not to be here
336
considered with sense or Worldly reason, but by faith, resting on the
words of the Gospel. Now it is said, that the Body and Blood of
Christ are joined to the bread and wine, because that in the cele-
bration of the Holy Eucharist the Flesh is given together with the
bread, and the Blood together with the wine. All that remains is,
that we should with faith and humility admire this high and sacred
mystery, which our tongue cannot sufficiently explain, nor our hearts
conceive." — Oxford Trans., pp. 169 — 171.
Such being Cosin's own statement of his belief upon the
Real Presence, it may be well to compare his language with
that of the Declaration, and observe how far the latter ex-
presses what Cosin held to be the judgment of antiquity.
The Declaration, then, states : —
(I.) That Kneeling at the Sacrament is " a signification of
our humble and grateful acknowledgment of the benefits of
Christ therein given to all worthy receivers." Bishop Cosin
says (§ 3), " We believe a presence and union of Christ with
our soul and body effected by eating ;" and (§ 5),
" that Christ is truly given to the faithful [credentibus]."
(II.) The Declaration states that Kneeling is "for the
avoiding of such profanation and disorder in the Holy Com-
munion, as might otherwise ensue." Bishop Cosin indicates
the ground of profanation when he says (§ 2), there is a "real
and substantial presence of the Body of Christ in the Sacra-
ment," and that such presence is objective because (§ 4) " our
faith doth not cause or make " it, " but apprehends it as
most truly and really effected by the word of Christ " in the
act of Consecration (§ 3).
(III.) The Declaration denies any adoration* to be intended
* Bishop Burnet thus defends Kneeling as a posture of Adoration in the
Eucharistie Office : — " For the Posture, it is most likely that the first Institution
was in the Table- Gesture, which was, lying along on one side. But it was appa-
rent, in our Saviour's practice, that the Jewish Church had changed the Posture
of tbat Institution of the Passover, in whose room the Eucharist came. For
though Moses had appointed the Jews to eat their Paschal Lamb, standing with
their loins girt, with staves in the hands, and shoes on their feet ; yet the Jews
did afterwards change this into the common Table-Posture : of which change,
though there is no mention in the Old Testament, yet we see it was so in our
Saviour's time ; and since He complied with the common custom, we are sure
that change was not criminal. It seemed reasonable to allow the Christian
Church the like power in such things with the Jewish ; and as the Jews thought
their coming into the Promised Land, might be a warrant to lay aside the Pos-
ture appointed by Moses, which became travellers best ; so Christ being now
exalted, it seemed fit to receive this Sacrament with higher marks of outward
337
or due " either unto the Sacramental Bread or Wine there bodily
received, or unto any Corporal Presence of Christ's natural
Flesh and Blood." Bishop Cosin adopts (§ 2) the words of
S. Bernard, as accepted by Bellarmine, that " the Body of
Christ is not corporally [i.e. carnally] in the Sacrament, and
declares " that, while we eat and drink the consecrated bread
and wine, we eat and drink therewithal the Body and Blood
of Christ, not in a corporal manner."
(IV.) The Declaration asserts that "the Sacramental Bread
and Wine remain in their very natural substances," and that
" the natural Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ are in
Heaven, and not here; it being against the truth of Christ's
natural Body to be at one time in more places than one."
Bishop Cosin, while declaring "it would be absurd to say that
bodies could be" "present" in the way "Bellarmine
teacheth," " it being inconsistent with their nature ;" bids us
consider, " the power of the Holy Spirit " in case " it seems
impossible that the Flesh of Christ should descend and come
to be our food through so great a distance ;" and states (§ 5)
" the result of" his argument to be " that the Body and Blood
of Christ are sacramentally united to the bread and wine."
I argued (at p. 73 of this Letter) that although the substi-
tution of " corporal " for " real and essential " was due pri-
marily, as it seemed, to Bishop Gunning,* the majority, at
respect, than had been proper in the first Institution, where He was in the state
of humiliation, and His Divine Glory not yet fully revealed. Therefore in the
Primitive Church they received standing and bending their body, in a Posture of
Adoration. But how soon that Gesture of Kneeling came in is not so exactly
observed, nor is it needful to know. But surely there is a great want of in-
genuity in them that are pleased to apply these Orders of some latter Popes for
Kneeling at the Elevation to our Kneeling ; when ours is not at one such part,
which might be more liable to exception, but during the whole Office ; by which
it is one continued Act of Worship, and the Communicants kneel all the while."
— Hist. Ref. Part ii. Bk. 1, p. 163, fol. 1715.
• Mr. Fisher, having observed that the Declaration was omitted in Elizabeth's
Book " for the purpose of propitiating the Romanists," thus speaks of its changed
language when restored in 1662. " Up to the period of the Restoration, the
balance was maintained with aD even hand between the two opposing parties —
between the Romanizer on the one hand, and the avowed Protestant on the other.
But when in the eventful year, 1662, the Liturgy was once more subjected to an
authoritative revision, this state of equilibrium was no longer maintained. The
Reviewers of that year laid hold of the discarded Rubric of 1552 : and had they
only re -inserted it in its original form, they would then indeed have conferred an
338
least, of the Bishops must have consented to the change : the
language of Bishop Cosin, just cited, is sufficient evidence
that lie was one who could have had no difficulty in accepting
the alteration, though, in all probability, he was indisposed
to Gunning's alleged theory of the mode of Presence not-
withstanding that Cosin commonly called him, in 1657, his
"most affectionate friend and servant:" whether Burnet's
account of Gunning's theory (see p. 70) be accurate or not,
there seems no means of ascertaining : perhaps some light
would be thrown upon the subject if we could find "A view
and connection of the Common Prayer, 1662" which Gun-
ning is said to have written (see Chakner's Biog. Diet.) ; but
a careful search and inquiry in all likely quarters has failed
to discover it.
Here, perhaps, might safely be left the oft-repeated ques-
tion — Does not the Declaration deny a Real Objective Pre-
sence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of
the Lord's Supper ? For Bishop Cosin's language, unless
deprived of the weight justly due to it in any Historical
answer, seems to me to furnish the clear reply — That such a
Presence is not only not denied, but is, in fact, admitted by
the very terms which exclude a material Presence. Mr.
Goode, however, in his " Nature of Christ's Presence in the
Eucharist," has made some statements upon this point which
need to be considered, though indeed he has only so far
inestimable boon upon the Church ; by re-establishing one of those wholesome
barriers, which had been so prudently contrived against the mischievous inroads,
of Papal doctrine.
" Such, however, was not the design of Dr. Gunning and his Laudian co-
adjutors. They re-inserted the Rubric, it is true : but they re-inserted it in an
altered form, omitting the words 'real and essential' — obviously the most im-
portant in the passage * — and substituting the word 1 corporal' in their place.
" Now mark the inevitable consequence of this proceeding. Such a substitu-
tion, deliberately and designedly made, must necessarily be considered as invol-
ving nothing less than a positive, though tacit, recognition of the ' real and
essential," as distinguished from the 1 corporal' presence; and consequently, as
having established a most plausible, though subtle pretest, for the maintenance
of one of the most dangerous and delusive errors ever invented by the great de-
ceiver of mankind
"Nor have the leaders of the present 'Tractarian' movement been at all back-
ward to avail themselves of the support, which this Rubric, in its present altered
form, so palpably affords them."— Lit. Far., p. 382.
• I need scarcely say that I do not concur in Mr. Fisher's view of the meaning of these
words in the original Declaration: my argument iu these pages being— that they were only
meant to be equivalent to carnal.
339
noticed the above very important Chapter from Bishop Cosin,
as to quote part of §. 5 which, with deference to his contrary
view, I cannot but think makes entirely for the case of the
writers he is opposing. Thus, then, at p. 30, he says : —
" by the Rubric at the End of the Communion Service
repudiating the doctrine of the corporal presence in the Lord's
Supper, because it is against the truth of Christ's natural body that
it should be in more than one place at the same time, she has forbidden
the doctrine that there is a presence of Christ's natural body in the
Supper, either in a natural or supernatural or spiritual manner, and
either adjoined to the elements, or distinct from them.
The Italics, etc., here and in the following quotations, are
Mr. Goode's.
Yet, surely, whatever he may think to have been the in-
tention of the Declaration (though, indeed, the citations in
these pages appear to me to preclude that notion of intention
conveyed in the above passage) Mr. Goode has no right thus
to wrest its language from its literal, grammatical con-
struction; what is denied is "any Corporal presence of
Christ's natural Flesh and Blood;" by this, says Mr. Goode,
" is forbidden the Doctrine of " Its " Presence either
in a natural, or supernatural, or spiritual manner :" a natural
Presence of Christ's natural Flesh and Blood " is of course a
" Corporal" Presence, i.e., the Presence of a Body after the
manner of a Body, and therefore is denied to be in the
Eucharist; but unless a "supernatural," or "spiritual"
Presence is necessarily a " Corporal " Presence, then neither
such "manner" of Presence is denied by the terms of this
Declaration.
In a Note to this passage, p. 32, Mr. Goode adds : —
" And the supposition of the real presence of the body in a super-
natural way is a mere subterfuge, resorted to for the purpose of
escaping the condemnation of the Rubric, but in vain, because such
a presence is a corporal presence."
But why should Mr. Goode impute this motive to the
persons of whom he speaks ? He may think their notion of
a supernatural Presence of a natural Body very bad philo-
340
sophy : still if they say that they do not mean a Corporal,
i.e., material Presence with form and quantity, he is not
warranted in speaking thus; for, to say the least, the term
supernatural may as fitly he used with an intention to exclude
such Presence, as were any of the strong terms which I have
given, at p. 62, in the List No. 2 of expressions allowed by
those Authorities in the Church of England of whose bond
fide acceptance of this Declaration Mr. Goode would not, I
feel sure, raise the smallest doubt. And when we recollect
those remarkable words of our Lord (St. John hi. 13), " No
man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down
from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven," —
words which, I suppose, would popularly be held to mean
that His Body, though naturally on earth, was in some sense
also super naturally in Heaven through its union with the
Divine Word Which is inseparable from the Godhead — it
may not be thought unfitting, now that the " Son of Man "
by a local change " hath ascended up to heaven," to call His
coming " down from heaven," to be in some manner in
the Holy Eucharist a supernatural Presence ; provided only
that they who thus speak no more intend what the Decla-
ration calls a "Corporal" Presence than, as we may well
believe, did our Lord when uttering the words related by the
Evangelist.
" Supernatural " is not, however, the only term which Mr.
Goode asserts to be thus condemned by the Declaration ; for
he says that it equally forbids " a Presence of Christ's
natural body in the Supper, .... in a ... . spiritual manner:"
yet, at p. 89, he appears to retract this expression ; for he
says "... that glorified Saviour is present with us in the
rite. His human nature is, in a spiritual sense, really present
with us, though not bodily." I assume that he does not
mean to draw a distinction between the words "sense " and
"manner;" and the illustration which he annexes warrants
me, I think, in so doing ; for he says immediately : —
" As the sun, though bodily far away from us, is really present
with us when we have the presence of his light and heat, so the
human nature of Christ, though bodily far away from us, is enabled
S41
by that Spirit to which it is united, to be present in power and in-
fluence throughout the earth, and thus to communicate to those who
by a living faith are united to it, as the members of a body to the
head, those spiritual energies and graces that dwell in it abundantly
for communication to the members of His mystical body, the true
Church."
The illustration here used by Mr. Goode has already been
noticed in these pages as having been employed by others :
thus, at p. 73, Bishop Gardiner was mentioned as having cited
it with approbation from Bucer ; and Archbishop Crannier
was quoted as saying in reply, " In this comparison, I am
glad that, at the last we be come so near together ; for you
be almost right heartily welcome home, and I pray you let
us shake hands together." But Cranmer alleged that " Martin
Bucer saith not so much as you do." I said, too, p. 75, that
" the illustration here used is Ridley's also." Again, at p.
245, the same simile is referred to as having been quoted by
Harding from Bucer; and Jewel was there shewn to have
readily accepted the comparison as one that " putteth the
matter" of a "fleshly" Presence "out of all question,"
though proving that " Christ is present with us
in the Sacrament of His body and blood,"
Now the supposed aptness and value of the illustration is
shewn by the very fact of its being thus resorted to by these
seven writers, viz., two noted Roman controversialists, Gardiner
and Harding ; three leading Reforming Bishops, Cranmer,
Ridley, and Jewel ; one principal Foreign Reformer, Bucer;
and lastly by Mr. Goode. The lack of agreement in their
application of the illustration may have arisen, less from an
unwillingness to arrive at a common understanding of terms,
than from the difficulty of deciding a question which (though
perhaps more capable of being solved now than three cen-
turies ago) even yet does not admit of a satisfactory reply
owing to our still limited knowledge — perhaps real igno-
rance — of the actual nature and properties of matter. That
question is — Can the presence of the sun in the
EARTH BE TRULY REGAkDED AS ANYTHING MORE THAN
what is called a virtual Presence? For, if it can be so
312
regarded, then, possibly, it offers the truest analogy of the
Real Presence in the Eucharist, and admits of being pursued
with reverence to the farthest limits which must bind every
comparison of things Spiritual and Material: while the
fact that our Lord is spoken of in Holy Scripture as " The
Sun of Righteousness " (Mai. iv. 2) would of itself naturally
prompt a resort to that " Sun" which " He maketh" "to rise
on the evil and on the good " (S. Matt. v. 17), when a figure
was needed which might serve the best to explain His
own Sacramental Presence in His Church.
I am not so presumptuous as to think that I can now, any
more than when formerly noticing the point, at p. 75 of the
original Letter, contribute any suggestions which will mate-
rially tend towards answering the Enquiry ; but it may not
be out of place, or overbold, to state here some few thoughts
which seem to bear upon the subject, and which appear to
me not less worthy of a little consideration than I ventured
to regard them as being, four years ago, though at that time
the opportunity of mentioning them did not occur.
It would be strange if the great advance made in Physical
Science since the 16th century, furnished no fuller or more
accurate methods of elucidating Theological Questions by
Natural Phenomena than were available to controversialists
Three Hundred Years ago : it was no fault of theirs that
they did not apply scientific facts or theories which had then
to be invented or discovered : but the very circumstance,
that they did use them so far as their knowledge enabled
them, implies how they would have acted now; and fully
justifies us in having recourse to them under their more
developed aspects.
Archbishop Cranmer (Ans. to Gardiner, p. 89) had drawn
this " comparison ": —
" They say, that Christ is corporally in many places at one time,
affirming that his body is corporally and really present in as many
places as there be hosts consecrated. We say, that as the Sun
corporally is ever in heaven, and no where else, and yet by his
Operatiou and virtue the Sun is here in earth, by whose influence
and virtue all things in the world be corporally regenerated, in-
343
creased, and grow to their perfect state ; so likewise our Saviour
Christ bodily and corporally is in heaven, sitting at the right hand
of his Father, although spiritually he hath promised to be present
with us upon earth unto the world's end."
Bishop Gardiner, in replying to this, had said : —
" But to the purpose of this similitude of the Sun, which Sun,
this author saith, 'is only COrporaU/ in heaven, and no where else,'
and in the earth the operation and virtue of the sun : so as by
this author's supposal, the substance of the Sun should not be in
earth, but only by operation and virtue: wherein if this author
erreth, he doth the reader to understand, that if he can in con-
sideration of natural things, it is no marvel though he err in
heavenly things. For, because I will not of myself begin the con-
tention with this author of the natural work of the Sun, I will bring
forth the saying of Martin Bucer, .... he useth the similitude of
the Sun for his purpose, to prove Christ's body present really and
substantially in the sacrament, where this author useth the same
similitude to prove the body of Christ really absent." — p. 90.
Then Gardiner proceeds to quote the passage from Bucer
as already given at p. 73, and adds : —
" Thus hath Bucer expressed his mind, whereunto, because the
similitude of the Sun doth not answer in all parts, he noteth wisely
in the end, how this is a matter of faith, and therefore upon the
foundation of faith we must speak of it, thereby to supply where
our senses fail. For the presence of Christ, and whole Christ, God
and man, is true, although we cannot think of the manner ' how.'
The chief cause why I bring in Bucer is this, to shew how, in his
judgment, we have not only in earth the operation and virtue of the
Sun, but also the substance of the Sun, by means of the Sun-beams,
which be of the same Substance with the Sun, and cannot be divided
in substance from it ; and therefore we have in earth the substan-
tial presence of the Sun, not only the operation and virtue. And
howsoever the Sun above in the distance appeareth unto us of
another sort, yet the beams that touch the earth be of the Same
Substance with it, as clerks say, or at least as Bucer saith, whom I
never heard accompted papist ; and yet for the real and substantial
presence of Christ's very body in the sacrament, writeth pithily and
plainly, and here encountereth this author with his similitude of the
sun directly ; whereby may appear, how much soever Bucer is
esteemed otherwise, he is not with this author regarded in the truth
of the sacrament, which is one of the high mysteries of our re-
ligion." — p. 90.
It was by way of rejoinder to these arguments that Cran-
mer employed the language before cited at pp.74 and 75,
wherein he seems to rest his difference with Gardiner solely
344
upon this one point, which the Roman controversialist called
" the substantial presence of the sun ;" for, though he says
"if the substance of the sun be here corporally present
with us upon earth, then I grant that Christ's body is so
likewise," and observes that " Bucer saith not so much as "
Gardiner, he asks, " and yet if you both said that the beams
of the Sun be of the same snbstance with the Sun, who
would believe either of you both?"
Gardiner had endeavoured, apparently, to guard himself
against misunderstanding as to his use of the term corporally,
by saying : —
" The word ' corporally ' may have an ambiguity and doubleness
in respect and relation : one is to the truth of the body present, and
so it may be said, Christ is corporally present in sacrament; if the
word corporally be referred to the manner of the presence, then
we should say, Christ's body were present after a corporal maimer,
which we say not, but in a spiritual manner ; and therefore not
locally nor by manner of quantity, but in such manner as God
only knoweth, and yet doth us to understand by faith the truth of
the very presence, exceeding our capacity to comprehend the
manner 'how.' — p. 89.
In the argument between Jewel and Harding upon " the
similitude of the Sun," the question did not actually arise —
whether the beams be of the same substance with the Sun ?
Jewel seems to have thought it enough to confute a Corporal
Presence in the Eucharist by the allegation (which of course
Harding would allow) that " the Sun is more comfortable,
and more refresheth the world, being absent, by his beams,
than if his very natural substance and compass lay here upon
the earth." In thus using the term "compass" Jewel may
fairly be taken to have indicated the exact sense in which he
employed the words "very natural substance;" namely, as
necessarily implying, in his argument, form and quantity, and
so that sort of local physical Presence in which it was essen-
tial to disavow any belief: though it does not, I think, follow
that he would have denied the possibility of a substantial
presence of the Sun in the Earth, which might more fitly be
called a " very natural " presence than one of mere " opera-
tion and virtue."
345
The great controversial Theologians of the 16th Century,
such as these whose statements have just been quoted, could
hardly be ignorant altogether of the theories then in existence
respecting the nature of Light and Heat, and so of their
bearing upon this question of the character of the Solar
Rays ; even though, as is likely enough, they may not have
thought it needful to take any de Suite view themselves of the
subject: their acquaintance, e.g., with the writings of
S. Thomas Aquinas was sufficient to afford them some infor-
mation on the matter : he had discussed the question (Pars,
prima, qusest. 67. Art. 2 and 3) — Whether light was a body or
a quality — and had concluded against the corporal theory for
this reason, among other grounds of objection — " That two
bodies cannot be together in the same place : but the light
is with the air : therefore light is not a body."
Probably, however, it is not assuming too much to
assert — that what is now known of the nature of the Sun's
light would lead Philosophers to reject, as an absolutely
true proposition, Aquinas's premiss, " That two bodies cannot
be together in the same place;" and with it, his conclusion
that " light is not a body." For, whether we adopt the New-
tonian (i.e., the Corpuscular) theory, which regards Light as
a peculiar matter projected in all directions from Luminous
Bodies in a rapid succession of particles — a theory which
appears very similar to that of Vision held by Pythagoras ;
or whether (having regard to the fact of the polarization of
Light, which has revived the Doctrine of Descartes and
others) we accept the Undulatory theory, which maintains
that a highly attenuated fluid or ether is universally diffused
throughout space, and, though inappreciable by our senses
while at rest, is thrown into a succession of waves when
acted upon by a luminous body: it seems that all the
known phenomena of Light may be explained upon either
hypothesis.
Moreover, whichever hypothesis is adopted, it is held that
Light must be regarded as a material substance, pos-
sessed of certain properties, from which this character of it
Y Y
346
is argued : such are — its capability of deflection; its being
arrested by some bodies, though passing through others ; its
reflection by polished surfaces; its condensation and diffu-
sion in passing through certain media; its producing
chemical changes ; its absorption and spontaneous emission
from particular substances, e.g., the Diamond which, having
been exposed to the Sun's rays, continues to shine in the
dark for a short time.
Further, these theories about Light are held to be mostly
applicable to Heat also ; and, as the Rays of the Sun
furnish Heat as well as Light, so the belief in the Ma-
teriality of those Rays receives a further confirmation ;
indeed it is thought that Light and Heat may be only modi-
fications of the same Matter, inasmuch as in the Sun's Rays
they are so blended that hitherto Science has not been able
entirely to separate them.
Without, then, resting too much upon present conclusions
of Science which future discoveries* may vary, it can scarcely
be considered unphi/osnpliical now to hold as, at least, a pro-
bable opinion — " that the beams of the Sun be of the same
Substance with the Sun " — and it may be presumed that
were Archbishop Cranmer living in the present day he would
hardly feel warranted in saying, of Gardiner and Bucer (if
they still asserted their belief in corporeiety, and he in
quality) " Who would believe either of you both?"
Yet this conviction of their Materiality and Identity with
the Sun by no means implies a local presence of what
Bishop Jewel called the "very natural substance and coni-
jwss" of the Sun itself wherever the Beams of that
Luminary are present. It may be permitted, surely, to hold
without reproach — that they are the same thing, though not
after the same manner.
Again : it will probably be generally admitted that the
Sun's Rays, i.e., his Material Light and Heat do combine
with; interpenetrate; occupy the same space as; are, in
* See, e.g., the recent discovery of Iron and Magnesium in the Solar
Atmosphere. — "Researches on the Solar Spectrum," etc., Edinburgh Sctieir,
October, 1862.
347
fact, in, with, and under other Bodies, whose Materiality is
appreciable to the senses in ways which cannot he predicated
of the Sun's Beams. And this being so, it follows, upon
the theory of their identity with the Sun, that the same
admission may be fairly asked and readily conceded touching
the Sun itself.
There are two ways in which the Sun can be regarded as
thus substantially present : for the sake of distinctness they
may be called General and Special. By General, I mean its
ordinary diffusion, by means of its Beams, through the
Material World: by Special, 1 intend its particular localiza-
tion when, those Beams being brought to a focus in a Lens
or Mirror, a distinct Image is formed of the Heavenly
Luminary. It is hardly necessary to point out that these
two modes of Presence are not only diverse in their character,
but also distinct in their effects : the former being, what
may be called, an Atmosphere of Heat and Light, whose
Influence is everywhere naturally exerted in some degree
upon all Objects in Nature coming within it: the latter
being a precise spot where that Heat and Light are scienti-
fically centred and brought to act upon some given object
selected for their peculiar and more powerful operation.
Now, it seems to me, that these considerations may
reverently be used analogically to explain and illustrate
those two kinds of the Divine Presence which are com-
monly known as the Universal and the Particular : the First
being expressed in that question concerning His Omni-
presence which God asked through the Prophet Jeremiah,
(xxiii. 23, 24), "Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and
not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places
that I shall not see him ? saith the Lord. Do not I fill
heaven and earth? saith the Lord." The Second being
described in that promise, "My Presence shall go with
thee," which God made to Moses, who (.vhen oppressed with
the burden of care for the people) complained, " Thou hast
not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me." (Exodus
xxxiii. 12, 14.) Of both these manifestations of God's
348
Presence it is alike true that they were God in the Verity of
His Eternal Substance, exhibiting Himself, and operating
diffusedly or concentratedly (so to say) ; though He speaks
of Himself, and is spoken of, as having a local habitation, as
when Job asks, (xxii. 12), " Is not God in the height of
heaven," or when Micaiah declared, (1 Kings xxii. 19), "I
saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of
heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His
left."
But it is more to my present purpose to apply this analogy
to that remarkable distinction between the Old Dispensation
and the New, which St. Paul so precisely points out in the
Epistle to the Hebrews (x. 1) when he speaks of "the Law
having a shadow (o-xtoiv) of good' things to come, and not the
very image (xvw rni tlxova) of the things." The Law was,
and the Gospel is, as his words seem to mean, an exhibition
upon Earth of the "good things [which are even yet] to
come." (ix. 11.) What those "good things" are, may be
gathered from the fact of " Christ being come an high Priest
of" them ; for in the discharge of His Sacerdotal Functions
of Oblation and Intercession — begun on Earth and con-
tinued, by reason of His " unchangeable Priesthood, (vii. 24),
when " He entered in once " for all " into " Heaven " the
Holy Place" — He "obtained eternal redemption for us,"
(ix. 12), " perfected for ever them that are sanctified,"
(x. 14), "is able to save them to the uttermost that come
unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make inter-
cession for them." (vii. 25.) Thus by His Atonement He is
working out that Reconciliation and Peace which are to
result in such a Perfection of His Mystical Body, as will
fully realize the Psalmist's words, (Psalm xvi. 11), "Thou
wilt shew me the path of life : in Thy Presence is fulness of
joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore;"
because, " all things " being then " subdued unto " Christ,
God will "be all in all." (1 Cor. xv. 28.)
Yet the Exhibition of this Divine goodness under the
Law was but an Adumbration of It; nevertheless it was
349
identical with it (as are the Beams of the Sun with the Sun),
being a Shadowing forth of Itself — a Cloud resplendent
with the Divine glory, such, e.g., as that in which God
appeared "upon the mercy seat" of the Tabernacle, (Lev.
xvi. 1), or, later, in the Temple, when " the cloud filled the
House of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to
minister because of the cloud : for the glory of the Lord
had filled the house of the Lord." (1 Kings viii. 10, 11.)
It was not a Shadow projected from an Object by a
Luminary shining upon it, but an Emanation of, though not
a separation from, the Divine Presence Itself; and, there-
fore, though only a Shadowy outline of it yet still, the
Presence of Him Who is Divine.
Under the Gospel, however, it became more than this : it
developed into the Delineation of the "good things" them-
selves which then began to "shine" (2 Cor. iv. 4) in Christ,
in Whom "dvvelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,"
(Col. ii. 9) ; for He was " the Image of the Invisible God."
(Col. i. 15.) His Visible Presence among men answered
Solomon's question in a way little, if at all, contemplated —
"Will God indeed dwell on the earth?" For though he
said, "Behold, the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot
contain Thee, how much less this House that I have
builded?" (1 Kings viii. 27); human eyes nevertheless
beheld "the Word" of God "made Flesh, and" dwelling
"among" men, " full of grace and truth." (St. John i. 14.)
And so it came to pass, that though " No man hath seen
God at any time : the Only Begotten Son, which is in the
bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him," (St. John
i. 18); for "God was manifest in the Flesh." (1 Tim. iii. 16.)
The Invisible and Incomprehensible God vouchsafed to
assume Form, and to be enshrined in Matter, in order that
His creature, Man, might behold Him and approach Him,
and thus come sensibly within the sphere of His operation,
(even as some object brought to the focus of a Lens in which
the Sun's beams have been concentrated into his Image) :
though His Infinity was not thereby bounded, nor His
350
Invisibility consequently destroyed : He remained the
Eternal Spirit though He was born in Time of Mary His
creature.
But, then, although there was the most complete and
perfect identity between God sitting on His throne and God
walking among men ; it was nevertheless true that the
Presence of God in Christ reconciling the world unto Him-
self" (2 Cor. v. 19) was only a local Presence, by reason of
Christ's Humanity. Men had, indeed, in the visible taber-
nacling of Christ in the midst of them, all the sympathy of
" perfect Man " and all the power of " perfect God :" but
the conditions of Manhood Physically limited His Incarnate
Presence to one place at one time ; though the conditions of
Godhead enabled the God-Man to extend Himself after a
Spiritual manner, and to exert both His Power and
Sympathy where He was Corporally absent, as, e.g., when
He said, " Thy Son liveth." (St. John iv. 50.)
Yet this extension, from the nature of the case, could be
but partial in its effects ; for it necessarily involved appli-
cations to Christ of a local and personal character which
were commonly difficult, and as regarded the great mass of
mankind must be practically, if not absolutely impossible.
The invitation of the Sun of Righteousness was " Come
unto Me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will
refresh you," (St. Matt. xi. 28) : but the answer must soon
have been, "I sought Him, but I could not find Him,"
(Cant. v. 6), even by those at no great distance, and though
He went hither and thither never so much in the plenitude
of His zeal to enlighten the Nations.
The Ascension of the Incarnate Sun of Righteousness,
though it was to a local habitation in " Heaven," whence, as
" Light of Light," He " came down," removed this difficulty
of Universal Presence, arising out of the limitations imposed
by His Humanity. One especial object which Christ had in
determining to "go away " from His Disciples was to "come
again " to them, (St. John xiv. 28) : this return, which was
to be effected by the coming of the Holy Ghost, " the
351
Comforter," Who was to "abide with" them "for ever,"
(xiv. 16), had moreover a further purpose than their own
personal consolation ; it had reference to " the world," which
that Divine Spirit was to "reprove (or convince)" of the
very same things which Christ had already been convicting
it of, viz., "Sin," (e.g., St. John xv. 22) ; "Righteousness,''
(e.g., St. Matt, xxi.28— 32) ; "Judgment," (e.g., St. Matt,
vii. 2). And directly connected with this purpose was
another, and that other a re-production, (so to say), when
Christ should have gone away, of that same " image of the
things " still " to come," which men had been beholding in
Him, and which needed to be perpetuated, unless the Gospel
were to exhibit less than the Law : " Howbeit," said our
Lord, "when He the Spirit of Truth is come, He will
shew you the things to come," (St. John xvi. 13), words
not a little remarkable when compared with those of St. Paul,
(Heb. x. 1), already spoken of, especially if we bear in mind
his "visions and revelations of [i.e., given him by] the
Lord " when he was " caught up to the third heaven. . . .into
paradise, and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful
[or possible] for a man to utter." (2 Cor. xii. 1 — 5.) Nor
are we left wholly to guess in what the Holy Ghost's mani-
festation of these " things to come," primarily at least,
consisted ; "For," said our Lord, "He shall glorify Me : for
He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. All
things that the Father hath are Mine : therefore, said I,
that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you."
(St. John xvi. 14, 15.)
Now, whatever may be the details of this Manifestation
by which the Spirit was to " glorify " the Incarnate Son,
there can be no doubt that they all converge towards, and
centre in, that perfect love of God which caused the entire
Oblation of the Eternal Son, wrought it out through all its
stages, and completed it in the final act of Christ's sacrifice
upon the cross. That the Memorial of this final act was in
fact subsequently made among Christians is plain from
St. Paul's remonstrance with the "foolish Galatians. . . .
352
before whose eyes," as he says, "Jesus Christ hath been
evidently set forth crucified among you." (Gal. iii. 1.) How
it was, and was to be perpetually " set forth," may be no less
plainly gathered from his recital to the Corinthians of that
account of the Institution of the Eucharist which he " re-
ceived of the Lord," (probably in that Heavenly Vision
already referred to), wherein he says, " For as often as ye eat
this bread, and drink this cup, shew ye the Lord's death till
He come." (1 Cor. xi. 28.) The evidence of this perpetual
Commemoration, hitherto, is matter of the plainest History,
as in the Acts of the Apostles, (e.g., ii. 42; xx. 7), and the
witness of Liturgies ; it exists, moreover, in the living
experience of this crowning act of Worship in the Universal
Church. The realization of the promise to the first Dis-
ciples (and in them to all others) — " I will come to you,"
(St. John xiv. 18) — is not less surely to be found in the Invo-
cation of the Holy Ghost, whether expressed or implied, to
make present in that " Divine Service" the Body and Blood
of Christ, i.e., Christ Himself. The effect of that realiza-
tion — " I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice,"
(St. John xvi. 22) — finds its distinct confirmation in that
description of " the ministration of the Spirit " which
St. Paul gives — " We all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as of the Lord the Spirit.'' (2 Cor.
iii. 18.)
Unless, however, this Manifestation of Christ in His
glory, as exhibited by the present Ministry of the Spirit in
(what I may properly call) the Eucharistic Mirror, is an
equally true shewing forth of the God-Man with that
which was beheld when He said, " I am come a Light into
the world," (St. John xii. 46) ; then, His Presence now must
be said to have lost in Intensity, while it has gained in
Universality. But the Sun of Righteousness in declaring
the purpose of His shining to be " that whosoever believeth
in Me should not abide in darkness," (Ibid.), described the
precise Object on which the Faith of Christians was ever to
353
be exercised, in order to effect their spiritual Illumination :
that Object was none other than the Incarnate Son really
present among them, gradually scattering the darkness of
sin which obscured the Image of God, wherein Man was
created, and, in so doing, bringing out afresh the golden
outlines and features of the Divine character still existing in
him. It is upon this very same Object, only in its glorified
condition, that " we all " are believingly to gaze, in order
that by the " knowledge " of Christ so acquired we may be
transformed into "the image of Him that created" us, (Col.
iii. 10), i.e., into the likeness of Christ Himself, the imago
(ilxuv) of the Gospel, Who thus carries on the Sanctification
of the Will of the regenerate ; advancing them " from glory
to glory ;" " the inward man " being " renewed day by day,"
towards the perfection of its re-creation, " while we look not
at the things which are seen" with bodily eyes in Sacraments,
" but at the things which are not seen," except by spiritual
discernment : " for the things which are seen are temporal ;
but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor. iv.
