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.

II. That all these Spirituall Acts, although Improperly called Sa∣crifices, yet are they more excellent than all meerely Cor∣porall and Proper Sacrifices; in the Iudgement of Ancient Fathers. SECT. II.

VPon this Contemplation Ancient Fathers have breathed [ 10] out many divine Ejaculations, for the expressing of the ex∣cellent Prerogatives of Spirituall Sacrifices, in respect of Cor∣porall. Of the Sacrifice of Contritition, thus:a 1.1 Gods wrath is to be appeased with Spirituall Sacrifices. Andb 1.2 They were then Sacrifices for sinne, which are now Sacrifices of Repentance for sinne. Andc 1.3 God sheweth hee will not have the Sacrifice of a slaine beast, but of a contrite breast. Of the Sacrifice of Righteous∣nesse, thus;d 1.4 Hee that dyeth to the world, is for himselfe a Sa∣crifice. Ande 1.5 Then were Creatures slaine to cleanse mens Bo∣dies: but now are men to mortifie their vices:f 1.6 Every one [ 20] being made a Priest over his owne Body, to over-rule vices. And g 1.7 They offered those grosse Bodies of sheepe: but wee the more subtile and pure of virtues, because unbloody things best agree with God. Andh 1.8 This is a new and admirable Sacrifice. And i 1.9 The best Sacrifice is to have a pure Minde and a chaste Body.

Of the Spirituall Sacrifice of Prayer and Praises unto God, thus;k 1.10 These are most perfect and onely Sacrifices acceptable to God. Of Preaching the Word of God, thus;l 1.11 Wee slay vi∣ces with the sword of the Word. And of The Function Evange∣licall, [ 30] m 1.12 It is a pure Sacrifice, and immaculate. Andn 1.13 A Sacrifice sweeter than all Spices. Of Almesworkes, thus;o 1.14 These God testifieth to be more pleasant unto him, than all the Sacrifices. Andp 1.15 This is a true Sacrifice, whereof the other Sacrifices are but Signes. Of Martyrdome, thus;r 1.16 Wee are Gods Temple, our hearts his Altars: wee then offer up our bloody Sacrifice, when wee contend for the Truth with our Blood. In briefe,s 1.17 Every [ 40]

good worke done, to the end that wee may enjoy God, is a true Sa∣crifice. {fleur-de-lys} Your Cardinall Bellarmine lighting on this Sen∣tence, wherein Saint Augustine defineth a Sacrifice to be every good worke wrought, that wee may in an holy Societie ad∣here unto God:1 1.18 This Saint Augustine spoke (saith your Cardinall) not properly, according to the essence of a Sacrifice, but in respect of the dignitie and effects of every such worke. So hee. {fleur-de-lys} Hitherto of our Proposition, by the Deter∣mination of holy Fathers. In the next place wee say, for the Assumption, [ 10]

Notes

• a 1.1

  Non terrenis, sed spiritualibus est Deo litandum. Tertull. ad∣versus Iudaeos.
• b 1.2

  Erant tum Sa∣crificia pro delicto, quae nunc sunt Sacri∣ficia poenitentiae de delicto. Ambros. lib. 3. Epist. 28.
• c 1.3

  Spiritus contri∣bulatus.—Ostendit Deus, se velle Sacri∣ficium, non trucidati pecoris, sed contriti pectoris. Aug. de Ci∣vit. Dei. lib. 20. cap. 5.
• d 1.4

  Mundo moriens, ipse est Sacrificium. Idem.
• e 1.5

  Tunc corpora pro corporibus; nunc non corpora, sed vitia corporis perimenda. Arnob. cont. Gentes.
• f 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉—〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Isid. Pelus. lib. 3. Epist. 75.
• g 1.7

  Illi offerebant oves & boves: nos tam crasso praeterito Sacrificio subtile of∣ferimus, virtutes om∣nigenas: Sacrificium enim minimè carna∣le, secundùm natu∣ram incorpoream, decet Deum. Ambros. [The same which hee hath translated word for word out of Cyril. Alex. cont. Iulian. See above, towards the end of Chap. 5.]
• h 1.8

  Chrysost. in Gen. Hom. 60. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• i 1.9

  Pelusiota. lib. 3. Ep. 75. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• k 1.10

  Preces & Gratiarum actiones factae Deo, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Iustin. Dial. cum Tryphone Iudaeo. And another upon that Psal. 68. of David [Canticum laudis plus placet Deo quam novella] observeth in the Hebrew an elegant Allusion, as if it had been sayd, Deo magis placet Schir, quàm Schior, id est, Canticum, quàm vitulus. Bellar. ibid.
• l 1.11

  Gladio verbi mactans vltia. Hier & rursus in Psal. 26. Hostia jubilati∣onis, hostia praedicationis.
• m 1.12

  Chrys. in Psal. 95. Munus Evangelicum Sacrificium mundum & immaculatum.
• n 1.13

  Sacrificium praedicationis omnibus aromatibus praestantius. Aug.
• o 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 dicunt, vel quòd eâ Deus prae Sacrificijs placere sibi testatur: haec sancta vestis aromata Sactorum est. Chrysost.
• p 1.15

  Vbi scriptum est, [Misericordiam magis volo quàm Sacrificium] nihil aliud quàm Sacrificiū Sacrificio praelatum intelligi oppor∣tet: quoniam quod ab hominibus appellatur Sacrificium, signum est veri Sacrificij. Aug. lib. 10. de Civit. cap. 5.
• r 1.16

  Nos templum Dei sumus omnes, cor nostrum altare Dei, cruentas victimas caedimus, quando usque ad san∣guinem pro veritate certamus. Aug. ibid. cap. 4.
• s 1.17

  Verum Sacrificium est omne opus quod agitur, ut Deo in sancta societate haereamus: relatumque ad illum sinem, ut beati esse possimus, Idem. lib. 10. de Civit. cap. ••.
• 1 1.18

  Bellarm. lib. 1. de Missa, cap. 2. §. Vnum.—Sanctus Aug. lib. 10. de Ci∣vit. Dei, cap. 6. Sic definit Sacrificium: Sacrificium (inquit) est opus omne quod agitur, ut sanctâ so∣cietate inhaereatur Deo, relatum ad illum sinem, ut beati esse possimus. Respondeo, Vocat Opus tale Sacri∣ficium verum, ratione dignitatis & effectus, quod sit praestantius: non ratione formae & essentiae Sacrificij propriè dicti.