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 it was Bread, which Christ called his Body, is proved manifestly from your owne Romish Positions and Principles. SECT. VII.

YOur first Position is this; The word [This] must either point out Bread, or the Body of Christ, or that Third common [ 20] Substance, which you call Individuum vagum. But to referre to word [This] unto the Body of Christ, is (as hath beene f 1.1 confessed) Absurd. And that the word [This] should signifie your Individuum vagum, is an Exposition full of Absurdities, as hath beene alsot 1.2 acknowledged. It remaineth therfore that the Pronoune [This] pointeth out precisely, Bread.

A second Principle you have, to wit; That these words [This is my Body] are words of Consecration, and Operative, so that by [This] is meant that which is Consecrated, and (as your Coun∣cell u 1.3 of Trent speaketh) changed into the Body of Christ. But, by [ 30] the Decree of the same Councell, not the Body of Christ, nor a∣ny Third thing, but Bread only was then consecrated and changed into the Body of Christ. Ergo the Pronoune [THIS] hath only Relation to the Bread.

{fleur-de-lys}We might adde, for a third Principle, the above inge∣nuous * 1.4 Confession of your Iesuites, granting that the Pro∣noune [THIS] in Christs words did designe That thing which was then present, whereof Christ sayd, [This is my Bo∣dy:] when as (which hath likewise beene confessed) That thing was neither Christs Body, nor any third thing differing [ 40] from Bread. And therefore (say we) could betoken nothing but Bread.

CHALLENGE.

A New Syllogisme would bee had, to put the matter out of question.

Major. No Sense, which is Impossible, can be given properly

to the words of Christ, [This is my Body,] (This needeth no proofe.)

Minor. But to call Bread Christs Body, properly, is a Sense Im∣possible. (This hath beene your owne constant* 1.5 profession.)

Conclusion. Therefore cannot this Sense be given properly to the Body of Christ. How can you avoyd the necessity of this Consequence? All arising from the nature of Predication, in this Proposition, wherein the Subject is Bread; the Copula, Is; and Predicate, Body of Christ. Which because it cannot be [ 10] properly predicated either of Bread determinate, as to say, This Bread in my hand is Christs Body; or of Bread undeterminate (which you cal vagum) as to say, This kind of Bread is the Body of Christ, it demonstratively sheweth that your Doctors can have no greater Adversaries, in this case, than their owne Conscien∣ces, which will appeare more fully in that which followeth.

Notes

• f 1.1

  See above §. 2.
• t 1.2

  See above §. 3.
• u 1.3

  Concil. Tri∣dent. Sess. 23. c. 4. Fit Conversio totius sub∣stantiae Panus in cor∣pus Christi.
• * 1.4

  See above Chap. 1. Sect. 2.
• * 1.5

  See above § 4