[This is my bodie, &c.] To this purpose hee is bold to averre that Thomas Aquinas and all Catholikes before Caietane have confessed that Christ did consecrate in that his [Benedixit, that is, He blessed it.] And that Saint Iames and Dionyse the Areopagite did not Conse∣crate only in the other words, but by Prayer. Then he assureth vs that the Greeke Churches maintained that Consecration consisteth in Bene∣diction, by Prayer, and not in the only repetition of the words afore-said. After this hee produceth your subtilest Schooleman Scotus, accompanied with divers others, Who Derided those, that attribu∣ted such a supernaturall vertue to the other forme of words. After steppeth in your Lindan, who avoucheth Iustin (one of the an∣cientest of Fathers) as Denying that the Apostles consecrated the Eucharist in those words, [Hoc est, &c.] and affirming that Conse∣cration could not be without Prayer.
Be you but pleased to peruse the Marginals, and you shall fur∣ther find alleadged the Testimonies of Pope Gregorie, Hierome, Ambrose, Bernard, and (to ascend higher) the Liturgies of Cle∣ment, Basil, Chrysostome, and of the Romane Church it selfe; in gain-saying of the Consecration, by the only words of Institution, as you pretend. And in the end he draweth in two Popes, contradi∣cting one the other in this point, and hath no other meanes to stint their iarre, but (whereas the authoritie of both is equall) to thinke it iust to yeild rather to the better learned of them both. Whoso∣ever requireth more, may be satisfied by reading of the Booke it¦selfe.
It will not suffice, to say, that you also vse Prayer in the Romish Liturgie: for the question is not meerely of Praying, but where∣in the forme of Benediction and Consecration properly doth consist. Now none can say, that he consecrateth by that Prayer, which he belieueth is not ordained for Consecration. We may furthermore take hold, by the way, of the Testification of Mr. Brereley a Ro∣mish Priest, who out of Basil and Chrysostome, [calling one part Calix benedictione sacratus] alloweth Benediction to haue beene the Consecration thereof.
All this Armie of Witnesses were no better than Meteors, or imaginarie figures of battailes in the aire, if that the Answere of Bellarmine may goe for warrant, to wit, that the only Pronuntia∣tion of these words [Hoc est corpus meum] imply in them (as hee saith) an Invocation, or Prayer. Which words (as any man may perceiue) Christ spake not supplicatorily vnto God, but declara∣tiuely vnto his Apostles, accordingly as the Text speaketh, [Hee said unto them:] as is also well observed by your fore-said Arch-bishop of Caesarea, out of Saint Hierome. But none of you (we presume) will dare to say that Christ did Invocate his Disciples. These words therefore are of Declaration, and not of Invocation. Which (now) Romish Doctrine of Consecrating, by reciting these