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.

Morton, Thomas, 1564-1659.

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OF THE INSTITVTION OF THE SACRAMENT of the blessed Body and Blood OF CHRIST, &c.

THE FIFTH BOOKE Treating of the Third Romish Doctrinall Consequence, arising from your depraved Sense of the words of Christs Institution [THIS IS MY BODY] concerning the maner of the present Vnion of Christs Body with the Bodies of the Receivers by eating, &c.

CHAP. II.

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Page 315

That the wicked Receivers are called Guilty of Christs Body; not by properly Eating of his Body unworthily, but for unworthily Eating the Sacrament there∣of Symbolically. SECT. IV.

THE Distinction used by Saint Augustine (who is still a re∣solute [ 10] Patron of our Cause) hath beene alwayes as gene∣rally acknowledged, as knowne, wherein hee will have us to discerne, in the Eucharist, the Sacrament from the thing repre∣sented, and exhibited thereby. Of the Sacrament hee saith that *It is received of some to Life, and of some to destruction: but the thing it selfe (saith hee) is received of None, but to Salva∣tion. So hee No Protestant could speake more directly, or Conclusively for proofe; First, That, in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the Body of Christ is as well tendred to the Wicked, as to the Godly. Secondly, That the Wicked for want of a [ 20] living faith, have no Hand to receive it. Thirdly That their not preparing themselves to a due receiving of it, is a Contempt of Christ his Body and Blood. Fourthly, and Consequently that it worketh the judgement of Guiltinesse upon them.

{fleur-de-lys} If it shall be proved that the like judgement followeth upon the Wicked, for absenting himselfe from receiving of this Sacrament, in Contempt thereof; as well as it doth upon the unworthy Receiver, it Determinateth the Point in question, to prove the inconsequence of your reason, wher∣of you conclude, that the Guiltinesse of Judgement ariseth [ 30] from unworthy Corporall participation of Christs Body, Now Saint Augustines words are, that 1Hee that contenineth to eate this, hath no life in him, and shall be deprived of life eter∣nall. Which is by his Contempt, not in the Receiving, but in the Not-Receiving thereof.

All which both the Evidence of Scripture, and Consent of Antiquity do notably confirme. For the Text objected doth clearely confute your Romish Consequence, because Saint Pauls words are not; Hee that eateth the Body of Christ, and drinketh his Blood unworthily, is guilty of his Body and [ 40] Blood: but, Hee that enteth the Bread, and drinketh the Cup of the Lord unworthily, &c, Which wee have proved through∣out the second Booke to signifie Bread and Wine, the Signes and Sacraments of his Body and Blood, after Consecration. And (to come to Antiquity) All the Fathers hereafter cited, who deny that the wicked Communicants are partakers of the Body and Blood of Christ (albeit knowing, as well as you, that all such unworthy Receivers are guilty of the Body and Blood of Page 316 Christ) will thereby sufficiently confute your Consequence, which is, that because the Wicked are guiltie of Christs Body; Ergo his Body is Corporally present in them. But wee pursue you yet further.

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