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.
Morton, Thomas, 1564-1659.

The Romish Obiections, concerning Primitive Custome.

Divers Obiections are vrged on your side, to abate something of the Vniuersalitie of the Custome of Both kindes, which we defend; but if they shall not seeke to decline the Question, and to rove a∣bout, as it were, at vnset markes, their Arguments are but as so many Bolts shot altogether in vaine. For our defence is onely this, that in the publike solemnization and Celebration of this Sacrament, in an Assembly of Christians freely met to communi∣cate, no one example can be shewen in all Antiquity, throughout the Catholique Church of Christ, for the space of a thousand Page  43 yeares, inhibiting either Priest, or Laick, from Communicating in both kindes, who was duly prepared to receive the Sacrament. As for the examples which you vsually obiect, they are of no force at all, being h proved to be either private, or illegitimate, or false, respectively. Hitherto of the Primitive Custome. Notwithstanding all this, will your Romane Church boast of her contrary Custome of after-times; telling vs in her Councels that her Custome of ad∣ministring the Eucharist but in one kinde is rightly observed, as a Custome which hath beene Diutissimè observata, that is, of most long continuance: Many yeares by passed, saith i your Villalpandius: But most precisely your Iesuite k Salmeron: It is certaine (saith he) that the Church, for these three or two hundred yeares, hath used to communicate to the Laity vnder one kinde. So they.