The Lords Supper or, A vindication of the sacrament of the blessed body and blood of Christ according to its primitive institution. In eight books; discovering the superstitious, sacrilegious, and idolatrous abomination of the Romish Master. Together with the consequent obstinacies, overtures of perjuries, and the heresies discernable in the defenders thereof. By Thomas Morton B.D. Bp. of Duresme.

That the word, MASSE, in the Primitive Signification thereof, doth properly belong unto the Protestants: and justly condemneth the Romish manner of Masse. SECT. II.

THe word, MASSE, (by thec 1.1 Confession of Iesuites and Others, and that from the authoritie of Councels, Fathers, [ 10] Canon-law, Schoolmen, and all Latine Liturgies) is therfore so cal∣led from the Latine phrase [Missa est] especially, because the company of the Catechumenists, as they also which were not prepa∣red to communicate at the celebrating of this Sacrament, after the hearing of the Gospel, or Sermons, were Dismissed, and not suf∣fered to stay, but commanded To depart. Which furthermore your Ies. Maldonate, out of Isidore, of most ancient authors, and of all other the Liturgies, is compelled to confesse to be the Most true meaning of Antiquity.

Which Custome of exempting all such persons, being every [ 20] where religiously taught and observed in all Protestant Chur∣ches; and contrarily the greatest devotion of your Worship∣pers, at this day, being exercised onely in looking and gazing upon the Priests manner of celebrating your Romane Masse, without communicating thereof, contrary to the Institution of Christ; contrary to the practise of Antiquity; and contrary to the proper Vse of the Sacrament (all which* 1.2 hereafter shall bee [ 30] plentifully shewed) it must therefore follow, as followeth.d 1.3

[ 40] CHALLENGE.

WHereas there is nothing more rife and frequent in your Speeches, more ordinary in your Oathes, or more sa∣cred in your common Estimation, than the name of the MASSE; yet are you, by the Signification of that very word, convinced of a manifest Transgression of the Institution of Christ: and there∣fore

your great boast of that name is to be judged false, and ab∣surd. But of this Transgression more* 1.4 hereafter.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Missa à Mis∣sione dicta est, quo∣niam Catechumeni eâ susceptā foras de Ecclesia emitteren∣tur: ut in ritibus Pa∣ganorum dici consu∣everat, Ilicet, quod per Syncopen idem est, ac, Ire licet. Sic nostrum verbum, Missa, Ite, missa est. Salmeron. les. in the place above cited, pag. 390. 391. Sic accipi∣tur in jure Canonico & in Patribus etiam, atque Conciliis. A∣zor. les. Inst. par. 1. pag. 850. Gemina Missio; prima Cate∣chumenorum, alia peractis sacris, Missâ completâ. Binius in the place afore cited. Esse à dimissione, per Ite, missa est, tenet Alcuin. Ama∣lar. Fortunat. Durant quo supra. [And the other fore-named Authors, who confesse the word to be Latine, do hold that it commeth of Ite, Missa est; for] Iubebantur exire Catechumeni, & Poenitentes, ut qui nondum ad communicandum praeparaverant. Cassand▪ Consult. Art. 24. As also in his Tract. de solit. Missa. pag. 217. with others. (See more hereafter, Chap. 2. §. 5 where this point is discussed.) [As for the disraissing of the whole Congregation after the receiving of the Sacrament, by an Ite, missa est, it was used in the second place, af∣ter the other. See Binius above.] {fleur-de-lys}This crosseth not the distinction of Penances, which were anciently in their de∣grees. The first was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of teares, and groanes. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of them who were admitted to heare in∣structions. 3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of such as went out before Consecration, somewhat after the Catechumeni. 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, this was indeed of those, who were allowed to heare Masse at length, but communicated not: and this their presence, for looking on, was onely for Penance-sake, to see themselves excluded from the Communion of the faith∣full. The last was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of them which were reconciled and communicated.{fleur-de-lys}
• * 1.2

  See Chap. 2. Sect. 9.
• d 1.3

  Alij, ut Isidorus de divin. offic. diverunt Missam appellatam esse quasi dimissionem, à dimittendis Catechumenis antequam Sacrificium inchoaretur: quam sententiam colligo esse verissimam ex antiquiss. Authoribus.—Clambat enim Di∣aconus post Concionem, Catechumeni exeunto, & qui communicate non possunt: ut constat ex omnibus Li∣turgiis, ubi non potest nomen Missae accipi pro Sacri••icio. Maldon. les. lib. de 7. Sacram. Tract. de Euch. §. Pri∣mum. pag 335.
• * 1.4

  See below, Cha. 2. Sect. 5.