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 former Sacrilegious Derogation, from Christs Priestly Function in Heaven, is contradicted by Scriptures and Fathers, in respect of the Time of the execution thereof.

SECT. IX.

CHrist his bodily existence in Heaven (as we have heard) is set out by the Apostle in these termes: He abideth a Priest for us. He continueth a Priest. He having a continuall Priest-hood. He, without intermission, appeareth before God for us. Thus the Apostle. But what of this, will you say? Doe but marke. Are you not All heard still proclaiming, as with one voice, that your Romish Sacrifice of the Masse is the onely 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and a Iuge

Sacrificium, that is, the Continuall Sacrifice; Continually offered: Whereof the [Iuge] and Continuall Sacrifice of the Law was a signe. So you. But it were strange that the Iuge Sacrificium of the Law, continuing both Morning and Evening, should be a figure of your Masse-Sacrifice, which is but only offered in the Morning. As if you would make a picture, having two hands, for to represent a Per∣son that hath but one. But, not to deny that the Celebration of the Eucharist, may be called a Iuge Sacrificium (for so some Fa∣thers have termed it:) Yet, they no otherwise call it Iuge, or Continuall, than they call it a Sacrifice, that is, Vnproperly; be∣cause it cannot possibly be compared for Continuance of Time to that Celestiall of Christ in the highest Heaven, where Christ of∣fereth himselfe to God for us day and night, without Inter∣mission.

Whereupon it is that Irenaeus exhorteth men to pray often by Christ at his Altar, b Which Altar (saith he) is in Heaven, and the Temple open. Apoc. 11. 19. c Where (saith Pope Gregory) our Saviour Christ offereth up his burnt Sacrifices for us without inter∣mission: And whereupon your Iesuit Coster, out of Ambrose, affir∣meth, that d Christ exhibiteth his Body wounded upon the Crosse, and slaine, as a [Iuge Sacrificium] that is, a Continuall Sacrifice, perpetually unto his Father for us. And to this purpose serve the fore-cited Testimonies of Augustine, Gregory Nazianzen, Ambrose, Chrysostome, and Oecumenius; some pointing out the Altar in Heaven, as the Truth, Some by Exhortations, and Some by their Examples instructing us to make our Continuall Approach unto the Celestiall Altar.

CHALLENGE.

NOw you, who so fix the hearts and minds of the Spectators of your Masse, upon your sublunary Altars and Hoasts, and appropriate the Iuge Sacrificium thereunto (in respect of Time) during onely the houres of your Priestly Sacrificing; allow your attention but a moment of Time, and you will easily see the Im∣piety of that your Profession.

The Iuge Sacrificium of Christ, as it is presented to God by him in Heaven, hath beene described to be Continuall, without Intermission, Alwayes (that is) without any Interruption of any moment of Time: to the end that all sorts of Penitents and faith∣full Suters, solliciting God by him, might finde (as the Apostle saith) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Helpe at any time of need. The gates of this Temple, Heaven, being ever open: the matter of this Sa∣crifice, which is the Body of Christ, being there ever present. The

Priest, who is Christ himselfe, ever executing his Function. Whereas, contrarily, (you will confesse, we dare say) that the Doores of your Churches may happen to be all locked, or interdi∣cted; your Sacrifice shut up in a Box, or lurched, and carried away by Mice; your Priest taken up with sport, or repast, or journey, or sleepe: yea, and even when he is acting a Sacrifice, may possibly nullifie all his Priestly Sacrificing Act, by reason of ( Confessed) Almost infinite Defects.

Therefore the Sacrilegiousnesse of the Doctrine of your Masse is thus farre manifested, in as much that your owne Ministeriall Priest-hood doth so prejudice the personall Priest-hood of Christ, as it is in Heaven, as the Moone doth by her interposition ecclipse the glory of the Sunne: by confounding things distinct, that is, (as we have learned from the Fathers) Image with Truth; The state of Wicked Partakers with the Godly; Matters Visible with In∣visible; Signes with Things; Worse with Better; Iayes with Eagles; and the like.

Notes

• See above Chap. 3. Sect. 9.
• a

  Barredas. Quod singulis diebus Chri∣stus offert incruentè, Hoc juge Sacrificium est Ecclesiae. Tom. 4. lib. 3. cap. 15. Salmeron. E••••usio sanguinis semel facta semper prodest, modò jugiter offeratut. In Heb. 10. Disp. 19. Becanus. Juge Sacrificium Veteris Testamenti fuit figura Missae in novo, ratione determina∣tionis temporis: sicut ille offerebatur mane & vespere, ita Christus à principio mundi usque ad finem. Apoc. 13. Agnus occisus—Lib. de Analog. utriusque Testam. cap. 13. num. 14.
• b

  Irenaeus. Nos quo∣que Victimas offerre ad altare frequenter. Est ergò Altare in coelis, illuc etiam pre∣c••s nostrae & oratio∣nes dirigendae; & templum—ut ex A∣poc. apertum est. Lib. 4. cap. 34.
• c

  Greg. Sine inter∣missione pro nobis Holocaustum Re∣demptor immolat, qui sine cessatione Patri suam pro nobis inear∣nationē demonstrat. Moral. lib. 1. cap. 24. in Iob.
• d

  Coster En•…•…irid. contro. cap. 9. Solut. ad Object. 1. ex Ambros. Sicut in coelis Christus corpus suum, olim in cruce vulneratum & occisum, tanquam juge Sacrificium paternis oculis perpetuò pro nobis exhibet: ità hîc in terris per Ministerium Sacerdotum idem Corpus in specie mortui & exanguis offert. [That is objectively; for it is the Bloody Body, that is presented by us in the Eucharist.]
• See hereafter Booke 7. Chap. 5. Sect. 5.