A replie to Iesuit Fishers answere to certain questions propou[n]ded by his most gratious Matie: King Iames By Francis White D: of Div· deane of Carlile, chaplaine to his Matie. Hereunto is annexed, a conference of the right: R:B: of St Dauids wth the same Iesuit*

IESVITS 1. Consideration. [ A]

The first is grounded vpon the supposall of two things most certaine. First, that the Primitiue Church preaching vnto Pagans, Iewes, and other Infidels, the rest of Christian mysteries, as the Trinitie, the Incarnation, the Resurrection of the bodie, did most carefully keepe as much as might be from their knowledge, the mysteries of the Eucharist; yea Catechumens and Nouices were not, before [ B] Baptisme, fully taught or instructed therein. Secondly, the reason moouing the Primitiue Church to be carefull in this point, was, least Catechumens and Infidels being fully acquainted with the whole mysterie, the one should be scandalized, and the other mocke thereat. Hence it was accounted such a haynous offence, that Christians should discouer this secret vnto Infidels, or dispute about the difficulties thereof, in their presence. The Councell of Alex∣andria, [ C] relating the crimes of Arians, number this as one of the greatest, They were not ashamed in publique, and as it were vpon a scaffold, to treat of the mysteries be∣fore Catechumens, and which is worse, before Pagans. And a little after, Jt is not lawfull to publish the Mysteries be∣fore them that are not initiated, for feare least Pagans out of ignorance mocke, and Catechumens entring into cu∣riosities, be scandalized. And againe, Before Catechumens, [ D] and which is more, before Iewes and Pagans, blasphe∣ming Christianitie, they handled a question about the Bodie and Bloud of our Sauiour. S. Ambrose saith, To declare the mysteries vnto them that be Catechumens, is not Tradition but Prodition: seeing by such declarations danger is incurred, least they be diuulged vnto Jnfidels that will scoffe at them. This supposed, I infer that the seeming absur dities of the Catholique reall presence should [ E] incourage a true Christian mind to beleeue it: for a true Christian desires to beleeue, and firmely cleaue vnto the reall presence that was beleeued by the Primitiue Church. But this was a reall presence, accompanied with many (so

seemingly grosse) absurdities, that the Church had no hope [ A] to satisfie Infidels therein, or to keepe them from blasphe∣ming, but by concealing the mysterie from them; and conse∣quently they held the Catholique not the Protestant Do∣ctrine in this point. The Protestant Doctrine that makes Christs bodie present spiritually by Faith vnto the deuout Receiuer, that communicating, thinks sweetly of Christs passion and death, containes no mysterie to be concealed, in respect of the seeming absurdities. [ B]

Notes

• Concil. Alexan. a∣pud Athanasium, Apolog. 2.
• Epist. Iulij apud A∣thanas. Apol 2.