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.

That the most earnestly-objected Phrase [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] and Adora∣tion, used of the Fathers, doth not necessarily inferre any Divine Worship of the Eucharist. SECT. III.

WEe find not your Disputers more pressing and urgent in any Argument, than in objecting the word, Reverence, Honour, and especially Adoration, for proofe that Divine Ho∣nour [ 40] is due to the Eucharist, as to Christ himselfe, whensoever they finde the use of that Phrase applyed by Antiquity unto this Sacrament. Our answer is first in generall; That the words Reverence, Honour, and Adoration, simply in themselves, with∣out the Adjunct and Additament, Divine, cannot conclude the Divine worship proper to God. To this purpose wee desire you not to hearken unto us, but to heare your selves speake.a The Pontificall Vestments, Chalices (and the like) are to be honoured,

say you, but how? with divine honour? you will nor say it; nor will you hold our ancient Bede worthy of Divine worship, albeit you entitle him Venerable, in a Religious respect. Yea (under the degree of Divine worship) wee our selves yield as much to the Eucharist, asb Augustine did to Baptisme, when hee said, Wee reverence Baptisme wheresoever.

Accordingly of the word, Adoration, your Cardinall and o∣ther Iesuites are bold to say, thatc It is sometimes used al∣so in Scriptures for an honour common to Creatures, as to An∣gels, to Kings, to Martyrs, and to their Tombes. And although [ 10] your Disputers should conceale this Truth, yet would the Fa∣thers themselves informe us in what a Latitude they used the same word, Adoration. Among the Latine Fathers, one, who knew the propriety of that Language as well as any, viz. Ter∣tullian, saying,d I adore the plenitude of Scriptures; and Gre∣gory Nazianzene, among the Greeke, for his excellencie in di∣vine knowledge,e sirnamed the Divine (and therefore may not be thought to apply words belonging to Divine worship pre∣posterously or improperly) instructed the party baptized to say thus to the Devill, Fall downe [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] and worship [ 20] mee. Thus much in Generall.

Let us proceed, You to your particular Objections, and Wee to our Answers. I. Ob. Ambrose saith, thatf Wee adore in these mysteries the flesh of Christ, as the footstoole of his Deity. You call this an Argument infallible: nay (say wee) but false, because Ambrose doth not say, that wee adore the Sacra∣ment, (which is the point in Question) but that in our mysticall Celebration of the memory of Christ his Passion, wee are to adore his Humanity, namely as it is hypostatically united to the person of his God-head, which all Christians professe as well [ 30] as you, yea even in Baptisme also. II. Ob.g None (saith Augustine) doth eat the flesh of Christ before hee adore it. A Te∣stimony which seemeth to you Notable: but which wee judge to be indeed not able at all to prove the Divine Adoration of the Sacrament, even in the Iudgement of Saint Augustine, who hath every-where distinguished betweene the Sacrament and Christs Flesh, as betweene Bread and Christs Body, as hath beene of∣ten demonstrated. His meaning therefore is no more but this, that whosoever shall communicate of this Sacrament, the Symboll of Christ must first be a true Christian, believing [ 40] that Christ is not onely man, but God also, and adore him ac∣cordingly with Divine honour, as well before and without the

Sacrament, as at the receiving thereof. Even ash 〈…〉〈…〉, speaking of Baptisme, saith that The Catechumenists do adore the Father and the Sonne, but they are not perfect before they are bap∣tized in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Ho∣ly Ghost. So Athanasius. Consider the words well, the Cate∣chumenists are said not to be perfect, before they are baptized in the name of the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, whom they adore. Therfore did they first adore the Persons, in whose names they were baptized: except some will feigne a Christian Catechu∣menist [ 10] to be admitted to holy Baptisme before hee believe and professe that hee believeth; which is the Adoration of the Blessed Trinity. And is there any of your Priests so unchri∣stian, as not to adore Christ, before hee come to the Commu∣nion? A plaine Case.

{fleur-de-lys} Notwithstanding, were it that the Adoration, above objected out of Saint Augustine, should referre to the time of the Celebration of the Eucharist; yet will hee not admit of any other Veneration therein, then what may be held as well in the Sacrament of Baptisme; hee requring that in [ 20] both these the2 Veneration be not applyed to the Sacrament it selfe, but to the things signifyed thereby. Which Doctrine of Saint Augustine may serve for an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as against all other Idolatrous infections, so against your Objection, taken from the false conceipts of Pagans; as if they had approved of the false Adoration used by Christians, thinking that they had adored the Sacrament, as they themselves adored Ce∣res and Bacchus. But those godly Christians (you know) did not adore the Bread and Wine: Therefore could not this be applyable to the matter in Controversie. {fleur-de-lys}

[ 30] Will you have any more? The places alleged out of Saint Augustine, by you, are like Bellerophons Letters, to confute you; for lest Saint Augustines Reader might mis-construe the mea∣ning of Christs words, by perverting them to a Corporall and Orall eating of his Flesh,a Saint Augustine addeth (bringing Christ speaking to the Iewes, concerning the eating of his ••lesh) You are not to eat this flesh, which you see: hee saith not, You are not to see the flesh which you shall eat, (which is your Romish Iugling:) But thus, You are not to eat the flesh which you see, namely that, which then was visible when Christ was in the [ 40] world. This one Testimonie of Augustine may satisfie for the present, untill another shall be delivered from him absolutely confuting your Tridentine Faith of the Divine worship of the Host, to prove it Idolatrous.

