sence the Sacrifices of the Jewes were well allowed, and accepted of God, but when they forgot the signification, and sought their health and righteousnesse in the Sacrifice it self, then were they abominable in the sight of God; then he cryed out of them by his Prophets: and so it is in all other ordinances.
As for the signe in the Sacrament, Paul calleth it bread, 1 Cor. 11. 23. Christ calleth the other the fruit of the Grape, or Vine, saying, I will drink no more of the fruit of the Vine, &c. Mat. 26. 29. and further, Nature doth teach us, that the Bread and the Wine in the Sacrament, retaineth their former nature; for the bread mouldeth if it be kept long, yea wormes breed in it, and the poore Mouse runneth away with it; and likewise the wine sow∣reth, and therefore one commenting upon them words of our Saviour, saith thus:
"Why preparest thou teeth or belly, Crede quod habes, & habes, b••leeve thou hast eaten him, and thou hast eaten him.
So that Christs words must be understood
spiritu∣ally, and not
after the letter.
Obj. The Apostle saith, He that eateth or drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh his owne damnation; now, how should he be guilty of damnation, which receiveth the Sacrament unworthily, except it be the very body and blood of Christ which he receiveth.
Ans. He that violently teareth the States Arms, breaketh open the broad Seal, committeth treason against the State, or Common∣wealth; even so doth a man offend against Christs body and blood, by abusing the Sacrament of his body and blood, al∣though Christ be no more present in the Sacrament, then the Common-wealth is present in the Seale, Armes, Coyne, &c. Again, the Apostle saith, that he that prayeth or preacheth with his head covered, dishonoureth his head, and his head is Christ; shall we therefore imagine that Christ is naturally in every mans head.