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Quest. 122. May the name Priests, Sacrifice, and Altars be lawfully now used instead of Christs Ministers, Worship and the Holy Table?
Answ. 1. HE that useth them in design to bring in the Popish Transubstantiation and Real Sa∣crifice of the Mass, doth heinously sin in such a design and use.
2. In a time and place where they may not be used without scandal, or tempting or encouraging any to their errors, the scandal will be a grievous sin.
3. The New Testament useth all the Greek names which we translate, Priests, Sacrifice and Altars, therefore we may use the same in Greek: And our Translation or English names are not intolerable. If Priest come from Presbyter I need not prove that: If it do not, yet all Ministers, are subordinate to Christ in his Priestly Office as essentially as in the rest. And Rev. 1. 6. & 5. 10. & 20. 6. it is said, that we are or shall be made Priests of God, and unto God. And 1 Pet. 2. 5. we are [an holy Priesthood] and ver. 9. a [royal Priesthood:] If this be said of all, then especially of Ministers.
And the word Sacrifice is used of us and our offered Worship, 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 13. 15, 16. Phil. 4. 18. Ephes. 5. 2. Rom. 12. 1.
And Heb. 13. 10. saith, We have an Altar whereof they partake not, &c. And the word is fre∣quently used in the Revelations, Chap. 6. 9. & 8. 3, 5. & 16. 7, &c. in relation to Gospel times. We must not therefore be quarrelsome against the bare names, unless they be abused to some ill use.
4. The antient Fathers and Churches did ever use all these words so familiarly without any que∣stion or scruple raised about them, either by the Orthodox or any Hereticks that at present I can re∣member to have ever read of, that we should be the more wary how we condemn the bare words, lest thence we give advantage to the Papists to make them tell their followers, that all Antiquity was on their side. Which were very easie for them to prove, if the Controversie were about the Names alone. Extreams, and passionate imprudence do give the adversaries great advantages.
5. The names of Sacrifice and Altar, were used by the Antient Churches, not properly, but meer∣ly in allusion to the Jewish and Heathen Sacrifices and Altars, together with a tropical use from the Chri∣stian reasons of the Names.
As the Lords Supper is truly the Commemoration of Christs Sacrifice: And therefore called by Protestants, A Commemorative Sacrifice; so that our Controversie with the Papists, is not, Whether it may be called a Sacrifice; But whether it be only the Sacrament of a Sacrifice, or a Sacramental Comme∣morative Sacrifice, or also a Real proper Sacrifice of the very body and blood it self of Christ. For we acknowledge, That [This is a Sacrifice] is no more tropical a speech, than [This is my body and blood.]
6. Yet it must be noted, that the Scripture useth the word [Sacrifice] about our selves, and our Thanksgivings, and prayses, and works of Charity, rather than of the Lords Supper: and the word [Priests] of all men Lay or Clergy that offer these foresaid Sacrifices to God. Though the an∣tient Doctors used them familiarly, by way of allusion, of the Sacrament and its administrators.
7. In a word, as no Christian must use these or any words, to false ends or senses, or deceiving purposes, nor yet to scandal; so out of these cases, the words are lawful: And as the Fathers are not to be any further condemned for using them, than as the words (which they foresaw not) have given advantage to the Papists, to bring in an ill sense and doctrine; so those that now live in Churches and Countreys, where the publick professed doctrine doth free them from the suspicion of a Popish ill sense, should not be judged nor quarrelled with for the terms: But all sober Chri∣stians should allow each other the liberty of such phrases without censoriousness or breach of chari∣ty or peace.