The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

And principally, that the Mass and the opinion thereof by them taught unto the people,¹ might be laid to the square rule of Gods Word, and unto the right Institution of Jesus Christ, That they might understand whether that their Preachers offended, or not, in that, that they affirmed. The Action of the Mass to be expressly repugning unto the last Supper of the Lord Jesus, The sayer of it to commit horrible blasphemy in usurping up-him the Office of Christ, The hearers to commit damnable Idolatry, and the opinion of it conceived to be a derogation, and as it were a disannulling of Christs death. While the said Master Alexander denied, that the Priest took upon him Christs office, to offer for sin, as he alleged, a Mass book was produced, and in the beginning of the Canon were these words read, Suscipe Sancta Trinitas hanc oblationem quam ego indignus peccator offero tibi vivo Deo & vero, pro peccatis meis, pro peccatis totius Ecclesiae vivorum & mortuum. Now said the reasoner, if to offer for the sins of the whole Church, was not the Office of Christ Jesus, yea that Office that to him only might, and may appertain, let the Scripture judge. And if a vile Knave, whom ye call Priest, proudly taketh the same upon him, let your own Books witness. The said Mr. Alexander answered, Christ offered the propitiatory, and that could none do but he; but we offer the remembrance.² Whereto it was answered, We praise God that ye have denied a sacrifice propitiatory to be in the Mass; and yet we offer to prove, that in moe than a hundred places of your Papistical Doctors this proposition is affirmed, The Mass is said to be a Sacrifice propitiatory. But the second part, where ye allege that ye offer Christ in remembrance; we ask first, Unto whom do ye offer him? and next by what authority are ye assured of well-doing? In God the Father there falleth no Oblivion: And if ye will shift and say, that ye offer it not as God, were forgetful, but as willing to apply Christs merits to his Church. We demand of you, What power & commandment have ye so to do? We know that our Master Christ Jesus commanded his Apostles to do that which he did in remembrance of him, But plain it is, that Christ took bread, gave thanks, brake bread, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take ye, eat ye, this is my body which is broken for you, do this in remembrance of me, &c.

And principally, that the Masse and the opinion thereof by them taught unto the people,