Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

The explication.

How farre the diuersitie and newnes of the phrase in all this first proposition, is from the phrase of the holy Scrip∣ture, and that in euery part almost, it is so plaine & euident to any that is but meanely exercised in holy wryte, that I neede not now (especially in this company of learned men) to spend any time therein, except the same shalbe required of me hereafter.

First,* 1.1 there is a doubtfull sense in these woordes [by the vertue of Gods word.] For it is doubtful what word of God this is: whether it be that which is red in the Euangelists, or in Paul, or any other. And if it be that which is in the E∣uangelists or in S. Paule, what that is. If it be in none of them, then how it may be knowen to be Gods worde, & of such vertue, y^t it should be able to worke so great a matter.

Againe, there is a doubte in these woordes [of the Priest] whether no man may be called a Priest,* 1.2 but he whych hath authoritie to make propitiatorie sacrifice for the quicke and the deade: and howe it may be prooued that thys authoritie was committed of God to any man, but to Christ alone.

It is likewise doubted,* 1.3 after what order the sacrificing Priest shall be, whether after the order of Aaron, or els af∣ter the order of Melchisedech. For as farre as I know, the holy scripture doth allow no moe.

West.

Let thys be sufficient.* 1.4

Rid.

If we lacke time at this present, there is time enough heereafter.

West.

These are but euasions or starting holes, You con∣sume the time in vaine.

Rid.

I can not start farre from you, I am captiue & bound.

West.

Fall to it my maisters.

Smith.

That whych you haue spoken, may suffice at thys present.

Rid.

Let me alone I pray you, for I haue not much to say behinde.

West.

Goe forwarde.

Rid.

Moreouer, there is ambiguitie in thys word, really, whether it be to be taken as the Logicians terme it,* 1.5 trans∣cendenter, that is, most generally (and so it may signifie any manner of thing which belongeth to the body of Christ, by any meanes: after which sort we also graunt Christes body to be really in the sacramente of the Lordes Supper, as in disputation, if occasion be geuen shall be declared) or whe∣ther it be taken to signifie the very same thing, hauing bo∣dy, life and soule, which was assumed & taken of the worde of God, into the vnitie of persone. In which sence, sith the body of Christ is really in heauen, because of the true man∣ner of his body, it may not be sayde to be here in the earth. There is yet a further doubtfulnesse in these words,* 1.6 vnder the formes of breade and wine, whether the formes be there taken to signifie the onely accidental and outward shewes of bread and wine: or there withall the substantial natures therof, which are to be seene by their qualities, and percei∣ued by exterior sences.

Now the error and falsenes of the proposition,* 1.7 after the sense of the Romish church and scholemen, may hereby ap∣peare, in that they affirm the bread to be transubstantiated and chāged into the flesh, assumed of the word of God, and that (as they say) by the vertue of the woorde, whych they haue deuised by a certaine number of woordes, and cannot be founde in any of the Euangelistes, or in Paule, and so they gather that Christes bodye is reallye contained in the sacrament of the aultar. Which position is grounded vpon the foundation of transubstantiation:* 1.8 which foundation is monsterous against reason, and destroieth the Analogie or proportion of the sacraments, and therfore this propositi∣on also, which is builded vpon thys rotten foundation, is false erroneous, and to be counted as a detestable heresy of the Sacramentaries.

West.

We lose time.

Rid.

You shall haue time inough.

West.

Fall to reasoning. You shall haue some other day for this matter.

Rid.

I haue no more to say concerning my explication. If you will geue me leaue and let me alone, I wil but speake a woord or two for my confirmation.

West.

Go to: say on.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The first doubt·
• * 1.2

  2. Doubt in the word priest.
• * 1.3

  3. Doubt in the word sacrificing.
• * 1.4

  D. Weston in∣terrupteth him in his explicati∣on.
• * 1.5

  4. Doubt in the word really.
• * 1.6

  5. Doubt in the words of formes of bread & wine.
• * 1.7

  The propositi∣on erroneous af∣ter the sense of the Romishe Church.

  Transubstantia∣tion not foun∣ded in scripture.
• * 1.8

  The Analogie of the sacramēts is the similitude and likenes whiche they haue with the thinges they re∣present.