Five disputations of church-government and worship

Object. But saith the Learned and Godly Bishop Downame, (Def. li. 2. cap. 6. page 109.) the word Altar being expounded for the Communion table, is not likely, a•d too much savoureth of Popery: but by one Altar is meant Christ who sanctifieth all our Sacrifices and Oblations and maketh them acceptable to God; as Ignatius expoundeth himself in h•s Epistle to the Magnesians: All as one run together into the Temple of God unto one Jesus Christ as it were unto one Altar.]

Object. But saith the Learned and Godly Bishop Downame, (Def. li. 2. cap. 6. page 109.) the word Altar being expounded for the Communion table, is not likely, a•d too much savoureth of Popery: but by one Altar is meant Christ who sanctifieth all our Sacrifices and Oblations and maketh them acceptable to God; as Ignatius expoundeth himself in h•s Epistle to the Magnesians: All as one run together into the Temple of God unto one Iesus Christ as it were unto one Altar.]

To this I answer, that it is some confirmation to me, that the words are so express, that so learned a man hath no more to say by way of evasion. For doubtless this is too gross and palpable to satisfy the judicious impartial reader. 1. That the very text which he citeth of the Epistle to the Magnesians doth make fully against him▪ I shall show anon. 2. That it is not Christ that is meant here by the [Greek or Hebrew], is evident, 1. In that Christ his flesh and blood are before distinctly mentioned: ⟨p. 90⟩2. In that the word is put in order among the external Ordinances: 3. In that it is so usual with other ancient writers and Ignatius himself to use the word [Greek or Hebrew] in the sense as we now take it, that it will be plain violence to imagine that it is Christ that was meant by it. And for Popery, there is no such matter of danger, in using a word Metaphorically: Otherwise we we must make the Ancients commonly to be friends to Popery; for they ordinarily call the Lords Table and the place where it stood [Greek or Hebrew]: I say The Table and the Sacrarium or place of its standing: for this seems plainly the meaning of Ignatius: so saith Bishop Usher Annot. in loc. ubi sup. [Altare apud Patres mensam Dominicam passim denotat apud Ignatium & Polycarpum; Sacrarium quoque. So H. Stephens Altarium Sacrarium. See what Learned Mr. Thorndike himself in his Right of the Church, &c. page 116. saith to this purpose more largely; where concerning Ignatius his use of the same word to the Ephesians he saith [Where it is manifest that the Church is called a Sanctuary or place of sacrificing: Mr. Mead in his Discourse of the name Altar page 14. showeth that Ignatius by [Greek or Hebrew] means the Lords Table, and takes Videlius his concession, as of a thing that could not be denied. In the Epistle of Ignatius (or whoever else) to Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna he saith, Crebrius celebrantur conventus Synodique Nominatim omnes inquire. Servos & ancillas ne fastidias (as Vairlenius translateth) or (as Bishop Ushers old Translation) Saepe Congregationes fint. Ex nomine omnes quaere: Servos & ancillas ne despicias. —] Whether this were Ignatius or not, alls one to me, as long as I use it but historically to prove the matter of fact in those times.