The wordes of Hierome are playne. Priestes (saith he) which minister the Eucharist, and diuide the bloud vnto the people. MarginaliaHieronimus in Sophon. cap. 3.
In historia tripartita
The Historia tripartita is a Latin translation of the ecclesiastical histories of the Byzantine historians Socrates Scolasticus, Sozomen and Theodoret.
This entire quotation is taken from John Bale, Scriptorum Illustrium maioris Brytanniae Catalogus (Basel, 1557), p. 50.
The like testimony also appeareth in the councell of Toletan, that the laitie dyd then communicate in both kyndes, besides diuers other olde presidentes, remayning yet in the churches both of Germany and also of Fraunce declaryng likewise the same.
This is a reference to the Fourth Council of Toledo in 633; see John Bale, Scriptorum Illustrium maioris Brytanniiae Catalogus (Basel, 1557), p. 63.
MarginaliaThe forbidding of both kindes of the Sacrament hath no grounde in auncient custome. And thus it standeth certayne and demonstrable by manifold probations, how farre this newfound custome differeth from all antiquitie and prescription of vse and tyme. Agayne, although the custome therof were neuer so auncient, MarginaliaNo custome may derogate from the Lordes expresse commaundemēt. yet no custome may be of that strength to gaynestand or countermaunde the open and expresse commaundement of God, which sayth to all men: Bibite ex hoc omnes. Dryncke ye all of this. &c.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe Lords Testament ought not to be altered for any respect. Agayne, seyng the cup is called the bloud of the new testament, who is he that dare or can alter the Testament of the lord, when none may be so hardy to alter the testament of a man, beyng once approued or ratified?
Further, as concernyng those places of Scripture before alledged, De fractione panis, that is, of breaking of bread wherupon they thynke themselues so sure that the Sacrament was then ministred but in one kynd: to aunswere therunto, first we say, it may be doubted whether all those places in Scripture,
MarginaliaIn fractione panis. De fractione panis, are to be referred to the Sacrament. Secondly, the same beyng geuen vnto them, yet can they not inferre therby, because one parte is mencioned, that the full Sacrament therefore was not ministred. The common maner of the Hebrue phrase is, vnder breakyng of bread to signifie generally the whole feast or supper: as in the Prophet Esay, these woordes, Frange esurienti panem tuum, do signifie as well geuyng drinke as bread. &c. And thirdly howsoeuer those places, De fractione panis be taken, yet it maketh little for them, but rather agaynst them. For if the Sacrament were administred amongest them in fractione panis. i. in breaking of bread, then must they nedes graunt, that if bread was there broken. Ergo, there was bread, forasmuch as neyther the accidences of bread without bread can be broken, neyther can the naturall body of Christ be subiect to any fraction or breaking by the Scripture, which sayeth: And ye shall breake no bone of him.
Exodus 12: 46.
The naturall bodye of Christ may not be brokē.
Accidences no man can breake.
No bread is there to be broken: Ergo, there is nothing in the Sacrament broken. Wherfore take away the substance of bread, and there can be no fraction. And take away fraction, how then do they make a Sacrament of this breakyng, where as neither the substance of Christes body, neither yet the accidences without theyr substance can be broken, neither agayne will they admit any bread there remayning to be broken? And what then was it in this their Fractione panis, that they did breake, if it were not Panis, that is, Substantia panis quæ frangebatur? To conclude, if they say that this fraction of bread was a Sacramentall breaking of christes body, so by the lyke figure let them saye that the beyng of Christes naturall body in the sacrament is a sacramentall beyng, and we are agreed.
MarginaliaAn other obiection against both kindes. Item, they obiect further and say, that the church vppon due consideration may alter, as they see cause, in rites, ceremonies, and Sacraments.
MarginaliaAunswere. Aunswer. The institution of this sacrament standeth vpon the order, example, & commaundement of Christ.
Marginalia1. Order. Galatians 1: 8.
