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The B. of Sarisburie.
At the same very instant of time, saith M. Hardinge, when Christe was Sacrificed vpon the Crosse, he offered vp him selfe also in Heauen in the sight of his heauenly Father. Whiche thinge he enlargeth Rhetorically with a Tragical Description of a Thorneprickte, Naileboared, Spearepearsed, and otherwise rente, and Torne Bodie. And this, saith he, is a neces∣sarie pointe of Christian Doctrine: And that he auoucheth Constantly, albeit without the woorde, or witnesse of any Ancient writer, onely vpon his owne credit.
Whereof also groweth some suspicion, that his Stoare of Olde Recordes, is not so plenteous, as it is supposed.
But where he saithe, Christe was thus Inuisibly Sacrificed in Heauen, I marueile, he saithe not likewise, that Pilate, Annas, Caiphas, the Souldiers, and the Tour∣mentours were likewise in Heauen, to make this Sacrifice. For without this Companie Christes Bloud was not Shead: And without Sheaddinge of Bloude,* 1.1 S. Paule saithe, There is no Sacrifice for Remission of Sinne. This Fable is so vaine, that, I beleeue, M. Harding him selfe is not wel hable, to expounde his owne mea∣ninge. Origen saith, There were some in his time, that thought,* 1.2 That, as Christe was Crucified in this worlde for the liuinge, so he should afterwarde suffer, and be Crucified In the worlde to come for the deade. But that Christ was thus Thorneprickte, Naile∣boarde, Spearepearsed, and Crucified in Heauen, I thinke, noman euer saw, or saide, but M. Hardinge. The Apostles, the Euangelistes,* 1.3 the Olde Doctours, and Ancient Fathers neuer knew it. S. Paule saithe, Semel seipsum obtulit: Once he offered vp him selfe:* 1.4 Semel introiuit in Sancta: Once he entred into the holy place.
And therefore hanginge vpon the Crosse, and yeldinge vp the Ghoste, he saide, Consummatum est, It is finished: This Sacrifice is perfitely wrought for euer. This onely Sacrifice of Christe the Sonne of God the Scriptures acknowledge, and none other.
How be it, like as the Praiers, that Christe once made, and the Doctrine, that he once taught, remaine stil ful, and effectual, as at the first: euen so the Sa∣crifice, that Christ once made vpon the Crosse, remaineth stil in ful force, effectual, and perfite, and endureth for euer. Therefore S. Paule saithe,* 1.5 Christe hath an euer∣lastinge Priesthoode, and liueth stil, that he may stil pray for vs. And therefore God the Father saithe vnto him, and to none other, either Man, or Angel, or Archangel, Tu es Sacerdos in aeternum: Thou art a Priest for euer.* 1.6 And therefore S. Chrysostome compareth this Sacrifice to a moste soueraine salue, that beinge once laide to the wounde, healeth it cleane, and needeth no more laieinge on. Likewise S. Cy∣prian saithe, Nec Sacerdotij eius paenituit Deum: quoniam Sacrificium,* 1.7 quod in Cruce obtulit, sic in beneplacito Dei constat acceptabile, & perpetua virture confistit, vt non minùs hodiè in conspectu Patris Oblatio illa sit efficax, quàm ea die, qua de saucio latere Sanguis, & Aqua exiuit: & semper reseruatae in Corpore plagae Salutis Humanae exigant pretium: It neuer repented God of Christes Priesthoode: For the Sacrifice, that he offered vpon the Crosse, is so acceptable in the good wil of God, and so standeth in continual strength and Vertue, that the same Oblation is no lesse acceptable this daie in the sight of God the Father, then it was that day, when Blould, and Water ranne out of his Wounded side.
The Skarres reserued stil in his Bodie, doo weighe the price of the Saluation of Man.
But M. Hardinge condemneth vs al for Foolishe, and Wicked people. For Foolishe, I know not why. Neither is it thought a wisemannes parte, either greately to mislike other mennes wittes, or ouermuche to like his owne.
How be it, who so speaketh, as neuer wiseman spake, and yet him selfe vnder∣standeth not, what he speaketh, as, in this case, it is thought, M. Harding dooth, hath no greate cause, in this behalfe, to charge others with folie.