16—18.)
That this substantial Eucharistic Image is capable of
being multiplied as indefinitely throughout the Kingdom of
Grace as is the Solar Image throughout the Visible World,
might fairly be gathered from the Church's practical applica-
tion, in regard to the Sacrament of the Altar, of such a
promise as that of her Lord, " Where two or three are
gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of
them." (St. Matt, xviii. 20.) HO IF this Presence is produced
it is as hopeless as needless to attempt to decide : but this is
no sufficient ground for refusing to admit the Fact of that
Presence. If, by whatever law — known, or to be discovered
— the mirrored image of the Sun produces Natural Effects
like to what we suppose would be the local action of that
Luminary, and therefore may be fitly called the Real Pre-
sence of the Sun ; it cannot surely be a condemnable pro-
position to hold — that, as the same Spiritual Effects are now
caused by Eucharists which we k?iow to have been caused by
z z
354
the actual Presence of Christ upon earth, therefore He is
now as Really present in these Sacramental Mirrors as He is
in His local Session at the Right Hand of His Eternal
Father. Yet this is no more a Material, i.e., a Corporal
Presence, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, than is the
Image of the Sun in a Mirror the Corporal Presence of that
Luminary. Archbishop Cranmer (in 1551, when his doctrine
of the Real Presence was at what may be called its lowest
ebb), arguing with Bishop Gardiner against the Presence of
Christ's Natural Body as the result of Consecration, professed
to hold with St. Cyprian, " that the Divinity may be said to
be poured, or put sacramentally into the bread." (Seep. 88.)
The question is — Considering that in the "one Christ" are
" two whole and perfect Natures, .... the Godhead and the
Manhood,.. ..never to be divided," (Art. ii.), can His
Humanity be accounted present in Eucharistic Elements in
such a manner as not necessarily to involve its Ubiquity ?
It seems to me that a statement made by Cranmer in the
previous year, and certainly not abandoned when he penned
the above words, may be claimed as supporting an affirmative
answer: he complained of being misrepresented in being
accused of holding "that the spiritual receiving" of the Eu-
charist " is to receive Christ only by His Divine Nature," and
emphatically replied, "which thing I never said nor meant."
(See p. 23.) The context of the sentence can, I think, be
cited to shew that the Archbishop would not have thought
it inconsistent to apply to the Spiritual Presence what he
here says of the Spiritual Receiving : but I do not press it
as his argument, since the passage may be thought hardly
clear enough to warrant it. What has now been advanced
by way of analogy, drawn from the Presence of the Natural
Sun, may possibly point to a mode of illustrating and
defending the Real and Substantial Presence " of the Body
and Blood of Christ under the Forms of Bread and Wine."
It may be that in time to come He, Whose honour is most
especially concerned in a right apprehension of the Doctrine
to be believed on this Mystery, will give wisdom to some
355
man, combining the requisite Theological and Scientific
knowledge, and enable him so to explain this long-contested,
and too often uncharitably disputed subject, as shall tend to
Peace and Unity among His Mystical members, and so to
His own greater glory in His Church and in the World.
These remarks are partly connected with that portion of a
long Note quoted at p. 340 from Mr. Goode's Work on the
Eucharist : but it is necessary to notice also the other state-
ments contained in that Note : adverting to the exclusion of
the Declaration on Kneeling, from all the Editions of the
Prayer Book between 1552 and 1662, he says: —
"The reason for this exclusion may have been that it was not felt
desirable to be rigidly strict at that time against all notions of a
bodily presence. The great point was to exclude the carnal notion
of an oral eating of the Body of Christ present in the Elements, and
all the evil consequences resulting from such a doctrine ; and to
establish the doctrine that ' the mean by which the Body of Christ
was eaten was faith.' The notion of a bodily presence in the
Supper to the faith of the receiver was one of a more harmless
speculative nature, and therefore was left open to those who chose
to entertain it. But the revival in our present Prayer Book of the
Rubric of the second Prayer Book of Edward VI. clearly put an
end even to this doctrine."
One error in this statement seems to me to lie in Mr.
Goode's assuming that "the notion of a bodily presence in the
Supper to the faith of the receiver .... was left open" yet
not that of " the Body of Christ present in the Elements :"
but here, at all events, he stands opposed to Bishop Burnet
and Mr. Harold Browne (see above, pp. 63, 189, 190-1 ; and
further, Browne on the Articles, p. 708 *) the latter of whom
* " The meaning of it [the Rubric] clearly is, not to deny a spiritual, but
only a 'corporal presence of Christ's natural* Flesh and Blood,' 'and a con-
sequent adoration of the elements, as though they did not remain still in their
very natural substances.' "
* "There may be a difficulty in reconciling tins doctrine [viz., of Christ's natural having
become a spiritual. His corruptible an incorruptible body'], which is the plain doctrine of
Scripture and the Primitive Christians, with the language of the Rubric at the end of the
Communion Service quoted above. If they be at variance, the language of a not very care-
fully-worded Rubric, adopted not without some hesitation by the Reformers, ought not to
be pressed: but it is plain, that the writers of the Rubric did not mean by the words
'natural body ' to convey the same idea as St. Paul attaches to the term in 1 Cor. xv. The
doctrine, which thev meant to teach, was only, that we must not consider the manhood of
Christ chanced into His Godhead." I must venture so far to differ from Mr. Browne as to
express my belief that what has been advanced in these pages shews that the " Rubric "
was " carefully-worded."
356
considers that the Declaration and its corresponding Clause
in the 28th Article of 1553 were omitted out of regard, to
the Lutherans ; the former perhaps referring the act to a like
consideration for the Roman party as well : if, however, as
certainly was the case, the suppression was designed to con-
ciliate one or both of these ; then, clearly, the belief of a
Presence in, with, or under the Elements was not forbidden,
for the Lutherans held, it ; nor can we suppose it was meant
to be denied to the Romanists if they were content to allow
the protest of the Article against Transubstantiation.
Again, Mr. Goode contends that " the great point" at that
time was to determine against " the carnal notion of an oral
eating of the Body of Christ present in the Elements" and in
favour of manducation by "faith:"* but it is obvious from
* At p. 34 Mr. Goode says — " The Article maintains that the Body and Blood
of Christ are received only by faith, and therefore not by the mouth of the com-
municant, and consequently they are not in or under or substituted for the con-
secrated elements ; and the Rubric asserts, that there is no substantial presence
of the natural Body of Christ at all in the Supper ; and therefore the words
' verily and indeed taken and received ' do not mean thai the substantial Body
and Blood of Christ, whether we suppose them present in a natural or a super-
natural way, are received by the communicant."
But, unless Mr. Goode holds that Eucharistic reception and manducation of
the Body and Blood of Christ are nothing more than a kind of mental contempla-
tion, there seems no purpose to be answered by his argument, even if it were a
sound one. For if, as surely is the case, there needs to be a real Union and Com-
munion between man and his Incarnate God, there must be some means of effecting
them ; Christ has provided this in the two Sacraments of Baptism and the
Lord's Supper ; though we know they are not absolutely essential to this end :
but Mr. Goode is here speaking of the ordained means of Communion, viz., Eu-
charistic feeding : now seeing that He, Who could have fixed upon any other
mode of Communion, chose to appoint this, it may well be thought to have a
designed significance, and to have been meant to teach us— that so far as any
organ or sense at all is the instrument by which faith effects its purposes, the
mouth is that organ in the case of Sacramental Communion of the Body and
Blood of Christ. The 28th Article does not say, as Mr. Goode represents, that
" the Body and Blood of Christ are received only by faith ;" its words are " the
mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith."
But the mention of an agent does not necessarily exclude an instrument; and so
the mouth of a Christian may be the visible instrument by which an invisible
faith effects Communion between his soul and Christ : just as, when in His risen
Humanity He appealed to the disciples, Thomas in touching Him touched God
(See p. 50) ; though it is as true to say that no man ever touched God, as to say
that " No man hath seen God at any time " (St. John i. 18). I have already (at
pp. 143 — 146) ventured a suggestion as to the compatibility of oral manducation
with a Real, yet not carnal, Presence : here, therefore, it will be enough humbly
to express my conviction that such a theory may suffice to correct that, perhaps not
needless, dread of a gross and material conception of Eucharistic feeding which
apparently runs through Mr. Goodc's observations and arguments on this point.
357
the Article of 1563 and 1571 that an equal prominence was
given to the condemnation of Transubstantiation and, what
is more, the very Clause which declares that ''faith " is " the
mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten,"
also declares that It "is given. . . . only after an heavenly and
spiritual manner " — terms which Bishop Guest tells us as em-
phatically in his Second Letter (p. 199), as in the First, were
designed "to take away all grosse and sensible presence" —
a statement to which, it has been proved I think, we are
bound to give the fullest credit.
But, further, Mr. Goode says that the restoration of the
Declaration in 1662 " clearly puts an end even to this doc-
A reference to some extracts already given will shew that such a dread is not
new, and will at the same time support, I think, what has been advanced in this
note. Thus (See p. 12) though P. Martyr heJd " that we are incorporated into "
Christ " by communication .... of the matter of the Sacrament, namely, the
Body and Blood of Christ ; but he meant it in mind and faith ;" such language
does not necessarily exclude oral " communication ;" the ground, for this expres-
sion of the mode, being his anxiety "that they mixed not the Body and Blood
of Christ carnally with the bread and wine by any corporeal Presence" — a then
not unpopular corruption which it was deemed needful to guard against.
Again: Dr. Redman (see p. 28) when distinctly asked "his opinion, whether
we received the very body of Christ with our mouths and into our bodies, or
no?" did not deny such reception, but said "It is a hard question," adding
" but surely we receive Christ in our souls by faith," and expressing his fear
lest "When you do speak of it otherways, it soundeth grossly, and savoureth of
the Capernaites."
Once more : Cranmer though, in answer to Weston (see p. 49), he denied that
we receive "the Body by the mouth ;" taught in his Catechism (See p. 155) that
a rightly prepared communicant "doth . . . with his bodyly mouthe reccaue the
bodye and bloude of Christ ;" the seeming contradiction being reconciled by the
language of his "Defence" (See p. 159), and especially by his comment upon
Gardiner's use of the woid "verily" (See p. 181), which he says "is so Caper-
naical, so yross, and so dull in the perceiving of this mystery, that you think a man
cannot receive the body of Christ verily, unless he take Him corporally in his
corporal mouth, flesh, blood, and bones, as he was born of the Virgin Mary."
Looking at these statements and considering the prevalence at that time of carnal
notions on the Presence, it is not difficult, I think, to understand the admission
" that Christ entereth into us both by our ears and by our eyes" (See p. 49) —
language which was hardly capable of a carnal construction— yet to comprehend
the evident reluctance to endorse oral reception : though no one surely will deny
that Christ can enter the soul by the mouth as well as by any other organ.
I will only further remark upon the above extract from Mr. Goode— that it is
of the utmost importance in this controversy (especially if it is to become
profitable by promoting any agreement) to be accurate in the use of language :
Mr. Goode says " the Rubric asserts, that there is no substantial presence of the
natural Body of Christ at all in the Supper:" but what is denied is "any
Corporal Presence of Christ's natural flesh and blood:" unless Mr. Goode can
prove thiit a substantial Presence must be a Corporal Presence this interchange
of terms is not permissible.
358
trine " of " a bodily presence in the Supper to the faith of
the receiver," which he thinks may have been allowed to be
held during the exclusion of the Declaration.* Now it is
immaterial to consider whether the statement of Bullinger
and Gualter in their Letter of Feb. 6, 1566-7 (see p. 191)
strictly represents the general practice at that time, when
they say that that "same explanation" was then "most
diligently declared, published and impressed upon the peo-
ple : " though, of course, if, as there seems no reason to
doubt, such was the case, its absence from the Prayer Book
was of no practical importance. It is a complete answer, I
think, to Mr. Goode's assertion to refer to the reply of the
Bishops in 1661 (see p. 70) when the restoration of the
Declaration was demanded : they said that " the sense of it
is declared sufficiently in the 28th Article of the Church of
England ;" for if, as the Bishops in effect say, the Declara-
and the Article mean the same thing ; then, if the Article
without the Declaration did not condemn the Presence of
which Mr. Goode speaks, it follows that the Article with the
Declaration does not now condemn it. Nay, more, by the
same reasoning, if the Article minus the Declaration did not
" take awaye y e presence of Christe's Bodye in y e Sacra-
ment," as Bishop Guest asserted (See p. 193) how can the
Article plus the Declaration have a precisely opposite effect ?
There is but one answer, let him accept it who will, — that
two statements substantially alike when separate, produce
one essentially different when they are united.
In support of these three statements upon which I have
been commenting, Mr. Goode refers to '' the able Roman
* Yet Mr. Goode had said just before (p. 29) "There may be a real presence
of Christ, even in the sense attributed to the words by the Archdeacon [who.
Mr. G. says, " has confounded two things entirely distinct, the real presence of
Christ in the Sacrament or rite to the worthy receiver, and His real presence in
the consecrated elements ; as also a real spiritual with a real bodily presence], in
the Supper, though it be not in the elements. And, in the true sense of the
words, our Church no doubt holds a real spiritual presence of Christ in the
sacrament or rite to every faithful communicant, but not in the sacramental
bread and wine."
So ngain (p. 12) "The Body might be present even materially, and yet not in
the Bread."
359
Catholic writer, Abraham Woodhead,"* quoting passages
from his " Two Discourses concerning the Adoration of our
Blessed Saviour in the Holy Eucharist. Oxf. 1687, 4to., pp.
18, 24:" where the writer argues that the "reason" of the
Declaration — viz., that the same body cannot be at the same
time in different places — " seems necessarily to exclude ....
the real and essential presence, as well as corporal and
natural;" and contends that "the same objections, ab-
surdities, etc.," are thus presented to those who " say that
Christ's Body is really or essentially present in the Eucharist,
.... not to the Elements, but to the receiver ; and that not
to his body, but to his soul," as they "afflict others" with,
" for making it present with the signs." Upon Woodhead's
reasoning, which he quotes at length, Mr. Goode says (Note
p.31):-
" These remarks are perfectly true. The denial that our Saviour's
body can be in two places at the same time, is a denial that there
can be any real bodily presence of our Saviour at all in the Eucha-
rist, either in the Elements, or apart from them The resto-
ration, therefore, of this Rubric to our Prayer Book at the last
revision precludes those who have subscribed it from holding any
bodily presence at all in the Eucharist, even apart from the conse-
crated elements. While it was excluded, such a view might no
doubt be held by our Divines, and some of them, perhaps, who
lived at that time did maintain it. But even these (jive no counte-
nance to the doctrine opposed in this work, because that doctrine is,
that the presence is by priestly consecration in the elements, and to
be adored as in the elements ; a notion which was decidedly opposed,
as I shall show hereafter, by those who held the highest doctrine of
the Real Presence ever maintained in our Reformed Church. And
this is distinctly admitted by the Roman Catholic author just cited,
even when endeavouring to show how near these authors come to
the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence. He is obliged
to admit that this notion of the Real Bodily Presence was that it
was a Presence to the receiver, but not to the elements. (See work
already cited in various places ; and his Compendious Disc, on
Euch., Oxford, 1688, p. 30, et seq., and App. 2, p. 212.)"
* He was born in 1608; educated at University College, Oxford; fellow in
16-33 ; soon after took Holy Orders ; was Proctor in 1641 ; subsequently went to
Kome with pupils, where he is thought to have joined the Church of Rome ; was
deprived of his Fellowship in 1648, by the Parliamentary Visitors, on the ground
of absence ; died at Hoxton, May 4, 1678.
360
Now when Mr. Goode assigns his reasons for saying,
" These remarks are perfectly true," he makes a statement
which is certainly not the counterpart of Woodhead's argu-
ment; that writer considers " the reason" of the Declaration
to be fatal to the " real and essential " no less than to the
" corporal and natural " Presence ; and that, too, whether the
Presence is held to be to the Receiver, or in the Elements :
Mr. Goode seems to ignore the distinction between these
two sorts of Presence, viz., the real and the corporal, by
saying what, in fact, the Declaration more accurately ex-
presses — viz., that there is not " any real bodily Presence of
our Saviour at all in the Eucharist ;" consistently enough,
therefore, he contends that the restored Declaration " pre-
cludes from holding any bodily Presence." But he is
here fighting with a phantom ; for the writers whom he is
opposing have nowhere set up the notion of such a Presence ;
on the contrary, they distinctly put forward the teaching of
the Declaration : so that, unless Mr. Goode means by " any
bodily Presence " something really different from " any cor-
poral Presence of Christ's natural Flesh and Blood," his ar-
gument is useless, and may only mislead.
It is clear, however, from his other language, that Mr.
Goode's objection travels beyond some real or supposed doc-
trine of " any bodily Presence," and runs up into, what he
calls, the doctrine " that the presence is by priestly conse-
cration IN the elements, and to be adored as in the elements :"
by the expression " the Presence " I presume Mr. Goode
does not mean that " bodily Presence " of which he had just
been speaking, but such other Presence as the Church of
England believes : here, however, I am not concerned to
discuss the abstract questions of Consecration, or of the
nature and mode of the Presence ; though, indeed, they have
been noticed already in different parts of these pages, so far
as was necessary for the elucidation of points in the his-
torical survey which they take ; it is only needful, there-
fore, to enquire — whether the terms of the Declaration ex-
clude "the doctrine" here stated by Mr. Goode to "be
S61
decidedly opposed, by those who held the highest doc-
trine of the Ileal -Presence ever maintained in our Reformed
Church ? " And I think it may be somewhat confidently
answered that, having regard to the evidence which I have
already offered, the statements of those who were responsible
for the introduction and re-introduction of the Declaration,
prove that no such exclusion was contemplated.* In saying
this I do not mean to imply that their contemporaries, of
whom Mr. Goode speaks, are to be wholly disregarded ; but
that any statements of theirs which are, or seem to be, op-
posed to those authorities I have cited, must not be allowed
to outweigh them. But as Mr. Goode invokes Woodhead's
admissions in support of his own opinion as to the teaching
of the writers he mentions, it is desirable to consider what
that author states in proof of their holding that " the Real
bodily Presence was," as Mr. Goode says, " a Presence to the
receiver, but not to the elements"
In referring to the first of his two Publications f which Mr.
Goode cites (See p. 359), it is important to notice at the out-
set that Woodhead seems to have been ignorant or unmindful
of one important circumstance as to the Declaration; and
this may therefore have coloured his views of its meaning,
and of the language of its authors and maintainers : speaking
of the change in the form of delivering the Sacrament, he
says (p. 2) that it was made by " the Composers of the
• Even Woodhead (p. 4), to whom Mr. Goode here refers, says that the
authors of the present Declaration " either leave this undetermined, whether there
bo not another Presence of Christ's Flesh and Blood as real and true as is the
Corporeal, to which an adoration is at this time due : or else do determine, as
seems coneludable from their present Proposition [viz., that the natural Body of
Christ is not there] that thero is not any such real Presence of the Body at all,
and so no adoration due in any such respect."
f The following extract seems to explain a Typographical peculiarity in these
two Publications, viz., the frequent insertion of passages in square brackets, ap-
parently by some one else than Woodhead himself; and also removes the doubt,
which has been sometimes entertained, whether the author was Abraham Wood-
head or Obadiah Walker :—" In October following [i.e., 16S6] Mr. Walker ob-
tained a License from his Majesty [James II.] to print certain books lying by him,
because he knew they would not pass through the Licenser's hands, and in Jan.
following that, he published, ' Two Discourses concerning the Adoration of our
Blessed Saviour in the Eucharist,' etc., penned by his quondam tutor, Abraham
Woodhead."— Wood, Ath. Oxon, vol. iv., p. 440, London, 1820.
AAA
362
Second [Prayer Book of Edward Vltli.] suitable to
their Declaration, which denies any real or essential presence
of this Body [of Christ] in the Eucharist:" Whereas the
fact is that the Declaration was subsequent to the completion,
and even printing of many copies, of the Book : the proof
of this has already been given, so that there is no need to
relate it here : I need scarcely add that a perusal of Wood-
head's book plainly shews him to have been uninformed of
those other important matters in the history of the Decla-
ration which are now for the first time, I believe, published.
It is well to notice, too, that Woodhead does not here accu-
rately represent the teaching of the Original Declaration ; it
condemned the notion of "any reall and essenciall presence
.... of Chryste's natural Fleshe and Bloude :" this does not
necessarily mean the same thing as "real or essential Pre-
sence of [Christ's] Body," though Woodhead may have de-
signed to interchange the language.
I pass over some other difficulties which Woodhead (p. 2)
raises as to the omission of the Invocation and the Manual
Acts, in the Second Book of Edward VJth. ; merely drawing
attention to what has been already stated (See pp. 34 and 35)
in proof that those who were responsible for the Revision of
1552 did not intend it to teach a different Eucharistic Doc-
trine from that which the First Book set forth ; and of which
Bishop Gardiner could say (See p. 26) that " touching the
truth of the very Presence of Christ's most precious Body
and Blood in the Sacrament, there was as much spoken in
that book as might be desired."
Now Woodhead discusses Three Subjects : —
"I. That here [i.e., in the Declaration] the present Clergy do
profess expressly, that the natural Body and Blood of our Saviour
Christ are not in the Blessed Sacrament." — p. 4.
With reference to this he says : —
"... .the learned Protestant writers seem to me, at least in their
most usual expressions, to have heretofore delivered the contrary ;
viz., ' That the very substance of Christ's Body, that His natural
Body, that that very Body that was born of the Blessed Virgin, and
crucified on the cross, etc., is present, as in heaven, so here in this
363
Holy Sacrament, either to the worthy Receiver ; or to the Sym-
bols." — p. 5.
But this is certainly not the same thing as saying (in Mr.
Goode's words) — that they only held " a Presence to the
Receiver, but not to the Elements."
In proof, Woodhead cites Calvin on 1 Cor. xi. 21; Instil.
4, 1. 17, c. 11 §; ib. §§. 16 and 19: " Beza, and others of
the same sect, related by Hospinian, hist. Sacram. parte
altera, p. 251 ": Hooker, Eccl. Pol., 5, 1. 67, § : Bp. An-
drews, Resp. ad. Apol. Bell., 1 c, p. 11 ; ib., 8 c, p. 191:
" Is. Causabon's Letter written by the King's command to
Card. Perron," §. 11, n. 2 : Bp. Hall, Be pace Ecclesiastica,
§. 12 : Bp. Montague, Appeal, pp. 289 and 779 : Abp. Laud,
Conf. with Fisher, §. 35, n. 3 and 6 : " Bp. Taylor, one of the
last who hath written a just Treatise on this subject, 1.
11 n., p. 18* and §. 12: Bp. Forbes, de Eucharistia, 2. 1., 2
c, 9 §., and 3. 1., 1 c, 10 §. : the Archbishop of Spalato, de
* Though I am unwilling to multiply quotations, it seems desirable here to
give the passage cited from Bp. Taylor: — " It is enquired whether, when we
say we believe Christ's body to be really in the Sacrament, we mean that body,
that flesh, that was born of the Virgin Mary, that was crucified, dead and
buried ? I answer I know of none else that He had, or hath ; there is but one body
of Christ natural and glorified : but he* that saith that body is glorified, which
was crucified, says it is the same body, but not after the same manner ; and so
it is in the Sacrament, we eat and drink the body and blood of Christ tbat was
broken and poured forth ; for there is no other body, no other blood of Christ :
but though it is the same we eat and drink, yet it is in another manner. And
therefore when any of the Protestant Divines, or any of the Fathers deny, that
body which was born of the Virgin Mary, that was crucified, to be eaten in the
Sacrament, as Bertram, as St. Hierom, as Clemens Alexandrians expressly
affirm ; the meaning is easy, they intend that it is not eaten in a natural sense :
and then calling [it] Corpus spiritual, the woid spirit uale is not a substantial
predication, but is an affirmation of the manner ; tho in disputation it be
made the Predicate of a Proposition, and the opposite member of a Distinction.
That Body which was crucified is not the Body that is eaten in the Sacrament,
if the intention of the Proposition be to speak of the eating it in the same man-
ner of being : but that Body which was crucified, the same Body do we eat, if
the intention be to speak of the same thing in several manners of being and
operating ; aud this I noted, that we may not be prejudiced by words, when the
notion is certain and easy. And thus far is the sense of our doctrine in this
Article."— p. 9.
"Again, 12, p. 288 : — ' They that do not confess the Eucharist to be the
flesh of our Saviour, which flesh suffered for ua, let them be Anathema. But
quo modo is the question,' etc."— Conf., Bp. Hcber's Ed., 1839, vol. x., p. 73.
• The reference here is to " Bp. Ridley's Answer to Curtop's lirst argument in his Disputa-
tion at Oxford, Fox, Martyrul, p. 1451, vet. Edit."— See Bp. Heber'a Edit., !«;;», vol. ix., p.
•131. (Sec p. 59.)
364
Rep. EevL, 7. 1., 11 c., ?§.: and Mr. Thorndyke, Epilogue to
the Tragedy, 3. 1., 3 c. ; lb., 2. c. ; 3. I. 23 c. ; 3. 1., 5. c. ; and
3. 1., 30 c.
Of these twelve writers fen speak as distinctly as possible,
in the passages quoted,* of the Real Presence being in of
under the Elements, or in the Sacrament: Hooker, the
eleventh referred to, in the place cited, represents the con-
troversy as being " whether, when the Sacrament is admin-
istered, Christ be whole within man only, or else His Body
and Blood be also externally seated in the very consecrated
Elements themselves:" while Bishop Hall, the twelfth
writer quoted, observes that the difference between the
Calvinists and Lutherans is not as to the Thing present, but
as to the manner of Its Presence.
While, however, this disposes, I think, of Mr. Goode's
conclusions from Woodhead's reference to these writers so
far ; it is of equal importance to notice that they none of
them maintain a Corporal Presence of Christ's Natural
Body ; and therefore I cannot see that Woodhead has proved
his allegation — that they have " delivered the contrary " of
the protest in the Declaration against " any Corporal Pre-
sence of Christ's Natural Flesh and Blood" in the Eucha-
rist : for even granting to the full, for argument's sake, that
they all allowed (as he says) " the very substance of Christ's
Body" to be "present," it cannot be maintained, I think,
that they accounted It present " as in heaven, so here in this
Holy Sacrament ;" if by so is meant in such manner : indeed,
it appears to me, that Woodhead really reconciles his own
alleged difference between the Writers and the Declaration,
when he says, in commenting upon Bishop Taylor's language,
" now by exclusion of the natural manner is not meant
(surely) the exclusion of nature, or of the thing itself, (for,
then, to say a thing is there, after a natural manner, were as
much as to say, the thing is not there :) but the exclusion of
* I am not here concerned to enquire whether the passages are accurately
quoted (though the accuracy of the citation from Bp. Taylor favours the sup-
position of their fidelity) because, like Mr. Goode, I have only to deal with them
us quoted.
365
those properties which usually accompany nature, or the
thing.*'— p. 10.
The next subject of which Woodhead treats is : —
"2. That they [i.e., the present Clergy] urge for this Non-pre-
sence there [viz., in the Eucharist] this reason or ground out of
Natural Philosophy, That it is against the truth of a natural body, to
be in more places than one at one time ; here seeming to found their
Faith in this matter on the truth of this position in Nature." — p. 4.
Upon this point he says : —
" Here also, first, I find Protestants, and especially our English
Divines generally, to confess the Presence of our Saviour in the
Eucharist to be an ineffable mystery, (which I conceive is said to be
so in respect of something in it opposite and contradictory to, and
therefore incomprehensible and ineffable by, human reason.) " — p.
13.
The authorities he quotes are, Calvin, Inst., 4. L, 17 c,
2*§- ; §.32; §.25; §.7: King James' Answer to Card.
Perron, §. 20, n. 2 : and Bishop Taylor, Real Presence, §.11,
n. 28 ; Liberty of Prophecy, 20, §. 16 — n. He then pro-
ceeds to comment upon their language, and urges these ob-
jections : —
1. ThaXhy ineffable mystery they appear to admit that "some seeming
contradiction to reason may yet be verified in this Sacrament." — p.
14.
But their words appear to me, at most, only to speak of
the mode of Presence being not fully comprehensible to
reason.
2. That " these Writers must hold this particular seeming con-
tradiction, or some other equivalent to it, to be true ; so long a3 they
affirm a real and substantial Presence contra-distinct to
a Presence of Christ's Body in its virtue, efficacy, benefits, spirit,
etc., which is the Zuinqlian's real Presence : for " if the substance,
the essence, the reality," of Christ's Body, " naturally or locally in
Heaven," be " present to the symbols, or to the receiver, we
must affirm that this essence or substance of the same Body at least
is at the same time in diverse places." — p. 14.
He contends, further, that there is no escaping this con-
clusion
"unless we defend one of these two things; either (1) That this
Body is both here and there by an incomprehensible continuation, as it
3GG
were, thereof, (wliicli sounds somewhat like the ubiquity of some
Lutherans).-. . .Or (2) Unless we will explain ourselves, that, by the
essential, real, substantial presence of Christ's Body in the Eucharist,
we mean only the presence of the true and real effect, blessiny, virtues
of this Body, (as Dr. Taylor sometimes seems to do) but this is, after
professing with the highest in our words, a relapsing into Zuingli-
anism in our sense." — pp. 15 and 16.
After quoting passages* from Bp. Taylor, in proof of his
statement, he goes on to point out,
" that the Schoolmen do not all agree on one and the same" mode
of Presence ; some, with S. Thomas, denying " the Body of Christ
to be either circumscriptive, or definitive in this Sacrament," and
affirming " that Idem Corpus non potest, per miraculam, or potentiarn
divinam, esse in pluribus locis simul, i.e. localittr, or, in the fore-
mentioned wayes, circumscriptively or definitively." — (p. 17.)
But he explains : —
" 1. That they take circumscriptive, and definitive, in such a sense,
as that these two do exclude, not only such a bodie's being ubique,
every where, but absolutely its being alibi, any where else ; and that
these modes of Presence would infer, that the same individual is
divided from itself, (contrary to the nature of individuum, or unum,) if
such body should at that time be any where else." — lb.
And then he mentions : —
"2. That they put a third way of Presence of Christ's Body in the
Eucharist, real and true, and tho not per modum quantitatis dimen-
sivcc, yet per modum substantice, which they say is a mode proper to
this Sacrament, and such as hinders not the same body at the same
time to be alibi, elsewhere, and yet to remain, tho it be elsewhere,
* "[I will set you down the Doctor's words. (Sent presence § 11. n. 17.)
where, after he hath said, ' that there is not in all School-Divinity, nor in the
old Philosophy, nor in nature, any more than three natural proper ways of being
in a place, circumscriptive, definitive, rcpktivi, and that the Body of Christ is not
in the Sacrament any of these three ways,' (quoting Titrrecremata* for it) he
replies thus to those Schoolmen, that rejecting these three ways, do say, that
Christ's Budy is in a fouith way, viz. Sacranuntally in more places than one. —
' This, saith he, is very true ; that is, that the Sacrament of Christ's Body is [in
more places than one] ; and so is this Body [in more places than one] figuratively,
tropically, representatively in being [or essence] and really in effect and blessing.
But this is not a natural real being in a place, but a relation to a person.' Thus
he. But if thus Christ's Body be held by us, as to its essence, only figuratively,
tropically, and representatively in more places than one ; and really in those places
only in its effect and blessing, what will become of our prasentiam non minus quam
illi veram, (See before § 11.) if others hold the presence of Christ's very essence
and substance in the Eucharist, we only the presence there of its efftH and bless-
ing?"—p. 16.
* This is an error; Bp. Taylor only (juotes Turcecremata a> denying the first two modes of
Presence.
367
indivisum in se ; which the other Presences, in their acception of
them, do hinder." — lb.
Ill stating this, however, he also takes care to mention
that : —
" Meanwhile other Schoolmen and Controvertists take liberty to
dissent from these. See Scotus in 4 sent. dist. 10. q. 2. and Bellarm.
de Euchar. 3. 1. 3. c. and it seems not without reason. For, why
should this their Substantial or Sacramental way (as real and true as
any of the other) of Christ's Body being at the same time in Heaven
and in the Eucharist, consist with this Bodie's remaining indivisum
in se ; more than the circumscriptive or definitive way, rightly under-
stood, and freed of their limitations ; or, why impose they such a
notion on these two ways, that they must imply an exact adequation
of the place and the placed, or exclude it from being at all anywhere
else ; any more than the other Substantial or Sacramental way
(which they maintain) doth ? " — p. 18.
