Catholique traditions. Or A treatise of the beliefe of the Christians of Asia, Europa, and Africa, in the principall controuersies of our time In fauour of the louers of the catholicke trueth, and the peace of the Church. Written in French by Th. A.I.C. and translated into English, by L.O.

THE REFORMED CHVRCH.

THe Confession of Wittenberg.c 1.1 We beleeue that the Eucharist is a Sacrament instituted by Iesus Christ himselfe, and the vse thereof was recommended to the Church, vnto the end of the world. But because that the substance thereof is one thing, and the vse another, we will speake in order of them both.

Touching the substance of the Eucharist, we beleeue and teach, that the true body and blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ is distributed in the Eucharist, & do reiect those that say that the bread and wine in the Eucharist are but signes of the body and blood of Christ being absent. We doe also beleeue, that the Almightie pow∣er of God is so great, that hee may eyther bring to no∣thing the substance of the bread, or change it into the body and blood of Christ: but it cannot be proued by the manifest word of God, that God exerciseth in the Eucharist any such absolute power; and it appeareth that no such matter was knowne to the auncient Church. But as when he speaketh of the Citie of Ieru∣salem, portrayed vpon a bricke, this same is Ierusalem, it was not necessary that the bricke should be chaunged into the Citie of Ierusalem: In like manner when he speaketh of the bread; this is my body, It is not necessary that the substance of the bread should be changed into the substance of the body of Christ: But it sufficeth for the veritie of the Sacrament, that the body of Christ be truely present with the bread: yea rather the verity of the Sacrament requireth, that the true bread remaine with the true presence of God. For euen as for the

truth of the Sacrament of Baptisme, it is necessary that in the vse therof, the water should be and remaine true water: In like manner it is necessary in the Lords Supper, that the bread in the vse therof be and remaine true bread; because that if the substance of the bread were changed, the veritie of the Sacrament remained not in his true nature.

The Confession of England.d 1.2 We say that the bread and the wine are sacred and celestiall mysteries, and that by them Iesus Christ the true bread of life eternall, is of∣fered vnto them that are present, that doe receiue his body and blood through faith: Neuerthelesse we say not, that we beleeue that the nature of the bread and wine are wholly changed and reduced to nothing.

Liturgia Gall. Let vs lift vp our spirits and our hearts, where Iesus Christ is in the glory of the father, and from whence we looke for our redemption. And let vs not dwell vpon these earthly and corruptible Ele∣ments, which we see with our eyes, and touch with our hands, to seeke for it there, as though it were inclosed in the bread or wine. For then our soules shall be fit to be nourished and reuiued by his substance, when they shall be eleuated aboue all terrestiall things, to obtaine heauen, and to enter into the kingdome of GOD where he dwelleth.

The Confession of the French men.e 1.3 We do confesse that the holy Supper of the Lord is a testimony vnto vs, of the vnitie which wee haue with Christ Iesus, be∣cause that he is not onely dead and risen againe for vs: but also nourisheth and feedeth vs truely with his flesh and blood, to the end that we should be one with him,

and that his life should be our life. And albeit that he be in heauen, vntil such time that he shal come to iudge the world; yet neuerthelesse we beleeue that through the secret and incomprehensible power of his spirite, he nourisheth and quickeneth vs by the substance of his body and blood.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Cap. 19.
• d 1.2

  Art. 12.
• e 1.3

  Art. 36.