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.

The first is your Definition of Idolatry. SECT. I.

DIvine honour (saith your Iesuitea Valentia) is a Te∣stimony of excellencie, whether in word or outward office, that a man doth performe, whereby hee doth [ 30] intend to beget in others such an estimation of God, unto that which hee honoureth, as is proper un∣to the Majestie of God. So that Idolatry is an Error in the under∣standing (saith your Iesuiteb Tolet) in yielding divine worship to that which is not God, whether by praising, invocating, sacrificing, or prostrating our selves to that which is not God. In a word, Ido∣latry comprehendeth all religious superstition (saith your Iesuite c Lornus) in worshipping of any thing as God, which is not God. So they, most Theologically and truly. [ 40]

CHALLENGE.

NOw apply you these points of your Definition unto your Host, in the hand of the Priest, which by your owne Con∣fessions may possibly be, and by our proofes cannot possibly but be (after Consecration) Bread still, whereunto notwithstanding hee prostrateth himselfe, sweareth, by, and invocateth upon, as being in it selfe the person of Christ; the Priest himselfe saying, [ 10] d O holy Host, &c. O Lambe of God, &c. whereby also, accor∣ding to your Definition of Idolatry, you your selves do seeke to professe, and thereby to beget in others an opinion of a God∣head in the Sacrament, as whereunto Divine honour doth pro∣perly belong. How then can you free your selves from the Crime of formall Idolatry, by pretence of Ignorance, and error of true knowledge of the thing falsly adored, seeing that Idola∣try (as you your selves have also defined) is an Error and Igno∣rance in the judgement of the Worshipper? This were, as if one, defining a disease to be a Distemperature of Humours, should [ 20] notwithstanding therefore deny a man to be sicke, because his humours are distempered.

Notes

• a

  Honor est testimonium excel∣lentiae, quod conti∣netur verbo vel facto, quae de excellentia a∣licujus convenientem existimationem illi gignit. Sic honor di∣vinus est quicquid verborum aut offici∣orum omninò accō∣modatum est ad gig∣nendam existimati∣onem hujusmodi, quae in divinam ma∣jestatem propriè con∣veniat. Hoc duplici modo, I. ut opus sit naturâ suâ ità praeclarum, ut quis illud naturali lumine rationis solum Deum tali honore dignum esse judicet, quale est Sacrificium. Alterum, ut tale sit intentione ejus, qui vult de persona, quam honorat, talem existima∣tionem excitare, quae in divinam majestatem conveniat, licet honor iste alioqui indifferens sit. Gregor. Valent. lib. 2. de Idol. cap. 3.
• b

  Est Idololatria divini cultus erga falsum Deum exhibitio: colere enim pro Deo eum, qui non est Deus, aut ipsum laudando, aut ei aliquo modo prosternendo, Idololattare est.—Idolo∣latria (quae est falsa Adoratio) non est nisi error in intellectu, quo dignum honore judicamus Deum falsum, cui Idololatra se prosternit. Tolet. Ies. Instit. Sacerd. lib. 4. cap. 24. §. Est igitur.
• c

  Idololatria comprehen∣dit omnem superstiosam religionem, quâ quaelibet res colitur pro Deo. Lorinus Ies. in Acts 17. 16.
• d

  Nos visibili Sacramento invisibi∣le Corpus Christi praesens, adeoque Christum ipsum in∣vocamus, & quasi divinum quoddam adoramus, & quasi vivum quiddam ra∣tionabile alloqui∣mur, rogamus [O salutaris Hostia, &c.] Espenc. lib. 5. de Ado∣rat. cap. 8. fol. 185 & ibid. lib. 1. cap. 9. fol. 25.