Now, no doubt, Woodhead in these observations starts real
difficulties and raises perplexing questions : but, perchance,
they can be answered and overcome, so far as the present
limits of knowledge and the nature of the subject admit. It
may be that some such theory as the one already suggested (See
pp. 341 — 54) touching the substantial presence of the Natural
Sun in this world of the First Creation, indicates a not im-
possible mode of the Real Presence of the Incarnate Sun of
Righteousness in the Eucharists of the New Creation of
God : and so, perhaps, defenders of that Presence need not
stumble at the language of the Declaration ; or be reduced,
in maintaining it, to the alternative which Woodhead pro-
pounds : for if, as I venture to think, the presence of the
inorganic Sun here and in the Heavens might not be unphi-
losophically regarded as identical, rather than as " an incom-
prehensible continuation," or as " the presence of the true and
real effect" ; then (to speak with all reverence) it is surely as
possible that the like may be predicated of the organic Body
of Christ ; especially if, as is necessary, we remember that that
Body is now a Spiritual (though a Real) Body, and consider
also what may be effected by the active Power of His Will as
compared with the passive force of that " Greater Light"
which He made. So, then, it seems to me that a " presence
368
of Christ's very essence and substance in the Eucharist" is
conceivable, which is not, what is usually understood by, a
material presence ; and which, after all, may be free from the
objections which Woodhead enumerates.
But even should it be otherwise, and these apparent con-
tradictions remain unreconciled, such a result would not, I
think, here any more than in the former part of Woodhead's
argument, support Mr. Groode's inference from, what he calls,
that writer's admissions : for the difficulties apply quite as
much to what he terms " the Real bodily presence ...to the
receiver" as they do to that Presence if alleged to be " to the
Elements."
Woodhead proceeds, however, to urge his difficulties as an
argument against the original language of the Declaration;
contending that —
" . . . .these words [Real and essential presence] seem as truly denied
to be in the Eucharist, by the first composers of the foresaid Decla-
ration in the latter end of King Edward's dayes, as the words [Cor-
poral and Natural presence] are in this 2nd Edition thereof in a.d.
1661 "
But if I have correctly alleged throughout that the " reall
and essenciall presence" of the first Declaration was designed
to mean exactly the same as the " corporal presence" of the
second Declaration, then Woodhead's argument falls to the
ground; because "real and essential" did not import what
he assumes them to have meant ; and that this was so, is plain,
I think, from the language of Bp. Ridley, who, it cannot be
reasonably doubted (See Cranmer's Letter, p. 77) had an
important share in framing the first Declaration ; for in his
" Disputation at Oxford," full two years afterwards, he
distinctly opposes Transubstantiation (from which, he says,
" they gather that Christ's Body is really contained in the
Sacrament of the Altar") on this very ground that " it main-
tained a real, corporal, and carnal presence of Christ's Flesh,
.... and that not by virtue and grace only, but also by the
whole essence and substance" thereof. (See p. 53.) Here,
then, are the very words of the Declaration "real"= corporal:
369
" essential "= substantial : each term and its synonym being,
(as it seems to me) in Ridley's mind, the equivalent of
"carnal." Moreover, in that very argument, he drew a dis-
tinction between " really " = " transcendenter," in "which sort"
he says " we also grant Christ's Body to be really in the
Sacrament;" and " really "=" the true manner of His Body,"
" in which sense .... it may not be said to be here in the
Earth."
I am not here overlooking Ridley's statement that the
Presence is "by virtue and grace only:" yet I cannot but
think that by those terms he meant more than, what is now
called, a virtual Presence, i. e., a mere potential Presence by
an agent or substitute ; though it is true (See p. 14) that in
the Cambridge Disputation, 1549, he resorts to an illustration
which seems scarcely to exceed it : but then his later lan-
guage, in 1555, where he takes his example from the Sun
(See p. 44) must be held, surely, to surpass this ; unless, in-
deed, any will contend that there is no difference between the
Presence of a King by his " mighty power and authority
[which] is everywhere in his realms and dominions " and the
Presence of the Sun " by its beams, light, and natural in-
fluence, when it shineth upon the Earth." In truth, this is
just one of those instances of want of consistency in the use
of terms which I have already had occasion to notice as ren-
dering the arguments of the Reformation Writers so perplex-
ing at times to us. However, in this very argument (also of
the later date, 1555) where Ridley uses the words " virtue
and grace " he allows (See p. 55) that if by " real presence "
is not meant "real and corporal substance," but "something
that appertaineth to Christ's Body," then " the ascension and
abiding in Heaven are no let at all to that presence :" and he
adds, " Wherefore Christ's Body, after that sort, is here pre-
sent to us in the Lord's Supper ; by grace, I say, as Epi-
phanius speaketh of it." Perhaps, too, this last expression
may be advantageously noticed in connection with another
remark, made by Woodhead, as to the " contradiction " of
saying " that the natural Body of Christ is not here in the
B B B
370
Eucharist, but only in heaven; yet. . . .that the natural Body
of Christ is here in the Eucharist received. It, the body that
was born of the B. Virgin, not a grace only, not a Spirit
only, but it itself,. . . ." Ridley, it will be observed, does not
speak of the Presence of the grace of Christ's Body, but of
Its Presence by grace.
The third subject of which Woodhead treats is the state-
ment of the Declaration, that by Kneeling,
" no adoration is intended, or ought to be done unto any corporal
presence of Christ's natural flesh and blood." — p. 4.
With reference to this he quotes Bishop Andrews, Bishop
Taylor, Bishop Forbes, the Archbishop of Spalato, and Mr.
Thorndyke, " to shew that the Church of England hath
heretofore believed and affirmed such a Presence to which
they thought Adoration due " (p. 28) : yet he, somewhat
strangely, argues that the Declaration, owing to the reasons
assigned in it,
" seems clearly to deny Adoration due to Christ's Body as any
way present in the Eucharist ; contrary to the fore-cited doctrine,
and contrary to the religion of King James and Bishop Andrews
published to the world abroad. Or at least, in thus denying adora-
tion due to a corporal presence, and then not declaring any other
presence of Christ's body in the Sacrament that is adorable, when as
such a Presence they believe ; it seems to betray the communicants
to a greater miscarriage in their behaviour, as to such our Saviour's
presence at the receiving of these dreadful Mysteries ; and to
abridge this duty of that extent in which it had formerly been recom-
mended by this Church." — p. 29.
But such reasoning seems to me most illogical, and not a
little surprising, as coining from a writer like Woodhead ;
surely the very fact that the Declaration condemns one par-
ticular mode of Presence implies that its framers did not
design to exclude the belief of any other than that mode :
everything connected with the history of the Declaration, and
the opinions of its framers and revisers, goes to prove, I
think, that, as they had neither the desire nor the intention
of needlessly paring down opinions on so difficult a subject
so, they contented themselves with asserting what alone they
371
thought it essential to maintain in the way of negation.
If this be so, there could be no contemplated discouragement
of any Adoration short of what necessarily involved the main-
tenance of that manner of Presence which was explicitly de-
nied : while, so far from the Declaration tending " to betray
the communicants to a greater miscarriage in their behaviour "
we may fairly believe that it was thought a not improbable
security against that irreverence which past experience had
found to result from the popular notion of just such a Carnal
Presence as it was the object of the Declaration to condemn
and to discourage.
In passing now from this notice of Woodhead's Book,
which has been necessitated by Mr. Goode's reference to it,
I will only further observe — that if "Woodhead's citations from
English Divines, under the two former portions of his argu-
ment, do not sustain the inference which Mr. Goode draws
from them, still less can such an inference be made from the
language of those Authors quoted in the argument last
noticed.
But Mr. Goode refers also to Woodhead's " Compendious
Discourse on the Eucharist : Oxford, 1688, p. 33 et seq. and
App. p. 212," for further proof that that writer, when com-
menting upon the language of " those who held the highest
doctrine of the Real Presence ever maintained in our
Reformed Church," was " obliged to admit that their notion
of the Real bodily presence was that it was a presence to the
receiver, but not to the elements.'"
Before, however, examining Woodhead's statements, it is
of consequence to notice that Mr. Goode's expression " Real
bodily presence " is inaccurate and tends to mislead ; for by
"bodily" is almost certain to be understood "corporal" —
the very idea condemned by the Declaration and by the
writers in question. Nor, indeed, does Woodhead use
this word in reference to these writers : he speaks of their
holding " the real or substantial presence of Christ's body ;"
but this is a very different thing; and, in fact, involves
the precise point upon which the Declaration turns — viz.,
372
the distinction between a bodily— organical'Pr esence of Christ's
Body ; and a substantial=spiritual Presence of Christ's Body
— a distinction not (as many might be inclined to think)
without a difference, and that the really important one which,
it must have been observed, continually appears in the
controversies which have been referred to in these pages.
Woodhead's statement, in the passage (p. 30, &c.) to which
Mr. Goode refers, is as follows ; he says : —
" Now to come to the second thing, its affirming, or denying, the
real or substantial presence of Christ's body with the signs, and that,
ante usum. And this I think to be generally denied by the
2nd opinion,* (tho' I see not with what reason they can deny
a possibility thereof, since they grant such a presence with the
worthy receiver.) See Mr. Hooker 5. 1., 67. s., p. 359. ' The real
presence of Christ's most blessed body and blood is not to be sought
for in the Sacrament, but in the worthy receiver of the Sacrament.' "
This is the well known passage so often quoted to prove
that Hooker was not one of those Post-reformation Divines
" who held the highest doctrine of the Peal Presence;" and
therefore he cannot be fairly cited by Mr. Goode as a witness
in this case : whether his language necessarily implies a denial
of such Presence " in the Sacrament" may, I think, be fairly
questioned. His object seems mainly to have been to dis-
courage controversy on this point, and to promote unity by
drawing attention to the fact that "no side denieth but that the
soul of man is the receptacle of Christ's presence :" though,
plainly, he was also moved by the consideration — that those
who held that " Christ's body and blood be also externally
seated in the very consecrated elements themselves ; . . . . are
driven either to consubstantiate and incorporate Christ with
elements sacramental, or to transubstantiate and change their
* The Second Opinion goes beyond this [i. e. a " Virtual Presence "], or at
least seems so (for I must confess I do not well understand it, and we shall look
more into it anon) and affirms a real Presence of Christ's Body, not in its virtue,
but in its very substance ; but in this, not after a natural or carnal, but spiritual,
manner; not to all : but only to the worthy Receivers. To them, [i.e.) to their
Souls and Spirits, by the susception of Faith, and not to their Mouth or their
Body. Again, to them, but not to the symbols at all ; or if in some sense to
these (as Mr. Hooker, I. 5., s. 67, saith, they really exhibit, but not contain in
them, that which with, or by, them God bestoweth), yet not ante usum, or before
the act of Receiving." " " — p. 1.
373
substance into His; and so the one to hold Him really
but invisibly moulded up with the substance of those
elements, the other to hide Him under the only visible
show of bread and wine, the substance whereof as they
imagine is abolished and His succeeded in the same room."
If, then, there be a mode of Presence in, with, or, under
the elements, which yet is neither of these two, Hooker's
language does not exclude a " Real presence in the Sacra-
ment." *
But Woodhead goes on to say : —
" See Dr. Tailor, p. 14. ' By spiritual we mean, present to our
spirits only : that is, saith he, so as Christ is not present to any other
sense but that of faith, or Spiritual susception.' Where (to digress a
little,) I wonder why he and some others (so Dr. Hammond saith,
[for our souls to be strengthened, etc.,] quoted before t) do not say,
* " . . . Hooker considered the very life and substance of saving truth to be
in jeopardy, as on the side of the Romanists, so on that of the Lutherans also,
by reasonings likely to be grounded, whether logically or no, on the tenet which
they taught in common of the proper ubiquity of our Saviour's glorified Body
in the Eucharist. Evidently it was a feeling of this kind, rather than any fear
of exaggerating the honour due to that blessed Sacrament, which reigns in
those portions of the fifth Book, where he lays down certain limitations, under
which the Doctrine of the Real Presence must be received. The one drift and
purpose of all those limitations is, to prevent any heretical surmise, of our
Lord's manhood now being, or having been at any time since His incarnation,
other than most true and substantial. Whatever notion of the Real Presence
does not in effect interfere with this foundation of the faith, that, the genuine
philosophy of Hooker, no less than his sound theology, taught him to embrace
with all his heart. No writer, since the primitive times, has shown himself in this
and in all parts of his writings more thoroughly afraid of those tendencies, which
in our age are called Utilitarian and Rationalist. If at any time he seem over
scrupulous in the use of ideas or phrases, from which the early fathers saw
no reason to shrink, it is always the apprehension of irreverence, not of the
contrary, which is present to his mind. For example, let the three following
passages only be well considered and compared: i. e., as they stand with then-
context ; for in these critical parts more especially, no separate citation can ever
do Hooker justice.
" 1. 'Christ's body being a part of that nature, which whole nature is pre-
sently joined unto Deity wheresoever Deity is, it followeth that His bodily
substance hath everywhere a presence of true conjunction with Deity. And
forasmuch as it is by virtue of that conjunction made the body of the Son of
God, by whom also it was made a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, this
giveth it a presence of force and efficacy throughout all generations of men.' —
Eccl., Pol. v. lv. 9." — The other two pages referred to are Ibid. v. lvi. 9 and 13.
— Keble's Preface, pp. lxxx — lxxxii.
f " I will add to these of Dr. Taylor's, an expression of Dr. Hammond's.
Tract. Cat. where he speaks of the Eucharist, — " God bestows the body and
blood of Christ upon us not by sending it down locally for our bodies to feed on,
but really for our souls to be strengthened by it. As when the Sun is com-
374
that Christ's body is substantially present to the bodies of worthy
receivers, as well as to the souls, (yet, perhaps, they deny it not) ;
for tho' the body of Christ be only spiritually there, yet may a spirit
be present to a body, for our souls (spirits) are so "
Yet, surely, such lanugage is no denial of a Real Presence
"to the Elements." Taylor's words are hut another way of
expressing what Bishop Guest said, (See p. 193,) — ''though
he tooke Christ's body in his hand, received it with his mouthe,
and that corporally, naturally, reallye, substantially, and
carnally, as ye doctors doo write, yet did he not for all that
See it, feale it, smelle it, nor tast* it." Seeing, therefore,
that Guest held, — that the helief of Christ's Body heing not
cognizable by the senses was entirely consistent with the belief
of "ye presence of Christe's Bodye in ye Sacrament" — the
same may fairly be asserted of this passage which Woodhead
quotes.
Again, his language is : —
" See what Bishop Forbes saith, Euchar) 1.1. I.e. 27. s. ' Verum
Christi corpus non tantum animae, sed etiam corpori nostro, spiritu-
aliter tamen, hoc est, non corporaliter, exhibetur, et sane alio ac
diverso nobis et propinquiori modo, licet occulta, quam per solam
fidem Fides, qua proprie Christi caro in Eucharistia spiritu-
aliter, hoc est, incorporaliter manducatur, non est ea sola, qua
Christus creditur mortuus pro peccatis nostris, etc., ea enim fides
pras-supponitur, etc. Sed ea fides est, qua creditur verbo Christi
dicentis. Hoc est corpus meum. Credere enim Christum ibi esse
praasentem etiam carne vivificatrice, et desiderare earn sumere ;
nimirum hoc est spiritualiter et recte earn manducare in Euchar-
istia. Sect. 25. Proinde male docetur a multis Protestantibus, hanc
pragsentiam et communicationem per fidem effici Fides
magis proprie dicitur accipere, etc., apprehendere, quam praestare.
Verbum Dei et promissio, cui fides nostra nititur, praesentia reddit
quae promittit, non nostra fides.' Tis not faith that confers Christ's
body, though by the faithful it is only worthily, or, (as they say,)
munieated to us, the whole bulk and body of the Sun is not removed out of its
sphere, but the Rays and Beams of it, and with them the Light and Influences
are really and verily bestowed and darted out upon us." Thus he. As, therefore,
not the Body of the Sun, but only the Beams thereof, can be said to be really and
locally here below ; so, I conceive the Doctor means, that not the very body of
Christ but the vertue and efficacy thereof only, are really here present to the
worthy receiver."— p. 27. But, the question arises, — Are not the Beams of the
Sun something more than "the vertue and efficacy" of the Sun? And if (as I
think and have already argued) they are, then the Eucharistic Presence of Christ
is also something more than " the vertue and efficacy" of His body.
375
only received, but received equally, and immediately both by the
soul and body : whether this body of Christ be disjoined from, as
they think, or conjoined with the Elements."
But does the passage quoted from Bishop Forbes bear out
the inference which Woodhead would apparently draw from
it ? I cannot think it does : and, indeed, Woodhead himself
here, as elsewhere, speaks doubtfully of this writer, and of
the class to which he considers him to belong. To my mind
it needs some positive statement to that effect, before any
absolute negation of a Real Presence in or with the Elements
can be safely concluded from such a passage as this.
"Woodhead ends this Section by quoting the four following
passages from Bishop Taylor: —
" See Dr. Tailor, p. 7. ' After the Minister hath consecrated the
bread and wine, the symbols become changed into the body and
blood of Christ in a Spiritual, real manner.'
" So, p. 21 . ' The question is not, whether the Symbols be changed
into Christ's body and blood or no, for it is granted ; but whether
this conversion be Sacramental and figurative, or natural and bodily,
etc'
" So, p. 265, 266. 'Before consecration it is mere bread, but after
consecration it is, verily, the body of Christ, truly his flesh, and
truly his blood.'
" But especially see such full expressions in his Great Exemplar,
3d. part. disc. 18, p. 109, in the former Edition, Sect. 3, where
amongst other things he saith : ' It is hard to do so much violence
to our sense, as not to think it bread ; but it is more unsafe, to do so
much violence to our faith, as not to believe it to be Christ's body.'
(Again.) ' He that believes it to be bread, and, yet verily to be
Christ's body, is only tied also by implication to believe God's omni-
potence, that he who affirmed it, can also verify it. And if we
profess we understand not the manner of this Mystery, we say no
more, but that it is a mystery, etc' "
It is plain, however, that Woodhead himself was per-
plexed by these passages when citing Bishop Taylor as one
of those who held what he terms " The Second Opinion,"
(See p. 372) ; for he prefaces the First quotation with these
words —
"... whilst this second opinion seems to hold no presence at all, to
or with, the signs, but to the receiver, they only making the signs to
be (as well as I can understand them) after Consecration sanctified
376
instruments, upon receit of which by those who believe, God gives
the other, the body and blood of his Son : as also in Baptism upon
receiving the water, God gives the Spirit ;"
And then, remarkably enough he adds —
"Yet I say, some other expressions of their's seem not so suit-
able to such a meaning, and may easily cause a mistake in the
unwary reader ; and why they use them I cannot tell, unless it be
to imitate the phrase of the words of Institution, and also of the
Fathers." — p. 32.
So again, most significantly, I think, he thus comments on
the last quotation from Bishop Taylor : —
" Strange expressions ! when the thing required to be believed is
this : That Christ's body is in no way present to the bread, neither
by the bread being changed into it, nor joyned with it ; but only it
given and present to the faithful, upon the receipt of this sanctified
bread.
" Now would any discourse of the waters of Baptism, by which
the Spirit is received, on this manner ; It is hard to do so much
violence to the sense, as not to thinlc it water, but it is more unsafe to
do so much violence to our faith, as not to believe it to be the Spirit.
Would not he rather explain himself, that the one is not the other ;
but the one received, by God's free gift, upon the receiving of the
other?'— p. 33.
Seeing, then, that Woodhead confesses this difficulty in
Bishop Taylor's language, we may fairly refuse to accept the
unqualified conclusion which Mr. Goode has drawn from the
way in which Woodhead has appealed to the Bishop's argu-
ments : moreover, the very difficulty is itself a presumption
that the passages do not condemn the opinion which
Mr. Goode would cite them to disprove : and it is worth ob-
serving, in confirmation of this remark, that Woodhead says
"perhaps some of them [i.e., the holders of this 'Second
Opinion '] do not," in the passages he quotes, "peremptorily
condemn the conjectures of others." — (p. 24). In proof of
this he goes on to say thus : —
" See for what I have now said (besides the quotations before,
p. 2, in the relation of this second opinion) many places in
Dr. Tailor, the very Title of his book, wherein Spiritual must be
took in such a sense, as not to deny real ; and of Christ, must be
understood of the Body and Blood of Christ : For this he saith often
in the Book, namely, p. 7, see p. 20, where, in answering some hard
377
sayings of the Fathers, &c, as if the same Body that was crucified,
was not eaten in the Sacrament, he saith, ' That Proposition is true,
if we speak of the eating of Christ's Body in the same manner of
being [' for it had one manner of being on the Cross, and another
in the Sacrament ']. But that Body which was crucified, the same
Body we do eat, if we speak of the same thing in a several manner
of being, &c. Christ's Body therefore is in the Sacrament, not only
in its operation, but being ; though after another manner of being
than it was on the Cross. And what Dr. Taylor saith, methinks,
answers several arguments brought afterward by himself out of the
Fathers against real presence under, or with the symbols, see p. 311.
Non hoc quod videtis, &c. See p. 288. They that do not confess the
Eucharist to be the Flesh of our Saviour, &c. See p. 5, where he will
have spiritual presence to be particular in nothing, but that it
excludes the corporal and natural manner, &c. See ArchB. Laud,
p. 286, where he saith, The worthy Receiver is by his Faith made
Spiritually partaker of the true and real Body and Blood of Christ, &c.
And ArchB. Cranmer (as the ArchB. quotes out of Fox, p. 1703)
confesseth, that though he was indeed of another opinion, and in-
clining to that of Zwinglius, yet B. Ridley convinc'd his judgment,
and settled him in the point." — pp. 24-25.
Woodhead's remark, that Bishop Taylor "will have
spiritual presence to be particular in nothing, but that it
excludes the corporal and natural manner," seems to me per-
tinent to, what I think is, Mr. Goode's aggravation of the
confessed difficulty of this question, in assuming, as he does,
that " the supposed presence in the Eucharist is only a pre-
sence of his [Christ's] body after a spiritual and super-
natural manner, that is, a state of existence after the manner
of a spirit." {On the Eucharist, p. 49). He insists upon this
in several places* in his "Work on the Eucharist." But
* p. 50. " And as to its [Christ's Body] being present only after the manner
of a spirit, I ask, with Bishop Jeremy Taylor, ' Can a body remaining a body be
at the same time a spirit?' "
p. 183. "This doctrine supposes the body and blood of Christ partaken of in
the Eucharist to be immaterial and like a spirit, while the words of our Lord
shew us, that the body to be eaten there is the material body that was crucified
on the cross, and the blood to be drunk there is the blood shed on the cross."
p. 184. "This doctrine supposes an oral mandueation of an immaterial thing,
a thing present only after the mode of existence belonging to a spirit ; which is
a manifest absurdity."
p. 211. "But those who are not so easily influenced by words and names are
inclined to carry their researches a little further. They naturally ask them-
selves the question, whether our old divines really thought that a body re-
maining a body could be at the same time a spirit, and that our Lord's body,
c c c
378
" the manner of a spirit " may be, in one sense, said to be
the manner of a body; for though a Spirit is an immaterial
Body (using the word immaterial in a popular, and not a
strictly philosophical sense), it is nevertheless a body, by
reason of its non-ubiquity, while yet capable of motion in a
manner which docs not pertain to material bodies. There-
fore, to make spiritual presence=the manner of a spirit,
seems equivalent to the holding of the " Corporal Presence,"
which the Declaration condemns on the ground of " it being
against the truth of Christ's natural Body to be at one time
in more places than one." Bishop Taylor (in the passage
quoted by Mr. Goode, p. 843), complaining of Bellarmine,
says that
" Spiritually with him signifies after the manner of Spirits," and
adds that " They say that Christ's body is truly present there [in
the Sacrament] as it was upon the Cross, but not after the manner
of all or anybody, but after that manner of being as an angel is in a
place. That's their spiritually. But we by the real spiritual
presence of Christ do understand Christ to be present as the
Spirit of God is present in the hearts of the faithful by blessing
and grace; and this is all which we mean besides the tropical
and figurative presence."
The Bishop's objection to regarding the Eucharistic Pre-
sence as " after that manner of being as an angel is in
a place" is forcible enough; for such a Presence is really
the " Corporal Presence of" a "natural Body" (here limit-
ing the word Natural to a Created Being, and not referring it
to, e.g., the atmosphere) : the point to be considered is — how
he understood that "the Spirit of God is present in the hearts
of the faithful by blessing and grace V — could he do otherwise
than consider it as a real presence when he remembered, as he
must have done, that aspiration of St. Paul for the Ephesian
Church " to be strengthened with might by His [Christ's]
Spirit in the inner man ; That Christ may dwell in your
remaining in heaven in a material form, could at the c "tt? time he present on
hundreds of thousands of communion tables all over the world in the lorm of a
spirit ; so united, as a whole and perfect body, to every minute fragment of the
Eucharistic bread, or form of bread, as to be eaten with it by every com-
municant
379
hearts by faith " (Eph. iii. 16 and 17) ? It seems to me that
he could not. And I venture to think that, in rejecting
the Analogy which he condemned, Bishop Taylor might
willingly and consistently enough have accepted what appears
to be the only practicable analogy in this case, namely, that
of the Natural Sun which has been already considered: to
my mind, it meets the difficulty in a way which no other
comparison does, and has the advantage of being both Scrip-
tural and not new, though it is legitimate enough (as I have
already argued) to view it in any new aspect which the Light
of modern Science affords.
Mr. Goode refers also to, "App. p. 212," of Woodhead's
Discourse : he does not give the words, but I presume he
must refer to the following passage : —
" . . . . Afterward Archbishop Laud restor'd it, [i. e., the sen-
tence ' that these Thy Gifts and Creatures of Bread and Wine may
be to us the Body and Blood of Thy Bear Son,'] in the Scottish
Liturgy, For which he was severely censur'd by Bailys Laud-
ensium Autocatacrisis. This being, as he saith, a notable Argument
for Transubstantiation ; at least, for the real presence to the Receiver
it was. Though it is most certain, tbe Archbishop did not incline
to defend Transubstantiation, but only the real presence to the Re-
ceiver, according to the Doctrine of the Church of England, mis-
understood by that Puritan."
It is just worth observing that this Appendix seems not to
be Woodhead's at all, and perhaps Mr. Goode does not
quote it as such : but this is not material to the question
which hinges upon the quotation, viz,, whether Archbishop
Laud, as one of "those who held the highest doctrine of the
Real Presence ever maintained in our Reformed Church,"
held only "a Presence to the receiver, but not to the
elements." The Appendix writer asserts that the Arch-
bishop defended " only tbe Real presence to the Receiver :"
but a careful consideration of his language, as subsequently
given at pp. 390-3, can scarcely fail to raise a grave doubt
as to the accuracy of the allegation.
As touching, however, this point upon which Mr. Goode
so much insists, of the Presence being " to the Receiver but
380
not to the Elements" it will be as well to notice here the fol-
lowing passages in his " Supplement" p. 29 : he says: —
" His [Dr. Pusey's] argument that the rubrical direction as to the
reverent reception of the remainder of the Elements by some of the
communicants ' shows that the Church of England believes an abi-
ding objective presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Ele-
ments, apart from the act of reception,' (p. 231), and that the
direction as to the covering of the remainder of the consecrated ele-
ments with a fine linen cloth 'contains the same doctrine,' I leave to
be disposed of by the reader. I confess to a feeling of impatience
under the infliction of such apologies for arguments."
But it often happens that no " feeling of impatience,"
however strong, will get rid of awkward facts ; and such is
the case here : the Rubric as to the reverent reception of the
remains of the Sacrament exists, and needs to be accounted
for : its meaning has already been discussed at length in these
pages (See 122 — 152) : it will be enough, therefore, now to
supplement what was there said, by referring to a most un-
suspicious witness, from whom I have already had occasion to
quote.
Mr. Fisher, wrongly assuming that the Rubric in the Ser-
vice Books of Edward and Elizabeth" — "and if any of the
Bread and Wine remain, the Curate shall have it to his own
use" — refers to the consecrated Elements, thus remarks upon
the change in 1662 :
"This was, of course, much too concise and simple to suit the re-
fined Scholastic taste of theologians like Dr. Gunning or Bishop
Cosin. Consequently, as might have been anticipated, it was in
1662 very considerably enlarged, and most materially modified in its
dogmatic import. It now stands as follows : —
" ' And if any of the Bread and Wine remain unconsecrated the
Curate shall have it to his own use : but if any remain of that which
was consecrated, it shall not be carried out of the Church, but the
Priest and such other of the Communicants as he shall then call unto
him, shall, immediately after the Blessing, reverently eat and drink
the same.'
" This change, it will be observed, is in perfect keeping with those
already noticed. Some indeed may be disposed — and not altogether
without reason — to consider it as one of the most important altera-
tions which the Communion Office has ever undergone; involving
as it does so palpable a recognition of that mysterious virtue, which
381
is supposed, according to the theory of Rome, to be infused into the
elements by the priestly act of Consecration. It is indeed, in this
respect, all that the most zealous adherent of the Tridentine doctrine
could desire. Such is the mystical sanctity of the newly ' conse-
crated ' bread and wine, that they are not, we are told, to be used,
even by the Priest himself, anywhere except within the hallowed
precints of the altar." * — p. 400.
But though Mr. Fisher is in error in supposing that the
change in, or rather the addition to, the Rubric arose from
any unfitness in it to "the refined Scholastic taste" of which
he speaks ; his opinion is none the less valuable as to the
meaning of the Rubric in its present form. The old Rubric
was sufficient for its purpose in 1552, when, the minds of the
Clergy being still thoroughly imbued with the Missal
Rubrics, no Priest would have been at a loss how to dispose
of the remains of the Consecrated Bread and Wine : but the
* This passage, and the other quotations from Mr. Fisher, were taken from
the 1st Ed. of his Book : but a 2nd Ed. having been published in 1860 it is due
to him to notice any variation he may have made in his statements. The
passages cited at pp. 170, 284, 331, and above, are unaltered: that at p. 337 il
substantially the same, though fuller, and even more explicit (in 2nd Ed.,
p. 296, &c.) : the one given at p. 262 seems to be omitted, but its purport is found
elsewhere (2nd Ed., pp. 129, 151, &e.) : the passage at pp. 259-60 looks as if re-
cast, and now ends thus (2nd Ed., p. 300) : — " Of course it is not for us to say,
what might have been the decision of our Ecclesiastical Judges in the case of
Mr. Wilberforce, had legal proceedings been actually instituted against him :
but it is certainly difficult to see how, with this Rubric before them, [i.e., the
Declaration on Kneeling], they could have come practically to any conclusion
condemnatory, in a penal sense, of his doctrine." The other remaining quota-
tion, that at p. 171, "... he does not seem," &c, appears to be withdrawn, and
the following substituted — " It has been ascertained, as we believe beyond a
doubt, that, between the year 1548 and the period of the Second revision of the
Prayer-Book, Cranmer's opinion respecting the corporeal presence of Christ in
the Eucharist underwent a very marked and decisive change. During that
short interval, indeed, he appears to have abandoned the Lutheran doctrine
altogether. Now observe the change which the Communion Office underwent,
at the time of this second revision. It was not enough, as some might have
supposed, that the Rubric alone should be altered. There were, it seems, ex-
pressions even in the Service which might seem to sanction the discarded doc-
trine. The Service accordingly was made to undergo a precisely corresponding
process of alteration." (2nd Ed., p. 145). Now I do not pretend to know what
has caused this entire change, as it seems, in Mr. Fisher's opinion on this point :
but, having paid due attention to what he has urged here and elsewhere in his
2nd Ed., I feel very confident in maintaining that his sei-ond thoughts are not
the accurate ones ; and I cannot but think that in this instance, as in others, it
will be found that the supposed old and true maxim must be altered, and that it
may yet appear that his first and third thoughts will be best. In support of
this belief I must refer to what has been already said at pp. 6, 20-26, 46, 48,
49, 84, 154-59, 166-70, 174-78, 179-86, and 276.
382
gross irreverence with which the Sacrament had come to be
treated before the end of the following Century, must have
furnished a most cogent reason, quite apart from any
" Scholastic taste," not only for removing any uncertainty (if
such existed, though it may well be doubted) ; but also for
furnishing a direction, with regard to the remains of the Con-
secrated Elements, of so explicit a character that no one could
possibly plead the old Rubric in excuse for treating them as
common Bread and Wine, and so seek to cover negligence or
irreverence in disposing of them. Indeed, I venture to think
that this consideration is the true key to the meaning of the
words, " it shall not be carried out of the Church :" it seems
to me fairly open to discussion, whether these words were
designed absolutely to prohibit reservation for the sick in
cases where anything like a real difficulty (such as men-
tioned at p. 139) might arise about Consecrating at a Com-
munion of the Sick : the Revisers of 1661 were not likely to
have been unmindful of the Rubric in Elizabeth's Latin
Prayer Book, which permitted it (See p. 89) ; and they may
not have intended wholly to exclude its operation, though
probably deeming it best not to encourage a habit of Reser-
vation for ordinary cases which presented no difficulty in using
the Office provided for " The Communion of the Sick."
With regard to the other fact — the direction to cover
" what remaineth of the consecrated elements . . . with a fair
linen cloth " — it may suffice, I think, to quote the following
passage from the late Professor Blunt's " Duties of a Parish
Priest" 3rd Ed. p. 339 :—
" This, you will observe, is the first mention that is made of
covering the elements with a cloth, or 'corporal,' as it was called.
