A commentary or exposition upon the four Evangelists, and the Acts of the Apostles: wherein the text is explained, some controversies are discussed, divers common places are handled, and many remarkable matters hinted, that had by former interpreters been pretermitted. Besides, divers other texts of Scripture which occasionally occur are fully opened, and the whole so intermixed with pertinent histories, as will yeeld both pleasure and profit to the judicious reader. / By John Trapp M. A. Pastour of Weston upon Avon in Gloucestershire.

Verse 27. And he took the cup]

Anciently of glasse, after∣wards of wood, and lastly of silver or gold. Whence that saying of a Father, Once there were wooden cups, golden preists: now there are golden cups, but wooden preists.

Drink ye all of it]

This is expresse against that Antichristian sacriledge of robbing the people of the cup. Eckius saith the peo∣ple ought to content themselves with the bread onely, because, Equi donati non sunt inspiciendi dentes, A gift-horse is not to be* 1.1 looked in the mouth. He thought belike that Lay-men could not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any right to the bread neither. Bellarmine, a little wiser, grants they have right to the bread, but adds, that in eating the bread transubstantiated by the Priest into the body of Christ, they drink his blood also. But Lombard (his master) denies this: saying that the bread is not turned but into Christs flesh, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the wine but into his blood. And thus these Babel-builders are confounded in their language, and hard it is to know what the Church of Rome holdeth. The counsell of Constance speaketh

out, and saith, that albeit Christ instituted, and accordingly admi∣nistred this Sacrament in both kindes, tamen hoc non-obstante,* 1.2 All this notwithstanding, the authority of the holy Canons,* 1.3 and the approved custom of the Church hath and doth deny the cup to the Laity. And Nicolas Shetterden Martyr, in his answer* 1.4 compelled the commissary to grant, that Christs testament was broken, and his institution changed from that he left it. But he said, they had power so to do. Christs redemption is both pre∣cious and plentious. He makes his people a full feast. Bread and wine comprehend entire food: for humidum & siccum, moist and dry are all that is required unto food, Isa. 25. 6. There∣fore as he gave them in the wildernesse the bread of Angels, so he set the Rock abroach for them, and so fed them with Sacra∣ments. They did all eat the same spirituall bread, and they did* 1.5 all drink the same spirituall drink: that the ancient Church might give no warrant of a dry Communion. The Russians, 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.6 kinde of mongrell-Christians, communicate in both kindes; but* 1.7 mingling both together in a chalice, they distribute it both toge∣ther in a spoon.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Apud Manlium in loc. com.
• * 1.2

  Caranza Sum.
• * 1.3

  Concel. sess. 13.
• * 1.4

  Act. and Mon.
• * 1.5

  1 Cor. 10. 3. 4.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  Enquires.