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.

Did not Christ in the last Supper offer himselfe to God the Father, vnder the forme of bread and wine, and com∣maund the same to be done vntill the end of the word?

Truly, he presented both in actions and words the sacrifice which he was about to offer vpon the Crosse the day after, and commaunded a remembrance thereof to be made: but he ney∣ther offered himselfe really, corporally, and properly in the forme of bread and wine to God the Father, nor commaunded an ob∣lation to be made for remission of sinnes,

1 Because, with one offering once done, and perfected (not with two, one vnbloodie, another bloudie: one primarie, another se∣condarie, eyther cōmemoratiue, or applicatory, not by repetition of that one) he hath consecrated for euer thē that are sanctifieda 1.1. Beside, where there is remission of sinnes, there is no more offering for sinne. Heb. 10. vers. 18.

2 Because both by the word and also by a lawfull vse of the Sacraments outwardly, and by the working of the holy Ghost in∣wardly, and by faith the fruite of that onely offering is applyed vnto vs.

3 Because the representation or application of a thing, is not the thing it selfe, for those things which differ in nomber, in ob∣iect, in measure, in manner of doing and in adiuncts, as the Supper of the Lord and the sacrifice of Christ vpon the crosse doe, truly cannot be the same: neither are the Image of a thing & the truth it selfe the same thing, vnlesse among them which are weak wit∣ed, but euen the very application of satisfaction doth imply a sa∣tisfaction formerly made.

4 Neither did Christ offer any sacrifice, or commaunded to be offered by priests in the Supper, by which they may be purged, & their sins forgiuen.

5 Neither hath any thing power to satisfie for sins besides that one sacrifice of the crosse.

6 And without shedding of blood is no remission of sins. Heb. 9.22. Neither is it said in any place in the scripture, that Christ was offe∣red to God, but by reason of his death. For Heb. 9.25. Not that he should offer himselfe often, for then must he haue often suffered.

7 Neither is it apparent in the Scripture, that Christ is to be sa¦crificed vnto God, that his sacrifice may be applyed to vs, but to be receiued by faith Rom. 3.25. Whome God hath set forth to be a reconciliation thorough faith in his bloud.

8 Trulie, he is sacrificed after a certaine manner, by preaching of the gospella 1.2 and is crucified,b 1.3 but figuratiuely and spirituallie: Not to God, but to vs, that with our whole soules we may im∣brace him being receiued by true faith.

9 Because, since that, the chiefe priest is now exhibited, the A∣postles substituted no second priests of the new Testamēt, & pro¦perly so called, either to Christ, or to those of old timea 1.4.

10 Because the alone, & the same most perfect sacrifice of Christ abrogated all outward sacrifices whatsoeuer.

11 Because there is no reall sacrifice, outward and propitia∣torie, but bloudie: but if there be shedding of bloud in the Supper made Sacramentally, it is not therefore reallie.

12 Because the place, Malac: 2.11. from the rising of the sunne,

vnto the going downe of the same, my name is great among the Gen∣tiles, and in euerie place incense shall be offered vnto my name, and a pure offering: is not vnderstood of outward Sacrifice, but allegori∣cally or metaphoricallie (by allusion to the legall ceremonies, & their wordes being vsed, as also. Esai. 22.) concerning spirituall sacrifices, that is concerning the spiritual worship of God; which especially, shined to the church, in the time of Christ, when as the Gentiles imbraced the preaching of the gospel, concerning which. Heb, 13, 15.* 1.5 Let vs by Christ himselfe offer to God the sa∣crifice of praise.

13 And whereas Daniell, 12.11 saith, that in the last times (Anti∣christ raging) a docilie sacrifice shalbe offered, that is to be meant ei∣ther of the daily legall sacrifice, which was interrupted in the time of Antiochus, and afterwarde quite taken away in the destructi∣on of Ierusalem, as Chrisostome will haue it, in the oration a∣gainst the Iewes, or metaphoricallie of the worship of God pre∣scribed out of his worde, to be taken away, Antichrist possessing the worlde, as Hierom will haue it vpon Daniel, Chap. 12.