So that the practice of thus veiling them, when originally placed
upon the Table, though, as it should seem, obtaining in the early
Gieek Ritual (See Lit. of S. Chrysostom, Neale's Tetralogia Litur-
gica pp. 63, 64), is unathorized by our own, which would appear to
consider them as common bread and common wine (however obla-
tions to God) till after consecration, and therefore as not to be treated
with any mysterious reverence ; but, after consecration, to be no
longer common bread, oi Koifo; apTo? ; and no longer a common cup,
ov Komit mrripoii (Justin Martyr 1 Apol. §. 66) ; and now therefore
383
to be screened frem the gaze of the congregation. So much doctrine
is there contained in these Rubrics when duly studied and applied."
There is another statement made by Mr. Goode (Supp. p.
34) which needs to be noticed : he says that " the whole ob-
ject of the Declaration is to point out, that the act of kneel-
ing is not an act of adoration to Christ as so present," i.e.
"as whole Christ, God and Man" (p. 33) by " an immaterial
presence " (such as he alleges Dr. Pusey to hold) ; and he quotes
in support of his position First, the parenthetical language of
the Declaration as to our acknowledgment by kneeling " of
the benefits of Christ therein given to all worthy Receivers ;"
Next, the words of the 7th Canon of 1640. But, with respect
to the former, surely it may, at least, be fairly said that Christ
"being therein given " He is there when given, and so ought
to be adored: and that "whole Christ, God and Man" is
given, though not after a natural manner, seems to me to be
necessarily allowed by Mr. Goode himself ; for he says : —
"... I maintain, that the Body and Blood of Christ that we are
to eat and drink in the Lords' Supper, are the true material body
and blood of our Blessed Lord, of which He spake when he said of
himself to his disciples after his resurrection, — 1 a spirit hath not
flesh and bones, as ye see me have.' But I contend that this eating
and drinking are of a spiritual kind, the act of the soul only ; but,
in the case of the faithful, accompanying the eating and drinking of
the sacred symbols by the mouth." — Nature of Christ's Presence,
etc. p. 82.
Here, as I understand him, Mr. Goode contends for the
spiritual partaking of a material Thing : it is difficult, then,
to see why he should object, as he seems to do, to the spiritual
Presence and spiritual giving of that same material Thing
i.e. of the risen (and ascended, for it was the same) Christ —
God and Man. Surely the whole analogy to be drawn from
the Elements sustains what he appears to disallow : for if the
Bread and Wine must be there, in the Sacrament, before they
can be given to the Communicants to be by them consumed ;
it follows that the Body and Blood of Christ (i.e. Christ Him-
self "whole Christ, God and Man ") must also be there, "in
the Lord's Supper," before they can be given to the faithful
384
to be by them " verily and indeed taken and received " in
order to be " eaten" and drunk " after an heavenly and spiritual
manner." (Art. xxviii.) Indeed Mr. Goode says (p. 82) " I must
add, that as to any spiritual presence, our Lord may be present
in the Supper* and quite as effectually present, though he does
not enter into or become annexed to the earthly elements of
bread and wine." Yet I cannot but think that, having re-
gard to the terms of the Declaration, Mr. Goode thus raises
a difficulty (if it be a difficulty) quite as great as the one he
opposes ; for precisely the same reason, viz. " it being against
the truth of Christ's natural Body to be at one time in more
places than one," applies to a " spiritual presence " of " the
true material body and blood of our Blessed Lord " " in the
Supper," as to a " spiritual presence " of it in, with, or under
the Elements : in fact the Declaration says nothing whatever
as to the where of " any spiritual Presence " of " Christ's
natural Flesh and Blood;" though it does most distinctly
pronounce how Christ is not present, when it rejects "any
corporal presence of Christ's natural Flesh and Blood : for
[i.e. because] .... the natural Body and Blood of our
Saviour Christ are in Heaven, and not here."
But, as I am most anxious not to misunderstand (and so to
misrepresent unconsciously) Mr. Goode's language, let me
here take the precaution of saying that it is possible he may
have intended to emphasize the word " benefits " and not the
word " Christ " in his quotation from the Declaration upon
which I am now commenting : in that case it would be neces-
sary to enquire what he understands by the word " benefits "
as there used — whether it is to be taken in the same sense as
in the Catechism or in some other meaning.
I have not been able to find any passage in Mr. Goode's
Work on the Eucharist or in his Supplement which will
clearly guide to his opinion on this point : the only remarks,
so far as I know, which bear upon it are the following which
* I have already noticed (See p. 358) a still stronger expression used by Mr.
Goode as to a possible kind of Presence " in the Supper."
385
he makes in commenting upon a statement of the late Arch-
deacon Wilberforce : —
". . . . His main argument [i.e. in "his 'Charge,' pp. 285—
8."] is this, that we are told that ' the Body and Blood of Christ are
verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's
Supper,' and then afterwards it is stated, what the benefits are of
which we become partakers by this reception ; showing he contends
that beyond the reception of certain benefits, there is, besides, the
reception of a thing from which these benefits flow ; and he reasons
as if this proved, that the Body and Blood of Christ must be in the
elements.
" But the conclusion does not follow from the premises. No doubt
there is a reception by the soul of the Body of Christ. And the
consequence of that reception is, the enjoyment of certain benefits
by the soul, namely, (as described in the Catechism) its being
strengthened and refreshed by the Body and Blood of Christ, as our
bodies are by the bread and wine. But this does not prove a
reception of the Body and Blood of Christ by the mouth in con-
junction with the elements
" And the Catechism, so far from drawing this distinction between
receiving the body of Christ and receiving the benefits derivable
from it, remarkably connects (I had almost said, identifies) the two.
For in two previous answers it makes the second part of a sacrament,
and the inward thing signified by the outward element, to be, an
' inward and spiritual grace ; ' not the res sacramenti, but the virtus
or gratia sacramenti." — The Nature &c, p. 695.
Now, though not immaterial in itself, it is immaterial to
me to discuss here the remarkable distinction drawn in the
Catechism (and not in this place pointed out by Mr. Goode,)
between the two Sacraments, by the additional third question
as to the "benefits" of the "Sacrament of the Lord's
supper." It is enough to observe that he regards the
"benefits" of the Eucharist as "the consequence of" the
soul's reception "of the Body of Christ:" it seems to me
therefore, most probable that he similarly regards "the
benefits" named in the Declaration ; for, coupling the words
just cited with his remarks as to the nature of the Presence
quoted before. (See p. 384) I cannot fairly suppose him
to maintain so improbable an intention on the part of the
Framers of the Declaration as either, a precise identification
of " those benefits " as " being " (in the language of Bishop
D D D
38G
Wordsworth, see Note, p. 117) "the Sacramental Body and
Blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ;" or an
"acknowledgment" of an effect instead and to the exclusion
of a cause: for, while the Bishop's explanation introduces a
new Body such as Mr. Goode appears to disavow, it seems too
unreasonable to suppose that they (the Framers) could have
been so inexact in the wording of such an important public
Theological statement as to lead us to contemplate primarily
in the act of Kneeling at Reception the subsequent " benefits"
of the Gift of " Christ" then and there bestowed upon " all
worthy receivers" — Benefits which, however closely or
remotely following upon the Gift, must be (analogically)
considered as later than not coincident with that Gift.
Mr. Goode's second reference in support of his opinion as
to " the whole object of the Declaration " is thus stated (the
Italics are Mr. Goode's) : —
" And a similar reason for such a posture [i.e. Kneeling] is asigned
in the seventh of the Canons of 1640, drawn up under the pre-
sidency of Archbishop Laud, where such a gesture 'in the celebra-
tion of the Holy Eucharist ' is said to be not ' upon any opinion of
a corporal presence of the body of Jesus Christ on the holy table, or
in mystical elements, but only for the advancement of God's Majesty,
and to give him alone that honour and glory that is due unto him,
and no otherwise."' — Sup. p. 34.
But, first of all, it must be said that the Canon is not
treating at all of that " Kneeling" at receiving the Sacrament
of the Lord's Supper with which the Declaration deals : it
refers entirely to another custom which had much fallen into
disuse and was then sought to be revived : this will be best
seen by an inspection of the entire final Clause of the Canon
which runs thus (the Italics are mine) : —
" And lastly, Whereas the Church is the house of God, dedicated
to his holy worship, and therefore ought to mind us, both of the
greatness and goodness of his Divine Majesty, certain it is that the
acknowledgment thereof, not only inwardly in our hearts, but
also outwardly with our bodies, must needs be pious in itself, pro-
fitable unto us, and edifying unto others. We therefore think it
very meet and behoveful, and heartily commend it to all good and
well-affected people, members of this Church, that they be ready to
tender unto the Lord the said acknowledgment, by doing reverence
387
and obeysance, both at their coming in, and going out of the said
Churches, Chancels or Chapels, according to the most ancient custom
of the primitive Church* in the purest times, and of this Church
also for many years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The reviving
therefore of this ancient and laudable custom, we heartily commend
to the serious consideration of all good people, not with any in-
tention to exhibit any religious worship to the Communion-Table,
the East, or Church, or anything therein contained in so doing, or
to perform the said gesture, in the celebration of the holy Eucharist,
upon any opinion of a corporal presence of the body of Jesus Christ
on the holy Table, or in mystical Elements, but only for the ad-
vancement of God's Majesty, and to give him alone that honour
and glory that is due unto him, and no otherwise ; and in the prac-
tise or omission of this Rite, we desire that the Rule of Charity
prescribed by the Apostle, may be observed, which is, that they
which use this Rite, despise not them who use it not; and that
they who use it not, condemn not those that use it."
Now it is clear, from the language of the Canon, that " the
said gesture " recommended to be used " in the celebration of
the Holy Eucharist" was precisely that " doing reverence and
obeysance" which was counselled to be performed at "coming
in and going out" of Church : what that gesture was may be
pretty certainly inferredf from the direction of the 52nd of
Elizabeth's Injunctions of 1559 as to bowing at the Name of
Jesus in Church ; it is there ordered —
" that due reverence be made of all persons young and old, with
lowness of courtesie, and uncovering of heads of the menkind, as
thereunto doth necessarily belong, and heretofore hath been accus-
tomed."
I have no doubt that the traditional practice observed in
some Cathedrals and Parish Churches, especially Country
Churches, points to an identity of gesture between the Canon
and the Injunction. But, as I have before intimated, this
has no connexion with kneeling at receiving : that was ex-
pressly required by the Rubric of the Prayer Book in use
* " Nothing more frequent in the writings of the ancient fathers than
adoration towards the East, which drew the primitive Christians into some
suspicion of being worshippers of the sun." — Heylgn's Cgprianus Anglicus,
Introduction, p. 17. Quoted in " Hierurgia Anglicana." p. 50.
f For proofs that this " gesture " was bowing and that it still prevailed in
many places bcforo the passing of the Canon in 1640, see " Hierurgia Anglicana"
pp. 50-58.
388
both in Elizabeth's days and in Archbishop Laud's time ; it
was enforced by the, still unrepealed, 27th Canon of 1603
which ordered that " No Minister, when he celebrateth the
Communion, shall wittingly administer the same to any but
to such as kneel, under pain of suspension:" and, moreover,
the circumstance — that the Canon of 1640 makes no preten-
sion of dispensing with these then and now existing Laws yet
allows a liberty of action with respect to the gesture it re-
commends — seems to me an unanswerable argument that the
gesture of the Canon and the gesture of the Declaration are
not identical.
Yet if they were, all that can be argued from the Canon
is, I think, that it is more explicit than the Declaration ;
inasmuch as it denies " a corporal presence of the body of
Jesus Christ on the Holy Table, or in mystical Elements " ;
but it is equally implicit in not excluding a spiritual Presence
Can anything be cited from Archbishop Laud, "under"'
whose " presidency " (as Mr. Goode says,) the Canon was
made, to indicate the reverse of this ? I think not. On the
contrary, how he would have defended the direction of the
Canon, may be pretty certainly inferred from what he said
only three years before, and which I suppose no one will
think him likely to have unsaid in 1G40 ; his words (which I
only met with some time after writing the above) are as
follows : —
" One thing sticks much in their stomachs, and they call it an
innovation too; and that is, bowing, or doing reverence at our first
coming into the Church, or at our nearer approaches to the Holy
Table, or the Altar, (call it whether you will), in which they will
needs have it that we worship the Holy Table, or God knows what.
"To this I answer, first, that God forbid we should worship any
thing but God Himself. Secondly, that if to worship God when we
enter into His house, or approach His altar, be an innovation, 'tis a
very old one. For Moses did reverence at the very door of the
Tabernacle. (Numb. xx. 6.) Hezekiah, and all that were present
with him, when they had made an end of offering, bowed and wor-
shipped. (2 Chron. xxix. 29.) David calls the people to it with a
Venite, 0 come let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the
Lord our maker, (Ps. xcv. 6): and in all these places (I pray mark
it) 'tis bodily worship. Nor can they say this was Judaical worship,
S89
and now not to be imitated. For long before Judaism began,
Bethel, the House of God, was a place of reverence, (Gen. xxviii.
17): therefore, certainly of and to God. And after Judaical worship
ended, Venite adoremus, as far upwards as there is any track of a
Liturgy, was the Introirus of the priest all the Latin Church over.
And in the daily Prayer of the Church of England this was retained
at the Reformation : and that psalm in which is Venite adoremus, is
commanded to begin the morning service of every day. And for
ought I know, the priest may as well leave out the venite as the
adoremus, the calling the people to their duty, as the duty itself,
when they are come. Therefore, even according to the Service-
book of the Church of England, the priest and the people both are
called upon for external and bodily reverence and worship of God.
Therefore they which do it do not innovate .... For my own
part I take myself bound to worship with body, as well as in soul,
whenever I come where God is worshipped
"And you, my honourable Lords of the Garter, in your great
solemnities you do your reverence, and to Almighty God I doubt
not; but yet it is versus Altare, towards His altar, as the greatest
place of God's residence upon Earth — I say the greatest, yea, greater
than the pulpit ; for there it is Hoc est Corpus Meum, this is my
Body ; but in the pulpit 'tis at most but Hoc est verbum Meum, this
is My word. And a greater reverence, no doubt, is due to the
Body than to the word of our Lord ; and so, in relation, answer-
ably to the Throne, where His Body is usually present, than to the
seat where His word useth to be proclaimed. And God hold it there at
His word ; for, as too many men use the matter, 'tis Hoc est verbum
Diaboli, this is the word of the devil, in too many places : witness
sedition and the like to it ; — and this reverence ye do when ye enter
the Chapel, and when you approach nearer to offer. And this is no
innovation, for you are bound to it by your order, and that's not new.
And idolatry it is not, to worship God towards His Holy Table : for
if it had been idolatry, I presume Queen Elizabeth and King James
would not have practised it, no, not in those solemnities. And being
not idolatry, but true Divine worship, you will, I hope, give a poor
priest leave to worship God as yourselves do : for if it be God's
worship, I ought to do it as well as you ; and if it be idolatry, you
ought not to do it more than I. I say again, I hope a poor priest
may worship God with as lowly a reverence as you do, since you are
bound by your order and by your oath, according to a Constitution
of Hen. V. (as appears In Libro Nigro Windasoriensi, p. 65), to
give due honour and reverence Domino Deo et altari Ejus, in modum
virorum Ecclesiasticorum ; that is to the Lord your God, and to His
Altar, (for there is a reverence due to that too, though such as comes
far short of Divine worship) ; and this is the manner, as ecclesiasti-
cal persons both worship and do reverence Now if you will
turn this oil", and say it was the superstition of that age so to do,
390
Bishop Jewel will come in to help me there : for where Harding
names divers ceremonies and particularly bowing themselves and
adoring at the Sacrament — I say adoring at the Sacrament, not
adoring the Sacrament ; there Bishop Jewel (that learned, painful,
and reverend prelate) approves all, both the kneeling and the bowing,
and the standing up at the Gospel (which, as ancient as it is in the
Church, and a common custom, is yet fondly made another of their
innovations).* And further, the Bishop adds, ' That they are all
commendable gestures and tokens of devotion, so long as the people
understand what they mean and apply them unto God.' Now with
us the people did ever understand them fully and apply them to God,
and to none but God, till these factious spirits and their like, to the
great disservice of God and His Church, went about to persuade
them that they are superstitious if not idolatrous gestures ; as they
value everything else to be where God is not served slovenly." —
Speech in the Star Chamber June 14, 1637 — pp. 43, 52. Cited in
Hierugia Anglicana, pp. 55 — 6.
This, then, may be regarded with moral (I can scarcely
doubt with absolute) certainty as A bp. Laud's explanation of
that " bowing " " gesture " of the Canon which Mr. Goode
inaccurately cites in proof — that " Kneeling is not an act of
adoration to Christ [" whole Christ, God and man "] as so
present" i.e. in, what he calls, "an immaterial " manner. What
the Abp. thought of kneeling " at the Sacrament " is abun-
dantly clear from this same passage : why he thought adora-
2iorc=kneeling due then, is plain from what he says of the
" Altar " where It is celebrated and of the " Body " which
"is usually present" there. It will tend to complete his
view of the point if his opinion of Christ's Presence in that
Sacrament is here added ; and this may be satisfactorily
gathered from the following passages in his celebrated con-
troversy with Fisher the Jesuit. The Italics &c. are mine.
Thus he says : —
"Thirdly, A.C. [i.e. Fisher] doth extremely ill to join those cases
of the Donatists for baptism and the protestants for the Eucharist
together, as he doth. For this proposition in the first, concerning
the Donatists, leads a man (as is confessed by himself) into known
and damnable schism and heresy ; but, by A. C's. good leave, the
latter, concerning the protestants and the Eucharist, nothing so.
* Bishep Jewell's Reply to Holding's Answor, Art. 3, Div. 29."
391
For I hope A. C. dare not say, that to believe the tnie, *Sllb-
Stailtial presence of Christ is either known or damnable schism or
heresy. Now as many and as learnedf protestants believe and main-
tain this, or do believe the possibility of salvation (as before is
limited) in the Roman Church : therefore they, in that, not guilty
of either known or damnable schism or heresy, though the Donatists
were of both.
" Fourthly, whereas he imposes upon the protestants ' the denial
or doubting of the true and real presence of Christ in the Eucharist,'
he is a great deal more bold than true in that also ; for understand
them aright, and they certainly neither deny nor doubt it. For as
for the Lutherans, as they are commonly called, their very opinion
of consubstantiation makes it known to the world, that they neither
deny nor doubt of His true and real presence there ; and they are
protestants. And for the Calvinists, if they might be rightly under-
stood, they also maintain a UlO.St true and real presence, though
they cannot permit their judgment to be transubstantiated ; and
they are protestants too. And this is so known a truth that J Bel-
larmine confesses it ; for he saith, ' Protestants do often grant that
the true and real body of Christ is in the Eucharist." But he adds,
' That they never say (so far as he hath read) that it is there truly
and really, unless they speak of the supper which shall be in heaven.'
Well ; first, if they grant that the true and real body of Christ is in
that blessed sacrament, (as Bellarmine confesses they do, and it is
most true,) then A. C. is false, who charges all the protestants with
denial or doubtfulness in this point. And secondly, Bellarmine
himself also shews his ignorance or his malice ; ignorance, if he
knew it not, malice, if he would not know it. For the Calvinists, at
least they which follow Calvin himself, do not only believe that the
true and real body of Christ is received in the Eucharist, but that
it is there, and that we partake of it vere et realiter, which are
§ Calvin's own words; and yet Bellarmine boldly affirms that to his
reading ' no one protestant did ever affirm it.' Nor can
that place by any art be shifted, or by any violence wrested from
Calvin's true meaning of the presence of Christ in and at the blessed
* " CoDterum his absurditatibus sublatis, quicquid ad exprimendam veram
substantialemque corporis a sunguinis Domini communicationem, quae sub
sacris coenaa symbolis, fidelibus exhibetur, facere potest, libenter recipio. Calv.
Inst. lib. iv. c. 17. §. 19.— In coenre mysterio per symbola panis et vini Christus
vere nobis exhibetur, &c. Et nos participes substantiae ejus facti sumus.
Ibid. §. 11."
f " Sect. 35. numb. III."
X " Bellarm de Euchar. lib. i. c. 2. §. Quinto dicit. Sacramentarii saepedicunt
reale corpus Christi in ccena adesse, sed realiter adesse nunquam dicunt, quod
legerim, nisi forte loquuntur de coena qua? fit in coelo, &c.
" And that he means to brand protestants under the name of sacramentarii is
plain. For he says the council of Trent opposed this word realiter, figmento
Calvini&tiro, to the Calvinistieal figment. Ibid."
§ " Calv. in 1 Cor. x. 3. vere, &c. Et in 1 Cor. xi. 24. realiter. Vide supra
num. III."
392
Sacrament of the Eucharist, to any supper in heaven whatsoever..
...... And for the Church of England, nothing is more plain
than that it believes and teaches the tTUC and real presence of Christ
in the * Eucharist, unless A. C. can make a body no body, and blood
no blood, (as perhaps he can do by transubstantiation) as well as
bread no bread, and wine no wine : and the Church of England is
protestant too. So protestants of all sorts maintain a true and real
presence of Christ in the Eucharist; and then, where is any known
or damnable heresy here ? As for the learned of those zealous men
that died in this cause in queen's Mary's days, they denied not the
real presence simply taken, but as their opposites forced transub-
stantiation upon them, as if that and the real presence had been all
one. Whereas all the ancient Christians ever believed the one, and
none but modern and superstitious Christians believe the other ....
Now that the learned protestants in queen Mary's days did not deny,
nay, did maintain the real presence, will manifestly appear. For
when the commissioners obtruded to Jo. Frith the presence of Christ's
natural body in the Sacrament, and that without all figure or simi-
litude, Jo. Frith acknowledges,f ' That the inward man doth as verily
receive Christ's body as the outward man receives the sacrament
with his mouth.' And he adds, J ' That neither side ought to make
it a necessary article of faith, but leave it indifferent.' Nay, Abp.
Cranmer comes more plainly and more home to it than Frith. 'For
if you understand,' saith he,§ ' by this word really, reipsa ; that is
in very deed and effectually ; so -Christ, by the grace and efficacy
of His passion, is indeed and truly present, &c. But if by this
word really you understand || corporaliter, H corporally in His
* " ' The Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the supper (of the Lord)
only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the means -whereby the body
of Christ is rece ived and eaten is faith.' Eccl. Ang, Art. xxviii. So here is
the manner of transubstantiation denied, but the body of Christ twice affirmed.
And in the prayer before consecration thus : ' Grant us, gracious Lord, so to eat
the Flesh of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His blood ' &c. — And
again in the Second Prayer or Thanksgiving after Consecration, thus : ' We give
Thee thanks, for that Thou dost vouchsafe to feed ua, which have duly received
these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and
Blood, of Thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ ' &e."
t "Jo. Fox. Martyrolog. torn. ii. London, 1597, p. 943."
j " Fox, ibid." § " Cranmer apud Fox, ibid. p. 1301."
|| " I say corporaliter, corporally ; for so Bellarmine hath it expressly : Quod
autem corporaliter et proprie sumatur sanguis et caro, &c, probari potest omnibus
argumentis, &c. Bellarra. de Eucharist, lib. i, c. 12. §. Sed. tota. And I must
be bold to tell you more than that this is the doctrine of the Church of Rome ;
for I must tell you too, that Bellarmine here contradicts himself: for he that
tells us here, that it can be proved by many arguments that we receive the flesh
and the blood of Christ in the Eucharist corporaliter, said as expressly before,
(had he remembered it,) that though Christ be in this blessed sacrament rere et
rcalitcr, yet (saith he) non dicemus corporaliter, i.e. co modo quo sua natura
existunt corpora, &c. Bellarm. de Eucharist lib. i. c. 2. §. Tertia regula. So
Bellarmine here is a notorious contradiction : or else it will follow plainly out of
him, that Christ in the sacrament is existent one way and received another,
which is a gross absurdity "
H This expression, " corporally," should be especially noticed by those who
398
natural and orgailical body, under the forms of bread and wine, it
is contrary to the holy word of God." * And so likewise bishop
Ridley. Nay, bishop Ridley adds yet further, and speaks so fully
to this point, as I think no man can add to his expression : and it is
well if some protestants except not against it. 'Both you and I,'
saith he,f ' agree in this ; that in the Sacrament is the very true
and natural body and blood of Clirist, even that which ascended
into heaven, which sits on the right hand of God the Father, which
shall come from thence to judge the quick and the dead : only we
differ in modo, in the way and manner of being. We confess all Olie
tiling' to be in the Sacrament, and dissent in the maimer of being;
there. I confess Christ's natural body to be in the Sacrament by
Spirit and gTace, &c. You make a grosser kind of being, inclos-
ing a natural body under the shape and form of bread and wine.'
So far and more, bishop Ridley. AndJ Archbishop Cranmer con-
fesses that he was indeed of another opinion, and inclining to that of
Zuinglius, till bishop Ridley convinced his judgment and settled him
in this point " — Laud. v. Fisher. Cardwell's Ed., Oxford, 1839,
pp. 245-49.
III. I have now produced fully, though not, I hope, at
greater length than was needed, such additional Authorities
and Arguments as seem to me fairly to support the Opinions
maintained in the Letter ; it will be well, however, to com-
plete or explain, so far as I can, any other statements which
were unavoidably left imperfect.
Thus, at p. 65, I alluded to a statement of Strype's, which
I was then unable to find, touching a Puritan proposal, in
Elizabeth's reign, of prostration at the Holy Communion : I
have now recovered the passage, which is as follows : —
"Another whose name was Snagg, entered into discourse of some
of the Articles, which Strickland had laid down before. Whereof
find a great difficulty in those words of the Declaration " the natural Body and
Blood of. our Saviour Christ are in Heaven, and not here " : it is often argued
by such— that these words (1) either deny any real presence of Christ's Body in
the Eucharist (2) or affirm Him to have two bodies: but, as there can be no
reasonable doubt that Cranmer is responsible for the terms of the original Decla-
ration so, the Archbishop's language in the above quotation must, in all fairness,
be taken as their true exponent : consequently when Christ's "natural Body and
Blood" are said to be "not here," it must be understood that they are not here
"■corporally" i.e. naturally=organically.
* See also the passage as given above p. 46.
t " Apud Fox, ibid. p. 1598." — See also the passage as given above, p. 61.
% "Apud Fox, ibid. p. 1703."
E E E
394
one was, not to kneel at the receiving of the holy sacrament ; but
to lie prostrate (to shew the old superstition) or to sit, every man at
his own liberty. And the directions were thought fit to be left out
of the book [of the Office of Communion] for that posture. Which
should be a law ; and every man left to do according to his con-
science." — Strype Ann. II., p. 93.
It is quite in place here to commend that proposal to the
attention of devout persons amongst ourselves, whose vivid
belief of Christ's Presence in the Sacrament of the Altar has
drawn them into acts of prostration and other supposed reve-
rential postures, which are a departure, not only from the
established practice (which with us might have become very
lax), but from the recognized rule of Western Christendom:
that rule, which is even more accurately defined in the Latin
Communion than in the Church of England, makes kneel-
ing the external expression of the honour due to Christ in
the Sacrament : and it is plain from the Puritan proposition,
which described it as " the old superstition," that those reli-
gionists accounted it a distinct mark of Adoration. Variations
in the mode of Kneeling were, of course, meant to be
allowed ; if for no other reason, at least, because it would be
no less impossible than unnatural to prescribe any uniform
angle which the worshipper's body must present when in
that position ; but, in appointing a definite posture whereby
to manifest a thankful allegiance to the Heavenly King,
clearly all self-chosen ways of doing Him homage were as
much designed to be excluded, as are marked departures
from that manner of approaching an earthly Monarch which
the forms of his Court provide. Such gestures, while re-
garded as pardonable extravagancies resulting either from
ignorance or from good intentions, are not accepted by a
temporal Sovereign as tokens of any deeper loyalty than is
felt by those who conform to the rules of his Presence
Chamber : still less may it be presumed that He, who fully
knows and entirely accepts the hidden homage of the devoutest
heart, regards more favourably any self-appointed tokens of
it, however lowly and reverend they are designed to be, than
395
He does that conformity to the Prescriptions or Usages of
His Church, which is so real an evidence of the humble and
obedient will.
This device of the Puritans' to adopt any other posture
than that of Kneeling, in order to shew " the old super-
stition " which they considered Kneeling to involve, implies a
then continued adherence to that " superstition," i.e., to that
Adoration of Christ in the Eucharist, which Mr. Goode
denies the Church of England to have allowed at that time,
or to permit now. This bears upon a statement of his
(Supp. p. 32) when commenting upon Dr. Pusey's remark
that those words of Art. 28 — " ' the Sacrament was not by
Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or wor-
shipped ' . . . . By no honest interpretation can . . be ex-
tended to a worship, not of the Sacrament, but of Christ
present there ;" for Mr. Goode says : —
" Now, if Christ is present in an adorable form inside the bread,
so that the two form (call the union sacramental, or what you will)
one whole, that one whole is a legitimate object of worship, just as
Jesus Christ was a proper object of worship. We ought to bow
down to that which lies upon the Communion table as the sacrament,
because, according to Dr. Pusey, Christ forms a part of it "
It is certain, however, that two at least of the Reformers,
who ought to have weight with Mr. Goode, would disagree
with him here, for they make just the distinction which he
ignores. Eirst, Dr. Redman in 1551 (See p. 29) says —
" That nothing which is seen in the Sacrament, or perceived
with any outward sense, is to be worshipped," i.e., with the
honour due to God — words which surely imply that What is
not thus cognizable by the Senses is to be so worshipped :
next, Bishop Ridley in 1555 (See p. 58), when arguing
against Olyn the Romanist, used these memorable words —
" We adore and worship Christ in the Eucharist. And if you
mean the external Sacrament ; I say, that also is to be wor-
shipped as a Sacrament." Perhaps Mr. Goode might say
that this was a distinction well enough to be made by a
Theologian like Ridley, but that it is incapable of being
396
appreciated by the popular mind. This, however, was just
one of those very questions involving popular acts on which
the Bishop would be especially careful not to propound an
unpractical theory. Are the mass of people, however, so
inclined to a practical Eutychianism as Mr. Goode's argument
seems to imply ? I think not : though, no doubt, the
Apostle's words are not inapplicable in this case too —
" There must be also heresies among you, that they which
are approved may be made perfect." (1 Cor. xi. 19.) For, if
we come to consider it, people do I suppose almost uni-
versally, by a sort of natural or religious instinct which
recognizes co-existence, separate in their own minds what, to
the moral or physical sense, appears to be a commingling.
It is so, surely, when men look upon, honour, or dishonour
their fellow men j they do mentally separate soul and body,
no matter whether it be done consciously or unconsciously.
The like was the case with those who, having learned the
truth of Christ's Nature, worshipped the God-Man when He
was upon Earth — is their condition who, being similarly
informed, worship Him now that He sits upon His Heavenly
Throne : they did and we do — even the young or the
uneducated, no less than the old or the wise — with no great
difficulty distinguish between His " unity of Person " and
any " confusion of substance.'' A kindred habit clings to us
in viewing a solid body heated to incandesence, or in touch-
ing one whose temperature is not visible. Precisely so, it
seems to me, is the separation we mentally make between the
Res Sacramenti which Faith alone perceives, and the Sacra-
mentum which Sight beholds ; though at the same time we
no less vividly recognize their Sacramental Union.
It may be that Mr. Goode's proposition, which has led to
these remarks, was not unconnected in his mind with an
assertion he, elsewhere, makes in the following passage : —
" Of the two, I must confess that I had rather have to defend the
Romish doctrine than that of Dr Pusey and Archdeacon Denison ;
for when we read the words, ' This is my Body,' it seems a necessary
conclusion that they must mean one of these two things, — either,
' This is a figure of — represents — my Body,' or, ' This is really and
397
substantially my Body.' But if the doctrine of Dr. Pusey and
Archdeacon Denison is the true one, they must be equivalent to
saying, ' This is bread and my Body together.' Now certainly a
compound of two essentially different things cannot be truly or pro-
perly described by a name that belongs only to one of them." —
Work on the Eucharist, p. 58.
To this last sentence it is that I refer as apparently raising
a difficulty about Sacramental Union, which seems to me to
be met at the outset by two of perhaps the best remembered
and most commonly quoted texts of Holy Scripture : thus
(Gen. ii. 7) we read " man became a living soul ;" and again
(Ezekiel xviii. 4) " Behold, all souls are mine." It needs no
argument surely to prove that in both these places '* a com-
pound " — man — consisting "of two essentially different
things " — soul and body — is both " truly " and " properly
described by a name" — soul — "that belongs only to one of
them." So then, if He who " formed man of the dust of the
ground," when He had "breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life " called him by a name which no one supposes to have
implied any change of his earthly substance into the Divine
Afflatus, though the two formed " one whole " (to use
Mr. Goode's term) : why may not Bread, the product of a
like Divinely formed earthy matter, when the Life-giving
Breath of the Heavenly Spirit has been invoked upon it, be
also called by a name which, though none (not even the
Latin Communion) apply it to that material substance, does
belong to Him who decreed the Consecrating Benediction
" till He come " personally and visibly again ? Certain it is
that "tvhen" the Minister delivereth the Bread to anyone,
he shall say, The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was
given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting
life ;" and certain also it is that " The B,ody of Christ is
given .... in the Supper [though] only after an heavenly
and spiritual manner " (Art. xxviii.) — language, which in its
plain grammatical sense will, I think, seem to most (as in
truth the very objections to it indicate) to imply an intention
of recognizing a union which involves the Presence both of the
Bread and of the Body of Christ; as Archbishop Cranmer
398
said (See p. 20), " When I use to speak sometimes (as the
old authors do) that Christ is in the Sacraments, I mean the
same as they did understand the matter ; that is to say, not
of Christ's carnal presence in the outward Sacrament, but
sometimes of His Sacramental Presence."
