Meditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many years sinceMeditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many yeares since

Certainly^h affectation of Pomp, Ceremony, and such ⟨p. 74⟩other humane superstructions on the divine institution (I always except Ecclesiastical observances which being imposed for order, and used with decency, Paucity, and indifferency, are not lawful only, but with respect to the Authority which requires them, obligatory also) I say all other pompous accumulations, unto the substance of Christs Sacrament, are by Tertullian made the characters and presumptions of an Idolatrous service. True it is indeed that the Ancients make mention, out of that fervour of Love and Piety towards so sacred mysteries of Adoration ⁱat them, and of carrying^k the remainders of them unto the absent Christians; but as in other things, so here likewise we find it most true, that things by devout men begun piously and continued with zeal, do after, when they light in the handling of men otherwise qualified, degenerate into superstition, the form purpose, end and reason of their observation being utterly neglected; It being the contrivance of Satan to raise his Temple after the same form, and with the same materials whereof •ods consisteth, to pretend the practice of the Saints for the enforcement of his own Projects, to transform himself into an Angel^l of light, that he may the easier mislead unstable and wandering souls, and to retain at least a form ^mof Godliness, that he may with less clamour ⟨p. 75⟩and reluctancy with-draw the substance. And as in many other things, so hath he herein likewise abused the Piety of the best men, unto the furtherance of his own ends. That Adoration, which they in and at the mysteries did exhibit unto Christ himself, (as indeed they could not choose a better time to worship him in) he impiously derives upon the creature, and makes it now to be done not so much at, as unto the elements, making them as well the term, and object, as occasion of that worship which is due only to the Lord of the Sacrament: