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.

The seventh Transgression of the Canon of Christ his Masse. [ 10] contradicting the Sense of the next words, [EATE YEE.] SECT. IX.

AS in the third Transgression, wee, by these words of Christ [Hee gave it to them,] spoken in the plurall number, have proved, from your owne Confessions, a necessary Communion of the people in the publike Celebration thereof with the Priest, against your (now) Profession of private Masses; con∣trary [ 20] to the ancient Custome and Vniversall practice of the Church,* 1.1 concerning All capable thereof: So now out of these words [TAKE YEE, EATE YEE] wee observe that the persons present were Takers and Eaters of the blessed Eucha∣rist, and not onely Spectators thereof. An Abuse condemned by our Church of England in her 25. Article saying, Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon.

The Contrary Canon of the (now) Romane Masse.

[ 30] But your Practice now is slat contrary, in your Church, by admitting people of all sorts, not as the Lords Guests, to Eate of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; but as Gazers only to looke on it, as upon a proper Sacrifice: telling the People that they, seeing the Priest eate and drinke,i 1.2 Doe spiritually eate and drinke in the person of the Priest. And the onely beholding of the Priests Sacrifice, at the Elevation and Adoration thereof, is esteemed amongst you, at this day, the most solemne and saving worship, which any people can performe unto God.

[ 40] CHALLENGE,

BVt Christ (you see) instituted this Sacrament onely for Eaters. The Apostle exhorteth every man to Preparation; Let a man examine himselfe: and exhorting every one, being prepared, to Eate, saith, So let him eate. This (to use your owne

k 1.3 Confessions) was practised in ancient times, when as the peo∣ple were thus generally invited, Come, Brethren, unto the Com∣munion. When as ancient Fathers (as you have also acknow∣ledged) suffered none but capable Communicants to be present at the celebration of the Eucharist. As for them that came unpre∣pared, and as not intending to Communicate, they commanded them to be gone, and to be packing out of doores. To this purpose your owne Relator telleth you, from other Authors, of the practice of Antiquity, and of other succeeding Churches, in not suffering any to be present, but such as did Communicate; [ 10] and of removing and expelling them that did not.

Nor can the Church of Rome justly take exception at this, seeing that in the Romane Church also (in the dayes of Pope Gre∣gory the first,l 1.4 which was 600. yeares after Christ) the office of the Deacon, at the time of the celebration of the Eucharist, was to cry aloud, saying,m 1.5 If any do not Communicate, let him give place. Where wee see the religious wisedome of that ancient Church of Rome, which could not suffer a Sacrifice to devoure a publike Sacrament, and to exclude a Communion. Whereunto the Scriptures gave the name of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, a [ 20] Gathering together, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, a Communion; as also of The Supper of the Lord: Yea, and Calixtus, a Pope more an∣cient that Gregorie, required that persons present should Com∣municate:n 1.6 Because (saith hee) the Apostles had so ordained, and the holy Church observeth the same.

But what have Wee said? have Wee called this Sacrament The Supper of our Lord? so (wee thought) were wee taught by the Apostle, 1 Cor. 11. before wee heard your lesuiteo 1.7 Mal∣donate denying this, and bitterly enveying against Protestants, terming them Blind men for want of judgement, for so calling it. [ 30] But he must pardon us, if wee (though wee should suspect our owne sight) yeeld to the ancient Fathers of Primitive times, as to men farre more cleare-sighted than that Iesuite could be; who (as both yourp 1.8 Romane Catechisme, with Lindan, instruct∣eth, [ 40]

and as your Cardinallq 1.9 Baronius confesseth) following the authority of the Apostles, used to call the sacred Eucharist, the Lords Supper, distinct from the Paschall Supper, which went be∣fore it: amongst whom you haver 1.10 Dionysius Areop igita, with Chrysostome, Cyprian, Augustine, Hierome, Anselme, Ber∣nard. VVhereupon (with some of them) wee enjoyne a Necessi∣tie of a joynt Communion with those that are present.

