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.

The answer.

This argument hath two parts, the, first is ta∣ken from the custome of the Greeke Church, * 1.1 the latter from a custome of the Romane. To dispatch first the latter, because it is of smal mo∣ment; we say, that there is no ground for this custome: we dislike it no lesse, then the halfe Communion it selfe. For why should not the Sacrament be consecrated vpon good Friday, as well as any other day? Or what an argu∣ment is this; the Priest communicateth in one kind alone on good Friday, therefore the peo∣ple ought to be depriued of the Cup all the yeere long? And why, I pray you, doth the Priest receiue the Sacrament on Good-Friday in bread onely, more then any other day? And why doe they communicate in such bread on∣ly, as was consecrated the day before? Why might they not consecrate it on that day? As some Gramarians excuse all Homers fables of the Gods, by turning them into Allegories, and Mythologicall expositions. So Harding diuision 22. arti. 2. salueth this superstitious cu∣stome, by telling vs, that it was not without sig∣nification of a singular mysterie. This mysterie is reuealed vnto vs by Pope Innocentius, Aqui∣nas, and Hugo Cardinalis. Innocentius saith, that it is, because the Apostles ran their way that day, and hid themselues. Aq•…•…inas saith, they conse∣crate not on Good-Friday, because if any had

consecrated that day, whilst Christ lay dead, the body had beene without blood, and the blood without the body. And others say, if the Sacrament that meane while had been kept, it would haue been dead in the Pixe. Hugo Card. saith, Christs Passion is the truth, and the Sa∣crament is a figure of the same. Therfore when the truth is come, the figure giueth place. Con∣sider we the weight of these reasons: The A∣postles fled sixteene hundred yeeres agoe on Good-Friday; therefore we must not now on that day consecrate the elements, or communi∣cate in both kinds. On Good-Friday Christ suffered, his blood then was seuered from the body: Therefore now wee must not receiue his body and blood on that day. Christs Pas∣sion was on that day; therefore wee must ne∣uer receiue the figure thereof on that day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Answ. 1.