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.

M. Hardinge. The .2. Diuision.

But to speake of this matter more particularly, and more distinctly, the terme, Masse, may be taken two waies. Either for the thinge* 1.1 it selfe, whiche is offered, or for the acte of the Prieste in offeringe of it. If it be taken for the thinge it selfe, that is offered, whiche is the Body of Christe, and is in this respecte of the* 1.2 Scholastical Doctours called Opus Operatum: no man can iustely denie, but that it remooueth,* 1.3 and taketh away sinne.* 1.4 For Christe in his Fleashe crucified is our onely Sacrifice, our onely Price, our onely Redemption, whereby he hath merited to vs vpon the Crosse, and with the Price of his Bloude hath bought the Remission of our Sinnes: and S. Iohn saithe, he is the propi∣tiation for our sinnes.* 1.5 So Oecumenius saithe, Caro Christi est propitiatorium nostrarum ini∣quitatum. The Fleashe of Christe is the propitiation for our iniquities. And this not for that it is offered of the Prieste in the Masse* 1.6 specially, but for that he offered it once him selfe with shed∣dinge of his Bloude vpon the Crosse for the redemption of al. VVhiche Oblation done vpon the Crosse, is become a perpetual, and continual oblation, not in the same manner of offeringe, but in the same vertue, and power of the thinge offered.* 1.7 For since that time the same Body of Christe ap∣pearinge alwaies before the face of God in Heauen, presenteth and exhibiteth it selfe for our re∣conciliation: And likewise it is exhibited and offered (237)* 1.8 by his owne commaundement here in earthe in the Masse, where he is bothe Prieste, and Sacrifice, offerer and oblation, verely and in deede, though in Mysterie, and by way of commemoration, that thereby we may be made pertakers of the reconciliation performed, applyinge the same vnto vs (so farre as in this behalfe man may applie) through Faithe, and deuotion, no lesse then if we sawe with our eies presently his Body hanginge on the Crosse before vs, and streames of Bloude issuinge foorthe. And so it is a Sacrifice in very deede propitiatorie, not for our acte or worke, but for his owne woorke already done and acce∣pted. To this onely we must ascribe remission and remoouinge of our Sinnes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Masse takē 〈◊〉〈◊〉vvaies.
• * 1.2

  M. Hardinge shoulde haue shevved, vvhat Scholastical Doctours haue taken it thus: Othervvise it may seeme vn∣true.
• * 1.3

  •• Cor. 6. & 7. Tit. 2. Apoc 14. ••••oan. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. cap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉Roma∣••••.
• * 1.4

  Al these alle∣gations vtterly cōdemne the vvoorke, that is supposed in the Masse.
• * 1.5

  Al these alle∣gations vtterly cōdemne the vvoorke, that is supposed in the Masse.
• * 1.6

  The vvoorke of the Prieste is propitiatorie, albeit not spe∣cially.
• * 1.7

  Heb. 9.
• * 1.8

  The .237. Vn∣trueth. For God neuer commaū∣ded the Prieste, neither to say Masse, as it is novve vsed, nor to offer vp the Bodie of Christ.