A14239:25
A sermon preached before the Commons-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at…A sermon preached before the Commos-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at…
A sermon preached before the Commons-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at Westminster, the 18. of February. 1620. By James Usher. Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin, in IrelandA sermon preached before the Commos-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at Westminster, the 18. of February. 1620. By Iames Vssher. Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Dublin, in Ireland
London: printed by I.Dawson for John Bartlett, 1624London: printed by I.Dawson for Iohn Bartlett, 1624
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
It is a lamentable thing to behold, how this holy Sacrament, which was ordained by Christ to be a bond whereby we should be knit together in unity, is by Satan's malice, and the corruption of mans disposition, so strangely perverted the contrary way; that it is made the principal occasion of that woeful distraction which we see amongst Christians at this day, and the very fuel of endless strifes, and implacable contentions. And for as much as these mischiefs have proceeded from the inconsiderate confounding of those things which in their own nature are as different as may be: for the clearer distinguishing of matters, we are in the first place to consider, that a Sacrament taken in his full extent, comprehendeth two things in it: that which is outward and visible, which the Schools call properly Sacramentum, (in a more strict acception of the word:) and that which is inward and invisible, which they term rem Sacramenti, the principal thing exhibited in the Sacrament. Thus in the Lords Supper, the outward thing which we see with our eyes, is bread and wine, the inward thing which we apprehend by faith is, the body and blood of Christ: in the outward part of this mystical action, which reacheth to that which is Sacramentum only, we receive this body and blood but sacramentally; in the inward, which containeth rem, the thing it self in it, we receive them really: and consequently the presence of these in the one is relative and symbolical; in the other, real and substantial.
It is a lamentable thing to behold, how this holy Sacrament, which was ordained by Christ to be a bond whereby wee should be knit together in vnity, is by Satans malice, and the corruption of mans disposition, so strangely peruerted the contrary way; that it is made the principall occasion of that wofull distraction which wee see amongst Christians at this day, and the very fuell of endlesse strifes, and implacable contentions. And for as much as these mischiefes haue proceeded from the inconsiderate confounding of those things which in their owne nature are as different as may be: for the cleerer distinguishing of matters, we are in the first place to consider, that a Sacrament taken in his full extent, comprehendeth two things in it: that which is outward and visible, which the Schooles call properly Sacramentum, (in a more strict acception of the word:) and that which is inward and inuisible, which they tearme rem Sacramenti, the principall thing exhibited in the Sacrament. Thus in the Lords Supper, the outward thing which we see with our eyes, is bread and wine, the inward thing which wee apprehend by faith is, the body and blood of Christ: in the outward part of this mysticall action, which reacheth to that which is Sacramentum onely, we receiue this body and blood but sacramentally; in the inward, which containeth rem, the thing it selfe in it, wee receiue them really: and consequently the presence of these in the one is relatiue and symbolicall; in the other, reall and substantiall.