It will have been observed, probably, that in the paragraph
embodying the sentence just discussed, Mr. Goode thinks one
necessarily alternative meaning of " This is my Body" must
be " This is a figure of — represents — my Body." But, as the
object of all controversies on this subject should be to pro-
mote " a godly union and concord," it will be well to enquire
whether such a meaning, if rightly understood, is not uniform
rather than alternative. What, then, does Mr. Goode un-
derstand by his alternative ? His meaning appears to be
very plainly set forth only eight pages after the above sen-
tence ; for he says (p. 66, the Italics are his) : —
" Now there is but one way in which bread can be the body of
Christ, and that is by representation. It is the body of Christ as
a picture is the person whom it represents. There is absolutely no
other way of interpreting the words without doing violence to them.
There is nothing in the whole account which involves more than a
change of character and use."
One obvious answer to this statement is — that it con-
tradicts the Homily which says " that in the Supper of the
Lord there is .... no untrue figure* of a thing absent;"
for this " a picture is [of] the person whom it represents :"
* la reference to this point it may be useful to give the following passages
from a Letter written by Buccr to P. Martyr, dated Cambridge, June 20, 1549. —
Bucer is replying to a Letter from P. Martyr at Oxford, June 15, 1549, in which
the latter endeavours to reconcile with Bucer's opinions the arguments he had
used in his Disputation at Oxford (Sec pp. 9 — 13) ; he thus answers P. Martyr :
— " I confess that, if you had thought good to consult with me on the framing
of your Propositions [See p. 10], I should have entreated you to have expressed
the second in these, or in similar words : — 2. The Body of Christ is not contained
locally in the Bread and Wine, neither is it affixed or adjoined to those things by
any manner of this world. And to have added at the end of your third : — 3. . . .
so that, to them, that believe, Christ is here truly exhibited ; to be seen, however,
received, enjoyed, by faith, not by any sense or manner of this world. .... The
reason why I should have preferred your second Proposition expressed in the
words which I have judged [more appropriate. — Ed.~\, or, in similar terms, rather
than in words which deny the real and substantial presence of Christ
in the Sacrament (or rather in the Eucharist, so that the celebration [actio. — Ed.~\
and the Sacred assembly, rather than the symbols only, would have been
399
it may be never so speaking a likeness, but no one dreams
that it does more than quicken the recollection or the imagi-
nation of the absent person. Is this, however, all that the
Sacrament of the Altar does? Did our Lord design it to do
expressed), and also that something should have been added to your third, con-
cerning the Exhibition of Christ, are these : —
" We ought always to endeavour with the greatest diligence, to edify in the
faith and love of Christ whomsoever we can, and to offend no one, since the
necessary obedience of Christ does not require that; and for this reason, in order
that we should not only think but also speak the same things, especially con-
cerning Mysteries of Christ so great and so generally prized; we should, more-
over, take care not to give any occasion to the evil-disposed for criminating,
much less of persecuting, the Church of God. Now, among those who can be
edified in Christ by the present Disputation, I think there are positively none of
those with whom I have ever had any communication on this point ( — and I
have investigated the Sentiments of very many persons, both in their writings
and by personal converse, during that entire septennary in which, rolling as it
were the stone of Sisyphus, I have striven for the concord of the Churches as
regards this matter — ) who imagine an impanation of Christ, or his local con-
nexion with the symbols of this world. — But some, like your Antagonists, con-
tended, that Christ is here exhibited, not in Bread and Wine, but in their
accidents, and that, as long as those accidents remain ; yet they denied that He
is here contained locally. — Or they held, that undoubtedly nothing more is here
exhibited than Bread and Wine, as signs of Christ altogether absent, by which
we ought to make only a remembrance of Him, and to advance in the faith of
Him : however, some hold, that, by this remembrance, their minds are lifted up
into heaven, so that there they enjoy Christ.— Or they were of opinion that, in
this Sacrament, Christ exhibits himself whole, God and Man ; and hence, for
the purpose of preserving this their faith, and also of declaring that they do not
agree with those who here introduce naked and empty symbols, they like to
make use of these forms of speech, and to say, that the Body of Christ is here
exhibited Corporally, because His Body is exhibited ; Substantially, because
His Substance ; Carnally, because His flesh. — And there were a very few who
chose to use these words after that first fervour of the contention which arose in
the early struggle of this Disputation. And those who chose to use these words
contended, that at least the right of using those forms of speech ought to be left
to them : nevertheless those persons always plainly affirmed that here they
thought nothing about a descent from heaven, nothing about a local inclusion :
and as to that which they maintained about the eating by the wicked, that also
subsisted in collation.* — A good number were of opinion, that the presence of
Christ was exhibited to them, in the Sacrament, simply, for their salvation, if
they received that [presence. — Ed.] with faith ; and altogether withdrew their
mind from [any speculation as to. — Ed.] the manner in which He is present.
" I have found these and no other opinions, about the presence of the Lord in
the Sacred Supper, among those with whom I have ever conferred on this matter —
(I have conferred, however, certainly with very many) among whom, some
introduced more, some less, of a carnal contention ; nevertheless I have decidedly
found not one person who insisted either on a local presence of Christ, or on a
connexion with the symbols after any fashion of this world. It is for us, how-
ever, if we wish to edify and in nothing to offend, to labour with the utmost
diligence, that we may lead them into consent, as to the truth of Christ, both
• 11 It not being clear to the Editor what was the precise meaning which Bucer intended to
convey by this word— ' collatione '— it has been left in its Latin idiom. Probably it was
intended to signify a mere ' bringing tor/ether ' of the elements and of the receiver, without
arty beneficial effect."
400
no more ? Did St. Paul think it did no more, when he
addressed the Galatians (iii. 1) in words already referred to
(See p. 352) ? Is not the Saoramental Picture rather the Re-
presentation, i.e., the presentation of the HEs=the Thing
between themselves and us, and with the universal Church of Chnst. I cannot
discover any more speedy and certain method of persuading all, who are not
contentious, and who can be edified in this matter, to [adopt this. — Ed.] con-
sent, — than this, — since we agree in sentiment with the Word of the Lord, and
with the whole of the ancient Church, that we should freely use the words
of Scripture and of the ancient Church ; and so, that we should both express and
proclaim, in very full and certain words, that which is the principal thing in this
sacred [matter.— Ed.] ; as we see in the holy Fathers was the custom of the
early Church. Now in the words of Christ, of the Apostle, and of the holy Fathers,
we observe that the very [ipsam.— Ed ] exhibition of Christ is everywhere most
fully expressed ; and the presence, not the signification [That is, the representa-
tion of Christ by a Sign.— Ed.'] and absence, of the Lord. When, indeed, we are
treating of the Bread and Wine, — they are properly called signs — to them this
term is properly attributed, 3 es, even to the whole celebration. But neither the
signs themselves, nor the signification of Christ, is the principal thing which is
here in discussion ; but the very exhibition and spiritual eating of Him. On
this account the holy Fathers used the word, Represent (which is the same as
the word Exhibit), rather than Signify.
" Moreover, since here we all acknowledge that by faith we verily take Christ
and have Him present ; and that this taking and presence, not feigned, and
verbal only, but real, and of the very substance of Christ ; I see no reason why
[the proposition— Ed ] that Christ is not taken really and Substantially,
should be defended as if it were a dogma of the Christian religion. It is far
better, I think, that these terms [Signification and Absence.— Ed.] should be
discontinued, which method of concord was lately adopted with great advantage
in the German Churches ; since they are not [the words.— Ed ] of Scripture ; nor
do they even, as I believe, conduce very much to express the truth of Scripture ;
nor are they taken in the same sense. For, — when those points are so much con-
tended, that Christ is so in heaven, that He is really and substantially
absent from the Sacred Supper, and is only present by signification, — I have
found one result, — that there has been a wonderful confirmation of the impious
profanation of the Sacraments by th^se who acknowledge only naked signs in the
Eucharist. [I have found, also,— Ed.] that those who are truly on our side, but
who are oppressed by a certain superstition with respect to words, and by the
obscurity of the matter itself, are much disturbed by this disputation, and are
too much led away [from us. — Ed.] by those who deny a real presence of Christ
in the Supper, and admit nothing more than its significatory character. [I have
found. — Ed.] that those, moreover, who have a more full understanding of this
Mystery, and are not held [in bondage.— Ed.] by a superstition with respect to
words, are not a little offended; because they see how many, — through this
negation of a real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and through the establish-
ment of a signified presence, — are either precipitated by Satan into an absolute
contempt of Sacraments, or are armed by him [to a battle.— Ed.] against the
Church of God, by the pernicious crime of Christ excluded from the Sacrament.
" Well weighing these considerations, I am truly unwilling that Christ should
not be [allowed to be. — Ed.] really in the Sacred Supper; I am unwilling,
also, that against those [your opponents. — Ed.] the matter should be urged by
the arguments— Christ is in heaven, circumscribed by place ; therefore He is not in
fact [Re ipsa vel realiter. — Ed.] or really, (which two expressions are, I think,
equivalent,) in the Sacred Supper : — but rather, therefore He is not locally
in the Supper. For thus this argument ought to be concluded, unless it become
an empty sophism. But, if it be so concluded, against whom is the contest?
■101
of the Sacrament (Sacramentum), i.e., Christ Himself?
Bishops Latimer and Ridley shall answer the question ; the
former declares (See p. 40) "this same [spiritual] presence
may be called most fitly a real presence; that is, a presence
For even the Schoolmen did not affirm, that Christ was in the Supper or in the
signs locally ; and who would toleiate antagonists who should affirm such a pro-
position P Indeed, I know that this argument has given grave offence to an
innumerable multitude of the holiest brethren ; who think that they are defamed
by that false accusation; as if, in truth, they included Christ loeully in the
Bread, or even in the celebration of the Supper. You [now.— Ed.] have the
reason why I could have wished that you had not placed in your second Pro-
position, nor defended as a necessary dogma of our religion, — That Christ is not
in the Supper, nor given and taken really ; and I should have preferred that all
those words, — Really, Substantially, Carnally, Corporally, — had been omitted.
"The reason why I could have wished that, in your third Proposition, you
had more distinctly expressed the exhibition of Christ in the Supper,— is this ;
that I cannot desire that either yourself (who have a very great name among
the Churches of Christ in every land, and who are among the dearest of my
acquaintance) or that the Church of England should anywhere fall under
suspicion, as if you acknowledged nothing in the Lord's Supper besides empty
signs of Christ through which the remembrance of Christ now absent ought to
be excited. For, although you say, in your subsequent responses, that you
maintain an efficacious signification and exhibition of Christ; yet nearly the
whole Disputation runs on in such a manner, that I fear too many who may
read the Acts of this Disputation will come to the conclusion that you maintain
that Christ is absent altogether from the Supper, and that whatsoever is done in
it has no further result than that faith, excited concerning Christ truly absent, is
increased through the Spirit of Christ, by His benefits brought to mind and by
meditation ; and that you do not acknowledge that the very Chiist, (beginning
[to do this. — Ed.] in Baptism, and continuing [to do it. — Ed.~\ more and more in
the Euehaiist,) exhibits and communicates Himself present to His own by that
communication, by which they verily are and remain in Him, and have Him
being and remaining in themselves. To sura up : they will think you maintain
the presence, not of Christ, but only of the Spirit of Christ, and of His influence ;
although I know that you acknowledge that Christ exhibits Himself present to
faith."
Then, having given P. Martyr his advice as to the publication of his Dispu-
tation, he goes on to say : — " Moreover, I could desire (you will certainly find a
suitable place, possibly in your Peroration,) that you would very clearly define
those words, 1 Esse in Sacramento Christi Corpus realiter,' [That the body of
Christ is really * in the Sacrament,— Ed.] and in such terms as shall point out
the altogether absurd and impious sense of those words; and that you would
then add, that some persons go astray into that absurd and impious sense ; in
order that it might more distinctly appear that you here by no meaus wish to
traduce any Churches or brethren who are most averse from that sense which
you oppose. Lastly. [I wish that. — Ed.] you would confess (if you can do so
with a safe conscience,) ' that Christ undoubt< dly is (since we must speak with
simplicity) in His Sacraments, and present t in them, not absent from them ' ;
* That is carnally, organically ■ this was contended for by some on the Roman side, as
P. Martyr's Imputation proves, and as I have shewn throughout.
+ lincer's anxiety on this point is further shewn in the fullouing passage from his Letter a
year latcrto Theobald A'/'.vr, dated Cambridge, April 13, uso in it he says " Dr. Peter Martyr's
Disputation was planned, and hi. Proposition! communicated, before i came into England.
I could have wished a modified Proposition, composed in words altogether different, and
those [the words— Ed.] of Scripture. I am well assured, however, that he by no means
wished that the Supper of the Lord should be [viewed as— Ed.] a mere administration of
Bread and Wine; he acknowledges the presence and exhibition of Christ ; but, since the
F F F
402
not figured, but a true and a faithful presence :" the latter
says, distinctly enough as it seems to me (See p. 18G): — " in
the Sacrament is a certain change, in that, the bread, which
was before common bread, is now made a lively presentation*
but that you would always add, 'that we may enjoy t Him by Faiih,' as Paul
says, that ' He dwells in our hearts by Faith.' For though we should grant
you, that He is circumscribed even in heaven by a physical place, how is that
inconsistent with His being now truly present to us by faith ; even as the Sun,
in whatever part of the world we behold him, is truly present to us by sight.
Certainly all errors which can possibly arise from the name ' Presence,' may be
altogether excluded by such words, which can neither disturb any of the brethren,
nor arm our enemies against us by false criminations : I mean, — if we deny,
together with transubstantir.tion, both a local presence, and any [presence — Ed.]
of this world's character."— Gorham's Reformation Gleanings, pp. 83-90.
These last words arc especially noteworthy as shewing how large a liberty of
belief Bucer was willing to accord, and so they may with the utmost probability
be accounted a valuable indirect confirmation of what was said, at p. 4 and else-
where, as to the like freedom which the Authorities in the Church of England
designed to allow : Bucer"s statement ought, moreover, to have especial weight
with those who hold that he influenced the changes in the 2nd Prayer Book of
Edw. Vlth to a much greater extent than (as I have already pointed out)
Historical statements seem to warrant us in believing. In further proof of
this last remark may be quoted the following passage of a Letter from P.
Martyr to Bucer, written at Oxford early in February 1551 : — "On the 1st
of February I received your letter dated January 22nd. Concerning the
Reformation of the Rituals [Rituum— Ed.~\ I cannot write anything else as
to what will be [done — Ed.'] except that the Bishops have agreed among
themselves on many emendations and corrections in the published Book.
Indeed, I have seen the alterations on which they have decided, noted in
their places ; but as I am ignorant of English, and could not understand
them, so I am unable to give you any certain information about them. How-
ever, I do not think they have gone so far as to determine on adopting the whole
of your and my suggestions. To our [Archbishop — Ed.~] indeed, I said, more
than once, that, having undertaken this correction of the Rituals, they ought to
* Even P. Martyr, in bis "Confession of the Lord's Supper, exhibited to the
Senate of Strasburgh, about the middle of May, 1556, when he was called to
Zurich," could thus speak : - " I would grant, moreover, that the bread itself is,
in its own peculiar manner, the Body of Christ, and is so called because,
namely, it is its Sacrament. For both Scripture and the Fathers often so speak
of the Sacraments. But they who hold the opposite opinion will themselves,
too, perhaps, concede a trope in the words cited; or rather, being compelled of
necessity, they thus explain that phrase : — ' This is my Body,' — i.e., 'With
this— namely, bread— is my Body given.' And I, too, should not object to
admit this interpretation, if they would understand that the Body of Christ is
given without a substantial or corporal presence. But, since tbey will
not allow this, I, for the avoiding of ambiguity, abstain from that kind of trope,
and am contented with the common and received one of signification, which
the Fathers, too, of old employed."— Gorham's Reformation Gleanings, p. 362.
Zurich people have here many and great followers, this excellent man was drawn, I hardly
know how, to consent to use the word, ' Signification,' although he added, 'efficacious,' by
which he understands the exhibition of Christ, as he himself explains it in the Preface to his
Disputations ; in which [Preface — Ed.], by my advice, he added many observations to his
own, and withdrew some (—the Disputations were already published—) ; for he is most
desirous of a pious concord." — Gorham's Ri formation Gleanings, p. 142.
t I notice this word as being something like an answer to the following complaint which
Mr. Goode makes against Dr. Pusey. — ". . . he then seeks to strain in a similar way a very
403
of Christ's body, and not only a figure, but effecluously re-
presented his body .... which the eyes of faith see, as the
bodily eyes see only bread." What is this, too, but in part
the language of Art. xxv., " Sacraments ordained of Christ . . .
look well to it; that the restoration they make should be so simple, chaste, and
pure, that there may be no further need for emendations : for, if frequent changos
should take place in these matters, it might at length easily come to pass that
they would fall into general contempt.* And I am persuaded that, if the
business had been committed to his individual hand, purity of ceremonies f
would without difficulty have been attained by him : but he has colleagues who
offer resolute opposition. Cheke is the only person there, who openly and
earnestly favours simplicity . . . ." — Gorham's Reformation Gleanings, p. 231.
The following passage from Mr. Fisher is also in place here : — " . . . although
foreigners, and belonging to a school of theology different in many respects from
his own— they [i.e., Bueer and P. Martyr] are, nevertheless, supposed to have
swayed materially the mind of our great Reformer [Crannier] in his treatment
of the Service-book. This, however, it should be observed, is mere surmise ;
and a surmise, too, based upon the purest assumption. Probably both Bucer
and P. Martyr— at least the former— might be consulted by the Archbishop ; but
we have no proof that he was really influenced by either of them in his prepara-
tion of the Liturgy. (See Lawrence's Bampton Lectures, p. 247). Indeed,
there are letters extant which seem to shew very clearly, that P. Martyr himself
was by no means deeply in the confidence of Cranmer . . . ." — Lit. Purity,
2nd Ed., 1860, p. 136.
With regard to the doctrinal questions, of " transubstantiation," and " a local
presence," mentioned at the end of Bucer's Letter, and also as supporting the
allegation made throughout these pages— that Transubstantiation was the main
point of attack by the English Reformers— it is desirable to cite the following
passage from Bucer's letter to Niger, April 15th, 1550, already quoted from at p.
401 : " Up to this time nothing further is established in this kingdom concerning
that controversy, than that Transubstantiation is not to be affirmed. In the Public
Prayers, however, at the Lord's Supper, a true exhibition of the Body and Blood
of Christ is expressed in words exceedingly clear and weighty."— Gorham's
Reformation Gleanings, p. 143. The Editor remarks in a Note "The words in
Edward Vlth's first Liturgy, 1549, which Bueer so highly approved were: —
' With Thy Holy Spiiit and word, vouchsafe to ble-|-ss and sanc-|-tify these thy
gifts, and creatures of Bread and Wine, that they may be unto us the Body and
Blood of Thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ.' In the Second Liturgy,
1552, they were expunged, and the following substituted: 'Grant that we,
receiving these thy creatures of Bread and Wine, according to thy Son our
plain passage of one of the Homilies. The words of the Homily being,—' so that to think that
without faith we may enjoy the eating and drinking thereof, or that that is the fruition of it,
is but to dream a gross carnal feeding.' Dr. Pusey actually fixes upon the words 'enjoy'
and 'fruition ' as shewing that the writer meant that we may ' eat and drink thereof,' but not
' enjoy ' that eating and drinking • lie says that the writer of the Homily • lays down, that
faith is essential, not to any reception of our Lord's Body, but to ' the fruition ' of it, or the
benefits resulting from it. In that he denies, that ' eating witiiout faith ' is ' the fruition of
i',' he even implies, that it may be a reception of it, although not the fruition of it. He lays'
the emphasis upon the words ' enjoy,' ' fruition.' (p. 21!).) Faith is ' the mean,' according to
him, by which a man healthily receives 'the spiritual food ' of the Body and Blood of Christ.'
fib.); wh.re the word 'healthily' is put in by Dr. Pusey, so as to change entirely the
character of the doctrine delivered. Such is the way in which the plain statement of the
Homily is explained away ! ■'—Supplement, p. 28.
* Cranmer's Letter (See p. 77) plainly that he thought so too, and that he considered
there was " no further need for emendation " after the changes which had been made in the
revisions embodied in the 2nd Book.
t This seems plainly to imply that neither Martyr nor Bucer were dissatisfied with the
doctrine of the First Book.
404
be ... . effectual .signs of grace . . . ." Can any one truly
say of a Picture what Latimer, Ridley, and the Article here
say of the Sacraments? Surely not.
But having thus noticed the one, what can be said of the
Saviour Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of bis death and passion,
may be partakers of h ; s most blessed Body and Bl )od.' "
Now if Mr. Gorham is correct, though I think he is not, in supposing that Bucer
referred to the words of Invocation, then the commonly received notion — that
they were altered at his instance— is unfounded. Judging fiom Bueer's language
as to P. Martyr's Euchnriatic Statements, the probability is that if either of Diem
induced the alteration it was I 1 . Martyr ; especially as Bucer died seven months
before the completion of the Book, and P. Martyr was one of those whom the
Privy Council wished Cranmer to consult touching the proposal to omit the
Rubric on kneeling at receiving the Sacrament. Mr. Goode, however, (Work
on the Eucharist, p. 618) takes the opposite view to Mr. Gorham; speaking of
the Invocation he s;iys : — " Now, no doubt, these words may be so explained as
not to countenance the doctrine of a real presence in the Consecrated Elements,
but they are very open to an interpretation of that kind. And accordingly we
find Bucer, in his remarks on the Prayer Book, written at the request of Arch-
bishop Cranmer for his use in the revision of the Book, taking particular ex-
ception to them, as open to an interpretation involving the Eoniish doctrine of
Transubstantiation, and he proceeds to use words which exclude Archdeacon
Denison's doctrine as much as that of the Romanists. He says, —
" ' The holy Fathers understood no other change of those elements from these
words, than that by which the bread and wine, remaining in every respect in
the properties of their own nature, were then so changed from their vulgar and
common use, and as it were translemcntcd, as to be symbols * (synibola) of the
same Body and Blood, and so of Christ himself, God and man, the bread which
came down from heaven to give life to the world : so that whoever should take
them according to our Lord's institution, and with true faith in Him, should be
partakers of a fuller eommumon with the Lord, and enjoy + Him for the meat
and driuk of eternal life, by which they might more and more live in Him, and
have Him living in themselves.' — Buceri Centura in Ordinal Ecclesiast. Op. ed.
Basil, 1557, p. 471.
" Accordingly these words were altered, and remain altered, to the very words
which we have seen Dr. Brett % quoting as proof that the Church of England
* But not. as he says (See p. 401), "Empty signs of Christ, through which the remem-
brance of Christ now absent ought to be excited."
t The same expression as I have noticed at p. 402.
j I he passage which .Mr. Goode cites from Dr. Brett is the following :—" I was and am
very desirous to helieve that the Church of England holds the doctrine so plainly taught by
our Saviour. But I know not how to reconcile the Consecration prayer in the present
established Liturgy to this doctrine, for that makes a plain distinctiun betwixt the Bread and
Wine and our Saviour's Body and Blood, when, as Mr. Spinckes shows, and the words w ill
bear no other construction than that, it was the Bread which Christ said was His Body;
whereas the Consecration Prayer evidently supposes them to be two distinct things.
•Grant that we, receiving these thy creatures of Bread and Wine, maybe partakers of
Christ's llody ami Blood.' Which manifestly implies the Bread and Wine to be distinct or
ditfercnt things from the Body and Blood. For if the Bread be Christ's Body, as
Mr. Spinckes proves the words of Institution teach, then he that receives or partakes of the
Bread must be a partaker of the Body. And except they are supposed to be two things,
then the Prayer is, that we, receiving or partaking of the Bodi/ and Blood of Christ, mag be
partakers if 'His Bodij and Blnod. This nonsensical interpretation must be given of 'this
Petition, if the Prayer understood in the sense whith Mr Spinckes i!e lares and proves to
be the necessary inevitable consequence of our Saviour's words, and which I verily believe
to be so. But the ancient Church, as appears from all the Liturgies, never prayed in this
manner. They nc*er prayed, that, receiving Bread and Wine, they might he partakers of
Christ's Body and illond, but that they might be worths partakers, fiat they might partake of
it to their benefit, and not to their condemnation."— " Brett's Disco, rse concerning the
necessity of discerning the Lord's Body in the Hola Communion. London, 1"20. Preface,
105
other " alternative " which Mr. Goode presents ? He states
it to be that — " This is my Body " must necessarily seem to
mean " This is really and substantially my Body." The
admission or rejection of this must, however, turn upon the
holda, that the consecrated Bread and Wine may be received where the Body
and Blood of Christ are not received, and therefore do not include in themselves
a real presence of the Body and Blood of Christ ; namely, the words, ' Grant
that we, receiving,' " &c.
With respect to Dr. Brett's difficulty it is enough to say here— that it seems
to me fully met by the fact of the different language employed in the Prayer of
Access and in the Consecration Prayer : the former, simply contemplating the
approach of Communicants after the act of Consecration, says, " Grant us there-
fore, gracious Lord, so to eat the Flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to
drink his Blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean," &c. : the latter
necessarily contemplates the Elements in a two-fold aspect, (1) what they alone
are before the recital of the words of Institution — "creatures of bread and
wine" — (2) what they also become after such recital — Christ's "most blessed
Body and Blood."
Ac examination of the "Censura" shews, I think, that Mr. Gorham was
wrong and that Mr. Goode is right in supposing that Bucer's commendatory
words referred to the Invocation : the following passage seems to prove that it
must have been the 1'raycr of Access to which he referred: —
" Postremo aunt verba in hac pioeeedenti precatione, quae incipiunt, Vue doe
not presume to come to this, &e., verba de vera perceptione & manducatione
bibitionemque; corporis & sanguinis Domini, quae oro Dominum, ut det ita ut
positasunt, retineri, ilia scil. in hac quideni oratioue, Hurnblye besecchinge thee,
&c. Valde namque ; pura ha:c verba sunt, & verbis spiritus S. consentientia. Om-
ninoenim instituit Dominushanc sui communionerr xowctiviat corporis & sanguinis
sui, ut earn vocat spiritus S. 1 Corint. 10. ut ea recipiamus, non panem tantum
& vinutn, dicenda alio qui fuisset uno corporis & sanguinis Domini, sed panis ac
vini eommunio. Turn, nec causa fuisset, ut Dominus, cum distribuendo panem &
vinum discipulis dixisset, Accipite & manducate & bibite, subjiceret, Hoc est corpus
meum, flic est sanguis mens. Itecepimus ergo hie non panem tantum & vinum, sed
simul corpus & sanguinum ejus: & non quidem hsec sola, verum una totum
Christum, Deum & hominem. At quia verum hominem, & simul verum Deum,
ideo & carnem & sanguinem recepimus. Est emim haec caro, quia est filiii Dei,
sic & sanguis ^«07roio;, ut D. Cyrillus, contia Nestorium pulchre explicat, &
probat, & ex eo, quod Dominus contra Capernaitas affirniauit de carne &
sanguine suo, cum ipsi indignum putarent, quod dixisset, se panem esse qui
descendisset de erelo, vitamque : daret mundo : quando quidem ipsi eum, ut filium
que Josephi, ita nihil arnplius existimabant, qinini alium quemque ; hominem con-
stantem carne & sanguine." — Scripta Anrjlicana. Basilea?, p. 473.
But when Mr. Goode says "Accoidiugly these words [i.e., the Invocation]
were altered and remain altered to " the words " Grant that we receiving these
thy creatures of bread and wine, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus
Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be par-
takers of his most blessed Body and Blood: who, in the same night," &c, he
seems to me to represent inaccurately that they were adopted from Bucer,
though his suggestion may have led to them : his proposition was to "change"
the Invocation "into these or similar words," viz. — " Hear us, 0 mercilul God
our Father, and bless us, and sanctify us by Thy word and Holy Spirit, that we
may receive the Body and Blood of Ihy Son from His own hand in these
mysteries by a true faith for the meat and drink of eternal life, which Thy Son,
in the same night in which He was betrayed," &c.
406
sense in which he uses, or others receive, these terms ; for
that they have been used in opposite senses for Three Cen-
turies these pages have, I think, abundantly shewn. If,
therefore, by Really is not mean — carnally, sensibly, na-
Now it will be seen, I think, that between Bucer's language and the
language of the Prayer Book might be found the whole doctrine of the
objective presence in the Elements or in the Mysteries irrespective of the Faith of
the Receiver ; even though it may have been, judging from the Letter just
quoted and other statements, that Bucer intended no more than the exclusion of
a local organical Presence.* The Consecration Prayer as altered in 1552 makes
the participation, and therefore the presence, depend upon receiiing according to
the Institution: Bucer's language apparently makes it to depend upon the
receiver's sanctification and his true faith — conditions which need not in the
least imply an objective, but only a subjective presence. The change, then, as
made by Cranmer and his co-revisers, while avoiding the doubtful terminology
of Bucer, met his objection (which, whether forcible or not, was, in part, as we
have seen, common enough then) — " that we are not taught by any precept of
Christ our Saviour, by any word or example of His Apostles, to ask for such a
benediction and sanctification of the bread and wine as that they may be to us
the Body and Blood of the Lord ; and we know that this prayer is still, at this
day, wrested by Antichrist to the retaining and confirming of that dogma of
infinite impiety and contumely against God, the transubstantiation of
the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. For by that chiefly
subsists the apro^aTpEia, bread being adored as Christ; resorted to as a
present deity in all emergencies."
These considerations also answer, I think, Mr. Goode's remark that Bucer's
words (which he quotes) " exclude Archdeacon Denison's doctrine as much as that
of the Romanists."
* Compare remarks on P. Martyrs's Letter, Note, p. 402: also the following passage from
Bucer's Letter to P. Martyr, June 20, 154!),—" One thing, however, has very much astonished
me ; that you seem to fear 1 shall be otfended at your denying. That Christ is at the same
moment in many places; and that it has escaped you that I, with Master Philip
[Melancthon— Ed.], abominate from my whole heart that Ubiquity (as Philip calls it.) of
Christ as man which some have laid down [as a dogma— Ed.]. I have never felt disposed,
nor am 1 up to this moment disposed, to come forward in that controversy. Whether Christ
is circumscribed by any Physical place in the heavens. He sits at the right hand of God ;
He has left the world ; He is conversant with those good things which have not entered into
the Jheart of man here [below— Erf.]. I refrain, therefore, from transferring our modes of
existence and Physical conditions to this subject, further than this;— that I always
acknowledge and confess both the true nature of a human body and also soul to be actually
in my Head and Saviour, and glory that 1 am flesh of His Flesh and bone of His Bones . . .
And certainly if you have told anyone that I maintain that Christ is at the same time in
many places, I mean locally, — I, who in these Mysteries exclude all idea of place, — I intreat
you to have the kindness to explain to such an one my sentiment more correctly : which is
this : that Christ exhibits Himself at the same moment and truly, by the Word and by His
Sacraments, present to us, although we are existing in many places ; but that we see and
apprehend Him, present, by faith only, without any idea of place."— Gorham's Reformation
Gleaninr/s, p. 91. See, too, his Letter to Calvin, August, 1549, Ibid., pp. 99— 10S; and the
testimony of A. Lasco to Bullinger, April 10, 1551:— "D. Bucer began a Treatise on the
Sacraments, a little before his death, but did not finish it. He was preparing, as I hear,
answers to my [observations — Ed.]; but I saw nothing of them, though I could have
wished to see them. However, as far as I can understand, he remained firm in his sentiment
concerning the presence, and the real exhibition of the Body and Blood of Christ, in the
signs, or through the signs."— Ibid., p. 248.
The following short extract of a Letter from P. Martyr to Calvin, Strasburgh, March 8.
1555, is worth inserting here :— " He [i. e., Marback] got so far as not to include the Body of
Christ in the bread, bur he insists that an actual and most real presence must be asserted, so
far as the communicants are concerned, of the Body and Blood of Christ, and such a
presence that even the wicked and they that eat unworthily do partake it; which clearly
shows that he does not attribute the reception to faith, unless we speak of a living and
salutary reception; as though there were a certain other true and (as they say) real eating
of Christ's Body : which even the wicked may share."— Ibid., p. 341.
407
turally ; and if by Substantially is not meant — materially,
corporeally, organically : then, but not otherwise, there need
be no hesitation in accepting this interpretation, and sup-
porting it by Bishop Ridley's authority (See p. 18), " These
words, ' This is My Body,' are meant thus : by grace it is
My true Body, but not My fleshly Body, as some of you
suppose : " or, again, by Abp. Cranmer's words " Marry, to
be ■present in bread might be some sentence, but this speech
you [Gardiner] will in no wise admit," (See p. 181.) It seems
to me, then, that we may accept both the one and the other
"alternative" of Mr. Goode, if only we receive them in the
sense wherein I have tried to shew they can be rightly under-
stood. Indeed, in one place Mr. Goode seems unwilling to
commit himself to a doctrine of mere "representation" or
"picture;" for he says (Work, p. 215, the Italics are mine.)
