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 Third Romish Pretence of an Habituall Condition, in the Worshipper, excuseth him not from formall Idolatry; proved first by Scripture.

SECT. IV.

HAbituall Condition you have interpreted to stand thus; * 1.1 If he that chanceth to worship onely Bread be in that Act so dis∣posed in himselfe, that he would not worship the same Bread, as Christ, if he knew it were but Bread, and not Christ; and by this you teach, that the Act (which you call a materiall Idolatry) is made not onely excusable but (your owne * 1.2 words) honest and com∣mendable also. So you. What execrable Doctrine is this that we heare? which cannot be justifiable except you will justifie the Murtherers of the members of Christ; and of Christ himselfe? First, of the members of Christ, we reade of one Saul, afterwards Paul, breathing out threatnings, and slanders against them, Act. 9. 1. and persecuting the Church, 1 Cor. 15. and Galath. 1. and drawing both men and women to Death, Act. 22. 4. And all this, not maliciously, but (as you heare himselfe say) Ignorantly, 1. Tim. 1. 13. and with a good Conscience, Act. 23. 1. and in zeale, Phil. 3. 6. A fairer expression of a Good Intent, in a wicked practice, cannot be, than this was: and as much may be said for his Habi∣tuall Condition, namely, that if he had then (as afterwards) knowne Christ to have beene the Lord of life, and those murthered Christians, to have beene his mysticall members, he would rather have exposed himselfe to Martyrdome, than to have martyred those Saints of God. This Consequence directly appeareth, first by his Answer, in his miraculous Conversion, saying, * 1.3 Who are thou, Lord? next by his detestation of his fact, * 1.4 I am unworthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church, &c. then by his Acknowledgement of God's especiall mercy, * 1.5 But God had mercy on me. Afterwards by his labour for winning soules to the Faith: I have laboured more abundantly than they all. And lastly, in that he was one of those Actors, of whom Christ himselfe foretold, saying, * 1.6 They shall draw you before Iudgement seats, and when they shall persecute you, they will thinke that they doe God good service. Which also plainly argueth, that their and his perswasion of so doing proceeded from a Morall Certainty.

From these Members let us ascend to our Head, Christ the Lord of Glory; what thinke you of the Iewes? of whom Saint Peter said, You have murthered the Prince of life, Act. 3. 15. But did they this Voluntarily, and Knowingly, as understanding him to have beene the Red•…•…er of the world, and indeed the Prince of life? they did not, for the same Apostle testifieth in their be∣halfe, saying, I know you did it ignorantly, as did also your Rulers, Act. 3. 17. If this be not sufficient, heare the voice of the person

that was slaine, Christ himselfe, who did so farre acquit them, saying, They know not what they doe, Luk. 23. 34. Ignorantly then in a Conjecturall Certainty, but yet with Good Intent; of whom Saint Paul witnesseth in these words, I beare them wit∣nesse that they have the Zeale of God, but not according to know∣ledge, Rom. 10. But what for habituall Condition? were they not bent in their owne mindes (if they had understood what Christ was) to have abhorred that so heinous a guilt of the death of the Sonne of God? questionles, for so saith the Apostle: If they had knowne, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory, 1. Cor. 2. 8. We Conclude, seeing these Iewes, notwithstanding their Morall Certainty, (being seduced by their Priests) or else their Good Intent of doing God good service therein; or yet their habituall Condition, not to have crucified Christ, if they had truly knowen him, were neverthelesse by S. Peter condemned, yea and of them∣selves, as formall and verily Murtherers of Christ; then (ô you Romish worshippers of the Hoast) must it necessarily follow that in your Masses you are equally all formally Idolaters, notwithstan∣ding any of the same three Pretences to the contrary.

Wherefore, as Salomon speaketh of an Adulterous woman; * 1.7 She eateth, and wipeth her month, saying, I have done no wicked∣nesse; so may we say of Idolatrous Worshippers, and their Pro∣ctours: for what else are these your three Romish Pretences, but like such mouth-wipers? or as Anodyna, and stupifying Medicines, which take away the Sence of the diseased person, but doe not cure the disease? So doe you delude miserable people with false Pretences, lest they, discerning the grossenesse and ouglinesse of your Idolatry, might abhor that worship, and abandon your Ro∣mish worshippers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See above, Sect. 1. at the letter (a) ad •…•…∣nem.
• * 1.2

  Ibid.
• * 1.3

  Acts 9. 5.
• * 1.4

  1. Cor. 15. 9.
• * 1.5

  2. Tim. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.6

  Ioh. 16. 2.
• * 1.7

  Prov. 30. 20.