14 But although Melchisedech was a figure of Christ, yet not in regarde of outward sacrifice, whereof there is no mention made. Gen. 14.18.19.20. neither in all that comparison of Christ with Melchisidech, which the Apostle doth vnfold most accu∣rately. Heb. 7.

But 1. because Melchisedech was a King and also a priest.

2 Because the same Melchisedech as a Priest blessed Abrahā, that is, he prayed, for the grace and fauour of God to him, saying blessed art thou Abraham of God most high.

3 Because he is set forth vnto vs in the scripture without ge∣nealogy as though he were eternal.

4 It is gathered that he was more excellent then Abraham & his posterity by that, that Abraham offered tithes vnto him. Notwith¦standing that we may graunt (which is not spoken) that Melche∣sedech, (before he entertained Abraham with a banquet return∣ing with his seruants from the conquest, tooke parte of the bread and of the wine and sacrificed, that is oblation being made, gaue thanks to God for the victorie and for the wholesome vse of bo∣dily foode, and for all other benifites (which was the custome of the holy fathers, and which also went forward from them to the

Gentiles: as Atheneus doth praise Homer because he describeth the Grecian Princes neuer to sit downe at the table, or to depart without Sacrifice and praiers) it doth not therefore follow that that thanksgiuing was a Sacrifice applyed for Abraham and his companie, that it might merit for them remission of sins.

So in the Lords Supper there is made a most holy Sacrifice, that is, the bodie and bloud of the Lord being tasted, wee giue thanks for spirituall nourishment, and for so great victorie, whereby Christ hath ouercome sinne and death for vs, and hath made his conquest common vnto vs, but this thanksgiuing doth not de∣serue for our selues or others, remission of sins. It doth much lesse follow that Christ in the Supper offered himselfe to God, in the forme of bread and wine: but onely in an argument Allegoricall, it followeth that the bread and wine offered of Abraham, were types of Christ, who offereth himselfe to vs in the Supper, to be receiued by a true faith. In which sense, the Fathers doe apply the type of Melchisedech to the Supper of the Lord. Which thing Lombard doth inough declare. Melchisedech shewed the rite of this Sacrament,b 1.6 when as he offered bread and wine to Abraham.

Lastly, wheras the ancient fathers doe euerie where call the Eucharist a sacrifice, they do it.

1. For the blessing of the signes.

2. Because in this mystery there is a commemoration of that onely sacrifice which was made for vs vpon the crosse, and a cer∣taine representation of it vnder the image of the Sacrament.

3. Because it is an Eucharisticall sacrifice by reason of the so∣lemne profession of faith, praiers, and especially of a peculiar gi∣uing of thanks.

4. Because in it we consecrate our selues wholy vnto God. Ro. 12.2

5. Because in old time it was a custome, that when the holy Sup∣per was celebrated, the faithfull did offer almes, wherewith they might helpe the needie brethren, which also is a kind of spirituall Sacrificea 1.7, Lombard saith, Christ died once vpon the crosse, and there Sacrificed in himselfe, but he is daily offered in the Sacrament, because in the Sacrament there is a remembrance of that which was done once.b 1.8 And Distinct. 13. It is called a Sacrifice as it were a holie thing done, because by a mysticall prayer it is consecrated for vs in remembrance of the Lords passion.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Heb. 10.12 14.2.5.6.
• a 1.2

  Rom. 15.16
• b 1.3

  Gal. 3.1
• a 1.4

  Heb. 7.24.
• * 1.5

  &. 6. &. 56. 66
• b 1.6

  4. Sentence distinct. 8
• a 1.7

  Heb. 13.16. Distinct. 2
• b 1.8

  4. senten.