Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

Whether or no, for the discommodities which Gerson doth reckē vp as, 1. The liqour by some chance may be spilt, 2. It cannot be cari∣ed about without daunger. 3. In winter it soone waxeth sower. 4.* 1.1 In sommer, it purifieth and hath wormes. 5. It bringeth a lothing to thē which drinke. 6. In some countries it is hardly gotten. 7 By this meanes, lay mē touch the cup. 8. Some of them haue beards, 9. Some are taken with the palsey. 10. The dignity of the priest & of lay mē is not alike: are these causes weightie inough, & iust for which by good right one parte of the sacramēt could be takē away frō the laicks?

In no wise: because.

1 Christ, the Apostles, and the ancient Church set not so much by these and the like things foreseene of them, that ther∣fore they supposed the holy Supper in one part thereof should bee maymed.

2 Because it may happen also to the bread, that it may fal vpon the ground, and being kept long may become mustie, yet it is not excluded. Truely negligence in handling of mysteries is to bee taken heed of: but if by chance but one onely piece of bread, or drop of wine fall on the earth for want of circūspectiō, it hath not any more, the forme of a Sacrament, when it cannot be any more vsed.

3 Because the keeping of it against the time to come, for the vse of sicke folkes, and the carrying of it from place to place, did spring from mans superstition.

4 Because it is a superstition, not to permit vnto lay men that they should touch the cup with hand or with mouth, whom Paul 1. Cor. 6 11. saith: To be washed and sanstified and iustifyed in the name of the Lord Iesus, and by the spirit of our Lord.

5 Because, that collection from particulars is erroneous, For neither if some doe abhorre wine, and some nations do hardly get wine, some also can hardly keepe it, being carried vnto them by reason of the extreame cold, is a law to bee made which may prescribe to the whole Christian world a necessitie of communi∣cating in one kinde. But it is more tolerablie concluded, that the abstemious may eyther abstaine from the Supper of the Lord, whereof nature hath depriued them, or if they bee present, that the offering it them is sufficient: Or that proportionable drinke, which men doe familiarly vse, is to be vsed in those places where wine cannot be had at all, then to conclude vpon Gersons pre∣misses the denial of the cuppe.

6 Because by reason of the bearded, which were in the ancient Church, the cuppe was not, nor is not to be denied vnto women, as it is in poperie.

7 Because Christians ought not to be so delicate, and if the pollution of some communicants be enormious, and abhomi∣nable, or there be seare of some dangerous and infectiue sicknes, these may communicate eyther a part by themselues, or in the

last ranke.

8 Because in the palsey, and those which are troubled with the shaking of the head, that warinesse may bee vsed, that there may bee no neede of chaunging of the institution of Christ.

9 Neyther is the commaundement of Goe to bee made of none authoritie, that the tradition of men may bee kept. Math. 15.6.

10 Because the dignitie of the minister is not placed in this, that he should take a double portion, and the people one kinde one∣ly, but in those properties which Paule describeth. 1. Tim. 3.2. and 5.17. where hee saith, that the Elders are worthie os double honour, when they rule well, and labour in the word of God,* 1.2 and ex∣cellent is the sentence of Chrysostome. There is a time when a priest differeth nothing from an inferiour, as when they must vse the myste∣ries: for we are accounted worthie all alike that we may pertake of them. And Ignatius in the Epistle to the Philadelphians: One bread broken to all, and one cup deliuered to all. And Gelasius, The diuision of one and the same mysterie cannot come to passe without great sacriledge,

11 Because whatsoeuer pretence is brought, Christ not on∣ly instituted the supper with a twofold signe, but commaunded his Disciples to take it, and vse it vnder a twofold signe, Take, eate, drinke, and do this.

And the doctrine of the Lords Supper which is handled. 1. Corinth. 11. vers. 23. and so following, is common to all the faithfull.

Finally, because the Sacrament ought to be whole, and to be taken wholy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In his booke of the com∣munion vn∣der kinde
• * 1.2

  Hom. 18 vpō 2 Cor. Gra¦tiam. Cau. compernu. de consecrat distinction. 2