2. Example.
3. commaundement. This order he tooke: First he deuided the bread seuerally frō the cuppe, and afterward the cuppe seuerally from the bread. Secondly this he dyd not for any nede on hys behalfe, but onely to geue vs example how to do the same after hym, in remembrance of hys death to the worldes ende. Thirdly, beside this order taken, and example left, he added also an expresse commaundement: Hoc facite. Do this. Bibite ex hoc omnes. Drinke ye all of this. &c. Agaynst this order, example, and commaundement of the Gospell, no Church nor councell of men nor aungel in heauen hath any power or authority to chaunge or alter, accordyng as we are warned: If any bryng to you any other gospell beside that ye haue receaued. hold hym accursed. &c.
MarginaliaAn other obiection agaynst both kindes. Item, an other obiection. And why may not the church (say they) as well alter the forme of this Sacrament, as the Apostles dyd the fourme of Baptisme, where in the Actes Saint Peter sayth: Let euery one be baptised in the name of Iesu Christ. &c.
Acts 2: 38.
MarginaliaAunswere. Aunswer. This text sayth not, that the Apostles vsed this forme of baptising: I baptise thee in the name of Christ. &c. MarginaliaThe Apostles chaunged not the forme of Baptisme. but they vsed many tymes this maner of speach, to be baptised in the name of Christ, not as expressyng therby the formable wordes of baptising, but as meanyng this, þt they would haue them to become members of Christ, and to be baptised as Christians, entryng into hys baptisme, and not only to the Baptisme of Iohn: and therfore, although the apostles thus spake to the people, yet notwithstanding whē they baptised any thēselues, they vsed (no doubt) the forme of Christ prescribed, and no other.
[Back to Top]Item, among many other obiections, they alledge certaine perils and causes of weight and importaunce, as spillyng, shedyng, or shakyng the bloud out of the cuppe, or souryng, or els sticking vpon mens beardes &c. for the which they say it is well prouided, the halfe communion to suffice. &c. Wherunto it is soone aunswered, that as these causes were no let to Christ, to the Apostles, to the Corinthians, & to the brethren of the Primitiue Churche, but that in theyr publick assemblies they receyued all þe whole Communion, as well in the one parte as in the other: so neyther be the sayde causes so important now, to adnull and euacuate the necessary commaundement of the Gospell, if we were as carefull to obey the Lorde, MarginaliaMans curiositie in magnifiyng his own deuyses aboue Gods. as we are curious to magnifie oure owne deuises, to strayne gnattes, to stumble at strawes, and to seeke knottes in rushes, which rather are in our owne phantasies growyng, then there where they are sought.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaObiections of priuate example make no instāce against publicke vsages and doctrine of the Church. In summa. diuers other obiections and cauillations are in Popishe bookes to be found as in Gabriell
Gabriel Biel (d. 1495), scholastic theologian and philosopher.
These are the words spoken by Christ at the Last Supper; Foxe is quoting from Luke 22: 17-20 in the Vulgate.
MarginaliaThe third Article Priuate Masses, trentall Masses, and dirige Masses
Here Foxe is criticizing Masses celebrated for the benefit of the dead. As with his 'allegation' against receiving in one kind, Foxe declines to use the wealth of historical examples that characterized his attack on transubstantiation. But unlike his defence of receiving in both kinds, Foxe does not even bother here with patristic citations (because the belief in purgatory was not debated in the early Church), instead relying on his exegesis of particular verses in the Bible.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe first rule of Christian doctrine. 1. The first rule is: Sacramentes be instituted for some principall end and vse, out of the which vse they are no Sacraments. As the sacrament of Baptisme is a Sacrament of regeneration, and forgiuenes of sinnes to the person that is Baptised. But if it be caried about to be worshipped and shewed to other as meritorious for their remission, and regeneration, to them it is no sacrament.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe 2 rule. 2. No sacrament nor ceremony doth profite or conduce, but them onely which take and vse the same.
MarginaliaThe 3. rule. 3. Only the death of Christ and the worke of his sacrifice vppon the crosse is to be applied to euery man by fayth for saluation and health of hys soule. Beside this worke alone,