A09453:493
A Reformed Catholic
A reformed Catholic: or, A declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion: and wherein we must for ever depart from them with an advertisement to all favourers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the Catholic principles and grounds of the catechism.A reformed Catholike: or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and vvherein we must for euer depart from them with an advertisment to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1598Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1598
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Whence it follows necessarily, that they worship nothing beside the image, or, the devise of their own brain, in which they feign to them selves such a God as will be worshipped, and receive our prayers at images. It will be said, that the Papists do no otherwise tie the worship and invocation of God to images, then God tied himself to ⟨p. 366⟩the sanctuary and the temple of Solomon. And I say again, it was the will of God that he would show his presence, and be worshipped at the Sanctuary, and the Jews had the warrant of Gods word for it: but we have no like warrant, either by promise or commandment to tie Gods presence to an image or crucifix. Again, reason yet further may discover their idolatry. They, which worship they know not what, worship an idol: but the Papists worship they know not what: I prove it thus. To the consecration of the host, there is required the intention of the priest, at the lest virtually, as they say, & if this be true, it follows that none of them can come to the Mass, or pray in faith, but he must always doubt of that which is lifted up by the hands of the priest in the mass: whether it be bread or the body and blood of Christ. For none can have any certainty of the intention of the priest in consecrating this bread and this wine: but rather may have a just occasion of doubting by reason of the common ignorance and looseness of life in such persons.
Whence it followes necessarily, that they worshippe nothing beside the image, or, the deuise of their owne braine, in which they faine to them selues such a God as will be worshipped, and receiue our praiers at images. It will be saide, that the Papists doe no otherwise tie the worship and inuocation of God to images, then God tied himselfe to ⟨p. 366⟩the sanctuarie and the temple of Salomon. And I say againe, it was the will of God that he would shewe his presence, and be worshipped at the Sanctuarie, and the Iewes had the warrant of Gods word for it: but we haue no like warrant, either by promise or commandement to tie Gods presence to an image or crucifix. Againe, reason yet further may discouer their idolatrie. They, which worship they know not what, worship an idol: but the Papists worship they know not what: I proue it thus. To the cōsecratiō of the host, there is required the intention of the priest, at the lest vertually, as they say, & if this be true, it follows that none of thē can come to the Masse, or praie in faith, but he must alwaies doubt of that which is lifted vp by the hāds of the priest in the masse: whether it be bread or the body and blood of Christ. For none can haue any certēty of the intention of the priest in consecrating this bread and this wine: but rather may haue a iust occasion of doubting by reason of the common ignorance and loosenes of life in such persons.