Will you suffer a Golden mouth to be Moderator in this Con∣troversie? thus then. Whosoever thou art (saiths 1.11 S. Chrysostome) that being fit to participate of this Sacrament shalt stand onely [ 10] looking on, and not eate, thou dost no lesse Contumely and reproach to the Sacrament, than a man invited to a Feast, who will not taste thereof, doth unto the Lord that invited him to be a Guest. So he. And to shew that it cannot be sufficient to behold it onely as a proper Sacrifice (as you pretend) the samet 1.12 Father (as you know) saith against such By-standers; Why doe wee waite at the Altar, offering (meaning* 1.13 unproperly) a Sacrifice, when as there is none to Communicate? And why dost thou, impudent fellow, stand here still, not being one of them that participate there∣of? But enough.

[ 20] This then you perceive is a matter of no small importance, even by reason of the nature of this Sacrament, which is a Di∣vine Banquet; being also enjoyned upon the Catholike Church by that Command of Christ, [Do THIS.] Therefore the Command and Precept comming, maketh you Transgressors for not Eating; even as by the first Command given into man∣kind of [Eate not] our first Parents became Transgressors for Eating. So justly doth our* 1.14 Church require, that Gazers, who Communicate not, should depart. Wee forbeare to repeate that which wee have formerly* 1.15 proved (to wit) that you, by [ 30] not dismissing the non-Communicants from beholding the celebration of this Sacrament, are condemned by the word, Masse, whereof you have so long boasted, untill that now your [ 40] Glory is become your shame.

Notes

• * 1.1

  {fleur-de-lys}For we insist not upon the fourth degree of Penance in the Greeke Church, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; of such who, in poenam, staid to see themselves deprived of that Bles∣sing, which others en∣joyed See above, cap. 1. Sect. 2.
• i 1.2

  Synod Trideat Sess 22. c. 6. Adstan∣tes si dices, spirituali∣ter communicant. In cujus (namely, the priests) persona to∣tus populus spirituali quadam sumptione sanguinem Christi bibere gaudentèr de∣bet credere. Ecchi•••• Enchirid. de Euch. c. 10. pag. 114. and A∣costa the Ies. nec a∣bove Sect. 5. let. (g.)
• k 1.3

  Temporibus Di∣onysij Arcop. (ut pa∣tet ex cap. 3. Hier.) omnes invitabantur, ad singula sacra, [ve∣nite, fratres, ad com∣munionem.] Chrys. Orat. ad Mart. Phi∣log. Quotidianum Sacrificium in cassum fit, nemo accedit. As witnesseth Card. A∣lan. l. 2. de Euch. cap. 30. pag. 648. Scien∣dum est juxta anti∣quos Patres, quod soli Communicantes divinis mysterijs in∣teresse consueverant, ••nde ante oblatio∣nem jubebantur exi∣re Catechumeni, & Poenitentes, sc. quià nondùm se praepara∣verant ad communi∣candum. Cossand. Consult. Art. 24. pag. 216. 217. [And hee further brings in Co∣chla•••• de Sacrificio Missae, witnessing the same 1] Quòd olim tam sacerdotes quâm Laici quicunque Sa∣crificio Missae non in∣terant, peractâ cōmunicatione cum Sacrificante commu∣nicabant: sicut in Canon. Apostolo∣rum, & libris anti∣quissimis Doctorum Ecclesiae perspicuè cognoscitur, Cassan∣der Liturg. cap. 30. Nec propriè dici po∣test Communio, nisi plures de eodem Sa∣crificio participent Haec Micrologus cap. 51. de orat. ad populum Teste Espenc. Tract de privata Missa, fol. 232. col. 2.
• l 1.4

  Sciendum est, ju••••ta antiquos Patres, quod soli Communicantes divinis officijs interesse con∣suverant. Microlog. de Eccles. observat. Et in Liturg. AEthiop. Si communicate non vultis discedite. In Liturg. Amen. Exeant foras. Nic. Cusan. Dico, inquit Dionys. Areop. quòd qui non parati erant ad suscep∣tionem, expellebantur ex Ecclesia. Haec, Tesse Cassandro Liturg. cap. 26. pag. 59.
• m 1.5

