Full and easy satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference…Full and easie satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference…

I. Aquinas concludeth 3. q. 60. a. 1. that a Sacrament is a sign; and a. 2. that it is a sign of a thing sacred as it sanctifieth men; and a. 3. that it is a Rememorative sign of Christs passion, a demonstrative sign of Gods Grace, and a prognosticating sign of future Glory: And a. 4. that it must be Res sensibilis a sensible thing, it being natural to man to come to the knowledge of things intelligible by things sensible, and the Sacrament signifieth to man spiritual and intelligible Goods: and a. 5. that they must be things of Divine determination, &c.

But, 1. If the Bread and Wine be gone, there is nothing left to be a sign, a Real sensible sign, to lead us to the knowledge of spiritual and intelligible things. If they say that the species of Bread and Wine is the sensible sign, what mean they by that cheating word ⟨p. 129⟩[species?] Not the specifying form or matter, but only the outward appearance. And is it a true or a false appearance? If True, then there is Bread and Wine: If false, it is a false sign: And what is that false appearance which God maketh a Sacrament of? It is plainly nothing but the Accidents of Bread and Wine without the substance. But, 1. When they take the Cup from the Laity, and deny them half the Sacrament, sure there are then no Accidents of Wine. Is there either Quantity, Colour, Smell, Taste, &c. of Wine? They will not say it. So that here is no sensible sign as to one half.

2. And herein they deal far more inhumanely with us than the Infidels themselves: For when they plead against Christ and Scripture, they grant that the common principles and Notitiae, which all mankind acknowledge, are the certain unquestionable light of Nature. ¹