The fyrst abuse .

Fyrste where saynct Augustyne and other Auncyent wrytters haue taught that the worde of God in the mynystracyon of the vysyble substaunce , maketh a sacrament there of oure clergye admynyster , the vysyble substance , wythout any declaracyon of any worde of Chrystes Instytutyon , which is not onely agaynst the doctrine of the primityue church , but also agaynst Chrystes fyrste Practysse which he vsed whan he fyrste instytuted the Same and mynystred it vnto hys Appostles . It is allso agaynst the Appostles practyse , as it aperyth by Paule whyche saythe . He hath deliuered to them , that which he receyued of the lorde , The lord Iesus in the same nyght that he was betrayed , toke breade , and gyuynge thankes , brake it , and sayde , take , eate , Thys is my body whych shall be betrayed for you , do thys in the remembraunce of me . Lykewise after he had supped he toke the cuppe . Sayenge . Thys cuppe is the newe Testament , in my bloud as oft as ye shal drink of it , drynk it in the remembraunce of me .

Thys practyse of Chryst and of his dyscyples so longe also continued , vsed & frequented in the church of god shuld haue ben a suffycyent doctryne , to all Christes church ouer and besydes that , Chryste in the admynistracyon of the Sacramente demaunded hys dyscyples , saying , do this in remembraunce of me , which word ( thys ) hath relacyon to the hole maner of dooynge and also speakyng of Chryste

Also our clergye speake the woordes of Chrystes instytutyon secretely which can not proffytte hym whyche heareth the not and also yf that he shuld heare the wordes of chrystes institucyon pronounced in the latin tong as our clergy vse to speake them , it could not profyt the herer , which vnderstandeth not the lating tong , for he heareth not then so that he by hys heryng vnderstandeth them , 1. Cor. ij . & so the vysyble substaunce is not become a sacramente vnto hym for Paule sayth , that he whych speaketh in the tong or straunge langage or speach speketh to God and not vnto men for no man heareth hym meanynge therbye no man vnderstandeth hym / because the hearer knoweth not the speache as it appeareth after , wher Paul sayth , yf I knowe not the vertue & meaning of the voyce , I shal be to him which speaketh an alyaunt , & to me he shal be an alyaun● or straunger , further he sayth , Bretheren yf I shall come vnto you speakyng in tonges or straung speaches what shall I profyt you , except I speake vnto you eyther in reuelacion or knowledg or in prophesy , or in lerning , for he which preacheth or prophecyeth , speaketh vnto me , for edyfyeng and confort , he which speketh in the tong edyfyeth him selfe he the prophesyeth edyfyeth the church of god . Wherfore Paul comaundeth all thinges to be done accordyng to an ordre , & to the edyfyeng of the Church so the Paul sayth that he had rather speke fyue wordes in his sence , that he might therwith instruct & teach other then x. M. wordes in the tounge , in so much as he concludeth that if any man speake in a straung tong in the church let him pray that hys speach may be interpreted and yf there be no interpreter to declare the meanynge of hys tonge or straung speache then let , him hold hys pease & kepe sylence in the Church , & speake to him self and to God . By al this chapter meanyng that no man shuld speake in the church , to the congregation in such tong or spech which they kno not nor vndstand not because the church can take no comodity & proffit thereby . And bicause the clergy speke the wordes of Christes institucyon in latin secretly they take awai from such as vnderstand the latin tong ●he sacrament & further bycause they speke the woordes of Chrystes instytucyon , so secretly that nether latin man nor inglysh man do know or vnderstand what they signify or mean therfor the clergy administer no sacrament to the people , for the wordes of CHRISTS institucyon pronounced and declared in the admynystracyon of the visykle substaunce , causeth it to be a sacrament but doubtles the blind errour is ouerflowen the hole Chrysten church for the punyshment of the people for their iniquitie committed agaynst God , as it apereth in Deu. wher God for the synne of the people declarethe manye curses , deu. xxviij . & malcoyetyons , to come vppon them amongest the whych punyshement is rehearsed that God wyll send a myghtye people from afarre and froward , styfnecked and olde people whose voyce the People shall not knowe nor vnderstande what they speake . The same punysshemente the pr●phet Ieremye doth prophesye , to come vpon the people .

