As for the Merchandises and open sales of masses,1 and the bearing up and down and worshipping of bread, and such other idolatrous and blasphemous follies, which no man can affirm that Christ and his Apostles delivered unto us, we suffer not in our Churches. And we do justly reprove the Bishops of Rome, which without Gods word, without authority of the holy fathers, without any example, after a new guise, do not only set forth to the people the sacramental bread to be worshipped with godly honour, but also they carry it about upon an ambling horse,2 where soever they ride themselves, as in times paste the Persians did fire, and the Egyptians the relics of Isis: and thus they have now brought the sacraments of Christ to be a pageant & a solemn pomp, to the intent that that thing whereby the death of Christ should be continually remembered and celebrated, and wherein the mysteries of our redemption should be devoutly and reverently renewed, should serve for nothing else but to feed mens eyes with foolish sights and wanton boys games. And where as they say and persuade also sometimes to fools,3 that in their masses they can distribute & apply unto men (which many times think nothing on yt matter, nor understand what is in hand) all the merits of the death of ⟨image 17⟩Christ, it is a matter to be laughed at, and also both Heathenish and foolish. For our faith doth apply unto us the death and cross of Christ, not the masking of a sacrificing priest.4 The faith saith S. Augustine, of the sacraments, doth justify, not the sacrament. And Origen saith, He is the priest and the propitiation, and the sacrifice, the which propitiation cometh to every man by the way of faith. And in like wise say we, that without faith the sacraments of Christ profit nothing, no not the living, much less them that be dead. For as touching that they are wont to boast them of their Purgatory,5 although we know it is not very newly invented: yet it is nothing but mere foolish and an old wives tale.6 Augustine sometimes saith, that there is such a certain kind of place, sometimes he denieth not but it may be, sometimes he is in doubt,7 sometimes he doth utterly deny it, and supposeth that men are deceived therein through a certain courteous inclination of good will.8
As for the Marchaundyses and open saales of masses,1 and the bearing vp and downe and worshiping of breade, and suche other ydolatrous and blasphemous follies, whiche no man can affirme that Christe and his Apostles deliuered vnto vs, we suffer not in oure Churches. And we do iustly reproue the Byshops of Rome, which without Gods worde, without authoritie of the holy fathers, without any example, after a newe guyse, doe not onely sette forthe to the people the sacramentall breade to be worshypped with godly honoure, but also thei carry it about vpon an ambelinge horse,2 where soeuer thei ride themselues, as in times paste the Persians did fier, and the Egyptians the relikes of Isis: and thus thei haue now brought the sacramēts of Christe to be a pagent & a solemne pompe, to the entent that that thing whereby the deathe of Christe shoulde be continually remembred and celebrated, and wherein the mysteries of oure redemption shoulde bee deuoutly and reuerently renewed, shoulde serue for nothinge els but to feede mens eies with foolyshe sightes and wanton boyes games. And where as they saie and perswade also sometimes to fooles,3 yt in their masses thei can distribute & apply vnto men (which many times think nothing on yt matter, nor vnderstād what is in hand) al the merites of the death of ⟨image 17⟩Christ, it is a matter to be laughed at, and also both Hethenish and foolishe. For oure faithe dothe apply vnto vs the death and crosse of Christe, not the masking of a sacrifising preeste.4 The faith saith S. Augustine, of the sacraments, doth iustify, not the sacramēt. And Origen saith, He is the preest and the propitiation, and the sacrifice, the which propitiation cōmeth to euery man by the way of fayth. And in like wise saye we, that without faith the sacramentes of Christe profite nothing, no not the liuinge, muche lesse them that be deade. For as touching that thei ar wonte to boast them of their Purgatory,5 althoe we know it is not very newly inuented: yet yt ys nothing but mere foolish and an olde wiffes tale.6 Augustine sometimes saith, that there is suche a certain kinde of place, sometimes he denyeth not but it may be, sometimes he is in doubt,
- 1Abuses of the Lords supper
- 2Libro de Ceremoniis ecclesiae Roman.Libro de Ceremoniis ecclesiae Romane.
- 3How the merits of Christ ar applied unto us.How the merits of Christ ar applied vnto vs.
- 4Ad Rom. ca. 3. lib. 3.
- 5Purgatory.Purgatorye.
- 6Aug. in psa. 85 In Enchiridion cap. 67.
- 7De civit. Dei. li. 21. ca. 26.De ciuit. Dei. li. 21. ca. 26.
- 8Contra Pelagianos. lib. hypognosticon. 5.Cōtra Pelagianos. lib. hypognosticon. 5.
