For then he must have often suffered, Vers. 26 &c.] He showeth how absurd and unreasonable a thing it should be, if we content not our selves with the only sacrifice of Christ. For from thence he concludes, that he must then have often suffered, because death is always joined with the sacrifice. Now there is no reason at all to grant this latter: it follows then that the virtue of this only sacrifice is eternal, and stretcheth it self unto all times. He saith, since the foundation of the world, because that in all times since the beginning there have bin sins which have had need of purgation. If then the sacrifice of Christ had not been effectual from the beginning, 1none of the Fathers had obtained salvation. For seeing that of themselves they were culpable before God, ⟨p. 197⟩and deserved his wrath, they had bin destitute of the remedy of redemption, and had had no means to escape the judgement seat of God, unless Christ by enduring of death once, had suffered from the beginning of the world to the end thereof, for the obtaining of Gods favour for men. And therefore let us satisfy our selves with this only sacrifice, unless peradventure we expect many deaths of Christ. By this it also evidently appears how frivolous that distinction of the Papists is, 2in which subtlety they so much please themselves, when they say that the offering up of Christ upon the cross was bloody; but the sacrifice of the Mass, which they forge to be offered up every day, is without blood. For if this subtle shift may have place, the Spirit of God shall be blamed of unadvisedness, because he remembered not himself concerning this. For the Apostle takes it for a thing out of question, that there is no sacrifice without death. I pass not, that the ancient Doctors have spoken thus: for it is not in the power of men to forge what sacrifices they list. This principle of the holy Ghost remains sure, that sins are not purged by sacrifices, unless there be effusion of blood. Therefore it is an invention of the devil, to hold that Christ should be often offered. But now in the end of the world he appeared once, &c. He calls the end of the world, that which S. Paul calls the fullness of time, Gal. 4: for the time was then expired, which the Lord had ordained by his eternal decree.
For then he must haue often suffered, Vers. 26 &c.] He sheweth how absurd and vnreasonable a thing it should be, if wee content not our selues with the onely sacrifice of Christ. For from thence he concludes, that he must then haue often suffered, because death is alwaies ioyned with the sacrifice. Now there is no reason at all to grant this latter: it followes then that the vertue of this onely sacrifice is eternall, and stretcheth it selfe vnto all times. He saith, since the foundation of the world, because that in all times since the beginning there haue bin sinnes which haue had neede of purgation. If then the sacrifice of Christ had not been effectuall from the beginning, 1none of the Fathers had obtained saluation. For seeing that of themselues they were culpable before God, ⟨p. 197⟩and deserued his wrath, they had bin destitute of the remedie of redemption, and had had no meanes to escape the iudgement seate of God, vnles Christ by enduring of death once, had suffered from the beginning of the world to the end thereof, for the obtaining of Gods fauour for men. And therefore let vs satisfie our selues with this onely sacrifice, vnlesse peraduenture wee expect many deaths of Christ. By this it also euidently appeares how friuolous that distinction of the Papists is, 2in which subtilty they so much please themselues, when they say that the offring vp of Christ vpon the crosse was bloodie; but the sacrifice of the Masse, which they forge to be offered vp euery day, is without blood. For if this suttle shift may haue place, the Spirit of God shall be blamed of vnadursednes, because he remembred not himselfe concerning this. For the Apostle takes it for a thing out of question, that there is no sacrifice without death. I passe not, that the ancient Doctors haue spoken thus: for it is not in the power of men to forge what sacrifices they list. This principle of the holy Ghost remaines sure, that sins are not purged by sacrifices, vnlesse there be effusion of blood. Therefore it is an inuention of the diuell, to hold that Christ should be often offered. But now in the end of the world he appeared once, &c. He calles the end of the world, that which S. Paul calles the fulnes of time, Gal. 4: for the time was then expired, which the Lord had ordained by his eternall decree.
- 1Christs sacrifice effectual from the beginning.Christs sacrifice effectuall from the beginning.
- 2The frivolous distinction of the Papists, touching the bloody and unbloody sacrifice.The friuolous distinction of the Papists, touching the bloodie and vnbloodie sacrifice.
