7. Passages purged out against Altars, that the Crosse is no Altar, that a Sa∣crifice may be without an Altar.

MAster Ward in his Comentary on Matthew, f. 248. lib. 2. p. 43. 44. Answ. 2. But the Crosse is not an Altar, properly so called; for if it were, then it must either, First, be such in its owne nature, which cannot be, the Crosse and the Altar dif∣fering, &c. Or else, Secondly, the Crosse is an Altar by a humane use, or humane Or∣dination; now this is not sufficient, because so any thing may be made an Altar. Ans. 3. Thirdly, we answer, &c. unto these words; that there may be a Sacrifice without an Altar; this appeares evidently thus: First, the offering up of Isaac, Gen. 22. was a true Sacrifice; for Isaac was a type of Christ, both in his immolation or offering, and in his death, and in his life; Christ dyed for us, and so Isaac did as it were in a cer∣taine figure, according to that of the Apostle, Heb. 11. 19. Abraham received Isaac from the dead in a figure and similitude; Isaac lived againe from this death; so Christ rose againe from the dead. But yet in this sacrifice of Isaac there is no mention at all made of an Altar, Gen. 22. Isaac verse 7. saith, Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the Lamb for the burnt Offering? where we see, that he requires a Lambe, but he requires not an Altar; as if the one were necessary unto a Sacrifice, not the other. Secondly, what is more necessary for a feast or banquent then a Table, and yet a ban∣quet may be without a Table; whence the Martyrs when they were in prison celebra∣ted the Lords Supper without a Table: Now the Eucharist is a banquet, yea moreo∣ver a memoriall of this one sacrifice of Christ in his death; and is often called a Sacri∣fice by the Fathers, and yet hath been celebrated often by many of the Fathers in pri∣son without a Table; as it is said of Lucian, that he consecrated the bread of the Lord, and celebrated the Supper of the Lord when he had scarce his hands at liberty, using his owne breast instead of a Table: and therefore it is evident, that there may be a sa∣crifice without an Altar. Thirdly, what is more necessary for a Preacher when he is to preach then a Pulpit? that is, it is very requisite and decent, and profitable for the peo∣ple, that the Minister should speak unto them out of the Pulpit, as Ezra did, Ezra 9. But yet it is not simply necessary unto the essence of a Sermon, for a man may preach upon the plaine ground without a pulpit, as it is said of Chrysostome, who preached un∣to divers persons (in his persecution) standing not in a Pulpit, but at the side of the Lords Table; and therefore an Altar doth not appertaine unto the essence of a Sa∣crifice. Answ. 4. Fourthly, we answer, &c. unto these words, Christ himselfe being both the Knife, Oblation, Altar and Priest (it is said, Heb. 9. 14. that Christ by his eternall spirit offered up himselfe unto God;) whence it appeares, that his eternall spi∣rit was a Priest to himselfe, and therefore might also be an Altar.