You see therefore how little cause you had to charge my fellows and masters, 1as you name them, with stubbornness, who never denied, nor doubted, but that Melchizedek was a very priest, and executed the office of a priest, which chiefly consisteth in sacrifice and oblation, as the Apostle teacheth.2 Then your fellows & masters must needs be stubbornly set in maintenance of falsehood, if they either taught you thus to write, or will commend you for writing thus beyond all compass of modesty and trueth. But now, as though Melchisedechs sacrifice could have been no other, save that which you dream of, you gather of my acknowledging him to have offered sacrifice, that therefore he did it in bread and wine: which is an absurd, and senseless kind of gathering, meet for such a petty proctor of the Popes sacrifice, as Master Rainolds is. ⟨p. 64⟩The scriptures testify that Melchizedek was a priest, and this both I, and all my fellows and masters ever confessed. That the sacrifice which Melchizedek offered, was bread & wine, the scriptures no where give us to understand, & therefore we believe it not, & you can never prove it. You allege the testimony of Moses thus: Melchizedek rex Salem, 3proferens panem & vinum (erat enim sacerdos Dei altissimi) benedixit ei. Melchizedek king of Salem, bringing forth bread & wine (for he was a Priest of the most high god) blessed him, that is, Abraham, you must have a divine power of working miracles before you can prove hereof that Melchizedek offered bread and wine in sacrifice,4 seeing your own translation saith no more, but that he brought forth bread and wine: and that was, as I showed before, for an other purpose, then to offer sacrifice: unless with the same mouth, wherewith you said even now, that we deny Melchizedek to have made sacrifice, you will also further say, that to bring forth bread and wine is to offer sacrifice: whereas no man seeth not, that this may be done many ways, and for many other uses, then for this of sacrifice. Wherefore your reason, Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine, is not of ⟨p. 65⟩the same length with your conclusion, that therefore he offered sacrifice in bread and wine.
You see therefore how litle cause you had to charge my fellowes and masters, 1as you name them, with stubbernnesse, who neuer denyed, nor doubted, but that Melchisedech was a very priest, and executed the office of a priest, which chieflie consisteth in sacrifice and oblation, as the Apostle teacheth.2 Then your fellowes & masters must needs be stubbernly set in maintenance of falshoode, if they either taught you thus to write, or will commende you for writing thus beyond all compasse of modestie and trueth. But now, as though Melchisedechs sacrifice could haue beene no other, saue that which you dreame of, you gather of my acknowledgeing him to haue offered sacrifice, that therefore he did it in breade and wine: which is an absurd, and senslesse kinde of gathering, meete for such a petty proctor of the Popes sacrifice, as Master Rainolds is. ⟨p. 64⟩The scriptures testifie that Melchisedech was a priest, and this both I, and all my fellowes and masters euer confessed. That the sacrifice which Melchisedech offered, was bread & wine, the scriptures no where giue vs to vnderstand, & therefore we beleeue it not, & you can neuer prooue it. You alleage the testimonie of Moses thus: Melchisedech rex Salem, 3proferens panem & vinum (erat enim sacerdos Dei altissimi) benedixit ei. Melchisedech king of Salem, bringing forth breade & wine (for he was a Preist of the moste highe god) blessed him, that is, Abraham, you must haue a diuine power of working miracles before you can prooue hereof that Melchisedech offered bread and wine in sacrifice,4 seeing your owne translation saith no more, but that he brought forth bread and wine: and that was, as I shewed before, for an other purpose, then to offer sacrifice: vnlesse with the same mouth, wherewith you saide euen now, that we denie Melchisedech to haue made sacrifice, you will also further say, that to bring forth bread and wine is to offer sacrifice: whereas no man seeth not, that this may be done manie waies, and for manie other vses, then for this of sacrifice. Wherefoe your reason, Melchisedech brought forth bread and wine, is not of ⟨p. 65⟩the same length with your conclusion, that therefore he offered sacrifice in bread and wine.
- 1pag. 58.59.
- 2Heb. 5.1.
- 3Gen. 14.
- 4Melchizedek brought forth bread & wine: […] he offered sacrifice in bread and wine. Upon such loose arguments hangeth the popish Priesthood and sacrifice.Melchisedech brought forth bread & wine: 〈…〉 he offered sacrifice in bread and wine. Vpon such loose arguments hange•h the popish Priesthod and sacrifice.
