A papist not misrepresented by Protestants being a reply to the Reflections upon the Answer to (A papist misrepresented and represented.)

V. Of the Eucharist.

AS for worshipping the Host, we only charge them with worshipping the Consecrated Bread, which we say is Bread still; but which, they say, is the natural Body of Christ, which was born of the Virgin, and suffered on the Cross: and for so doing, some Protestants charge them with Idolatry in worshipping a Breaden God; and some Papists ac∣knowledge it would be Idolatry, if what they wor∣shipped were only Bread, and not the natural Body of Christ: but no Protestant ever gave such a Cha∣racter of a Papist, That he believes it lawful to commit Idolatry, that he worships and adores what he believes only to be a Breaden God, and the poor empty Elements of Bread and Wine. The Question is not, what a Papist believes, but what the truth of the thing is? not whether he believes the Host to be only Bread, but whether it be so or not? not whether he believes

Idolatry to be lawful, but whether he be not guilty of Idolatry in worshipping the Host? and therefore this ought not to be put into the Character of a Papist; for those who believe that he worships nothing but Bread and Wine, and is guilty of Idolatry in it, do not charge him with believing so. And therefore, the Representer, who acknowledges the worship of the Host, might very truly deny all the rest.

As for Transubstantiation, we charge them with believing no more, than what they themselves own; That the Consecrated Bread and Wine is changed into the natural substance of Christ's Flesh and Blood; which the Misrepresenter very fallaciously calls Christ's being really present under those appearances; that our People may not perceive the difference be∣tween Transubstantiation, which the Church of Eng∣land denies, and a real presence, which she owns, not under the appearances of Bread and Wine, but in the use of the Consecrated Bread and Cup; which differ as much as a Bodily and Sacramental presence. Now if this Doctrine of Transubstantiation be true, besides many other Absurdities, we say, Christ must have as many Bodies, as there are Consecrated Hosts; and that his Body must be on Earth, and that in fifty thousand distant places at the same time; though the Scripture assures us, That he ascended in his Body into Heaven, and is to continue there till he come to Judgment. But we do not charge the Papists with believing these Absurdities, (for we cannot guess what they believe); much less do we charge them with believing, that there are as many Christs, as ma∣ny Redeemers, as there are Churches, Altars, or Priests. For there is (we grant) some little difference be∣tween. Christ's having many Bodies, and there be∣ing

many Christs. What an easy Task has the Re∣presenter to take off such Characters as these.