ANSWER.
FIrst, the ground of the obiection laid by the Iesuit in cer∣taine [ B] comparisons, taken from Marriage, Meatand Drinke, is of no consequence: for as touching Wedlocke, the same (presupposing humane Propagation) is necessarie, both Necessi∣tate Medij, and Necessitate praecepti, that the generation of man may be morally lawfull, Heb. 13.4. so likewise presupposing, that Christians doe receiue the holy Eucharist, it is necessarie Necessitate finis, or Medij, & necessitate praecepti, That they receiue the same, as the Author appointed it to be receiued; which was not in one kind, but in both. And as touching Food, it is necessa∣ry, that man receiue it in some kind or other, for the sustenance [ C] of his life: but because God hath left it to the libertie of mans Election to vse which kind he liketh, and hath not by law, or precept, obliged him to any one kind in speciall, thereforeman is free in choosing his materiall Food, and obtaineth the end of Food, and obserueth the law of his Maker, when he orderly vseth any kind thercof. But in the matter of the holy Eucha∣rist, as God hath not made it adiaphorous for man to change the Elements, substituting Water and Broath, or Flesh in the stead of Bread and Wine: so likewise he hath not permitted it [ D] to humane discretion, to omit or vse the Sacramentall signes, but hath by expresse precept, obliged his Church to thevse of one signe, as well as the other.
But I wonder that the Iesuit in this discursiue preamble, would vse an instance from our naturall foode, than which nothing by wayof inference doth more expresly refute him. Can he in the Sacrament make mention of Food, and not con∣sider that our Sauiours intent in the institution was, to propor∣tion our Spirituall food to our Corporall? In our bodily nou∣rishment, haue we not need of drinke as well as meat? Did [ E] not our Sauiour therfore adde the Cup to the Bread, and equal∣ly blessed both? How dare they then make the repast of our soules, a dry banquet? And although God neuer bound any man to eate all kind of meat, yet he neuer forbad any man all kind of drinke.