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 it was Bread, which Christ called his Body, is proved manifestly from your owne Romish Positions and Principles.

SECT. VII.

YOur first Position is this; The word [This] must either point out Bread, or the Body of Christ, or that Third common Sub∣stance, which you call Individuum vagum. But to referre the word [This] unto the Body of Christ, is (as hath beene s confessed) Ab∣surde. And that the word [This] should signifie your Individuum vagum, is an Exposition fall of Absurdities, as hath beene also t ac∣knowledged. It remaineth therefore that the Pronoune [This] pointeth out precisely, Bread.

A second Principle you have, to wit; That these words [This is my Body] are wordes of Consecration, and Operative, so that by [This] is meant that which is Consecrated, and (as your Councell u of Trent speaketh) changed into the Body of Christ. But, by the Decree of the same Councell, not the Body of Christ, nor any Third thing, but Bread onely was then consecrated and changed into the Body of Christ. Ergo the Pronoune [THIS] hath onely Rela∣tion to the Bread.

CHALLENGE.

A New Syllogisme would be had, to put the matter out of que∣stion.

Maior. No Sence, which is Impossible, can be given properly to the wordes of Christ. [This is my Body.] (This needeth no proofe.)

Minor. But to call Bread Christ's Body, properly, is a Sence Im∣possible. (This hath beene your owne constant profession.)

Conclusion. Therefore cannot this Sence be given properly to the Body of Christ. How can you auoid the necessity of this Con∣sequence? All arising from the nature of Predication, in this Pro∣position, wherein the Subiect is Bread, the Copula, Is; and Predi∣cate, Body of Christ. Which because it cannot be properly predi∣cated either of Bread determinate, as to say, This bread in my hand is Christ's Body; or of Bread undeterminate (which you call vagum) as to say, This kind of bread is the Body of Christ, it demonstrately sheweth that your Doctors can have no greater Aduersaries, in this case, than their owne Consciences, which will appeare as fully in that which followeth.

Notes

• s

  See above §. 2.
• t

  See above §. 3.
• u

  Concil. Trident. Sess. 13. c. 4. Fit Con∣versio totius substan∣tiae Panis in Corpus Christi.
• See above §. 4.