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.

[ 20] That the Apostle to the Hebrewes, in comparing Melchisedech with Christ, did not intimate any Analogie betweene the Sacrifice of Melchisedeth, and of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. SECT. III.

BVt,a 1.1 you pre-occupate, viz. The Apostle, speaking of Melchisedech, saith, [Of whom I had much to say, and that [ 30] which is uninterpretable, because you are dull of hearing.] Chap. 5. vers. 11. Whence it may seeme (saith your Cardinall) a thing undeniable, that the Apostle meant thereby the Mysterie of the Eu∣charist, because it was above their capacity, and therefore hee purposely forbare to mention either Bread or Wine. So your An∣swerer. To whom you may take, for a Reply as in our behalfe, the Confession of your much-esteemed Jesuite Ribera, who telleth you thatb 1.2 The Apostle naming it a thing Inexplicable, and calling them Dull, meant not thereby to conceale the matter implyed (which was so pertinent to that hee had in hand) from [ 40] them, because of the want of their Capacity: but did, in so saying, rather excite them to a greater Attention; shewing thereby that hee did not despaire, but that they were capable of that which hee would say; at least the learned among them, by whom others might have learned by little and little. So hee, proving the same out of those words of the Apostle, [Passing by the Rudiments, &c.

Let us goe on unto perfection:] that is, (saith hee) Do your dili∣gence in hearing, that you may attaine unto the understanding of these things, which are delivered unto those that are perfect. This is the Briefe of his large Comment hereupon.

{fleur-de-lys} Wee may here take up the Argument commonly used by all Protestants, to prove that although Christ be, in many respects, resemblable to Melchisedech, in his Priesthood most properly; yet that in the maner of his Sacrifice not so: because [ 10] then the Proper Sacrifice of Christ and Christians should be in Bread and Wine, as was that of Melchisedech. But the Sa∣crifice of Christ and Christians is not offering Bread and Wine. Therefore cannot Christ be resembled to Melchi∣sedech in the matter and nature of the Sacrifice.

This Argument wee formerly forbare to urge, because wee wanted the Assent of any of your Romish Doctors herein. But now wee have found, among your Jesuites, one confirming our Consequence, and saying, that Christ being considered to be a Priest after the order of Melchisedech, in [ 20] respect of the matter of the Sacrifice,4 1.3 It is necessary that Christ, besides his bloody Sacrifice on the Crosse, should of∣fer an unbloody Sacrifice of Bread and Wine. Nor can you justly oppose against our Assumption, which is, that the Proper Sacrifice of Christ and Christians is not the offering of Bread and Wine; because this is the universall, absolute, and constant Consequence of your Romish Doctors, judging and censuring the Contrary Assertion of this Jesuite to be Iewish and Absurd, as you may finde in the fift Chapter fol∣lowing, Sect. 1. {fleur-de-lys} Notwithstanding, what our Opposites faile of, in the point of Sacrifice, they intend to gaine from the [ 30] Title of Priesthood.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Bellar. Non videtur posse negari, &c. Lib. 1. de Missa, cap. 6. § Accedit.
• b 1.2

  Ribera Ies. Id non ideò dixerat, quod sermonem illū tracere vellet, erat e∣nim id, id quod in hac Epistol•• agit, valdè accommoda∣tum, sed ut magis il∣los excitatet studio audiendi, & intenti∣ores redderet—Non desperat Paulus quae scripturus est posse ab illis percipi, si animū attendant, aut certè à nonnullis eorum, qui eruditio∣res erant, per quos caeteri etiam paula∣tim intelligerent. Cā. in Heb. 6. num. 1. Where also hee hath these words: Cum illorum & imbecilli∣tatem & tarditatem accusat, idcirco facit, ut pudore ad melius intelligenda incitarentur: [Missa nunc faciamus rudimenta, & ad perfectionem seramur.] H••c est, Date operam ut mecum intelligatis, quae perfectis dici solent.
• 4 1.3

  Iac. Gordon. Scot Ies. Contro∣vers. Contr. 9. Cap. 3. num. 1. Melchisedech non solùm erat typus Christi, sed etiam Christus ipse fuit ve∣rè Sacerdos secun∣d••u ordinem Mel∣chisedech, non se∣cunduùm ordinem A∣aron. Neces••e igitur est ut Christus, prae∣ter illud cruentum sacrificium, quod in cruce obtulit, obtule rit etiam incru••••••••m Panis & Vini in ipsa ultima coena; alio∣qui non fuisset Sacer∣dos secundùm ordi∣nem Melchisedech.