The grand sacrilege of the Church of Rome, in taking away the sacred cup from the laiety at the Lords Table: detected, and conuinced by the euidence of holy Scripture, and testimonies of all ages successiuely from the first propagation of the catholike Christian faith to this present: together with two conferences; the former at Paris with D. Smith, now stiled by the Romanists B of Calcedon; the later at London with M Euerard, priest: by Dan. Featly, Doctor in Diuinity.

SECT. VI. Testimonies of the practise of the Church, from 500. to 600.

AS m 1.1 Tullie writeth of Hortensius, that after his Consulship he decayed in his rare fa∣cultie of eloquence, though not so sensibly, that euery auditor might perceiue it: yet in such sort, that a cunning artist might obserue, that he drew not so cleare a stroake in his ma∣ster-pieces, nor cast on them so rich and liue∣ly colours, as before. Such was the state of the Church in this age. It decayed and failed, though not so sensibly, and grossely, that eue∣ry ordinary reader might take notice thereof: yet in such sort, that the learned and iudicious haue discouered in the writers of this age, and much more after, a declination from the puri∣tie of former ages, both in stile and doctrine. Their Latine much degenerated into barba∣risme; and their deuotion into superstition. Whence it is, that the prime Doctors of the Reformed Churches, who appeale from the late corruptions in the Romish Church to the prime sinceritie in the first and best ages, con∣fine this their appeale within the pale of the fifth age.

Wherefore, the reader is not to demaund, or expect from hence forth, either so frequent testimonies, or at least, of men of that eminen∣cie, and reuerend authority, as the former

were. For such, the succeeding ages brought forth none: but it shall suffice to produce such witnesses as the times affoorded; men that held ranke with the best in their times: Such were Remigius Archbishop of Rhemes, Grego∣ry, Bishop of Tours, and the Fathers of the Councell of Toledo and Iledra.

Anno 524.

In the Councell held at Ilerda, can. 1. All those that serue at the Altar (& Christi corpus & sanguinem tradunt) and deliuer the body and blood of Christ, or handle any holy vessell, are strictly charged to abstaine from all mans blood, yea, euen of their enemies.

Anno 560.

o 1.2 Remigius Archbishop of Rhemes, thus ex∣poundeth those words of Saint Paul: The Cup of blessing wherewith we blesse; is it not the Com∣munion of the blood of Christ? The Cup is cal∣led the Communion, because all communicated or receiued the Communion out of it, participating of the blood of the Lord.

Papists answere.

If our aduersaries here flie to their old star∣ting hole; that by all, here all Priests are meant, and not all Communicants, they may be stop∣ped

by that which Hincmarus writeth in the life of this Rhemigius: that he gaue a Chalice for the peoples vse with this Motto:

Hauriat hinc populus vitam de sanguine sacro Iniecto, aeternus quem fudit vulnere Christus. Rhemigius reddit Domino sua vota Sacerdos.

Rhemigius Priest, that gaue this Cup, Prai'th that in it the people sup; And still draw life from flowing blood Out of Christs side, as of a flood.

Let it bee noted, that hee saith not, hauriat hinc clerus, but populus: not let the Priest, but let the people out of this Cup, draw life from the holy blood, which Christ shed out of his wounds. Whereby it appeareth euidently, that this Chalice was giuen by the Archbishop, for the peoples vse, at great and solemne Communi∣ons, and not for the Priests in their priuate Masses, if any such were in Rhemigius his dayes.

Anno 580.

Greg. Turonens. de glor. Martyr. li. 1. ca. 10. re∣lateth a miraculous accident, that fel out by oc∣casion of a p 1.3 Iewes child, comming with other chil∣dren to the Communion of Christs body and blood: I am sure these children were not Priests that said Masse; and if children were admitted to the holy Cup, much more men of riper yeeres.

Papists answer.

This was an abuse to let children come to the Communion, who cannnot examine them∣selues; and therefore from this abusiue cou∣stome no good rule may be drawne.

The Refutation.

I allow not of the coustome of admitting children to the Communion in the Church, or giuing it them at home: though it be more an∣tient then most of the new Articles of the Ro∣mish Creede, coined by Pope Pius the fourth, in his Bull. but I make a true inference, though from an erroneous practise, as the Apostle doth from a custome among the Corinthians, who were baptized for the dead. Doubtlesse if the Laietie in those dayes had been kept from the holy Cup, children neuer had been ad∣mitted to drink of it. For no man can imagine, that the Church would giue little infants that priuiledge, which they denied their parents.

Anno 537.

In the second Councell of Toledo, Can. 7. It is ordained throughout all the Countries of Spaine, and Gallicia, for the confirmation of the new conuersion of the people from Aria∣nisme, that before the participation of the bo∣dy

and blood of Christ (corporis & sanguinis communicationem) according to the manner of the Easterne Churches, all the Congregation shall with an audible voyce, rehearse the most holy Articles of the Christian faith.

Anno 597.

In the third Councel held at Toledo, in the reigne of Recaredus, c. 2. r 1.4 It is decreed, that the peo∣ple shall first make profession of their faith, and so ex∣hibite their hearts purified by faith, to receiue Christs body and blood. Doth not this Councell speake in the Protestant language? that the people are to receiue Christs blood, as well as his body, and both by faith, or, which is all one, in their hearts purified by faith. How neere commeth this to the forme at this day in vse in our Church? Feed on him in thy heart by faith? I find no exception ta∣ken by any Papist at this testimony; and there∣fore there needs no ward, where no blow is so much as offered.

Notes

• m 1.1

  Cic. Brut.
• o 1.2

  In 1. Cor. c. 10. Appellatur ca∣lix communica∣tio, quasi parti∣cipatio; quia om∣nes communi∣cant ex illo, par∣temque sumunt ex sanguine Domini. Biblioth. PP. Tom. 5.
• p 1.3

  Ad participa∣tionem gloriosi corporis, & san∣guinis Domini •…•…um alijs infan∣tibus infans Iudaeus acces∣sit.
• r 1.4

  Vt primùm po∣puli quam cre∣dulitatem tene∣ant, fanteantur; & sic corda fide purificata ad Christi corpus & sanguinem per∣cipiendum exhi∣beant.