Chryst gaue the Appostles the grace of tongues , Actes . ij . that who so euer hearde them , speake , dyd vnderstand them in their owne language and Speache by thys gyft it appereth manyfestly , that god wold hys people , to be taught in such forme and condycyones , that they myght perceyue the sence and vnderstandynge , of the woord & mysteryes oft spoken in a straunge tong which they do not vnderstand , profyteth them not . But bycause owre clergye wyll not obey gods commaundemente , which is to preache the gospell , and to teache the people accordynge to goddes commaundement god hathe gyuen them ouer , to folow theyr wycked thoughtes from the which they wolde haue turned them yf they had folowed hys councel : & declared , & made open hys wordes to the people as i● is pla●●● Iohn .viij. and Ieremye .xxiii sayenge yf they had stand in my councel & taught my people to know my wordes truly I wolde haue turned them from theyre euyll wayes , and from theyr mooste wycked thoughtes . And bycause they haue not fedd the flocke , God threreneth them by hys ●●●phete Ezechyell , Sa●ng , I wyll requyre my flock vpon the hands of my Shepperdes . I wyll make them crasse that they shal not fead them no more , nor shal not fead theyr selues doutles thys punysshement , is come euen vppon owre clergye for ther were neuer so many ygnoraunt sheperdes , whych can not fead theyr flocke nor excute theyre offyce

The seconde abuse

The Clergy be no lesse to be reprehendyd and also reformed whych receue the hole sacrament to them selues not dystrybutynge it to the people , contrary to christes practysse whyche at hys laste supper dyd not onely eate and drynk , hym selfe , But also gaue the same vnto all whych were ther present , sygnyfyeng and expressyng , therby that he wyth all hys merytes , and benyffytes , shulde be common to all hys Electe , & Chosen , & no synguler , and peculyar , to one a lo●e thys churlysshe facion of eatyng & Drynkyng , by themselues , not expectyng & tari●g for theyr neybours is ernestly reprouyd by the Appostle , j. Cor. xi . Saying bretheren when you come together , to eate , loke or Expect , & tarye one for the other yf any man be hungrye let hym eate at home .

Yf saynct Ambrose doctryne be true , as dowtlesse it is who so euer Eateth / and Drynketh so Churlysshelye ( that is to receyue the sacrament in the church so priuatly doth receyue it vnworthelye , Ambrose vpon the .i. Corin the .ii. Chapyter to hys eternall Damnacion , These be the words of saynct Ambrose , he receyueth vnworthelye whych Celebrateth , the mysterye Otherwyse then of the lorde it was delyuered for he can not be deuoute whyche presumeth otherwyse , then it was gyuen of the Author or first instytutor . Also the same sayth Therfore yf you so come together that euerye man myght eate hys owne these shuld not be don in the church wher the commynge to gether shulde be , bycause of vnyte & of the mystery , & not for dyssensyon , or for the belly . Athanasyus that auncyente wryter whych wrot before Sayncte Ambrose sayth ye haue defyled , Trulye thys supper , Athanasyus vpon the i. of the Cor. the .ij. Chap whych beyng the lordes and commen to all men ye haue made it synguler , and probate also that auncyente clarke and Bysshoppe , of Constantynople , Chrysostome , no lesse reprouethe this Pryuate and chorlyssche opynyon Saynge Trulye , these thynges whyche be the Lordes , vpon the of the fyrste of the Cor. the xx . vij . homylye they be not of thys seruaunt or of an Other , but commen to all , it is all one thyngt thys word the Lordes , and the woord commen for yf it be of the Lordes as dowbtles it is , thou oughtest not to receiue it to thy selfe as thine own , but to set it forth , as the thing of the lord commenly to al for truly that is to be the lords but now thou sufrest not , that to becōmen but eatest it to thy self wherfor the apostle did ad euery one p̄sumeth to eat his own supper . Also in the same homylye he sayth . The lorde for thy Sake , dyd gyue hym self but the● for the loue of thine own self dost not make thi brother partaker with they Chryst comaundeth al hys people , to ca● no master in earthe , not therby prohybiting the seruaunt and euery inserycure or meane parson to call hys superyoure lorde or master but Chryst meaneth by hys prohybytyons that hys electe shuld not accept any in earthe concernyng the chrysten relygyon to teache them any other doctryne or lernyng than he hathe taughte them whyche was doubtles suffycyent for them .

