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.

The Novelty of the Article of Transubstantiation is examined, and shewen not to have beene before the Councell of Laterane (namely) not untill 1215. yeares after Christ.

SECT. III.

THis Aricle hath beene decreed (as you haue * 1.1 heard) by your Church, as a necessary Doctrine of Faith; and therefore presumed to be Ancient.

CHALLENGE.

THe first Imposition of this Article, as of Faith, your Cardi∣nall o 1.2 Bellarmine noteth to have beene in the dayes of Pope Gregory the VII^th. viz. 1073. yeares after Christ. But surely at that time this could be but a private opinion of some few, for Peter Lombard (living 67. yeares after this Pope, and esteemed the Master of the Romish Schoole) when he had laboured to give Re∣solution to all doubts, especially in this very Question (whe∣ther the Conversion were substantiall, or not) confesseth plainely saying: p 1.3 Definire non sufficio: I am not able to Determine. So he. Anno 1140.

Hitherto therefore this Article was but in Conception onely, which caused your learned and subtile Schoole-man Scotus to de∣scend lower, to find out the Birth thereof, q 1.4 Affirming that the Arti∣cle of Transubstantiation was no Doctrine of Faith before the Coun∣cell of Laterane, under Pope Innocent III. viz. Anno 1215. whom therefore your Cardinall doth taxe for want of Reading. But ei∣ther were your Iesuite Coster, and Cardinall Perron as ignorant of Antient Learning, as Scotus, or els they gave small Credit to that Councell cited by Bellarmine under Gregory the VII^th. For your Iesuite saith, in direct tearmes, that r 1.5 The name of Transubstantiati∣on was used in the Councell of Laterane, for clearer declaration, that

Christians might understand the Change of Bread into the Body of Christ. Can you say then that it was universally so vnderstood before? But your Cardinall Perr••n more peremptorily con∣cludeth that s 1.6 If it had not beene for the Councell of Laterane, it might be now lawfull to impugne it. So hee. A plaine acknow∣ledgement, that it was no Doctrine of Faith before that Coun∣cell, even as Scotus affirmed before, But we pursue this Chase yet further, to shew,

Notes

• * 1.1

  See above Chap. 1. §. 2.
• o 1.2

  Bell. l. 3. de Euch. cap. 23. §. Vnum ta∣men.
• p 1.3

  Si quaeratur, qua∣lis sit Conversio (viz. Panis in Eucharistia) an formalis, an sub∣stantialis, an alterius generis; definire non sufficio. Quibusdam videtur esse substan∣tialis, dicentibus sub∣stantiam converti in substantiam. Lomb. Sent. lib. 4. distinct. 11. lit. (a.)
• q 1.4

  Scotus dicit an∣te Concil. Latera∣nense non fuisse dog∣ma fidei Transub∣stantiationem. Id ille dixit, quiá non le∣gerat. Conc. Rom. sub Gregorio. 7. nec consensum Patrum, quem nos produxi∣mus. Bellar. lib. 3. de. Euchar. cap. 23. §. Vnum tamen.
• r 1.5

  Ante trecentos Annos in Conc. Lateran. ad istius rei tàm admi∣rabilis clariorem explicationem usurpatum fuit nomen Transubstantiationis: ut intelligant Christiani substan∣tiam Panis in substantiam corporis Christi converti. Coster. Ies. Enchir c. 8. §. De Transubstantiatione.
• s 1.6

  Si nihil planè ad Doctrinam Eccle∣siasticam spectans in Cone. Lateran. ex communi Patrum as∣sensu Decretum esset sequeretur posse ••t falsum impugnari Articulum de Transubstantiatione. Card. Per. ensa Harangue au tiers Estats p. 33. As witnesseth our P. Preston alias Widdrington Discuss. Conc. Later. part. 1. §. 1. pag. 12.