M. Hardinge.
As the former parte of the sentence, whiche ye bringe out of the Nicene Councel,* 1.1 soundeth no∣thing against the Catholikes, (for they also teache the same):* 1.2 so the later parte is directly contrary to your Doctrine, which ye thought good to leaue out, lest thereby ye should haue marred your whole mat∣ter. Sutche nipping,* 1.3 and roundinge of sentences hath euer ben taken for a marke to know Heretikes by. Amonge wise men sutche practrise worthely bringeth you into suspicion of Vntruthe. The wordes of the Councel truely reported be these: Let vs not at the Diuine Table basely behold the Bread and Cuppe sette before vs: but liftinge vp our minde, let vs by Faithe vnderstande on that Holy Table to be laide the Lambe of God, that taketh awaie the sinnes of the VVorlde, of Priestes Sacrificed vnbloudely. And receiuing his precious Body, and Bloude verily, let vs beleue these to be the pledges of our Resurrection. For in consideration hereof we take not mutche, but a litle, that we may knowe, we receiue not to fil∣linge (of the Body) but to Sanctimonie. Take the ende with the beginninge, and what maketh this decree of that Holy Councel for defence of your Sacramentarie Doctrine? And here, who be more ba∣sely affectioned and bent towarde the thinges set on that Table, ye, that make them but Breade, and VVine, or wee, that, after Consecration, beleue vnder the formes of Breade, and VVine verily to be made Presente the Body, and Bloude of Christe? VVhether is a baser exercise, to feede on‡ 1.4 common Breade, and VVine, and to dwel in the iudgement of the senses, or to eate the very Fleashe of Christe, the Breade of Life, that came downe from Heauen, to immortalitie of the Body, and Soule, to forsake the senses, and folowethe vnderstandinge of* 1.5 Taithe? VVel we agree with you, not to be ouer basely intent to the Breade, and Cuppe. But why do not ye performe that, as foloweth there after your owne al∣legation out of that Councel? VVhy do ye not with those. 318. Holy Fathers, and with the whole Churche of Christe vnderstande by Faithe on that Holy Table to be laide the Lambe of God, that taketh awaie the Sinnes of the VVorlde? VVhy do ye not recante your wicked Doctrine againste the blessed Sacri∣fice of the Masse? Reade the whole sentence, ioyninge the ende to the beginninge. Saie not al those Holy and Learned Fathers, the Lambe of God on this sacred Table (thei meane the Aulter) to be Sacrificed of the Priestes vnbloudely?
Againe why bringe ye the Christen people from the Body of Christe whereby they are redemed, to a‡ 1.6 bare piece of Breade,* 1.7 teachinge it to be* 1.8 but the Figure of his Body? Saieth not this Coun∣cel, that wee receiue the Precious Body, and Bloude of our Lorde‡ 1.9 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, verily, and in deede, * 1.10 whereby in dede al your tropes, and Figures be quite excluded? Againe if these were but Breade, and VVine, as ye teache, woulde the Councel saie, that we take them not to sacietie, but to Sanctimo∣nie and Holynes? VVhat Holynes can we haue of Breade, and VVine? VVhat, Holynes obteine•• we not by eatinge of the Body of Christe, beinge the proper Body of the VVorde, or God the VVordes owne Body, that hathe Power to viuificate, and quicken al thinges? Thus we come within you, Defenders, as it were, and claspinge with you, wringe your‡ 1.11 weapon out of your handes, and with the tother end of it stricke you downe. As it is not harde to vs by learninge to ouerthrowe you, so we beseche God to strike down the pride,* 1.12 and stubbernes of your hartes, as he did Paule, wherewith ye resiste the mani∣feste Truthe.