An account of a disputation at Oxford, anno dom. 1554 with A treatise of…

as will all the good Fathers, Patriarchs, Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, Confessors, and Saints, with all the good Doctors, and good General Councils. All these already condemn the Mass, and all that ever use it, as it is now; being of all Idols that ever was, the most abominable and blasphemous to Christ and his Priesthood, Manhood, and Sacrifice: for it maketh the Priest that saith Mass, Gods fellow, and better than Christ; for the Offerer is always better or equivalent to the Thing offered. If therefore the Priest take upon him there to offer up Christ (as they boldly affirm they do) then must he needs be equal with Christ. O that they would show but one jot of Scripture of God calling them to this Dignity, or of their Authority to offer up Christ for the Quick and Dead; and to apply the benefit and virtue of his Death and Passion to whom they will. Surely, if this were true (as it is most false and blasphemous, prate they at their pleasure to the contrary) then it made no matter at all, whether Christ were our Friend or no; for he can apply us Christs Merits by his Mass if he will, and when he will; and therefore we need ⟨p. 5⟩little to care for Christs Friendship. They can make him when they will, and where they will. Lo here he is, there he is, say they, but believe them not, saith Christ; Believe them not, believe them not, saith he. For in his Humane Nature and Body, which was made of the substance of the Virgins Body, and not of Bread; in this Body, I say, he is, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty in Heaven; from whence, and not from the Pyx, he shall come to judge both the Quick and Dead. In the mean season, Heaven, saith St. Peter, must receive him: And, as Paul saith, He prayeth for us, and now is not seen elsewhere, or otherwise seen then by saith there, until he shall be seen as he is to the Salvation of them that look for his coming; which, I trust be not long to. For if the day of the Lord drew near in the Apostles time, which is now above fifteen hundred years past, it cannot be, I trust, long hence now. I trust our Redeemer his coming is at hand: I trust then these Mass-sayers, and Seers shall shake, and cry to the Hills, Hide us from the fierce wrath of the Lamb, if they repent not in time. Then will neither Gold nor Good; Friendship nor Fellowship; Lordship nor Authority; Power nor Pleasure; Unity nor Antiquity;

as will all the good Fathers, Patriarchs, Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, Confessors, and Saints, with all the good Doctors, and good General Councils. All these already condemn the Mass, and all that ever use it, as it is now; being of all Idols that ever was, the most abominable and blasphemous to Christ and his Priesthood, Manhood, and Sacrifice: for it maketh the Priest that saith Mass, Gods fellow, and better than Christ; for the Offerer is always better or equivalent to the Thing offered. If therefore the Priest take upon him there to offer up Christ (as they boldly affirm they do) then must he needs be equal with Christ. O that they would shew but one jot of Scripture of God calling them to this Dignity, or of their Authority to offer up Christ for the Quick and Dead; and to apply the benefit and vertue of his Death and Passion to whom they will. Surely, if this were true (as it is most false and blasphemous, prate they at their pleasure to the contrary) then it made no matter at all, whether Christ were our Friend or no; for he can apply us Christs Merits by his Mass if he will, and when he will; and therefore we need