" We maintain a real spiritual presence of Christ's body and
blood to the faithful communicant as much as they [Arch-
deacons Denison and Wilberforce and Dr. PuseyJ do. But
as the body and blood of Christ are food for the soul only,
so their presence is vouchsafed, primarily at least, only to
the soul, and for this there is no need of local proximity.''
I cannot but ask — how do we know that " there is no " such
"need"? and I must add — that what has just been said in
reference to the sense of Mr. Goode's alternative is, I think,
also an answer to the following (somewhat harshly-worded)
passage in his Supplement (p. 46): —
" . . . . men who have not given themselves over to a spirit of
delusion on such matters, will, I suspect, agree with me, that if there
is a real substantial presence of the body of Christ in the bread,
there is a bodily presence, and that the presence of Christ's human
body involves the presence of a material substance ; and that we are
not to be deterred from saying so, because these authors [Archdeacon
Denison and Dr. Pusey] rinding inconvenient articles and rubrics in
their way, deny in one form of words, what they assert in another."
In connexion, too, with those same remarks above made
upon the Nature of the Presence, it may be useful to notice
this observation in Mr. Goode's Supplement (p. 41) ; where,
referring to his Work, he says : —
4.08
" I have stated that all those expressions in the Prayer-Book of
1549, which might seem to indicate that the presence of the Body
and Blood of Christ was to he looked for in the consecrated elements,
are carefully expunged or altered in the subsequent Prayer-Books to
the present time "
The " expressions " themselves, as altered in the Book of
1552, are thus given by Mr. Goode in pp. 617 to 619 of his
Work ; they will be most conveniently compared when
placed in parallel columns; the Italics are his : —
1549.
1. "... he hath left in those
holy mysteries, as a pledge of his
love, and a continual remem-
brance of the same, his own
blessed Body and precious Blood,
for us to feed upon spiritually, to
our endless comfort and consola-
tion."
2. " With thy Holy Spirit and
word vouchsafe to bless and
sanctify these thy gifts and
creatures of bread and wine, that
they may he vnto us the Body and
Blood of thy most dearly beloved
Son Jesus Christ."
1552.
1. " he hath instituted and
ordained holy mysteries, as
pledges of his love and [and for
a, in Ed. of 1662] continual re-
membrance of his death to our
great and endless comfort ; "
3. "... beseeching thee that
whosoever shall be partakers
of this Holy Communion, may
worthily receive the most precious
Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus
Christ."
4. "... so to eat the flesh of
thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to
drink his blood, in these holy
mysteries."
5. " . . . hast vouchsafed to
feed us in these holy mysteries
with the spiritual food of the
most precious Body and Blood of
thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,
and hast assured us (duly receiv-
ing the same) of thy favour and
goodness towards us."
2. " Grant that we, receiving
these thy creatures of bread and
wine, according to thy Son our
Saviour Jesus Christ's holy in-
stitution, in remembrance of his
death and passion, may be par-
takers of his most blessed Body
and Blood."
3. "... beseeching thee, that
all we who are partakers of this
Holy Communion, may be ful-
filled with thy grace and heavenly
benediction ."
4. "... so to eat the flesh of
thy dear Son Jesus Christ and to
drink his Blood."
5. " . . . dost vouchsafe to
feed ms which have didy received
these holy mysteries with the
spiritual tbod of the most precious
Body and Blood of thy Son our
Saviour Jesus Christ, and dost
assure us thereby of thy favour
and goodness towards us."
409
The following portion of a Rubric of 1549 was omitted in
1552 :—
6. " And men must not think less to be received in part, than in
the whole, but in each of them the whole body of our Saviour Jesu
Christ."
Now to say — that the changes made in the first Five pas-
sages do not appear to me to exclude the doctrine which Mr.
Goode says they " might seem to indicate " would be merely
to set my own* opinion (uselessly to say the least) in opposi-
tion to his. It is much preferable therefore to refer to the
citations already tendered at pp. 33-35 in proof that, at the
time of the publication of the 2nd Book of Edw. Vlth, these
changes were not designed or regarded in the sense which
Mr. Goode attaches to them. And this is, I think, materially
supported by the evidence that, whatever Doctrine was taught
by it, the omitted portion of the Rubric of 1549 (No. 6) was
distinctly maintained by Abp. Cranmer when he prepared the
revised Book of 1552. For in his Answer to Bp. Gardiner,
published at that particular time, he quotes this very Rubric
(See p. 22) remarking that " although it say, that in each
part of the bread broken is received the whole body of Christ,
» But it may be useful to quote the following opinion of Mr. Fisher — "Re-
formatio in Anglia ob rem Sacramtntariam obtineri nequit : — We have quoted
these memorable words, in order to shew, what was the opinion of a foreign
divine [Peter Martyr], highly distinguished for learning as well as piety ....
respecting the progress which the Protestant movement had already made in
Englaud at the time when Edward the Sixth's second Prayer Book was enacted
The 1 res Sacramentaria ' of the Anglican Establishment is not to be
considered now, as it was in the sixteenth century, a mere impediment to the
progressive advance of Protestant Principles. On the contrary, it is confessedly
the verv life and soul of a vigorous retrogressive movement within the Church
. . . ."—Liturgical Purity., p. 151.
In his 2nd Ed., 1860, the passage stands thus: — "He [P. Martyr] says
emphatically—' Reformatio in Anglid ob rem sacramentarium obtineri nequit:
(Hess. Cat. p. 60.) True, he admits in another letter— 'quod liber seu ratio
rituum ecclcsiasticorum alijiic udministrationis sacrumentorum est enundalus, nam
inde omnia sublata sunt qua; superstitionem fovere potcrai.t.' (Letter, ed. by
Goode, p. 15.) But then it appears from the context, that he is hi-re alluding
to certain errors of the Communion Office which the Primate himself had but
recently repudiated, and which had been, on that account, very carefully
removed from the Prayer Book upon its second revision in 1552."— Lit. Rur.
p. 137. I have already ventured to express (Note, p. 381) my entire dissfnt
from Mr. Fisher's (apparently altered) view as to Cranmer having " but recently
repudiated" the "certain errors of the Communion Office" to which he
G G G
410
yet it saith not so of the parts unbroken, nor yet of the parts
or whole reserved, as the Papists teach we be as truly
fed, refreshed, and comforted by Christ, receiving a piece of
bread at the Lord's holy table, as if we did eat an whole loaf.
For .... whole Christ and the Holy Spirit, sacramentally,
. .be. .in every part of the bread broken, but not corporally
and naturally, as the Papists teach."
The noticeable thing in these words is the marked con-
nexion which the Abp. makes between the breaking of the
bread and the presence of "whole Christ.... in every"
such "part of" it: and this, to say the least, involves an
objective presence in what " is received," not merely a subjec-
tive presence in the receiver: but as the fraction of the bread
is a formal part of the act of Consecration, it seems to me to
follow from Cranmer's own reasoning — that the Presence
exists in the Sacramentum before the Communion of the
Priest ; therefore irrespective of the Communion of the
People : and this, I must think, admits the whole Doctrine of
a Real Objective Presence, due to Consecration, in with or
under the Elements. In the words of Bp. Cosin : —
" So, then, (to sum up this controversy by applying to it all that
hath been said,) it is not questioned whether the Body of Christ be
alludes: and it seems to me that "the context", which Mr. Fisher refers to,
sustains my objection ; fur P. Martyr (after saying, as above quoted, " that the
Book or Order of Ecclesiastical Rites and the Administration of the Sacraments
is reformed, for all things are removed from it which could nourish super-
stition ") adds — " But the chief reason why other things which were purposed
were not effected, was that the subject of the Sacraments stood in the way ; not
truly as far as regards transubstantiation or the real presence (so
to speak), either in the bread or in the wine, since, thanks be to God, concerning
these things there seems to be now no controversy as it regards those who profess
the Gospel ; but whether grace is conferred by virtue of the Sacraments, is a
point about which many are in doubt." — Gorham's lief. Gleanings, p. 281.
It can scarcely he doubted (especially recollecting the terminology of that
period already so fully examined in these pages) that P. Martyr means here by
real t a carnal presence, whether or not in this place he only employs the
word as the equivalent of Transubstantiation. And, as I have already proved, I
think, (in the passages referred to, Note, p. 381) that Uranmer had distinctly
abandoned this doctrine of a carnal presence before the publication of the
1st Book in 1549 ; so, therefore, the change of language in the Communion Office
of 1552 could not have been "on that account," as Mr. Fisher says: the
alteration only goes to prove the identity of doctrine in the two Books on this
point; though verbal changes were admitted to content, apparently, those who
feared that certain expressions in the 1st Book might still be quoted" as favouring
(what I may call) popular Roman belief.
Ml
absent from the Sacrament duly administered according to His insti-
tution, which we protestants neither affirm nor believe ; for, it being
given and received in the communion, it must needs be that it is
present, though in some manner veiled under the sacrament, so that
of itself it cannot be seen. Neither is it doubted or disputed whether
the bread and wine, by the power of God and a supernatural virtue,
be set apart and fitted for a much nobler use, and raised to a higher
dignity, than their nature bears ; for we confess the necessity of a
supernatural and heavenly change, and that the signs cannot become
sacraments but by the infinite power of God, whose proper right it
is to institute sacraments in His Church, being able alone to endue
them with virtue and efficacy. Finally, we do not say that our
blessed Saviour gave only the figure and sign of His Body, neither
do we deny a sacramental union of the Body and Blood of Christ
with the sacred bread and wine, so that both are really and Substan-
tially received together ; but (that we may avoid all ambiguity) we
deny that, after the words and prayer of consecration, the bread should
remain bread no longer, but should be changed into the substance
of the Body of Christ, nothing of the bread but only the accidents
continuing to be what they were before. And so the whole question
is concerning the transubstantiation of the outward elements, whether
the substance of the bread be turned into the substance of Christ's
Body, and the substance of the wine into the substance of His
Blood ; or, as the Romish doctors describe their transubstantiation,
whether the substance of bread and wine doth utterly perish, and
the substance of Christ's Body and Blood succeed in their place,
which are both denied by protestants." — Hist, of Transubstantiation.
Ch. iv. § 6. Oxford Trans, p. 175.
There remains to be further noticed one other point which
was mentioned in the Letter at p. 70, viz. the statement of
the Bishops in 1661 — that there was not "any great need of
restoring " the Declaration on Kneeling, " the world being
now in more danger of profanation than of idolatry;" and
the opinion which, evidently, they were also careful to ex-
press at the same time — that " the sense of it is declared
sufficiently in the 28th Article of the Church of England."
It will be well to consider how that "sense," then, "is
declared " there. An analysis of the Declaration shews that
it mainly contains Four Propositions which correspond with
the Four Clauses of the Article ; this will be best seen by
placing them in parallel columns thus : —
412
Declaration.
1. "... it is ordained in this
office . . . that the communicants
should receive .... kneeling ;
(which order is well meant, for a
signification of our humble and
grateful acknowledgement of the
benefits of Christ therein given
to all worthy Receivers . . .)"
2. " It is hereby declared, That
thereby no adoration is intended,
or ought to be done, unto the
Sacramental Bread or Wine there
bodily received."
3. "For the Sacramental Bread
and Wine remain still in their
very natural substances, and
therefore may not be adored ;
(for that were Idolatry, to be
abhorred of all faithful Chris-
tians ;)"
4. "[...no adoration is intended,
or ought to be done,] . . . unto
any Corporal Presence of Christ's
natural Flesh and Blood. For
. . . the natural Body and Blood
of our Saviour Christ are in
Heaven and not here ;"
Article xxviii.
Clause 1 . " . . . to such as
rightly, worthily, and with faith,
receive the same [siynum or
sacramenturri], the Bread which
we break is a partaking [commun-
icatio~\ of the Body of Christ;
and likewise the Cup of Blessing
is a partaking [comrnunicatio] of
the Blood of Christ."
Clause 4. " The Sacrament
\_Sacramentum~] of the Lord's
Supper was not by Christ's ordi-
nance .... worshipped."
Clause 2. " Transubstantiation
(or the change of the substance of
Bread and Wine) in the Supper
of the Lord, cannot be proved by
Holy Writ ; but it is repugnant
to the plain words of Scripture,
overthroweth the nature of a
Sacrament, and hath given occa-
sion to many superstitions."
Clause 3. " The Body of
Christ is given, taken, and eaten,
in the Supper, only after an
heavenly and spiritual manner.
And the mean whereby the
Body of Christ is received and
eaten in the Supper is Faith."
Now of these Four Clauses the 2nd and 4th give " the
sense " in which the Bishops thought the Declaration no
longer needed as a Protest and Safeguard touching Practice :
for they " declared " against " the change of the substance
of Bread and Wine " and therefore " sufficiently " against
that " adoration " of the Sacramentum which the Declaration
said " were Idolatry to be abhorred of all faithful Christians."
The 1st and 3rd Clauses describe the "sign," the "manner,"
and the " mean " of the communication of the Body and Blood
of Christ ; all three necessarily excluding " any Corporal
Presence of Christ's natural Flesh and Blood," as the Decla-
413
ration said, " unto " which " adoration is intended or ought
to be done ; " not because, like " the Sacramental Bread and
Wine," It is not adorable, but because It is not there to be
adored.
But this question now arises — Whether these exclusive
terms of the Article are not necessarily inclusive, or do not
admit, of a " sense" which does not contradict them : whether
in fact they do not imply and assume an Objective Presence
quite as Substantial and Real, though Spiritual and In-
visible ?
The Article, using the language of St. Paul (1 Cor. x.
16,) distinctly connects Komama = the imparting of the Res
Sacramenti (" the inward part or thing signified " ) with the
Bread broken and the Cup blessed — it declares that each " is
a partaking " or " a communion " (as in the English Article
of 1552) of What it signifies : that they have become, by that
Consecrating action, the Vehicle carrying the Gift of the
Body and Blood of Christ ; and not merely, in Legal lan-
guage, the Deed conveying It — a term utterly inadequate
to express and wholly foreign from the idea of receiving
" the Supper of the Lord " of which the Article treats. It
follows, therefore, that (to say the very least) the Gift is
present with the Sign at the time that Sign is given* to "such
* Compare the following passage of a Letter from Calvin to Bullinger, dated
Geneva, June 26, 1548." ... we say that that which is figured by them [Sa-
craments] is exit ibited to the Elect ; lest God should be believed to mock our
eyes with a fallacious sight .... When, in the Supper, the signs of the flesh
and blood of Christ are held out [porrigi — Ed.] to us, we say, that they are not
held out in vain so that the Thing itself also is not actually before us [Res nobis
ipsa constet. — Ed.'] Whence it follows that we eat the flesh and drink the
blood of Christ."
But it might be thought one-sided not to add what follows : he goes on to say
— " Thus expressing ourselves, we neither make the thing out of the Sign ; nor
do we confound each of them in one ; nor again do we imagine that it is *
infinite [? without limits— Editor] ; nor do we dream of a carnal transfusion of
Christ into us ; nor do we lay down any other such fancy.
" You say, that Christ is in lleaven as regards His human nature : we ac-
knowledge the same. — The word, heaven, conveys to your ears the impression
of distance of place: we, also, willingly embrace that [opinion— Ed.] ; that
Christ is at a distance from us by the interval of places. — You. deny that the
body of Christ is without limits ; but [affirm— Ed.] that it is contained within
* Editor's Note.— "Infinitum esse lingimus " the sentence seems a little obscure, but pro-
bably alludes to the Ubiquititriait doctiine of lircntius, the unlimited dill'usion of the Body
of Christ."
414
as" under the conditions named "receive the same;" and
being so present to these, how can It be otherwise than pre-
sent before all others who are where they are? What is this
but an Objective Presence whether men have Faith to discern
it or not? If, then, such a Presence be recognized in, what
I may call, the donative act of " The Administration ; " need
there be or is there any real difficulty in recognizing a like
Presence in, with, or under " the Communion " before " the
Minister first receive" It "himself" or "proceed to deliver
the same to " others ? It cannot be said there is not, for
the very fact of the controversy proves the contrary ; but it
is hard to see why the difficulty should exist.
If what has been now said does not inaccurately represent
the meaning of the 28th Article (as I hope and believe it
does not) then, on the dictum of the Bishops at the Savoy Con-
ference, this is " the sense " of the Declaration on Kneeling ;
and therefore that Declaration does not forbid but allows the
belief of a Real Objective Presence of the Body and Blood
of Christ in the Eucharist, and consequently the Adoration
of Christ as so Present. I do not say it defines whether that
Presence is "in the Supper," as some express it; or, as Abp.
Cranmer (its Author) appears to have held, "in the forms of
bread and wine [in but not] out of the ministration " (See p.
its own circumference : we assent ; aye, and we, undisguisedly and openly,
declare this. — You deny that the Sign is to be mingled with the Thing : we
diligently inculcate that the one is to be distinguished from the other. — You
sharply condemn [the notion of— Ed.] impanation : we subscribe [to your
decision — Ed.]. — To what, then, does our opinion amount:- [To this. — Ed.]
Since here upon earth we see Bread and Wine, [we hold. — Ed.] that our minds
are to be lifted up into heaven, that we may enjoy Christ ; and that then Christ
is present to us, when we seek Him above the elements of this world. For it is
not permitted us to suspect that Christ is deceiving us ; which would be the
case, unless we hold that truth is exhibited to us together with the Sign : and
even you yourselves allow that the Sign is by no means an empty one. It
remains only for us to define what it contains. To this we briefly answer: —
We are made partakers of the flesh and blood of Christ, so that He dwells in us
and we in Him, and in this way enjoy all His good things. I ask, what is there
either absurd or obscure in these expressions r especially since we exclude, in
express words, whatever wild imaginations might enter the mind. And yet we
are severely criticised, as though we had departed from the simple and pure
doctrine of the Gospel. But I should like to know, What is that simplicity to
which we are challenged to return ? . . . ." — Gorham's Reformation Gleanings.
London. 1857. p. 49.
415
125) : nor do I assert that it compels a belief in either of
these modes. But I do humbly and respectfully maintain,
and I venture to think that the foregoing pages have proved — ■
That, as the language of the Declaration does not exclude the
belief which I have endeavoured to shew is also consonant
with the 28th Article, so every member of the Church of
England is entirely free to hold it and every Minister free to
teach it, " provided " only (as I said at the outset of this
Letter, p. 4) they do not thereby intentionally " involve that
Doctrine which, I allege, was disavowed in the Declaration."
If it be feared, as Mr. Goode and others seem to fear, that
such a belief tends to make us so localize the Presence of
Christ on earth as to hinder us from raising our thoughts to
Him in Heaven: if, as he tells us, (Work, p. 451) "the
Fathers constantly " are " admonishing us that ' he who
approaches to this body must have his mind aloft ; ' that
' we have our victim above, our priest above, our sacrifice
above,' * and that Christ is ' absent ' in heaven, and only to
be laid hold of by faith :" — it seems to me enough to say,
That the permissive belief for which I am contending no
more involves the dreaded consequence than does any belief
of the Substantial Presence of the Sun in this earth of ours
hinder us from that lifting of our thoughts to the Glorious
Luminary as he shines above, which I suppose is an instinc-
tive feeling of every man who sees his Light or feels his
Heat. It may assist also in calming such fears, to recollect
that Bp. Latimer once said (See p. 41) " We do worship
Christ in the Heavens, and we do worship Him in the Sacra-
ment."
This (I fear too-lengthened) Postscript being now com-
pleted, it is necessary to sum up the result of both it and the
Letter ; and this will, I think, be most conveniently done in
the following Nine Propositions : —
* A lay friend noticing, after they were printed off, the following words of
Robert Namuel (See p. 188) "there now making intercession, offering and
giving his holy body for me, for my body, for my ransom, for my full price and
satisfaction," says "might not this be italicized as expressing an important
doctrine— the juge sacrijiciiim ?"
416
1. That a (1) Carnal {or Capernaical) belief on
the Real Presence, which it was (2) con-
sidered necessary to disperse, prevailed
extensively among (3) Clergy and (4) Laity
in the middle of the 16th Century.
Bp. Shaxton's Recantation Articles 1546, p. 5. (1) — Stat. Edw.
vi., c. i., p. 6. (1. 2. 3. 4.) — Conversation between Cranmer and
Bonner, Sep. 10, 1549, p. 6 : Argument pp. 7, 9 : The Lord Paget's
opinion of Bp. Gardiner's Doctrine, p. 28. (1) — Articles ministered
by Bp. Hooper to Will. Phelps, 1551, p. 30. (1. 2. 3.)— Conference
in the Tower between Bp. Ridley and Sec. Bourn, 1553, p. 39:
Disputation at Oxford, Ap. 18, 1554, p. 39: Exam, of J. Rogers,
1554-5, p. 42. (1) — Cranmer's Ans. to Gardiner, p. 181. (1. 2. 3.)
— Argument from Jewel v. Harding, p. 250. (1. 2. 3.) — Jewel's
"Defence of the Apology." Note 264. (1. 3.)
2. That, as this belief (1) mainly though (2)
not entirely resulted from the popular
Doctrine of Transubstantiation so, (3) a
continuous effort was made to suppress
that Doctrine.
Bp. Shaxton's Recantation Articles, No. 1, p. 5 (1) — P. Martyr's
Disput. at Oxford, June 11, 1549, pp. 10 to 13. (1. 3.>— 1st Dispu-
tation at Cambridge, June 20, 1549: 2nd Disputation, June 24,
1549: 3rd Disputation: Bp. Ridley's Determination of them
p. 18. (1. 3 ) — Cranmer's Ans. to Gardiner, p. 25. (1. 3) — Bp.
Hooper's Visitation Articles 1551-2, p. 30. (1. 3.) — Assertion of
the Sacrament by J. Winter, Nov. 8. 1551. p. 31. (1. 3.)— Article
xxix. 1552. and Argument, p. 32. (1.3.)— Argument, p. 38 : Archdn.
Philpot, Disp. at Lond. Oct. 18, 1553, p. 38 : Examn. of J. Brad-
ford, Jan. 29, 1554-5, p. 41 : Conference between Ridley and
Latimer, 1555, p. 42 : Ridley's " Brief declaration of the Lord's
Supper," 1555, p. 43 : Cranmer's Disput. at Oxford, Ap. 16. 1555 :
Ridley's Disput. at Oxford, 1555, p. 52. (1) — Cranmer's Letter to
Calvin on Council of Trent, March 20, 1552, p. 90 : Arguments
thereon, pp. 91 to 92. (1. 3.) — Knox's Objections to Kneeling, pp.
104-8. (I. 2. 3.)— Art. xxix. of 1553, and Mr. Hardwick's remarks
thereon, pp. 110 and 111 (1. 3.). — Cranmer's account of opinion of
Luther &c. Note p. 168. (1). — Opinion held by Cranmer and others
between 1545 and 1548, pp. 275 to 278.(1. 2. 3.)— Bucer's Letter
to Niger, Ap. 15, 1550. Note p. 403. (1.)
117
3. That, in doing this, there was no intention
to deny or discourage a belief in the Real
Objective Presence of the Body and Blood
of Christ, in the Ministration of the Sacra-
ment or under the Form of Bread and
Wine, if such Presence was not held to be
Natural or Organical.
Foxe's opinion of P. Martyr's Disputation at Oxford, June 11.
1549, p. 9. — Argument, p. 10. — Cranmer's opinion of Bertram's
Doctrine, p. 20 — Cranmer's Answer to Gardiner, pp. 20 to 26. — ■
Dr. Redman's communication to R . Wilkes and Master Nowel,
Nov. 1551, pp. 28, 29. — Young's Letter to Cheke concerning Dr.
Redman, p. 29. — Articles against Bp. Ferrar, 1553-4, p. 37. —
Comparison of terms, p. 62. — Argument between Cranmer and
Gardiner on the presence of the Sun, pp. 73 to 75. — Cranmer's
Letter to P. Council, Oct. 7. 1552. pp. 77 to 79.— Argument
thereon, pp. 79 to 84. — Foxe's Estimate of Cranmer's opinion, p.
84. — Cranmer's language as to Consecration, pp. 85 to 89. — Cran-
mer's Belief compared with Calvin's, Note pp. 86 to 87. — Argument
from Bp. Hooper's Articles of 1551-2, p. 119. — Cranmer's language
as to Presence in the Ministration, p. 125. — Cranmer's Catechism,
1548, p. 154. — Argument therefrom, pp. 155-9, and from Horn, of
1547, pp. 160 to 168.— Gardiner's opinion of P. Book of 154 9, p. 173.
— Cranmer's definition of Corporal p. 177 ; his language to Gardiner,
pp. 180 to 186. — Ridley's Exam, at Oxford, Sep. 30, 1555, p. 186.
— Ans. of two "husbandmen" to Bp. Bonner, May 22. 1555, p.
187. — Letter of Rob. Samuel Aug. 31, 1555, p. 188. — Jewel's con-
troversy witli Harding, pp. 267 to 269. — Reformed Primers 1545 to
1559.— Bucer's Letter to P. Martyr, June 20, 1549, Note pp. 398
to 402. — Bucer's Letter to Niger, Ap. 15. 1550. Note p. 401. — P.
Martyr's " Confession of the Lord's Supper," &c, May 1556.
Note p. 402.
4. That the (1) Doctrine of the Real Objective
Presence was Authoritatively taught in
1549 ; and that (2) the same Doctrine was
also Authoritatively taught during the rest
of the Reign of King Edward Vlth.
H II H
418
Letter of Duke of Somerset to Cardinal Pole, June 4, 1.549, p. 7.
(1) — Argument from Bp. Gardiner, p. 9. (1 ) - Bp. Gaidiner's " Long
Matter Justificatory," 1550-1, p. 26. (1) — Articles exhibited by
Bp. Gardiner, Jan. 21, 1550-1, p. 27 (1 2.) — Testimony of John
White, Feb. 20, 1550-1, p. 27 ( 1 )— Argument, p. 32 : Act of Uni-
formity, 1552: Statement of Bp. Latimer, 1554: Argument and
Note p. 35. (2.) — Argument pp. 121 to 122: examination of Mr.
Goode's comparison of the P. Books of 1549 and 1552, pp. 409 to
410. (1. 2.)
5. That, when (1) in 1552 objections were made
to that Rubric of the new Prayer Book
which enjoined Kneeling at reception of
the Sacrament, (2) the Declaration explain-
ing it was framed in conformity with the
considerations advanced in these four Pro-
positions ; and that, consequently, (3) the
words "real and essential" were not meant
to be a denial of that Real Presence men-
tioned in Proposition 3.
Argument pp. 36, 73 (1.2.3.)— Letter of Utenhovius to Bullinger,
Oct. 12, 1552, p. 93 : Note in Co. Book, Oct. 20, 1552, p. 96 :
Exam, of Knox by P. Council, 1553 p. 97 (I) — character of the
Ld. Chancellor, Bp. Goodrick p. 98 : Weston's language as to
(prob.) Knox, in 1554: — Foxe's remark on Weston's words, p. 102
(1. 2.) — apparent ground of Knox's objection pp. 104 to 108.(1) —
Argument pp. 113 to 118 (1.2.) — Argument from Cranmer's Letter
p. 119 (3.)
6. That the (1) omission of the Declaration from
the Prayer Book of 1559 (though it seems
to have been still in (2) some way Authori-
tatively used) together with (3) other Pro-
ceedings, (4) especially the Revision of the
Articles, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth,
is evidence of (5) a purpose then to avoid
any appearance of denying that doctrine.
419
Bp. Burnet's account of the omission, p. 63 : Collier's account,
p. 6'4 (1. 5.) — Kneeling not left indifferent, as proposed by Guest,
p. 64 ; refusal to Puritans to prostrate then, selves, pp. 65 and 393 :
direction for Wafer Bread p. 65 : Grindal's Dialogue, p. 66 : iElfric's
Anglo-Saxon Homily, p. 68, (3. 5.) — Omission of Sec. 3, in Art.
xxix. of 1552 (4. 5.) — Bp. Burnet's account of revision of Art. 28 :
Mr. Harold Browne's opinion of it, pp. 189 to 191 (4. 5.)— Letter
from Grindal &c. Feb. 6, 15G6-7 : Mr. Fisher's opinion of P. Book
1559 (2. 3. 5.)— Bp. Guest's Letter to Cecil, Dec. 22, 1566 p. 192 ;
2nd Letter, May 1571, pp. 195 to 204: Argument thereon, pp.
205 to 235 (3. 4. 5.) — Bp. Jewel's controversy with Harding ; and
Arguments thereon, pp. 235 to 250 (3. 5.) — Argument from New
Ed. of Homilies and from Reformed Primer, pp. 264 to 283 (3. 5.)
7. That this recognition of the Doctrine of the
Real Presence was not withdrawn, but was
supported by such Eucharistic (1) Docu-
ments and (2) Statements as were put forth
by Ecclesiastical Authority, from the death
of Elizabeth until the Restoration.
Bp. Overall's additions to the Catechism ; Mr. Fisher's opinion
of them, p. 283 to 284 : Irish Articles, 1615, p. 285 (1). — Ans. of
Bps at Savoy Conference, 1661, pp. 70, 307 (2). — Can. vii., 1640,
p. 386 (1.)
8. That (1) the Revision of the Order of the
Holy Communion in 1662, (2) the known
Opinions of the Leading Reviewers, and
(3) the circumstances connected with the
re-insertion of the Declaration then — (4)
all concur to prove a continued acceptance
of that Doctrine.
Non-conformist objection to Kneeling and demand for re-insertion
of Declaration, p. 70 : refusal and ultimate consent of the Bishops,
p. 70 : change of words " real and essential " at Bp. Gunning's in-
stigation, p. 70 : probable opinion of Gawden, p. 72, (3. 4.) — Argu-
ment on Rubrics in Communion Office of 1662, p. 122 to 152, (1. 4.)
—Bp. Cosin ; effect of Consecration, p. 137-9, 150. (2. 4.)— Bp.
Gauden's " Tears, Sighs," &c. pp. 303-5 : his " Counsell ... to
xliv. Presbyters," &c. p. 305. (2. 4.) — Bp's, defence of Kneeling,
4-20
at Savoy Conf., p. 307 (1. 4.)— Argument, pp. 307 to 9 (1.2.3.4.)
— Bp. Gauden's "Whole duty of a Communicant," &c; and Argu-
ment therefrom, pp. 310 to 322. (2. 4.) — Bp. Morley's Argument
against Transubstantiation ; and his references to Bp. Morton, pp.
323 to 329 (2. 4.) — Heylin's account of changes in Com. Service,
p. 330 (2. 4.) — Bp. Cosin's Hist, of Transub. c. 3 ; and Argu-
ment therefrom, pp. 331 to 337 (2)— Mr. Fisher's opinion of the
design in alteration of" real and essential," Note, p. 337. (3.) — Bp.
Cosin's Hist of Transub. c. 4, p. 410 (2.4.) — Comparison of Decla-
ration and Art. xxviii, suggested by the Bps. at the Savoy Con-
ference, and Argument thereon, pp. 411 to 415 (3.4.)
9. That therefore, as the previous Propositions
combine to shew, (1) both forms of the
Declaration had the same meaning; and
that meaning is entirely consistent with
the (2) Belief in, and the (3) Practice of
Adoration to, Christ Really though Spirit-
ually present in the Eucharist under the
Form of Bread and Wine.
Argument, pp. 3 and 4 (1. 2. 3) — Argument, pp. 338 to 355 (2)
— Opinion of Mr. Harold Browne, Note p. 355 (2) — Argument
from Mr. Goode's citations from Abraham Woodhead, pp. 361 to
379 (2. 3) — Examination of Mr. Goode's comment on Dr. Pusey's
reference to Rubric on remains of Sacrament, pp. 380 to 383 : Argu-
ment, pp. 383 to 384 (2) — Speech of Abp. Laud, June 14, 1637,
pp. 388 to 390 (2. 3) — Laud's controversy with Fisher, pp. 390
to 393 (2) — Argument from Puritan proposal for Prostration at the
Sacrament p. 395 (2. 3) — Argument from the nature of Sacramental
Union pp. 396 to 407 (2).
These Nine Propositions may themselves be advantage-
ously summed up in the following Statement : —
That the leading English Reformers (even in
in their latest days) together with those Suc-
cessors down to the early part of the 17th
Century who, like themselves, were mainly
responsible for the Authorized Books which
declared the belief of the Church of England —
intended no denial of the Real Presence and of
Eucharistic Adoration — and, That the Caroline
Revisers were careful to alter or eliminate
those expressions which, however erroneously,
had been, or might be likely to be, held to
involve such a denial.
In a Note at p. 248 I drew attention to some of Mr.
Freeman's language on the nature of the Presence, and com-
pared it with Bp. Jewel's notice of an apparently similar
theory broached (for the first time as he thought) by Hard-
ing ; expressing also a hope that in the then expected
Volume some explanation would be given of the opinion
propounded by Mr. Freeman. That Volume has now
appeared, and in it Mr. F. re-affirms his former statements ;
for in a Note, at p. 479, he says : —
" It has been abundantly demonstrated in the Introduction to
this volume, that in the view of antiquity, and of the English Church,
the consecrated Elements are, in a profoundly mysterious but most true
sense, the Body and Blood of Christ ; but nevertheless, as not being
identified with Christ Himself, nor containing Him personally, are
not objects of Divine worship. The latter part of this position has
been of late years, with some variety as to expression, but on the
whole to the same effect, disallowed by some among us. It may be
necessary, therefore, to say a few words in vindication of it."
