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.

Is Christ to be adored in the bread of the Supper?

No. 1 Because he is not there present with his bodie.

2 Neyther hath hee in his word tyed himselfe to the bread. Therefore he is to be adored in the mysteries, as saith Ambrose: that is, in the celebration of the supper, in that he is God, and in respect that he is God and man together: yet so as that we rest not in the supper, but that we may lift vp the eyes of faith, and our hearts, not to a peece of bread, but into heauen, where he is sitting at the right hand of Goda 1.1, whether also in time past the people in the administration of the supper were inuited, while they were admonished Habere sursum corda, that is, to lift vp their hearts. Not that they should bee yet taught to seeke downeward for the bodie and bloud of our Lord present in Es∣sence, either in the accidents without the subiect, or in, vnder or with the bread, but rather to seek for him in heauen; that selfesame flesh long agoe deliuered for vs, and that bloud shed for vs, to be touched and laid hold vpon with the hand of faith.

Wherefore, euerie one of the Disciples did not rise, that (fal∣ling downe vpon their knees) they might take bread, and that wine out of his hand. And in the little booke of Constitutions ascribed to Clement, the people are commaunded to come with a certaine shame fast reuerence without tumult.

But concerning the shewing or lifting vp of the Sacrament, we confesse, that it was the custome in the ancient Church, that the whole Sacrament, couered with a cleane linnen cloath, should be set vpon the holy table, vntil it should be distributed to the people.

For then the minister of the Church, the linnē being taken away, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (as saith Dionysius) that is, opening the mysteries did set them before the eyes of those which were present. In the Lyturgy also of Chrysostome, he saith, that the Priest was woont to lift the holy bread a little while from the table (not aboue his head) & to say with a loud voyce, Sancta sanctis, that is, holy things for holy men, (surely in imitation of the Iewish custome, among whom the Priest being about the sacrifices, did shew before hand the ob∣lation before his breast, and did lift it vpa 1.2.) But not in any other respect then that the people should prepare themselues to the communion.

But now seeing, that the eleuation of the bread aboue the Priests head is the sinew of Bread-worship, and prescribed neyther by Christ nor of the Apostles, nor obserued in the most ancient and purest Church, it is rightly taken away in Euangelicall Churches.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Coll, 3.1
• a 1.2

  Exod. 29, &. 24.27. Leuit. 10.15