The third part of the Defence of the Reformed Catholike against Doct. Bishops Second part of the Reformation of a Catholike, as the same was first guilefully published vnder that name, conteining only a large and most malicious preface to the reader, and an answer to M. Perkins his aduertisement to Romane Catholicks, &c. Whereunto is added an aduertisement for the time concerning the said Doct. Bishops reproofe, lately published against a little piece of the answer to his epistle to the King, with an answer to some few exceptions taken against the same, by M. T. Higgons latley become a proselyte of the Church of Rome. By R. Abbot Doctor of Diuinitie.

R. ABBOT.

It is truly said by Tertullian, that a 1.1 nothing so much offen∣deth mens mindes (in the Sacraments) as the simplicitie of Gods works, as they seeme in act, and the magnificence which is promised in effect. M. Bishop looking to the outward signes in the Lords supper, taketh the same to be a simple token of Christs exceeding loue towards vs, a matter that any man might doe; and not so much as that that Elias left to his scholar Elizeus. Thus in his blinde fancie hee amplifieth the matter as if wee taught that Christ in his last supper had recommended nothing to vs but bread and wine. But let him vnderstand that we see and teach in this sacrament, the exceeding great loue of Christ, not in those simple creatures which we see in act, but in the magnifi∣cence of grace which is promised in effect. If wee con∣sider these creatures in act, they are but bread and wine, but consider them in vse and effect, and then this bread is heauenly bread, the bread of life, the food of immortalitie; there is in it the spirit of Christ, euen the power of the word of God, not onely feeding but also sanctifying and clensing the soule. I will expresse it by M. Bishops owne words, that Christ hath bequeathed and heereby giueth vnto vs his true naturall body, to be the food of our soules; of our soules, I say, not of our bodies; which if he did rightly meane, as he rightly speaketh, he would not vnderstand it to be receiued by the body. And thus Christ sealing vnto vs in the Lords supper, all the fruits of his passion, and

giuing himselfe vnto vs spiritually to become one with vs, and to make vs one with him, hee hath without reall pre∣sence bestowed, as M. Bishop saith, an inestimable gift vpon vs, such a one as neuer any other did or possibly could doe.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Tertul. de Baptism Nihil adeò est quod obiurat mentes hominum quàm simplicitas diui∣norum operum quae in actu vi∣dentur & mag∣nificentia quae in effectu re∣promittitur, &c.