Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

The Protestants.

OVr aduersaries doe falsely charge vs to say, that God can doe no more then he hath done, or will do, Rhemist. Math. 26. sect. 11. This we say: that Christ is almightie, and yet can doe nothing against his owne will, his word, or glorie: as to dishonor his glorious bodie, and to bring it within the compasse of a piece of bread, that it may be deuoured of cats, dogges, rats, mice, or which is worse, to be eaten of wicked men the members of the diuell: although the question be not so much betweene vs, what Christ is able to doe of his absolute power, but what he will doe according to his word, Fulk. Math. 17. sect. 1.

Argum. 1. It standeth neither with the power or will of God, to doe contra∣rie to his word: For it is impossible that God should lye, Hebr. 6.18. And this

thing, not to lye, is not a wāt of power, but a signe of greater power in God. But it is plainly declared in scripture, that Christ hath a true naturall bodie, and is in all things like vnto vs, Hebr. 2.17. Therefore neither can his bodie, being a true humane bodie, as ou••s are, be in many places at once: neither can it choose but occupie that roome and place where it is. The Angel sayd, He is risen, he is not here, Math. 28.6: but it had been no good argument, to say, he is risen and gone to another place, and therefore he is not here, if so be the bodie of Christ might be in many places at once. The scripture then hath defined it, that Christs bodie is in one certaine place: wherefore to say, that Christ hath a true naturall bodie, and yet retaineth not the naturall properties of a bodie, is to speake con∣tradictories, that he hath, and hath not a true naturall bodie: and this were to make God a lier.

* 1.1Augustine sayth of Christ: Secundum corporalem praesentiam, simul in sole, lu∣na, cruce, esse non potest: Christ according to his corporall presence, cannot be in the Sunne, the Moone, and vpon the Crosse all at one time.

And concerning the other poynt, he writeth thus: Spatia locorum tolle corpo∣ribus,* 1.2 & nusquam erunt, & quia nusquam erunt, nec erunt: Take away space of place from bodies, and they shall be no where, and if they be in no place, then are they not at all.

Argum. 2. The reall and carnall presence of Christ in the Sacrament, is a thing superfluous, needles, and vnprofitable. First, the fauour of God in the remission of sinnes through Christ, is as well sealed vnto vs in Baptisme, as in the Lords Supper▪ what neede then the carnal presence in the one more then in the other? Secondly, that Christ is in bodie present in the Sacrament, is not perceiued by any sense: for they neither tast him, see him, nor feele him: it must be then a worke of faith: but by faith Christ is as well apprehended being absent, as being supposed in this manner to be present: Ergo, this kind of presence is needles.

Argum. 3. It is an inglorious, vnworthie and vnseemely thing, that the glo∣rious and impassible bodie of Christ, should be inclosed in the formes of bread and wine, deuoured and chawed, eaten and gnawed of mice, subiect to mould and rottennes, to be spilt vpon the ground, burnt in the fire: for all these incon∣ueniences must needes follow vpon the carnall presence.

Bellarm. It is no more inglorious or impossible for these things now to hap∣pen to the bodie of Christ, thē it was for him to be carried in his mothers womb, to be swathed in swadling bands, and to be subiect to iniuries which were done to his bodie vpon earth.

Ans. First, as though there be the like reason of the passible bodie of Christ, while he liued in the world, which was buffeted, whipped, pearced with nayles, crucified; and of his glorious and impassible bodie now, that it may in like manner be rent and diuided. Secondly, neither was it possible that Christs pas∣sible bodie should be subiect to the like infirmities, as to rottennes, corruption, consumption in the fire, as his bodie is now in the Sacrament. If it were then verified in Christ, Thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption:

for his bodie did not putrifie or corrupt in the graue: much more is it true in the glorious bodie of Christ, that it cannot suffer any such things: How then are you not ashamed to affirme, that the bread and wine are made in the Sacrament, the very bodie and blood of Christ: seeing those elements, if they be kept long, will waxe sower, and mouldie, and fall to corruption? which things once to thinke of the glorious bodie of Christ, were great impietie. Leaue off for shame then these your grosse opinions, so much derogatorie to the glorie and honour of Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cōt. Faust. lib. 20. cap. 11.
• * 1.2

  Epistol. 57.