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PAR. 5.
A Damus Contzen, a Jesuite on Matth. 26. thus, Post agnum solita ceremonia ab∣sumptum, epulari soliti sunt Iudaei: nec in esu Sacramenti saturitatem, sed my∣sterium spectabant Christi etiam tempore, at que in ipsis aedibus, praeter sacrificii con∣sumptionem, etiam convivia celebrata sunt; saith hee: The Jewes when they had eaten the (paschall Lambe) according to the usuall manner, were wont to banquet. Neither did they so much looke after saturity or fulnesse in the eating of the Sacrament, as after a mystery: yea even in Christs time, and that in the very supping chamber, after the eating of the Sacrifice, banquets were also solemnized.
Stapleton most excellently writeth to our purpose, in his promptuarium Cathe∣licum. In feria. 3. Hebdomadae sanctae. pag. 240 thus, Christus hâc ultimâ nocte mor∣talis suae vitae triplicem coenam peregit. Christ in the very last night of his mortall life did eate a threefold supper.
In the second, common, and familiar supper, Poculum bibatorium, more gentis illius, omnibus suis propinavit. Hee dranke a cup of charity, according to the u∣sance of that country, to all his (Apostles) when hee said, Accipite, & dividite inter vos.—Take this and divide it among you. By thus expounding thē three Suppers, not onely Christs new supper shall be distinguished from the Paschall, as the truth from the figure; but the most new, and sacred mysterie shall be sepa∣rated from the common Supper, the common bread and wine, saith hee.
And now (good Reader) know, that in so abstruse a matter as this is, there is a world of diversity in severall mens opinions, and therefore I may not stand to confute them all, though I approve them not all as I quote them; but I onely fasten on those words which prove the maine point. Of two suppers of the Jewes at their paschalizing: of the third supper instituted by Christ, confessed by eminent Christian men, on all sides. And so the Tricoenium is accomplished.