Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572

The Answere.

YT plainly appeareth by the* 1.1 thirtéenthe Session of the Councell holden at Con∣stance, that the fathers then confessed that Christe did ordayne the Sacramentes vnder bothe kindes, and so gaue it vnto his Disciples, and so likewise did the primitiue churche also vse the same. Wherfore if this be true, as it can not otherwise be, then I leaue it to the iudgement of any good Christi∣an, whether that the councell of Con∣stance, which was holden. 1400. yéeres after Christe, or the councell of Basill, which was celebrated since, or any o∣ther councell what so euer the same be of name or authoritie, haue power to a∣brogate that which Christ did ordaine, and the primitiue church did vse, or cō∣demne the same for heresie.

Surely no man, no not the Angels haue this power, and therefore if they goe forward to condemne that for here∣sie which Christ did institute, and was receiued of the first Apostolical church, it may then easily appeare to all men, that Christe him selfe, and his churche, is had in suspition by those Councels: And truely, I had rather be counted an hereticke with Christ and his churche, than to beare the name of a Christian with these late councels.

But yet héere haue they an other* 1.2 shift, to wit, to auoide slander and other daungers, least the lay men shuld shed any of the wine, and so by this meanes bring the sacrament into contempt. As thoughe the eternall wisdome of God sawe not these things before he institu∣ted the cuppe, and could not he, if it had séemed to him good, haue forbidden the lay men the vse of the same? But sith the eternall wisedome of God hath gi∣uen the same vnto them, let vs content our selues therewith, onlesse we would séeme to haue more wisdome than god. And may not the priests I pray yée, shed

the wine as well as the lay men? And why then, shuld not the same be forbid∣den vnto them? But the Lordes supper is brought into contempt for farre ma∣ny other causes, than when any parte of the Wine falleth by chaunce on the grounde, or is shedde vnwillingly. For true faithe, burning charitie, stedfaste hope, faithfulnesse, mercy, iustice, and the puritie of those which cōmunicate, are the true ornamentes of the Sacra∣mentes. Wherefore, what offences, or what honor they bring to this Sacra∣ment which daily vse the same to gette their liuing thereby, & yet in the meane time are drunkardes, whoremaisters, vncleane persones, studying all vngod∣lynesse, & liue publikely in their naugh∣tinesse, to the great offence of many, is nowe by the great mercy of God, most manifestly knowne. Wherefore I har∣tely beséeche almighty God to graunte all those the true knowledge of their sinnes, wherby they may repent and a∣mend their liues.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The councel of Constance touchyug bothe the kyndes.
• * 1.2

  of the decrees and sclanders that happe in the vse of both kindes.