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.

CHALLENGE. [ 30]

NOw you, who so fixe the hearts and minds of the Specta∣tors of your Masse upon your sublunary Altars and Hoasts, and appropriate the Iuge Sacrificium thereunto (in re∣spect of Time) during onely the houres of your Priestly Sacri∣ficing; allow your attention but a moment of Time, and you will easily see the Impiety of that your Profession.

The Iuge Sacrificium of Christ, as it is presented to God by him in Heaven, hath beene described to be Continuall, without [ 40] Intermission, Alwayes (that is) without any Interruption of any moment of Time: to the end that all sorts of Penitents and faithfull Suters, solliciting God by him, might finde (as the Apostle saith) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Helpe at any time of need. The Gates of this Temple, Heaven, being ever open; the mat∣ter of this Sacrifice, which is the Body of Christ, being there ever present; The Priest, who is Christ himselfe, ever exe∣cuting his Function. Whereas, contrarily, you will confesse,

(wee dare say) that the Doores of your Churches may happen to be all locked, or interdicted; your Sacrifice shut up in a Boxe, or lurched, and carryed away by Mice; your Priest taken up with sport, or repast, or journey, or sleepe: yea, and even when hee is acting a Sacrifice, may possibly nullifie all his Priestly Sacrificing Act, by reason of (* 1.1 Confessed) Almost infinite Defects.

Therefore the Sacrilegiousnesse of the Doctrine of your Masse is thus farre manifested, in as much that your owne Ministeriall Priesthood doth so prejudice the personall Priest∣hood [ 10] of Christ, as it is in Heaven, as the Moone doth by her interposition ecclipse the glory of the Sunne: by confoun∣ding things distinct, that is, (as wee have* 1.2 learned from the Fathers) Image with Truth; The state of Wicked Parta∣kers with the Godly; Matters Visible with Invisible; Signes with Things; Worse with Better; Iayes with Eagles, and the like.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See hereafter Book 7. Cha. 5. Sect. 5.
• * 1.2

  In the two former Sections.