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.

What is it to Take?

Amongst the Euangelists it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is pro∣perly vndrestoode of the hand: from whence also, euery thing whereby a thing is taken, as the handle of a cuppe, the eare of a pot, the hilt of a weapon, is called of the Grecians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

2. Neither is it like to be true, neither can it be gathered out of the historie of the institution of the Lords Supper nor by the ma∣ner of the sitting of Christ and of his Apostles at meat, that Christ in the first Supper put bread into euery Apostles mouth. For Io. 13 23. Iohn is said in the last Supper, to haue leaned of Iesus bosome; namely according to the manner of feasts of that time, wherein, in taking of meate they being stretched forth, did leane vpon the ground, or in an high chamber trimmed with beds: as wee may reade, Luk. 22.12. so that they did make, as it were, a certaine circle, and the next did as it were leane vpon the former, their heades alwaies within, and their feete stretched out with∣out.

3. Moreouer, the manner of taking both of me ate and drinke with the mouth, not with the hand, agreeth not to those of age, and to the great ones, that is, to those which haue their wits exercised, to discerne both good and euilla 1.1, (such as it be∣houeth all them to bee, as much as may be, which are commaun∣ded to examine themselues before they come to the Lords table) but to Infants yet crying, and which cannot discerne betweene their right hand and their leftb 1.2.

4. Furthermore, that the word of Taking is to be vnderstood, of the taking by the hand, it is euident, because otherwise there should bee a manifest Tautologie in the words of Christ, when, the taking of the mouth is necessarily vnderstoode out of the wordes by themselues 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say, Eate and Drinke.

5. The practise also, and vse of the ancient Church doth shewe the same, whose example is extant in the wor••s of Ambrose to Theodosius the great, Emperour; How wilt thou stretch out the hands from which innocent bloude doth yet drop? How wilt thou take the holy body of the Lord with such hands?* 1.3 with what rashnesse wilt thou take in thy mouth the cup of the pretious bloud? since that, by the furie of thy words so much bloud is vniustly shed.

Therefore it is a superstitious thing to forbid the communi∣cants to take Eucharisticall bread or cup: for the inner mouth is no more holie, then the lips and hands. Wherefore they which put in whole little morsels into the mouth, not into the hands, of the receiuers, I cānot tel with what reason they can deny that they are papisticall, and do cherish the spawne of superstition amongst their people.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Heb. 5.14
• b 1.2

  Ionah, 4.11
• * 1.3

  Theodore••. hist. Ec••lesi∣asticall, b•• 5 Chap. 8