Now my object in these pages has been to shew what is
" the view ... of the English Church " in reference to the
Eucharistic Presence and its legitimate consequences, as
defined in the Declaration on Kneeling: I have assumed
throughout, as there is every ground for doing, that that
view was designed to be and is " the view of anticpiity."
Yet, so far as any evidence is furnished by the Authorities
here cited, the testimony seems to me to prove the novelty
and not the antiquity of Mr. Freeman's theory which severs
the Presence of Christ from the Presence of the Body and
Blood of Christ "with" "the consecrated Elements;" for
I presume this to be the sense in which he uses the word
" identified," and also to be the ground on which he alleges
their not "containing Him personally." This separation he
assigns as the reason for their being "not objects of Divine
worship." But, assuming for argument's sake the truth of
the proposition which Mr. Freeman denies, would " the con-
secrated Elements" be objects of such worship even then?
It seems to me that what has been already said at p. 395
furnishes an authoritative reply in the negative : while a
consideration of Abp. Cranmer's great fears (mentioned at
pp. fJO and 113) — that the Tridentine decree would result in
Divine worship (latria) of the Elements, instead of that
inferior honour (dulia) which Bp. Ridley said was to be
accorded — shews that on no theory short of Transubstau-
tiation could the claim of this worship be made and allowed;
though it must not be forgotten that as defenders of even
that doctrine repudiate an • Divine Worship being given to
the Accidents, we have no right to fasten it upon them as
though it were an inevitable consequence of their belief.
But Mr. Freeman asserts that " the latter part of this
position" of his "has been of late years, . . . disallowed by
some among us ;" this, then, seems to me, in effect, accusing
them of holding that very Roman doctrine which (unless I
mistake the persons to whom he alludes) they are careful to
deny. In support, however, of his allegation he offers " a
simple statement of the fearful language — it is impossible "
he says, " to characterize it otherwise — which the upholders
of " the Doctrine he speaks of " have, by the necessity of their
position, been driven to use. One of the most learned of
them," he states, " yet no intentional fautor of Roman views,
has declared that he considers that the same worship is due
to the Elements as to the Blessed Trinity." Mr. Freeman
should, however, have remembered the inconvenience of thus
423
making a charge without clearly indicating the person and
the / assnge to which he refers. As it is, one can only vaguely
guess to whom and to what he alludes. Possibly, then, he
may refer to Dr. Pusey : though, so far from his writings on
the Eucharist containing any statement which warrants the
above representation, no words could well contradict it more
plainly than those he has again and again employed in his
latest publication — " The Real Presence" &c, 1857 ; to shew
this, it is amply sufficient to quote the two following running
titles; p. 316, " To adore. Christ present, is not to adore the
Sacrament;" and, p. 336, " We adore, not the Sacrament, but
our Redeemer" Strangely enough Mr. Goode (Supp. p. 33)
makes a very similar indirect charge in the sentence already
quoted at p. 395 ; and says of a passage which he cites from
Dr. Pusey (p. 329, "People have profanely spoken of 'wafer-
gods.' They might as well have spoken of ' fire-gods,' of the
manifestation of God in the flaming fire in tbe bush" &c.) —
" According to this doctrine, then, as the Second Person of
the adorable Trinity was connected with the human nature
in the person of Jesus Christ, so is Christ with the wafer in
the Sacrament." Yet an obvious exception to the accuracy
of this assertion is, That it ignores the words of the Second
Article of the Church of England—" the Godhead and
Manhood, were joined together in one Person, never to be
divided" — and keeps out of sight the fact, That no one
alleges a permanent Union of the Sacramentvm and the Res
Sacramenti ; and that even Roman Theologians admit the
cessation of the Presence when the Accidents become cor-
rupt.
If, however, the Author of " Eucharistical Adoration " be
pointed at in Mr. Freeman's remark which I am here no-
ticing; it is enough to reply — that Mr. Keble says (p. 58 —
2nd Ed. 1859) " no plain and devout reader of Holy Scrip-
ture and disciple of the Church would, of his own accord,
find a difficulty in adoring the thing signified, apart from the
outward sign or form ;" again, the running title of p. 151 is
424
" Adoration claimed for the Inward Part only " and further
in noticing (p. 152) a comment made upon Art. xxviii., he
says " Is not this expressly maintaining that the worship of
the outward part is the only worship forbidden (if it be for-
bidden) in that Article?": where the parenthetical expres-
sion " if it be forbidden " plainly means — that that point is
probably beside the purpose of the Article.
But perhaps the reference is to Mr. Cheyne who, in his
" Reasons of Appeal " 1858, gives an Appendix on the
" Declaration concerning Kneeling " where he says (p. 64)
" We are enjoined to receive the Blessed Sacrament of our
Lord's Body and Blood, in that very manner, and with that
very act, which denotes the highest degree of worship — the
worship which we pay to the Blessed Trinity, Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost." But then — going on to defend Eucharistic
Adoration and remarking (p. 56) " If, then, as Bishop
Andrews says, the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
be there, and Those not without His Soul, nor That without
His Deity, and if we are then directed to use the same gesture
which we use in the worship of Almighty God, what can
the simple-minded suppose, but that which loving faith
would dictate, that we worship Christ, Whom we are about
to receive " — Mr. Cheyne proceeds to make this very explicit
statement which, it seems to me, puts his meaning beyond
all doubt : his words are " The Declaration tells us what our
act of adoration is not directed to. It is not directed to the
Bread and Wine. The Appellant never said that it was ; he
said on the contrary that it is not — ' we do not kneel to the
outward signs ' — we do not worship them. Neither do we
worship (it says) any ' corporal presence of Christ's natural
Flesh and Blood.' The Appellant never said that we do.
His words do not imply anything of the sort. ' We kneel to
the Lord Himself invisibly present, under the form of bread
and wine,' or, as Sherlock says, ' under the species of bread
and wine.' "
Mr. Freeman's second witness is thus exhibited: — "Another
425
writing to a newspaper, says, ' It is difficult, of course, for
one to believe that yonder piece of Bread is my God; but I
am bound to believe it.' " Here, again, not the slightest
hint is given where the sentence may be found ; not, indeed,
that it is of much importance to notice in a discussion of
this subject the incautious language of a Newspaper Corres-
pondent ; though it may be remarked that, supposing he
had substituted for "my God" the words "the Body and
Blood of Christ," many who hold Them to be Christ would
complain of language which nevertheless could be technically
justified by Mr. Freeman's own theory.
The third example is given thus : — " Another eminent
person, and of high rank in the Church, affirms that Divine
worship is indeed due to Christ, as contained, as God and
man, under the Elements ; but recommends moderation in
offering that Worship ; in which he considers that the Con-
tinental Churches run into excess. Excess in worshipping
and adoring God Almighty ! " This, I presume, must refer
to the Bp. of Brechin, and perhaps to that passage of his
Lordship's Charge which I have quoted at p. 334 : whether
Mr. Freeman's paraphrase quite represents it may easily be
judged by a comparison.
But the writer goes on to say : —
" When grave divines of the English Church find themselves
carried into positions such as these, it must be obvious, even to
themselves, that there is a mistake somewhere. Nor is there in
reality any escape from the admission of all mediaeval and Roman
eucharistic doctrine with respect to the Eucharist, otherwise than by
falling back upon the truth, that the Elements while they are, as
the Scripture assures us, the Body and Blood of Christ, still are not,
as the Scripture nowhere affirms they are, Christ Himself."
The observation which naturally presents itself to the
beginning of this passage is — That if Mr. Freeman lias, as I
believe he has, himself forcibly " carried " these divines
" into positions " which they had not and have not any
intention of willingly occupying, the only thing, one would
I i i
426
think, which "must be obvious, even to themselves" is, that
the " mistake " lies with him who has thus thrust them out
of the position which they claim to be their own. More-
over, it seems to me that, Mr. Freeman has himself used
language which, at least, goes some way towards convicting
him of having made a mistake in asserting that Doctrine,
which he repeats at the close of the above passage, to be
" the truth." Thus, at p. 15, he says : —
" . . . it may safely be laid down, that the one great and ruling
purpose of all sacrifice was, to restore to man by degrees, and ulti-
mately to enhance immeasurably, his original capacity for enduring
and enjoying the Divine Presence ; and to furnish a medium for
acceptable presentation in It. We shall find that an ever-increasing
measure of that Presence, joined to proportionately enlarged methods
of safe and beatifying access to it, characterize the whole history of
Sacrifice and Priesthood."
When, then, Mr. Freeman, speaking of the "memorial
offering " of the Church, says (p. 198) " One intervention of
her High-Priest sends up her Eucharistic Gift to God in
Christ, and brings down Christ, her Eucharistic Food, from
God," he appears to me to point out that the Christian
Sacrifice furnishes the full " measure " of and the completely
" safe and beatifying access to" the " Divine Presence;" and
further that that Presence is the Presence of " Christ Him-
self" in that "Eucharistic Food" which is His "Body and
Blood."
Moreover, Mr. Freeman seems to me to correct his own
theory by " the reason " which (at p. 19) he mentions " as to
the cause of God's withdrawing His indwelling, or rather the
original measure of it, from man and creation at the fall ; "
he says : —
" . . . it is to be found in the condition of Death into which man,
and all creation with him, had now fallen . . . This plainly appears
from various sacrificial provisions of the old law, .... but above
all, from that shrinking from, and loathing of Death, as such, which
was doubtless a chief ingredient in the Agony of Christ. This
detestation of Death, on the part of the Divine Nature, extends, as
it should seem, to all the processes and phenomena of it ; and to
427
the dissolution of any living or even inanimate organism. The
exact disqualification, therefore, which had to be removed by sacri-
fice was this deathlike and deadly condition in all its degrees and
effects, as well as in its ultimate and highest manifestation, namely,
the permanent and eternal dissociation of the body and soul of man."
But then it would seem likely that this Divine abhorrence
of "the condition of Death " is precisely a reason why that
Sacrifice, which was effectually to remove the " disqualifica-
tion " for God's renewed " indwelling " with His creatures,
should not present this " deathlike " aspect : and it may
have been from some such view of the case that Mr. Free-
man says (p. 27) : —
" This Death alone, accordingly, had no offensiveness in the sight
of God, as not being directly the work of the Devil or of sin, but
springing solely from the acquiescence of a perfectly Holy Being.
In accordance wherewith it alone was unaccompanied by any cor-
ruption The dissolution of that Soul and Body was an operation
as pure and holy as the joining together of Adam's soul and body,
or of His Own at His Conception by the Holy Ghost. The Death
was pure, because the Subject of it was innocent."
Yet this theory, however true in itself, looks inconsistent
with a statement, in the passage last quoted, — that the Divine
" detestation of Death .... extends .... to all the pro-
cesses and phenomena of it" — one of which is there said to
be the " dissociation of the body and soul of man." Perhaps,
therefore, it may the rather be that the absence of " offen-
siveness iu the sight of God," when beholding the Death of
Chi'ist, was due to the materially different aspect which was
presented by the separation of His Soul and Body as com-
pared with the like separation in the case of all other men :
for, though the Soul of the Man Christ Jesus was in Hades
and His Body in the Tomb, the conjunction of Deity with
Both held Them in a state of union and a condition of re-
union which is untrue of every other separated soul and body.
And if, as would seem likely to be the case, the perpetual
presentation of that Sacrifice in the Heavenly Court manifests
It in a character pleasing to the Divine Father; then the
Apocalyptic vision of It certainly makes It instinct with
Life, though not hiding the feature which betokens Death :
" I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood * a Lamb, as it
had been slain " (Rev. v. 6.) ; and again (xiv. 1) " I looked,
and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an
hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name
written in their foreheads."
It follows therefore, I think, that the Memorial re-presen-
tation on the Church's Earthly Altars of Christ's "one
oblation of Himself once offered," must be no less free from
any cause of " offensiveness " which would render it un-
acceptable " in the sight of God " than is the Eternal High
Priest's continual Offering above with Which It is united :
hence, then, an apparent necessity that What is thus pre-
sented in Eucharists to the Eternal Father should not be in
that "deadly condition" of "dissociation" which seems
more than implied in Mr. Freeman's statement " that the
Elements, while they are, .... the Body and Blood of
Christ, still are not, .... Christ Himself."
In saying this I am not unmindful of what he has written
at pp. 207 — 9 " as to the sense in which Christ presents
continually in Heaven His Sacrifice of Himself." He
argues —
" That in some true sense He does so, were it only in the sense
of pleading it, all must allow. But we are nowhere told in Holy
Scripture that He actually and literally carried the Sacrifice of His
broken Body and poured-out Blood, by a local translation, into the
Heavenly Places. When He gave Himself at the last Supper, and
when He was offered on the Cross : the Sacrifice abode still, locally,
upon earth."
But this sounds like making "the Sacrifice" an idea, a
mere abstraction, something separate from Him who gave
Himself to be the Sacrifice; and so it is very much like
speaking of "a local translation " of Christ's Will and Inten-
* Standing (i.e. in its natural living position : .... it was not lying, but
standing) as if slain (i.e. retaining the appearance of death-wounds on its
body: looking as if it had been slain . . . .)" — Bean A/ford, in loc.
439
tion in offering Himself. Sureiy there was no need of our
being " told " that " the Sacrifice of His broken Body and
poured-out Blood " was " actually and literally carried . . .
into the Heavenly Places," when we are told (Heb. ix. 34)
that " Christ," Who showed His pierced Hands and wounded
Side to the Apostles, "is" really "entered into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us " by " a
local translation" of His Body Which was sacrificed. Indeed
Mr. Freeman seems to anticipate some such objection as this,
for he goes on to say : —
" When He ascended to Heaven, it was as Risen, and with a re-
united Body, Soul, and Spirit. And though it is said, in the Reve-
lation, that there appeared in the midst of the Throne a ' Lamb as
it 1 ad been slain,' the language is qualified, meaning apparently ' as
if it had once been pierced or slain :' and the context refers to the
Sacrifice as a past event ; ' Thou wast slain, and didst redeem us
unto God by Thy Blood.' "
No doubt it does ; yet this seems only consistent with
that display of life in death, already noticed, which made
Christ's death not obnoxious to God as was the death of all
others : it appears, moreover, to point to that aspect of the
Incarnation which rendered a God-man the only possible
Being Who could die to satisfy Divine justice, yet not fall
under the dominion of that very Death (i.e. destruction),
which His Own death was designed to destroy. Hence,
perhaps, those words of our Lord touching His Own life
(S. John x. 18) — "I have power to lay it down, and I have
power to take it again ;" hence, too, the especial recommen-
dation and acceptableness of that Voluntary Offering for sin
(ver. 17) — " Therefore doth My Father love me, because I
lay down my life, that I might take it again ;" hence, further,
it may well be, that triumphant announcement of Himself to
the beloved Apostle in the very opening of the Apocalyptic
•vision (Bev. i. 18) — " I am He that liveth, and was dead ;
and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen ; and have the
keys of hell and death."
To support, however, his opinion of the non-local transla-
430
tion of the Sacrifice, Mr. Freeman suggests " with caution "
that—
" [It] is in Heaven, in the sense in which the Mosaic burnt-offering
entered into the Holy plaje by means of the incense at the time of
its offering, and by the personal appearance there of the High Priest
once a year It is as borne upon the Incense of His Inter-
cession, and as presented evermore in a mystery in His Holy Hands,
not locally, that the once broken Body and poured-out Blood of the
Sacrifice is pleaded. So the sprinkling of His Blood towards the
True Mercy Seat, which, from the analogy of the Mosaic scheme,
doubtless took place in some sense, would seem to have been ac-
complished, though really, in mystery only, not physically or locally.
And accordingly St. Paul does not say it was with His own Blood,
but ' by it,' that He entered in once into the Holy Place."
But, perhaps, the consideration — that Christ is at once the
Eternal High Priest and the Ever-living Sacrifice — meets
this and any kindred difficulty arising out of the pursuit of
an exact analogy between the Type and the Anti-type ; and
so, His corresponding local entrance as High Priest to plead
the shedding of " His own Blood," when He " suffered with-
out the gate" in order "that He might sanctify the people
with" It (Heb. xiii. 12), need not interfere with the idea
that, being " burned without the camp " by the consuming fire
of God's anger which He resolved to appease, He could not in
that condition come "into Heaven itself;" any more than
could " the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought
into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin," have "entered
into the holy places made with hands :" thus, then, there was
no " local translation " of What in Its aspect of destruction
was a Sacrifice unpleasing to God ; though in that " lifting
up of " Christ's Hands," which speaks of Life while yet They
bear the impress of Death, there is the ceaseless Memorial
that (to quote the words which Mr. Freeman cites from Bp.
Andrews as favouring his own view) it is " The same Body
as now, but not the Body as it is now." And the fact
embodied in this sentence seems also to indicate the "sense"
in which the Blood of Christ may be said to have been even
" physically and locally " sprinkled before the Heavenly
U'A
Mercy-Seat : for, remembering carefully the Divine declara-
tion (Gen. ix. 4) " the life ... is the blood " — as when the
" blood " of " the sin offering, ... for the people " was
brought " within the vail " by the High Priest to " sprinkle
it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat," it also
made "an atonement for the holy place" (Lev. xvi. 15, 16) ;
so when Christ Who is " the Life " came as High Priest " to
appear in the presence of God for us " He did, surely, bear
with Him thither His Own Blood by Which, too, " the
Heavenly things themselves " were " purified ;" though in-
deed, it was by virtue of that Blood before shed, that He
procured and claimed admission to the Celestial Sanctuary.
These considerations lead me, though with much defer-
ence, to conclude differently from Mr. Freeman when he
says (p. 209) :—
" Hence no inference can be drawn, as has been attempted of late
years, to the effect that the consecrated Elements, whether separ-
ately or conjointly, are the Living and Risen Body of Christ. What
the Living and Risen Christ presents and pleads evermore in
Heaven, is His mighty wonder-working Death, undergone ages
ago ; . . . And so, too, what the Church evermore pleads and
presents, is His Body and Blood, such as they were when the One
was broken and the Other poured forth upon the Cross ; which
condition of them is in a mystery perpetuated still :" —
For, if " the voice of many angels round about the throne
and the beasts and the elders" (Rev. v. 11) may, as perhaps
it may, indicate what Christ Himself pleads there, then, its
sound distinctly mingles the two ideas of Life and Death
and does not more prominently, much less solely, speak of
Death — " Worthy is the Lamb [i.e. the ever-living Lamb]
that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and
strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing " (ver. VI):
and if, too, the echoing voices of the " every creature which
is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such as
are in the sea, and all that are in them " may be accounted
as the thankful expression of Redeemed Creation for the
Sacrifice Which restored it, then, further, it corresponds with
432
that same idea ; for when they were heard saying " Blessing,
and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever"
(ver. 13), we seem to have described the Church's Gloria in
Excelsis and therein the pleading and presentation of that
Memorial Sacrifice with Which it is united — the living
" Lamb of God, . . . that takest away the sins of the world,
. . . . that sittest at the right hand of God the Father"
though also Eucharistically re-presented and Eucharistically
worshipped ; while the responsive acknowledgment of and
communion with It still resounds (we may well believe) in
the Temple above (ver. 14) — " the four beasts said, Amen.
And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped
Him that liveth for ever and ever."
Mr. Freeman, however, in this Note upon which I am
commenting, proceeds to defend himself thus (p. 480) : —
" And while the doctrine contended for [he should rather have
said, to be accurate, which I allege to he contended for] labours
under these weighty objections, 1 am not aware that more than one
objection has ever been brought against the opposite view upheld in
the pages. It is said that if the Elements are the Body and Blood
of Christ, the doctrine of the Hvpostatic Union (or of the insepar-
able conjunction, once for all, of the Divine and Human Natures in
the One Person of Christ) obliges us to believe that they are Christ
Himself : that otherwise we divide Christ and are guilty of a kind of
Nestorianism. This at first sight looks plausible : but it will not
bear the slightest examination. To uphold it, is to press one
mystery to the utter forgetfulness of another. The position is, that
wherever the Body of Christ is present, it must, for the reason just
stated, be so present as to be an object of worship. This is the exact
point contended for. But the defenders of it themselves are not
prepared to carry it out to its legitimate results. Is not, (I would
ask,) is not the Church the Body of Christ? and that in a most true
and real sense, though in a manner perfectly mysterious to us?
They cannot deny it. Will they affirm, then, that the Church, as
being Christ's Body, is to be worshipped ? And if not, why the
Elements of Bread in the Eucharist, as being that Body? "
Now, first of all, I would observe — that, however allow-
able as a piece of abstract reasoning, it is scarcely justifiable
to raise so subtle a question upon the groundless assumption
433
(as I think I have shewn it to be) that the School, here ap-
parently referred to, advocate Divine worship to the
" Elements of Bread in the Eucharist as being " the " Body "
of Christ. Yet, if the pursuit of such a logical consequence
as this, on so confessedly mysterious a matter, is to be in-
sisted upon as a necessary result of applying " the Doctrine
of the Hypostatic Union " to the subject of Christ's Sacra-
mental Presence, it might be some answer to say — that quite
as great difficulties could be raised touching that Divine
Union and Communion with the Church, which we must be-
lieve and maintain because it was so fully and plainly set
forth by our Lord in His last discourse with His disciples (S.
John xiv. — xvii.) : or, again, which is so strikingly expressed
in that answer of " the Lord," from Heaven, to Saul the first
great enemy of His infant Church (Acts. ix. 5) " I am Jesus
whom thou persecutest :" or, once more, which is declared
in St. Peter's assurance (2 S. Pet. i. 4) that there "are given
unto us exceeding great and precious promises : that by these
ye might be partakers of the Divine nature."
Yet, as it is not impossible to furnish explanations on
these Scriptural difficulties, relating to the Mystical Body of
Christ, provided that Reason be not called upon to invade
the Province of Faith and Mental Demonstration be not de-
manded where Moral Vision can alone be accorded, so,
probably, such explanations would be an approach towards
meeting the question which Mr. Freeman here starts : it
would be beyond the compass and beside the purpose of
these pages to enter upon the needful length of such an in-
tricate enquiry ; here, therefore, it must suffice to say that
the Revealed Fact of Christ dwelling in His Church is,
surely, the reason for acknowledging His Presence therein ;
and so is the very ground of these and such like questions or
counsels in the Apostolical Epistles — (Rom. xvi. 5.) " Greet
the Church," (1 Cor. x. 32.) " Give none offence .... to
the Church of God," (xi. 22.) " Despise ye the Church of
God? ", (vi. 15, 19.) " Know ye not that your bodies are the
K K K
434
members of Christ? . . . Know ye not that your body is the
temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you?", (1 S. Peter
ii. 17.) " Love the brotherhood."
Moreover it might be a perfectly legitimate enquiry —
whether some of these expressions, in describing " a manner
perfectly mysterious to us " whereby " the Body of Christ "
is present on Earth, do not further indicate the nature of the
worship due to It, as being either mental or moral or physical
— modes these which, perhaps, are not wholly inapplicable to
explain the kind of worship due as Bp. Ridley said (Seep.
58) to, what he called, " the external Sacrament;" bearing in
mind, of course, the difference between Christ's living
Members and inorganic Eucharistic Elements. If it should
be objected — that Eucharistic Adoration cannot be com-
pared with such a worship of Christ's Body the Church as is
here suggested, because the latter lacks that external token
of worship, viz. the prescribed act of kneeling which the
former presents — it may be replied — That, though both are
founded upon the same principle, viz. a Presence of Christ,
the Eucharistic Manifestation of it may well have a different
form of recognition, seeing that it is diverse from His exhi-
bition of Himself in His members. Though, at the same
time, it must be remembered that the Mystical Body re-
ceives the greater distinction, the recognition being avowedly
or intentionally given to it ; whereas, in the case of the
Sacramental Body, the Kneeling is designedly not to the
Species but to Christ thereby displayed to the eye of faith.
But, further, the dilemma on which Mr. Freeman apparently
seeks to place those whom he is opposing, appears to me to be
mainly due to his seeming not to recognize here, argumenta-
tively, the distinctive characteristics of Christ's Body in the
three various aspects under which, perhaps, It may be, not inac-
curately, regarded: — (1) Its local corporal Presence, above;
unclothed and in Majestic Session at the Right Hand of God
the Father ; (2) Its sacramental Presence, below ; clothed
upon yet not incorporated or commingled with the substances
of the Eucharistic Elements ; (3) Its incorporation with our
435
fallen frames, which are thus raised to their true dignity in
becoming Christ's Mystical Body. — The comparison already
drawn (at pp. 341-55), between the Presence of the Natural
Sun and the Presence of the Sun of Righteousness, may,
perhaps, suggest modes of illustrating the relative honour
to be paid to Christ's Body under these Its several manifesta-
tions. Mr. F. does, indeed, advert to a distinction of Presence
(and, so far, impliedly allows a difference of worship) ; for he
speaks of " the Body of Christ in its Eucharistic condition,"
when reverting just afterwards " to fearful doctrinal posi-
tions," already noticed, as a reason for concluding that what
he considers a " plausible " but "a mistaken inference" re-
specting It " should ex animo be abandoned :" yet the
inference would seem to be his own, and to be deduced
from the imaginary "position" in which he (of course unin-
tentionally) places others by writing as though they claimed
the same kind of w orship for the Body of Christ however
as well as " wherever " present. So, too, when Mr. F. adds
that " The only escape there is, when this parallel is
pressed upon the upholders of the worship of the Ele-
ments, or of the Body of Christ, in the Eucharist, is
to represent that the Church is only figuratively, not
l-eally, the Body of Christ " — he must not be surprised if
in this instance also one thinks he has (unconsciously) misre-
presented those to whom he refers; especially as the only clue
he gives, in saying " this position, has been avowed
by the most eminent and most universally esteemed of the
divines in question," affords no means of comparing his own
language with that of which he complains. It is indeed
strange, and difficult to reconcile with controversial fairness,
that he should persist in fixing upon others results which he
draws from their belief; yet so he does again in a passage
immediately following; for (p. 4S2) assuming it to be held
that " the unreceived Elements demand Divine Worship," he
asks "must not this, d fottiori, be extended to the communi-
cant, who receives these Elements, and who is further
declared to be— which the Elements are not — 'one with
436
Christ, and Christ with him?'" This question has been
partly answered, I think, in what has been already said;
I can now only again remark in addition, and that by way of
counter inquiry — First, Who is it that demands Divine wor-
ship for the Elements 1 Next, is not our Sacramental Union
and Communion with Christ the very argument for that
reverence, i.e. worship, which is so continually insisted upon
as due from us to both our own bodies and to the bodies of
our brethren in Christ ?
Exactly the same misrepresentation (I do not mean wilful)
pervades the remaining portion of his Note (p. 4S2) where
he says " It is now avowed as one principal purpose of the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist, to be present simply to
offer divine worship to Christ as present under the Elements :
that is, as has been shewn to the Elements themselves." To
this last sentence I cannot but reply — that it seems to me
Mr. Freeman has entirely failed to shew any such identity as
he here alleges. With regard, however, to the former part
of the passage — though incautious or exaggerated language
on the part of some may furnish ground for warning lest
communion should be neglected or superseded by the advocacy
of worship — if Mr. F. intends to deny the lawfulness of non-
communicating worship, then I must venture respectfully to
differ entirely from him : that he appears to do so, seems to
follow from his asking " What single prayer or invocation
has the English Church, at any rate, provided for this pur-
pose ? " But the mere absence of any such provision would
not prove the illegality of such worship ; to establish this it
would be necessary to shew that the Service itself, either in
terms or by clear implication, forbids it ; otherwise, that it is
contrary to some Law of the Church elsewhere recorded :
with some confidence I express my belief that not only no
such prohibition can be gathered from either source, but
that the Evidence proves the contrary : this is not the place to
investigate the subject,* yet it may be desirable to point to
* But I may be permitted here again, as at p. 326, to refer to a Publication
where it is discussed.
437
the following Rubrics as shewing that non-communicating
attendance of " the faithful " was designed to be allowed : —
"At the time of the celebration of the Communion, the Com-
municants being conveniently placed " &c, " Then shall the
Priest say to them that come to receive " &c, " Then shall
this general Confession be made, in the name of all those
that are minded to receive " &c, " Then shall the Priest, .
. . . say in the name of all them that shall receive " &c,
" Then shall the Priest say the Lord's Prayer, the people
[not merely the Communicants] repeating after him every
petition." To these may be added the Rubric directing the
consumption of the remains of the Sacrament by " the Priest
and such other of the Communicants as he shall then call
unto him " — an order which would be wholly superfluous if
none but Communicants might be present during that por-
tion of the Service from which, by a comparatively modern
custom, non-communicants usually withdraw.
I presume, however, that Mr. Freeman objects, to non-
communicating attendance for worship, on another ground
than that of the non-provision of " prayer or invocation ;"
for, at p. 278 he writes thus : —
" Another remark is, that among the results of this investigation
we cannot reckon the faintest trace or intimation of any worship to
be paid to a sacrifice. This is indisputable. The worship is through-
out presented by means of the sacrifice, not directed to it. There
is no countenance then, from this quarter at least, for the mediaeval
opinion, lately re-introduced by some earnest minds among us, that
the supreme purpose, or, however, a very principal one, of the
Eucharist, is to provide in the ordained media of the rite, — the ct>n-
secrated Elements, — an object of Divine Worship. However in-
geniously it has been endeavoured to invoke the countenance of
Fathers and liturgies to such a view, it would seem absolutely fatal
to it, that the ancient sacrificial system, Divinely accredited to us as
an exact type or copy of the Gospel scheme, gives not the remotest
hint of such a feature as destined to have place in it."
Without, however, meaning to use the expedient of endea-
vouring to refute an Author's statements by other passages in
his writings when he was in the same mental phase ( a resort
always of questionable value unless there can be no reason-
able doubt of his whole mind having been fairly grasped) I can-
438
not but compare what Mr. Freeman here says, with a remark
which he has elsewhere made in the same Volume ; because
it seems to me to furnish ground for modifying the conclusion
at which he has here arrived : thus, at p. 4, after observing
of " the Holy Euch rist" that " by the distinct intimation of
our Lord Himself, its nature was to be ascertained by
reference to a system in itself sacrificial," he says : —
" As to the range which that reference, or parallel, was to take, it
may be observed, that though out Lord might not unnaturally, at
first sight, have been understood to point exclusively, (as doubtless
He referred very especially) to the Mosaic system, under which the
Apostles were brought up, His words contain, in truth, no such
limitation. No one dispensation or covenant is specified as having
an exclusive commission to interpret the New Ordinance : much less
is any particular rite of the Mosaic Institution so distinguished ;
such as, for example, the Passover Doubtless the Church
.... was to apply to those words of her Lord [i.e. the words of
Institution], with the utmost universality, what St. Paul has said,
in a more restricted sense, of certain words of Jeremiah : ' In that
He saith, A New Covenant, He hath made the first,' even all former
sacrificial dispensations, ' old.' And He referred to them all in
their entire extent, as His interpreters. The Eye of the Saviour,
in pronouncing those memorable words, glanced, we cannot doubt,
over the whole religious experience through which He Himself had
conducted mankind."
Yet this very argument, of the parallel to the Eucharistic
Sacrifice having to be sought in the "■ entire extent" of " all
former sacrificial dispensations " and not in the Mosaic alone,
supports the further consideration which can hardly fail to
suggest itself — That the parallel cannot be carried through-
out, because " the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world" is an Object of Divine Worship, which the Victim in
all other Sacrifices could not be. — Hence, then, the Body
and Blood of Christ being (as Mr. F. holds) really present
in the Memorial Eucharistic Sacrifice, i.e. Christ Himself
being present (as is contended in opposition to Mr. F. and as
may, further, be reasonably inferred from the fact that —
though the command under the Old Covenant was (Deut. xii.
23) " Be sure that thou eat not the Blood; for the blood is
the life ; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh" — the
bidding of Christ is (S. Matt. xxvi. 27, 28.) " Drink ye
439
all of it ; for this is My Blood [My Life] of the New Testa-
ment as Bp. Ridley declared (See p. 54) " I say also with
St. Augustine, that we eat life and we drink life ;) it would
seem to follow that the worship may and must be " directed
to " as well as " presented by " Him " our Passover " Who
"is sacrificed for us" (not however to "the consecrated
Elements " as Mr. F. again repeats) : and this though, or
rather because, there be not (as Mr. F. says) " the faintest
trace or intimation of any worship to be paid to a sacrifice."
In fact Mr. Freeman evidently expected some such reply as
this and endeavours to anticipate it ; for he says (p. 279) : —
" But it will perhaps be contended that this is among the number
of the things in which the Old system could not justly mirror forth
the New ; arising as it does out of the Divine Nature of the Gospel
Sacrifice and Priest. But to this there is the fatal objection, that St.
Paul, when setting forth to the Hebrews the points in which the
Gospel sacrificial system transcends that of the Law, makes no men-
tion of this as one. Nor is there, confessedly, a single word in the
New Testament, any more than in the Old, of direction or instruc-
tion to the effect contended for. It is purely a matter of inference ;
an inference the unsoundness of which, as well as the fearful con-
clusions which (by the admission of the upholders of it themselves)
follow from it, has been pointed out elsewhere," viz-, as his Foot-
note mentions, in the " Note at the End of the Volume " upon
which I am here commenting ; and in his " Introd. to Part II., pp.
