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.

I. That, by the Iudgement of ancient Fathers, some things (by reason of Contradiction in them) may be called Impossible, with∣out the impeachment of the Omnipotency of God; yea, with the great advance∣ment thereof. SECT. II.

[ 10] THis Proposition accordeth to the judgement of ancient Fa∣thers, shewing thaty 1.1 God cannot doe something, even be∣cause he is Omnipotent, as not dye, not sinne, not lye, because such Acts proceed not from power, but from impotencie, and infirmitie.

{fleur-de-lys} Theophylact will explaine this Point, in answering this Question, Can God make that which is once done to have beene not done?1 1.2 God is true of his words (saith hee) but to make that not to be done, which hath beene done, is a Lie. How then can hee that is true, Lie? He should sooner lose his Divine na∣ture. They therefore that speake so, talke as if they should aske [ 20] whether God can be God, whence their question appeareth to bee ridiculous. So he. The ancient Father Iustine* 1.3 distin∣guisheth of Impossibilities; One, simple and absolute, which hee calleth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and the other, which hee saith is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: giving for his example, in the first Impossi∣bility, a Diameter-line in a Figure to bee equall unto the sides thereof. Of the further judgement of the Fathers hereaf∣ter. {fleur-de-lys} So the Fathers.

It is not long since you have beene taught by an exceeding worthy Scholler, that in such Cases as imply Contradiction [ 30] the ancient Fathers noted the pretence of Gods omnipotencie to have beene ancientlyz 1.4 The Sanctuary of Heretikes. And they give an instance in the Arians, who denying Christ to have beene God eternall, beleeved him to have beene created God in time; as if it were possible there should be a made God, whose property is to be eternall. Their only pretence was Gods Om∣nipotencie, to make false things true: wherein they proved [ 40] themselves the greatest Lyars. Take unto you a second Pro∣position.

Notes

• y 1.1

  Aug. de Civit. lib. 5. cap. 10. Dici∣tur Deus omnipotens faciendo quod vult, non faciendo quod non vult: quod si ac∣cideret, nequ••quam esset omnipotens: un∣de proptereà quae∣dam non potest, quia est omnipotens: non potest mori, non peccare, non falli. Ambros. lib. 6. Epist. 37. ad Chroma••. Non posse mori, non in∣firmitatis est sed vir∣tutis. Chrysost. in ••o∣han. Nihil impoten∣tius quàm hoc posse. Ad••e hereu••to, Theo∣doret. Dial. 3. cap. 4. Impossibilia sunt Omnipotenti Deo, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sic posse, esse 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Na∣zianz. Orat. 36.—〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
• 1 1.2

  Theophylact. in Marc. 10. Nu••quid autem dicunt Deum factum infectum fa∣cere non posse? Di∣cimus Deum esse ve∣racem: factum au∣tem infectum facere, mendacium est. Quo pacto, quaeso, verax mendacium fecerit? prius enim perderet na∣turam suam: Et ideò qui sic loquuntur, perindè loquuntur, ac si quae••ant, Num potest Deus non esse Deus? vides igitur quam ridicula sit quaestio.
• * 1.3

  Iusti••. Martyr. Quaest Grec. Const. qu. 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• z 1.4

  Casaub. Exer••t. 3. ad Baron. An 91 Num. 91. Scitu•• est piorum Patrum: O••nipotentiam esse As••lum Haereticorum, quo se recipiant ubi ••arionibus fuerint victi. Gregor. Nazianz. Orat. 51. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sic Ariani ab Orthodoxis convicti, Christum Deum non esse 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, eò con∣fug••iebant, ut d••cerent per omnipotentiam Dei hoc esse factum: qui error confutatur ab Augustino, qu 79. Vet. & Novi Test••••. Potentia (inquiunt) Dei hae•• est, vt falsa sint vera: mendacis est, ut falsum dicat verum, quod D••o n•••• competit.