{fleur-de-lys} II. Ob. Ambrose furthermore requireth, that the Communicant come with Feare, and a minde knowing that 3

hee oweth reverence to him, whose Body hee commeth to receive. Which words your Doctor calleth Plaine termes. Sol. And so indeed they are, for proofe of an Adoration to Christ, who is spiritually received in our receiving this Sacrament: ••ut not to the Sacrament it selfe, as unto the very person of Christ. Yea, and the same Reverence wee also professe to be likewise due unto Christ, even in the hearing of his holy word. {fleur-de-lys}

III. Ob. Theodoret seemeth unto you to come off roundly, saying thatb Symbols and Signes are believed and adored, whereby hee most evidently teacheth the presence of Christ's flesh [ 10] (as saith your Cardinall:) even so, as commonly hee useth to do in alleging of other Testimonies, both unconscionably against his knowledge, and unluckily against his Cause. For with what Conscience can hee urge the word Adoration here, as most evi∣dently noting a Divine worship of the Sacrament, seeing that hee hath before confessed the same word, Adore, to be used of the Fa∣thers, sometimes for worship communicable to Angels, & Saints, and to their Tombes? yea, and when as also Theodoret (which proveth your Cardinals Objection lucklesse) doth expresly say, that The substance of Bread remaineth, meaning absolutely the [ 20] proper substance of Bread (as hath beene copiously proved) whereunto no Divine worship can be lawfully given, not onely in the Faith of all other Catholike Fathers; but even in the be∣liefe of the Romane Church at this day? And although the Symbols, and Signes (as you fancie) were meere Accidents, yet dare not you your selves say that they are to be properly adored with Divine Worship.

Hitherto have we insisted upon the words objected out of the Fathers, by you, with more eagernesse, than either with good [ 30] Iudgement or Conscience. Your next Objections are taken from their Acts, whereunto wee ad∣dresse our Answers.

[ 40]

Notes

• a

  Mr. Brerely. Pontificales vestes, & calices coeperunt esse honorandi, Sacra∣menti causâ. Liturg. Tract. 2. §. 8. Subd. 2.
• b

  August. Epist. 164. Baptismum Christi ubique vene∣ramur.
• c

  Ribera Ies. in Apoc. 19. Item Vie∣gas Ies. in eundem lo∣cum. Nec nos mo∣veat verbum hoc [A∣dorare] cum vulga∣tum sit hoc creaturis tribui, ut Loth cum vidisset Angelos sur∣rexit, & adoravit eos pronus in terram. 3. Reg. 1. Inclinabat se & adorabat Bersheba Regem prona in ter∣ram. Rectè igitur Io∣hannes adoravit An∣gelum laeta nuncian∣tem; Cur Angelus recusavit? Gregor. Hom. 8. in Evan. An∣gelos antè adventura Christi adoraton, post assumptam hu∣manitatem adorati∣onem recusasse. Eo∣dem modo Glossa, Hugo, Rupertus, & alij nonnulli, &c. So Suarez Tom. 1. Disp. 54. & Bellarm. Hie∣ronymus non igno∣rabat Adorationis multa genera, & ali∣am soli Deo, aliam rebus deberi sacris. Apol. c. 1. § Primū. [And hereckoneth A∣doration of Reliques, Tombes of Martyrs, &c.]
• d

  Adoro ple∣nitudinem Scriptura∣rum. Adversus Her∣mog. post medium. pag. 350.
• e

  Greg. Nazian. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Orat. 40.
• f

  Ambros. lib. 3. de Spirit. sanct. cap. 12. tractans il∣lum locum Psalm. 98. [Adorate Scabellum pedum ejus.] Per Scabellum terra intelligitur, per tertam autem caro Christi, quam hodiè quoque in mysterijs adoramus: & quam Apostoli in Domino Iesu adoraverunt. Ob. 1. per Bellarm. Apol. cap. 8. pag. 107. Hic locus nullam admittit solutionem. Item lib. 2. de Euchar. cap. 14.
• g

  August. in Psalm. 98. Nemo illam earnem manducat, nisi prius adoraverit. Ob. Bellarm. Alius locus insignis. Lib. 2. de Euchar. cap. 24. §. Alius.
• h

  〈…〉〈…〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 E∣dit. Paris. 1027.
• 2

  August. de doctrin Christia lib. 3. cap. 8. 〈…〉〈…〉 intelligit, non hoc veneratur quod videtur & transit, sed illud portius, quô 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cuncta referenda suit—Paulo post; Sicut est 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sacramentum & ce∣libratio Corporis Christi, quae un••s∣quisque cûm percipit quo referantur im∣butus agnoscit, ut ea non cornali servitute, sed spirituali 〈◊〉〈◊〉 libertate ven••••etur.—Vt 〈…〉〈…〉 & sign 〈◊〉〈◊〉 significatis 〈…〉〈…〉.
• See above Booke 5. Chap. 6. Sect. 3.
• a

  August. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 98. Non hoc corpus quod videris munducaturi estis—spiritual ter intelle∣ctum vivisic wit.
• See 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chap. 4. Sect. 2.
• 3

  Dr. Heskins in his Parlium Booke 3. Chap. 57 out of Ambrose. Devoto animi & cum timore acceden∣dum ad Communionem docet, ut sciat mens reverentiam debere ei, ad cujus corpus ••umendum accedit.
• b

  Theod. Dial. 2. Signa mystica post sanctificationem ma∣nent in priore sub∣stantiâ, figurâ, & formâ, sicut prius: Intelliguntur autem ea, quae facta sunt, & creduntur: [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] adoran∣tur. Ob: Bellarm. lib. 2. de Euchar. cap. 27. § Sed apertissimè—As••••••t praesentiam Domini in Euchari∣stia, quia panis con∣secratus est verè id quod intelligitur, cre∣ditur & adoratur.
• See this dis∣cussed to the full. Booke 3.