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 there are Six other Defects able to frustrate the Consecration, by reason of the person of the Priest himselfe, as being incompetent for want of due Baptisme.

SECT. IV.

FOr first you have a a Case of one being a Priest, who had not beene baptized; and next concerning Defects of Baptisme, you resolve (as before of pronunciation of the forme of the Eucharist) b that if in pronunciation of the words of Baptisme [Baptizo te in nomine Patris, Filii, & Spiritus Sancti] the Minister (whether man or woman) shall vary one word, which may corrupt the true sence of the words, although but in one Syllable, or Letter, be it either by adding, removing, changing, or by any of the six Defects (already spoken of) as in saying, Ego te baptizo in nomine Patriae, &c. or the like, then the whole Consecration is of no effect. The possibility of womens erring, in their Ministery of Baptisme, Car∣dinall Pole may seeme to teach in that his Article, whereof it is inquired, c Whether Parsons, Vicars, and Curates be diligent in tea∣ching women to Baptize Children after the manner of the Church.

Take with you another Case, supposed by your selves, the d Au∣thor

delivereth it at length, the briefe is this: The woman bapti∣zeth an Infant, because it as the Childe of a noble man, in Rose-water, the Baptisme is void; the Childe is afterwards ordained a Bishop, and hee is after that sent by the Pope into divers parts of the world, and by him innumerable Priests are ordained; after the death of the Bishop, the case is made knowne, but who they were that had beene ordained cannot possibly be knowne, whose Or∣dinations are all invalid, and their ministery and Consecrations of no effect. What remedy now in this Case? None (saith the Au∣thor) at all, except there be a Privilege in the Pope to constitute all them Priests, who had beene so irregularly ordained, only by his word, Dicendo sint Sacerdotes, saying, Be they all Priests. So he, who notwithstanding had rather thinke the Case could not possibly happen, than to trust to this Remedy. How-ever it might be in this one, the possibility of the other Six Defects neither man nor woman can deny, every one concluding a Materiall Idolatry.

Notes

• a

  Decret. lib. 13. Tit. 43. C. 3. Veniens ad gradum Sacerdotii, camperit tande quod non fit baptizat••s, ri∣tè fecimus ipsum baptizari.
• b

  Bellarm.—Vel una litera. De Sacram. in Gen. cap. 25. §. Se∣cunda Prop.—Haec sunt nece••saria neces∣sitate Sacramenti, ut nim••rùm non peccet Sacerdos corrum∣pendo verba Conse∣crationis: ut in Bap∣tismo si quis dicat, Baptizo te in nomine Matris, &c. Ala••. ••ard. de Sacram, in Gen. cap. 21. And A∣zorius, See above, Sect. 2. lit. (c).
• c

  M. Fox his Acts and M•…•…m. pag. 1969.
• d

  Cos•…•… Philiarch. de offic. Sh••erd. Tom. 1. lib. 1. C. 14. Potest dari casus, sicut audivi datum esse, quòd ••ilius alicujus nobilis sit à levatrice baptizarus aquâ rosaceâ, quiâ est silius nobilis, &c.