our Saviour, was performed by that his Blessing by Prayer, which
preceded the pronouncing of those words, [HOC EST
CORPVS MEVM:] [This is my Body, &c.] To this
purpose hec is bold to averre that Thomas Aquinas, and all Ca∣tholike;
before Cajetane have confessed that Christ did consecrate in that
his [BENEDIXIT, that is, He••h essed it.] And that Saint
Iames and Dionyse the Areopagit•• did not Consecrate onely in the other
words, but by Prayer. Then he assureth us that the Greeke Churches
maintained, that Consecration consisteth in Benediction, by Prayer,
[ 10] and not in the onely repetition of the words aforesaid. After this hee
produceth your subtilest Schooleman Scotus, accompanied
with divers others, who Derided those, that attributed such a su∣pernaturall
virtue to the other forme of words. After steppeth
in your Lindan, who avoucheth Iustin (one of the ancientest
of Fathers) as Denying that the Apostles consecrated the Eucha∣rist
in those words, [HOC EST, &c.] and affirming that Con∣secration
could not be without Prayer.
Be you but pleased to peruse the Marginals, and you shall fur∣ther
find alleadged the Testimonies of Pope Gregory, Hierome,
[ 20] Ambrose, Bernard, and (to ascend higher) The Liturgies of Cle∣ment,
Basil, Chrysostome, and of the Romane Church it selfe; in gain-saying
of the Consecration, by the onely words of Institution, as you
pretend. And in the end hee draweth in two Popes, one contra∣dicting
the other, in this point; and hath no other meanes to
stint their jarre, but (whereas the authority of both is equall)
to thinke it just to yeeld rather to the better learned of them both.
Whosoever requireth more, may be satisfied by reading of the
Booke it selfe. {fleur-de-lys}And yet wee would be loath to pretermit the
(confessed) Testimonie of your Iesuite Gordon, out of Saint
[ 30] Augustine, attesting that in this Sacrament The fruit of the
earth is consecrated by Mysticall Prayer.{fleur-de-lys}
It will not suffice to say, That you also use Prayer, in the Ro∣mish
Liturgie: for the question is not meerely of Praying, but
where in the forme of Benediction and Consecration more pro∣perly
doth consist. Now none can say, that he consecrateth by
that Prayer, which he beleeveth is not ordained for Consecration.
We may furthermore take hold, by the way, of the Testifica∣tion
of M••. Brerely a Romish Priest, who, out of Basil and Chry∣sostome,
(calling one part Calix benedictione sacratus) alloweth Bene∣diction
[ 40] to have beene the Consecration thereof.
All this Armie of Witnesses were no better then Meteors,
or imaginary figures of battailes in the aire, if that the Answer
of Bellarmine may goe for warrant, to wit, that the only Pronun∣tiation
of these words [Hoc est corpus meum] imply in them (as hee
saith) in Invocation, or Prayer. Which words (as any man may
perceive) Christ spake not supplicatorily unto God, but decla∣ratively
unto his Apostles, accordingly as the Text speaketh, [He