  Diaconus diama∣bat, [Si quis non communicet, det locum] Greg. Dial. cap. 23. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] &c.
• n 1.6

  Ca∣lixtus P. ut habetur de Consecrat. Dist. 2. C. Peracts.—Peractâ Consecratione, omnes communicent,—Sic enim Apostoli slatuerunt, & sancta, tenot Ecclesia.
• o 1.7

  Calvinistarum & Lutheranorum in∣scitia, Sacramentum hoc Coenam appellantium: atqui nullus in sacris literis locus est, ubi Coena vocatur. Vbi dicit D. Paulus. [I am non est Dominicam Coenam manducare] nullo judicio adhibito existimant illum Eucharistiam Coenam appellare—Non viderunt homines coeci quòd Luc. 22. 20. & Paulus, vers. 25. scribit [Postquam coenavit] usitatam & communem coenam, ante hoc Sacramentum, Coenam vocant. Maldo•• Ies. in Matth. 626. pag. 14.
• p 1.8

  Vetustissimi Patres, Apostolorum authoritatem secuti, coenae Christi nom he sacram Eucharistiam interdum vocârunt; quòd in illo novissimae coenae salutari mysterio à Christo Domino sit instituta. Catech. Rom. por. 2. p. 171. Coena Dominica, ex Institutionis tempore, à D. Paulo dicitur. Lin∣dan panop. l. 4. c. 37.
• q 1.9

  Constat Con∣n••n Domini (sic enim Pacres consuc∣verunt institutionem sacrae Eucharistiae appellare.—Idom{que} eile Coenam Domi∣nicam m••nducare, quod Eucharistiam sumere, ut Aug. de∣monstrat, fuisse di∣stinctam à Coena Pasch••t. Baron. An. 34. num 45.
• r 1.10

  Don••s. Arcop. Hier c. 4. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Chrysost. Hom. 24. in 1 Cor. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Oe∣cum••. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Cy∣prian. lib. institut. de Coena Domini Bern. Tract. habe•• de Coe∣na Domin. Tert. li. 2. cap 4. ad u••orem; Convivium Domini∣cum. Hier. in 1. Cor. Caeterum Dominica Coena debet esse omnibus communis, quia ille omnibus, qui aderant, discipulis ae∣qualitèr tradidit Sa∣cramentum. Anselm. in 1. Cor. Dominica coena omnibus Chri∣stanis debet esse communis. Baron. quo suprà.
• s 1.11

  Obsecro, si∣quis ad convivium vocatus, & manus quidem laverit & ac∣cubuerit, paratusquè & dispositus ad men∣sam fuerit, & tamen nihil ciborum gustaverit, nonne inferet Convivatori contumeliam, à quo fuerat vocatus? Nonnè satiùs erit ei, qui talis est, omninò non comprauisse? ità tu quoque qui advenisti, & hymnum cecinisti cum omnibus re∣liquis, ex Eorum te numero esse, qui digni sunt, hoc ipso confessus es, quòd non cùm indignis abscessisti. Quo∣modò, cùm mansetis, de mensa ista non participas? indignus es igitur eâ communione, quae in precibus? [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] Chrysost. Hom. 3. in Epist. ad Ephes.
• t 1.12

  Audi Chrysost. Hom. 61. ad pop. Antioch. & Hom. 3. ad Ephes. Frustrà hic offertur hostia salutaris & quotidianum Sacrificium; incassum Altari insistimus, cùm nemo est qui participet, nullus cui communicetur.—Quid stat, si è numero es poe∣nitentium,—tu tamen hic interim persistis impudens? at ex ijs non es, sed inter eos, qui possunt esse par∣ticipes. Espenc. de Missa privata. pag. 221. Item Chrysost. Hom. 3. ad Ephes. p. 773. Edit. Savil. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.13

  See hereafter in the sixt booke.
• * 1.14

  Exhorta∣tion before the Communion.
• * 1.15

  See above Chap. 1. Sect. 2.