M. Hardinge. The .5. Diuision.
That Christe offered him selfe to his Father in his last Supper, and that Priestes by those woordes, Doo this in my remembraunce, haue not onely auctoritie, but also a special commaundement to doo the same, and that the Figure of Melchisedech, and the Prophecie of Malachie perteineth to this Sacrifice, and maketh proufe of the same: let vs see by the testimonies of the Fathers, what do∣ctrine the Apostles haue lefte to the Churche.
Eusebius Caesariensis hath these woordes,* 1.1 Horrorem afferentia Mensae Christi Sacrificia Supremo Deo offerre, per eminentissimum omnium ipsius Pontificem edocti sumus. VVee are taught (saithe he) to offer vnto our Supreme ••od the Sacrifices of Christes Table, whiche cause vs to tremble, and quake for feare, by his Bishoppe highest of al. Here he calleth Christe in respecte of his Sacrifice, Gods Bishop highest of al Bishoppes: the Sacrifices of Christes Table he callethe, (222)* 1.2 the Bodie and Bloude of Christe, bicause at the Table in his last Supper be Sacrificed and offered the same, and for that it is his very Bodie, and very Bloude, imagination onely, I hantasie, and Figure set aparte, he termeth these Sacrifices, as commonly the auncient Fathers doo, horrible, causinge tremblinge and feare. And where as he saithe, we haue beene taught to offer these Sacri∣fices to God, doubtlesse he meaneth by these woordes of Christe: Doo this in my remembraunce, This is my Bodie, whiche is geuen for you: This is my Bloude, whiche is shedde for you. Cle∣ment in his eight Booke often cited, speakinge of the Sacrifice offered by the Apostles, common∣ly addeth these woordes, Secundum ipsius ordinationem, or, ipso ordinante: whereby he con∣fesseth it to be Christes owne ordinaunce.