Wherfore saynt Ihon the euangelyst exhortyng all men to cleaue to chrystes doctryne and not to followe or regarde any mans doctryne , i. Iohn .ij. sayth . Let that ( meanynge ) learnynge abyde in you , whych ye haue herde from the begynnynge , for yf that abyde in you whych you haue hard from the begynnyng ? ye shall also abyde in the sonne and in the father , yea chryste hym selfe sayd yf ye abyde in my worde ye shal be my dyscyples and you shal knowe the truth / and the truth shall delyuer you wherfor doutles the forsaking of christes doctryne and followyng mens doctryne is the onely cause of all erroure , Iohn . viii . as it appereth playnely where God by hys prophet Hyeremye , Iere. xxiij forbyddeth vs to here anye preacher whyche Preacheth not hys word saying heare not the wordes of the prophetes , which prophecy to you & deceue you , they speke the visions of theyr oune hartes & not of the mouthe of the lorde . I dyd not sende the Prophetes / & they dydde ronne , Ierem. ix I spake not to them and they dyd prophecye . The same is also reproued by the same prophet . Therfore Paule pronounceth them accursed whych preache any other gospell , Gallat. iij than that whych was preached .

The Auncyent wryters Latynist Tertulyan , faythe it is not lawfull , Tertllian in hys bo● called prescripcions xcv . leafe● for vs to Cheryshe or Fauour anye thynge of oure owne Fre wyll , nor yet to chose any thyng that any other man shall bring in hys owne wyl , we haue the Apostles of the Lorde , authores and Examples , whych dyd not chose any thynge of ther owne Fre wyll that , they wolde brynge in but dyd sett forthe that doctryne faith fullye to the nacyons whych they had receyued of Chryste .

Nowe I truste euery Chrysten manne maye perceaue , howe oure clergy contrary to Chrystes doctryne , and also practise , haue abused thys mooste blessed sacrament of hys body and bloud , and no lesse contrary to all the auncyent wryters as it appeareth by saynt Sipriane , Sypryane to Sesyliū whyche sayth yf chryst ought onely to be hard , we ought not to take hede or regard what any man before vs haue , taught to be done , but what he whych before al is , chryst fyrst hath done , nor we ought not to follow the custume of men but the truth of God .

Nowe chrysten Reader pondre and also wel remember that CHRIST when he Admynistred the Sacramente to hys dyscyples declared what benefyt & proffit they shuld receaue by hys death which was remissyon at theyr synnes but our clergy whan they adminystre the sacrament to the congregatyon eyther speake so secretlye that no man heareth them or speake in suche a speache , that the congregacyon vnderstand them not or , els when they adminystre they speake of theyr o●ne and not the wordes of chrystes instytucyon , whych is manyfeste , contrarye to chrystes instytucyon and commaundement so that euerye man / whych wel consydereth theyr doinges / can not otherwyse Iudge them , but the naturall seade of Antychryste . also where chryste admynystred / he destrybuted the sacrament to all his dysciples , but oure clargy receyue , all the sacrament in their pryuat Masse to them selues , and dystrybute it vnto none other , contrarye to the practis of Chryste , and of hys Appostles / and no lesse contrary to the practyse & doctrine of the pryuat Church , and the most godly & clarkly ancyent wryters : so that I think ther is nether godly nor lerned man that compareth the lernynge vse and practysse of Chryste / and hys Appostelles / with the lernynge vse & practysse of our clargy : But that he will Iudge our clargy to be the moost hatefull ennemyes , of Chryste , and all the chrysten Relygyon .

