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 Article of Transubstantiation was not defined in the Councel of Laterane, under Pope inno∣centius the Third. SECT. IV.

YOur owne learned Romisht 1.1 Priest, a long time Prisoner, did (under the name of Widdrington) produce many Hi∣storians, [ 10] viz. Platina, Nauclerus, Godfridus Monumetensis, Mat∣thew Paris, and others, to testifie as followeth: That many things fell under Consultation in that Councel, but nothing was openly defined, the Pope dying at Perusium. Insomuch that some of these Authours sticke not to say, that This Generall Councel, which see∣med to promise bigge and mighty matters, did end in scorne and mockery, performing nothing at all. Wee might adde, that the supposed Acts of this Councel were not published untill more than two hundred yeares after. No marvell then if some u 1.2 Schoole-men, among whom were Scotus and Biel, held [ 20] Transubstantiation not to have beene very ancient. And another, thatx 1.3 It was but lately determined in the Church. Nay, Ma∣ster Brerely (if his opinion be of any Credit among you) stick∣eth not to say thaty 1.4 Transubstantiation compleat (that is, both for forme, and matter) was not determined untill the last Coun∣cel of Trent; that is to say, not untill the yeare of our Lord, 1560. Do you not see how much licking this ougly Beare had, before it came to be formed? and yet it will appeare to be but a Monstrum horrendum, take it at the best; as it is now to be proved, by the full discovering of the paipable Falshood [ 30] thereof. [ 40]

Notes

• t 1.1

  Venêre multa in Consultationem, nec decerni quicquam ta∣men aptè potuit, eò quòd Pontifex (quo profectus est tollen∣dae Discordiae gratiâ) mortuus est Petusij. Platina in vita inno∣centij. Decerni nihil apertè potuit: edita sunt quaedam, &c. Nauclerus An. 1215. [meaning after the Councell.] Ad festum Sanctae Andreae pro∣tractum, nihil dig∣num memoriâ actū, nisi quod Orienta∣lis Ecclesia, &c. God. fridus Monumeter sis, & Math. paris. Hi∣stor minor. Conci∣lium illud Generale, quod primâ fronte grandia prae se tulit, in risum, & scomma desijt, in quo Papa omnes accedentes lu∣disicatus est: illi e∣nim, cum nihil in eo Concilio geri cerne∣rent, redeundi veni∣am petierunt. Thus farre out of Widdrington alias Preston, in his Booke above cited.
• u 1.2

  Scholastici quidam hanc Doctrinam de Transubstantiatione non valdè Antiquam esse dixerunt: inter quos Scorus, & Gabriel Biel. Suarez Ies. Tom. 3. Disp. 30. §. 1.
• x 1.3

  In Synaxi serò definivit Ecclesia Transubstantiationem: diù satis erat Credere sivè sub pane, sive sub quocunque modo adesse verum Corpus Christi. Eras. in 1. Cor. 7. pag. 373.
• y 1.4

  Mr. Brerely in his Liturgie Tract. 2. §. 11. pag. 158.