A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare by perusinge whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weake, and vnstable groundes of the Romaine religion, whiche of late hath beene accompted Catholique. By Iohn Iewel Bishoppe of Sarisburie.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Yf M. Hardinge meane plainely, and wil haue S. Cyprians woordes taken, as they lie, without Figure, then muste he saie, That Melchisedek offered vp verily, and Really Christe him selfe. For S. Cyprians* 1.1 woordes be cleare, Christus obtulit hoc idem, quod Melchisedek obtulerat: Christe offered vp the same thinge, that Melchisedek had offered. Notwithstandinge it is certaine, that the Sacrifice, that Melchise∣dek made, if it were graunted to be a Sacrifice, yet in plaine, & Common manner of speàche, was not Christe the Sonne of God, but onely material Breade, and Wine, and other like prouision of Uictualles prepared for Abraham, and for his menne. And therefore the Olde learned Fathers saie not, Melchisedek offered the same in Sacrifice vnto God: but, He brought it foorth, as a present, as the manner was, to refreashe them, after the pursuite, and chase of their enimies. And S. Hierome in his Translation turneth it not, Obtulit, He Sacrificed: but, Protulit, He brought it foorthe.* 1.2 Iosephus reporteth the mater thus: Melchisedek milites Abrahami hospi∣taliter habuit, nihil illis ad victum deesse Passus: Simul{que} ipsum adhibuit Mensae: Mel∣chisedek feasted Abrahams Souldiers, and suffered them to wante nothinge, that was necessary for their prouision. And likewise he receiued Abraham him selfe vnto his Table. Chryso∣stome, and Epiphanius say thus,* 1.3 He brought foorthe vnto them Breade, and VVine.

Tertullian saithe, Abrahamo reuerten••i de prae••io obtulit Panem, & Vinum: Melchi∣sedek offered Breade,* 1.4 and VVine (not vnto God, but) vnto Abraham returninge from the fighte. So S. Ambrose, Occurrit Melchisedek, & obtulit Abra••amo Panem, & Vi∣num: Melchisedek came foorth to meete,* 1.5 and offered (not vnto God, but) vnto Abraham Breade, and VVine.

By these fewe it may appeare, that Melchisedek brought foorthe Breade, and Wine,* 1.6 and other prouision, not, as a Sacrifice vnto God, but as a Reliefe, and Su∣steinance for Abraham, and for his Companie.

S. Paule compareth Christe with Melchisedek,* 1.7 In that, like vnto Melchisedek, he was the Kinge of Iustice: In that, he was the Prince of peace, as Melchisedek was: And in that, he had neither Father, nor Mother: For so is it likewise written of Melchisedek. But of the Sacrifice of Breade, & Wine he speaketh nothinge. Yet notwithstandinge, the Ancient holy Fathers oftentimes resemble the same presente of Melchisedek, vnto the Sacrifice, y^t Christe made vpon y^e Crosse. And in that respecte S. Cyprian saithe, Christe offered the same thinge, that Melchisedek offered: That is to saie, as M. Hardinge him selfe muste néedes expounde it, The same thinge in perfourmance of Trueth vpon the Crosse, that Melchisedek had before offered in a Figure.

So saith S. Augustine, Illis Petra Christus: Vnto them the Rocke was Christe: And yet not Really,* 1.8 and in deede: but onely by waye of Signification, bicause it Signified, and Represented Christe.

Sometimes they compare it with the Sacrifice of Thankesgeuinge, and with the Ministration of the holy Communion, and make it equal with the same.

S. Augustine saithe,* 1.9 Melchisedek Abrahae primùm, quasi Patri Fidelium, tradidit Eucharistiam Corporis, & Sanguinis Domini: Melchisedek gaue first vnto Abraham, as vnto the Father of the Faithful, the Sacramente of the Bodie, and Bloud of Christe. So S. Hierome saithe, Melchisedek in typo Christi Panem, & Vinum obtulit, & Mysterium Christianorum in Saluatoris Corpore,* 1.10 & Sanguine dedicauit: Melchisedek in the Figure of Christe offered Breade, and Wine: and dedicated the Mysterie of Christians in the Bodie, and Bloude of Christe. These Authorities might serue, to make some shew, that Melchisedek saide Masse, and Consecrated the Sacrament of the Bodie, and Bloud of Christe, and offered vp Christe in Sacrifice vnto his Father: But of M. Har∣dinge, or any other sutche Priest, they touche nothinge.

And least any man happen of simplicitie to be deceiued, thinkinge that S. Hierome hereby meante M. Hardinges Real Presence, for that he saith, Melchi∣sedek dedicated the Christian Mysterie in the Bodie and Bloude of Christe, It may please him to consider, that bothe S. Hierome, and also other Ancient Fathers haue of∣ten vsed the same manner of speache in other cases, wherein M. Harding can haue no manner suspicion of Real Presence. S. Hierome* 1.11 saithe, Euangelium Passione, & Sanguine Domini dedicatur: The Gospel is dedicated in the Passion, and Bloude of Christe. S. Augustine saithe,* 1.12 Quid est Mare Rubrum? Sanguine Domini Consecra∣tum: What is the Redde Sea? He answeareth, Consecrate in the Bloude of Christe. Againe he saithe, Vnde rubet Baptismus Christi, nisi Christi Sang uine Consecratus? Whereof is Christes Baptisme redde,* 1.13 but that it is Dedicate in the Bloude of Christe? Thus Melchisedek Dedicated the Christian Mysterie in the Bloude of Christe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cyprian. li. 2. Epist. 3.
• * 1.2

  Ioseph. Anti∣quit. li. 1. ca. 11.
• * 1.3

  Chrysost. in Ge∣ne. homi. 35.
• * 1.4

  Epiphan. Contr•• Melchise. lib. 2.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  Tertullian. con∣tra Iudaeos.
• * 1.7

  Ambros. De Sa∣cramen. li. 4. c. 3. Hebrae. 7.
• * 1.8

  August. in Ioan. tractat. 26.
• * 1.9

  Augustin. in quaest. Noui, & Veter. Testa∣menti. quae. 109.
• * 1.10

  Hierony. ad Marcellam.
• * 1.11

  Hieronym. aduer¦sus Iouinian. li. 1.
• * 1.12

  Augustin. in Psalm. 80.
• * 1.13

  Augustinus in Iohan. tracta. 11.