The thyrd abuse

Wher I sayde in mi third princyple / that the effecte of sacramentes was to conforte al troubled conscyences whych be oppressed wyth the knowledge & remembraunce of the sentence of Gods lawe pronounced , & geuen agaynst all synners , and with the inward remembraunce and consyderasyons of the multytude , and greatenes of theyr synnes , and of the longe contynuaunce in the same , so that they in remembrance of those thynges , be vtterlye adacted and dryuen to extreme desperacyon for remedy wherof Chryst mooste mercyfullye and louyngly ( as the true bysshop of our soules , which suffered al our temptacyons in hys fleshe , Hibre . ix . that he knowyng them myght haue the more compassyon vpon vs dyd instytute and ordeine thys most blessed sacrament of hys body & bloud in the admynystratyon wherof he declared and dyuulged to all the receauers therof that hys body shuld be betrayed for vs , and his bloud shuld be shed for the remyssyon of theyr Synnes , all thys whych he dyd to the adminystracyon of thys blessed sacrament he dyd it for cure example comaunding vs that as of ●●n as we shuld do this we shuld do it in remembraunce of him . And his Appostle commaunded also that as often , as we shulde receyue thys sacrament , we shuld shewe the death of the lorde : To shewe the death of the lorde , is to declare that we through oure synnes , haue deserued most Iustly eternall deathe , from the whyche , we be delyuered onelye thoroughe the passyon , bloudshedynge , and deathe of oure Lorde Iesu Chryste , and by none other meanes .

O what comfort , quyetnes / and ioye is thys to the troubled and vexed conscyence , when he consydreth this inestimable Loue , whych god hath shewed vnto him in thys most paynefull passyon , mooste cruell and shamfull death , of hys only begotten sonne , and owre onlye sauyoure Iesu christe . The fearfull and myserable synner , can nowe Boldelye wyth greate gladnes , reyoyce , and saye , seyng that god oure father hath gyuen vnto vs hys onlye begotten sonne , for oure redempcyon , we then beyng hys enemyes howe can it be possyble , that he shuld not also now geue vs all thinges ( bringe his fryndes ) with hym yea doutles remyssyon of Synnes , and eternall lyfe . Thys comfort and yoye , is taken a waye from vs by oure cleargye with whan they admynystre the Sacramente , they neuer shewe the Death , of the lorde , suffred for oure Redempcyon , not onlye hydynge and kepynge , secret , thys estymable Benyfytte , doone for and to vs , by Iesu Chryste / but also moost wyckedly conuerte and tourne , the benefytte of owr redempcion to them selues , declaryng the sacrament offred vppe to God , by them to be a Sacryfyce , whych Worke , for the workes sake , deserueth remyssyon of Synnes , and eternall lyfe . yf that doctryne be True then ther is no thanke to be gyuen to Chryste , but to oure Pryestes , whych dayly do make innumerable Sacrifyces , as they saye and Thynke , therbye to take a Waye , and remytt Synnes , Although the holye scryptures Saye / that chryste was the onlye sacryfyce for synne which offred vppe vppon the crosse ones , was a suffycyente sacrifyce , for euer / and the sacramente duelye Admynystred , in the fourme instytuted of Chryste by the olde fathers called a sacrifice , because it was a memoryall of chrystes sacrifyce , & not because it is in it self a sacrifice ether propiciatory or satisfactorye , but onely called by the name of a sacryfyce bycause it was a memoryall therof to bryng to our remembraunce and to prynte therein the sacryfice of Chryste ones parfectlye done and performed for vs for euer : euen so the auncyent wryters call the sacrament of christes body and bloud a sacryfyce to God for twoo causes wherof I haue rehearsed the one , that is to saye , because it is a memoryall therof if it be duelye admynistred accordyng to chrystes instytucyon / An other cause is that we that be christes church , and membres be represented , and sygnyfyed in and by the sacramente , for our bodyes truly mortyfyed from all lustes and concupyscence be an acceptable sacrifice to God as it apereth in the .xii. to the romaynes There Paull saythe , bretheren I besech you by the mercy of god that ye exhybite youre bodyes a lyuelye and holy sacryfyce acceptable and pleasing to GOD also Peter saythe . And you as lyuynge stones , be buylded a spyritual house / an holy presthode , offerenge spyrytual sacrifyces / acceptable to god , by Iesu Chryste also sayncte Augustyne , in a sermon to yonge Chyldren sayth , yf ye wyll vnderstande what is the body of Chryst , heare the Appostles sayinge . Ye be the body of chryst , membres of membre , yf therefore ye be of the bodye Chryste , and membres ? your mysterye is see vpon the boorde , of the lorde / you receyue the mystery of the lord , vnto that you be , ye Answere , Amen . And so answerynge you subscrybe or affyrme , also the same doctours wrytynge vpon the holye feaste of Easter , saythe because Chryste hath suffred for vs , he hath commended to vs , in thys sacramente hys bodye and bloude , whych also he hath made vs , our selues , for we be made his body , and through his mercy , we be the same , whych we receyue

Thus the holy doctors , in the prymatiue Church , cauled the , sacramente , a sacrifice wherin we offer owre selues a lyuynge Sacryfyce , from all synnes mortyfyed , and deade not meanynge that the pryests shulde offre a Sacryfyce to GOD for synne , whych oblacyons should defyne remyssyon of Synne , euer for the workes sake as folysh Sophysters wryte contrary to the holy scryptures .

What lyuynge Creatures hearynge Sayncte Augustyne wrytting in thys maner of the sacrament wyl not Iudg it the speache a Mystycall speache , and not to be taken as the woordes sounde , Also oure clargye offerynge vs the Sacramente , geue it to GOD as a Sacryfyce for Synne , whyche we be commaunded of Chryste to receaue as a memoryall of a benefytte geuen by hym vnto vs , to nourysshe and confyrme oure faythe thereby and not to be geuen by vs vnto hym .

Thus they declare them selues , to be ryghte Antychrystes whyche manyfestlye chaunge CHRISTES or : denaunces and vse them cleane contrary turnyng receauyng , to geuing , thys is not to do these thynges , in the remembraunce of Christ , but rather to put al Christes doynges out of remembraunce .

They sell the same to vs for moneye whych Christ hath geuen vs frely , wherfore they make vs very fooles , to bye with our money that thynge whych is our oune most surely alreadye , by goddes gyfte And thus by byenge of oure owne , we not only lo●se our monye , but also commit Simony , byeng the spyrytuall gyfte of God for temporall rewarde .

The clergy also robbe not onelye the poore wyddowes but manye other also takyng money for the applyenge of a sacrament as a sacrifyce , for the dead which cannot eate it nor do it in the remembraunce of Chryste nor geue thankes for it which is required of euery faythfull receauer therof , to do . For as the wordes of God profyteth no man , but only such as hereth it & beleueth it that so in lyke maner the sacrament profyteth not any man except he receue it and beleue the promyses therto annexed , thys is the moost wycked crafte & subtilty of the deuel , that all such thing whych be moost Godly , & so proffitable to all men that by theyr craft or subtilty they can not cause such thinges to be had in hatred then seke they , out newe pellices & craftes wherby the vse of such godly thinges way be kept secret or els vnknowen or not regarded or els so altered & chaunged that the proffytable effect therof be not perceyued yet whyle they permyt and let the name of the thing continue in a graet admyration and estimacyon but not profytable to men . And thus oftentymes it is come to passe that such thinges which we reinstituted and ordeyned very proffytable to men nowe through the vse ( or more truly sayde abuse ) of them , they be bee ● me very vnpoffytable , hurtfull and also wycked .

