Chap. 2. the. 4. Diuision.
Beside that ridiculous, and (as they vse it to their new creatures) blasphemous saying, receiue the holy Ghost.
To vse these wordes (receiue the holy Ghost) in ordering of Mi∣nisters, which Christ him selfe vsed in appoynting his Apostles, is no more ridiculous and blasphemous, than it is to vse the wordes, that he vsed in the Supper: But it is blasphemie thus outrageously to speake of the wordes of Christ. The Byshoppe by speakyng these words doth not take vpon hym to giue the holy Ghost, no more than he dothe to remitte synnes, when he pronounceth the remission of synnes: but by speakyng these wordes of Christ, receyue the holy Ghost, vvhose sinnes so euer ye remitte, they are remitted▪ &c. he dothe shewe the principall duetie of a Minister, and assureth hym of the assistance of Gods holy spirite, if he labour in the same according∣lye.
You call them his new creatures, these be but words of s〈1 line〉〈1 line〉urrilitie, to be hissed at, not to be answered.
To say that the Byshop may as well say (receiue the holy ghost) as to say the wordes vsed in the Supper, or to say that the sinnes of those, which do beleeue are forgiuen, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as farre as Yorke and London. For there are commaundementes to the Ministers to doe that, which they doe, and heere is none: and there the Minister doth not commaunde that the bread be the bodie of Christ, but he sayth that it is. Neither doth he commaunde that sinnes should be for∣giuen, but pronounceth in the behalfe of God, that they are forgiuen. It is not lawfull also, that he with the congregation should make a prayer for the assistance or encrease of God his giftes vp∣on him, that is ordeined, but to commaund that he should receiue it, is meerely vnlawfull. For these wordes (receiue the holy ghost) are the imperatiue mode, and doe expressely signifie a commaunde∣ment. And so the Bishop may as wel say to the sea when it rageth and 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉elleth, peace, be quiet, as to say receiue the holy Ghost. And if you thinke it so good reason to vse this in the making of mini∣sters, bicause you vse the words of our Sauiour Christ, why may not you as well blow vpon them as he did? For seyng that our sauiour Christ confirmed his word there with a Sacrament, or out∣warde signe, and you thinke you must therefore do it, bicause he did it, you are muche to blame to leaue out the outward signe, or Sacrament of breath, whereby the faithe of him that is ordeined, might be the more assured of such giftes and graces, as are requisite in his function. I heape not vp here the iudgement of writers, you knowe, I thinke, it might easily be done, if I liked to follow that waye.
Christ vsed these wordes (this is my bodye) in the celebration of his Supper, but there is no speciall commaundement that the Minister should▪ vse the same, and yet must he vse them, b〈1 line〉〈1 line〉cause Christ vsed them: euen so, when Christ did ordeine his A∣postles Ministers of the Gospell Io. 20. he sayd vnto them▪ receiue the holy G〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ost. &c. which words bicause they containe the principall duetie of a Minister, and do signifie that God doth poure his spirit vpon those whom he calleth to that function, are most