Saint John in his Gospel1 biddeth men to attribute no more unto them selves, than they have received from above. Therefore tell us where the professors of the Gospel did at any time take upon them authority or ⟨image 106⟩power, to make of bread and wine the body and blood of Christ? No they never received any such authority from God. But we are not ignorant what the Church of Rome teacheth of this matter, and how those which are consecrated by that church, & of their Bishops, into priests, shorne & anointed with oil, have these words by their Bishops pronounced over them: O Lord vouchsafe to consecrate and sanctify these hands by this Ointment, and through our blessing, that what soever they bless, may be blessed, and what so ever they consecrate or hallow, may be consecrated or hallowed. &c. And again: Receive thou power to offer sacrifice to God, and to say Mass aswell for the living, as for the dead. &c. But we beseech them of their courtesy to tell us who gave them this authority or power? Did they receive it of Christ? If they did, then let them tell us where, and with what words he commanded them to do it? But had the Apostles trow you this power, and gave the same in like manner to others, and ⟨p. 96⟩so after this sort did consecrate and ordain Ministers in the Church? For the thing it self whereof they speak, is very great, and the power and authority such and so wonderful, that it is Divine. Wherefore it is necessary, that they show some commandment or ordinance of the word of GOD, to ratify this their ordinance, consecration, and power. But as touching any one of these •hynges, it is undoubted true, that they have no manner of commandment, nor sufficient warrant from the word of God. And therefore we may not allow or ratify their ordinance. In deed there are certain thin•es written in the old Testament touching the anointing of Priests, but •ll men know that the Levitical priesthood with all his ceremonies was abrogated, and so detested of God, and forbidden to be renewed in the Church of Christ. We know that the Apostles did in ••e making or ordering of ministers use only prayers and putting on of their ••ds. And in the new Testament there ⟨image 107⟩is no mention made, no not a word of this Romish custom touching the consecration and offering of sacrifices in the Mass.
SAinct John in his Gospell1 biddeth men to attribute no more vnto them selues, than they haue receiued frō aboue. Therfore tell vs where the professors of the Gospell did at any tyme take vppon them authoritie or ⟨image 106⟩power, to make of bread and wyne the body and bloude of Chryste? No they neuer receyued any suche authoritie from God. But wee are not ignoraunt what the Churche of Rome teacheth of thys matter, and howe those whiche are cōsecrated by that church, & of their Byshops, into priests, shorne & anoynted with oile, haue these words by their Bishops pronoūced ouer them: O Lord voutchsafe to consecrate and sanctifye these handes by this Oyntmente, and through our blessing, that what soeuer they blesse, may be blessed, and what so euer they consecrate or hallow, may be consecrated or halowed. &c. And again: Receiue thou power to offer sacrifice to God, and to say Masse aswell for the liuing, as for the dead. &c. But we besech them of their curtesie to tell vs who gaue them this authoritie or power? Did they receiue it of Chryst? If they did, then let them tell vs where, and wyth what wordes he commaunded them to doo it? But had the Apostles trowe youe thys power, and gaue the same in lyke manner to others, and ⟨p. 96⟩so after thys sorte dydde consecrate and ordeyne Ministers in the Churche? For the thyng it selfe whereof they speake, is very greate, and the power and authoritie suche and so wonderfull, that it is Diuine. Wherefore it is necessarie, that they shewe some commaundement or ordynaunce of the worde of GOD, to ratifie this their ordynaunce, consecration, and power. But as touchyng any one of these •hynges, it is vndoubted true, that they haue no manner of commaundemente, nor sufficiente warraunt from the woorde of God. And therefore wée may not allowe or ratifye their ordy•ance. In déede there are certaine thin•es written in the old Testament tou•hing the annoynting of Priestes, but •ll men know that the Leuitical priest•ood with all his ceremonies was abro•ated, and so detested of God, and for•idden to be renued in the Churche of Christ. We know yt the Apostles did in ••e making or ordring of ministers vse nely prayers and putting on of their ds. And in the new Testament there
- 1Whether the Priests make bred & wine, the very body and blood of Christ.Whether the Priests make bred & wine, the verie body and bloud of Christ.
