Of the institution of the sacrament of the blessed bodie and blood of Christ, (by some called) the masse of Christ eight bookes; discovering the superstitious, sacrilegious, and idolatrous abominations of the Romish masse. Together with the consequent obstinacies, overtures of perjuries, and the heresies discernable in the defenders thereof. By the R. Father in God Thomas L. Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield.

That the word, MASSE, in the Primitiue signification thereof, doth properly belong vnto the Protestants: and iustly condemneth the Romish manner of Masse.

SECT. II.

THe word, MASSE, (by the c 1.1 Confession of Iesuites and o∣thers, and that from the authoritie of Councels, Fathers, Ca∣non-Law, Schoolemen, and all Latine Liturgies) is therefore so cal∣led from the Latine phrase [Missa est] especially, because the com∣panie of the Catechumenists, and those which were not prepared to communicate at the celebrating of this Sacrament, after the hearing of the Gospell, or Sermons, were Dismissed, and not suffe∣red to stay, but commanded To depart. Which furthermore your Ies. Maldonate, out of Isidore, the most ancient Authors, and all

the Liturgies, is compelled to confesse to be the d 1.2 Most true mea∣ning of Antiquity.

Which Custome of exempting all such persons, being euery where religiously taught and obserued in all Protestant Churches; and contrarily the greatest devotion of your Worshippers, at this day, being exercised onely in looking and gazine vpon the Priests manner of celebrating your Romane Masse, without communi∣cating thereof, contrary to the Institution of Christ; contrary to the practice of Antiquity; and contrary to the proper vse of the Sacrament: (All which * 1.3 hereafter shall be plentifully shewed) it must therefore follow, as followeth.

CHALLENGE.

VVHereas there is nothing more rife and frequent in your speeches, more ordinary in your outhes, or more sacred in your common estimation, than the name of the Masse; yet are you, by the signification of that very word, convinced of a mani∣fest Transgression of the Institution of Christ: and therefore your great Boast of that name is to be iudged false, and absurd. But of this Transgression more * 1.4 hereafter.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Missa à Missio∣ne dicta est, quoniam Catechumeni ••â su∣sceptâ foras de Ec∣clesia emitterentur: vt in ritibus Pagano∣rum dici consueue∣rat, Ilicet, quod per Syncopen idem est ac, Ire licet. Sic no∣strum verbum, Missa, Ite, missa est. Salme∣ron. Ies. in the place a∣boue-cited, p. 390, 391. Sic accipitur in iure Canonico, & in Patribus etiam, at{que} Concilijs. Azor. Ies. Inst. par. 1 pag 850. Gemin•• Mis∣sio; prima Catechumenorum, alia peractis sacris, Missâ completâ. Binius in the place afore-cited. Esse à dimissi∣one, per ••te, missa est, tenet Alcuin. Amalar. Fortunat. Durant. quo suprà. [And the other fore-named Authors, who confesse the word to be Latine, doe hold that it commeth of Ite, Missa est; ••or] Iubebantur exire Catechumeni, & Poenitentes, vt qui nondum ad communicandum praeparauerant. Cassaud. Consult. Art. 24. As also in his Tract. de solit. Missa p. 217. with others. (See more hereafter, Chap. 2. §. 5. where this point is discussed.) [As for the dis∣missing of the whole Congregation after the receiuing of the Sacrament, by an Ite, missa est, it was vsed in the second place, after the other. See Binius aboue]
• d 1.2

  Alij, ut Isidorus de diuin. offic. dixe∣runt Missam appella∣tam esse quasi dimis∣sionem, à dimitten∣dis Catechumenis antequam Sacrifici∣um inchoaretur: quā sententiam colligo esse verissimam ex antiquiss. Authori∣bus.—Clama∣bat enim Diaconus post Cōcionem, Ca∣techumeni exeunto, et qui communicare non possunt: vt constat ex omnibus Liturgijs, vbi non potest nomen Missae accipi pro Sacrificio. Maldon. Ies. lib. dc 7 Sacram. Tract. de Euch. §. Primum. p. 335.
• * 1.3

  See Chap. 2. Sect. 9.
• * 1.4

  See below, Chap. 2. Sect. 5.