142 — 145 " already noticed at pp. 248-9.
Yet, on consideration, this alleged silence of St. Paul need
not be " the fatal objection " which Mr. Freeman avers; and
therefore, as not dealing directly with the subject like the
Epistle to the Hebrews, the silence of the rest of Holy
Scripture is of less moment. For, besides that the argu-
ment of St. Paul seems in its nature limited to shewing how
"the Gospel sacrificial system transcends that of the Law"
where it corresponds with it, his reticence as to its other
higher aspects may, perhaps, be accounted for by the hin-
drance which he there mentions (vv. 11, 12) before making
his comparison: — "Of whom we have many things to
say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need
that one teach you again which be the first principles of the
440
oracles of God ; and are become such as have need of milk,
and not of strong meat " And though it might seem at first
that Mr. Freeman's theory is upheld apparently in the
Apostle's Eucliaristic exhortation (xiii. 15) "By him there-
fore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name;"
the theory of " worship to be paid to a sacrifice " may perhaps
be a very legitimate " inference " from the opening language
of the Epistle (i. 6) " When He bringeth in the first-begotten
into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God wor-
ship Him ;" for if the Incarnate One Sacramentally comes in
again by His Own appointed Eucharist, it cannot but be
that so great a condescension to those who are lower than
the Angels demands from them at least as deep an Adoration ;
He the true Melchizedeck " of whom it is witnessed that
he liveth " (vii. 8) receiving " there," where He ever inter-
cedes for them, the " tithes " of His people's deep devotion.
In such "an inference" there surely is not "the unsound
ness" which Mr. Freeman may well indeed deprecate ; though,
happily, "the fearful conclusions" he refers to, so far from
being an " admission " on the part of those whom he so indis-
tinctly indicates, are really, as I think I have shewn, the erro-
neous inference which he so unaccountably imputes to them.
There is one other statement which Mr. Freeman makes,
in connexion with his observations just considered, which
needs to be noticed : he says (p. 279) : —
" Neither, again, does the ancient system, rightly understood, and
taken in conjunction with Christ's own ordinance, lend any support
to another mediaeval habit, closely allied to the former one, of
taking part, as it is called, in the sacrifice, without receiving. In the
old system, the kind of offering which, and which alone, was of
power to retain the people in the covenanted estate, was the peace
or eucliaristic offering. This, offered and partaken of thrice a-year
at least, was, as has been shewn, the condition and channel of
Israelitish life."
But the latter portion of this passage appears to me to
correct the former and to admit even more than is contended
for by those against whom Mr. Freeman urges his objec-
4 I J
tions : if, indeed, they advocated habitual non-communi-
cating attendance, there would be a force in his objection
and a fitness in his parallel : but, as their contention expresses
or implies frequent or at least the prescribed Communions
(the case excepted of those who may be preparing for Com-
munion) so, it seems to me, the complaint is irrelevant;
though, at the same time, it furnishes an argument where-
with to justify a practice which would be strictly lawful
according to the rule of the English Liturgy. For, if a
person, acting upon the Rubric, were to " communicate
three times in the year, of which Easter to be one ;" and were
to be present throughout " the Divine Service," without Com-
municating, during the rest of the year, he could defend his
habit on that very requirement of " the old system " which,
Mr. Freeman says, was " the condition and channel of
Israelitish life." I do not say that such a habit of minimum
reception would be an expedient one ; nor am I forgetting
that more frequent Communions are by distinct implication
counselled in this Rubric and should therefore be continually
and carefully recommended as the means of attaining those
increased spiritual " benefits whereof we are partakers
thereby ;" yet that the " taking part, as it is called, in the
sacrifice, without receiving " has its own blessing, appears
to me to be practically admitted in Mr. Freeman's argument,
and seems even more plainly implied by his saying elsewhere
(p. 243) " .... it could not be but that admission to the
Presence would, apart from sacramental reception, involve a
measure of such communion " as he points out was one " of the
needs of man " provided for " under the older dispensation."
It is not without much consideration and great diffidence,
remembering the learning and ability of Mr. Freeman, that
I have hazarded these few remarks upon his Note : they
have been made in the hope of removing the erroneous
impressions, touching the alleged opinions of others, which it
seems too calculated to produce ; and also, with the object
of shewing that, when accurately represented, they are not
contrariant to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church,
L L L
442
and, moreover, may apparently be harmonized with that
ancient Doctrine of Sacrifice and Communion so elaborately
discussed in a Work which one regrets, in common with
others, may perchance be deteriorated in value by the
peculiar theory of Eucharistic Presence so entirely and ex-
clusively asserted in that Note and throughout Mr. Freeman's
Volume.
To conclude. The preceding pages have been written
under a strong sense of the great importance of not only not
widening in the least the breaches caused by recent Eucha-
ristic controversy ; but, on the contrary, of doing everything
possible to heal dissensions, so far as can be done consistently
with what is due to the full and dispassionate consideration
of all the reliable Evidence which is producible, however
conflicting it may, or may be thought to, be. Moreover the
moral, and in the case of Clergy the legal obligation of not
contradicting the Decisions of the Catholic Church— re-
presented to us in this Kingdom by the Church of England —
has been carefully borne in mind ; they were meant not to be,
and it is hoped and believed they are not, infringed by any
opinions expressed or conclusions drawn in this Volume.
The sole aim has been to promote Peace and Concord touching
a subject which, from its special relation to Him "Who is
" the Author" of the one and "the Lover " of the other, pre-
eminently demands their culture. If what has now been
said shall lead any to a juster appreciation of the English
Reformation period than that in which, there is reason to be-
lieve, it is too commonly held ; and if, in doing this, it shall
further tend in the very smallest degree to reconcile differ-
ences, to remove doubts, to attest continuity of ancient Doc-
trine, to promote reverence, to deepen Faith, to encourage
Hope, and especially to enlarge and strengthen Charity — the
not unpleasing task of investigating a question of some
Historical and Theological interest will have found a more
than sufficient recompence.
INDEX.
Access, prayer of, Bucer's commendation of - - Note 405
Adoration of the Sacrament, Trent Decree and Canon thereon - 91-2
Cosin's opinion of .... 138
JSlfric's Anglo-Saxon Homily - - - 68, 218-19
A-Lasco, John, his Letter to Bullinger, 1551, on Bucer's latest opinions
of R. Presence. .... Note 406
Alesius, Alex., errors of Dr. Townsend, Dr. Wordsworth and others
respecting him .... 99-102
Dr. Wordsworth's account of him, in Eccl. Biog. - - 101
Chalmers' account of him, Biog. Diet. - - 102
Altai-, Sacrament of, Statute on, 1547 ... 6
reverence due to - - - - 386-90
Andrews, St., Bp. of, his Opinion on Mr. Cheyne's Appeal Note 117
Aquinas, S. Thomas, his doctrine of Presence in the Sacrament Note 115
his question— Whether light is a body or a quality ?— considered 345
Article xxviii. of 1562, compared with Decl. on Kneeling - - 411-15
xxix. of 1552 - - - - 32
omitted in part in 1571 - - - 69
Clause on Reservation etc. of Set. ... 92
Mr. Hardwick's opinion of it - - - - 111
xxix. Title of when signed by Geste, May 11, 1571 Note 20
Articles of 1552, Knox one of the revisers of - - - 93
Lat. copy, of, in St. Paper Office, signed by Knox and other five
Royal Chaplains - - - 110
Mr. Hardwick's account of their preparation - - 118
1571, discussion of Bps. upon them. - - 208
Dr. Lambe on Bodl. MS. of - - - Note 231
Mr. Hardwick on Parker MS. of - - 233 and Note
of Bp. Hooper, 1551-2, remarks thereon . - - 119
Irish, of 1615 ..... 285
Augustine, St., his opinion of what Judas received - Note 210
on reception by the wicked - - - 216
444
INDEX.
PAGE.
Bangor Rubric on Consumption of Sacrament - - 135
Barlow, his account of irreverent mode of giving the Set. in 1603 - Note 128
Baxter, Richard, his account of the Managers of the Savoy Con-
ference ----- Note 322
Bennett, Hist, of Articles quoted . - - 208, 223-4
Bertram, his Doctrine on the Eucharist, Cranmer's opinion of it - 20
Bingham, " How the remains of the Eucharist were disposed of 141, 143, 149
Ancient division of the Oblations - 147
meaning of "the faithful" in Eccl. Writers - - 294
Bishops, Ans. of, to Puritans in 1661 as to Decl. on Kneeling - 70
remarks upon the same - 411-15
Blunt, Prof, doctrinal significance of Veiling the Sacrament - - 382
Bonner, Bp., conversation with Cranmer Sep. 10, 1549 - 6
Bradford, John, his Second Examination Jan. 1554-5 - - 41
Bread to be used in Communion, Rubric on - Note 35
Brechin, Bp. of, on alleged consequences of Doct. of Real Presence Note 334
Brett, Dr., his objection to Consecration Prayer in P. Book of 1662, con-
sidered ... - Notes 404-5
Browne, Mr. Harold, on omission of Clause = Declaration at Revision of
Articles in 1559 - - - - - 190
meaning of the Declaration - - Note 355
Bucer, varied from P. Martyr on Real Presence - - - 12
his illustration of Real Presence, from the Sun, cited by Gardiner 73
his objection to Oblation of the Elements - Note 89
his doubt of influencing changes in P. Bk. - - 89, 402
his Letter of Ap. 26, 1549 as to P. Bk. - Note 166
his opinion of P. Martyr's belief on R. Presence - - 175
his Letter to Calvin, 1550, on R. Presence - - 176
his Letter to P. Martyr 1549, on R. Presence Note 398-402, 406
his Letter to Theo. Niger, 1550, on R. Presence - Notes 401, 403
his objection to P. of Consecration in P. Book of 1549, con-
sidered ----- Notes 403-6
his latest opinions on R. Presence, A-Lasco's account of Note 406
Burial Service, meaning of " the faithful " therein - - 298
Burnet, Bp., his character of Bp. Shaxton - - - 4
his account of Order in Council Book for Declaration 1552 35
his account of omission of Declaration in P. B. 1559 - - 63
his account of restoration of Declaration in P. B. 1662 - 71-2, 301
his account of Bp. Gawden ... Note 72
his character of Ld. Chancellor Goodrick - - 98
his account of review of Art. xxviii. in 1559 - - 189
his " Own Time," Lord Macaulay's remarks upon the Harleian
MS. of it .... Note 301
Hearne's opinion of it - - - - ib.
his defence of Kneeling at Sacrament - Note 336
Burton, Dr., his account of Picture in Cranmer's Catm. 1648 - 16S-70
INDEX.
445
PACE.
Calvin, his Eucharistie belief as quoted by Bp, Cosin - Note 86-7
his Letter to Cranmer, Apr. 1552 - - 90
his Letter to Bullingcr on the " Thing " of the Set., June 1548
Note 413-U
Cambridge, Three Disputations at on Eucharist - - 13-18
Canon of 1604, on Reverence to the Altar - - - 386
Canons, Ancient, as to remains of Sacrament - - - 146-51
Card well, Dr., his error as to Authority of Declaration in 1552 - 120
his error as to Editions of the P. Book of 1552 in which the
Declaration appeared - - - - 121
his error as to alarm in Council, in 1552, on Real Presence - 121-2
Catechism, Cranmer's of 1548 .... 154
of Ch. of England, Bp. Overall's additions to - - 283
Cecil, Sec, his Letter on Articles of 1552 120
" Censura," Bucer's, quoted - Notes 404, 405
Cheney, Bp., the question of his Subscription to Articles considered - 224
Cheyne, Mr., his error as to Rubric of 1552 - Note 89
Chrysostom, St., on reception by wicked - - Note 228
Collier, his account of omission of Declaration in P. B. 1559 - 64
Communion in both kinds, Proclamation of 1548 ordering it, approved
by Bp. Gardiner - - - - 26
Confirmation, Purit. obj. at Hamp. Ct. Conference - Note 221
Consecration of Eucharist, Cranmer's belief thereon - 85-9 & Note
Cosin's belief thereon - . 137
Prayer of, in Book of 1549, how far altered in deference to
Bucer ----- Notes 401-6
Cosin, Bp , his opinion of Calvin's Eucharistie doctrine - Note 86-7
Notes on the C. Prayer - Note 122-4, 126 -7, 131-2, 137-8, 141, 146
Effect of Consecration • - - - 137
His opinion of Adoration - - - - 138
bis suggestions for alteration of P. Book - - 148
his Hist, of Transubstantiation quoted - - 150,331-6
Notes on C. Prayer, remarks upon - - Note 290
Baxter's account of him in Savoy Conf. - - Note 322
his language on real Presence in Hist, of Transub. - 331-6
Cranmer, Abp., conversation with Bonner Sep. 10, 1549 - - 6
his uses of the word " Sacrament " - - - 20
his opinion of Bertram's doctrine on the Eucharist •■ - 20
his Answer to Gardiner, quoted ... 20-26
his Eucharistie Doctrine in Justus Jonas's Catechism, approved
by Gardiner . - - - - 27
his Disputation at Oxford, 1555 ... 45
his argument with Gardiner as to presence of the Sun 73, 342-3
his Letter to P. Council on Rubric of Kneeling at Set. Oct. 7, 1552 77
Foxe's account of his belief on the Eucharist - - 84
his belief as to Consecration .... 85-9
44-6
INDEX.
PACE.
Cranmer, his Euchariatic belief compared with that of Calvin Note 86-7
his Letter to Calvin on Co. of Trent, March 20, 1552 - - 90
probably considered reverence synonymous with Standing by Cele-
brant, Kneeling with all others ... 125-8
his Catechism of 1548 - - - - - 154
Ans. to Smith on the same - Note 155
Rowland Taylor's opinion of it ... Note 157
his own explanation of it - - - - 159
Bp. Gardiner's inference from it - 165-67
abandoned Transubstantiation before 1545 - 160, 263, 275
his prob. opinion of Lights and Vestments - Note 166
his account of Picture in Catm. 1548 - ib.
Dr. Burton's do. 168
his Ans. to Smith as to doct. of Set. taught by P. Martyr and
Catm. 1548 ... - Note 167
his account of Presence not held by Luther and others Note 168
Mr. Fisher's account of his opinion on Real Presence - 170-1
his Eucharistic opinions in 1549-50 argued from Bp. Hooper's
language ..... 174-6
his opinions whether influenced or not by Bucer - 175, Note 402-3
his definition of Corporal .... 177-8
his statements about R. Presence and Transubstantiation - 179-86
bad abandoned, in 1548, his belief in corporal presence - 276
his comparison of corporal presence of Christ and the Sun - 342
David's, St., Bp. of, quoted by Mr. Goode against Dr. Pusey - 257-9
his opinion of Denison Prosecution - - - 259
Declaration on Kneeling of 1552 and 1562 compared - - 2
order for, in Council Book Oct. 27, 1552 - - 35 & Note
omitted in P. Book 1559 .... 63-4
restored, under what circumstances - - 70-73, 302, 307-9
framed upon basis of Art. xxix. 1552 ... 114-18
Error of Bps. of S. Andrew's, Glasgow, and Moray as to mean-
ing of it - - - - Note 117
not added to P. Book of 1552 by mere authority of Edw. vith. - 120
in what Editions of P. Bk. of 1552 it appeared - - 121
its use of the word " sacramental " noticed - - 256
Abp. Seeker's opinion of it - - Note 288
Mr. Fisher's remarks on change of it in 1662 - Note 337
Mr. Goode's explanation of it considered - - 339-41
Mr. Goode's reason for its exclusion from P. Book between 1552
and 1662, examined .... 355-58
Abraham Woodhead's opinion of it - - 361, 368, 370
Mr. Goode's assertion— that it is directed against Adoration to
Christ present as God and man — examined - - 383-6
INDEX.
447
Denison, Archn., his use of " profitably" compared by Mr. Goode, with
a proposal made by Bp. Guest ... 214
Disputation on Eucharist, at Oxford, June 11, 1549 - - 9-13
at Cambridge, June 20 and 24, 1549 - - - 13-18
at Oxford, April 18, 1554 .... 39-41
at Oxford, April 16, 1555 .... 45-52
at Oxford, 1555 ..... 52-61
Epistles, Apostolical, meaning of " faithful " therein - - 291
Eucharist, how celebrated in England in Dec. 1549 •■ - 173
Fagius, Paul, his Letter to Ministers at Strasburgh on P. Book 1549 Note 166
" Faithful, the," its meaning considered - 286-301
Ferrar, Bp., Articles against, 1553-4 ... 37
Fisher, Mr., his opinion of Cranmer's belief on Real Presence - 170-1
his opinion of intended prosecution of Arch. Wilberforce Note 259-60
his opinion of the authority of Cranmer's Catm. in 1551 Note 262
his opinion of Bp. Overall's additions to Catechism - 284
his remark on " Real " - - - Note 331
his observations on change in Decl. on Kneeling Note 337
his remarks on Rubric as to remains of the Sacrament - 380
comparison of quotations from his 1st and 2nd Ed. Note 381
his opinion of Bucer's and Martyr's influence with Cranmer Note 403
his opinion of doctrine of " res sacramentaria" - Note 409
Forbes, Bp., on Real Presence .... 374
" Forms of Bread and Wine," not used in Communion Service, Cranmer 21, 261
how explained by Cranmer - - - - 179
how explained by Jewel ... - 267-270
Foxe, his opinion of P. Martyr's Disputat. at Oxford, June 11, 1549 - 9
his account, from John Young, of Dr. Bedman's opinion of Re-
ception by the wicked ... 29
his estimate of Cranmer's Eucharistic belief - 84
Freeman, Mr., his opinion of Real Presence compared with Bp. Jewel's
objection to Harding's expression - Note 248
his opinions on the subject further examined - - 421-42
Gardiner, Bp., acknowledged Real Presence taught in P. B. 1549 and
by Bp. Ridley, Dr. Redman, and Abp. Cranmer in 1550-1 - 9, 26, 27
The Lord Paget's account of his Doctrine in 1550-1 - 28
his argument from Bucer as to presence of the Sun - 73, 343-4
his inference from Catm. 1548 ... 165
Gauden, Bp., pressed restoration of Deel. - - -71,302
character of him - - 302 and Note, Note 322
his " Tears, sighs," etc. - - - - 303
his " Counsell ... to xliv. Presbyters," etc. - - 305
his " Whole Duty of a Communicant," etc. - - 310-20
448
INDEX.
PAGE.
Gest, Disputant at Cambridge, 1549 - - . 17
his opinion on Kneeling at Sacrament - - -64
his Letter to Cecil, Dec. 22, 1566 - - - 192
his Second Letter, May 1571 ... 195-204
the question of his Subscripn. to Articles considered 231 and Note
Glyn, Dr., Disputant at Cambridge 1-589 - - - 13-17
Goode, Mr., (Dean of Ripon), on Oral Manducation - - 144
on Cranmer's doctrine in 1548 .... 155
his error on Roman belief of natural presence - - ltil
his statement replied to— that " the interpretation . .given to the
28th Art." by Bp. Geste's Letter of Dec. 22, 1566, is " shown
to be inadmissible by " his 2nd Letter o! May 1571 - 204-15
his argument considered— that Abp. Parker's Letter, June 4, 1571
proves his disagreement with Guest on the Eucharist 215-17 Note 233
his argument from Preface to Anglo-Sax. Horn, answered 217-220
his comparison of the words of Bp. Guest and Bp. Jewel considered 240-2
his complaint of Dr. Pusey's quotation from S. Isidore, examined 251-5
his objection to the term " sacramentaily " answered - - 255-7
his quotation from Bp. of St. David's in re Dr. Pusey's Notes on
the Eucharist, noticed - 207-60
his argument from Cranmer's reply to Gardiner in re " under
the form of bread and wine " and the P. B. of 1549, con-
sidered - - - - 261-2
his assertion that Cranmer "altogether repudiated the phrase "
for the Church of England, replied to - - 263-4
his argument as to meaning of " the faithful," examined - 285-301
his remarks on Bp. Cosin's reference to Bp. Overall in Notes on
C. Prayer, considered - Note 290
his argument on the meaning of the Decl. on Kneelg. considered 338-41
his reason for the exclusion of the Declaration between 1552 and
1662, examined - 355-358
his remarks on oral manducation, considered - Note 356-7
his admission of possible "real" = material "Presence in the
Supper" - - - Note 358
his citations from Abraham Woodhead to prove that the Presence
is " to the receiver, but not to the Elements," discussed 359-79
his remarks on spiritual presence being = presence of a Spirit,
noticed ... - Note 377
his opinion of Dr. Pusey's reference to Rubric on receiving of
Sacrament, considered - 380
his remarks on spiritual partaking of a material thing, argued from 383-6
his reference to Can. 7 A.D. 1640, and to Abp. Laud in explana-
tion of the Declaration on Kneeling, mistaken - - 386-93
his argument as to worship due to the Sacrament, examined 395
his opinion as to the proper name for the Sacrament if " a com-
pound of different things, replied to - - 397
INDEX.
449
Goode, Mr., (Dean of Ripon), his definition of " represented " considered 398
his remarks on Dr. Pusey's use of " enjoy, " corrected by Bucer's
use of it - - - - Note 402
his statement of the effect of Buck's objn. to Cons. Prayer in
Bk. of 1549, considered - - Note 404-6
his remark on the meaning of " This is My Body," considered 404-7
his opinion of altered Eucharistic phraseology in P. Bk. 1552,
considered ----- 408-11
Goodrich, Bp., Lord Chancellor in 1552, hid opinions and character - 97-8
Gorham, Mr , " Reformation Gleanings," quoted Notes 398-403, 410, 413
Griffiths, Mr., his remarks on Advt. to 1st Book of Homilies Note 265
Grindal, Disputant at Cambridge, 1549 - - - 17
Dialogue between Custom and Verity - - 66
Letter (from him and Horn) to Bullinger, Feb. 6, 1566-7 on
Kneeling ..... 191
" Guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord," explanation of it in Primer
of 1541 .... Note 289
Gunning, Bp., alteration of Declaration in 1662 - - 71
Baxter's account of him in Savoy Conf. - Note 322-3
Hallam, Mr., on intended confirmation of Eng. Liturgy by Piusix. - 191
Hammond, Dr., on Real Presence - - - Note 373
Hampton Court Conference, discussion there about Catechism - 283
Hardwick, Mr., his opinion of Art. xxix. of 1552 - - 111
his account of preparation of Articles of 1552 „ - 118
his account of Parker M.S. of Articles of 1571 - 233 and Note
Heat, theories of the nature of 346
Heylin, Dr., his account of Bps' discussion of Articles, May 1571 203
his account of changes in Commn. Service - - - 330
on adoration towards the East - - Note 387
Hierurgia Anglicana, quoted ----- 387-90
Homilies of 1547, Advertisement to - • 160, 260, 283
2nd Bk. of, Horn. xv. .... 163
Homily on the Sacrament, Pt. 2 ; reception by the wicked - 216
" of Com. Prayer and Sacraments " - - - 222
on the Sacrament Pt. 2 - - - Note 230
Hooker, on the Presence due to Christ's nature - - Note 373
Hooper, Bp., hi3 Article on Transubstantiation and Corporal Presence
1561-2 - - - . 30
Articles ministered to W. Phelps, 1551 - - - 30
his Articles of 1551-2, remarks thereon - - 119
his Letter to Bucer, June 19, 1548, on Eucharist - - 171-2
his Letter to Bullinger, Ap. 26, 1549, on Lutheranism - 172
ditto Feb. 5, 1549-50, on Eucharist - 174
Hours, the, publicly used in England in Dec. 1549 - - 173
Humphrey and Sampson, Letter to Bullinger, July 1566 - . Note 234
M M M
450
INDEX.
Isidoiie, St., as quoted by Mr. Goode and Di. Pusey - - 251-5
Jebb's Choral Service, presentation of Offerings - - Note 132
Jewel, Bp., his controversy with Harding on the Eucharist 235-250, 267-9
his "defence of the apology" quoted - - Note 264
did not object to " under the form of bread and wine" 264-270, 280
Jenkyns, Dr., his opinion of John ab TJlmis - Note 186
Keble, Mr,, his opinion of Hooker's limitations as to Real Presence Note 373
Kennett, Bp., his description of Documents used in Review of 1661 - 132
his notice of alterations in P. Book, 1661 - Note 309
Kneeling, synonymous with Sevcrence, argument upon it - 122-152
at Sacrament, Guest's opinion of it ... 64
objected to by Non-Conformists in 1661 - - - 70
Cranmer's Letter to P. Council on Rubric of, Oct. 7, 1552 - 77
John Knox the probable chief objector to Rubric on - - 93, 97
probable nature of his objections ... 104-8
need of resisting Knox's objection to, and Cranmer's mode of deal-
ing with it .... 112-118
Cosin's explanation of it - - - - 138
Bishops' defence of it, in Savoy Conf. - - - 307
Bp. Morton's defence of it 328
Knox, John, one of the Six Royal Chaplains appointed to revise Arti-
cles of 1652 ... 93 Note 109
D. of Northumberland suggests him to Cecil for Bp. Oct. 28, 1552 94
his subsequent dispute with the Duke - Note 94
his Letter to Cecil - - - - - 95
his character of some of Edw. vith. Councillors - - 94
reference to him in Co. Book indicates that he provoked Cran-
mer's Letter to P. Council, Oct. 7, 1552 - - 96
his proposed preferment to All-hallows, Bread-st. and refusal of
it, 1652-3 ..... 96-7
his Exam, by P. Council as to Kneeling at the Lord's Table - 97
his objection to Kneeling at Set. prob. referred to by Weston in
1554 ..... 98-101
the ground of his objections shewn from his own citings - 104-8
Lambe, Dr., his Note on Bodl. M.S. of Articles - - 231
Langdale, Disputant at Cambridge 1549 - - - 15-17
Lathbury, Mr., his opinion of Bodleian Editions of Primer of 1575, ex-
amined ... - Note 272
Latimer, Bp., his opinion in 1554 of P. Book 1552 - - 34
his disputation at Oxford 1554 ... 39
his Conference with Ridley 1655 - - - 42
" Remains" of, Parker Society's Ed., error as to Alesius 99
INDEX.
451
PAOE.
Latimer, Bp., his denial of Lutheranism on the Set. - 156 and Note
Laud, Abp., on reverence to the Altar ... 388-90
on Real Presence - 390-93
Light, theories of the nature of - - - - 345
Lights, Altar, not intended to be disused under P. Book 1549 Note 166
used in Dec. 1549 .... 173
Liturgies, Ancient, meaning of " the faithful " therein - - 291-3
illustrate meaning of " So " in Prayer of Access. Note 297
Macatjlay, Lord, his account of the Harl. MS. of Bp. Burnet's " Own
Time" .... Note 301
Madew, Dr., Disputant at Cambridge, 1549 - - 13-16
Marback, J., his opinion of R. Presence as stated by P. Martyr Note 406
Martyr, P., Disputation at Oxford, June 11, 1549, analysis of - 10-13
his Doctiine of Real Presence differed from Bucer's - 12
his " Confession of the Lord's Supper, exhibited to the Senate of
Strasburgh," 1566 - - - Note 402-3
prob. did not object to Doctrine of P. Book of 1549 Note 403
his Letter to Calvin, 1555, on Marback's opinion of R. Presence Note 406
his letter to Bullinger, June 14, 1552, on the hindrances to the
Reformation .... Note 409-20
his Letter to Bucer on Reformation of the Rituals Note 402
Morley, Bp., favoured restoration of Declaration on Kneeling - 302
his character - - - - 323
his opinions on Real Presence .... 323-9
Morton, Bp., "of the Institution of the Sacrament," etc. - 327
his " Catholic Appeal " 328
his " Defence of . . . Kneeling" ... ifo.
Nichol, his Note on Cosin's suggested alteration of Rubric " if any of
the Bread," etc. - - - - 148
Non-communicating presence at H. Cora, allowed by Bp. Ferrar, 1553-4 37
Northumberland, Duke of, his Letters to Cecil about J. Knox - 94-5
Oblation of Elements, not rejected in P. Book of 1552 - Note 85
posture of Celebrant at .... 133
Oblations, Bingham's account of Ancient division of - - 147
Offerings, posture of presenting them by Celebrant and people - 131-4
Oral Manducation, remarks on - - - - 144-6
Overall, Bp., his additions to the Catechism ... 283
his opinion on Real Presence ... 290
Paget, the Lord, his account of Gardiner's Doctrine in 1550-1 - 28
Parker, Abp., his Letter on the form of Bread for H. C. Feb. 6, 1570-71 Note 234
452
INDEX.
PAGE.
Pearson, Dr., Baxter's account of him in Savoy Conf. - Note 322
Phelps, W., Articles consented to by him 1551 - - .30
Philpot, Archn., Dispn. at Lon. 1553 ... 38
Pole, Cardinal, Letter to him from Duke of Somerset, June 4, 1549 7
Prayer Book of 1549, Bp. Gardiner's opinion of it - - 26
intention of its changes, stated by Bucer and Fagius - Note 166
Heylin's account of changes in - 330
1552, taught same Eucharistic Doctrine as that of 1549 - 33-4
1559, how prob. regarded by Pius iv. - - 191
1636-7 (Scotch) Rubric " if any of the Bread and Wine remain," &c. 124
1549-62, meaning of " the faithful " therein - 295-301
Prayer of Access. 1549-1662 - - - Note 164
illustrated from Ancient Liturgies - - Note 297
Presence, Divine, under the Law and the Gospel, illustrated from the Sun 347-355
Primer, reformed, Variations in a prayer of, containing the words " under
the form of bread and wine," 1545 to 1575, examined 270-283
Propositions, nine, drawn from contents of the Volume - - 416-20
Prostration at Sacrament, not allowed to the Puritans - - 65, 393
Pusey, Dr., his quotation from S. Isidore, as noticed by Mr. Goode, ex-
amined .... - 251-5
v. Bp. of S. David's, referred to by Mr. Goode - - 257-60
his argument from Advt. to Homilies as noticed by Mr. Goode 260-283
his argument from Rubrical directions on remains of the Sacra-
ment, as noticed by Mr. Goode, defended - - 380-3
his remarks on reservation etc., of Sacrament (Art. 28), as com-
plained of by Mr. Goode, considered
his use of " enjoy " defended by Bucer's use of it from Mr. Goode's
objection .... Note 402-3
Redman, Dr., his Doctrine of Real Presence, in 1548, approved by
Gardiner - - - - - 27
his statements on Real Presence in Nov. 1551 - - 28-30
Letter concerning him from Young to Cheke, 1551 - - 29
Remains of Sacrament, in what posture intended to be consumed - 122-152
how anciently disposed of, stated by Bingham - 142, 143
Ancient Canons relating to - 1*6, 151
English Rubric on, perhaps not meant to prohibit entirely reser-
vation for the Sick .... 382
" Re-presents," meaning of considered - - - - 398
Reservation of Sacrament, probably practised under P. Bk. of 1552 Note 89
Cosin's opinion of - - - - " 139-40
Reverence at Sacrament, prob. regarded by Cranmer as = Standing by
Celebrant, Kneeling by all others - - l 25 ' 8
Revisers of 1662 could not have meant less - 128-152
Reverence towards the Altar, etc., directions for - - 386-9
"Reverently," its meaning in the different Rubrics - 131- 136
INDEX.
453
PAGE.
Review of 1661, Instructions to Commissioners as to old Liturgies 130
Re-union, project for in France, 1685 - Note 332-3
Ridley, Bp., Disputant, at Cambridge, 1549 ... 14-18
Determination of the Disputation - - - 18
his Doctrine of Real Presence in 1550-1 approved by Gardiner 27
his Conference in the Tower with Secy. Bourn, 1553 - 39
his Conference with Latimer, 1555 ... 42
his "Brief declaration of the Lord's Supper," 1555 - 43
his Disputation at Oxford, 1555 ... 52
Rituals, reformation of in 1551, P. Martyr's account of - Note 402-3
Rogers, John, his 2nd Exam. 1554-5 - - - 42
Rubric of 1552, "if any of the bread and wine remain," etc., true
meaning of it - Note 89, 122-4, p. 137, 141, 416
Cosin's suggested alteration .... 148
of Celebrant's posture in Consecrating and Receiving, Cosin's
opinion of - - - - Note 126-7
of 1604 " And upon the offering days," etc., Cosin's Note - 131-2
of 1662 on publication of Banns, altered without authority - 274
on covering remains of the Sacrament, Prof. Blunt's opinion of it 382
Rubrics, Sarum and Bangor, on Consumption of Sacrament - 135
" Sacrament," Cranmor's Eucharistical uses of the term - 20
irreverence in distributing it in 1603 - - Note 128
" Sacramentally," its use objected to by Mr. Goode - - 255-7
Sarum Rubric on Consumption of Sacrament - - - 135
Seeker, Abp., on Presence in Sacrament ... 288
his opinion of the Declaration ... Note 288
Segewick, Master, Disputant, at Cambridge 1549 - - 16
Shaxton, Bp., character of him by Bp. Burnet - - - 4
his Recantation Articles, 1546 ... 5
Sheldon, Bp., opposed restoration of Declaration on Kneeling - 302
Sherlock, Dr., on Real Presence 288
Somerset, Dul