But the aduersaries of Christe,* 1.1 gather toge∣ther a greate heape of authors, whiche (as they say) cal the Masse or holy communion a Sacri∣fice.* 1.2 But all those authors be answered vnto in this one sentence, that they called it not a sacri∣fice for sinne, bicause that it taketh awaye oure synne (which was taken away only by the death of Christ) but bicause it was ordained of Christ to put vs in remembraunce of the sacrifice made by him vpon the crosse. And for that cause it bea∣reth the name of that sacrifice, as S. Augustine declareth plainlye in his Epistle ad Bonifacium,* 1.3 before rehersed in this booke, fol. 64. And in his boke De fide ad Petrum diaconum before rehersed also.* 1.4 And in his booke De ciuitate Dei, he saith.
That which men call a sacrifice, is a signe or represen¦tacion of the true sacrifice.
And the Maister of the sentence (of whom all the schoole authors take their occasion to write) iudged truly in this point,* 1.5 saying:
That which ys offered & consecrated of the priest, is called a sa∣crifice and oblation, bicause it is a memorye and re∣presentacion of the trewe sacrifice and holye obla∣tion made in the altare of the crosse.
And S. Iohn Chrysostome,* 1.6 after he hath said that Christe is our Byshop, whiche offered that sacrifice that made vs cleane, and that we offre the same nowe, least any man might be deceaued by his manner of speakinge, he openeth his mea¦ninge