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.

Of the Sacrilegiousnesse of the Romish Masse, and Defence thereof, in the point of Sacrifice; comprized in this Synopsis.

SECT. II.

SAcrilege is whatsoever Violation of any sacred Person, Place, or Thing. Now omitting to speake of your Dismembring the Eucharist, by administring it but in One kinde (which your Pope a 1.1 Gelasius condemned for Grand Sacrilege) or of the like points for∣merly discovered, we shall insist only in your Churches Doctrine of Sacrifice, wherein your Sacrifice is found to be grossely Sacrile∣gious in the Tractate of the Sixth Booke.

I. By Creating a new Sacrifice, as Proper, and thereby assu∣ming to her selfe that b 1.2 Excellencie of Prerogative, which is proper to Christ alone the high Priest, and Bishop of our Soules (namely) the power of ordaining Sacraments; or (if need were) Sacrifices in his Church. Which Guiltinesse we may call a Counterfeiting of the Seale of Christ.

II. By making this Sacrifice, in her pretence, Christian; but but indeed c 1.3 Earthly, and Iewish.

III. By dignifying it with a Divine property of d 1.4 Meritorious, and Satisfactorie Propitiation.

IV. By professing another properly Satisfactorie and e 1.5 Propi∣tiatory

Sacrifice, for Remission of sinnes, besides that which Christ offered upon the Crosse. As if after one hath paid the Debts of many at once, upon condition that such of those Debters should be discharged, whosever submissively acknowledging those Debts to be due, should also professe the favour of their Redeemer; It cannot but be extreme folly for any to thinke, that the money once paid should be tendred, and offered againe, as often as One or Other of the Debters should make such an acknowledgement, the Surety having once sufficiently satisfied for all. So Christ having once for all satisfied the justice of God, by the price of his blood, in the behalfe of all penitent Sinners, who in Contrition of heart and a living Faith apprehend the Truth of that his Redemp∣tion; it cannot but be both injurious to the justice of God, and to the merit of Christ, that the same satisfactory Sacrifice, as it were a new payment, ought againe, by way of Satisfaction, be personally performed and tendred unto God.

V. By detracting from the absolute Function of Christ his f 1.6 Priesthood now eminent, and permanent before God in Heaven; and thereupon stupifying the mindes of Communicants, and (as it were) pinioning their thoughts, by teaching them so to gaze, and meditate on the matter in the hands of the Priest, that they cannot (as becommeth Spirituall Eagles) soare alost, and contem∣plate upon the Body of Christ, where it's infallible Residence is, in that his heavenly Kingdome.

VI. By transforming (as much as they can) the Sacrament, ordained for Christians to eat with their owne mouthes, into a g 1.7 Theatricall Sacrifice, wherein to be fed with the mouth of the Priest.

VII. By abasing the true value of Christ his Blood, infinitely exceeding all valuation, in making it but h 1.8 finite; whereas Christ being 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, God and Man in one person, every propitiatory worke of his must needs be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and therefore of an infinite price, and power.

VIII. By denying the Effect of his * 1.9 Propi••iation for Sinne to be plenary, in the Application thereof.

IX. There hath beene noted (by the way) the Portion appro∣priated to the Priest, out of your Sacrifice, and to be applyed to some particular Soule for money: being an Invention, as hath beene confessed, voyd of all i 1.10 Warrant, either by Scripture, or by Antient Tradition. To say nothing of your fine Art of cheating mens Soules by Priestly Fraud; whereof, as also of the Rest, wee have discoursed at k 1.11 large.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Booke 1. Chap. 3. Sect. 7. in the Challenge.
• b 1.2

  Booke 6. Chap. 1. Sect. 5.
• c 1.3

  Booke 6. Chap. 5. Sect. 1.
• d 1.4

  Ibid. Chap. 10.
• e 1.5

  Ibid. and after, &c.
• f 1.6

  Ibid. Chap. 3. Sect. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• g 1.7

  Ibid.
• h 1.8

  Ibid. Chap. 10. Sect. 4.
• * 1.9

  Ibid. Chap. 11.
• i 1.10

  Ibid. Chap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Sect. 4.
• k 1.11

  Booke 6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ ••ut.