The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

6. BUT O good God! who are they that so bitterly reflect on us for our Dissentions? Do they in the mean time all agree amongst themselves? Have there never been any Dissensions and Controversies amongst them? Why then do the Scotists and Thomists agree no better concerning the Merit of Congruity, and that of Condignity; concerning ⟨p. 44⟩Original Sin in the Virgin Mary, and about a solemn and simple Vow? Why do the Canonists affirm, that Auricular Confession is founded in Humane and Positive Laws; and the Schoolmen on the contrary, on Divine Institution? Why does Albertus Pighius differ from Cajetan; Thomas from Lombard, Scotus from Thomas, Occham from Scotus, Alliacensis from Occham, and the Nominals from the Realists? and that I may not mention the Disagreements of the small Brotherhoods and Monks, some of which, place their admired Sanctity in eating of Fish, others in living upon Herbs, some in wearing of Shoes, others in Sandals; some in Linen Garments, and others in Woollen;¹ some in black, and some in white Clothes; some shave their Heads broad, and others narrow; some wear Shoes, and others go barefoot; some are girded, and some go loose; besides these, they should remember that some of their Divines say, that the Body of Christ is naturally present in the Sacrament, which is again denied by others; that then there are some who say, that the Body of Christ in the Sacrament is torn and ground with our Teeth; and again, there are others who deny this; there are some who say, that the Body in the Sacrament hath quantity, others deny it; some say Christ did consecrate by a certain Divine Power, others that he did it by his Blessing; some that he did it by conceiving the five Words in his Mind, others that it was by uttering them; there be some that say, that of these five Words, the demonstrative Pronoun, THIS, showed the Wheaten Bread, ⟨p. 45⟩others say no; but it relates to a certain Individuum vagum (a no Man knows what;)² there be some who say Dogs and Mice may truly and really eat the Body of Christ? but then there are others who stoutly deny this; there be some who say the Accidents of the Bread and Wine can nourish,³