The onely cause of thys is that we followe not Chryste , in doctryne , and example but with great gredynes folow the fond opynyon of men , where God by hys prophet reproueth vs saying my people haue done twoo euelles , Esaye●● . they haue forsaken me the fountayne of lyfe and dygged them sesternes euen such as can not holde waters also Cypryane that blessed Martyr , and auncyent wryter , Sypryane to Sesyliū sayth , Iesus christ our lord he is the hygh Pryst , by god the father , and he fyrste offred Sacryfyce , to god the father , and commaunded that to be done , in the remembraunce of hym . Verelye that pryste occupyeth trulye the Roume / and stede of chryst whych foloweth that , whych chryste dyd , and then offreth a true sacryfyceful in the church , to god the father : when he Begynnythe , euen so to offer , as he seeth and parceyueth chryste to haue offred . But otherwyse all the Lernyng , of relygyon , and of the trueth is conuerted and ouerthrowen yf that whych is spyrytually commaunded be not faythfully obserued and kept . Therfore the cleargye ought to be reformed , by the kynge and hys honorable counsell , that from Henceforthe , they shulde not make any sacryfyce , for quycke and dead , of the sacramente whych sacryfyce , for the workes sake , shulde deserue remyssion of synnes for ther is no thyng more contrarye to remyssyon of synnes / frely gyuen by grace , also it is playne contrary to Christes fyrst institucyon of the sacrament which ordeyned it to be a memory all of Chrystes onely sacryfyce wherin we receaue remyssyon of Sinnes .

And yf the pryestes sacramente be a sacryfyce , for the synnes of the quick and of the deade . why than is not the sacrament whych the lay men receyue , as well a sacryfyce for the quyck and the dead or els let our clergy shewe by the scrypturs howe theyr sacrament , is of more value , befor God then ours of the layety ? And yet I doubt not but yf a laye man shuld dayly receaue the sacrament and take money therfore sayinge that he dyd make a sacryfyce for the remissyon of the synnes of the quyck and the dead that our clergy wold not sease vntyl they wyth fyer had made hym dead , and not lyuing and quicke . Thus it is come to pas that the vse of the sacrament onely serueth the couetouse appetyte , Dronkennes , whordome and iust of the wycked pryests . And not one ministre therof , administre it duely as Chryste instytuted , it that is for the spyrytuall comforte , and for the confyrmacyon of the faythe of the receyuer of the sacrament because the word of Christes Instytucyon , is not declared in the admynystracyon of the Sacrament chryste is not Receyued , whyche onelye by faythe muste be receyued , thorough the hearynge of hys woorde declared . And because in the admynystracyon of the Sacrament , the cleargye doo not declare the woordes of chrystes Instytucyon , whych woordes by Goddes promysse of remyssyon of Synnes , through Chrystes Bodye betrayed , and hys bloud shedde : The receyuers of the Sacrament , receyue it wyth out Fayth , to theyre Dampnacyon , for Faythe , commeth by herynge of goddes woorde whyche they here not declared wherfore they can not beleue .

Note well Chrysten Reader , whether our clargy be not most detestable sacramentaryes , which take awaye chrystes woordes of Instytucyon , of the sacramente of hys body and bloude in the admynystracyon there of wherby the materyal substaunce of bred and wine , shuld be made a sacrament to the receyuers therof marke well also whether they doo not contrarye to Goddes comaundement , adde and put to wordes of theyr oun faynt imagynacyon & tātas● whych nother chryste nor hys Apostles nor the prymatyue church dyd other practysse or commaunde .

Thyrdely consydere gentell reader that oure cleargye do not declare any benyfytes of god shewed to vs in Iesu Chryst nor they ●omforte not vs whych be oppressed wythsynne nor confyrme owre fayth through chrystes bodye betrayed :

And hys bloude shed for the remyssyon of oure synnes thus depriue they vs both of the sacrament and of all chrystes benefytes and of all consolacyon and yoye which we shulde receyue therby . so that bothe the cause porpose and effecte , wherfore chryst instytuted thys sacrament of hys bodye and Bloud , be vtterly obscured and taken awaye from vs : And yet when we other preache or wryte agaynst these theyr errours , by them practyssed contrary to the hosy scryptures and all the auncyent doctours , they call vs sacramentaryes , and when we desyre to haue the ryght sacramentes practysed by Chryste and hys apostles to be restored , vnto hys Churche than they crye a fagot a fyre , for these heretykes . But nowe Chrysten Reader by the authorytyes before alleged , Iudge that who be both heritikes and sacramentaryes . And thus I commytte the Chrysten Reader to God , who sende true and faythfull administratours of his sacrament and true preachers of hys woord . Amen .